SWITZERLAND – Swiss chocolate manufacturer, Barry Callebaut has revealed that it is on track to towards its goal to produce completely sustainable chocolate by 2025. In its latest “Forever Chocolate” progress report, Barry highlighted a number of achievements that it has made over the past year, key among them being a 17% reduction in its carbon intensity per metric ton of product when compared to 2016 levels. In addition, the company revealed that 214,584 cocoa farmers are estimated to be liberated from poverty in the company’s direct supply chain. Barry Callebaut was also proud to…
Read MoreCategory: WORLD NEWS
–
CCEP taps sustainability expert Sam Jones to drive its net-zero agenda in Britain
UK – Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP), one of the largest bottlers of Coca-Cola globally, has appointed Sam Jones as its new head of climate and sustainability in Britain. Jones joins CCEP from packaging giant, DS Smith, where he was responsible for the creation and roll-out of the business’ sustainability strategy. According to CCEP, Jones’s career highlight in DS Smith includes a key role in its Net Zero plans and Science-Based Targets for carbon reduction. Julian Hunt, vice-president, public affairs, communication and sustainability, CCEP GB said: “Sustainability sits at…
Read MoreAlapala expands capabilities in pasta production technology with acquisition of Axor Srl
ITALY – Global grain milling and handling system technologies provider, Alapala is set to acquire a majority of the shares of Axor Srl in an effort to bolster its capabilities in pasta technologies. Alapala already has created a name for itself as a leading provider of turnkey wheat, semolina, maize, and feed mills with over 700 successfully completed projects. Italian pasta technology company, Axor Srl is, on the other hand, a leader in its field, delivering pasta production plants worldwide. Under the deal, the two leaders in grain milling technology…
Read MoreAmerican Peanut Growers Group to invest US$85m in new peanut shelling plant
USA — Grower-owned American Peanut Growers Group (APGG) is bolstering its share of the American peanut market with a new US$85 million investment in a new shelling plant in Donaldsonville, Georgia. APGG produces approximately 200,000 tons of peanuts per year and supplies a wide range of customers that include major confectioners, peanut butter manufacturers, and snack-nut roasters. “We are extremely excited about this project and the opportunities it will provide for economic growth in Southwest Georgia,” said Jeremy Mayes, general manager of American Peanut Growers Ingredients. “Per capita, peanut consumption…
Read MoreUniversal Robina expands international snack portfolio with acquisition of Munchy Food Industries
MALAYSIA – Philippines-based food and beverage company, Universal Robina Corporation (URC) is set to have an expanded international product portfolio with the acquisition of Munchy Food Industries. Founded in 1991, Munchy Food Industry is a leading snack manufacturer in Malaysia and a category leader in the biscuity category. Munchy’s brands include Munchy’s Cream Crackers, Lexus Cream Sandwich, Oat Krunch, Muzic Wafer, and Choc-O cookies. The company’s brands are available at Malaysian retailers and in over 50 countries worldwide. In the deal, URC has agreed to acquire 100% of Munchy Food Industries…
Read MoreDSM acquires Vestkorn Milling to accelerate growth in plant-based protein market
NORWAY – Dutch multinational health and nutrition company DSM has agreed to acquire Norwegian company Vestkorn Milling for an enterprise value of €65 million. The acquisition is expected to help the company accelerate its growth in the plant-based protein market. Based in Tau, Norway, Vestkorn Milling is a producer of pea- and bean-derived protein, and supplies proteins, starches and dietary fibres for plant-based foods. According to DSM, Vestkorn Milling’s portfolio complements its own broad offering to companies developing plant-based food and beverages which includes vitamins, algal lipids and minerals to improve nutritional value. DSM also has a portfolio of texturizing hydrocolloid, flavours, yeast extracts…
Read MoreThailand to record bumper rice harvest in 2022 despite flooding
THAILAND – Rice production in Thailand is forecast to rise to 21 million metric tons despite flooding, according to a recent report by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The 11 percent increase from MY 2020/21 has been attributed to increased main-rice production and an expected recovery in offseason rice production. USDA officials expect the average yield from the main-rice crop in non-irrigated areas to be well above last year due to more favorable weather conditions during the reproductive growth stage. The higher average yields will likely more than…
Read MoreChile’s Avocado production up 57% on favorable weather conditions
CHILE – Chile will produce 220,000 MT of avocados in MY 2021/22 (July – June), a 57 percent increase over MY2020/21, according to data from the Chilean Avocado Committee. The significant increase in production has been attributed to favorable climatic conditions and a successful setting of the fruit. Production is coming from a total cultivated area of 30,143 hectares (ha) with the Valparaiso accounting for 67.4 percent of the total planted area. The main avocado variety produced in Chile is Hass which accounts for 89 percent of the total area under avocado cultivation. …
Read MoreCoffee production in South America, Asia drops as unfavorable conditions reign supreme
SOUTH AMERICA – The world coffee supply is set to tighten as production from the major coffee producers in the world falls due to unfavorable weather conditions. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), adverse weather conditions have notably affected the production outcome for Brazil which accounts for 30% of the global coffee supply. In a recent report, USDA noted that persistent drought and high temperatures in major coffee growing regions in the second semester of 2020 and below-average rainfall volumes up to September 2021 have dampened Brazil’s hope for…
Read MoreBigBasket eyes growth in brick and mortar, to open 200 Fresho stores by 2023
INDIA – Indian online grocery delivery service is eyeing growth in brick and mortar stores and plans to open 200 physical outlets across India by fiscal year 2023. The Bengaluru-based online grocer which recently opened its first Fresho store aims to increase that number to 800 stores by 2026, its cofounder and CEO Hari Menon said. “The stores will offer high quality products at extremely competitive prices. With Fresho stores, customers can now handpick fresh fruits and vegetables as well as daily essentials like bread and eggs which are stocked at the store,” Bigbasket said. Indian farmers…
Read More