AFRICA'S NO.1 FOOD, BEVERAGE & MILLING INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

Ornua acquires US cheese company Whitehall Specialties, French Dairy Savencia diversifies into plant-based foods

Oct 13, 2021Oct 13, 2021 Editor

USA – Irish dairy cooperative, Ornua, is set to expand its position in the US dairy ingredients space following the completion of a deal to acquire US cheese ingredients business, Whitehall Specialties Inc (WSI) from private equity firm, Mason Wells. Headquartered in Wisconsin, WSI provides functional cheese solutions to its food manufacturing and food service customers. The acquisition complements Ornua’s US Ingredients division, Ornua Ingredients North America (OINA), and is central to Ornua’s long-term growth strategy in the US cheese ingredients market. According to OINA, the acquisition increases its current position in the US cheese ingredients market, expanding its production footprint across…

Lactalis expands dairy portfolio with acquisition of Leerdammer and Shostka brands

Oct 4, 2021Oct 4, 2021 Editor

EUROPE – French dairy business Lactalis has completed the acquisition of European dairy brands Royal Bel Leerdammer NL, Bel Italia, Bel Deutschland, Leerdammer and all related rights from multinational cheese marketer Bel Group. Lactalis said that the transaction, which involves Bel Shostka Ukraine, fits perfectly with its strategic priorities, which focus on top-quality product development. Leerdammer, one of Europe’s most iconic cheese brands, will now become part of Lactalis which aims to continue developing the brand and boost its international business. “By acquiring Leerdammer and Shostka, we have now completed our offering with a range of food brands that consumers know…

Unionplus inaugrates new dairy production plant, BelGioioso to acquire Italian cheese producer Polly-O

Sep 22, 2021Sep 22, 2021 Editor

ITALY – Italian dairy company Unionplus Srl, a part of the Podini Group SpA in Bolzano, has inaugurated its new production plant in Nogarole Rocca in the province of Verona. According to company CEO Stefano Podini, the new facility will play an important role in the Podini Group’s project to expand, complete, and give continuity to the offer of raw materials of functional products to the Italian food industry. He further noted that the new project represents his company’s courage and tenacity in business amid the enormous economic and political headwinds that have rocked the world during the pandemic period.…

DSM unveils new phage-robust culture rotations to help manufacturers overcome spoilage issues in cheese

Jul 21, 2021Jul 22, 2021 Editor

NETHERLANDS – Dutch multinational health and nutrition company DSM has expanded its Dairy Safe cheese biopreservation portfolio with a new range of phage-robust culture rotations. The company notes that the new range comprised of four new culture rotations offers a more robust system that effectively manages bacteriophages (phages) and overcomes spoilage issues in cheese. Insufficient management of phages can lead to fermentation delays and production slow-down, which can contribute to increased food loss and have a detrimental impact on cheese flavour, yield, and texture. At the same time, demand for great-tasting, sustainable and natural…

Egyptian Al Fayoum to launch first cream packed in aseptic cartons, Clover SA shuts down facility due to poor service delivery

Jun 8, 2021Jun 8, 2021 Editor

EGYPT – Egyptian dairy processor, Al Fayoum for Food Industries, is set to expand its product portfolio with a new aseptic line to pack feta cheese in 500g-size bricks and liquid cream in aseptic cartons. The move makes the company the first in the North African country to pack cream in aseptic cartons. It is important to note that, Al Fayoum commenced filling and packing Feta cheese in aseptic carton bricks (125 Slim and 250 Standard) designed by IPI in 2016. IPI supplies systems and materials for the aseptic packaging…

Saputo, Great Lakes invest in new cheese manufacturing plants in the US

May 17, 2021May 17, 2021 Editor

US – Canadian dairy company Saputo and Ohio-based cheese manufacturing company Great Lakes Cheese have announced plans to invest in expanding their respective cheese manufacturing capacities to meet anticipated rise in demand for the product. Saputo said it is investing up to US$30 million into the expansion of operations of its Saputo Dairy USA’s Las Cruces cheese manufacturing plant in New Mexico, US. The expansion of operations will reportedly see the addition of 150 employees and is expected to have a total positive economic impact of US$1.6 billion to New Mexico…

Tetra Pak introduces 14 new best practice lines to bolster production of high quality cheese

Apr 19, 2021Apr 19, 2021 Editor

SWITZERLAND – Swedish-Swiss multinational food packaging and processing company, Tetra Pak has announced 14 new Best Practice Lines (BPLs) for cheese manufacturers in an effort to bolster sustainable production of high-quality cheeses. Cheeses that will benefit from the new BPLs include Mozzarella, Semi-hard cheese, Cheddar, Fresh cheese production, and Cottage Cheese. Together, these cheese types make up 79% of all cheese volumes and have a CAGR forecast of 3% (2021-2025), according to Tetra Pak. “The processing lines utilise proven equipment combined with industry-leading expertise to create a safe and easy…

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…

FrieslandCampina enters fast growing Africa cheese market, forms JV with Egyptian Domty

Mar 23, 2021Mar 25, 2021 Editor

EGYPT – The Dutch dairy co-operative, FrieslandCampina has partnered with the Arabian Food Industries Company, popularly known as Domty to establish a joint venture that will focus on the export of cheese. Both cheese majors are combining their efforts in a new company that will export and sell affordable cheese propositions to markets in Africa and the Middle East from Egypt. Talks of the agreement began in 2020, with the two parties signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in September 2020. Under the agreement, FrieslandCampina will hold a 51 per…

Lactalis eyes acquisition of Dutch cheese brand Leerdammer to boost European presence

Mar 22, 2021Mar 22, 2021 Editor

ITALY – French multinational dairy products corporation, Lactalis has entered into exclusive negotiations with Bel Group to acquire its Dutch cheese brand Leerdammer, as part of efforts to bosst its European presence. Apart from the Leedammer brand, FoodBev reported that the two companies have signed unilateral promises which will see Lactalis acquire also acquire Royal Bel Leerdammer, Bel Shostka Ukraine, and its businesses in Italy and Germany. Under the terms of the deal, Bel subsidiary Sicopa will sell the aforementioned assets in exchange for Lactalis’ 23.16% equity stake in Bel.…