The latest news, trends, analysis, interviews and podcasts from the global food and beverage industry

Dutch food-tech company Rival Foods has raised €10m in Series B growth financing, supporting the scale-up of its plant-based whole cut meat alternatives.

Danone has announced a new phase of investment into its Digital Lab (D-Lab) in Singapore, strengthening its focus on digital health innovation and expanding its global research and innovation (R&I) network.

The UK government has announced its Digital & Technology Sector Plan as part of its broader Industrial Strategy, including an £184m Engineering Biology Scale-up Infrastructure Programme to build and upgrade facilities.

Shinkei Systems, a US-based seafood robotics company, has successfully raised $22 million in a Series A funding round co-led by Founders Fund and Interlagos.

Industrial automation firm Sojo Industries has raised $40 million in financing from S2G Investments to expand its modular robotic packaging systems and track-and-trace software.

Danone North America celebrated the opening of a new $65m production line at its manufacturing facility in Jacksonville, Florida, this week.

Danone Canada has invested $9 million to begin manufacturing individual yogurt cups using polyethylene terephthalate (PET) at its Boucherville plant in Québec.

Switzerland-based Harvest Group has committed $500 million to convert up to 300,000 hectares of pastureland into productive agricultural land across rural Kazakhstan.

Ence, a player in sustainable cellulose production and renewable energy, has launched its new range of cellulose-based packaging aimed at replacing traditional plastic in the food sector.

French food-tech start-up Fungu’it has secured €4 million in funding to accelerate industrial-scale production of its natural flavourings made from agricultural by-products.

Sauz, a rapidly growing brand known for its innovative approach to tomato sauce, has announced the successful closure of a $12 million funding round led by Cavu Consumer Partners.

Grillo’s Pickles has announced plans to open a new $54 million food manufacturing facility in Bartholomew County, Indiana, to support rising national demand.