I.T.S has launched a new ‘crossbreed fruit’ flavour line, tapping into the hybrid fruit trend amid rising interest in new twists on classic favourites across the F&B industry. The company aims to meet the demand for exciting new innovations in this space through the launch of its new natural, clean label and allergen-free flavour line, which is designed to replicate the bold flavours of real fruit crossbreeds. Mike Bagshaw, founder of I.T.S, explained that real fruit crossbreeds are trending – but face challenges around availability, seasonality and price. “Crossbreed or hybrid fruits like pineberries, and tangelos have been making waves recently in UK supermarkets, with retailers such as Waitrose championing them and showing consumers that fruit doesn’t just have to be a boring old apple or banana,” he commented. “These exciting, crossbred fruit flavours provide great scope for innovation in drinks, snacks, bakery or dairy.” Bagshaw noted that the new line enables manufacturers to “move fast and capture the buzz” while avoiding the supply challenges faced by using real fruit crossbreeds. The flavour solution range includes: Melon Berry : A juicy melon base lifted with sweet berry notes, described as perfect for summer product launches Tangelo : A zesty blend of tangerine and pomelo, well-suited for soft drinks and confectionery Limelon : A combination of sharp lime and mellow lemon, providing a crisp, cooling effect suited to beverages and frozen treats Blood Lime : Combining rich citrus depth with ruby-red intensity, positioned as a ‘sophisticated yet playful’ flavour for cocktails, desserts and dairy Pineberry : Described as ‘strawberry’s tropical cousin,’ the solution combines strawberry and pineapple flavours, designed for eye-catching yogurts and bakery products Boysenberry : A bold and dark berry with ‘jammy richness,’ ideally suited to sauces, fillings and premium drinks Peach Berry : Juicy peach rounded with a ripe berry sweetness, designed for versatility across F&B applications and described as ‘smooth and sunny’

Alt-dairy start-up Climax Foods has rebranded to Bettani Farms; has appointed former Califia Farms CFO, Sandeep Patel, as CEO and chairman; and has raised $6.5 million in Series A funding. Bettani, based in California, US, has developed a protein-rich, non-GMO ingredient platform that is also free from dairy, soy and nuts, for use in plant-based cheese products. Its proprietary protein ingredient, Caseed, is made from regenerative seed crops and mimics the functionality and mouthfeel of dairy casein while remaining 100% plant-based and free from common allergens. According to Bettani, the ingredient’s creamy texture, neutral flavour profile and white colour make it ideally suited for developing a range of protein-rich, dairy-free alternative to popular cheeses like mozzarella, feta, goat’s cheese, cream cheese, brie and blue. It can offer 12-20g of protein per 100g of cheese. Additionally, the start-up said its natural, farm-sourced ingredient can provide a more cost competitive alternative to fermentation-based casein equivalents. The funding round was led by S2G Investments, a multi-stage investment firm focused on scaling solutions across food and agriculture, energy and oceans. It also saw participation from new and existing investors including At One Ventures, Gratitude Railroad, Manta Ray Ventures and Toba Capital. New CEO Patel joins Bettani from Califia Farms, with other previous experience including a role as president and CFO of PopSockets. Sandeep Patel He also brings extensive industry experience across packaged food, agriculture, consumer products and sustainable technologies from his time as a managing director at Goldman Sachs and Barclays, where he advised food industry leaders, entrepreneurs and investors. Under his leadership, Bettani will focus on commercialising Caseed and Caseed-powered cheeses in partnership with frozen food makers, foodservice operators and existing dairy-free cheese brands seeking to improve their formulations. Patel commented: “Bettani is poised to do for pizza what oat milk has done for coffee. Just as oat won coffee over the last five years with its superior taste, mouthfeel, performance and allergen profile, our Caseed-powered cheeses deliver the melt, stretch, texture and flavour consumers crave in pizza and other hot foods – without the allergens and high carbon footprint of dairy.” Sanjeev Krishnan, managing partner at S2G, said: “As Bettani starts this new chapter, we believe it’s clear the company has the strong leadership and vision needed to make protein-rich, dairy-free cheeses commonplace”. “We’re proud to continue to support Bettani and the commercialisation of its technology at a critical time when demand for protein-rich, allergen-free and more sustainable food products is increasing.”

Frozen Greek yogurt brand Yasso, part of the Magnum Ice Cream Company, has expanded its range in the better-for-you dessert category with the launch of its new 14oz spoonable frozen Greek yogurt line, now available at Target stores across the US. Known for reimagining indulgence with nutrition-forward innovation, Yasso’s latest offering sees the brand move beyond bars, bites and sandwiches into the pint category, bringing a protein-packed ice cream-like experience for customers seeking indulgence while also balancing a healthy diet. The new line-up features five flavours: Mint Choc Chip, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Fudge Brownie, Cookies ‘n’ Cream and Coffee Chip. Each is made with no artificial flavours, colours or sugar alcohols and includes 19g of protein. Each tub contains approximately 400 calories. Bentley King, US head of marketing operations at the Magnum Ice Cream Company, said: “We have always believed that great taste and nutrition don’t have to be a compromise. Our new spoonable frozen Greek yogurt answers the craving for rich, decadent flavour while still delivering the benefits customers expect.” The new launch follows Yasso’s continued commitment to the frozen snacking space. Since launching in 2011 as a frozen Greek yogurt brand, Yasso has built a portfolio of novelty stick bars, chocolate crunch bars and sandwiches.

Lipton Teas and Infusions has agreed to transfer ownership of its two tea processing factories in Türkiye’s Rize region to local tea producer Öz-Gür Çay, pending approval from local authorities. The facilities, which handle drying and cutting of a minority portion of Lipton’s locally sourced tea, would continue to process tea leaves for the company under the proposed arrangement. Lipton said the move aligns with its global strategy to focus on its core activities of selecting, blending and selling tea, rather than owning processing factories. All finished Turkish tea, including that from the Rize sites, is already sent to Lipton’s blending and packaging facility in Sakarya. The €30 million state-of-the-art site opened earlier this year and remains central to the company’s operations in Türkiye. Top image: © Lipton Teas and Infusions

Mars and Cargill are accelerating the development of more than 224MWac of new renewable energy capacity through five virtual power purchase agreements (PPA) in Poland, signed with GoldenPeaks Capital. The collaboration builds on the existing renewable energy work from the two food industry giants. The project is claimed to be the largest multi-buyer renewable energy agreement in Poland and the Central and Eastern Europe region, which is Europe’s most carbon-intensive grid. Independent renewable energy producer GoldenPeaks Capital will develop the new solar projects, which are expected to come online in 2027 and generate enough clean energy to power an estimated 200,000 households each year. The initiative aims to demonstrate how supplier and customer partnerships can drive emissions reduction at scale and accelerate progress toward shared climate goals, offering a replicable model for the broader food and agriculture sector. Kevin Rabinovitch, global VP of sustainability at Mars, said: “These solar PPA agreements will create new solar projects that enable Mars to reduce and eliminate its current scope 2 electricity emissions in Poland, and also a portion of our scope 3 emissions as part of our Renewable Acceleration program, where Mars is driving progress on renewable electricity in our value chain”. He added: “Having a supplier like Cargill also working directly on its electricity use complements our approach. In Poland, by aggregating with our supplier, we gained scale and delivered a huge win for both of our organisations as we join forces to advance our individual companies’ climate goals.” Christina Yagjian, senior director of global renewable energy at Cargill, said that the project deepens Cargill’s commercial relationship with Mars, showing how partnership across the value chain can “drive meaningful climate action,” while also lowering procurement costs.

Campbell's cracker graham brand Goldfish has partnered with Peanuts – the classic comic strip created by Charles M Schulz – to release a limited-edition snack celebrating Peanuts’ 75th anniversary. The new product combines peppermint and cocoa flavours in graham snacks shaped like the signature Goldfish, alongside two new designs inspired by Snoopy – his face and paw. The brand says the seasonal product blends “holiday nostalgia with festive flavour”. Mike Fanelli, senior director at Goldfish, said: “Goldfish lovers look forward to our limited time offers, and we’re excited to give them something new to celebrate this holiday season. Goldfish and Peanuts bring together two family favorite brands. The nostalgic charm of Snoopy and the comforting taste of peppermint cocoa deliver a snack that will get the whole family into the holiday spirit.” The collaboration follows other themed partnerships from Goldfish, including tie-ins with Hello Kitty, Elf and Harry Potter. The limited-edition Goldfish Snoopy Peppermint Cocoa Grahams will be available from November at national retailers across the US for a suggested retail price of $3.69 per 6.1oz bag.

The Compleat Food Group’s Vadasz brand has expanded its range with a trio of live cultured, naturally fermented dips, claimed to be a first-to-market innovation in the UK. The brand’s entry into the dips market follows consumer research showing that 83% of existing pickles and kimchi shoppers would purchase Vadasz-branded dips if available. The range includes Kimchi Houmous, Super Beet Kimchi Dip, and Garlic & Dill Pickle Dip. It has been developed to meet growing demand for healthier and flavourful snacking options. Each dip is plant-based, made with 100% natural ingredients and contains naturally fermented or live cultured and cold brined vegetables as the base. The range aligns with increasing interest in functional, clean label and gut-friendly products. Kimchi Houmous combines chickpeas and seasoned vegetables with Vadasz’s kimchi to create a ‘rich, creamy and perfectly balanced’ dip that offers an umami take on the classic houmous format. It also provides a source of protein, fibre and healthy fats. Super Beet Kimchi Dip blends naturally fermented beetroot, red cabbage, carrot and apple with high-protein, fibre-rich cannellini beans. Vadasz describes the dip as ‘earthy and creamy,’ well-suited for pairing with wholegrain or seed crackers, or as a side with cheese boards. Finally, Garlic & Dill Dip is inspired by Vadasz's well-loved pickles. It combines sauerkraut, pickles and cannellini beans for a tangy and savoury flavour profile. The dip is topped with garlic and dill pickled cucumber, providing the nutritional benefits of cold-brined vegetables. Yvonne Adam, chief marketing officer at The Compleat Food Group, said: “Dips remain a high-volume, high-frequency category, but many products are still dominated by added sugar, preservatives and artificial ingredients”. “With this launch, we’re bringing the Vadasz magic of gut-friendly ingredients and bold flavour to a new part of the chiller with a UK-first. These dips will appeal not only to our core pickle and kimchi shoppers, but also to consumers looking for better-for-you snacking that doesn’t compromise on taste.” The dips are the latest addition to Vadasz range following the launch of its Smacked Cucumbers and Kimchi Shot products earlier this year. The new dip line is available from Sainsbury’s and Ocado now, with an RRP of £3.50 per 200g dip.

Kerry Group is set to open its first Pennsylvania manufacturing facility in Hanover Township, Northampton County. The multi-million-dollar plant will focus on coffee roasting and extraction and is expected to create 61 new jobs. The company is leasing a former Martin Bauer Group building and will retain 16 employees from the previous operation. The state of Pennsylvania is supporting the project with $516,880, including a $316,880 Pennsylvania First grant and a $200,000 WEDnetPA grant for workforce training. Kerry has also been encouraged to apply for the Manufacturing Tax Credit Program. John Cahalane, president and CEO of Kerry North America, said: “With this acquisition, Kerry is enhancing production capabilities and leveraging advanced technologies to meet the rising demand for all-natural coffee ingredients across multiple markets, ultimately driving business growth and innovation". "We are especially proud to partner with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, whose support has been instrumental in making this expansion possible. This collaboration reinforces our belief that Bethlehem is the right place to grow our coffee business and deepen our commitment to sustainable nutrition and local community development.” Lehigh Valley hosts more than 100 international companies, with food and beverage producers forming a major part of the region’s manufacturing sector. Other global brands in the area include Coca-Cola, Ocean Spray, Boston Beer Co, Freshpet, Just Born, Bakerly/Norac Foods and Bimbo Bakeries. Gov Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania secretary of community and economic development, Rick Siger, highlighted the Kerry investment as a boost to the state’s manufacturing and food production industry and local job market.

PAI Partners, a private equity firm, has announced the completion of a €3.6 billion equity transaction to establish a new ownership structure for its roughly 50% stake in Froneri, the global ice cream giant jointly owned with Nestlé. As part of the deal, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) has become a significant minority co-investor in Froneri, joining PAI and a new single-asset continuation vehicle (CV) led by Vintage Strategies at Goldman Sachs Alternatives. The transaction ranks among the largest single-asset CV deals ever completed in Europe. Formed in 2016 through a joint venture between PAI’s R&R Ice Cream and Nestlé’s European ice cream business, Froneri has evolved from a mainly European, private-label producer into a brand-led global business, now generating €5.5 billion in annual revenue across 25 countries. The company’s portfolio includes leading brands such as Häagen-Dazs, Nestlé, and various regional favourites, supported by a strong innovation pipeline and a well-invested supply chain. “Froneri is a clear example of PAI’s ability to create and grow global champions in the consumer sector,” said Frédéric Stévenin, co-managing partner at PAI Partners. “Since we first partnered with Nestlé in 2016, the business has successfully expanded into new markets, strengthened its branded portfolio and established itself as a global leader.” Phil Griffin, CEO of Froneri, added: “The renewed commitment of our partners, combined with the addition of new investors and capital, reflects confidence in our business and reinforces the strong partnership that underpins our growth.” ADIA’s involvement marks a significant addition to the shareholder base. Hamad Shahwan Aldhaheri, Executive Director of ADIA’s Private Equities Department, said the investment “offers a compelling opportunity to support Froneri for its next phase of growth alongside experienced and proven partners.” Gabriel Mollerberg, managing director at Goldman Sachs Alternatives, cited Froneri’s “attractive financial characteristics, exceptional operational execution and strong alignment with all key shareholders” as key factors behind investor demand. Advisers on the transaction included Evercore for PAI, Rothschild for Froneri, and Deutsche Bank for ADIA. Froneri employs over 12,000 people globally. The company is expected to pursue further organic growth, operational efficiency, and strategic acquisitions under its next phase of development. Top image: © Froneri

Javvy Coffee has expanded its Protein Coffee line-up at Sprouts Farmers Market with the launch of two new products. The new offerings include Collagen Creamer Sweet Cream and Coffee Concentrates in original, French vanilla and caramel flavours. The Javvy Sweet Cream Collagen Creamer (priced at $26.99) is a coconut-based creamer designed for both hot and iced coffee. Each serving provides 11g of collagen and medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which support hair, skin, nails and joint health. Meanwhile, the Javvy Coffee Concentrates (priced at $24.99) allow consumers to make customised coffee drinks quickly by adding 1-2 teaspoons to water or milk. Each serving contains 80mg of caffeine and is made with 100% real coffee, with no added sugar or artificial ingredients. The new products are available at all Sprouts Farmers Market locations across the US.

PepsiCo is bringing a sweet twist to the savoury snacks aisle this Christmas with the launch of Doritos Gingerbread, the brand’s first-ever limited-edition festive flavour. Available from 6th October, Doritos Gingerbread combines the brand’s signature crunch with the warming spice of gingerbread. PepsiCo says the unique flavour pairing aims to blur the lines between sweet and savoury snacking, driving category disruption and impulse purchases during the key holiday trading period. The limited-edition Doritos variant headlines a wider seasonal line-up that also includes two new Walkers flavours – Emmental Cheese and Beef Wellington – both launching in five-pack multipacks. Meanwhile, Sensations Honey Glazed Ham returns to shelves in 150g sharing bags following strong seasonal demand in previous years. “Christmas is a time of togetherness and joy – and our festive snack range is designed to reflect just that,” said Rob Pothier, marketing director at PepsiCo. “With bold new flavours like Doritos Gingerbread, Walkers Emmental Cheese and Walkers Beef Wellington, we’re tapping into consumer curiosity for special flavours and formats while supporting retailers in driving sales during the festive season.” The limited-edition range will be available from 6th October. The Walkers 5-pack Emmental Cheese and Walkers 5-pack Beef Wellington will both retail at £2.15, while the Sensations Honey Glazed Ham will be available as a 150g share bag at £2.50 and the Doritos Gingerbread is a 180g share bag, also at £2.50.

Morinaga Milk has announced that it will suspend production at its plant in Akita, Japan, in March 2026 as part of a restructuring initiative. The Japanese dairy group said it has been making progress in optimising its production systems through ongoing efforts to strengthen its business base through streamlining its operations. In accordance with its medium-term business plan, the company said it will suspend production at the Akita plant – which operates under its Tohoku Morinaga Milk Industry business – in March, with its operations to be transferred to another site. The nearly 32,000-square-metre Akita plant, which produces a range of Morinaga milk products, has been in operation since March 1951 and employed a workforce of 54 employees as of 30 September 2025. FoodBev has approached Morinaga for further information on the closure and its impact on the site’s employees.