American restauranteur and television presenter, Guy Fieri, has released a new product line of flavoured malt beverages, Flavortown Spiked. Produced in partnership with Two Roads Brewing Company, Flavortown Spiked Fruit Punch offers a blend of fruit flavours and "bold" taste. Crafted with real cranberry and orange juices, the drink brings notes of fresh berries and fruit, boasting a 6% ABV. Fieri said: "It's happy hour in Flavortown, and we've got real-deal fresh flavours that pack a punch. Just like I'd make in my own kitchen, we use real fruit juices and high-quality ingredients to deliver fast, fresh flavour every time." Flavortown Spiked Fruit Punch can be purchased in six-packs of 12oz cans for $11.99. Additionally, larger 19.2oz cans will be introduced in early 2024. In addition, Two Roads Brewing said that Flavortown Spiked Fruit Punch marks the beginning of an expanded line. In early 2024, a variety pack featuring additional spiked punch and hard tea recipes, inspired by Fieri's favourite drinks, will be introduced.

US retail giant Walmart has announced plans to break ground on a new milk processing facility later this year, set to be complete in 2025. At the new facility, located in Valdosta, Georgia, US, Walmart will install a Swisslog automation solution to enable “seamless” material flow and increase uptime. Walmart says that the automated storage and retrieval solution (ASRS) will bolster its capacity to meet consumer demand for milk. The ASRS is part of the company's commitment to building a more resilient and transparent supply chain to deliver high-quality products. The ASRS brings together five pallet stacker cranes with palletising and de-palletising robots, pallet conveyor system, and a conveyor system for small loads. The automation solution operates on synchronised intelligence from Swisslog's SynQ software, which provides warehouse management, material flow and automation control system functionality in a single, modular platform. SynQ management software optimises the flow of the equipment to increase the operation’s efficiency and accuracy and orchestrates the operation of multiple sub-systems. SynQ equips warehouse automation and IT systems with synchronised intelligence of people, processes and machines to boost the efficiency and productivity of warehouse processes and adapt to changing market requirements. It also provides sophisticated inventory management and material flow capabilities that enable real-time inventory tracking and management of items to ensure freshness, quality and transparency of the food supply chain. The Valdosta site is Walmart's second milk processing facility in the US, after the company worked with Swisslog to open its first milk processing plant in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 2018. Sean Wallingford, president and CEO of Swisslog Americas, said: "We are excited to partner with Walmart once again to open its second milk processing facility. From the initial discussion through design completion, it has been a very hands-on, collaborative and proactive approach. Our automation experts worked closely with Walmart's group to incorporate lessons learned and best practices from the first processing facility, as well as improvement concepts designed to enable Walmart and its farmers to bring fresh, transparently sourced dairy to market." The project also includes Swisslog's ‘IT Managed Services’, which has experts in place that can manage the IT systems and software required to keep the equipment running at peak performance. The 24/7 support enables Walmart to free up internal resources from routine IT system administration, while also enabling data-driven proactive maintenance that helps to reduce unplanned downtime.

Nature Made Production and Trading JSC has introduced a calcium supplementation solution in the Philippines: Healyn Canxi Gold. Nature Made Production and Trading JSC is a producer of health and wellness products. Manufactured in Hanoi, Vietnam, Healyn Canxi Gold is a colostrum source of organic calcium nano, vitamins and minerals. It is formulated to meet the daily calcium needs of individuals with bone and joint concerns. Healyn Canxi Gold features organic calcium nano as its primary component, delivering 1200mg of calcium per 100g of colostrum. This formulation supports bone and cartilage development, synthesises calcium for strong bone structures and helps prevent degeneration and osteoporosis. It is enriched with HMB antibodies, aquamin F, collagen type 2 and over 32 vitamins, providing a comprehensive calcium and nutrient solution. Suitable for users aged 19 and above, Healyn Canxi Gold "is reported to be safe with no known side effects," said the company.

The Bezos Earth Fund has committed $57 million in food-related grants targeting climate change and biodiversity loss. Founded in 2020 through a $10 billion grant by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, the fund focuses on transforming food systems after countries signed the COP28 "to better integrate food into their climate goals". The grant is part of Earth Fund's $1 billion commitment to mitigating the impact of the food system on climate and nature. The remaining $850 million will be allocated by 2030 to support the implementation of the global agenda on food systems and climate. Andrew Steer, president and CEO of the Bezos Earth Fund, said: "We cannot afford for food to be on the sidelines of climate and nature conversations any longer. Food is a victim, problem and solution in the climate and nature crises, and we must raise its profile in the discussion." "We applaud countries raising their ambitions, prioritising food in their climate goals and urge them to go bigger and bolder. We need to do things differently to feed a growing global population without degrading the planet, and now is the moment for action." The fund has collaborated with over 16 other philanthropies, who signed a new philanthropic statement of action, committed to invest, advocate and partner to address food security and sustainability in alignment with the 2015 Paris Agreement goals, which focus on limiting global warming. The funding supports various innovations, including the development of low-cost virtual livestock fencing and the promotion of plant-rich diets and alternative proteins. A sum of $30 million is being allocated towards making livestock more sustainable. This includes investments in a range of innovations together with the Global Methane Hub's Enteric Methane R+D Accelerator to reduce methane emissions from livestock by up to 30% in the next 10-15 years. Additional grants support the identification and development of low-methane feed, low-methane cattle breeding and the use of a wearable sensor to measure cow methane emissions. Furthermore, $16.3 million is committed to protecting the Brazilian Amazon by limiting deforestation. The grants are supporting plans in Pará, Brazil, to achieve zero illegal deforestation within the next three years "by creating the world's largest animal traceability system". Together with The Nature Conservancy, IMAFLORA, Earth Innovation Institute, Aliança da Terra and other partners, the Earth Fund's goal is to trace meat, dairy and leather to eliminate deforestation from value chains, promoting forest-positive incentives for cattle farmers and ranchers. Another $8.3 million is directed towards promoting climate-smart agricultural practices. The Earth Fund, in partnership with the Earth Rover Program, is using seismology to assess the potential of soil to sequester significant amounts of carbon dioxide. Additionally, through the Platform for Agriculture and Climate Transformation, the fund is ensuring that US federal funding to reduce farmland methane emissions reaches farmers and ranchers who adopt climate-friendly agricultural practices. The Earth Fund is also investing $2.6 million in catalysing food systems transformation. This involves supporting efforts to address food loss and waste in collaboration with the Food and Land Use Coalition, establishing an alliance of countries dedicated to transforming food systems. In addition, by partnering with the non-profit organisation Clim-Eat, the fund "is identifying and nurturing bold technological innovations in food systems and convening key actors to accelerate their development and deployment," the organisation said in a statement. Andy Jarvis, director of future of food at the Bezos Earth Fund, added: "At COP28, it's time to turn pledges and commitments into action and funding for innovative food solutions and food systems transformation. Food isn't just having a moment in COP28 — it's the start of real moment-um, and through the grants we are announcing we will deliver that."

Freedom Brewery has announced a £1 million investment in a new canning line and autopack machine at its Staffordshire, UK, brewery site. Founded in 1995, Freedom Brewery is said to be known for being the first provider of craft lager in the UK. The brewery uses a cold fermentation process of over 14 days and a long maturation period lasting a minimum of four weeks. The new canning line will enable the brewery to produce up to 250 cans per minute. In addition, the investment will see "additional changes" to the brewery site, including incorporating a new warehouse and production area layout. The move is set to boost the brewery's capacity by fivefold. Matthew Willson, managing director at Freedom Brewery, said: “After a period of strong growth for Freedom and the increased demand for properly brewed craft lager, it feels like the right time to be investing in our production capabilities. We’re now in prime position to meet the demand, and we are ready to pursue new customers and listings with both the on and off-trade.”

Sustainable US tuna brand Tonnino has unveiled a new lineup of prepared yellowfin tuna tins, with six flavour varieties. The brand launched its first tuna cans specifically designed for children, offering a “blend of delicious taste and healthy convenience tailored to young palates”. The kid-friendly varieties are packed with protein-rich tuna, combined with fresh diced vegetables. The standalone meal cans come in two flavours – Premium Yellowfin Tuna chunks with sweet corn and Premium Yellowfin Tuna with carrots and peas. Tonnino also unveiled a new concept to “redefine snack time and party menus,” tuna tins that are designed to be blended with cream cheese to create a tuna dip. The flavours are Premium Yellowfin Tuna Chunks with chipotle sauce and Premium Yellowfin Tuna with Spicy Bell Pepper. Additionally, the brand introduced larger tins, Premium Yellowfin Tuna chunks with carrots and peas in vegetable oil and Premium Yellowfin Tuna chunks with tomatoes and olives. These were created to provide a more sophisticated and gourmet item to enhance pastas, salads and other recipes. The new items are available to purchase at select US retailers including Wholefoods, Walmart and Fairway.

Flour milling and ingredient company Ardent Mills has announced its new environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy, ‘Nourish: Intention & Impact’. The report summarises the company’s new strategy and goals across four key pillars: communities, people, planet and ingredients. Dan Dye, Ardent Mills’ CEO, said: "At Ardent Mills, our core values of trust, serving, simplicity and safety guide our commitment to nourish what's next. We progress towards this when we enact people-centred business practices. Our new ESG strategy underscores our continued dedication to intentional and impactful change – both within Ardent Mills and our surrounding communities. I am humbled by the progress demonstrated in our FY23 ESG Report, and I am reminded of our commitment to create a more sustainable and prosperous future for all." The communities pillar has two goals, to expand agricultural education and the number of students engaged in agriculture through Ardent Mills' ‘Growing a Better Future’ programme and to help ensure access to nutrition through partnerships with organisations that serve specific needs. The planet pillar focuses on the responsible management of natural resources across energy, water, waste and overall opportunities for operational efficiencies. Some of the company’s efforts towards this include sourcing energy from renewable sources, ensuring its facilities partake in recycling and composting, and saving water through optimisation efforts, including regenerative agriculture collaboration, facility-level assessments and extended trailer wash cycles. The ingredients pillar supports the company’s work to responsibly source ingredients with its suppliers. FY23 accomplishments include forming the supplier diversity lead as a new leadership role and the establishment of a goal to bring 50 new diverse suppliers into the company's supplier portfolio by May 2024. It has also enrolled nearly 350,000 acres into Ardent Mills' regenerative agriculture program across the US and Canada and has achieved a milestone in FY23 by sourcing 100% RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil. The company has also expanded its product portfolio to introduce more gluten-free, alternative grain options that meet emerging demand. Phoenix Dugger, senior manager of ESG, Ardent Mills, commented: "Our FY23 ESG report serves as a benchmark in our continuous journey towards being responsible corporate citizens, both celebrating the progress we've achieved while charting our path forward. Guided by ‘Nourish: Intention & Impact,’ we continue to drive innovation, promote sustainability and nurture a future that reflects our commitment to social and environmental responsibility."

Gnosis by Lesaffre has partnered with Probiotical to introduce MenaQ7 Protect, a stick-pack designed for daily and extended immune support. According to the company, the MenaQ7 Protect stick pack provides 1 billion cells each of immune-supporting strains: Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BS01 (LMG-P-21384), Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LR04 (DSM 16605) and Bifidobacterium bifidum BB10 (DSM 33678). It also contains 75mcg of MenaQ7 vitamin K2 as MK-7 and 80mg of vitamin C. The product is available in a tangy orange flavour and can be consumed directly or added to a beverage. Gnosis highlighted that although MenaQ7 is well-known for supporting bone and cardiovascular health, MenaQ7 Protect marks the debut of vitamin K2's role as an immunomodulator. "MenaQ7 in-vitro research has shown it delivers an anti-inflammatory effect and reduces oxidative stress in human muscle cells, important for immune response," said the company. "Further, early but important evidence has shown that Vitamin K2 may suppress T-cell activation and proliferation, support lung health, and protect against gut dysbiosis, which helps optimise immune function." Vera Mogna, CEO of Probiotical, commented: “Probiotics function in harmony with our immune system, effectively distinguishing allies from adversaries, and play a pivotal role in shielding us against harmful pathogens. The probiotic strains selected for MenaQ7 Protect naturally occur in the human body and work in concert with the immune system to fortify the body’s defenses." "Through meticulous research, we have selected strains that are able to uniquely interact with the immune system, creating a targeted approach to stimulate and fortify our natural defenses. This pioneering collaboration aims to harness the synergistic potential of our premium probiotic strains and MenaQ7, offering a promising new avenue to support and bolster immune health.” Philippe Caillat, global marketing director of Gnosis, added: “We are particularly excited about MenaQ7 Protect as it represents a foray into new areas for Gnosis, both in producing a finished product, but also shifting MenaQ7 into a new condition-specific arena". "Immune health remains a shared common concern all year long, and consumers consistently seek products that can optimise immune function continuously, while fitting into their lifestyles. MenaQ7 Protect perfectly fits this need while offering our customers a ready-to-market solution featuring our clinically proven MenaQ7 K2.”

US-based private equity firm EagleTree Capital has announced the acquisition of cooking sauces and meal ingredients supplier Summit Hill Foods. Founded in 1941, Summit Hill Foods is a food company known for its Better Than Bouillon, The Original Louisiana Brand Hot Sauce and Better Than Gravy brands. In addition to the retail brand portfolio, Summit Hill Foods serves as a flavour-focused solution provider and ingredient supplier to foodservice distributors, manufacturers and restaurants. Summit Hill Foods' operations and management teams will continue in place following EagleTree's investment. According to the firm, some of EagleTree's fund investors, including Misland Capital Limited, also participated in the investment. Steve Goodyear, CEO of Summit Hill Foods, said: “Today, we embark on an exciting new chapter in the history of Summit Hill Foods and are absolutely delighted to join forces with EagleTree, whose vision and resources align seamlessly with our aspirations". "We see incredible opportunity for our brands Better Than Bouillon and The Original Louisiana Hot Sauce in addition to our custom bases and sauces business. EagleTree’s partnership will empower us to accelerate our growth and innovation, expand our market reach and continue providing high-quality products to our customers.” Stuart Martin, partner at EagleTree, added: “We have been fans and customers of Summit Hill Foods’ products for a long time and are equally impressed by the company’s unique culture. Summit Hill Foods’ core values are trusting and valuing their employees, community involvement, a commitment to safety and the relentless pursuit of excellence – values we believe are key to the company’s strong performance. We are proud to be stewards of Summit Hill Foods’ special ethos and are very excited to be a part of the company’s next phase of growth.” Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

John Soules Foods has introduced a new line of restaurant-inspired chicken sandwiches. John Soules Foods offers juicy, all-natural chicken breasts marinated and breaded to capture the authentic flavour found in restaurants and are then sandwiched in a soft, golden brioche bun. The range is available in two flavours: Spicy Chicken Breast Sandwich and Southern Style Chicken Breast Sandwich. The sandwiches join the brand's existing restaurant-style line-up, including Southern Style Chicken Bites and Strips, Spicy Chicken Strips and Sweet & Spicy BBQ Chicken Strips. John Soules Foods' chicken sandwiches are currently available for purchase in Walmart stores nationwide.

7-Eleven International has entered an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of 7-Eleven Australia, an independent convenience store chain in the country, for AUD $1.71 billion (approx. $1.13 billion) in cash. According to the company, 7-Eleven Australia runs 751 local stores and is a long-standing licensee of 7-Eleven. 7-Eleven International's co-CEOs, Shin Abe and Ken Wakabayashi, said: "The acquisition of 7-Eleven Australia demonstrates our commitment to growing 7-Eleven's operations globally. We are looking forward to continuing to enhance the 7-Eleven brand in Australia, which enjoys a long-standing presence and unrivalled brand recognition with customers." Since 1977, the Withers and Barlow families have been overseeing 7-Eleven Australia. The company handles 250 million transactions annually and has a workforce of over 9,000 individuals across its corporate and franchise network. The acquisition reinforces Japanese trading firm Seven & i Holdings Co (7&i) commitment to global growth. 7&i will use its business expertise to "further enhance" the 7-Eleven brand. In addition, 7-Eleven International said the deal will increase its position in Australia, leveraging growth opportunities fueled by a youthful and diverse population. 7-Eleven International plans to expand 7-Eleven Australia's product range by introducing new food items to cater to the country's diverse food preferences. The transaction, which is subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions, is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2024. 7-Eleven Australia's CEO and managing director, Angus McKay, commented: "The acquisition by 7-Eleven International is a vote of confidence in our people, our strategy and the future of 7-Eleven Australia. The business has strong momentum and an exciting outlook for growth. Our customers will continue to come first, and we will remain focused on the transformation of our total merchandise and fuel offer, the evolution of our convenient food proposition, digital and format innovation, as well as the rollout of new stores." Last week, 7-Eleven acquired “certain assets” of Calgary-based food distributor Wallace & Carey.

Sustainability has been creeping up the agenda in many industries over recent years – and in food, it has become fully ingrained and a non-negotiable for many consumers. From practices and processes to packaging and products, improvements and progress are being sought at every stage and in every aspect of the supply chain.  Here, Francesca Angiulli, group sustainability manager at Puratos, takes a closer look at these “less-talked-about” sustainability trends and how manufacturers are catering to evolving buying behaviours. It started with a rise in popularity of organic foods: growing crops and rearing animals more “naturally” and more sustainably drove the “local” food movement. This has now morphed into an expanding plant-based movement, with more consumers adopting vegetarian, vegan or flexitarian diets. But consumer focus now extends beyond the food itself.  According to new global insights from Puratos’s proprietary Taste Tomorrow research programme, 31% of consumers listed sustainable packaging as their highest priority when it came to looking for more sustainable food options. This was closely followed by fair prices for farmers and minimising waste and pollution, both cited by 28% of consumers worldwide. Harnessing the power of sustainable packaging  Food and packaging waste are top concerns for today’s shoppers – and many are looking for ways in which they can reduce both. In fact, nearly three in four (73%) now believe all food products should be sold in sustainable packaging, and 63% aim to limit single-use packaging when buying food​, according to Taste Tomorrow. Most food packaging is directly disposed of after use (95%), and only around two-thirds enter recollection systems. To raise this proportion, improved recyclability is imperative. Again, progress can be, and is being, made throughout the supply chain. Aiming for 100% recyclable packaging by 2025, granola bar producer Nature Valley, for instance, is making its Crunchy bar wrappers ‘store drop-off recyclable’. The recycled polyethylene film can be turned into playground equipment, decking, fencing and furniture. Ingredients providers, too, have a role to play. In line with its objective to become a zero-waste-to-landfill business worldwide by 2030, Puratos is lowering single-use plastic volumes and reusing packaging materials as much as possible. Furthermore, all its packaging will be 100% reusable or recycle-ready by 2025, with fewer chemicals and less energy used in its manufacture. Understanding demand for zero waste  The world currently wastes a third of the food it produces due to poor production and preservation practices. With global food systems accounting for over a third of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the climate impact of these inefficiencies cannot be overstated. According to the latest Taste Tomorrow findings, around two-thirds (65%) of consumers worldwide say they have an interest in food products that claim zero-waste. Although there is short-term financial pain when it comes to making a switch to more sustainable food systems, the long-term gain cannot be underestimated. For example, cutting food waste is estimated to cost $30 billion, but $455 billion is expected to result from the commercial opportunities of waste reduction. Puratos’s Acti range of enzyme-based bakery improvers have been designed to not only improve the texture of cakes and sweet baked goods but to help customers lower food waste, as the shelf-life is extended by enhanced freshness. Puratos also provides customers with recipes that are proven to lower their food waste. For example, its brioche loaf recipe uses ingredients that can reduce waste by up to 50% compared to traditional recipes. Using Life Cycle Assessment Product Environmental Footprint (LCA-PEF) methodology, which quantifies the environmental impacts of products and organisations, Puratos calculated that for every 100 tons of brioche produced using their recipe, the reduced impact is equivalent to planting 2,224 trees. Sowing the seeds for sympathetic and fair farming practices  With agriculture contributing to one-third of global GHG emissions, promoting more sustainable practices, such as regenerative farming, is a critical route to more secure and sustainable supply chains for future generations. And awareness is on the rise of the pivotal role better agricultural practices play in mitigating climate and social change. In fact, 68% of consumers worldwide are interested in ​food products coming from sustainable ​farming methods​ and 65% look for food where they know farmers receive a fair price/living income, according to Taste Tomorrow. One organisation that is championing regenerative, ethically responsible farming is PepsiCo. By implementing more sympathetic practices across seven million acres, the food and beverage giant estimates that it will eliminate three million tons of GHG emissions by 2030. By this date, it also aims to have improved the livelihoods of more than 250,000 people in its agricultural supply chain. Boortmalt, the world's leading malting company, is working directly with farmers to optimise farm management practices, such as leveraging digital tools to measure emissions and reduce carbon footprints. For its part, Puratos is helping to drive progress in this space by working with farmers who apply regenerative agricultural practices, creating more resilience and better biodiversity through healthier soils and enabling them to invest in long-term value creation. Through the EU’s Mission Soil Manifesto of the EU, it has joined forces with like-minded organisations to champion soil health, conserve natural resources, and foster a resilient and sustainable food system. The company also aims to create a more sustainable social future for its farmers, for example, within its own Cacao-Trace programme, which has been designed to redress the imbalance in cocoa profit share, by passing on extra revenue directly to farmers. As well as receiving tools and training to enable higher incomes through better quality cocoa, farmers receive an annual “Chocolate Bonus”, a quality premium paid by Cacao-Trace customers, which represents a fair share of the value created in the chocolate supply chain. Further to this, Puratos now helps food manufacturers to measure and demonstrate the environmental impact of their own products through digital traceability. When using some ingredients, a QR code can be included on finished products, which leads consumers to information about the product's origin, provides details of the farmer who harvested the ingredients and outlines our contributions to their community. This ensures everyone involved in the ‘downstream’ decision-making, from manufacturer to consumer, can make more informed, conscious purchases. After all, information is power.