Food Business Africa

Sahel Consulting champions development of Nigeria’s National Dairy Policy to foster sector growth

Apr 10, 2021Apr 10, 2021 Editor

NIGERIA – Sahel Consulting, a leading African agriculture platform in Nigeria has lent its input to the develop a National Dairy Policy prepared by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, aimed to foster growth of the sector, boost local milk production and in turn discourage the importation of dairy products. Africa’s most populous country spends US$1.3 billion yearly on the importation of dairy products as the sector faces challenges that limit production of high-quality raw materials to produce dairy products. Muhammad Sabo Nanono, minister of Agriculture has further highlighted that over…

New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra embarks on a journey towards a future without coal

Apr 7, 2021Apr 7, 2021 Editor

NEW ZEALAND – Fonterra, New Zealand’s premier dairy cooperative, is finally embarking on a journey towards a future where it does not rely on coal for its energy needs. Fonterra said it has been working on its transition to renewable energy and said it can, and will, get out of coal, with a couple of practical constraints. The company however admitted New Zealand’s Climate Change Commission’s pathway to ending coal use by 2037 is ambitious and will be challenging to meet. At the moment, Nine of Fonterra’s 29 sites use…

French dairy company Sodiaal sells German cheese business to Meggle, Fonterra completes sale of two China farms

Apr 7, 2021Apr 7, 2021 Editor

GERMANY – French dairy company Sodiaal has sold German cheese company Stegmann Emmentaler Käsereien GmbH to Meggle Group GmbH. The acquisition comes just a month after the French dairy company bought a 51% controlling interest in Yoplait S.A.S. from General Mills In exchange for the 51% stake it gave to Sodiaal, General Mills got a full ownership of the Canadian Yoplait business and a reduced royalty rate for use of the Yoplait and Liberté brands in the US and Canada. In a statement, Meggle said the acquisition of Stegmann sustainably…

Friesland Campina Ingredients launches new product to aid in production of softer protein bars

Apr 1, 2021Apr 1, 2021 Editor

NETHERLANDS– FrieslandCampina Ingredients (FCI), a subsidiary of Dutch multinational dairy cooperative Royal FrieslandCampina N.V. has unveiled a new portfolio designed to processors make softer protein bars. According to FCI, the protein bar market in Europe is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 17 percent as from 2015 to 2024 buoyed by rising popularity of the products among consumers. The company however notes that palatability continues to be a major issue for many formulators. This company notes is going to have an impact on the bottomline of companies that don’t…

Third triumph for Woolworths Mature Gouda by Lactalis as South African Dairy Product of the Year

Mar 31, 2021Mar 31, 2021 Editor

SOUTH AFRICA – Lactalis South Africa’s 10-months Mature Gouda, made especially for Woolworths, was crowned the South African Dairy Product of the Year at the South African Dairy Awards. This is the third time in a row that this particular product from Lactalis has scooped the Dairy Product of the Year accolade, an unrivalled achievement for the SA Dairy Championships, now in its 188th year of existence. The Gouda, an aromatic and full-flavoured cheese, was one of almost 900 dairy products from 68 producers that vied for the attention of…

New law seeking to regulate toxic metals in baby food tabled in US parliament

Mar 30, 2021Mar 30, 2021 Editor

US – A new law seeking to establish new maximum levels of toxic metals baby food has been tabled by legislators in the US Parliament in an effort to protect the health of the country’s youngest population. Formally introduced as The Baby Food Safety Act of 2021, the bill particularly aims to regulate the levels of inorganic arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury found in baby food and cereal products. All of these heavy metals have been linked to cancer, chronic disease and neurotoxic effects, but it’s the damage that can…

In2food, Gelato Roma collaborate to introduce chocolate ice cream with brownie pieces

Mar 29, 2021Mar 30, 2021 Editor

SOUTH AFRICA – South African premium food business In2food has launched Choc Brownie Ice Cream in partnership with Froneri Dairymaid’s Gelato Roma Brand. The company notes that the decadent gelato is made with chocolate sauce and brownie pieces to create the perfect balance of soft chewy texture at a frozen temperature. It has revealed that its team of creative scientists are already working around the clock to expand on the variety and range of the product. “If you are a ice cream lover like us this is a must TASTE.…

Westland Milk to boost consumer butter production as Arla Foods UK prepares to launch new butter product

Mar 26, 2021 Editor

NEW ZEALAND – New Zealand dairy company, Westland Milk Products has announced plans to boost consumer butter production as part of the company’s strategy to move away from being a supplier of bulk commodity butter. Westland Milk said it is investing NZD 40 million (about US$27.8 million) to upgrade its Hoktika plant and increase the production capacity of its consumer butter brand. The upgrades which will start in May are expected to almost double the production of the company’s Westgold butter brand to 42,000 tonnes a year. Facility expansion and…

Pearl Dairy expands offering with launch of new Lato Creamer, ready-to-use two in one product

Mar 26, 2021Mar 26, 2021 Editor

UGANDA – Pearl Dairy Farms Limited, the producers of Lato Milk products have introduced a new product, Lato Creamer to its range of offerings on the Ugandan market. The launch strengthens its growth strategy anchored on diversification and forms part of the company’s continuous efforts to be innovative as it looks to spread its footprint across other markets in Africa. Lato Creamer coming in a 500ml pouch with a 90-day shelf life, is a mix of milk and sugar fortified with soy, reports 256 Business News. According to the company,…

General Mills to achieve full ownership of North America Yoplait business after deal with French dairy Sodiaal

Mar 24, 2021Mar 24, 2021 Editor

NORTH AMERICA – General Mills has entered into an agreement to sell its 51% stake in Yoplait’s European business to Sodiaal in exchange for Sodiaal’s 49% stake of Yoplait Canada. The deal also involves a drastic reduction of royalties on sales of Yoplait and Liberté branded yogurt sold in the United States and Canada. According to General Mills, after the transaction closes, the company would completely own North American yogurt operations that generated US$1.4 billion in net sales in the fiscal year 2020. In contrast, the European arm of Yoplait…