Frankford Candy is bringing five new products to the confectionery aisle this Easter from Peeps and Kellogg's brands. Peeps Milkshake Kit has everything needed to make a marshmallow-flavoured milkshake. It includes a milkshake mix, sprinkles, a glass jar and a plastic straw and will be available at an SRP of $8.99 at Walmart and Target stores in the US. Peeps Flower Power Bunny Gift Set features four pink Peeps Marshmallow Bunnies and a plush bunny. Peeps Race Car Driver Bunny Gift Set features four blue Peeps Marshmallow Bunnies and a plush bunny. Both gift sets will be available at an SRP of $7.99 at Target, Walgreens, Meijer and CVS stores in the US. Also joining the line will be Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Candy Eggs featuring crispy, crunchy half-inch milk chocolate or flavoured candy eggs made with Marshmallow, Strawberry and Milk Chocolate. They will be available in either a 16-ounce variety pack that features all three flavours or a 9-ounce-ounce marshmallow-only bag. The assorted candy eggs will be available at an SRP of $6.99 at Walmart stores in the US. The marshmallow-only version will be available at an SRP of $3.99 at Target and CVS stores in the US. Finally, Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Marshmallow Candy Rabbit combines creamy marshmallow-flavoured sweets with original Rice Krispies cereal in a rabbit shape for a crispy, crunchy treat. It comes in a 5-ounce individual size at an SRP of $4.99 and will be available at Target and Meijer stores in the US and online at Amazon.

Moët Hennessy has acquired a majority stake in Côtes de Provence wine producer, Château Minuty, for an undisclosed amount. The strategic alliance is set to support the international development of the Château Minuty estate, where the Matton family “will remain invested” in its running. According to the company, “current executives and descendants of the founder, Jean-Etienne and François Matton will continue to manage the company, in line with previous generations”. The Minuty portfolio holds a collection of wines developed from the terroir of the Saint-Tropez peninsula. The wines are distributed in more than 100 countries and last year, Minuty sold more than 9 million bottles worldwide. Philippe Schaus, chairman and CEO of Moët Hennessy, said: “It is a great source of pride for the group to seal a strategic partnership with Minuty, one of the world's leaders in Rosé de Provence. We are very pleased to have the opportunity to work alongside the talented employees of Minuty, known for their commitment to creating wines of the highest quality.” He added: “This is a new step in the relationship of trust built over the last two years between the group and the Matton Family, through the distribution of their wines in the Asia-Pacific region. This alliance, driven by strong export demand, will strengthen the development of Minuty wines internationally, benefitting the entire Rosé de Provence Category.” Jean-Etienne and François Matton, directors and partners of Minuty, commented: “This strategic alliance will allow our estate to benefit from the strength of a major international group while ensuring the continuity of the heritage and traditions of Château Minuty”.

Campbell Soup Company-owned crisp manufacturer, Kettle Brand, has introduced a new line of crisps into the US market, Air Fried Chips. According to Kettle Brand, the crisps are “the first-ever kettle-cooked, air-fried potato chip”. The crisps deliver a light, crispy texture with 30% less fat than the original versions and are available in Sea Salt & Vinegar, Jalapeno and Himalayan Salt flavours. Janda Lukin, CMO at Campbell Snacks, said: "In addition to the natural promise we make with every batch of Kettle Brand chips, we're proud to be the first air-fried chip…giving our chips a unique light and crispy crunch to go with their signature bold flavour." The crisps are available in retailers across the US for an RRP of $4.79 per bag.

Nuisance Drinks has added two flavours to its range of premium soft drinks, as it looks to tap into the growing trend of alcohol-free beverages. The new drinks are available in pink grapefruit & basil and rhubarb & ginger flavours. The additions join the brand's existing line-up, including: mint, cucumber & chilli, bramble & rosemary and nettle & elderflower. The range is low in calories, suitable for vegans and contains no artificial sweeteners. The pink grapefruit & basil variant combines citrus flavours with the summer herb garden. Nuisance Drinks founder Hugo Morrissey said: “We were really keen to add a citrus flavour to the repertoire, and pink grapefruit is seriously unrepresented in soft drinks". He added: “ is more of a timeless classic – you just can’t go wrong, and the subtle warmth of the ginger is a beautiful addition”. The new beverages are available at various outlets throughout the UK, on Amazon and via the company's website.

SunOpta has opened a $125 million plant-based beverage ‘mega facility’ in Midlothian, Texas, creating up to 175 new jobs in the area. The site will manufacture the company’s full range of dairy-free milks and creamers, along with tea and other products. Various package sizes will be produced, including foodservice- and retail-friendly formats. SunOpta aims to double the size of its plant-based business by 2025, compared with 2020, and has invested nearly $200 million in production capacity over the last three years. Joe Ennen, CEO of SunOpta, said: “This plant is an important part of SunOpta’s long-term goals and a powerful next step in our company vision”. He continued: “The fully equipped and state-of-the-art facility will enhance our manufacturing and supply chain capabilities. In addition, through innovation and our dedication to sustainability, we can respond to the increasing nationwide demand for plant-based food and beverages.” The Midlothian facility is equipped with water reuse equipment that, according to SunOpta, can save up to 20 million gallons of water per year. Additionally, the plant features an energy-efficient HVAC system that reduces energy consumption by 45%, and LED lights and water heaters that reduce power usage by 95%.

Smugglers, an ice cream brand made with hidden vegetables, is set to launch into Waitrose stores this March. Co-founder, Dan Lowe, commented: “Family meal-times can sometimes be a little stressful in our house, especially when it comes to getting the children to eat their vegetables. We know that first and foremost ice cream has to taste great for kids to enjoy it, but we’ve smuggled just enough veg into Smugglers so that you can’t see or taste it at all, but it also adds a little bit of goodness.” He added: “And because we’ve added in the veg it helps to reduce fat, has fewer calories and lower sugar... Smugglers also has a whole bunch of vitamins in it – so now you can get full-on flavour with added goodness in every scoop.” The brand is initially launching with two flavours, Chocolate with hidden beetroot and Vanilla with hidden parsnip and is priced at £5 per 460ml pot.

OFI has partnered with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to offer a joint investment of $8.1 million to promote sustainable coffee production in Peru. Smallholder coffee farmers in the Junín region of Peru will receive the investment, which aims to support productivity and livelihoods. The funds will help to strengthen extension services, infrastructure, certification, training and access to premium markets for 1,000 smallholder farmers over a five-year period. The partnership aims to bolster training on sustainable and organic farming, GAP (good agricultural practices) and quality testing. It will also provide access to markets with post-harvest processing workshops and equipment, including solar dryers, composters and wet mills. Finally, the joint investment looks to improve health and wellbeing through medical screenings and nutrition education to “reduce malnutrition rates and anaemia in young children and pregnant women”. Some of this work has already begun, with the installation of wastewater treatment systems on 250 farms, as well as 150 solar dryers distributed and farm financial assessments conducted with 100 coffee producers. Prashant Jalan, senior vice president of Coffee at OFI, said: “In the context of the ongoing climate uncertainty and the pandemic, a traditional crop like coffee now has an even more important role to play in uplifting Peru’s producers”. He continued: “OFI already works with more than 10,000 coffee smallholders in Peru through sustainability programs. This partnership with USAID allows us to upskill more farmers to produce higher-quality beans that will qualify for speciality markets where prices are higher and more stable.” Jene Thomas, USAID Peru mission director, added: “...By helping these farmers qualify for organic and sustainable certifications to facilitate their entry into premium markets, the partnership will enable them to remain competitive despite international price volatility, thus increasing their incomes and motivating them to continue to pursue licit livelihoods." The balance of $500,000 will be awarded to Olam Agri as a sub-grant to provide education and training to 350 quinoa farmers in Peru's Ayacucho and Apurimac regions.

Priya Industrie has announced the opening of its new food processing and packaging plant in Longueuil, Quebec, Canada. Strategically located near Canada’s Saint-Hubert Airport, the new facility is the product of a CAD 19 million (approx. $14.18 milllion) investment. Operations at the 55,000-square-foot plant are scheduled to begin in April and will meet the market demand for production capacity and packaging subcontracting. The site has 42,000 square feet of production space and 3,000 square feet of storage space and administrative office area. The facility’s production rooms are temperature optimised and refrigerated with CO2 and its freezer storage can accommodate 536 pallets. Additionally, the site has four receiving/shipping docks to meet logistics needs. Bill Angelopoulos, VP of Priya Industrie, said: "With this new production capacity, we now have the necessary tools to deploy our strategic growth plan for several years to come”. Priya was founded in 2004 and specialises in the production and co-packing of quality food products.

Holding company Somfolk has announced the acquisition of Suffolk-based seeds, snacks and toppings brand, Munchy Seeds. Munchy Seeds uses a unique roasting technique and mixes pumpkin, sunflower, chia, and black sesame seeds to create combinations “that lend taste and texture” as well as adding protein and fibre to snacking and meal occasions. Crispin Clay, Munchy Seeds’ co-founder, said: “We are thrilled to be passing on the business to Des and Sara who have a unique combination of skills to grow the business further and add some exciting and fresh ideas to the brand”. Sara Pearson, co-owner of Somfolk, added: “Des and I can see great growth potential in Munchy Seeds. The roasting, toasting and packing skills are well established and we now need to see how we can widen the appreciation of the nutritional value of incorporating seeds into your diet.” Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Biolyte has added a new flavour, punch, to its namesake hydration drink product line. Punch features a blend of cherry, pineapple, orange and a hint of lemon. The drink joins the brand's existing line-up: citrus, berry, tropical and melon. Biolyte is said to be the first recovery drink to contain the same amount of electrolytes as an IV bag, plus key ingredients that promote balance in the body. According to the company, one bottle offers 6.5 times the amount of electrolytes as leading sports drinks and one-third of the sugar. Biolyte helps the body "recover, replenish and hydrate" more efficiently than water. "Our new flavour, Punch, is perfect for first-time triers or people who need to recover but are more sweet than salty people," said Jesslyn Rollins, CEO of Biolyte. "Biolyte Punch packs all the same benefits of Biolyte – the electrolytes, sugars and vitamins your body needs to recover – and the taste reminds you of classic fruit punch." Biolyte's punch is available in select stores across the US and online at Amazon.

Under its Lindor brand, Lindt & Sprüngli has launched a new flavour of its popular truffles, Blood Orange. Released in time for a Valentine’s Day treat, the truffles feature a delicate Swiss milk chocolate shell with a smooth “melt-in-the-mouth” blood orange chocolate centre. The company said: “After the busyness of the festive period, everyone deserves to indulge in a moment of bliss and enjoy life’s simple pleasures – something not everyone has been able to do amidst the recent challenging times in the UK". The gluten-free chocolates are available to purchase in major retailers across the UK.

Cell-based food tech start-up, Mewery, has introduced what it says is “the first prototype" of cultivated meat based on microalgae. The prototype combines 75% pork cells and 25% microalgae cells. The Mewery scientific team, based in Brno, Czech Republic, cultivated this prototype in 10 weeks. Founder of Mewery, Roman Lauš, commented: “We already have several variants of media that work for us without animal products and which we continue to work with. It is like a cookbook." He added: "You have to add somewhere, take away somewhere else, and you will only find out if it was successful when you bake the cake. We have typed specific parameters that we track and compare their dependencies. It's bioinformatics in practice." The microalgae adds nutritional benefits to the product such as vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, fibre and essential fatty acids. Mewery says it would like to have the finished product ready for the market within two years. Consumers will be able to access it once the corresponding legislation is ready.