Tag: UK

EG group diversifies into bakery manufacturing with acquisition of Cooplands bakery chain

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UK – British retailer and operator of fast food outlets and petrol station Euro Garages (EG) has acquired baked goods manufacturer and retail bakery chain Cooplands for an undisclosed sum.  Founded by Frederick and Alice Coopland in 1885, Cooplands employs more than 1,600 colleagues and reportedly is the UK’s second-largest bakery chain.  The purchase includes three bakeries that process ingredients and manufactures fresh food which is distributed through its supply chain and logistics network to about 180 stores and cafes.  Following the acquisition, EG plans to diversify the Cooplands brand into the…

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Amendment on allergen labelling takes effect in UK as many food businesses play catchup

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UK – UK Food Information Amendment, popularly known as Natasha’s Law has taken effect in the United Kingdom promising an increased level of protection for many consumers who are allergic to certain foods.  Under the new law, food businesses will be required to provide full ingredient lists and allergen labeling on all food that is pre-packaged for direct sale.   The 14 allergens that must be declared by law when used as ingredients are: 1. Celery 2. Cereals containing gluten 3. Crustaceans 4. Eggs 5. Fish 6. Lupin 7. Milk…

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US private equity firm CD&R to acquire UK supermarket Morrisons for US$9.5B

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UK – U.S private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) is set to take control of Britain’s fourth-biggest supermarket group Morrisons after winning the auction for the retailer with a 7 billion pound ($9.5 billion) bid.   CD&R’s 287 pence per share bid narrowly beat the one made by a consortium led by Softbank (9434.T) owned Fortress Investment Group which had made an offer worth just a penny less per share at 286 pence.  Morrisons’ board recommended that shareholders vote in favor of the 287 pence per share offer at a meeting slated for Oct. 19, saying the…

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UK competition watchdog puts businesses on notice over greenwashing claims

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UK – Businesses in the UK have until the end of the year to ensure their environmental claims comply with the law, otherwise, they risk being charged, the UK Competition and Markets Authority has revealed.  Environmental claims are claims which suggest that a product, service, process, brand, or business is better for the environment, according to the CMA.     They include claims that suggest or create the impression that a product or a service has a positive or no impact on the environment.  Environmental claims are genuine when they…

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UK introduces mandatory folic acid fortification for wheat flour to help prevent birth defects

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UK – UK government has announced that Folic acid (Vitamin B9) is to be added to UK wheat flour to help prevent spinal birth defects in babies.   Folate helps the body make healthy red blood cells and is naturally occurring in certain foods, such as leafy green vegetables.    Research shows that not getting enough folate (Vitamin B9) within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy can lead to neural tube defects and result in spinal conditions such as spina bifida or anencephaly.  Spina bifida (abnormal development of the spine) and anencephaly, a…

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Pernod Ricard to buy online spirits retailer The Whisky Exchange as Sella Digital scoops up heritage gin brand J&W Nicholson

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UK – French alcoholic beverages company Pernod Ricard is set to expand its e-commerce capabilities with the acquisition of online spirits retailer The Whisky Exchange.  The Whisky Exchange was founded in 1999 by Sukhinder and Rajbir Singh and delivers a range of approximately 10,000 whiskies and spirits, making it one of the largest online spirits retailers in the UK.  Best known for its website, the company also has three retail shops in London and is also “active in private sales and online auctions of rare spirits,” said Pernod Ricard.  Pernod…

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CCEP invests US$33m to expand sustainable packaging capacity of UK manufacturing site

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UK – Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP), one of the largest anchor bottlers of beverage giant Coca-Cola, has invested £28m (US$33m) into its manufacturing site in Sidcup, United Kingdom to fund the installation of a new canning line.  The new high-speed canning line is capable of producing 2,000 cans per minute, elevating the site’s production capabilities and supporting the production of sustainable packaging for a number of CCEP’s brands.   According to a statement from the UK-based bottling giant, the new canning line is set to open in June 2022, creating…

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IPO bound craft beer company Brewdog raises record US$42m in online equity crowdfunding round

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UK – Brewdog, the world’s most prominent craft beer company, has raised £30.2m (about US$42m) in an online-only equity crowdfunding round dubbed “Equity For Punks Tomorrow”.  According to the maker of Punk IPA beer, the funding was raised from a crowd of 73,802 investors which it refers to as “Equity Punks”.   The latest investment round (which BrewDog says is the final round) brings the number of investors in BrewDog to over 200,000 Equity Punks in total.  “Thanks to everyone involved in the project for making it such a world-record breaking success! Every single penny invested goes…

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PepsiCo upgrades UK snack processing factory with US$28.9m investment

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UK – Snacks and drinks giant PepsiCo has invested £24.5m (US$28.92m) into its Walkers crisp factory in Lincoln in order to upgrade the facilities, meet growing demand for its Quavers snacks and secure the future of the site. The investment will see the company replace existing machinery at the site with new equipment, such as a compact packaging machine that will help PepsiCo to remove packaging from its supply chain by 30%. The project will also increase the factory’s capacity for Quavers – which PepsiCo claims are now bought by…

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Sonae acquires Gosh! Food owner for US$89m as Kellogg spends $45m in supply chain optimization

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UK – Sonae Food4Future, a subsidiary of Portugal-based Sonae, is expanding its international footprint with the acquisition of Claybell, the owner of vegan and free-from brand Gosh! Food.   According to a report by FoodBev, Sonae spent around £64 million (about US$89 million) for a 95.4% stake in the UK food company.   UK-based Gosh! Food portfolio includes a range of vegan and free-from products, including bites, sausages, and burgers, both sold through the Gosh! Brand.  The company is also a private label partner to customers in the retail and foodservice channels. For the…

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