Food Business Africa

JBS-owned prepared foods company Swift expands portfolio with acquisition of Sunnyvalley Smoked Meats

Oct 17, 2021Oct 17, 2021 Editor

USA — Swift Prepared Foods, a subsidiary of Brazil meat processing giant JBS, has reached an agreement to acquire Sunnyvalley Smoked Meats Inc. for US$90 million. Founded in 1990, Sunnyvalley Smoked Meats produces a variety of quality smoked bacon, ham and turkey products for sale to retail and wholesale customers under the Sunnyvalley brand. According to a statement from JBS, the acquisition by Swift includes the company’s production facility in Manteca, which employs more than 300 people and has gross annual revenues of US$150 million. “Today’s announcement is consistent with our company’s long-term strategy to increase our value-added and branded portfolio,…

Mexico becomes the latest country to join the International Dairy Federation

Oct 17, 2021Oct 17, 2021 Editor

BELGIUM – Mexico, the 16th largest producer of milk in the world, has joined the International Dairy Federation(IDF), bolstering the federation’s members and expanding its global reach and influence. Based in Brussels, Belgium, IDF is a recognised international authority in the development of science-based standards for the dairy sector. The body plays an important role in ensuring the right policies, standards, practices and regulations are in place to ensure the world’s dairy products are safe and sustainable. In a statement, IDF said that as a member of the federation, Mexico will benefit from being part of a dynamic…

Mexican bottler and retailer FEMSA appoints Daniel Rodriguez as CEO

Oct 17, 2021Oct 17, 2021 Editor

MEXICO – Mexican multinational beverage and retail company Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V., doing business as FEMSA has appointed Daniel Rodriguez as CEO, effective January next year. Rodriguez succeeds Eduardo Padilla, who has been at the helm of the largest independent Coca-Cola bottling group in the world since 2018. Daniel Rodriguez joined FEMSA in 2015 and currently leads the Femsa Comercio division including the vast chain of Oxxo convenience stores. Femsa said in a statement that Rodriguez will focus on “growth and innovation along with sustainability, inclusion, and diversity.” Earlier this year, FEMSA expanded its footprint in…

Rampant illicit alcohol trade dents economic gains in Uganda registering US$433m loss in taxes

Oct 16, 2021Oct 16, 2021 Editor

UGANDA – The Illicit alcohol trade has been rampant across the globe at the expense of the legitimate alcohol manufacturers who contribute not only to the exchequer but also create thousands of job opportunities. Other than looking at the economic implications of the illicit trade, consumers’ health is at a risk as the illicit market continues to predominantly supply beverages that often lack proper certification from standards agencies. According to a recently launched report by the Uganda Alcohol Industry Association, between 2017-2021, the value market size of illicit alcoholic drinks…

Fertilizer producers OCP, ICL sign agreement to promote sustainability research in Morocco

Oct 16, 2021Oct 16, 2021 Editor

MOROCCO – Moroccan fertilizer group OCP and ICL Specialty Fertilizer have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote sustainable development and the fight against climate change. Under the agreement, the parties will offer funding to support sustainability programs and research at Morocco’s Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) and Israel’s Ben Gurion University of the Negev (BGU). The research, according to reports by Morocco Word, will be centred around food security, ecological restoration, smart agriculture, water, climate change, remote sensing, renewable energies, venture capital, among others. The partnership also seeks…

Kenya’s Premier Foods launches functional beverage under brand name Recharge Dawa

Oct 16, 2021Oct 16, 2021 Editor

KENYA – Premier Foods Limited, Kenyan producer of a wide range of condiments and juices has introduced a new beverage dubbed Recharge Dawa. The new drink is inspired by homemade ‘dawa’, a herbal beverage made up of honey, lemon and ginger as its key ingredients, that people concoct to treat common flu and boost immunity. With the launch of the new product, Premier Foods joins the likes of FMCG manufacturer, Tropikal Brands Afrika Limited, who introduced a new functional beverage drink in the market mid this year. Tropikal’s Super-C is…

Oatly expands presence in Asia with launch of new oat milk facility in Singapore

Oct 15, 2021Oct 15, 2021 Editor

SINGAPORE – Swedish alternative dairy company Oatly has partnered with Asian food and beverage company Yeo Hiap Seng Limited (Yeo’s) to open a new oat milk facility in Singapore. The facility, which started operations in July, is located at Yeo’s Senoko Way site in Singapore and is Oatly’s first production venture outside Europe and North America. The site will produce Oatly’s oat milk for the Asian market and will support the brand’s growth in the region. “Despite ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, we are thrilled that the production facility opened in July. Oatly is grateful…

McDonald’s Indian franchise goes on a market share offensive, reveals plans to launch 200 stores in the next 5 years

Oct 15, 2021Oct 15, 2021 Editor

INDIA – Westlife Development, the owner and operator of McDonald’s restaurants in the west and south of India, is on a market expansion drive, revealing plans to add around 200 additional restaurants in its network within the next five years. The company said it is planning to invest around Rs 800-1,000 crore in the opening of new stores and also in revamping existing stores with enhanced digital capabilities such as self-ordering kiosks and table services. Westlife Development said the investment will strengthen its leadership position in the burger, chicken and beverage segments further and aid the growth of the…

Famous Brands makes new board appointment, expects sharp improvement in headline earnings

Oct 15, 2021Oct 15, 2021 Editor

SOUTH AFRICA – South African restaurant franchisor, Famous Brands, has announced the appointment of Ms Busisiwe Mathe as an independent Non-executive Director to the Board of Directors of the company, effective from 20 October 2021. Busisiwe, who holds a B. Com Accounting and a Higher Diploma in Accounting from the University of Witwatersrand, is a Chartered Accountant and a registered member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants. She has held several leadership positions at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) including as Chairperson of the South African Governing Board, member of the…

Kenya’s alcohol sector players lobby for increased operating hours to aid industry recovery

Oct 15, 2021Oct 15, 2021 Editor

KENYA – The Alcohol Beverages Association of Kenya (ABAK) has petitioned the government to increase the operating period of bars by two hours in the wake of falling Covid-19 infection rates. According to the liquor traders’ representative, a further two hours of operations by the outlets and other entertainment joints will serve to cushion the hit on the industry. The Association is backing its push on the recent fall in the COVID-19 positivity rate which has averaged below five per cent. “Abak notes the Covid-19 positivity rate in the last…