Plant-based chocolate brand Ombar has announced the launch of a new oat milk 'countline' bar format. Launching in two flavours, Hazelnut Brownie and Salted Caramel, the new range has been designed for impulse locations. It aims to appeal to consumers looking for an on-the-go snack at a lower price than the larger block bars and with the same commitment to sustainability. Ombar reports that the carbon emissions from Oat M’lk bars are half of what ‘regular’ milk chocolate would produce, with plastic-free packaging and a donation from every bar sold funding reforestation efforts in Ecuador where it sources its cacao. Oat M'lk bars are vegan, fairtrade, organic and free from dairy, gluten and palm oil and are reported to contain a third less sugar compared to competing brands. Richard Turner, founder of Ombar, said: “As oat milk chocolate pioneers, we are focused on creating a planet-positive product range with sustainability at the heart of everything we do. We were in fact the first chocolate brand on the planet to climate-label on pack. We never stop creating, and are really excited to be launching our new ‘countline’ bar range.” The new Ombar range will be available from 9 November at Ombar.com, WHSmith Travel and independents nationwide.

Novozymes has launched ProSilience HU58, a low cost-in-use and stable probiotic designed to be used outside of dairy products. The probiotic can withstand harsh processing conditions, allowing it to become an ingredient in multiple food categories. In a consumer survey carried out by Novozymes, 85% of US consumers reported interest in getting probiotics through functional food and beverages. ProSilience HU58 is designed to address this trend and could be used as part of innovative new functional products in new categories such as breakfast cereal and coffee. Stephen Quinn, Novozymes industry manager, functional foods, said: "ProSilience HU58 provides the clinically supported digestive and immune benefits that consumers demand... its stability enables innovative products outside the dairy category, something important for pill-fatigued consumers who would prefer to get their probiotics in food rather than supplements." Traditional probiotics can be expensive, create limitations in processing, and can suffer a shorter-than-expected shelf-life under the wrong conditions. The company claims that ProSilience HU58 solves these problems by being a cost-effective, spore-forming probiotic that is “more stable in food and beverage applications than the market leader”, easy to formulate and to incorporate into existing production lines.

UK-based luxury dessert brand Pots & Co has expanded its portfolio with a new flavour offering, Chocolate and Orange Ganache. The dessert – which is part of the brand’s non-HFSS range – contains 79 calories per pot. The flavour was developed by chefs and is handmade in small batches, with no artificial preservatives and less sugar. The pots are made with sustainably crafted ‘Fino de Aroma’ cocoa combined with orange zest. Fraser Thomson, Michelin-trained chef and joint-CEO at Pots & Co, said: “The initial success of our HFSS-compliant range has shown what we always knew here at Pots & Co, that even with non-HFSS products consumers still want to be able to indulge and not compromise on taste. We wanted to continue to push the boundaries of how different flavours of desserts can be delightfully indulgent, but still be low in calories.” He continued: “The quality of our ingredients is key to this, especially when it comes to chocolate. Using extremely high-quality chocolate means that our ingredients naturally don’t contain as much salt and sugar as others. This chocolate, combined with the zesty freshness of orange, makes a delicious tasting restaurant-quality dessert that taste buds everywhere deserve.” The pots are available to purchase now at select UK retailers for an RRP of £3.50 per two-pack.

Ecotone, an organic and plant-based food producer, has opened the doors to what the company claims is the largest 100% organic coffee and tea factory in Europe. The company, which owns brands across seven countries, has launched La Caféière with a €10 million investment to meet the growing demand for quality, organic hot drinks. With financial support from the European Union and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, La Caféière represents part of Ecotone’s global ‘Food for Biodiversity’ mission to meet the highest environmental and sustainability standards. According to Ecotone, La Caféière's roasting smoke burner cuts CO2 emissions by 30% compared with traditional methods. Through green energy, wetland water management, 100% LED lighting and photovoltaic roof panels, the plant is designed to make the production of tea and coffee as sustainable as possible, with the aim to improve the standards of sustainability globally. The factory also operates a 100% circularity policy: 85% of total leftover materials are recycled or reused in compost and 15% are incinerated with energy recovery. Ecotone said that La Caféière's suppliers operate agricultural practices that go beyond traditional organic standards. This includes the diversity of plant species grown per plot, fair income for small producers and positive action by partner cooperatives to combat deforestation in their areas. More than 60% of La Caféière's sales will now be through Fairtrade certified products. The aim is to achieve over 70% Fair Trade coffee and tea within two years. The factory will produce 100 tonnes of tea annually and receive 3200 tonnes of organic coffee each year, with 5.5 million units of organic coffee sold annually.

Premier Foods has announced its £34 million acquisition of breakfast brand Fuel10k, expanding its presence within the breakfast meal category. Premier Foods is a large UK-based food manufacturer with a portfolio of well-known brands including Mr Kipling, Cadbury and Batchelors. This latest deal with Fuel10k follows Premier’s acquisition of Indian and South East Asian meal kit brand The Spice Tailor last July. Premier said the transaction, which completed on 29 October 2023, will substantially increase the group’s position in the breakfast category, building on its recent successful launch of Ambrosia porridge pots. The company will pay an initial consideration of £29.6 million, funded through its available cash reserves. A minimum further deferred consideration of £4 million will be payable in FY26/27, with any increment to this dependent upon certain growth targets. Fuel10k is a protein-enriched breakfast brand which Premier described as ‘on-trend’ in its statement announcing the acquisition. The brand’s portfolio includes granola and porridge alongside cookies and other protein-packed snacks. It has a track record of strong double-digit revenue growth over the last three years and is sold across major UK retailers, convenience channels and online. Alex Whitehouse, chief executive officer of Premier Foods, said: “Possessing a differentiated category position, with its protein-enriched product range and appealing to a younger demographic, we expect to deliver significant further profitable growth of Fuel10k through the deployment of our successful branded growth model”. Fuel10k’s co-founder, Barney Mauleverer, commented: “We are very excited to be passing the reigns on to the owner of such a great stable of UK brands. Having built the foundations from start-up, the FUEL10K brand is now primed to accelerate into the future and achieve even more great things.”

Electric fleet solution provider Zoomo has partnered with online food delivery company Uber Eats to drive greater accessibility of light electric vehicles for couriers in London. The new partnership will see high-performance E-mopeds added to Zoomo’s product portfolio with a discount offered for their monthly and weekly rental. To help tackle the emissions generated by food delivery, couriers who use Uber Eats will receive a discount on the rental cost of high-quality E-mopeds in the initial month of sign-up, making the E-mopeds accessible at just £149 (including insurance) via Zoomo. The announcement will contribute to Uber Eats’ goal of making 100 percent of food delivery trips emission-free worldwide by 2040, with a 2030 target for major European cities. The partnership also supports Zoomo's mission of transitioning urban miles to light electric vehicles while enhancing courier access to efficient and affordable transportation. Nicolas de Juniac, UK general manager at Zoomo, said: “We admire Uber’s commitments to reduce the carbon footprint of food delivery trips. By joining forces with Uber Eats to enhance courier access to E-mopeds, we're not only taking significant strides toward a greener delivery landscape but also setting the stage for a more sustainable and efficient industry – and this is just the beginning. We're excited to work closely with Uber Eats, growing our partnership and leading the charge toward a brighter, eco-conscious future, all while empowering valued couriers. It's a win-win-win partnership: for the environment, for our riders and for Zoomo.”

South Caernarfon Creameries has launched its premium range of cheese, Dragon Handcrafted Range, with new flavours and new packaging. Matured in Llanfair slate caverns in North Wales, the Dragon Handcrafted selection has been named after precious gemstones and metals: Cavern Platinum, a vintage cheddar; Cavern Ruby, a Welsh red Leicester; Cavern Emerald, a cheddar blended with leek; Cavern Onyx, an aged cheddar with Penderyn whisky; Alan Wyn Jones, managing director for South Caernarfon Creameries said, “We wanted to emphasise the cheese’s provenance and heritage with the new brand and flavours aimed at the luxury end of the market. We wanted to make delicious and rich tasting products by adding a real depth of flavour to our Dragon cheese.” All four cheeses are available at major retailers across the UK.

Sainsbury’s has announced the completion of a new wind farm in Scotland which will add up to 50 megawatts of electrical capacity to the grid in the form of renewable energy. The new wind farm will be used to power Sainsbury’s stores, offices and depots nationwide, boosting the retailer’s ambition to become net zero in its own operations by 2035. Construction on the Longhill Burn wind farm in Scotland began in 2021 when Sainsbury’s signed an agreement with Capital Dynamics to buy 100% of the electricity it generates. Over the next 15 years, Sainsbury’s says it will invest millions of pounds in the renewable energy produced by the wind farm. Located in West Lothian – around fifteen miles outside of Edinburgh – the farm features eight wind turbines designed and delivered by Spanish-German wind engineering company Siemens Gamesa. The blades measure 76 metres in length and the turbines stand at over 200 metres tall at their highest point. Each turbine provides a maximum output of between 6-6.4MW, which Sainsbury's says makes them the "largest and most powerful onshore wind turbines available in the UK". When all the turbines are operating at maximum capacity, they will supply up to 33% of Sainsbury’s total electricity needs. Over the course of a full year, they are expected to produce around 150,000 megawatt hours of electricity, which is enough to provide electricity for around 55,000 average UK homes Longhill Burn is the seventh wind farm from which Sainsbury’s now buys 100% of the energy generated and an eighth site is expected to go live next year. Patrick Dunne, Sainsbury’s director of property, procurement and EV ventures, said “We’re very proud to be investing in this state-of-the-art, sustainable source of new wind power, featuring the largest, most cutting-edge onshore turbines available in the UK.” “Our commitment to the future of Longhill Burn Wind Farm... builds on our proven track record of investing in sustainable technologies.” The project was developed in partnership with Energiekontor AG, which managed the construction of the wind farm and will oversee its day-to-day operations and maintenance. Longhill Burn will benefit from Capital Dynamics’ and Energiekontor’s longstanding operations management experience. This is the latest in a cohort of sustainability initiatives made by the UK supermarket giant, in September Sainsbury’s unveiled the “UK’s largest” lower carbon beef range, and announced that it was investing an additional £6 million annually into its dairy farmers. In July the retailer announced its new steak packaging would save 10 million plastic pieces annually. In April, Sainsbury’s went trayless on whole chickens and earlier this year removed plastic bags from its entire banana range, while in February it removed all traditional plastic tray packaging across its entire beef mince range.

The drive toward greener packaging solutions and smarter, reduced use of plastic has intensified in recent years, particularly alongside the introduction of new government legislation designed to tackle the plastic waste problem. Efforts to drive down the use of unsustainable levels of plastic are critical within the packaging industry, a sector shown to produce high levels of plastic waste that could be significantly reduced by introducing modern, greener solutions. Data from climate action NGO Wrap reveals that around a third of all plastic packaging on the global market leaks from collection systems and pollutes the environment. In the UK, plastic packaging accounts for nearly 70% of our plastic waste. The government has put the issue under the spotlight with the introduction of several legislative measures this year, including extending its single-use plastic ban to include plates, trays, bowls, cutlery and certain types of polystyrene food and drinks containers as well as straws and stirrers. Alongside the Plastic Packaging Tax, applied to plastic goods manufactured or imported with less than 30% recycled plastic, and the new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation requiring producers to pay the full costs of dealing with waste, the single-use plastic ban will work alongside incentives such as funding schemes to implement a shift in the way we produce and deal with waste generated from packaging consumer goods. While the introduction of new rules will force companies to accelerate action on the matter, pressure to go greener has long been mounting and consumers are becoming savvier when it comes to the eco-friendliness of their shopping baskets. Trivium’s 2023 Buying Green Report showed that 71% of consumers are actively choosing products due to the sustainability factor of the product’s packaging. Companies in the F&B space are turning to a range of solutions to improve packaging sustainability, looking to materials such as recycled aluminium, paper and innovative new solutions derived from natural sources. Pushing for paper PepsiCo’s Walkers crisp brand has this week announced the rollout of new paper outer bags for all Walkers Baked multipacks, a move it says will reduce its use of virgin plastic on outer packaging by 180 tonnes per year. The company also plans to eliminate virgin fossil-based plastic in crisp and snack bags by 2030 by using 100% recycled or renewable content, and is currently trialling new ‘bagless’ Snack A Jacks multipacks, using a tape-like strip to hold together individual packets. And in early 2024, Nissin Foods USA has announced that its Cup Noodles will begin to roll out in a new paper cup design, replacing its current polystyrene cup. The solution will be rolled out across all flavours of Cup Noodles and will be made with 40% recycled fibre, no longer requiring a plastic wrap. It will feature a 100% recycled paper sleeve. Michael Price, president and CEO of Nissin Foods USA, said that while the product will retain its “same satisfying taste and iconic look”, the brand must evolve to support current environmental needs. “This updated packaging and the new paper cup marks an important milestone for Cup Noodles and a key step in our environmental commitment,” Price said in a statement. Reduce, reuse, recycle Global packaging company Amcor has this week announced that its Stelvin aluminium screw cap range for wine and spirits will receive sustainability upgrades, helping alcoholic beverage brands around the world go greener in their closure solutions. The use of up to 46% recycled aluminium and ‘careful selection’ of low-carbon primary aluminium during the manufacturing process contributes to a 35% reduction in the carbon footprint of all Stelvin and 30H60 screw caps produced in Europe, North America and South America for wine and spirit brands, Amcor said. Brands can select the ‘Stelvin Inside’ liner, free from Polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), to up the eco credentials and improve recyclability of the sustainable capping solution. Elsewhere in beverages, Coca-Cola has announced that all of its 500ml sparkling beverage bottles in Canada will be made with 100% recycled plastic by early 2024, excluding caps and labels. The move supports the company’s 'World Without Waste' goals to use at least 50% recycled content in its packaging by 2030 and to reduce the use of virgin plastic. “With this transition, no virgin PET plastic will be used for our sparkling 500ml bottles under normal circumstances going forward in Canada," said Kurt Ritter, VP and general manager of sustainability at Coca-Cola North America. Ritter added that the move aims to increase the amount of high-quality, food-grade, recycled plastic available in Canada and ultimately enable the business to offer more of its brands in the format. It is projected to save 7.6 million lbs of new plastic in 2024 alone. Building with beeswax Over the past couple of weeks, sustainable packaging solutions utilising beeswax have come to the forefront. Danish ingredients and packaging specialist Procudan has developed a cheese wax made from 100% natural materials. Cheese wax is commonly used as a form of display packaging as well as in transportation and maturing of cheese production, but conventional varieties typically contain plastic and waxes based on fossil oil. Procudan’s new ProCera Natural cheese wax is made from beeswax among other natural materials and has been tested in collaboration with Scandinavian dairy companies. Procudan said the solution possesses all of the familiar characteristics of currently used cheese wax solutions, eliminating the fossil raw materials. A new sustainability start-up, One Good Thing (OGT) has also turned to beeswax-based innovation to remove the need for packaging entirely in the creation of what is claimed to be the world’s first wrapperless protein and snack bars. In a bid to reduce plastic waste, its on-the-go snack bars are coated with a completely edible, natural film made from a mixture of beeswax and other natural ingredients. The start-up said the solution dries hard enough to hold and protect the bars inside, but is thin and soft enough to chew easily. Kieran Stanbridge, CEO of OGT, said: “We like to think of our bars as just like eating an apple. When you’re ready to eat one, you can just give it a quick rinse and take a bite. It’s that simple. Our innovation doesn’t just limit plastic waste – it removes it entirely.” Looking ahead Consumer awareness of environmental impact has continued to rise and, despite global inflation impacting consumer spending habits, Trivium’s data still showed that 82% of respondents said they would be willing to pay more for sustainable packaging – up four points from 2022. Trivium Packaging’s CEO, Michael Mapes, said: “The data in this year’s Buying Green Report presents a strong case that transitioning to sustainable packaging is not only the right decision for the environment but also the right decision for the business”. “It’s clear that consumers are paving the way for a sustainable future, and businesses need to listen – external factors like the economy don’t phase the eco-conscious demand. Buyers are looking at the big picture: the survival of our planet."

Irish chocolatier Lir Chocolates is expanding its Baileys Chocolate range with its latest introduction, the Baileys Chocolate Nut Mix. The mix combines roasted almonds coated in Baileys Chocolate with a blend of caramelised hazelnuts, cashews, almonds and peanuts, with a hint of Baileys, and crunchy salted caramel popcorn. Alison Robson, Baileys Chocolate’s marketing manager, said: “We are proud to launch the Baileys Chocolate Nut Mix ahead of the festive period. Baileys is synonymous with Christmas and is a popular adult treat at that time of year. We have seen indulgent nut mixes increase in popularity at Christmas and adding a touch of Baileys to the mix will attract new shoppers and give loyal fans an exciting new way to enjoy the indulgence of Baileys chocolate.” Lir Chocolates says it developed the new snack to cater to the rising demand in the nut category during the festive season, with data showing that there is usually a 35% uplift in sales of nuts in the 12-week run-up to Christmas. The new nut mix is available to purchase now in Tesco stores across the UK for an RRP of £3.50. You may also like to read: Finsbury introduces new seasonal line-up Diageo to invest £26m in NI facility expansion Diageo introduces Baileys vanilla mint shake flavour

Nestlé has unveiled Sinergity, a blend that combines a probiotic with six human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) to support age-adapted infant development. For years, Nestlé has been understanding the the composition of various nutrients and bioactives that are present in breastmilk such as proteins and HMOs. The company has reported how a specific strain (B. infantis LMG11588) has the ability to efficiently absorb and metabolise HMOs, producing key beneficial compounds, in addition to the direct benefits already provided by the HMOs and the probiotic individually. Nestlé says that the combination of these elements creates a “synergistic effect,” resulting in a dominance of bifidobacteria which can lead to a more favourable gut environment and stronger immunity in infants. Building on its expertise, Nestlé has developed the new Sinergity proprietary blend containing an infant-specific probiotic strain along with a blend of HMOs. As research shows that the composition of HMOs in breastmilk changes during the lactation period, products containing the new blend have varying levels of six different HMOs to meet the specific needs of infants according to age. Laurent Alsteens, global head of early childhood nutrition at Nestlé, said: "We are absolutely committed to engaging in groundbreaking research and are working with healthcare professionals to contribute to optimal nutrition in early childhood through clinically tested solutions that provide the essential nutrients for babies that cannot be exclusively or who are only partially breastfed. In this way, we can help advance breakthrough nutritional solutions for infants with ingredient blends to support age-appropriate growth, digestive health, bone, muscle and cognitive development and the immune system." Isabelle Bureau-Franz, head of Nestlé's R&D for nutrition, added: "Thanks to our continuous scientific advancements, we have discovered the important benefits of combining our proprietary B. infantis probiotic with a blend of six HMOs. Leveraging our innovation expertise, we developed this breakthrough solution by successfully translating the new scientific findings, scaling-up the production of the probiotic and carefully adapting the levels of six HMOs according to age." The new blend has been launched in Hong Kong, with rollout Latin America expected towards the end of the year and in Europe early next year. The news follows the announcement earlier this week that Nestlé is to shut down its infant formula facility and co-located R&D centre in County Limerick, Ireland, stating that “external trends” have impacted the demand for infant nutrition products in Greater China. Also this week, the company unveiled its first “affordable and nutritious” instant powder in Central and West Africa, combining milk and locally sourced soy, containing essential nutrients such as protein and fibre and providing a source of iron and calcium.

KTC Edibles, the UK’s largest supplier of edible oils, has launched Planet Palm, a new range of certified sustainable, traceable and responsibly sourced palm oil products for food manufacturers in the UK. Launching Planet Palm is the latest step in KTC’s ongoing sustainability programme, with KTC aiming to change perceptions about palm oil and encourage customers to adopt sustainable solutions. The range is 'Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil' (RSPO) certified sustainable. Initial products will include Planet Palm Oil and a selection of specialist bakery items. As part of Planet Palm, KTC Edibles has partnered with Daabon, a sustainable agriculture company, to develop new fully traceable organic palm oil products for the range, which would potentially include solutions for bakery, confectionery and ice cream applications. Gary Lewis, sales director for KTC Edibles, said: “Over the past 15 years, the food industry has shied away from promoting palm oil with brands either hiding their use or switching out of palm altogether. Unfortunately, switching from palm to alternatives doesn’t reduce deforestation or protect biodiversity. It simply moves the problems to another part of the world and can make them significantly worse" “With Planet Palm, we’re doing something that’s never been done before, positioning palm oil as a positive product... when customers choose the right certified products, palm oil can be a responsible, sustainable option. “We want Planet Palm to help restart progress on the adoption of certified sustainable, segregated palm oil in the UK, as we strive for 100% sustainability.” Francesca Morgante, senior manager Europe for RSPO, said: “RSPO welcomes initiatives by its members that strive to communicate the importance of RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil. We are pleased that KTC as a long-lasting member is disseminating positive messages in the market, helping their customers to make certified sustainable choices themselves”.