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

Mars targets to rid supply chain of carbon emissions in new 2050 sustainability goal

Oct 7, 2021Oct 7, 2021 Editor

US — American manufacturer of snacks and pet foods Mars Inc., has unveiled its new sustainability agenda where it plans to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) across its entire supply chain by 2050. To become carbon neutral, the company plans to transition to renewable energy, redesign its supply chains to stop deforestation, and invest in renewable agriculture. “To deliver meaningful impact and ensure it is fit for purpose, our net zero target covers our entire GHG footprint, from how we source materials through to how consumers use our products,…

AAK partners Mars, NGOs and impact investor to undertake decade-long sustainable shea initiative in Ghana

Jun 14, 2021Jun 14, 2021 Editor

GHANA – The global specialist in plant-based oils, AAK, has joined forces with global confectionery, food, and pet care company Mars Incoporated, several leading NGOs, and an impact investment fund to undertake the Women in Shea (WISH) initiative in Ghana. WISH, scheduled to run until 2030, aims to improve the livelihoods of women working in Ghana’s shea supply chain. Stakeholders in the initiative have the common goal to bring economic and social benefits to 13,000 women shea collectors from more than 150 communities in Northern Ghana. It also seeks to…

Mars, PepsiCo, McCormick launch new coalition to mobilize industrywide action against climate change

Apr 18, 2021Apr 18, 2021 Editor

US – Leading food companies Mars Incorporated, PepsiCo and McCormick have come together and in partnership with sustainability consultancy firm Guidehouse, formed a new coalition to help drive industrywide action against climate change. Known as the Supplier Leadership on Climate Transition (Supplier LoCT), the coalition aims to mobilize collective climate action by providing suppliers with resources, tools, and knowledge to support their own climate journeys. In its first year, the program will focus on helping suppliers understand the foundations of greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions in their businesses, including core knowledge…

Bell launches new flavours to enhance sensory profile of plant-based foods

Apr 14, 2021Apr 14, 2021 Editor

EUROPE – Bell Flavors & Fragrances has launched a portfolio of functional flavors to aid European manufacturers in mitigating specific off-notes, while creating a more neutral and appealing sensory profile in plant-based foods. Plant proteins often generate unwanted bitter or beany off-notes or lack specific sensory attributes, making them less appealing for consumers. To address this problem, experts from Bell identified the potential off-tastes of various protein sources, including soy, wheat, pea, rice, oat, almond and coconut. Primary focuses were studying the ingredients’ organoleptic effects on taste and other characteristics,…

American food company Mars to invest US$422m in new sustainability project in UK

Jan 18, 2021Jan 18, 2021 Editor

UK – American multinational food company Mars has launched a new US$422 million project in the United Kingdom in an effort to cut down on its Carbon emissions and meet its companywide sustainability goals. The project to be implemented in partnership with global logistics company DHL will see the construction of two new warehousing facilities in the UK. The American-based manufacturer of confectionery, pet food, and other food products claims that through the project it will be able to deliver annual outbound logistics CO2 savings of 7.7%. The multi-year partnership…

Billion-dollar food industry mergers and acquisitions that took place in 2020

Jan 7, 2021Jan 7, 2021 Editor

GLOBAL – Despite the unsettled year due to the impact of the global Covid-19 pandemic, 2020 hasn’t been shy of food and beverage industry deals. There were several billion-dollar mergers and acquisitions that took place during the entire year, some shaking up the industry, creating new food behemoths in their respective regions. Food Business Africa reviewed the year and has compiled a list of some of the biggest and most interesting mergers and acquisitions that took place this year. Inspire Brands acquires fast-food chains Dunkin’ Donuts, Baskin-Robbins for US$ $11.3B…

Kind to acquire better-for-you snack bar maker Nature’s Bakery

Dec 6, 2020Dec 6, 2020 Editor

US – American healthy snack manufacturer Kind has entered into an agreement to buy snack bar brand specializing in a range of plant-based and nut-free snack bars Nature’s Bakery. Founded in 2011, Nature’s Bakery has a portfolio, which includes fig bars, brownie bars and other soft-baked options. Its acquisition is seen by many analysts as a natural step in Kind’s growth strategy as its portfolio is said to provide a differentiated and complementary offering to Kind’s existing range. “If you look at pantries across the country, odds are you will…

Mars Incorporated to expand portfolio with acquisition of popular snack maker Kind North America

Nov 18, 2020Nov 18, 2020 Editor

US – American multinational food company Mars Incorporated is set to expand its portfolio of food company following an agreement to fully acquiring snack processing giant Kind North America. The acquisition comes three years after Mars took a minority stake in the healthy snacking company that is reported to make about US$1.5 billion in sales annually. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, but people with knowledge of the deal told The New York Times the deal valued Kind at about $5 billion. Kind as a better-for-you snack producer Since…

Mars commits US$20m to communities in COVID-19 response

Apr 6, 2020Apr 6, 2020 Editor

USA – Mars Incorporated, the American multinational confectionery, food, and petcare products company, has announced a new commitment which includes an initial cash and in-kind donation of US$20 million to support communities most affected by COVID-19. The support package also includes a US$5 million donation to support CARE for critical supplies and expertise that will be deployed in the developing world, to women, children and refugee populations. The company will also donate US$2 million to the United Nation’s World Food Programme (WFP) to aid in the transport and delivery of…

Mars expands collaboration in women focused agribusiness initiative with US$10m investment

Feb 22, 2020Feb 22, 2020 Editor

WEST AFRICA – Mars, the global manufacturer of confectionery, pet food, and other food products has partnered with CARE, a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty, to promote women’s social and economic empowerment in cocoa-growing communities in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. CARE and Mars Wrigley are building on the success and learnings of their Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) initiative with an investment of US$10m to aid them to expand beyond the 12,000 members they have supported through mid-2019. Through the initiative they are targeting to reach 50,000 more…