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

Nestlé launches plant-based variant of Kitkat chocolate to meet customer demands

Jun 14, 2021Jun 14, 2021 Editor

EUROPE – Nestlé, the world’s largest food company, is taking another industry leap with the launch KitKat V, a new plant-based variant of its popular 5-finger chocolate brand-Kitkat. According to a statement from the company, the new vegan version of the iconic KitKat will be on shelves from mid-June in the United Kingdom, Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Plans are also underway to roll out the new variant in other countries, including Australia and Brazil. Replicating the taste experience from a standard chocolate is however not easy task when using…

Kraft Heinz to acquire Turkish sauce company Assan Foods to bolster presence in EMEA

Jun 13, 2021Jun 13, 2021 Editor

TURKEY – Leading American multinational food company Kraft Heinz has agreed to acquire Turkish sauce company Assan Foods from Kibar Holding in a deal that will bolster the company’s presence in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). According to a statement from the maker of popular Heinz tomato ketchup, the planned acquisition of Assan from KIbar Holdings values Assan at approximately US$100 million. Headquartered in Istanbul, Assan Foods manufactures and sells a wide range of sauce products such as ketchup, mayonnaise, pasta sauces and more. Assan Foods has acted as a…

Europe poultry exports plummet as region experiences one of the largest Avian Influenza epidemics ever

Jun 10, 2021Jun 10, 2021 Editor

EUROPE – Poultry exports from Europe decreased significantly following the February-May 2021 European High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) season described as “one of the largest and most devastating HPAI epidemics ever occurred in Europe.” According to statistics from the United States Department of Agriculture, the 2020-2021 HPAI epidemic counts 3,555 detected infections in 27 European countries including 22 EU member states, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. USDA notes that the epicenter of the HPAI epidemic appears to have been in Germany and Poland, with the former country detecting the…

Bunge partners IMCD to expand presence in Europe’s lecithin market

Jun 7, 2021Jun 7, 2021 Editor

NETHERLANDS – Bunge, a leading oilseeds processing company and one of the world’s largest lecithin producers, is looking to expand its presence in Europe’s lecithin market through a partnership with IMCD. The exclusive distribution partnership was entered by Bunge Loders Croklaan, Bunge’s plant-based lipids business and IMCD’s Food and Nutrition division. According to a statement from Bunge, the agreement which is effective immediately, allows IMCD to distribute Bunge Loders Croklaan’s complete BungeMaxx lecithin portfolio in Europe. Specifically, IMCD will be the exclusive distributor of Bunge’s lecithin portfolio in Austria, Belgium,…

SIG to launch tethered caps for carton packs to help manufacturers meat sustainable packaging goals

Jun 4, 2021Jun 4, 2021 Editor

EUROPE – SIG, a leading manufacturer of aseptic packaging, has announced plans to launch tethered caps for its beverage cartons in Europe in the second half of 2021 in an effort to help manufacturers improve the sustainability profile of their packaging. According to a statement from the company, the redesigned caps do not compromise on convenience and will be compatible with existing filling machines and closure applicators. This will save food manufacturers from major capital expenditures in the transition to the new packaging format. Additionally, SIG’s new tethered caps are…

Mondelēz to invest US$2bn in acquisition of European baked goods firm Chipita

May 27, 2021May 27, 2021 Editor

GREECE – Mondelēz International, an American multinational confectionery and snack food company, has agreed to acquire Chipita, a manufacturer of croissants and baked snacks in central and eastern Europe, for $2 billion. Based in Athens, Greece, Chipita manufactures a range of croissants and baked snacks – including cakes, biscuits and spreads – under its brands 7Days, Chipicao and Fineti. The company’s baked foods are produced in 13 manufacturing plants spread across Europe and distributed to more than 56countries. The Netherlands, Greece, Germany, Bulgaria, Austria, United Kingdom, Poland, Russia, Romania, Turkey,…

Graphic Packaging set to bolster presence in Europe with the acquisition of AR Packaging

May 17, 2021May 17, 2021 Editor

EUROPE – Graphic Packaging, has agreed to acquire AR Packaging, a producer of fiber-based consumer packaging in Europe, from CVC Funds for approximately US$1.45 billion. The US-based designer and manufacturer of packaging solutions said the acquisition will expand its geographic reach, innovation capabilities, and value for customers throughout Europe and bordering regions. AR Packaging operates 30 factories across 13 countries with 5,500 employees, and is described as Europe’s second largest producer of fibre-based consumer packaging. The company manufactures a range of products – including folding cartons, trays, cups, pouches, lidding…

European Food Safety Authority flags Titanum Dioxide as “non-safe” whitening food additive

May 10, 2021May 10, 2021 Editor

EUROPE – The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) has, in its latest safety assessment, flagged titanium dioxide (E171) as a “non-safe” whitening food additive. Titanium dioxide is commonly used as a pigment to bring a bright and smooth white appearance to pastries or confectionery or to opacify yogurt or ice cream. The compound is also used in candy, chewing gum, cake icing and white sauces. Its whitening power and the chemical inertness has made it an almost unchallenged whitening pigment in F&B for many years. EFSA finds E171 unsafe Questions…

Valusect invests in 17 SMEs to bolster development of insect protein market in Northern Europe

Apr 29, 2021Apr 29, 2021 Editor

EUROPE – ValuSect, a European insect production project, has announced that it will invest over US$572 million in supporting 17 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) located in North-West Europe to develop their insect-based food business. The 17 selected SMEs are located in the UK (6), the Netherlands (6), Germany (2), Belgium (1), Switzerland (1) and France (1) and are expected to receive support in form of services which include technological food development and innovation, consumer acceptance and strategic business services. According to a report by Food Ingredients first, each of…

UK food and beverage exports to EU decline by US$1.5 billion as Brexit realities continue to impact trade

Apr 28, 2021Apr 28, 2021 Editor

UK – In the first few months of 2021, Britain’s exports to the EU were down more than £1.1 billion (US$1.5 billion), according to a new Food and Drink Federation (FDF) report. For the month of February, The FDF report notes that F&B exports to the EU were down more than a fifth in February, linked to a fall in sales of 40.9 percent compared to the same period of the previous year. Exports to UK’s biggest market, Ireland, have also dropped more than two thirds during the period under…