FoodBev Media’s Phoebe Fraser rounds up this week’s food and beverage news, including:
Döhler reinforces ingredient portfolio with acquisition of SVZ
Döhler Group has announced its acquisition of SVZ, a producer of premium purees, concentrates and ingredients derived from sustainably sourced vegetables and red berries.
The purchase aims to strengthen Döhler’s position in the global market and expand its portfolio of technology-driven natural ingredients, ingredient systems and integrated solutions, as well as its global market presence, particularly in the US and Japan.
SVZ has production sites in the US, Spain, Poland and Belgium, and has already established a strong presence in the food, beverage and life science and nutrition industries. With the acquisition, customers will have access to a broader range of ingredients and raw materials, including low-calorie, high-fibre and nutrient-dense fruit and vegetables, meeting consumer demands for health and wellness.
Russia ends Black Sea Grain deal and destroys 60,000 tonnes of grain
The UN-brokered deal that facilitated the export of more than 30 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain to global markets via three Black Sea ports expired on 17 July. The initiative was agreed by Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the UN in July last year but has now collapsed after Russia pulled out of the deal.
In the few days since Russia quit the Black Sea Grain deal, officials have announced that Russia has launched attacks on Ukraine port infrastructure involved in the initiative. The Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine said that 60,000 tonnes of grain were destroyed in the port of Chornomorsk.
Ukraine’s agriculture Minister Mykola Solskyi said that the grain infrastructure of international and Ukrainian traders and carriers, such as Kernel and Viterra, suffered the most. He described the attacks as a terrorist act against the entire world stating that the world’s food security is at risk. Solskyi added that the price of grain will rise, resulting in a considerable price hike for food such as flour and cereals, with meat prices also rising.
AG Barr’s Boost brand in trademark battle with Britvic’s Robinsons
AG Barr’s energy and sports-focused beverage brand Boost has accused Britvic of passing off its trademark with Robinsons’ newly launched functional squash range.
Boost filed an intellectual property claim on Friday, 14 July, which is thought to relate to Robinsons’ ‘Boost’ squash variant.
Robinsons’ launched the trio of wellness-focused premium squashes in May this year, each fortified with different vitamins and named Immunity, Vitality and Boost. The ‘Boost’ variant contains vitamin B6 to energise consumers. The brand also sells a ‘Boost’ version of its concentrated on-the-go vitamin-enhanced squash drops launched in April last year.
Boost Drinks’ claims to own the trademark for the word ‘boost’ under, covering non-alcoholic beverage categories, including squashes, hydration drinks and other dilutable beverages.
Kraft Heinz to build new $400m distribution centre in Illinois
The Kraft Heinz Company has invested $400 million to build a new automated consumer packaged goods distribution centre in DeKalb, in the US state of Illinois.
The company said that the 775,000-square-foot facility, which will feature national railway access, will be one of the largest centres in North America and will help Kraft Heinz to deliver its products more efficiently to retail and foodservice customers.
The new site design will include a 24/7 automated storage and retrieval system with the ability to drive twice the volume for Kraft Heinz customers. As a result, it will enable the distribution of over 60% of the company’s foodservice business and approximately 30% of all dry goods.
Nestlé unveiled a new sugar reduction technology – which uses an enzymatic process – that can reduce intrinsic sugar in ingredients such as milk, malt and fruit juices by up to 30%.
MycoTechnology discovered a natural sweet protein derived from honey truffle. The discovery has enabled the company to launch a honey truffle sweetener, offering an alternative to sugar and artificial replacements.
Danone launched a probiotic supplement that aims to support breastfeeding experiences by preventing mastitis. According to Danone’s research, probiotic supplementation during late pregnancy and in the early stages of breastfeeding can reduce mastitis, which is inflammation of the breast tissue that can result in breast pain and swelling, fever and rashes – it affects around one in four breastfeeding mothers.
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