Natural ingredient solution provider Kalsec is expanding its footprint in Europe with the opening of its Savoury Product Innovation Centre of Excellence (SPICE) lab in Wageningen, the Netherlands. The new facility is set to demonstrate Kalsec’s position in developing taste and sensory solutions derived from nature, with an emphasis on sauces, dressings and condiment applications. Kalsec is building an international team of food scientists to facilitate research and new product development at the SPICE Lab. It is located at Plus Ultra II, a multi-tenant business facility on the Wageningen Campus. Plus Ultra II was developed with a priority on sustainability – the building has been categorised as energy label class A. Julie Heine, Kalsec’s president and chief commercial officer, said: “We chose to locate our new SPICE Lab in the heart of the Wageningen Food Valley to strengthen our position in the region and reinforce our commitment to our European customers. We are excited to tap into the abundance of agrifood innovation clustered at and around Wageningen University and Research.” She continued: “It is our purpose to unlock the potential of people, nature and science to nourish the world. We are proud to contribute to the advancement of a more sustainable global food system.”

Liquor-infused ice cream company LiQ has teamed up with Diageo-owned brand Baileys to launch ice cream pralines. The bite-size treats feature flavours of smooth vanilla ice cream infused with Baileys, coated in Belgian milk chocolate and Irish cream centre. LiQ co-founder Jorgo Struyve said: “Baileys has become an iconic part of the way many Brits choose to celebrate the festive period. Whether that’s indulging in Christmas pudding topped with Baileys, adding a splash of Baileys to a hot chocolate or coffee, or even just enjoying Baileys on the rocks by the fire." He continued: “With our new Baileys ice cream pralines, we wanted to give people another exciting way to enjoy their favourite tipple. Whether it’s celebrating with friends and family, or taking a little time for yourself, LiQ Baileys pralines are the perfect accompaniment to any festive celebration this year.” LiQ’s Baileys ice cream pralines contain seven bite-sized treats in each box, and will be available to purchase at Morrisons supermarkets in the UK.

Hormel Foods-owned brand Spam has expanded its portfolio with the launch of a bitesize format, the “UK’s first” frozen Spam snack. The new Frozen Spam Cheesy Bites feature the brand’s classic pork meat filled with a cheese centre and wrapped in a golden batter. They can be oven-baked from frozen “in minutes”. Jelsey Barnes, commercial sales manager at Hormel Foods, commented: “New Spam Cheesy Bites offer a uniquely tasting meaty mouthful with a cheesy twist. Perfect for sharing at family gatherings and parties, Spam Cheesy Bites will liven up buffet tables and mealtimes. Spam and Cheese has always been a favourite pairing among our consumers and now they can enjoy together in bitesized format – hot or cold, indoors or outdoors.” The launch comes after the brand unveiled its eleventh flavour variety in June, a new maple syrup-flavoured spam. The new bites come in a 400g pack and are available to purchase now in Iceland stores across the UK.

Ahold Delhaize USA has announced that it will sell its FreshDirect business to Getir, an ultrafast grocery delivery company operating in five countries. In a statement released today, Ahold Delhaize said it made the decision to sell FreshDirect to focus on investments in its omnichannel businesses. Headquartered in the Bronx and serving the greater New York tri-state area, FreshDirect has 3,200 employees and was founded in 2002, acquired by Ahold Delhaize in January 2021. Getir said the acquisition will lead to significant synergies with FreshDirect, and will emphasise its strategic ambitions to grow in the US. FreshDirect will leverage Getir's technology and operational footprint to offer faster services to its customer base, which will also benefit from easy access to Getir's quick convenience service. FreshDirect customers will continue to be served by their local delivery teams and no changes will be made to DeliveryPass subscriptions or other services, Ahold Delhaize confirmed. JJ Fleeman, Ahold Delhaize USA CEO, said that the decision was difficult, “especially given FreshDirect’s rich history in the New York City area”. He added: “However, our strength as a grocery retailer in the US is the true omnichannel experience – a combination of online and in-store – where we have leading brands and market share, strong store density and online presence, and a deep heritage of customer loyalty and relationships”. Ahold Delhaize USA is the parent company of Netherlands-headquartered Ahold Delhaize’s US companies, including FreshDirect, Food Lion and Giant Food among others. Combined, the local brands of Ahold Delhaize USA comprise the largest grocery retail group on the East Coast and the fourth largest in the nation, operating more than 2,000 stores and more than 20 distribution centres across more than 20 states. The deal, expected to close within this month, will see FreshDirect retain its brand name and continue to operate out of its facility in the Bronx, New York City. FreshDirect will enable Getir to further increase the quality and breadth of its product range, particularly regarding fresh products. “We are proud of the positive impact FreshDirect has had in the online grocery space, raising the bar in offering the best in-season selection of locally sourced goods,” added Fleeman. “In the coming weeks, we are committed to supporting a smooth transition for FreshDirect’s valued employees, customers, partners and communities, who have been loyal to the brand over the past 20 years, so that FreshDirect will be well positioned to continue as an integral part of New York’s food culture under Getir’s ownership.”

Lithuanian insect producer Divaks has selected Swiss technology group Bühler to build its first commercial-scale yellow mealworm plant. In the new plant, Divaks will produce yellow mealworm, an environmentally friendly, nutritious protein source that can be used in applications including meat alternatives, sports nutrition, snacks and confectionery as well as premium pet food. The residue from mealworm production, known as insect frass, will be utilised as organic fertiliser, contributing to healthier soils and fostering a circular economy approach. Yellow mealworms have been recognised as safe for human consumption by the European Commission and provide a complete protein source with all essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Commercial insect farming is considered to have a low environmental footprint, requiring minimal water, energy and land resources. It also supports circular food systems, with insect bioconversion potentially allowing for around a third of the EU’s annual food waste to be safely upcycled. The plant, which is scheduled to be operational in 2025, will produce up to 15,000 tonnes of sustainable insect-derived products per year. Divaks expects the site – located in Lithuania’s Marijampolė Free Economic Zone and spanning 10,000 square metres – to double its production by 2030. Bühler is responsible for planning and executing the plant as well as providing solutions for the entire supply chain. Bühler is responsible for all process technology, including feedstock preparation to provide safe, palatable and nourishing feed to the larvae and a fully automated larvae growth system with climate control. Additionally, Bühler will provide the processing line to transform the harvested larvae into textured insect proteins (TIP), insect protein concentrates (IPC) and other specialised food ingredients. Divaks CEO and co-founder Kęstutis Lipnickas, said: “This is a huge step forward for Divaks as we work to establish ourselves as global leaders in high-quality insect-derived ingredients for human nutrition. Bühler will deliver the state-of-the art technology we need, allowing us to focus on the most important activities: market development and creating sustainable products that excel in nutritional and functional qualities.” Andreas Baumann, head of market segment insect technology at Bühler, commented: “We are delighted to have been chosen to provide a full-scope solution for Divaks’ yellow mealworm production site. It reinforces Bühler’s commitment to ambitious targets that will help to mitigate climate change and build a more sustainable food system.” Kęstutis Lipnickas added: “Edible insects have a key role to play as we move toward a more resilient and sustainable food system. Our new facility will help food brands tap into this fast-growing, high-potential sector with high-quality protein ingredients for premium food products.”

Environmental and consumer rights organisations have filed a legal complaint against Coca-Cola, Nestlé and Danone for the use of misleading claims on plastic water bottles sold across Europe. EU consumer protection organisation Bureau Européen des Unions de Consommateurs (BEUC), supported by ClientEarth and Environmental Coalition on Standards (ECOS), has raised an external alert to the European Commission and the Consumer Protection Cooperation Network against the three food and beverage giants for “suspected widespread infringement of consumer protection law”. The legal complaint argues that the plastic bottles are never made wholly of recycled materials. UK environmental charity ClientEarth says that the claims commonly found on plastic water bottles are often factually incorrect, with the group arguing that the claims – such as “100% recycled” or “100% recyclable” – suggest that bottles can simply be recycled in an infinite, circular loop. Lawyers say these statements, often reinforced by ‘green’ imagery and generic environmental catchphrases, may mislead consumers into viewing single-use bottles as a sustainable choice. They insist the bottles are never made wholly of recycled materials, and the ability to recycle them depends on a number of factors, including the available infrastructure. In support of BEUC’s complaint, ClientEarth has asked for companies to stop using misleading claims that could deter consumers from making good environmental choices – such as using a refillable water bottle – and encourage food and drink giants to move away from the harmful single-use plastic business model and ‘deplastify’. Rosa Pritchard, plastics lawyer at ClientEarth, said: “The evidence is clear – plastic water bottles are simply not recycled again and again to become new bottles in Europe. A ‘100%’ recycling rate for bottles is technically not possible and, just because bottles are made with recycled plastic, does not mean they don’t harm people and planet.” FoodBev approached the companies for comment. A spokesperson from Danone said: “At Danone, we strongly believe in the circularity of packaging – and will continue to invest and lead the campaign for better collection and recycling infrastructure alongside our partners. We have also made real progress on our journey to reducing single use plastic and virgin plastic use in parallel (-10% in absolute since 2018).” A spokesperson from Coca-Cola Great Britain told FoodBev: "We’re working to reduce the amount of plastic packaging we use, and we’re investing to collect and recycle the equivalent of the packaging we use. We only communicate messages on our packaging that can be substantiated, with any relevant qualifications clearly displayed to enable consumers to make informed choices. Some of our packaging carries messages to drive recycling awareness, including whether our packages are recyclable and if they are made from recycled content." They continued: "We have an ambitious goal to collect and recycle a bottle or can for each one we sell by 2030, and we support well-designed 'Deposit Return Schemes' across Europe which we know can help us get our packaging back. We also aim to have 25% of all our volume sold globally in refillable/returnable glass or plastic bottles, or in refillable containers used when consuming from dispensed solutions. We're making progress to help eliminate waste, and we know more must be done. We will continue to invest to advance our 'World Without Waste' packaging goals.” A Nestlé spokesperson added: “We work hard to reduce the amount of plastic packaging we use; to lead investments and support packaging circularity alongside partners, and to communicate clearly with consumers who want to make informed choices. Nestle has reduced its amount of virgin plastic packaging by 10.5% since 2018, and we are on track to get to one-third less virgin plastic by the end of 2025.” If the European Commission agrees with the complaint, it can organise a coordinated response among national consumer authorities. This could involve asking the companies to rectify the situation, or imposing fines within their own borders.

Through a voluntary Green Deal agreement, Valio is committing to reduce the amount of plastic used in its single-use, single-serving packaging by 15% by the end of 2026 compared to 2022. Valio will now package all Valio PROfeel quark products in recyclable paperboard cups. The change will result in 143 tonnes less plastic being used. According to Valio, this commitment contributes to the national target for a reduction in single-use, single-serving plastic packaging. The company reports that it has "significantly reduced" the amount of plastic in its packaging for many years, for example by eliminating detachable lids/caps, plastic spoons and straws from single-serving packages and by using thinner plastic in its packaging. With the 'Green Deal' agreement, Valio claims it will commit to further reducing the use of plastic in its single-serving packaging. Juhana Pilkama, head of packaging development for Valio, said: “Paperboard cups have been used in single-serving yoghurts since 2021. Going forward, all Valio PROfeel quark products will be packaged in recyclable paperboard cups. Valio’s goal is that by the end of 2025, all packaging will be suitable for a true circular economy, meaning that new products can be made from it. We are continuously developing our packaging so that it better aligns with the circular economy and reduces its climate impact. We have added plain-language recycling instructions to our packaging to make recycling as easy as possible for everyone.” The 'Green Deal' agreement seeks solutions to climate challenges, biodiversity loss, overconsumption of natural resources and the promotion of the circular economy in Finland. The agreement is made between the government and business as well as public sector actors. The aim of the agreement is to jointly promote sustainable development goals on a voluntary basis without additional legislation.

US dessert producer Milk Bar has partnered with US advertising campaign Got Milk? to release a limited edition seasonal milk collection. The Holiday Milk Collection is a line of new, limited-time flavours including Apple Cider Donut Milk, Pumpkin Cinnamon Milk, and Sugar Cookie Milk, all made using real dairy milk. Milk Bar founder Christina Tosi said: "When we opened the doors to our bakery 15 years ago, one of the biggest sellers was our pints of flavoured milk and folks have been begging us to bring them back ever since! We are thrilled to introduce our Holiday Milk Collection – and give fans the opportunity to re-create these unique flavours at home this holiday season!" The new milk flavours are available to purchase now at specific retailers across the US.

Israel-based food-tech start-up SolvEat has unveiled a new bioactive solution designed to help maintain healthy blood sugar levels when used as part of a regular diet. SolvEat collaborated with a chocolate company to develop a chocolate bar prototype as a first proof of concept. The research-supported botanical compositions are patent-pending and are made from a composition of eight herbs, including golden thread, Chinese foxglove and Hawthorn Berries, which work together to support balanced blood sugar levels. The chocolate serves as the first delivery system produced by the start-up showcasing its capacity to incorporate the benefits of traditional herbal remedies into everyday foods. The start-up says its microencapsulated formula can be easily integrated into a variety of food applications without impacting the flavour. Tal Naveh, SolvEat co-founder and director of herbal medicine, said: “Our botanical formula takes inspiration from the wisdom of various schools of traditional herbal medicines emanating from the East and West. We merge them into one all-encompassing bioactive composition that is supported by modern science. The botanical extracts in our solution work synergistically to balance blood sugar levels through supporting various organs in the body and that’s why each is essential to the efficacy of the formula.” Zacki Nudelman, co-founder, CBO and scientific affairs officer of SolvEat, commented: “With the support of leading academics in the fields of natural ingredients we used the most refined scientific methods and instrumentation to identify the dominant bioactive compounds in each botanical extract, as well as their synergism of action as one formula.” In vitro analysis confirmed the composition’s sugar-balancing effect on muscle cells, demonstrating a significant uptake of excess glucose, comparable to the action of insulin. In a preliminary clinical observation, the herb-infused chocolate demonstrated significant abilities to reduce blood sugar by 10 to 24 percent in 10 out of 12 prediabetic participants. A full clinical trial is in progress. Nudelman continued: “Our herbal composition uses moderate doses of a broad spectrum of botanicals that work in harmony to evoke a gentle, yet powerful effect, and is suitable for daily consumption. This also prevents the occurrence of any potential risks that might be associated with consuming high doses of botanicals.” The company says that using herbal compositions rather than one single ingredient offers a more effective, holistic and safe approach. SolvEat’s CEO Udi Peretz said that other botanical formulations targeting additional health categories are in the pipeline, with the company exploring multiple food applications that could act as innovative carriers for custom formulations.

Cargill has completed an expansion and modernisation project at its integrated soybean crush and refined oils facility in Sidney, Ohio, US. The upgraded plant came online in September, aiming to help Cargill better serve farmers and meet the growing demand for soy products across food and feed as well as renewable fuel markets. Almost doubling the facility’s previous crush capacity, the expansion will offer greater access to soybean meal and hulls. Customers’ on-site experience will also be improved, Cargill said, as they will be able to more quickly and efficiently receive soybeans and load out products. Cargill’s crush facility originally opened in 1978, with the refinery added a decade later. Today it links soybean farmers in the region with customers nearby and around the globe. Its upgrade is among several of Cargill’s efforts to modernise and increase capacity across its North American oilseeds network. Justin Rismiller, US crush soy commercial leader for Cargill, commented: “We’ve been in business for 45 years here, and we appreciate the long-standing relationships with local farmers, food and feed customers, and the local community”. He added: “This has been a complex project, as we continued to run the existing plant during construction. Thanks to our dedicated team, we are able to provide a state-of-the-art facility to better serve our customers and the community for generations to come.”

Post Holdings has announced that its president and chief executive officer, Robert Vitale, will be taking an unexpected medical leave of absence. In a statement, the company said: “At this time, it is too soon to know the course of treatment and timing of recovery”. Post’s board of directors has named Jeff Zadoks, currently Post’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, as interim CEO while Vitale is on leave. William Stiritz, chairman of Post’s board of directors, said: “Our thoughts and best wishes go out to Rob as he recovers. We are grateful to Jeff for stepping in during Rob’s absence. Post’s operating model and exceptional team of business unit and holding company executives give me great confidence in our ability to maintain the continuity of our business.” Zadoks has a “long history” with Post and has served in various roles at the company since 2011. Before his role as EVP and COO, Zadoks served for eight years as Post’s EVP and chief financial officer.

Taiwan-based fruit product manufacturer Baigong Food has unveiled a line of functional fruit konnyaku jellies, including probiotic and lutein jelly bars. The jellies are made with a base of konnyaku, a starchy plant native to Yunnan in southwest China that belongs to the same family as taro and yam. The jellies incorporate Taiwanese fruits including grapes, mangoes, lychees, passion fruits, apples and peaches, among others, and are available in six flavours. The probiotic jelly bars each contain up to 4 billion live probiotic units, supporting gastrointestinal health and promoting digestion. The jelly form is convenient and requires no additional water or liquids, making the bars a practical choice for children. The format enhances the survivability of probiotics in acidic environments, ensuring maximum probiotic benefits in the digestive system. In addition to the konnyaku jellies and probiotic jelly bars, Baigong Food has introduced lutein jelly bars, containing 9mg of lutein, known for its vision-improving and eye health maintenance properties. This product uses free-form lutein, a more easily absorbable form that results in greater bioavailability. Baigong Food's R&D team employed novel production techniques to achieve elasticity in its konnyaku jellies, which it says “sets new standards for mouthfeel”.