UK-based sports nutrition brand SCI-MX has added a new clear whey protein isolate to its line-up of high-protein products. Packed with 21g of protein, the new product – which provides an alternative to traditional milky protein powder – is available in Tropical Island Punch and Apple & Blackcurrant flavour varieties. Parminder Singh, NPD manager at SCI-MX, said: “We’re always thinking about new products which we can bring to the market that amplify our offering, and we’re excited to introduce our latest offerings – Clear Whey Isolate... is the perfect product to refuel the body – especially during the warmer months when we naturally want a lighter, refreshing alternative to typically thick high-protein drinks.” The new isolate is less than 90kcal per serving and is said to be a “lean protein formula,” containing more than 90% whey protein and zero fat. It is available to purchase now for an RRP of £24.99.

Santa Maria has launched a new range of salsas. The range is available in three flavours: Mexican salsa roja, featuring a blend of red bell pepper, tomato and onion; Salsa Rio Grande, offering a "tangy, medium-chunky" salsa with garlic and coriander notes; and Mexican salsa verde, made from tomatillos, green jalapeños and lime, with a light green colour and chunky texture. According to the company, the salsas are prepped for immediate serving, or they can be customised. Santa Maria’s taste creator, Barnaby MacAdam, said: “Customisation has increased across menus by 49% year-on-year – it’s absolutely huge. Consumers are looking for ways to elevate their food choices with twists and upgrades to their dishes. The hurdle for many operators is having the time to reengineer their menus and come up with new ideas and also have the skill and time amongst their teams to create the dishes. “This is where our new salsa range comes into its own – it’s ready to be served, no prep required, and incredibly versatile, so can be dolloped on top of nachos, smothered over burger patties, the perfect accompaniment to Mexican salad bowls or can be offered as a topping choice for loaded burritos, tacos or taquitos." “Equally, operators can use our salsa as a base to then build their own signature salsa sauce – offering completely unique flavours to their customers. This could be added to existing menu dishes or as a signature side dipping sauce for fries or chicken wings, enabling operators to move away from offering side sauces for free and drive an additional revenue stream.” The salsas are available in 2.3-litre formats.

Pernod Ricard has signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Maharashtra to build "one of the biggest" malt distilleries in India. The distillery will be established in India's industrial suburb of Butibori in Nagpur, Maharashtra. Pernod said that it plans to invest up to €200 million in the facility, over the next decade. With the opening of the distillery, Pernod expects to employ up to 800 workers, covering both the construction phase and the ongoing operations of the plant. The company highlighted that this is expected to create "a ripple effect," positively influencing indirect employment opportunities in the region. Pernod aims to procure up to 50,000 tons of barley annually from farmers nationwide. Over time, the business plans to collaborate with the government to develop barley cultivation capabilities in Maharashtra, aiming to increase farmers' income. The malt spirit distillery will include sustainable practices and technologies in every stage of its processes from inception. Shri Devendra Fadnavis, deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, commented: “We believe that infrastructural growth is the first step towards amplifying advancement for any state, and we are delighted that Pernod Ricard India shares our vision to invest in the economic and skill development of the region and the country". "The foundation of this distillery will assist in creating strong avenues for employment and aid in spurring growth of ancillary industries and services. And most importantly, this would serve as a platform of opportunities for thousands of farmers of the region to attain steady income and bring agricultural diversity and stability.” Jean Touboul, CEO of Pernod Ricard India, said: “We are excited to announce the launch of one of India’s biggest malt spirit distilleries, to be set up in Nagpur, in Maharashtra. This initiative is in continuation of our dedicated efforts to make and innovate in India and we are confident that it will elevate India's standing on the global map, as a key player in the production of high-quality malt." "The establishment of this distillery will provide a boost to various allied sectors in and around Nagpur and the state of Maharashtra. Further, the foundation of the plant will aim to provide local entrepreneurs and the farmer community with new avenues of growth. As a leading player in the alco-bev segment for over 30 years, inclusive and sustainable growth has been at the heart of our India strategy. We are honoured to work with the government of Maharashtra, which shares a similar vision."

Amidst brewing tensions, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and a coalition of states are poised to take legal action as early as next week, aiming to prevent grocery giant Kroger's $24.6 billion acquisition bid for Albertsons, Bloomberg reported. With the looming expiration of a non-closure agreement between the FTC and the involved parties (on Wednesday 28 February), anticipation mounts as reports indicate an imminent lawsuit to stop the deal before this deadline. According to Bloomberg, the two companies are currently in the process of arranging a conclusive meeting with the FTC, aiming to dissuade the agency from pursuing legal action against their merger. A company spokesperson for Kroger said: “Kroger remains in ongoing discussions with the FTC and state regulators. This merger is the best thing for America’s consumers because it will lead to lower prices and more choices on the foods customers need, want and love." They continued: “Blocking the combination will only embolden large, non-unionised retailers – like Walmart, Amazon and Costco – to continue opposing unions and leaving communities. Kroger will continue to lower prices, grow good-paying union jobs and increase access to fresh food for the families who need it most.” Albertsons said it was "continuing to work closely with the FTC. This merger will expand competition, lower prices, protect union jobs and enhance customers’ shopping experience.” Colorado and Washington have taken legal action by filing lawsuits to halt the merger, due to concerns around antitrust issues, including potential price hikes for consumers, store closures and job losses. In a recent update, both companies announced a need for additional time to finalise the merger. This delay is attributed to the ongoing investigation by the FTC. In September, Kroger and Albertsons announced plans to sell 413 stores to C&S Wholesale Grocers. The divestiture plan fulfilled the commitments both businesses set out in their original merger agreement last year concerning divesting stores, including extending a competitor to new geographies through the sale of stores to a well-capitalised buyer that is led by seasoned operators with a strong balance sheet and a sound business plan; ensuring that no stores will close as a result of the merger; maintaining all current collective bargaining agreements, which include industry-leading healthcare and pension benefits, bargained-for wages, and ensuring frontline associates remain employed; and committing to invest in associates and stores for the long term. The two grocery giants initially revealed their merger plans in 2022. However, in response to growing opposition, they have pushed back the anticipated closure date from early this year to August.

Diamond of California has launched a new line of salad toppings, called Crunchy Nut Toppers. Crunchy Nut Toppers is made with bite-size pieces of nutrient-dense walnuts and pecans. The range is available in four flavours: bacon-free smoky bacon walnuts, dairy-free garden ranch walnuts, glazed walnuts and glazed pecans. Craig Tokusato, CMO of Diamond of California, said: “At Diamond of California, we continue to use our walnuts and pecans to create innovative and functional products that make at-home meals effortless and delicious". "We all know a little extra flavour and crunch elevates any dish, so we hope this new line of ready-to-use Crunchy Nut Toppers inspires home cooks to make good food even better. We recommend using them wherever you might add bacon bits, crispy onions or croutons.” Diamond of California's Crunchy Nut Toppers is available nationwide at major retailers, including Food Lion, Winn-Dixie and Lowes Foods, for $2.99 per pouch.

Perfect Day has partnered with Unilever's Breyers to launch a lactose-free chocolate ice cream made with Perfect Day’s dairy protein, which is produced via precision fermentation. This launch from Perfect Day and Breyers aims to make frozen indulgence more sustainable by introducing a product with a smaller environmental footprint than others available, while maintaining the creamy taste people know and expect from ice cream. In addition to being lactose free, the Breyers Lactose-Free Chocolate with Perfect Day is also cholesterol-free. Perfect Day's protein is the same as the whey protein found in traditional milk, with all the flavour, texture and functionality benefits. An ISO-compliant, third-party reviewed life cycle assessment found that Perfect Day's process reduces blue water consumption by up to 99%, greenhouse gas emissions by up to 97%, and non-renewable energy use by up to 60%, when compared to traditional whey production methods. TM Narayan, Perfect Day's CEO, said: "We are thrilled to have developed this new product with Unilever, a hallmark example of how our second decade is focused on driving growth through collaboration with leading companies that share our mission of a kinder, greener tomorrow”. He continued: “We're inspired to see that more companies are turning to precision fermentation as a no-compromise option to continue to maintain their leadership position as consumer demands evolve for the future of our planet." Lisa Vortsman, CMO for Unilever Ice Cream North America, commented: "The launch of Breyers Lactose-Free Chocolate with animal-free dairy is an exciting and innovative addition to Breyers' growing better-for-you portfolio. As we've seen demand for alternative ice creams continue to grow, it is important to us to provide Breyers fans with frozen treats that meet their dietary needs and preferences, without compromising on the creamy taste and flavour that Breyers has offered for more than 150 years."

O-I Glass has announced that it is investing €95 million into two of its glass packaging production facilities in France. Through the investment, the company aims to upgrade sustainability, flexibility and productivity at its Gironcourt-sur-Vraine and Reims operations, in line with its updated ESG roadmap and capital spending plan. In Gironcourt, €55 million will be invested to rebuild a furnace and equip it with Gas Oxy Advanced Technology (GOAT) technology in collaboration with a key customer. According to O-I, this method – previously applied last year at the O-I plant in Vayres, France – uses a blend of gas and oxygen for furnace heating. With the addition of a newly integrated heat recovery system to pre-heat raw materials and recycled glass, the new installation aims to cut CO2 emissions by up to 18%. Alongside the furnace upgrade, the plant will modernise a production line to enhance flexibility and capacity. Approximately 80% of the plant's raw materials consist of scrap and locally recycled glass, highlighting the circular and local aspects of glass packaging. In Reims, O-I completed a €40 million investment for an upgrade comprising the full renovation of one of the plant's two furnaces and a production line, along with the installation of new equipment. "On top of multiple operational benefits, this also resulted in an overall energy reduction of about 5%," said the company. Approximately 90% of the raw material at the Reims plant consists of scrap and locally recycled glass, significantly reducing CO2 emissions by around 60% and fine particle emissions by about 80%. Situated amid the Champagne vineyards, the O-I plant in Reims minimises delivery routes and reduces transit time to wineries. Using trucks powered by grapeseed and fryer oil, the plant achieves a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to diesel fuel, along with an approximately 80% decrease in fine particle emissions. The plant serves over 1,000 customers in France, producing bottles in three colours and sizes from 0.2 litres to magnum, totalling 300 million bottles per year for the Champagne, Burgundy, Loire Valley and Alsace markets. Walter Ferrer, managing director of O-I Glass for southwest Europe, said: "These very significant investments are perfectly in line with the global approach adopted by O-I to reinforce our commitment to sustainable development, increase the energy efficiency of our equipment, create more resilient supply chains and constantly seek to improve the working conditions of our teams. They also demonstrate the confidence we have in our facilities in France, and our full commitment to serving our customers, our teams, and the planet.”

California, US-based clean-tech start-up, Sway, has revealed a new technology that it says can enable seaweed to replace flexible plastics at scale. The new thermoplastic seaweed resin packaging, named TPSea, is a 100% biobased, home-compostable, microplastic-free ingredient. Made from seaweed, a regenerative ocean crop that can replenish ecosystems and support coastal communities, the start-up claims that TPSea represents a new category of biopolymer resin. TPSea is designed to mesh “seamlessly with the most scaled plastic manufacturing systems available”. Sway’s product portfolio made with TPSea includes polybags, retail bags and food wrappers for consumer brands – these take up around 30% of all single-use plastic packaging. The launch comes days after Sway announced it had successfully closed a $5 million seed round led by Third Nature Investments. The funds will be used to support the scaling of Sway’s product portfolio and to speed-up TPSea’s adoption in various industries. Julia Marsh, CEO & co-founder of Sway, said: “Clean oceans, abundant biodiversity and thriving coastal economies all intertwine with Sway’s success as we accelerate production in 2024. We believe everyday materials should help to replenish the planet from sea to soil.” She concluded: “The launch of our thermoplastic seaweed materials, along with an influx of new capital targeted at scaling production, signifies tangible progress toward a more circular future”. TPSea resin, rolls of film and finished packaging are available now for use by packaging manufacturers and consumer brands.

Brown Gibbons Lang (BGL) has this week announced the sale of Crest Foods and Arctic Industries to two separate buyers. On Tuesday (20 February), BGL advised Harwood Private Equity in its acquisition of Crest Foods, a supplier of dairy stabilisers, contract packaging and branded and private label dry food manufacturing. Founded in 1946, Crest Foods serves branded and private-label customers. As a result of Harwood’s acquisition – which is set to lead Crest into its next phase of growth – BGL facilitated a sale-leaseback of its 575,000-square-foot contract packaging, distribution and warehousing facility in Ashton, Illinois, US. Yesterday (21 February), BGL announced the sale of Arctic Industries to Chicago, US-based private equity firm Kinzie Capital. With locations in Miami and Los Angeles, US, Arctic Industries is a manufacturer and distributor of engineered walk-in coolers, freezers and insulating enclosures serving the foodservice, commercial, industrial, healthcare, hospitality, agriculture and home use markets. The acquisition is set to propel Arctic’s growth, with an opportunity to leverage its bi-coastal manufacturing capabilities to grow market share and expand its relationships with national foodservice dealers and end users. Financial terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Mars has partnered with Unreasonable Group to introduce Unreasonable Food – an initiative that aims to make the food supply chain more sustainable, aligning with Mars' 2050 net-zero commitment. Under the Unreasonable Food umbrella, Mars' snacking division will collaborate with Unreasonable Group over a three-year period, collectively fostering a future of food production that is more regenerative, inclusive and equitable. Unreasonable Food will focus on four key pillars: shaping the future of food; improving farmer livelihood; transforming food supply chains; and reimagining sustainable packaging. The pillars provide a framework for identifying new solutions that address sustainability challenges relevant to Mars' global operations. Through an exhaustive search process facilitated by the Unreasonable Group's network of investment funds and partners, the initiative will identify growth-stage entrepreneurs with the potential to drive meaningful change in the food industry. The selection process, a collaborative effort between Unreasonable Group and Mars Snacking, aims to develop a portfolio of approximately 40 ventures over the partnership's duration. The first cohort of selected ventures will be unveiled in the coming months. These entrepreneurs will gather for an immersive week-long programme, facilitated by Mars Snacking's global leadership team and mentors affiliated with Unreasonable Group. Amanda Davies, global VP of R&D, sustainability and commercial at Mars Snacking, said: "Mars has the experience, the energy and the footprint to shape the food future. Doing nothing is not an option." Daniel Epstein, CEO of Unreasonable Group, added: "More than 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activity can be attributed to the way we produce, process, and package food". He continued: "As one of the world's largest food companies with some of the world's most admired brands, Mars Snacking, in partnership with Unreasonable and the entrepreneurs we support together, is uniquely positioned to put that statistic where it belongs – in a museum. We cannot imagine a more compelling partner to set a new standard for sustainability in our food systems than Mars."

Bluestein Ventures, a venture capital firm specialising in early-stage investments within the food industry, has announced the closing of a $45 million fund. This marks the firm's third fund anchored by the Bluestein Family, and the first to include external investors. Founded in 2014, Bluestein Ventures invests in ventures across the food supply chain – including consumer, software, and food-tech businesses – aiming to improve the food system's health, sustainability and effectiveness. It focuses on high-growth consumer brands, proprietary food-technology, next-gen commerce and digital tech. The firm has started investing its new capital in nutrition, sustainability and industry digitisation. Companies in the Fund III portfolio include BiomeSense, offering an end-to-end platform for scaling gut microbiome research and testing; WECO Hospitality, providing chef-quality prepared meal delivery; and Attane Health, operating as a marketplace for food prescriptions for individuals with chronic conditions. Ashley Hartman, co-managing partner of Bluestein Ventures, said: “Food is a massive industry and powerful driver of our economy. While the food system is magical, there is tremendous opportunity for improvement. We’re on the cusp of rapid, disruptive change across both consumer and technology that’s only continuing to compound." "We believe that investing in companies at the frontier of innovation is critical in accelerating the health of our population and environment. There shouldn’t be a tradeoff between impact and returns; in fact, 67% of our portfolio is making an impact in nutrition, 40% in sustainability and 62% have a diverse founder.”

Britain's antitrust regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), will investigate the country's infant formula market in relation to its 25% price increase over the last two years. Rising baby milk formula costs have been highlighted amid Britain's cost of living crisis, with reports saying that some parents are diluting it to feed their children, according to Reuters. Danone, producer of Aptamil and Cow & Gate, and Nestlé, which makes SMA, stand as the largest players in the market, accounting for 85% of sales. CMA has initiated a market study, enabling it to use its mandatory information collection capabilities instead of depending on voluntary submissions from firms. The regulator stated its intention to publish its final report by September 2024, highlighting its commitment to assessing potential issues in the baby formula market and determining appropriate actions to address them. Sarah Cardell, CEO of the CMA, said: "Infant formula is a key part of the weekly shop for many parents across the UK, who rely on these products to ensure their baby gets all the essential nutrients they need". "Whilst it’s a positive sign that prices of some products have fallen since our update last November, the cost of infant milk remains at historically high levels. We’re concerned that parents don’t always have the right information to make informed choices and that suppliers may not have strong incentives to offer infant formula at competitive prices." "We are determined to ensure this market is working well for the many new parents who depend on infant formula, and it’s essential that any changes we propose are based on evidence and a strong understanding of the market. That’s why we’ve now decided to take forward our work on infant formula as a market study, using our formal legal powers."