Sartori Cheese has added a new flavour to its range of BellaVitano cheeses, Tomato Basil. According to the company, the new cheese variant combines the sweet and nutty flavours of BellaVitano with savoury notes, delivering a taste that is both "fruity and herbaceous". Sartori Cheese CEO Bert Sartori said: "We've taken years to perfect this new flavour, and we're proud to share it with people all over the world. Tomato Basil BellaVitano is a bold flavour fit for any occasion, big or small, and we're excited for everyone to experience how well it pairs with their favourite drink, snack or activity." Sartori said that the cheese pairs well with prosciutto, olives, artichokes, full-bodied wines and sparkling water. Tomato Basil BellaVitano can be found at US retailers.

Nestlé has launched its first “affordable and nutritious” instant powder in Central and West Africa, made with a blend of milk and plant ingredients. Nestlé says it is working on the blends as milk is beneficial for its protein, calcium and vitamins, while plant-based ingredients are also an important source of protein, essential amino acids, healthy fats, other nutrients and come with sustainability benefits. Laurent Alsteens, global category head for early childhood nutrition at Nestlé, said: "We continue to expand our offerings with nutritious, tasty, products that complement the everyday diet of children and their families. Through combining the goodness of dairy and plant ingredients, we can deliver a new flavour experience together with nutritional benefits." By combining milk and locally sourced soy, the blend – named Nido – contains essential nutrients such as protein and fibre and is a source of iron and calcium. The powder was developed locally by Nestlé experts at its regional R&D centre in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, and can be used with cereals, porridges and drinks. Tesfalidet Haile, head of Nestlé's R&D Center in Abidjan, commented: "We used our local expertise in cereals and dairy innovation to combine milk powder with a plant-based ingredient while ensuring that the product had a good taste, texture and solid nutritional credentials. This, combined with the use of locally sourced soy, enabled us to deliver a nutritious and affordable milk and plant-based beverage with sustainability benefits." Additionally, through the R&D accelerator located at Nestlé’s R&D centre in Konolfingen, Switzerland, the teams leverage expertise in dairy and dairy alternatives to rapidly develop and test new concepts that combine both milk and plant ingredients. Nido Milk & Soya is now available in Nigeria.

AG Barr has announced its acquisition of the Rio soft drinks brand through the purchase of Rio Tropical, for a total cash consideration of £12.3 million. The UK-based multi-beverage manufacturer will add the Rio tropical soft drink to its existing portfolio, which includes the Irn-Bru, Boost, Funkin and Rubicon brands. AG Barr acquired Rio Tropical from the independent brewer and pub company Hall and Woodhouse. The tropical fruit drink has been marketed, sold and distributed on an exclusive licence basis by AG Barr’s recently acquired Boost Drinks division since 2021. In a statement announcing the acquisition, AG Barr said that the purchase has been entirely funded from its strong net cash position. The company also revealed that while the acquisition is an ‘important contributor’ to its ongoing margin rebuild programme, the transaction is not expected to have a material impact on the group’s profits for the current financial year ending 28 January 2024. Roger White, CEO of AG Barr, commented: “As brand builders we are delighted to acquire the Rio brand and secure its long-term position in our wider portfolio. This allows us to realise the benefits of full brand ownership and support Rio’s continued growth. This acquisition is a further positive indication of our strategic ambitions.”

Keurig Dr Pepper has announced that it is investing a further $100 million to continue the development of its coffee roasting and manufacturing facility in South Carolina, US. Through the investment, KDP expects to create around 250 new jobs by 2027 at the facility located in Spartanburg County. The project is an extension of a phased build of the facility which broke ground in 2019. KDP previously invested a total of $380 million at the facility, creating 155 jobs at the location. The company’s Spartanburg County location is exclusively focused on coffee roasting and packaging for K-Cup pods for use in Keurig brewers. KDP says that the facility is one of the largest ‘LEED’ certified manufacturing facilities in the world. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the world's most widely used green building rating system. South Carolina's Coordinating Council for Economic Development awarded a $1 million Set-Aside grant to Spartanburg County to assist with the costs of building improvements. KDP’s chief supply chain officer, Roger Johnson, said: “Our facility in South Carolina remains an important asset in the ongoing evolution of our next-generation coffee production capabilities. Keurig Dr Pepper is proud to continue to grow in the welcoming and talent-rich community of Moore. We greatly appreciate the support we have received from the State of South Carolina in helping to facilitate our ongoing investment and hiring needs.” The further development of the facility is expected to be complete in 2027, with jobs opening in manufacturing and distribution operations.

Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) is building a soybean processing plant in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, US. The plant will include operations for crushing soybeans, refining vegetable oil, producing lecithin and packaging. Michael Gelchie, LDC’s CEO, said: “This strategic development will further strengthen LDC’s core merchandising capabilities with additional capacity to originate and process US soy into value-added products – in this case, edible oils and lecithin, reinforcing our position as a partner to food and feed customers as we grow our 'Food & Feed Solutions' business established in January”. The new facility will hire over 100 employees and feature an annual soy crushing capacity of 1,500,000 metric tons, an annual edible soybean oil production capacity of 320,000 metric tons, and an annual lecithin production capacity of 7,500 metric tons. In addition, the new facility "provides an option to participate in renewable energy feedstock markets and help meet growing demand for biofuels," highlighted the company. Gordon Russell, LDC’s US head of grains and oilseeds, added: “Reflecting our long-term commitment to North America as a key market for LDC, both in terms of origination and distribution, this new facility will leverage LDC’s existing regional logistics network and synergies with our other integrated oilseed processing facilities in the region: Our recently-expanded crushing, biodiesel refining and glycerin and lecithin production complex in Claypool, Indiana, US, and our canola processing plant in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada, which we are also expanding." Construction is set to commence in early 2024.

NoviaHealth, a new company specialising in selling advanced probiotic ingredients for better health, has been created as a spin-off from Synbiotic Health, known for its expertise in discovering probiotic ingredients. NoviaHealth, as a newly independent company, will offer probiotic concentrates, custom probiotic blends and complete contract development and manufacturing services for the dietary supplement market. The company will operate from laboratories, offices and a new manufacturing facility in Madison, Wisconsin, US, that is scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2024. According to the company, Synbiotic Health will remain an independent company offering microbiome R&D services. Meanwhile, NoviaHealth will exclusively handle the commercialisation of any upcoming discoveries from Synbiotic Health, including new strains and intellectual property. NoviaHealth will address the needs of consumer packaged goods brands, providing services such as product concept ideation, co-development, custom formulations and low minimum order quantities, all while maintaining transparency in its operations. The company will provide the Ecologically Advanced Probiotics iVS-1 and iVE-15, the products of Synbiotic Health, along with the full range of capabilities expected from contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO). In addition, NoviaHealth will offer additional clinically documented and undocumented probiotic strains, as well as new probiotic solutions created by the R&D team in Madison, Wisconsin. NoviaHealth's strain portfolio is focused on addressing specific health needs, including digestive, women's health, cognitive health, children's health, early life support, immune system health, healthy ageing and metabolic health. Tim Brummels, president and CEO of NoviaHealth, stated: “There’s a reason 'Novia' is part of our name. It references our new way of thinking and a new way of operating. Novia is derived from the Latin word “novus”, meaning new, which reflects our constant pursuit of new ideas and innovative solutions". He continued: "The creation of NoviaHealth represents our evolution to meet the needs of the market. As an innovative, boutique CDMO, we will cater to our customers with the services they need most: Complete support from ideation to launch, a high-performing portfolio of probiotics, and a very strong commitment to personalised service.”

The significance of water in the food and beverage industry is undeniable. Access to safe and clean water is essential to ensure the health and safety of consumers and maintain the quality of food and beverages. Kurita's value-driven innovative water technologies are helping businesses worldwide to effectively tackle water management challenges, increase plant efficiency, encourage sustainable energy use, minimise waste and advance industrial production technologies. As the world population and the F&B industry continue to grow, the pressure on water resources will increase, and companies are looking for ways to minimise their water usage and reduce their impact on natural resources. Several innovative and sustainable practices are being employed to manage water consumption effectively. The industry must continue to innovate and implement sustainable practices, with the primary goal being the effective use of the three Rs rule for water: Reduce consumption; Reuse when possible; and Recycle water always. Therefore, Kurita prioritises the responsible use and management of water resources, helping the entire chain of the F&B industry to achieve its production goals. With our innovative treatment solutions, we can serve several F&B industry sectors, such as: Meat Dairy Canning Beverage Miscellaneous food preparations Grain milling sector Bakery Sugar Fat and oils We have proven records of the impact of our treatments; for instance, a meat processing customer increased their revenues by €350,000 by using our S.sensing CS technology, which resulted in a cleaner and healthier system, leading to a 30% higher product recovery. Kurita offers an innovative all-in-one solution for the full water cycle of your food and beverage plant, which helps you to save water and energy and improves the productivity of your plant: Comprehensive product portfolio for a wide range of food and beverage applications Customised solutions for tunnel pasteurizer and autoclave treatment Biocides, corrosion inhibitors and antiscalants for cooling and process water treatment Treatments for boiler and heating systems Strong solutions for your water preparation Cleaning solutions, including foam and liquid cleaners Flocculants and coagulants for wastewater treatment System survey and system analysis Analytics (on-site and in own laboratories) Consulting for plant optimisation, design and equipment choice Online biofilm monitoring and control with HydroBio Advance Smart management of your treatments and systems with My Kurita Portal Kurita is a trusted partner that can assist you with the entire water treatment cycle, investing its knowledge and resources to help clients in the food and beverage industry optimise and accomplish their production goals. At food and beverage processing plants, Kurita handles and treats water daily to ensure equipment, packaging and food are safe and have the least environmental impact. Kurita's 360° food and beverage solutions for a circular economy allow us to reduce the manufacturer's water and energy bills while lowering operating costs. This is how we help our clients achieve their objectives while preserving the environment. Here is how the story goes... As you can see in the video, we help you contribute to your carbon footprint management by supporting your full water cycle, going from water preparation to wastewater treatment. We are committed to supporting the food and beverage industry by leveraging our expertise and resources to enhance productivity and total costs of ownership. Are you curious to learn more? Don't hesitate to get in touch with us for further advice. Contact an expert at Kurita.

German specialist spice manufacturer Raps has acquired the table salt business of Salz Centrale Hamburg through its majority holding with exotic spice company Biova. The acquisition adds a wide range of natural salts to Raps’ portfolio and expands its global network of suppliers. Salz Centrale says that over the last few decades, it has built up a large number of contacts in the countries of origin of the salts, such as Pakistan, Bolivia and Hawaii. Salz Centrale’s customers – including food manufacturers, wholesalers and chefs – will in future be supplied by Biova, which has been part of the Raps Group since 2021, and is a longstanding partner of Salz Centrale. Florian Knell, CEO of the Raps Group, said: "Part of our growth strategy is not only to grow by our own efforts, but also greatly expand our competence through acquisitions. Here, the purchase of Salz Centrale is another huge step forward.” Dirk Carstensen, founder of Salz Centrale commented: "It is a stroke of luck that we came to Raps through our close relationship with Biova. I am sure that I am leaving my life's work in good hands and that my long-standing customers will continue to be well looked after." Raphael Deckert, MD of Biova, added: "With Salz Centrale, we are not only welcoming friends to our Wildberg facility, but also further expanding our excellent market position for high-quality speciality salts and strengthening our European distribution." Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Dyma Brands has announced the launch of its new cocktail and mocktail dry-blend mixers under its Thirst Ease brand. The mixers – which will be available in margarita, strawberry daiquiri and piña colada varieties – will help Dyma's customers expand their drink options with ease and profitably, requiring minimal additional ingredients. According to the company, Dyma's mixers offer "maximum profitability" to businesses by providing the flavour and quality of RTD bottled cocktail mixes at a lower cost. The mixers only require the addition of water or spirits and contain roughly a two-year shelf life.

Nestlé plans to shut down its Wyeth Nutrition infant formula facility, as well as its co-located R&D centre, in Askeaton, County Limerick, Ireland, putting 542 jobs at risk of redundancy. In a statement, the food giant said that it would be ceasing operations at Wyeth Nutrition infant formula factory by Q1 2026, and the R&D centre by Q1 2025. Nestlé said: "Regrettably, today’s announcement means approximately 542 colleagues will be placed at risk of redundancy". Nestlé acquired Wyeth Nutrition in 2012 as part of its acquisition of Pfizer Nutrition. The factory produces infant formula products exclusively for export to Greater China and Asian markets. Currently, the facility has 491 employees, while the R&D site has 51 employees. Nestlé stated that "external trends" have impacted the demand for infant nutrition products in Greater China. The company highlighted: "The number of newborn babies in China has declined sharply from some 18 million per year in 2016 to fewer than 9 million projected in 2023. The market, which had previously been reliant on imported infant formula products, is also seeing rapid growth in locally produced products." To adapt to those changes, Nestlé is proposing the transfer of production from Askeaton to two existing factories: Suzhou in Mainland China and Konolfingen in Switzerland. "Konolfingen is also home to Wyeth and Nestlé Nutrition’s global R&D centre of excellence for infant and maternal products," said Nestlé. "It is proposed that R&D work at Askeaton would be absorbed into Konolfingen, where 365 colleagues work on research and product development across several disciplines, and a satellite R&D centre in Shanghai would be strengthened. "These proposals have been carefully considered and are no reflection on the excellent contribution made by our employees in Askeaton over many years." Nestlé has not yet been able to find a buyer. As a result, the business will begin a "meaningful consultation process" with its employees regarding a proposed closure. Simultaneously, during this consultation, Nestlé will remain open to any credible buyer approaches. Nestlé said: "We regret the uncertainty this announcement will cause our colleagues and their families, and we will make sure they are supported fully throughout this process".

Samworth Brothers’ savoury pastry brand Ginsters has unveiled its latest innovation, the Mexican-inspired Chicken Fajita Slice. A contemporary take on the chicken fajita, the new product contains 100% British chicken in a smoky sauce with peppers and onions, wrapped in the brand’s puff pastry. The slice is finished with a paprika and parsley crumb topping to add texture and flavour. The Chicken Fajita Slice will replace the brand’s limited-edition Creamy Tomato, Chicken & Mozzarella slice and will be available from 30 October. Ginsters says the new slice was developed in response to 67% of UK consumers looking for a hot lunch as the weather becomes colder. The slice, developed by the brand’s expert chefs, contains no added artificial colours, preservatives or flavours. Emma Stowers, Ginsters marketing director, said: “We think consumers are going to love the latest addition to our limited-edition Slice range. Our chefs have excelled themselves with the new chicken fajita flavour and you really can ‘taste the effort’ that has gone into them. The limited-edition Slices help bring excitement, variety and innovation to the category, bringing in new shoppers looking for new flavour combinations and more lunch options. We are confident this new flavour will do just that.” The new slice will be available in major UK retailers from 30 October.

Probiotic manufacturer Synbio Tech has unveiled its latest product, Krunchy Kefir, a solid kefir probiotic product Traditional liquid kefir, a nutritious dairy drink, must be stored at a refrigerated temperature, making it difficult to carry while travelling. Synbio Tech says that Krunchy Kefir represents a "breakthrough" in probiotic and postbiotic science. Crafted from clinically validated Abkefir probiotic strains, the product surpasses traditional kefir offerings. In a post on LinkedIn, Synbio Tech said: "We turn liquid kefir into solid one with a single-serving size stick pack. When you want to have a cup of kefir, Krunchy Kefir comes to convenience. Because of its shape and size, stick packs are easy to hand out at a kiosk in your local grocery store or at an event." Synbio’s proprietary symbiotic fermentation technique preserves all active substances. Through the unique process, Synbio can retain "a wealth of postbiotics," playing a pivotal role in regulating cell metabolism and energy production, offering a holistic approach to health and well-being. Krunchy Kefir is non-GMO, ensuring that the ingredients remain free from genetic modification, low in calories and free from additives, offering a pure and nutritious experience catering to health-conscious consumers.