Berkmann Wine Cellars has announced the addition of New Zealand wine producer Dog Point Vineyard to its portfolio, commencing 1 August 2023. Dog Point Vineyard was established in Marlborough, New Zealand by Ivan and Margaret Sutherland in 1979. The first wines were produced under the Dog Point name in 2002 in conjunction with family friends James and Wendy Healy. Today the company remains in the family, with the next generation managing both the winery and organic vineyard. Its range focuses on four wines: Sauvignon Blanc, the barrel-fermented Section 94 Sauvignon Blanc, a Chardonnay and a Pinot Noir. All grapes are hand-picked and all wines are either partially or fully fermented with wild yeasts, known for their ability to age. UK-based Berkmann Wine Cellars is led by second-generation family member Rupert Berkmann and has been selling wine to restaurants since 1964. Berkmann Wine Cellars purchasing director Alex Hunt commented: “I have always considered Dog Point to be one of New Zealand’s greatest producers, so it is a joy and privilege to welcome them into our portfolio. They are a perfect fit on many levels, from the relentless focus on quality and emphasis on family ownership to the incisive, complex, food-friendly style of the wines. We cannot wait to start representing them in the UK.” Dog Point Vineyard’s general manager Matt Sutherland added: “The United Kingdom has always been hugely supportive of our wines, and we are really excited to work with a partner that has genuine national reach. Berkmann’s expertise in and independent retail will ensure that Dog Point wines continue to be found in all key channels.”

Eimear Blackwell, innovation project manager at Carbery Group, showcases the company’s latest hydrolysed whey protein concept for performance nutrition. Optipep 8008 is a hydrolysed whey protein concentrate that is heat stable in boiling water. It allows brands to create high protein hot chocolates and coffees that can deliver over 20g of whey protein per serving. Vitafoods Europe 2023 took place from 9-11 May in Geneva, Switzerland this year, offering three days of in-person exhibitions from international nutraceutical suppliers and experts from across the globe. The event was a vibrant hub of discussion, with buzzing aisles, live demonstrations and fruitful collaborations, which FoodBev had the opportunity to engage with, albeit wishing for more time to explore further.

Flävar, a lower-ABV spirits brand, has launched two new flavours inspired by Swedish dessert flavours – Blueberry & Lemon and Lemon Pie. Made on the shores of Lake Boren in Sweden, the new flavours are described as a modern spin on a retro classic. The blueberry and lemon flavour is reminiscent of an indulgent muffin, said to be a much-loved treat in Sweden. Meanwhile, the lemon pie flavour features a zesty taste with a hint of vanilla for creaminess. Brand director, Matt Bandy, commented: “Flävar exists to bring flavour and flair to the lower ABV spirits category. We set out to create innovative and versatile flavours that inspire people to explore new delicious-tasting drinks. Flävar is for people who want the good times to taste great and we're on a mission to make the shot drinking experience both premium and mouth-watering.” The new products join the existing range which includes: Flävar Salted Caramel, Flävar Strawberry and Lime and Flävar Raspberry & Liquorice. Both flavours are 25% ABV and are available online for an RRP of £19.99 for 70cl.

UK peanut butter brand ManiLife has expanded its portfolio with the launch of the new deep-roast salted peanuts. According to the brand, ManiLife's Deep Roast Salted peanuts are deeply roasted "to create a more intense flavour profile" and are then lightly salted "to create a perfect balance of flavour and crunch". Stu Macdonald, founder of ManiLife, said: “The launch of our new Deep Roast Salted peanuts is an exciting development for the brand. We are thrilled to be expanding our range of premium nuts and providing our customers with another delicious snack option.” The snack will be available at several retailers, including Wholefoods Market, CN Foods, Shire Foods, and more, for an RRP of £2.79 per 75g bag.

Packaging manufacturer Elopak has announced plans to invest $50 million into a new plant in the US. The new plant will position Elopak to better serve its customers in the US and accelerate growth in the region. Elopak says the $50 million – which includes lease liability – will be invested in the new plant over the next year and will be financed using the company’s existing revolving credit facility. Lionel Ettedgui, Elopak’s EVP of North America, said: “Over the last few years, Elopak has delivered very strong profitable growth in the Americas. The time has now come to increase capacity to further strengthen our organisation and enable us to provide quality service to our customers in the Americas faster and more efficiently.” Elopak’s CEO, Thomas Körmendi, added: “I am truly excited about this investment. This is a response to the strong demand that we are seeing for our innovative and sustainable solutions. It is a landmark investment for our company as the Americas is one of the key building blocks of our strategy.” The plant is slated to commence production in Q4 2024, creating over 100 new jobs.

Chamberlain Coffee, a coffee business created by YouTube star Emma Chamberlain, has raised $7 million in funding. The round was led by existing and new investors, such as Blazar Capital, Emma Chamberlain and United Talent Agency, as well as Volition, Electric Feel Ventures, LA Libations and Noah Bremen. The funds will be used to help the brand expand within the RTD category and to prepare for national retail expansion. Chamberlain Coffee CEO, Christopher Gallant, said: "Growth and innovation are at the core of everything we do, and this fundraiser will allow us to continue creating new products and grow our brand awareness. We're extremely grateful to our returning investors for continuing to believe in the brand and the new ones who are coming on board, sharing in our vision for this next chapter at Chamberlain Coffee." The brand produces a range of flavoured coffee and tea offerings and coffee pods. Chamberlain added: "Creating a uniquely inviting coffee brand has been my dream for so long now, and having key investors back us allows us to build Chamberlain Coffee in ways that feel fresh and exciting. There are so many products I am eager to develop and projects I'm excited to get working on. With such an incredible team and group of investors, I am more excited than ever to see what the future holds for Chamberlain Coffee." Last year, Chamberlain Coffee secured $7 million in a Series A funding round.

Cape Herb & Spice, a division of South African CPG group Libstar, has introduced a new innovation for its grinder. The new design removes the need for a tamper-evident shrink seal by building the function into the grinder itself across two levels. The shrink seal is largely non-recyclable, sales and marketing executive for Cape Herb and Spice, Shelley Barnard, said. Removing this adds a “major boost” to the sustainability of the unit. Cape Herb & Spice’s new grinder is said to save two small African elephants’ worth of plastic, for every million units produced. To use the product for the first time, the tab on the top is broken but remains attached. This releases the lid and allows the consumer ti use the grinder. The tamper band on the base of the grinder will split off if the top is removed. The Cape Herb & Spice reduced-plastic grinder design is said to be a world first, with almost 90% of the new grinder components now highly recyclable. A further innovation is the shift to more commonly recycled and lighter weight plastic for the grinder head. Recognising this, Cape Herb & Spice, together with their grinder manufacturer, came up with a new tamper-evident grinder design that is: The product uses polypropylene – a widely recycled plastic – for the grinder head with just the mechanism remaining acrylic increasing the widely recycled component to make up 87% of the grinder. Barnard added: “We’re excited to have seen a call from consumers demanding a shift to a principled, ‘people-planet-first' approach. This is driving an industry-wide effort to reduce plastic waste, especially in packaging. We’ve spent a long time devising a design that is tamper-evident, while significantly reducing plastic use. We believe this is a groundbreaking prototype that has been patented and we are hoping it will be adopted by our peers, globally.” The tamper-evident grinder is also designed to be recyclable worldwide.

Packaged lettuce brand Little Leaf Farms has announced plans to open a new 'state-of-the-art' greenhouse in McAdoo, Pennsylvania this autumn. Based in Massachusetts, US, Little Leaf Farms produces fresh lettuce grown through controlled environment agriculture (CEA). The new greenhouse will be the brand’s fifth in total (three are located in Devens, Massachusetts) and its second in Pennsylvania. With the expanded capacity of ten additional acres of indoor production, Little Leaf will increase its retail presence to nearly 5,000 grocery stores. The brand owns 180 acres in McAdoo and opened its first ten-acre greenhouse in July 2022, expecting to employ over 170 by the end of 2023. In a statement, Little Leaf Farms said the additional ten acres represent a significant capacity increase, enabling the brand to harvest more than 20 million lbs of leafy greens yearly across its sites. The new greenhouse will employ Little Leaf Farms’ modern technology including advanced heating, cooling and lighting systems as well as utilising the power of the natural sun and fresh rainwater. It will also integrate the brand’s hands-free automated grow system, which means the leafy greens are untouched from seed to packaging and never require washing. Paul Sellew, founder and CEO of Little Leaf Farms said: “We believe in the CEA industry's role in the path to more sustainable produce production and are focused on our mission of delivering fresh and delicious leafy greens to consumers.” He added that the brand is building on ‘ambitious’ growth plans and that its expansion in Pennsylvania is testament to how it has continuously scaled efficient production and operations. The news was shared at a ceremony the brand hosted on 31 May. The brand also presented a $10,000 donation to Feeding Pennsylvania, a local non-profit organisation that works to secure food and other resources to reduce hunger and food insecurity across the state. The funds will be distributed to Feeding Pennsylvania's member food banks.

PhytoCann BP is an innovative black pepper extract titrated in phytocannabinoids and other terpenes. It exerts demonstrated cannabinoid activity without traces of THC or CBD. Derived from black pepper cultivated in the mountains of Sulawesi (Indonesia), PhytoCann BP is legal for sale around the world and is clean-label, solvent-free and vegan. Thanks to the terpene entourage and a selective action on CB type two receptors only – and not CB type one effects – PhytoCann BP does not cause any psychotropic effects; instead, it exerts positive actions on several areas, such as immune support, calm and sleep, mood, pain, anti-inflammatory, detox, brain health, beauty from within, heart health; an effect on the immune and gastrointestinal systems is also plausible, due to the abundance of CB type two receptors. The PhytoCann BP range comprises several product types: PhytoCann BP EmulPrep – emulsion: water-soluble grade, specific for the development of liquid products, energy drinks and beverage fortification PhytoCann BP SG/LG – Black pepper (Piper nigrum) liquid extract with phytocannabinoids: soft gel liquid grade with extra virgin olive oil as a carrier PhytoCann BP PWD – Black pepper (Piper nigrum) extract powder with phytocannabinoids: water-insoluble powder, suitable for developing tablets or hard gel capsules Its recommended dosage for various applications is 50 mg/dose – one or two times/day (max). Produced by the Australian Natural Innovations Group, this next-generation black pepper extract is distributed in the US and Canada, Italy, Spain, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary by Faravelli, a global distributor of ingredients and raw materials since 1926. Click here to find out more.

E & J Gallo Winery has announced its acquisition of Bev, a Californian beverage brand with a portfolio of canned wines and spritzers. The acquisition comes two years after E & J Gallo Winery obtained exclusive US distribution rights for Bev. Founded by Alix Peabody in Venice, California, Bev aims to promote ‘empowerment and inclusivity’ in beverage and beyond. With its mission to ‘do it different, do it better. Break the glass’, the company highlights a focus on breaking down barriers and ‘building connections that educate and inspire’. Bev’s TTB-approved ‘zero-sugar’ canned wines are three carbs, 100 calories per serving and 11.9% ABV as well as gluten free. In a statement announcing the acquisition, Peabody said that Bev was founded out of a passion for changing “not only the drinks in our hands, but the culture surrounding drinking.” She commented: “When I met Stephanie Gallo, it became immediately clear that Gallo’s values and commitment to women and diversity in the industry exemplary of the exact change we aim to create. We could not be more excited for this partnership and can’t wait to expand the reach of our products and our community.” Commenting on the announcement, CMO Gallo said: “After meeting Alix two years ago, I could sense the power of the Bev brand, and I respected the innovation and unique approach to reaching consumers. I immediately knew we had to find a way to work together.” She added: “At Gallo, we are on a mission to serve joy as we win new friends for wine, which means ensuring consumers have access to products that make them feel welcome. As an industry, we are adapting and evolving to remain relevant to the next generation of alcohol beverage consumers.” Gallo’s Bev portfolio includes Bev Rosé, Bev Blanc, Bev Gris, Bev Noir, Bev Glitz, Bev Glam, Bev Glow, Bev Pride, and the newly released Bev Brite. All varietals are from California and are available in 4-packs of 250ml cans and retail between $15.99 and $17.99.

Darling Ingredients has entered into a letter of intent with poultry manufacturer Butterball to explore the construction of a new poultry rendering plant. The new facility being explored would sit adjacent to Butterball’s facility in Mount Olive, North Carolina, and is expected to process about 18 million pounds of material weekly through three lines. Darling Ingredients turns edible by-products and food waste into sustainable products such as green energy, renewable diesel, collagen and fertiliser. Butterball products are currently distributed in more than 45 countries including the US. The company operates six processing plants in the US, located in North Carolina, Arkansas and Missouri. The rendering facility will provide critical infrastructure for the meat processing industry while providing more feedstocks for renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. Pending permits and the execution of definitive agreements, construction would likely commence in early 2024 and is expected to be completed by 2025. Randall C. Stuewe, Darling Ingredients chairman and CEO, said: "Darling Ingredients is committed to supporting its customers and agricultural growth in North Carolina. A new Mount Olive rendering facility strengthens rendering reliability, increases capacity and provides a critical service that transforms this material into invaluable ingredients and feedstock for renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel." Jay Jandrain, president and CEO of Butterball, commented: "Butterball has been a proud, long-time member of the Mount Olive community, providing positive economic impacts, including jobs, for many in the area. We're excited to explore the potential environmental and safety benefits of an improved operating footprint at Mount Olive." North Carolina's agriculture commissioner Steve Troxler said the announcement is great news for the state's agriculture industry. He added that increasing the rendering capacity in North Carolina provides the “ability to turn an otherwise unusable animal material into a useable product” and is an essential service for the agriculture community. Further terms of the construction were not disclosed.

Scorpion Vision, a machine vision automation producer, has created a 3D stereo vision-based inspection solution that ensures "perfect presentation" for chocolate gifting trays. By achieving near 100% accuracy in a task typically performed by one or two humans, Scorpion's solution addresses the challenges of unskilled labour shortages for confectionery manufacturers and packers while increasing line efficiency. The system uses Scorpion 3D Venom cameras to inspect chocolates that have been placed in compartmentalised trays by robots performing pick-and-place operations. After being placed, chocolates will occasionally bounce up and either turn upside down or leap out of the tray. Scorpion has engineered an advanced vision solution that captures 3D images of the chocolates and takes precision shape measurements. This enables the system to confirm the correct placement and position of each chocolate within its designated compartment. Scorpion says that at the core of the solution is the global shutter Scorpion 3D Venom camera. The camera is said to be "ideal for applications in cutting-edge 3D stereo vision systems owing to its short baseline". Paul Wilson, managing director at Scorpion Vision, explained: “The shorter the baseline, the more accurate the stereo or ‘z’ depth – a camera trait that is essential for reliable decision-making in this application”. He continued: “The system requires several data sets to determine, with high accuracy, whether the right chocolate is in the right position. As well as generating a 3D profile, it relies on precise dimensional measurements, 2D imaging and colour imaging to build a complete and detailed picture. With this data combination, it can even analyse the texture of each chocolate to determine whether they are correctly placed. If a chocolate is upside down, for example, the vision system recognises that the texture or pattern on that chocolate is different to the reference.” Although the solution was originally developed with chocolate manufacturing in mind, Scorpion states that it "could just as easily be applied on any production line where compartmentalised presentation trays are used – from cupcakes, patisserie items and pastries to biscuit selections". In addition, it is possible to overlay this solution with artificial intelligence (AI) for enhanced performance and reliability. Wilson added: “We create a profile of the product in 3D and analyse it for certain reference features. We then use AI to enhance extraction of these features – essentially training the vision system to identify and locate anomalies. The application of AI makes texture and pattern verification easier to do and even more reliable than with the use of 3D vision alone."