Food Business Africa

Reducing sugar in packaged foods, beverages could prevent 500,000 deaths, new US study finds

Sep 2, 2021Sep 3, 2021 Editor

US – Reducing sugar in packaged foods and beverages could help US citizens avoid lifestyles diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular-related complications, a recent study published in Circulation has revealed. According to the study, cutting 20% of sugar from packaged foods and 40% from beverages could prevent 2.48 million cardiovascular disease events such as strokes, heart attacks and cardiac arrests. Additionally, the study revealed that 490,000 cardiovascular deaths and 750 diabetes cases could be avoided in the United States over the lifetime of the current adult population if the above cuts were…

Corbion unveils expands Pristine range with new dough conditioners that reduces need for gluten

Sep 2, 2021Sep 2, 2021 Editor

NETHERLANDS — Amsterdam, Netherlands-based global ingredients leader Corbion is expanding its Pristine range of dough improvers with the launch of a new consumer-friendly dough strengthening solution that helps bakers bake more efficiently. According to a statement from the company, the new Pristine 3000 allows bakers to overcome quality hurdles such as wheat protein inconsistencies and high-speed processing without relying on gluten supplementation and other artificial systems like DATEM (diacetyl tartaric acid ester of monoglycerides). Removing the need for wheat gluten is cost-effective for bakers as supplementation often subjects bakers to volatile pricing which they…

Massmart to offload 14 Game stores in East, West Africa as part of restructuring process

Sep 2, 2021Sep 2, 2021 Editor

SOUTH AFRICA – Consumer goods distributor Massmart says it has put up 14 Game stores in East and West African stores for sale to focus on its core strengths as the group losses narrowed during the half-year ended June 2021. Massmart has begun a formal sales process to divest in five Game stores in Nigeria, four in Ghana, three in Kenya, one in Uganda and one in Tanzania. Chief Executive Mitchell Slape has revealed that the company was currently in discussion with potential purchasers to take over the stores. “We…

WFP receives US$3m financial backing from Asia to support food assistance in Africa

Sep 2, 2021Sep 2, 2021 Editor

AFRICA – The government of Japan and Korea have issued their support towards World Food Programme’s efforts of combating food insecurity in Africa. According to the humanitarian organization, over 34 million people across the world are grappling with emergency levels of acute hunger, with majority of them being in Africa. To curb the menace, WFP has welcomed US$1.2 million from the republic of Korea to boost its efforts including offering food assistance for vulnerable communities in five countries: Ethiopia, Nigeria, Madagascar, South Sudan and Burkina Faso. “We are grateful for…

ADM flour milling network in US achieves net-zero emissions, paving way for carbon-neutral flour

Sep 2, 2021Sep 2, 2021 Editor

USA – ADM has achieved net carbon neutral status at its US mills, making it the first company of such kind and scale in the milling sector to achieve such a milestone. ADM which has 22 mills around the US that process wheat, sorghum and corn into flour says that the net-zero emission status now paves way for the company to start producing carbon-neutral flour. To achieve the enviable status, ADM employed a number of strategies including a combination of energy efficiencies and the purchase of renewable energy certificates. ADM also…

Amazon replaces Souq.com in Egypt with launch of own domain

Sep 2, 2021Sep 2, 2021 Editor

EGYPT – Amazon, a global online shopping platform, has officially launched in Egypt by availing a new website Amazon.eg to replace Souq.com in the local market. The launch comes a month after the online shopping titan had announced its intention to have a presence in the North African country. It clarified that the platform will feature millions of items from local and international brands across a range of categories including grocery, home and kitchen, devises among many others. In 2017, the global marketplace site bought the Middle Eastern retailer Souq.com…

B&G Foods to sell Portland manufacturing facility to cut down on costs

Sep 2, 2021Sep 2, 2021 Editor

USA – B&G Foods, an American holding company for branded foods, has signed an agreement to sell its Portland manufacturing facility to a nonprofit that runs Northeastern University’s Roux Institute, a graduate educational institution focused on digital engineering, genomics, and life sciences. The factory was built in 1913, and has been constantly in operation ever since, the Portland Press Herald reported. The manufacturing plant produced a number of brands including B&M and Underwood and employed approximately 86 people. Its closure is part of B&G’s commitment to improve productivity and reduce costs, the…

Campbell full-year sales decline 2% as pandemic boom wanes and inflation sets in

Sep 2, 2021Sep 2, 2021 Editor

USA – American processed food and snack company Campbell Soup has recorded a 2% decline in full-year net sales as markets return to normalcy following a pandemic boom in 2020 that saw sales for food companies sky rocket. Revenue for the year stood at US$8.48 billion and Campbell says that three quarters of its brand portfolio grew or held share, “demonstrating strong underlying brand health and momentum”. The company’s meals & beverages unit witnessed net sales fall by 2%, mainly due to declines in foodservice, partially offset by growth in V8…

Red Bull reveals new taste in South Africa, beverage industry players promote sustainable operations

Sep 2, 2021Sep 3, 2021 Editor

SOUTH AFRICA – Red Bull, world’s most famous energy drink brand has unveiled a limited edition of a new flavour offering with a special taste for the summer season in South Africa. The new Red Bull Summer Edition: Cactus Fruit, has been inspired by the unique looking, yet utterly delicious exotic Cactus Fruit, Dragon Fruit and Pitaya. “Summer is about adventure and all good adventures begin with the thirst for something refreshing and new. “When you crack open a cold can of Red Bull Summer Edition and experience your first…

Uganda’s pioneering organic farm AMFRI clinches US$1.5m investment from Pearl Capital managed fund

Sep 2, 2021Sep 2, 2021 Editor

UGANDA – Yield Uganda Investment Fund, an agribusiness impact vehicle managed by Pearl Capital Partners has partnered with FCA Investments to issues €1.3 million (US$1.54 million) backing to Uganda’s AMFRI Farms Ltd. The AMFRI Farms is a pioneering organic farming, processing and exporting company of certified fruits and vegetables, herbs, spices, cereals, food additives and colourants. The company works closely with diverse communities all over Uganda, in training and production of certified organic produce. According to reports by Daily Monitor, the financing is partially structured as convertible preference shares, 60…