Fonterra has announced that its current chief operating officer, Fraser Whineray, will step down from the position, effective 31 July. Whineray joined the New Zealand cooperative in 2020, after leaving electricity company Mercury. Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell said: “Fraser has set the co-op ambitious goals for decarbonisation and the management of water, and his enterprise leadership helped shape our new strategy and 2030 targets. He will leave our operations business unit in great shape with a longer-term outlook and a sharp focus on efficiency." He continued: “Fraser has indicated he intends to embark on a new career path and is looking to become more involved in venture capital as an investor and governor. I wish him well with this endeavour." Whineray will assist in the process of finding a successor.

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams has teamed up with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products (WBDGCP) to launch a new ice cream flavour inspired by the American TV series Ted Lasso. Called 'Biscuits with the Boss,' the salted butter-sweet cream ice cream features shortbread cookie crumbles and aims to mimic the flavour of the homemade shortbread cookies that the show's main character makes. Made with real butter, 'Biscuits with the Boss' also contains grass-grazed dairy. The limited-edition collaboration will be available online from 2 March through the Jeni's website.

A new functional soda brand, Fibe, has launched into the UK market, designed primarily to support digestive health with added prebiotic fibres. The non-HFSS beverages are available in three flavours: orange, fruit punch and lemonade, each containing five grams of plant-based prebiotic fibre as well as calcium and vitamin C, designed to improve gut and immune health. The 30-calorie cans are aimed to offer soda drinkers an accessible ‘gateway drink’ that looks and tastes like traditional soda while benefitting the body. Freya Twigden, Fibe’s founder, said: “The idea is simple, we’ve taken flavours that consumers know and love, and created a better version - one that not only tastes familiar but also boasts considerable gut-health benefits. There are no empty calories, no artificial sweeteners, just classic soda flavours with all natural ingredients, plus the added benefit of 5g of fibre to support digestive health.” She added: “The aim is to create an accessible range that gives us the opportunity to bring classic soda drinkers into the functional category as well as appeal to lapsed soda drinkers, looking for a healthier option…We believe by combining two trends, gut health and functional beverages, Fibe offers retailers a clear opportunity to add incremental sales and is set to further disrupt the category.” The beverages are available in Planet Organic stores nationwide as well as independent retailers for an RRP of £1.50 per can.

Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has signed an agreement for the sale of its atta (flour) and salt business for INR 60.4 crores (approx. $7.3 million). The deal will see the Annapurna and Captain Cook brands sold to Uma Global Foods and Uma Consumer Products, which are subsidiaries of Singapore-headquartered company, Reactivate Brands International. The move aligns with HUL's intention to exit "non-core categories," while focusing on the growth of its packaged foods business, which includes dressings and soups. According to HUL, the deal envisages the transfer of trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual properties associated with India and several other geographies. HUL will continue to manage the business until the transaction is completed. Sanjiv Mehta, CEO and managing director of HUL, said: "Launched more than two decades ago, Annapurna and Captain Cook enjoy strong equity. Given our strategic priorities and portfolio choices, we believe it is in the business's best interest to sell these brands to Reactivate Brands International, which is well-positioned to unlock their full potential." Ashok Vasudevan, co-founder of Uma Global Foods, added: "We are delighted to bring Annapurna and Captain Cook into our portfolio. Both these brands have a long history of providing high-quality food products to Indian consumers. We are confident of scaling them up and expanding globally, leveraging founders' experience. These brands fit well with our mission to promote affordable wellness." The deal is subject to customary closing conditions.

Ed Sheeran has launched a range of hot sauces, made with Heinz, branded Tingly Ted’s. Tingly Ted’s comes in a range of two hot sauces: Tingly and Xtra Tingly and can be used with fries, nuggets, falafels, fried chicken and other meals. Tingly is a medium hot sauce and Xtra Tingly is for anyone looking to take the heat to the next level. Sheeran said: “I love sauces, that’s no secret. But the older I’ve got, the more I love and need spice with every single meal”. He continued: “I had a year of whittling down the perfect flavours with a great mixing team and we settled on two absolute belters. The Tingly and the Xtra Tingly. I’ve had them on tour with me recently to try them with all sorts of meals, and there really isn’t anything they don’t go with (except bananas, don’t do that).” Tingly Ted’s sauces feature fresh lemon notes and a smoky flavour, along with a mix of herbs and spices that all infuse together. The sauces are vegan-friendly with no added colours, artificial flavours or preservatives. The bottle is fully recyclable and made with recycled materials. Tingly Ted’s is available for purchase online.

Kauno Grūdai, a subsidiary of Linas Agro Group, has announced plans to invest €32 million in expanding its instant foods plant in Lithuania. The expansion at the Alytus, Lithuania facility is expected to double the Group’s instant food production and will provide job opportunities for an additional 250 to 300 employees. The planned capacity of the new 11,000-square-metre facility is 240 million units per year, with 120 million units of instant noodles and porridge in cups and 120 million units of instant noodles in packets. Andrius Pranckevičius, deputy chairman of the board of Linas Agro Group and CEO of Kauno Grūdai, said: “We will be building a second plant next to the existing one, but twice as big – production in Alytus will triple. We chose Alytus because of better prospects, more convenient management, and work organisation: a team of highly qualified specialists has been working here successfully for several years; we will not have to rebuild it in another city, and everything will be faster and more convenient.” Over 96% of the Group’s instant products are exported, with main export markets in the UK, Scandinavia and Southern and Western Europe. The new capacity is planned to be commissioned in the first quarter of 2024.

In addition to returning favourites, this year’s event will offer brand new show features – such as the new Sustainability Resource Centre and the Startup Innovation Challenge – plus premium content offerings via the Future of Nutrition Summit (8 May) and the Vitafoods Europe Conference (9-10 May), which are designed to keep businesses at the leading edge of the industry. Speaking on the return of the event and the addition of new premium content offerings, Andy Mather, brand director of Vitafoods Europe at Informa Markets, said: “Vitafoods Europe 2023 aims to create a unique experience that visitors will not just find valuable, but that they will also really enjoy. This year, we are introducing a host of new content, designed to inspire, engage and provide the spark to propel the industry forward. The new Sustainability Resource Centre will feature innovations and insights from passionate experts dedicated to driving sustainable change in the nutrition industry. Meanwhile, the Startup Innovation Challenge provides an opportunity for upcoming nutraceutical stars to make their mark on the industry and develop their innovative projects through a specialised support programme. We are excited to welcome everyone in the Vitafoods community back for 2023, both in Geneva and online – including those joining us for the first time – to experience the creativity and collaborations on offer.” Show highlights Offering a huge range of new and returning content for visitors to explore, including a mix of premium paid-for and free-to-attend sessions, the Vitafoods Europe 2023 agenda will explore everything from market trends to sustainability, women in nutraceuticals, and more. Highlights of this year’s event include: NEW: Future of Nutrition Summit (8 May, Marriott Hotel, Geneva) – join a diverse range of C-suite industry leaders and futurist thinkers for an exclusive, paid-for one-day summit discussing the trends and technologies that will shape the nutrition industry in 5+ years’ time – from precision nutrition and the digitalisation of health management to sustainable supply chain solutions. NEW: Vitafoods Europe Conference (9-10 May) – this premium, two-day conference returns in a new format, focused on current challenges and opportunities in sports and active nutrition; cognitive and emotional health; metabolic and immune health; life stages and healthy ageing. Now located in a purpose-built theatre on the Vitafoods Europe show floor, visitors can easily combine attending the conference alongside their regular show floor and expo experience. The Vitafoods Insights Theatre – returning for 2023, the Vitafoods Insights Theatre offers free-to-attend expert sessions diving into current global consumer trends, updates on regulatory and supply chain issues, as well as insights into delivery formats and packaging. NEW: Startup Innovation Challenge – discover cutting-edge innovations from the most exciting health and nutraceutical start-ups as they pitch their ideas live. Together with the popular Startup Pavilion, this challenge provides a unique opportunity for companies to find innovative ingredients, technologies, services and finished products to help their businesses grow. NEW: Sustainability Resource Centre – dedicated to driving sustainable change in the nutrition industry, this resource centre offers expert presentations and insights into the full spectrum of sustainability issues, including supply chain traceability, regulatory compliance, certifications, carbon offsetting, alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and gender and LGBTQ+ inclusivity. Experience innovations, ideas and insights yourself “Standing still simply isn’t an option in this industry; people return to Vitafoods Europe year after year to drive their businesses forward and be inspired,” said Mather. “This year, we are offering another lively agenda, packed full of exciting opportunities to connect and gather knowledge. This includes both new and reimagined premium, paid-for events that will dive deeper into current trends and future industry predictions: the Vitafoods Europe Conference and the Future of Nutrition Summit. The latter joins the Vitafoods Europe 2023 family after being a huge success at previous Food Ingredients Europe events. We truly believe that Vitafoods Europe 2023 has something for everyone, and that this year's attendees will experience the very best in industry innovations and insights to keep their businesses at the leading edge of nutrition.” Registrations for Vitafoods Europe 2023 are now open – to secure your place or learn more about the new premium content offerings, visit: www.vitafoods.eu.com/.

Mars-owned snack bar manufacturer Kind has added a new flavour to its portfolio: caramelised biscuit nut. Caramelised biscuit nut features a combination of peanuts, almonds and cashews with a hint of caramel and note of spiced biscuit flavourings. The bar, which has 81% nuts, is high in fibre, gluten-free and contains no artificial flavours. The new flavour joins the brand's line-up of HFSS-compliant bars, which includes: maple pecan almond and fruit & nut. Audrey Arbeeny, Kind UK marketing director, said: “ When it comes to snacking, Kind believes you shouldn’t have to choose between delicious and nutritious. Our new caramelised biscuit nut bar brings both of these things together, great flavour and high-quality ingredients. We are proud to launch our third HFSS-compliant bar that does not compromise on taste or nutrition.” The caramelised biscuit nut bar will be available in a single format across WHSmith Travel Stores, Nisa, Spar and Boots. The new flavour is also expected to be available at Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrison's and Waitrose stores later this year.

Rich Products is investing more than $100 million to expand its Brownsville, Texas, manufacturing facility. The company says that the investment is its “largest capital project to date,” and will add over 150,000 square feet of space to the facility. The expansion will support the production of its appetiser products, most of which are sold under the SeaPak and Farm Rich brands. Kevin Spratt, president of the US/Canada region at Rich Products, commented: “We’ve seen a significant influx in demand within this category , especially over the course of the past three years, and this expansion will add capacity for production, storage and facility space to support continued growth”. He added: “On top of that, we’ll be expanding our fantastic team in Brownsville, adding over 100 local positions across all different facets of production and warehousing upon completion of the project. This is a true win-win, creating greater value for Brownsville, our associates, our customers and consumers as a whole.” Further details of the investment were not disclosed.

Costa Coffee has appointed Philippe Schaillee as its next CEO, effective 10 April 2023. He will succeed Jill McDonald, who joined the coffee company as chief executive in 2019. McDonald decided to step down in July 2022 to join fast-food chain McDonald's in an international role. Since McDonald's departure, Shakir Moin has been serving as interim CEO and will continue to support the business until Schaillee takes over. Most recently, Schaillee has been senior EVP at France-based Groupe SEB, responsible for the small domestic appliances and cookware business units, a position he has held since April 2021. Schaillee, who will now be based in London, will report to the president of global ventures for The Coca-Cola Company – Costa's parent company – Evguenia Stoichkova. “Philippe is an outstanding leader who comes to Costa with a deep background in business and a passion for building great brands,” said Stoichkova. “We look forward to working with Philippe to expand on the plans we have developed to grow Costa, both in its home country of England and beyond.”

Under its Lion Bar brand, Nestlé has launched a new limited edition flavour, the Lion Bar Brownie. The new chocolate bar flavour features the brand’s classic crispy wafer, cereal and caramel, with a brownie flavour filling and covered in smooth milk chocolate. Nestlé brand manager, Amy Kendall, said: “We know consumers love Lion Bar for its delicious mix of textures, the chewiness of caramel, the crunch of cereals and the crispy filled wafer. With a delicious brownie flavour filling, our newest Lion Bar puts an exciting spin on a classic.” The new treat comes in a multipack of four 30g bars and is available to purchase in select UK retailers for an RRP of £1.25.

Mexican tequila producer Casa Maestri has acquired 100% blue agave tequila brand, Bellagave Infused Tequila, for an undisclosed sum. Bellagave Infused Tequila is available in two flavours, Mango-Jalapeño and Coconut. The tequila is low in sugar and has a lower ABV, making it ideal for consumers seeking a lighter option. The tequila is made at Casa Maestri Distillery with 100% agave blanco tequila. The agaves are cooked in traditional brick ovens and autoclaves and then shredded to extract the sugars. Bellagave uses a slow fermentation process and is double-distilled before being infused with natural flavours and reduced to 70 proof for an “easy drinking experience”. Jose Coira, VP of sales for Casa Maestri, said: “It’s a perfect time to innovate. The tequila segment is fast-growing and variations like flavoured tequilas are exploding in popularity with consumers. We are looking forward to bringing this 100% natural option to tequila lovers looking for a light, great-tasting beverage.” The acquisition follows Casa Maestri's purchase of Santera Tequila in January. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.