Mars has announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire “high-growth” nutritious meal company Kevin’s Natural Foods. Kevin’s – which makes chef-inspired sous-vide meals, sides and sauces – will join Mars’ brands in the food and nutrition segment. It uses whole foods and simple ingredients in its meals to help consumers eat “healthier food within minutes”. Founded in 2019, Kevin’s is now available in more than 17,000 retail locations across the US, Canada, Mexico and the UK, from grocery stores to digital commerce. Shaid Shah, global president, Mars Food & Nutrition, said: “Kevin’s products are of a very high quality, nutritious, and convenient, without compromising on flavour, and are enjoyed by an engaged and loyal customer base across North America. The Kevin’s Natural Foods team has delivered impressive growth since it was founded four years ago, and we look forward to drawing on our experience of nurturing and scaling founder-led brands to help bring their products to even more people.” According to Mars, Kevin’s will play a key role in the food giant’s ongoing journey to enable tasty, healthier eating to be part of consumer’s daily lives and will complement Mars’ core portfolio and recent product innovations. Kevin McCray, president and co-founder of Kevin’s, commented: “Joining the Mars Food & Nutrition portfolio of brands will allow us to accelerate the development of more product innovations and support our mission of bringing Kevin’s to more consumers across markets”. The company will operate as a standalone business within Mars Food & Nutrition, reporting to Mars’ president, Shaid Shah. Dan Costa, CEO and co-founder of Kevin’s, added: “As a standalone business within Mars Food & Nutrition, we’ll be able to maintain the entrepreneurial spirit and authenticity of our brand while getting the support and capabilities to continue our long-term growth journey. It’s a tremendous milestone for Kevin’s Natural Foods and our team, and we’re excited for what’s ahead.” The acquisition includes an exit of Kevin’s minority partners, international investment management firm TowerBrook Capital Partners and NewRoad Capital Partners. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in Q3 2023. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Mars Wrigley has introduced a new Butterscotch Scoop version of its Snickers chocolate bar, available exclusively at Walmart in the US. The new flavour combines the classic Snickers format – made with milk chocolate, peanuts and caramel – with a fusion of butterscotch flavoured nougat. It will be available at Walmart beginning this month in a single size (1.41oz) and stand-up pouch with ‘fun size’ bars (6.43oz). Martin Terwilliger, senior marketing director at Mars Wrigley commented: “At Mars, we are always looking for new ways to excite long-time Snickers fans, especially through innovative new flavours”. He added: “With Snickers Butterscotch Scoop, we're offering a new format to enjoy a classic flavour, ushering in the summer season to help fans create moments of everyday happiness”.

Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) has announced plans to close its Karadoc commercial winery, located in Victoria, Australia, after 50 years in operation. The company says that the closure is a result of a decline in wine consumption and rising costs. The Karadoc winery currently produces wine for various TWE brands, such as 19 Crimes, Lindeman’s, Wolf Blass and Yellowglen. The production of these brands will continue through long-standing partnerships between TWE and local winemakers, Zilzie Wines and Qualia, as well as at TWE’s Barossa winery in South Australia. The site is expected to close by mid-2024. However, TWE said that its wine brands will continue to be produced locally. TWE's chief supply officer, Kerrin Petty, said: “Making the decision to close a site is something we take very seriously and is a last resort after we’ve looked at all other possible options. We’re committed to assisting our team members to find future employment and continuing to support the local winemaking industry.” In addition, the company plans to sell its commercial vineyards in Lake Cullulleraine, northwest Victoria, and Yankabilly, southwest New South Wales. Petty added: “We continually review our global vineyard assets to ensure they’re in the best possible places to grow our premium and luxury portfolio". “A number of factors contribute to our shifting vineyard footprint, including changing consumer trends and wine preferences as well environmental changes such as higher temperatures and reduced access to water. This has meant divesting some of our vineyard assets but also looking at opportunities to expand our footprint in new locations for future growth."

Smokehead has added a new flavour to its whisky range, Twisted Stout. Finished in stout casks, the smoky single malt delivers an “unexpected and unusual” taste with silky-sweet smoothness and is available worldwide. The "usual fiery intensity and peat of Islay malt whisky" is combined with sweet, smooth chocolate aromas. Mikey Sim at Smokehead, said: “Beyond the brand, Smokehead continues to lead innovation in the world of whisky with its contemporary methods of finishing. Breaking boundaries is our team’s forte - we are constantly seeking to revolutionise and inspire the wider drinks industry with our daring expressions. Twisted Stout is now available globally, by popular demand. Our customers love our non-conformist and brilliantly rebellious nature, which is our ethos.” Twisted Stout (70cl/700ml) 43% ABV is available worldwide via specialist retailers for an RRP of £56.00. Twisted Stout features a salty smoke, dry roasted nuts, toasted marshmallow and vanilla ice cream taste, with a wood smoke and spices, malty toasted biscuits and zingy citrus finish.

Alpla is expanding its recycling plant in Radomsko, Poland, with an investment of around €8 million in the third extrusion line at the site. The packaging specialist said that the Radomsko site’s annual production capacity will increase from 30,000 to 54,000 tonnes of food-grade PET recycling material (rPET), making the plant one of the largest of its kind in Europe. Dietmar Marin, managing director of Alpla’s recycling division commented: “Alpla stands for sustainable packaging solutions made of plastic. As a system provider, we develop products optimised for recycling, process high proportions of recyclate in production and take care of efficient recycling.” Marin added that the company makes a significant contribution to the regional bottle-to-bottle cycle with its global focus on recycling and commitment in Central and Eastern Europe. By 2025, all PET beverage bottles in the EU should contain at least 25% post-consumer recycled (PCR) material. With the expansion of the Poland site, Alpla aims to create the basis for meeting the EU requirements in the regional markets. The installation of the third extrusion line in Radomsko will create 12 additional jobs and expand the team to more than 100 employees. Plant manager Marcin Jabłoński said: “PRT Radomsko has stood for top quality and excellent operational performance for over ten years. The expansion of the site is a confirmation of our highly motivated team and strengthens our position in the market.” Alpla invests around €50 million annually in the global expansion of its recycling activities, including the recent start of production at joint venture recycling plants ENVICCO (Thailand) and PET Recycling Team Targu Mures (Romania). The company announced a new recycling plant in Ballito, South Africa last month. The total annual production capacity of all recycling companies and collaborations is around 226,000 tonnes for rPET and 74,000 tonnes for rHDPE.

ADM has announced the acquisition of Prairie Pulse to boost its pulse footprint in Canada. Prairie Pulse is the owner of a pulse crop cleaning, milling and packaging facility in Vanscoy, Saskatchewan, Canada. The plant – which includes origination, 12,000 MT of bulk storage, cleaning, milling, sorting, sizing and bagging – is said to double ADM's pulse footprint in the region. ADM's commercial manager, Aaron Brown, said: "...we're excited to strengthen our relationships with Canadian pulse growers through the acquisition of Prairie Pulse. We'll be reaching out to producers about ADM's unique array of tools and resources to help them manage and grow their businesses – including our access to global markets, our work to create value for sustainable farming practices and our technology partnerships." He added that the addition expands ADM's capabilities to meet the needs of its downstream customers, who are "increasingly looking at pulses as protein sources for both human and animal nutrition products". The global trends of sustainability and food security are powering growth in alternative proteins, he said, and ADM is "continuing to invest to ensure we're at the forefront of meeting those needs". Brown highlighted that the acquisition of Prairie Pulse will expand employment opportunities in Vanscoy and enhance ADM's capability to meet the growing demand for pulse products. Prairie Pulse's president and CEO, Allan Wagner, commented: "This is an exciting opportunity for Prairie Pulse, our staff and customers...I'm excited, honoured and proud to join the ADM team, whose guidance, strength and leadership will be a tremendous boost to our efforts to maintain, expand and grow our business." Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

UK supermarket Sainsbury’s has removed plastic trays from its ‘by Sainsbury’s’ steak range, replacing them with a cardboard tray alternative. Sainsbury’s says the move will result in a 70% reduction in plastic per tray, potentially saving 249 tonnes of plastic each year. The new trays have been launched across ten products in the range and can be recycled at home by rinsing the cardboard before placing it in a kerbside recycling bin. Claire Hughes, director of product and innovation at Sainsbury’s, said: “As part of our ‘Plan for Better’ commitments, we are trying to reduce plastic packaging across our own brand ranges, as we know that reducing plastic is important to our customers but also on our environmental impact. It’s why we are always looking at ways to innovate our packaging and reduce or replace plastic wherever we can, as quickly as we can.” She continued: “We’re pleased to save another 10 million pieces of plastic a year by swapping our ‘by Sainsbury’s’ steak trays to cardboard following the changes we have already made on So Organic and Taste the Difference packaging. While we are making good progress, we know there is more to do and we are committed to making bold changes that help us achieve our plastic reduction targets.” The change is the supermarket’s latest step towards its commitment to half its use of its own brand plastic packaging by 2025 – in April Sainsbury’s went trayless on whole chickens and earlier this year removed plastic bags from its entire banana range. In February Sainsbury’s removed all traditional plastic tray packaging across its entire beef mince range, replacing it with a vacuum-packed alternative, saving approximately 450 tonnes of plastic a year.

British pie brand Pukka has launched its first ever single-serve pack frozen Chicken Pie, a specially developed format and recipe for the convenience channel. The new Pukka Chicken Pie is available in a £1.49 price-marked pack (PMP) and aims to satisfy consumers seeking “easy and affordable meals which don’t compromise on taste”. Pukka said the new PMP marks the next step in its plans to further accelerate growth and create new sales opportunities for retailers. This latest SKU joins Pukka’s existing range of four-minute microwaveable pies that can be cooked straight from frozen. Isaac Fisher, managing director at Pukka commented: “Convenience shoppers are seeking good value – but this isn’t just about the price tag. They still expect quality, affordability and full-on flavour in equal measure, which is why we’ve created a format – for independent retailers – which ticks all of these boxes.” Fisher said that frozen food represents a great value option for those looking to cut costs and reduce food waste, adding that the new product provides “a huge opportunity for independent retailers” to leverage the category’s popularity.

Iceland Foods has introduced 24 new and exclusive products in-store and online, inspired by “fakeaways”. Fakeaways are typically takeaway and restaurant meals recreated or enjoyed at home. The latest range includes products from Ed’s Easy Diner, TGI Fridays and Piccolino food chains. Piccolino Chicken Parmigiana, RRP of £4.25 for 400g, and Piccolino Chicken and Spicy Pepperoni, RRP of £4.25 for 300g are available now in Iceland and The Food Warehouse. Featuring in the Ed’s Easy Diner range: Ed’s Easy Diner Big Kebab, £2.00, 195g. Ed’s Easy Diner The Big One, £2.50, 266g. Ed’s Easy Diner Double Cheeseburger, £2.50, 200g. Meanwhile, available in Iceland stores from 11 July, the TGI Fridays range includes: TGI Fridays Classic BBQ Sauce, £2.00, 260ml. TGI Fridays Smokey Tomato Ketchup, £2.00, 260ml. TGI Fridays Spicy BBQ Sauce, £2.00, 260ml. Andrew Staniland, group buying director at Iceland Foods & The Food Warehouse, said: “As the home of exclusive brands, we couldn’t be prouder to introduce 24 new and exclusive products this summer for shoppers to enjoy. With incredible household name brands all under one roof, and with amazing offers in-store and online, it’s never been easier for shoppers to find new favourites as well as stock up on family staples."

Rind Snacks has expanded its whole fruit snack line with the launch of Rind Remix snack mix. Remix is described as "a nutrient-dense and balanced" snack mix, featuring Rind's signature dried fruit blended with roasted nuts and dusted with fruit seasoning. The new offering is packed with fibre, protein and heart-healthy fats. The product is first launching in a piña colada flavour that includes a blend of diced pineapple, organic coconut crisps and dry roasted cashews. Matt Weiss, founder and CEO of Rind Snacks, said: "We're thrilled to mix things up with Remix and extend Rind's sustainable portfolio into crave-able and flavourful fruit and nut snack mixes. Piña colada is such a dynamic and bright flavour that pairs perfectly with our upcycled pineapples, crunchy coconut crisps and roasted cashews to deliver an irresistibly sweet and salty crunch with each bite." Rind Remix is available exclusively at Costco stores throughout Los Angeles, US, with broader availability and additional flavours launching this autumn.

French dairy cooperative Sodiaal has appointed Antoine Collette as the company's new chief executive officer. Collette took over the role as CEO yesterday, succeeding Jorge Boucas, who stepped down in February this year after six years in his role, to join French sugar group Tereos as its chief executive. Prior to joining Sodiaal, Collette was positioned as SVP and head of Europe, Middle East and Africa at Henkel's beauty care business since 2019. He has also held several leadership positions at Mondelēz International from 2007-2011 and Danone from 2000-2007. Collette will have the responsibility of constructing and implementing the Sodiaal strategic plan combining economic and environmental performance. According to Sodiaal, the latter will aim to accelerate the co-op's agroecological transition while offering new high-value outlets to ensure fair compensation for the company's 16,055 farmers. In addition, Collette will assume the responsibility of adapting industrial infrastructure to address environmental challenges and meet operational requirements.

Canada-based traditional Italian food company Porta has announced that it has raised CAD 10.5 million (approx. $7.935 million) in a Series A round of funding. Porta was created as a new venture in 2021 by Canada-based Italian restaurant brand Terroni and VC fund BrandProject. The round was led by Terroni – through its parent company Gruppo Terroni – BrandProject and the Toskan Family Trust (TTFT). The funding comes after Porta’s expansion into nearly 100 speciality grocery stores in Ontario, Canada, and will be used to continue its retail expansion and support its growing direct-to-consumer business. Jason Cassidy, founding general manager at Porta, said: "Our business continues to evolve into an omnichannel CPG company. This funding will allow us to continue to innovate on new product categories, expand into new markets and invest in strategic shopper and trade marketing initiatives." Porta offers authentic frozen ready meals made with premium Italian and locally-sourced ingredients that are ready to eat in 15 minutes or less. Cosimo Mammoliti, CEO of Gruppo Terroni, commented: "Our mission is to make every cook feel like a chef and we do that by making it easier to access, order and cook the best that Italy has to offer right in your home.” Brett Toskan, president of TTFT, added: "Porta offers something unique to Canadians, which has allowed it to quickly differentiate itself from other home meal solutions. As an investor, we've been impressed by the rich history and passion for product quality that the Terroni team has, and by the strong team they have brought together. We look forward to supporting Porta in its continued growth."