Food Business Africa

SAB quenches thirst of South African beer lovers with launch of first double malt drink

Aug 9, 2021Aug 9, 2021 Editor

SOUTH AFRICA – Raising a glass to 126 years of exceptional beer making under its leading brand Castle, South African Breweries has launched the country’s first double malt beer dubbed Castle Double Malt. The new offering joins the Castle family comprising of Castle Lager, Castle alcohol free Lager, Castle Lite and Castle Milk Stout. Making a bold statement of its pride of the local heritage, Castle Double Malt brings a perfect union of flavour and refreshment by combining two carefully selected malts from Caledon and Alrode, giving rise to a…

Berlin Packaging bolsters European market position with acquisition of Juvasa Group

Aug 9, 2021Aug 9, 2021 Editor

SPAIN – US based supplier of packaging solutions Berlin Packaging has acquired the Juvasa Group, a supplier of glass, plastic and metal packaging for the food and beverage industry, to bolster its presence in Europe. Founded in 1987 and based in Seville, Spain, Juvasa is a group of companies that supplies customers with packaging products including bottles and jars for olive oil, wine, beer, spirits, sauces, vegetable preserves and honey. The company has locations across Spain, Portugal, and the Canary Islands, and is said to have “an extensive commercial presence and logistical capabilities”. The transaction marks Berlin Packaging’s sixth acquisition…

Mondelēz to sell Dairylea and Philadelphia brands in recyclable packaging

Aug 9, 2021Aug 10, 2021 Editor

UK – American multinational confectionery and snack food company Mondelēz International has announced that it will use recyclable packaging for its Dairylea and Philadelphia brands in the UK and Ireland from August 2021. According to the company, the move away from non-recyclable material is part of the Pack Light and Pack Right strategy, which supports its vision of achieving 100% recyclable packaging by 2025. Dairylea Lunchables will now use recycled plastic (rPET) in its packaging – “the result of a design optimisation project reducing the virgin plastic needed by 75% or approximately 276 tons per annum,” a company…

Upfield’s plant-based spreads save 6 million metric tonnes of CO2 annually

Aug 9, 2021Aug 9, 2021 Editor

NETHERLANDS – Global consumer packaged foods company Upfield has published data revealing that consumers and chefs – using their plant-based butters, margarines and spreads instead of dairy butter – have avoided emitting an estimated six million metric tons of CO2-equivalent within 12 months. “The Upside” – which can also be referred to as “emissions savings” – is largely due to ingredient production and was measured based on data and product sales over the calendar year of 2020. It puts into consideration the environmental cost of using plant-based ingredients instead of butter. According to Upfield, the average plant-based margarine…

Ivory Coast, Ghana establish Accra as official headquaters of joint cocoa initiative

Aug 9, 2021Aug 11, 2021 Editor

WEST AFRICA – Ghana and Ivory Coast have signed the Headquarters Agreement for the establishment of the Ivory Coast-Ghana Cocoa Initiative Secretariat in Accra. The signing is the latest milestone in a unique bilateral process to further strengthen and expand the existing economic relations on cocoa and other related matters between Ghana and Ivory Coast the two largest cocoa-producing countries in the world. Chief Executive of Ghana Cocoa Board, Hon Joseph Boahen Aidoo, indicated that the establishment of the Secretariat is key to facilitate the coordination of efforts by the…

Indian internet restaurant startup Rebel Foods bets on Middle East in race to achieve unicorn status

Aug 9, 2021Aug 9, 2021 Editor

MIDDLE EAST – Rebel Foods, an India-based virtual restaurant chain, is betting on the Middle East to deliver the necessary business required to make it a US$1 billion food delivery business. Towards this goal, the company which already has a major presence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has set in motion an aggressive three year expansion plan in the region mainly targeting GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries. According to a report by Arabian Business, the online food major, which owns popular dark kitchen brands such as Faasos, Behrouz Biryani and Oven Story, plans to expand into Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and…

Ghana commissions US$1.2m rice processing facility to boost production of the staple crop

Aug 9, 2021Aug 9, 2021 Editor

GHANA – The government of Ghana has inaugurated the GH¢7.3 million (US$1.2m) Savelugu rice processing factory in the Northern Region. The state-of-the art facility features modern parboiling, milling and packaging lines, with an expected production capacity of 1.5 tonnes – 2.8 tonnes of processed rice per hour. According to the state, the factory has a standby generator plant and a mechanised borehole to supply it with water. It also has a fully furnished office accommodation for staff, a conference room, laboratory and a canteen/kitchen. The Savelugu Rice Factory has been…

UBL’s boss Alvin Mbugua to take up new role as General Manager of Diageo Caribbean and Central America

Aug 9, 2021 Editor

UGANDA – Multinational alcoholic beverage company, Diageo, has appointed the Chief Executive Officer of Uganda Breweries Limited, Alvin Mbugua to be the General Manager of Diageo Caribbean and Central America (CCA). Uganda Breweries Limited is a subsidiary of the drink giant through the East African Breweries Limited (EABL). Alvin, who has been at the helm of the company for about two years is set to take up the new role effective September 1, 2021. The job promotion will enable Alvin to offer his expertise in strategic and effective leadership to…

WFP partners with Promasidor, Tolaram and other food processor support Nigerian agri-tech start-ups

Aug 9, 2021Aug 9, 2021 Editor

NIGERIA – The UN World Food Programme in partnership with leading food industry players in Nigeria have partnered to support six budding entrepreneurs in the food and agriculture sector, scale up their innovation with N120 million (US$290,000) worth of funding. The funding was channelled through the ‘2021 Zero Hunger Sprint – Nigeria’s Innovation Challenge’ undertaken under the Zero Hunger Roundtable. Zero Hunger Roundtable is a multi-sector forum aimed at collectively addressing food challenges as a part of the UN’s global mandate to achieve Zero Hunger by the year 2030. The…