US-based apple brand, Yes! Apples, has partnered with premium carbonated drink brand Avec to release a sparkling beverage flavour: Fuji Apple and Cardamom. The Fuji Apple and Cardamom variant offers a crisp, lightly sparkling expression of seasonal Fuji apples. According to the company, the non-alcoholic beverage resembles sparkling apple cider "but drier, and with more nuance and intrigue". The Fuji apple juice's tartness is complemented by an aromatic blend of cardamom, along with floral and herbal notes of lemon verbena, tarragon, vanilla and orange blossom. The new flavour is "extremely dry" and contains no added sugar. Kaari Stannard, president and CEO of Yes! Apples, said: “We’re so excited to partner with Avec to bring the unparalleled flavour of New York-grown Fuji Yes! Apples to a beverage for the very first time”. Alex Doman, co-founder of Avec, added: “In true Avec fashion, Fuji Apple & Cardamom delivers big on real apple flavour with a hint of spice for a delicious beverage we can sip all season long”. Available in single-serving 8.45oz cans, Fuji Apple & Cardamom will roll out on shelves at Wegmans stores nationwide beginning next month. Following this, it will be available at Sprouts Farmers Market in January, along with other retailers.

Premier Foods-owned brand Sharwood’s has expanded its offering with a new range of reduced fat curry pastes. The new range includes three pastes with 30% less fat than their full-fat counterparts. They are available in tikka masala, madras and korma flavours, designed to enable home cooks to create flavourful curries while cutting down on fat content. The new pastes join Sharwood’s existing range of healthier options including 30% less fat sauces, low fat poppadoms, low fat mini naans and Sharwood’s 30% less sugar stir fry sauces. Andrey Sokirkin, global marketing director for cooking sauces and accompaniments at Premier Foods, said: “Premier Foods has been leading the way in offering consumers healthier options that maintain great taste and the new Sharwood’s 30% Reduced Fat Pastes are the latest in this offering. The Sharwood’s healthier range is set to appeal to health-conscious shoppers – particularly younger people who are seeking ‘better for you’ options from across our portfolio.” The reduced fat pastes are available to purchase now in UK retailers.

Newly independent business Flavor Specialty Ingredients has rebranded to Natara, marking its ambition as a standalone business. Under new ownership – IFF sold Flavor Specialty Ingredients to UK-based private equity firm, Exponent in August this year – the new brand identity is designed to reflect the aspirations for the new business. Natara says its new name signals that it is “ready to deliver on its ambition for the future, providing a platform for a fresh, distinctive approach that best conveys its customer proposition”. Since the acquisition closed in August, Natara has set out a refreshed strategy to deliver on its goal of being the partner of choice to the flavour and fragrance industry. Its refreshed strategy will be accelerated by investment from its new owners to deepen and broaden capabilities, improve the supply chain and expand and upskill teams, all which position the business to better meet evolving customer needs. The business’s branded collateral is in the process of being transferred, and its new website is under development and will be found at www.natara-global.com. Yoram Knoop, CEO at Natara, said: “Our business is opening a new chapter in its history, a milestone we wanted to mark with a new name: Natara. Creating a strong brand identity and developing a new growth strategy demonstrates the momentum we are building as a standalone business. With a brand proposition that is fit for purpose, we are better positioned to meet the evolving needs of our growing customer base, in turn delivering on our vision for the future: to be the leading global independent manufacturer of naturals and aroma chemicals and partner of choice to the flavour and fragrance industry.”

New Belgium Brewing has promoted Shaun Belongie – who served as the company's chief marketing officer for the last five years – as CEO. Belongie assumed the role three months after former CEO Steve Fechheimer left "to explore new challenges". He will step into the role "immediately," and the brewery will soon provide details on its plans for filling the chief marketing officer position. As chief marketing officer, Belongie significantly elevated the Voodoo Ranger brand in the beer industry, with sales tripling from 3 million to 9 million cases over a three-year period. Prior to joining New Belgium, Belongie spent over a decade in various finance, sales and marketing positions at Kraft Foods and Nestlé Purina. Sam Fischer, CEO of Lion Group, New Belgium's parent company, said: "We are delighted to welcome Shaun as the next CEO of New Belgium. Shaun's breadth of experience, innovative mindset, commercial acumen and great love of the New Belgium culture and coworkers make Shaun an excellent fit to lead the team." He continued: "I also want to thank and acknowledge Danielle McLarnon for her exceptional leadership as interim CEO. She will continue to play a crucial role as New Belgium's chief financial officer. The future for New Belgium is incredibly bright, and I look forward to working alongside Shaun and the team to continue its growth story." New Belgium's co-founder, Kim Jordan, added: "It has been such a pleasure to watch Shaun evolve as a leader. New Belgium's deep commitment to its people and the planet requires a believer, and Shaun is absolutely that. I have a lot of faith in how he'll continue to honour what makes New Belgium so remarkable while integrating new, innovative practices that steward the future."

Nissin Foods USA has invested $228 million to construct its third manufacturing facility in Greenville County, South Carolina, US. The investment will enhance the company's manufacturing capabilities and boost its innovation pipeline, better aligning with consumer demand for its products. The company currently has two manufacturing facilities in the US, located in Gardena, California, and Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The 640,640-square-foot facility, which is said to bring hundreds of new jobs to the Greenville community, will manufacture various products from Nissin Foods' brand lineup, such as Top Ramen, Cup Noodles, Hot & Spicy Fire Wok and others, "with capacity for further expansion as needed," said the business. In addition, the plant will include solar panels, EV charging stations and electric forklifts, supporting Nissin Foods' goal to reduce CO2 emissions by 30% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. According to the company, to meet the rising demand for Nissin Foods' products, the Greenville facility is part of its broader business strategy, which includes a recent multi-million dollar investment in its Lancaster plant, resulting in a 15% increase in overall capacity. Michael Price, CEO and president of Nissin Foods USA, said: "For more than 65 years, our instant ramen products and brands have cultivated a loyal consumer base, which has fueled our relentless growth in the market. With the southeastern portion of the US being a priority market for Nissin Foods, Greenville's geographic accessibility, talented labour market, and competitive cost of living make it an ideal location for our new plant." He added: "Opening a third facility marks a critical turning point for Nissin Foods, solidifying our leadership position in the US market as we continue to grow the instant ramen category". Construction is scheduled for next month, with operations slated to commence in August 2025.

Marmite has partnered with Nairn’s to launch a new Marmite & Cheese Oatcakes, marking Marmite’s first expansion into oatcakes. The new product will become a permanent addition to the range and has launched in the grocery channel this month. The new oatcake looks to build on the success of Nairn’s Cheese Oatcakes, the brand’s best-selling oatcake, and attract incremental sales to the oatcake category with the addition of its first co-branded product. Nairn’s and Marmite expect the collaboration to attract younger consumers to a category they may not have previously been aware of, further increasing growth. Melissa Wimble, licensing manager at Unilever, said: “Marmite is a versatile product that lends itself to different flavour profiles. We are now taking the classic Marmite and cheese combination and extending that to a brand-new category for the brand: oatcakes. Our first collaboration with Nairn’s is set to grow the Marmite consumer base by tapping into new occasions associated with the oatcake category, such as snacking. Euan Lutton, brand manager at Nairn’s commented: “As brand leaders of the category, we understand that new, innovative flavours are a must to increase household penetration and to attract new and younger shoppers to oatcakes.” Marmite & Cheese Oatcakes are available now online and in stores at Waitrose and Sainsbury's.

Mondi has collaborated with Swedish dairy producer Skånemejerier to create a mono-material, polypropylene (PP) based packaging for Hushållsost cheese. The new packaging has a mono-material base web and lidding film which is produced and printed by Mondi before being converted for 1kg and 2kg blocks of cheese by Skånemejerier. It will be sold in the Swedish supermarket ICA and now comes in packaging that is designed for recycling. Mondi’s mono-material solution protects against oxygen and water vapours as well as boasting high puncture resistance, extending the product’s shelf life. Helene Brynell, regional sales, Nordic consumer flexibles at Mondi, said: “Fresh products like cheese need to be packaged properly – and protection must go hand in hand with sustainable packaging. Our new mono-material solution is fulfilling exactly that: it keeps the cheese fresh while also keeping the packaging materials in circulation through design for recycling.” Rickard Jansson, development engineer at Swedish Plastic Recycling, stated: “We are very positive about the new packaging that Mondi has developed together with Skånemejerier for ICA. By using mono-material film instead of laminate consisting of different types of plastic, we can sort out and recycle the packaging that is left in the system, thus avoiding incineration.” The introduction of this new packaging coincides with the opening of Site Zero, the "world's largest sorting facility for used plastic packaging". This facility will process used plastic waste from both Sweden and Finland. Due to the packaging’s mono-material design, it can be fully recycled, contributing to a circular economy. Jansson added: “With Site Zero's new technology, this PP film-based packaging will be able to become new products, which has not been possible in any facility in Sweden before. It provides circular plastic flows that reduce the need for fossil raw materials and combustion”.

IFF has announced the opening of its first dedicated food and beverage lab in Gangnam, Seoul, South Korea. The new co-creation centre reinforces the company’s commitment to “be the premier partner” as it brings together flavour and ingredient expertise with food design capabilities to deliver what IFF describes as “the best-in-class innovations to customers in South Korea". The new centre will support beverage, culinary, snack and dairy manufacturers with greater speed-to-market through insights-led innovation Through IFF’s team of expert food designers manufacturers will also have access to advanced lab technology. The centre features dedicated customer co-creation design spaces and a dairy and beverage UHT pilot plant for small-scale product pilot testing. It also houses a professional culinary kitchen, where IFF’s team will develop savoury seasoning solutions for instant noodles, snacks and local sauces. Yongjing Li, president of Nourish, Greater Asia at IFF, said: “This innovation centre marks an exciting milestone, showcasing our dedication to pioneering innovation and enhancing accessibility for our valued customers". He continued: “As a leader in integrated ingredient and flavour solutions, our strategic approach enables us to co-create food and beverages that resonate with consumers. This investment underscores our commitment to ensuring that our customers can swiftly adapt to the demands of a rapidly growing market and evolving consumer preferences." IFF claims the new lab will play a pivotal role in fulfilling South Korea's need for health, wellness and functional products including high-protein and low or no-sugar options that do not compromise on taste and texture.

CJ Europe (CJE), the Europe business headquarters of fermentation-based ingredients and solutions manufacturer CJ Food & Nutrition Tech, has developed a range of nutrition solutions. Debuting at CJ FNT Discovery Lounge located in Frankfurt, Germany, the company will showcase its CJ FNT differentiated 'Nrich' brand and technologies through applications to various food samples: TasteNrich applied to K-foods such as Tteokbokki as K-flavor enabler, and ActiveNrich and WellNrich applied to functional beverages and gummies. TasteNrich Solution is a fermented vegetable material with the clean label natural concept where no additives are added, it gives food a more profound and rich taste. ActiveNrich Boost is a natural antioxidant solution in the form of fermentation extract with glutathione as the core component. It can be used as a raw material for various functional health food products. WellNrich Essential is an organic mineral solution line-up, consisting of key components such as zinc and iron, while boasting natural, functionality and high-quality claims. Lance Choi, head of CJ FNT, said: "CJ FNT Discovery Lounge will illustrate CJ's vision to expenditure food and nutrition business. As we move forward to become the 'total solutions provider' by expanding investment as a member of the Food Valley, we believe our customers will also experience the high-level values that we provide."

Kestrel Foods has debuted a new range of gluten-free granola, called Just Live a Little. Just Live a Little is available in four flavours: Maple and toasted pecan granola; Raspberry, coconut and cashew granola; Cocoa and hazelnut granola; and peanut butter and apple granola. According to the company, Just Live a Little was established with the aim of providing a healthier breakfast choice. The gluten-free range also promotes good gut health, containing no added refined sugars. Bronagh Clarke, Kestrel Foods' marketing director, said: “There are over 4 million consumers in the UK who are actively choosing to reduce or avoid gluten in their diet for many reasons. Sometimes, the choices are restrictive in terms of taste and variety. In addition, the average granola has over 20% refined white sugar and with low nutritional quality.” “We believe better food makes you feel better, so we only use wholegrain, gluten-free oats, mixed with fruit, nuts and seeds and finished with a generous dollop of nut butter for a creamy taste. Everything is batch-baked at our own gluten-free facility in County Armagh.” Just Live a Little is available at Tesco and Spar stores, with availability at additional retailers in the upcoming year, for £4. In April 2022, Krestel Foods acquired the Just Live a Little brand for an undisclosed sum. A spokesperson for Krestel Foods told FoodBev: " is a completely new brand in essence. The only thing that is the same is the name, which was a name we acquired and are using. No other assets. The proposition has been changed, the branding, all the recipes are different, new website. We are treating it as a new brand."

B&G Foods has sold its shelf-stable vegetable product line under the Green Giant brand to Seneca Foods. As part of the transaction, B&G Foods will maintain ownership of the Green Giant trademarks and grant a license to Seneca Foods to use the Green Giant brand name. The sale excludes the Green Giant frozen products, Green Giant Canada and the Le Sueur brand. B&G Foods plans to use the funds generated from the sale to repay long-term debt. Casey Keller, president and CEO of B&G Foods, said: “Our decision to sell the US shelf-stable product line of the Green Giant brand is part of our ongoing effort to divest product lines that are non-core to B&G Foods’ long-term strategy and reduce long-term debt". He continued: "We believe that Seneca Foods, the long-time, primary co-manufacturer for the Green Giant US shelf-stable product line, is the right owner for the US shelf-stable product line. We continue to believe in the power of the iconic Green Giant brand, and the sale will allow our Green Giant team to focus on Green Giant frozen, Green Giant Canada and the Le Sueur brand.” Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

BlueTriton Brands has announced the appointment of Joey Bergstein as its chief executive officer, effective 28 November 2023. Bergstein will step down from his role as the CEO at Sabra Dipping Company, a US-based producer of hummus and guacamole, a position he has held since 2021. Before joining Sabra, Bergstein held the position of senior vice president at Diageo from 2003 to 2011. Prior to that, he served as VP of marketing and VP of global business development at Molson Coors from 2001 to 2003. Bergstein said: "I'm honoured to bring my experience to bear at BlueTriton, where we are working to build a better water company and be a force for good. We have an amazing responsibility to help conserve, protect and responsibly package our natural resources for the long term while providing healthy hydration to millions. I am excited for the next chapter of BlueTriton and look forward to building on our foundation and positioning it for long-term growth and success." Dean Metropoulos, chairman of BlueTriton's board of directors, commented: "With more than 30 years of experience building and leading iconic consumer goods brands focused on sustainability, governance and corporate culture, Joey embodies what it means to be a purpose-driven CEO. His ability to help companies achieve commercial success while making a meaningful difference in the world is perfectly aligned with BlueTriton's leadership priorities and principles." Kimberly D. Reed, member of BlueTriton's board of directors, added: "Joey has a proven ability to enhance businesses by establishing a clear strategy, building trust and driving results for stakeholders. The combination of his background leading sustainability-focused brands and his expertise in the consumer and beverage space makes him the ideal leader for BlueTriton as we look to differentiate ourselves within the category and continue to grow."