Heinz Eyes Chinese Baby Food Market

Heinz is planning to acquire Ausnutria Dairy Company and Synutra International to step up its presence in the Chinese baby food market.

In February the company said it would start selling infant formula this year in China and Russia, where it sells baby food.

The Chinese milk-formula market, which includes products for infants and toddlers, grew 19% to $4.4bn in 2009, according to Euromonitor International.

Heinz’s formula rollout does not preclude acquisitions in the baby food sector in Asia.

Heinz reported revenue of $1.1bn in 2009.