Hudsonville Ice Cream has announced the launch of a new range of ice cream bars in the US. The bars are available in three flavours: Strawberry shortcake, which features a rich strawberry ice cream with yellow cake pieces and it is dipped in white chocolate coating; Vanilla milk chocolate, a real vanilla ice cream dipped in rich milk chocolate shell; and salted caramel, which contains a swirl of salted caramel dipped in milk chocolate coating. Rob Heider, chief marketing officer at Hudsonville Ice Cream, said: "Our...ice cream recipe made with real ingredients has remained largely unchanged since 1926, and we're thrilled to bring that same great Hudsonville quality to ice cream bar lovers". The ice cream bars are available at select retailers nationwide ranging from $4.88-$5.49 per four-packs.

Jerusalem-based biotech start-up Exosomm is exploring natural mechanisms in human breast milk to create a bioactive ingredient – actually made from upcycled cheese – that could aid inflammatory disorders. The start-up upcycles byproducts of the traditional cheese making process to create the potent functional ingredient that is also found in human breast milk. It has already reached the commercial production capacity of its patent-protected exosomes for the medical food space. Exosomm’s technology was developed in the Israeli Hadassah University Medical Center and isolates exosomes – natural particles in maternal milk that play a role in the healthy development of the immune system. Exosomes are small nanoparticles that naturally accumulate at high concentrations in human breast milk. They contain beneficial microRNAs – small, single-stranded, non-coding RNA molecules – that are shown to have a significant impact on early child development and on infants’ future health. The Exosomm research team found that different mammals (human, cow, or sheep) share similar exosome composition, which they say indicates the evolutionary importance of exosomes in offspring. Professor Shimon Reif, MD, head of the department of paediatrics at Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem, said: “Exosomm’s technology is based on cutting-edge scientific discoveries and is inspired by the virtues of mother’s milk and its unique health properties. We believe adults can benefit from exosomes as a valuable nutrient to help better manage chronic metabolic inflammatory disorders and to boost overall well-being.” He continued: “Further clinical research is in the pipeline, and we currently are focusing our studies on the role of exosomes in managing IBD conditions, such as Crohn’s and Colitis.” The start-up collaborated with Ba’emek Tech, a subsidiary of Tnuva Food Industries, Israel’s leading food group and producer of fresh dairy products. Ba’emek specialises in the production of whey products and provides the raw material as well as the full commercial technological infrastructure necessary for Exosomm’s progress and scale-up goals. Netta Granot, co-founder and CEO of Exosomm, added: “One of the challenges was to transform the developed technology into a commercially viable process. It was essential to find a facility that can collect the whey left over from cheesemaking and process it in a way that ensures the isolated exosomes maintain their unique set of bioavailable properties. Moreover, it was important for us to derive the milk benefits without exerting any burden on milk production. That’s why we run a circular system that depends solely on the whey side stream of the cheese industry.”

Global packaging company Alpla is rolling out a new generation of biodegradable coffee capsules for the Blue Circle brand made with organic material. Recyclable, safe and particularly tasteless and odour-neutral, the certified system consists of a capsule and a sealing foil to minimise the effects on the capsule contents and prevent the “unwanted migration of coffee aroma to the environment”. The Blue Circle capsules offer coffee suppliers, wholesalers, filling companies and roasting plants a resource-conserving alternative. Nicolas Lehner, CCO at Alpla, commented: “Around the world, consumer behaviour is becoming more and more sustainable. We see ourselves as pioneers and are developing the packaging solutions of the future.” The capsules are injection-moulded using the company’s own facilities and are produced in the Blue Circle design. He added: “With the biodegradable coffee capsule, we are not only helping our customers achieve their sustainability targets but are also acting in line with the new EU Packaging Regulation, which will require compostable solutions for individual coffee portion packaging in the future.” The Blue Circle coffee capsules can be disposed of via home compost or in the organic waste bin.

Kind Snacks is launching a new bar, Chocolate Chip Cashew, which will be available later this month. Chocolate Chip Cashew features a combination of cashews, almonds and peanuts, topped with chocolate chips. The new flavour is the fourth bar in the Kind’s HFSS-compliant range, following the launch of its caramelised biscuit nut flavour in February. Made with 81% nuts, the bar is high in fibre and gluten-free, containing no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. Audrey Arbeeny, UK marketing director said: “Chocolate Chip Cashew is another really exciting launch for us as we continue to grow our HFSS-compliant offering. We’re really proud of our product range that is not only nutritious but brings together great flavour and high-quality ingredients. We can’t wait to hear what our consumers think.” The new flavour will be available to buy in a singles format, rolling out across 127 Boots stores from 29 May, followed by 636 Sainsbury’s Local stores and 203 WHSmith stores later in the year for an RRP of £1.39.

Minebea Intec has launched Mitus, a new foreign object detection system with the flexible modulation feature MiWave. With the new metal detection system, the company offers a high-precision inspection solution for detecting foreign objects in almost all applications in the F&B industry. MiWave is an inspection solution from Minebea Intec that can reliably detect contaminated products of a variety of sizes, shapes and compositions, preventing incorrect rejections and separations. This ensures maximum product safety and efficiency on the production line. MiWave artificially modulates transmitter waves and intelligently resolves and analyses the receiver spectrum. This enables Mitus to provide maximum detection sensitivity for foreign objects made from ferrous and non-ferrous metals, stainless steels and light metals like aluminium. Mitus can be easily integrated into existing systems as the inspection solution is available in most standard sizes and as a rectangular, round or compact detection coil, which means it can be integrated even in limited available space. The company says it can be easily combined with other inspection solutions, such as weighing technology and integrated into existing production lines. Cleaning and maintenance of the metal detector is “easy” as it is made from stainless steel and is therefore protected against pressure jet cleaning. It has smooth, self-drain surfaces, while dead space and rebates have been minimised throughout. Linus Dellweg, global product manager at Minebea Intec, said: “With Mitus we are offering users a premium metal detection solution: as a critical control point, it ensures that foreign objects are reliably detected despite high and variable product effects”.

Pernod Ricard has confirmed that it has stopped all exports of its international brands to Russia, as of the end of April 2023. In a statement made on the Pernod website, the drinks giant said that it will cease the distribution of its portfolio in Russia, with the company expecting this to take some months to complete. “We are assessing how to adapt our local organisation in light of these decisions while fully complying with all local legal regulations,” the statement said. It continued: “Since the outbreak of the war, our guiding principle has been the welfare of our teams wherever they are based, and we will continue to support our local employees during this process”. The news marks a further retreat after it announced in April that it would suspend exports of its Absolut vodka to Russia, with immediate effect. The decision followed criticism in Sweden, where the vodka is made, after some exports to Russia had been resumed. Absolut Company's CEO, Stephanie Durroux, said that since March 2022 – when the French company halted operations of all its products to Russia – activity in the country had been “strongly reduced, and marketing investments have been stopped". According to Reuters, a spokesperson for Pernod Ricard said the company would keep a "limited team" in Russia to eventually resume business in the future. Downsizing local operations would result in the loss of around 300 jobs in the country. You may also like to read: Pernod Ricard invests in circular economy technology start-up ecoSpirits Pernod Ricard signs first sustainability-linked loan for €2.1bn Pernod Ricard suspends Absolut exports to Russia

Soreen has announced the launch of its new Soreen Lift Bars brand, which includes three flavours – Blueberry, Raspberry & Vanilla and Chocolate Orange. The soft bakes make for a convenient tasty snack and are ideal for on-the-go and a healthier alternative to the average snack bar. The Blueberry, Raspberry & Vanilla and Chocolate Orange Soreen Lift Bars contain naturally occurring B12, proven to reduce tiredness and fatigue and malt – a natural source of energy. The bars also contain a mix of fibre, potassium, folate and vitamin B. Soreen Lift Bars are also vegan-friendly and under 140 calories. Liz Jacobs, Soreen’s marketing director, commented: “Given the rising popularity of healthy on-the-go snacks fuelling everyday energy, we took the decision to create these new soft bakes and flavours that would appeal to a different palate”. She added: “Soreen Lift bars also have a treat-like taste without being high in sugar or fat - important for a healthy and nutritious diet. There isn’t a product like this out there at the moment within the cake category, so this could be the recipe to lift it and recruit a younger shopper.” Soreen Lift Bars will be available to consumers in Morrisons and Asda this month in the UK, with an RRP of £2.25 for a multipack of four. The soft bakes will also roll out into other UK stores throughout the summer.

Cellular agriculture platform Cult Food Science has entered into a share exchange agreement with Peqish that will also see the two companies establish a joint venture (JV). Peqish is a food as medicine ag-tech company that combines technology with scientific and clinical knowledge to develop innovative solutions to support health and wellness. Cult announced the JV in a post on social media: As part of the agreement, the companies will exchange $187,500 worth of shares with one another. Once the transaction has been completed, the companies plan to establish a JV for the development and commercialisation of cellular agriculture food products within the medical foods framework, established by Peqish. If the JV proceeds to the commercialisation phase, Cult Food Science and Peqish expect to establish a new, equally-owned subsidiary company. Cult Food Science will contribute to 100% of the start-up costs, including initial product design and branding expenses. Peqish will contribute its insights, industry network and knowledge in the culinary medicine and clinical arenas. Its team of clinical and scientific experts will also assist the JV in conducting clinical trials and validating products that have been identified for their adherence to culinary medicine principles. Anthony Marotta, Peqish's CEO, will serve on Cult Food Science's scientific advisory board. In a LinkedIn post, Marotta wrote: "Under this agreement, we will embark on a strategic collaboration to develop and commercialise cellular agriculture food products within the medical foods framework established by Peqish. We are excited to bring together our insights, industry network and knowledge in the culinary medicine and clinical areas with Cult's core competencies in design research, new ideation and validation, program management, recruitment and investment." He added: "We are proud to work alongside the talented team at Cult Food Science and to join their scientific advisory board to bring forth a better future for all". The transaction is subject to necessary regulatory approvals, including, as applicable, all required filings with the Canadian Securities Exchange. You may also like: Cult Food Science’s De Novo Dairy secures funding Cult Food Science invests in animal-free dairy company Change Foods Cult Food Science invests in cultivated oyster producer Pearlita

Fox’s Burton’s Companies (FBC UK) has launched two new non-HFSS biscuit varieties under its ‘The Skinny Cookie Co’ range. The new additions, Choc Chip and Ginger Crunch cookies, recognise the need for sweet treats in the ‘healthier biscuits’ category. The cookies contain two-thirds less sugar than a typical 10g choc chip cookie, making them HFSS-compliant. The recommended serving of the high-fibre cookies contains under 100 calories, with Choc Chip containing dark chocolate chips and Ginger Crunch with crystalised ginger and apricot pieces. Colin Taylor, trade marketing director at FBC UK, said: “We are always looking at new innovations to bring to market that offer consumers more choice. The new Skinny Cookies meet the demand of consumers looking for snacking alternatives.” He continued: “Our responsible approach is important as a manufacturer of leading brands. We will continue to offer a variety of products in a range of formats that help our consumers enjoy our products as part of a balanced and varied diet.” In October 2020, 2 Sisters Food Group sold Fox’s Biscuits to Ferrero for £246m, and in 2021 Ferroro bought Burton’s Biscuits from Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board for an undisclosed sum. In 2022, Ferrero announced it was combining Fox's Biscuits and Burton's Biscuits to become one business, now run under the name Fox's Burton's Companies UK. The cookies are available in select UK retailers for an RRP of £1.80 per pack.

Keurig Dr Pepper has expanded its iced coffee portfolio with the introduction of the Keurig K-Iced family of brewers, featuring three new coffee makers and five new Iced K-Cup pod varieties. The brewers feature a 'Brew Over Ice' option that automatically adjusts the brew temperature, starting hotter to extract the full flavour of the ground coffee. It then cools down to minimise the ice melt. The functionality features on the front of the coffee maker console via a newly designed blue button. The Keurig K-Iced family features three new brewers, including K-Iced Single Serve Coffee Maker, which is available on Keurig.com, Amazon and other major US retailers for a MAP of $99 and features 6, 8 and 10 hot and iced brew sizes, a 42 oz removable reservoir and two fresh colourways. The K-Iced Essentials Single Serve Coffee Maker is available exclusively at Walmart at an MSRP of $79 and features 6, 8, or 10 oz hot and iced brew sizes, a 36 oz removable reservoir and an iced tumbler package. Finally, the K-Iced Plus Single Serve Coffee Maker is available exclusively at Target for an MSRP of $129 and features 8, 10 or 12 oz hot and iced brew sizes, a 46oz removable reservoir, three unique colourways and a drip tray to accommodate tumblers and travel mugs up to 7" tall. Becky Opdyke, senior vice president, coffee marketing at Keurig Dr Pepper, said: "Understanding that Gen-Z is leading the way in iced coffee consumption, with an astounding 73% of consumers between 18-24 drinking iced coffee weekly, we're excited to further expand our brewer and coffee portfolio to meet the needs of our consumers," She added: "With the new K-Iced line, consumers not only get that full-flavoured hot coffee they expect from Keurig but also a refreshing iced coffee at the touch of a button – all in one coffee maker". Additionally, Keurig has expanded its Iced K-Cup pod offerings within the new system, with new K-Cup pods, including The Original Donut Shop Iced Duos Cookies + Caramel, McCafé At Home Iced One Step Mocha Frappe, McCafé At Home Iced One Step Hazelnut Latte, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Iced Vanilla Caramel and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Iced Hazelnut Cream. The new Iced K-Cup pod SKUs can be purchased on Keurig.com and in select US retailers.

GEA has announced a €50 million investment into the modernisation of its centrifuge production facilities in Olede (North Rhine-Westphalia) and Niederahr (Rhineland-Palatinate) Germany. The funding will be used to invest in sustainable production, digitalisation, automation and modern manufacturing technologies, with GEA targeting further growth in its key markets (food, beverage and pharmaceutical). GEA centrifuges are used in over 3,500 different processes in a range of industries. Growth drivers include applications for alternative protein production and global demand for dairy products. GEA’s CEO, Stefan Klebert, said: “With the investments announced today, we are future-proofing our sites by producing in an even more climate-friendly, efficient and modern way. As a result, we strengthen the competitiveness of both of these German sites.” At the Olede facility, “several large-scale photovoltaic systems will cover about one-tenth of the site’s electricity requirements.” GEA says that process heat generation will be converted to alternatives such as electric steam generation, enabling both the Olede and Niederahr sites to operate without gas in the future. Klaus Stojentin, CEO of GEA's separation and flow technologies division, added: "I am pleased that the planned investments will make the world's largest GEA site in Oelde strong for the upcoming decades. Due to our tradition, expertise and pioneering spirit, GEA is one of the global technology leaders in centrifuge production.” He continued: “We are proud to be able to expand our production facilities to better support our customers with first-class products for their manufacturing processes”.

Under its coconut rum brand Malibu, Pernod Ricard has launched a new flavour variety, Malibu Strawberry, a 21% ABV liqueur. The newest beverage is made with the brand’s classic white rum, with a new “refreshing” strawberry twist. The spirit was developed to cater to the UK consumer, as Malibu states that strawberry is the UK’s number one cocktail flavour preference in the on-trade channel. The brand has also launched a sparkling addition to its RTD cocktail range, Malibu Strawberry Daiquiri. The new cocktail cans contain a blend of white rum, strawberry and lime, offering a convenient on-the-go serving of the latest flavour. Liam Murphy, brand director at Pernod Ricard UK, said: “Flavours have helped us recruit new shoppers into the brand as consumers continue to experiment with new flavour profiles…The launch of Malibu Strawberry will allow us to continue the flavour momentum.” He continued: “It’s the ultimate summer sipper – fruity, fun, and perfect for sharing with friends…We’re so excited to add this sweet and refreshing flavour innovation to our existing range.” The latest addition comes after Pernod Ricard launched a new Malibu peach flavour in February. Malibu Strawberry is available now in select UK retailers for an RRP of £17.19 per bottle. The RTD daiquiri cans are also available now in select retailers for an RRP of £2.40 per can. Further rollout is expected later this month.