Food Business Africa

Rwanda acquires US$120m loan facility to boost agriculture mechanization

Oct 30, 2019Oct 30, 2019 Editor

RWANDA – The Rwandan government has secured a US$120 million loan from EXIMBANK to help set up a centre of excellence in agricultural mechanisation and other projects such as irrigation to boost productivity. The centre will be able to assemble mechanisation equipment locally, have the capacity to maintain the equipment and repair them, as well as increasing the mass training or mechanisation operations. Patrick Karangwa, the Director-General of Rwanda Agricultural Board (RAB), stated, “It will work in partnership with other institutions like institutions of higher learning and IPRCs.” “Some of…

Olam inks deal for purchase of 100, 000T of cocoa inclusive of farmers’ premium

Oct 30, 2019Oct 30, 2019 Editor

WEST AFRICA – The Coffee and Cocoa Council (CCC) has signed a block deal with Global food and agri-business Olam International Limited for the sale of 100,000 tonnes of cocoa export contracts for the 2020/21 season that includes the living income premium, LID. “I can confirm that we signed a block deal of 100,000 tonnes of cocoa export contract including the LID with Olam last week,” said a source at CCC. Singapore-based Olam is the second largest cocoa buyer and exporter in Ivory Coast following Cargill with purchases estimated at…

Berlin Packaging acquires Novio Packaging to consolidate presence in Europe

Oct 30, 2019Oct 30, 2019 Editor

NETHERLANDS – Berlin Packaging has secured a deal to acquire Novio Packaging’s northern European plastic and glass business for an undisclosed sum. The deal will significantly strengthen Berlin Packaging’s European plastic offering and enhances its expertise packaging industry as well as expands its northern European footprint. Berlin Packaging’s European companies are comprised of specialty glass market leader Bruni Glass, closure experts Bruni Erben, and four other companies acquired this year. The company noted that the addition of Novio Packaging to its existing European companies creates a unique packaging supplier “with…

AGCO partners with Equity Bank to bolster agriculture mechanization in Kenya

Oct 30, 2019Oct 30, 2019 Editor

KENYA – AGCO, US-based agricultural equipment manufacturer has inked a deal with Equity Bank to enable farmer in Kenya acquire the firm’s Massey Ferguson tractors and accompanying implements via a 80 percent credit line payable within 48 months. The loan credit will be made through the machinery sole franchise holder, FMD East Africa, the local distributor of Massey Ferguson operating under Panafrican Equipment Group- Kenya. FMD general manager Fergus Robley said the partnership addresses a major missing link to better farm husbandry that enables farmers to venture into commercial farming.…

FDA Rwanda proposes fortification of locally processed foods

Oct 30, 2019Oct 30, 2019 Editor

RWANDA – The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) of Rwanda has put forth new regulatory guidelines governing processing of local foods aimed at increasing food fortification and tackle malnutrition. The proposal seeking to make it mandatory to fortify maize flour, wheat flour, cooking oil, salt and sugar is set to be implemented next month. The guidelines according to the regulator, were completed following discussions with processors on the existing gaps among local industries. “We are doing this to boost the standards of our products so they increasingly reach the international…

Namib Mills invests US$9.2m in a new bakery to expand production capacity

Oct 30, 2019Oct 30, 2019 Editor

NAMIBIA – Namib Mills Ltd, the largest grain processing company in Namibia has opened a new state-of-the-art bakery plant, situated North Windhoek worth N$134.6m (US$9.2m). The plant has enabled the company to expand its processing capacity with the launch of a new brand of bread, Bakpro Superior Loaves, as it seeks to cement its market share in the country’s bakery sector. The new plant referred to as travelling plant employs world class-technology and it is automated, running the entire process of mixing, fermenting, baking and packaging. Despite the baking process…

Brazil’s BRF to invest US$120m in Saudi poultry processing plant

Oct 30, 2019Oct 30, 2019 Editor

SAUDI ARABIA – Brazilian food processor, BRF has entered into an agreement with the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority to invest approximately US$120 million in setting up its first chicken processing plant in the country. The investment will enable the company to strengthen its position in Middle East. BRF already has four meat processing facilities in the region and ranks as the largest meat exporter in the Gulf region. The facility will have a capacity to produce around 50,000 tonnes per year, serving the Saudi market as well as neighbouring…

Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Keurig Dr Pepper join forces on plastics recycling initiative

Oct 30, 2019Oct 30, 2019 Editor

USA – Leading soft beverage companies, The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo and Keurig Dr Pepper have teamed up under a new plastic recycling initiative dubbed ‘Every Bottle Back’ that seeks to reduce plastic waste pollution. Spearheaded by the American Beverage Association (ABA), the firms will aim to improve the quality and availability of recycled plastic in key regions of the USA by directing the equivalent of US$400m to The Recycling Partnership and Closed Loop Partners. As part of the initiative, a US$100 million fund will be used to improve sorting, processing…

JF Hillebrand rebrands as Hillebrand as firm commemorates 175th anniversary

Oct 30, 2019Oct 30, 2019 Editor

GERMANY – JF Hillebrand, the world’s leading logistics provider to the alcoholic beverage industry, has rebranded as Hillebrand as it streamlines its affiliated companies for an enhanced customer experience in its 175th year. Formerly JF Hillebrand, the firm has now relaunched as Hillebrand, unifying previously acquired companies Trans Ocean Bulk Logistics and Satellite Logistics Group (SLG) into one core brand for a stronger identity, Hillebrand. The company said that the unification will enable Hillebrand to present its specialized logistic solutions under one name. All three companies serve the beverage industry,…

AB InBev to replace paper labels with direct print on bottles

Oct 30, 2019Oct 30, 2019 Editor

BELGIUM – The world’s largest brewer, AB InBev is piloting a new labeling technology in the UK that prints its label designs on bottles in a move that aims to eliminate paper labels on its beer brands. The Belgium based brewer is developing the technology at the company’s Tattoo Alpha Plant in Haasrode, Leuven, and if successful, could be expanded from the UK to its other operations worldwide. The new scheme is said to have environmental and cost benefits due to the reduction in paper. “While fuller economic footprint analyses…