UK supermarket Tesco has introduced a new brand, Taste Shack, focusing on ready-to-cook chicken mains and sides with restaurant-inspired flavours. The Taste Shack Piri Piri Chicken Breasts (£4, 365g) are coated in a fiery piri piri marinade, while the Lemon and Herb Half Chicken (£4.50, 725g) provides a milder option flavoured with lemon and aromatic herbs and spices. Southern Fried Mini Fillets (£3.35, 305g) are coated in a light, crispy southern-style breadcrumb. Within the range of complementary sides, Piri Piri Chips (£2.50, 400g) come with a sachet of piri piri salt for customisable spice, while the Fiery Chicken Wings (£3, 365g) are coated in a spicy marinade with hot piri piri sauce. Other sides include Punchy Peas (£2.25, 220g), topped with parsley, mint and chilli dressing, as well as sweetcorn, spicy rice and coleslaw. Sauces and dips in the range include the Ultimate Dip Stacker (£2, 180g) a trio of sauces featuring BBC sauce, piri piri mayonnaise and hot sauce, and Chicken Gravy (£2, 200g) seasoned with onion and black pepper. The range is now available in-store and online.

Nestlé has posted organic sales growth of 8.7% for the first half of 2023, after the food giant again raised prices to cope with higher input costs. In the first half, Nestlé’s total reported sales grew 1.6% to CHF 46.3 billion (approx. $53.18 billion), compared to 9.2% sales growth to CHF 45.58 billion (approx. $47.42 billion) in the same period last year. The owner of Milkybar and Nescafé increased prices by 9.5% while real internal growth decreased by 0.8%, with a negative impact of around 60 basis points from portfolio optimisation actions. By product category, Purina PetCare was again the largest contributor to organic growth. Meanwhile, sales of coffee rose at a high-single-digit rate, with positive sales developments across brands and a continued recovery for out-of-home channels. This month, Nestlé launched a variety of new products under its Nescafé brand, including Aero golden honeycomb mocha and the Nescafé Gold Dessert Edition, a coffee collection inspired by popular desserts. The company’s infant nutrition segment posted double-digit growth, while dairy reported high single-digit growth, with strong demand for coffee creamers and affordable fortified milks. Confectionery recorded double-digit growth, fueled by a strong sales development for KitKat – Nestlé launched a new KitKat cereal in March, and in May unveiled a new limited-edition churro-flavoured KitKat. The Prepared dishes and cooking aids segment posted mid-single-digit growth, led by Maggi. The quarter saw Nestlé’s Health Science unit sales grow by 3.5%, compared to 6.6% in the year-ago period, with a return to positive growth for vitamins, minerals and supplements. Earlier this year, the unit announced a $43 million investment to expand its manufacturing facility in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Despite temporary capacity constraints for Perrier, water posted mid-single-digit growth led by San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna. In May, Nestlé Waters announced plans to cut 171 jobs at its Vosges facility in eastern France, in a bid to scale back production at the site. By channel, organic growth in retail sales remained strong at 8%. Meanwhile, organic growth in out-of-home channels reached 17.1%. Nestlé’s Zone North America unit posted a 3.4% rise in sales to CHF 12.6 billion (approx. $14.47 billion). On an organic basis, sales grew 10%. The business’s Europe unit recorded organic sales growth of 8.9%, supported by pricing, strong sales development for e-commerce and continued momentum for out-of-home channels. On an organic basis, sales grew by 9.3% in Nestlé’s Zone Asia, Oceania and Africa (AOA); 11.6% in Zone Latin America; and 4.7% in Zone Greater China. The food giant increased its FY 2023 outlook with organic sales growth guidance between 7-8%. Nestlé CEO Mark Schneider said: "We pursued our strategic priorities with discipline and focus in a fast-evolving consumer environment. Based on the strong performance in the first half of the year we upgrade our organic sales growth outlook for 2023. At-home consumption post-Covid-19 has now normalised, removing a growth drag on some of our categories. Out-of-home channels continue to see strong growth momentum.” He continued: “For the remainder of the year, we are confident that we will deliver a positive combination of volume and mix, an improvement in gross margin and a significant increase in marketing investments. Combined with ongoing portfolio management and optimisation as well as the continued implementation of our sustainability initiatives, we are well-positioned to grow and to generate value for our stakeholders."

Greencore Group has entered into an agreement to sell its vegetable oil business Trilby to KTC Edibles for approximately €9.8 million. Trilby is an Irish importer and distributor of vegetable oils and fats for the food processing industry and sells approximately 60,000 tonnes of product each year in the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands. The deal, which is expected to close in September this year, will enable Greencore to optimise its portfolio for sustainable growth, concentrate efforts and resources on core competencies, and bolster its balance sheet. Dalton Philips, CEO of Greencore, said: “Trilby is a great business with attractive assets and a fantastic team. However, given our strategic focus on the UK convenience food market, it is no longer a core part of Greencore’s plans. As such, we are very pleased to have found such a good home for Trilby’s operations and colleagues.”Paresh Mehta, CEO of KTC, added: “We are very excited by the acquisition of Trilby, following a strong period of trading under Greencore’s ownership. KTC see great potential in the Trilby team as an on-the-ground platform to support our growth ambitions in Ireland”.

US-based packaging solution provider Graphic Packaging has partnered with Irish beef exporter and food processor ABP Food Group to develop two new lines of chilled meat packaging for UK supermarket Aldi. Developed for the retail giant's core and premium steak lines, the pressed board trays use around 90% less plastic when compared to its previous plastic-based packaging format. The vacuum skin packaging pressed board trays have an easy-peel film to promote recycling of the paperboard tray at home by consumers. The collaboration supports Aldi’s goal of removing 2 billion pieces of plastic packaging from its supply chain by 2025. The hybrid design means plastic is reduced to a minimum while still providing the equivalent barrier performance and shelf life to traditional plastic trays. Additionally, the trays were designed to ensure smooth running on ABP’s packing lines, with no machinery investment or retooling required. Paul Tye, business development director for food and convenience, tray and cup solutions at Graphic Packaging, said: “Everything we do is geared toward making our customers’ transition from plastic into fibre-based packaging as seamless as possible, and we are so delighted that we were able to achieve that for ABP and Aldi”. The news comes after UK supermarket Sainsbury's announced in June that it was to remove plastic trays from its ‘by Sainsbury’s’ steak range, replacing them with a cardboard tray alternative.

SharkNinja's kitchen appliances brand, Ninja, is venturing into the beverage category with the introduction of the Ninja Thirsti drink system. Ninja Thirsti offers customers the option to customise their beverages. They can choose between still or sparkling water and have the choice to enhance their drinks by adding flavour, vitamins, electrolytes or caffeine according to their preferences. In addition, the system offers over 20 flavoured water drops across four lines: Splash, water with a hint of fruit flavour; Vitamin, contains vitamins B3, B6 and B12; Hydrate, flavoured and sweetened beverages that are hydrating; and Energy, has 50mg of caffeine per 12oz serving. The flavoured water drops are sugar- and calorie-free. Neil Shah, chief commercial officer at SharkNinja, said: "We are excited to introduce the Ninja Thirsti and officially join the fast-growing beverage category. Through significant consumer research, we identified the challenge of many households to find better drink options that meet their family needs and wants without having to buy a shopping cart full of drinks." Shah continued: "By delivering a better beverage experience with our newest innovation, consumers have the freedom to create their own personalised drink by function, flavour, carbonation and size. With thousands of different combinations and flavour fusions, the Ninja Thirsti possibilities are endless." Ninja Thirsti is currently available for pre-order for $179.99 at the company's website. It will also be available for purchase at major retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy and Kohls soon.

Colman’s has expanded its Big Night In range with the launch of a new flavour, Singapore Noodles. According to the brand, "Chinese is the third most searched cuisine in the UK, and Singapore Noodles ranking as a top dish in this bracket". The new variant joins the brand's existing Big Night In range, which includes: Salt and pepper chicken, Korean BBQ, Argentinian stake and more. The Singapore Noodles sachet is made with recyclable paper packaging and is currently available at Morrisons stores for an RRP of £1.25, with Tesco and Asda to follow later this summer.

Tim Tam Tummy has launched what the company describes as the "world's first" kombucha drinks for children. According to the brand, Tim Tam Tummy aims to surpass traditional juice boxes and "other old-school options" by providing families with an alternative that prioritises probiotics. The drinks are available in four fruity flavours with "gentle carbonation," and includes: Apple Happy Dance, Grape Day to Shine, Mango For It! and Pineapple Party. Tim Tam Tummy provides several benefits, such as offering children 3 billion live probiotics and a daily dose of vitamin C and containing five organic ingredients, as well as being free from artificial additives and alternative sweeteners. Tim Tam Tummy's chief marketing officer, Mary Alice Greco, said: "When it comes to better-for-you beverages, the kids' aisle has been largely left behind. As a new parent, I am searching for organic options that bring nutrition, function, and kid-friendly flavour to the forefront. It's a joy to launch Tim Tam Tummy, filling the gap with a product that addresses parents' and kids' top priorities – digestive health, immune function, convenience and fun."

Japanese probiotic beverage company Yakult has unveiled plans to build a new $305 million beverage production facility in Bartow County, Georgia, US. This marks the establishment of the second US facility for Yakult. Yakult USA, which was formed in 1990, completed its inaugural product manufacturing plant in the US back in 2014. Expected to create 90 job opportunities, the project will involve the recruitment of full-time managers and assistants, including various positions in machine operation and maintenance, quality control, HR and warehouse roles. Yutaka Misumi, president and CEO of Yakult USA, said: “Yakult was created in Japan in 1935 and has more than 80 years of history. Today, the product is sold in 40 countries, including at major retailers in the United States". Misumi continued: "The State of Georgia meets our business needs in terms of the climate for our production, the logistics for the product distribution and the positive support from the state and the county. We believe that the new facility will be the main supplier for eastern and central US markets. We are pleased that we will provide more opportunities for our customers in the US with the opening of this new location.” The facility's projected operational commencement is set for 2026.

Ingredion has introduced PureCircle Clean Taste Solutions, a range of stevia solutions tailored to specific food and beverage applications. PureCircle Clean Taste Solutions aim to reduce sugar and provide sweetness across several categories including beverages, dairy, tea, coffee, sports nutrition, bakery, confectionery, savoury, sauces and dressings. The new solutions utilise more of the stevia plant for increased performance. Nate Yates, global platform lead for sugar reduction at Ingredion, said: “Removing sugar and artificial sweeteners in product formulation is not one-size-fits-all”. He added: “PureCircle Clean Taste Solutions are designed to streamline product formulation by delivering unique sweetness profiles required by food and beverage brands. Our team of experts helps our customers to develop the best sweetening experience and quickly bring them to market.” Yates explained that Reb M is “widely acknowledged” to be the best tasting glycoside on the market, but that there is no one universal stevia solution across the food and beverage categories. “These stevia solutions go one step further by harnessing more of the synergies between molecules in the stevia leaf, including Reb M, to create the best possible taste outcome for specific applications for up to 100% sugar reduction,” he concluded.

Smithfield Foods has built a new state-of-the-art wastewater treatment system to replace most of the existing system at its pork-processing complex in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, US. The new $45 million wastewater system provides additional treatment processes and capabilities to meet new and “more stringent” permit limits on nitrates and ammonia. It biologically converts ammonia-nitrogen in wastewater to nitrate-nitrogen and removes nitrate-nitrogen from wastewater. Known as denitrification, this treatment process is said to be preferred by the US Environmental Protection Agency due to its reduced impact on aquatic life. Stewart Leeth, chief sustainability officer for Smithfield, said: “This new state-of-the-art wastewater project reinforces Smithfield's proactive approach to implementing sustainable systems that improve environmental quality and benefit the community”. He added that the investment the company has made in Sioux Falls will “significantly reduce nutrient discharges and improve water quality in the Big Sioux River basin”. Smithfield says it has made other large improvements to its wastewater system at Sioux Falls over the past few years at a cost of $10 million.

Blue Diamond Growers has introduced a new innovation, Honey Butter Almonds, available for a limited time. Inspired by the popular Korean Honey Butter Chips, the snack almonds feature a velvety smooth blend of honey and buttery flavour. Blue Diamond Growers' Honey Butter Almonds are high in antioxidant Vitamin E, have 5g protein per serving, and are ketogenic and kosher certified. Maya Erwin, vice president of innovation and R&D, Blue Diamond Growers, said: "Honey Butter Almonds were proudly developed by Blue Diamond's R&D scientists to create the perfect flavour balance. Our goal is to ensure that our consumers never have to search outside our products to find every flavour category they crave. These snack almonds satisfy the sweet and salty flavour blend beloved by so many – but be sure to try them before they're swapped out for another exciting flavour." Honey Butter Almonds will be available through December 2023 in a 6-ounce can at Walmart and the Blue Diamond Nut & Gift Shops in the US, as well as online at bluediamondstore.com.

Technical staff at Brazil's antitrust watchdog, the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE), has advised the regulator to block the sale of DPA Brazil from Nestlé and Fonterra to Lactalis. Fonterra and Nestlé announced that they had agreed to sell their Dairy Partners Americas Brazil joint venture to Lactalis for BRL 700 million (approx. $133 million), at the end of 2022. CADE’s court will conduct a broader review of the transaction and vote on whether to approve the sale or not. The CADE technical staff analysed the effects of the combination of DPA Brasil and Lactalis’ activities in the national markets, which include fermented milk, yogurt and the capture of milk in Brazil's states of São Paulo, Pernambuco, Paraná and Minas Gerais. CADE said its staff had raised concerns regarding “likely horizontal effects on the dairy chilled products markets, mainly fermented milk, petit suisse and dairy desserts”. A “reduced number of rival companies in those markets nationwide” was identified, with the team noting that competitors would have "low capacity to challenge the market power resulting from the transaction". The conclusions also pointed to a small number of rival companies – mainly at the national level –and a low capacity of competitors to challenge the market power resulting from the operation in the milk markets fermented, petit suisse and dairy desserts. CADE did not, however, identify any competitive risks resulting from the transaction for the yogurt, cream cheese and milk collection markets.