Halo Top is entering the baking aisle with the introduction of a new line of Halo Top Desserts, including Light Cake Mix Single-Serve Cups and Light Baking Mixes for fudge brownies and peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. Halo Top Light Cake Mix Single-Serve Cups is available in three flavours, Chocolate, Strawberry and Birthday Cake with 170 calories per single-serve cup. The Light Brownie Mix available in Fudge Brownie produces rich and velvety yet light brownies at only 90 calories per piece. Its Light Cookie Mix in Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip flavour will also join the new line with only 80 calories per cookie. Halo Top brand manager, Peter Gargula, said: “Halo Top was founded on an idea to make a lower calorie ice cream that doesn’t sacrifice flavour and indulgence. We’ve been constantly innovating products to give consumers indulgence they can feel good about.” He continued: “We can’t wait to bring our loyal fans into the baking aisle in this trusted extension from cold to warm with Halo Top Desserts.” The new desserts will be available at Walmart and Kroger stores in early February for suggested retail prices of $2.89 for the light cake mix single-serve cups and $4.99 for the brownie and cookie light baking mixes.

Calbee has introduced a cheesy addition to its Harvest Snaps range of veggie snacks: white cheddar baked green pea snacks. The new offering provides a taste of white cheddar with farm-picked green peas. The baked snack is packed with 5g of plant protein and is a good source of fibre, as well as being free of artificial flavours and preservatives. The pea pod-shaped snack is said to be made with 40% less fat than regular potato chips and is free from common allergies, such as gluten, wheat, soy, nuts, peanuts, and eggs. Said Sandra Payer, head of marketing at Calbee America, said: "White cheddar is a key flavour in the US snacking market and highly demanded among shoppers of all ages. Through focus groups and data research, we're listening to consumers, and it's their wants that drive our innovations. We couldn't be more excited to bring this must-have flavour to our core Harvest Snaps lineup." The white cheddar baked green pea snacks will be available exclusively at Target stores nationwide.

Organic beverage manufacturer The Juice Executive has announced it will acquire cold-pressed juice business Juice 4 Thought. Juice 4 Thought was launched in 2017 by Julia Duobko and delivers its products in glass bottles to London-based establishments. Alexandra Williams, managing director of The Juice Executive, said: "Juice 4 Thought and Juice Executive have well-aligned values around organic product quality and integrity, and this is an exciting opportunity for us to expand into new markets. Given the current environment, consolidation within the fresh production and distribution sector is going to be key for business resilience." The company's last acquisition was Radiance Cleanse in 2017 which also sits within the group's organic portfolio of brands. Doubko will retain her position as owner of The Juice Executive. The acquisition is expected to be completed in February 2023.

A ban on cannabidiol (CBD) in Hong Kong comes into effect tomorrow (1 February), with harsh penalties for importing, producing or possessing the substance. CBD will be subject to the same strict controls as other drugs listed under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (DDO). According to a statement from the customs authority, the importation of products containing the ingredient, including food and drinks, is prohibited, unless relevant provisions in the DDO are complied with. Customs intelligence officer, Au-Yeung Ka-lun, said at a news briefing: “Starting from 1 February, cannabidiol, aka CBD, will be regarded as a dangerous drug and will be supervised and managed by the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance”. Importing, exporting and producing CBD could result in a maximum penalty of an HKD 5 million ($640,000 approx.) fine and life imprisonment. Meanwhile, possession is liable to a maximum sentence of seven years imprisonment and a fine of up to HKD 1 million ($130,000 approx.). The government instructed that any products containing the ingredient must be placed in disposal boxes set up around the city by the end of the month. As of 29 January, approximately 77,400 items containing CBD had been collected, including edible oils and health supplements.

Finsbury Food Group has acquired Lees Foods, a manufacturer of branded confectionery and meringues, for £5.7 million. Founded in 1931, Lees, which produces meringues, teacakes and snowballs, employs over 200 staff at its site in Coatbridge, Scotland, and supplies to UK supermarket chains, as well as foodservice. With the acquisition of Lees, Finsbury seeks to diversify its product capability into areas with high growth potential. Finsbury Food Group CEO, John Duffy, said: “We are delighted to announce the strategic acquisition of Lees Foods as we consolidate our position in the sweet treats sector and grow our manufacturing presence in Scotland". He continued: "Lees currently has a well-established position in the UK meringue category and strong relationships across a high-quality and diverse customer base. This provides Finsbury with the opportunity to build upon both businesses’ existing retail relationships and unlock further commercial opportunities, including out of home.” The deal is expected to be earnings accretive immediately in FY23.

KP Snacks has unveiled a new product range for its McCoy's brand: McCoy’s Epic Eats. McCoy’s Epic Eats range is available in two flavours: Nacho Cheese and Spicy Salsa. Amy Heap, marketing manager at KP Snacks, said: “McCoy’s is the original and best ridged crisp brand, synonymous with big and bold flavours. We know taste is the most important factor driving purchases in CSN, and our NPD reflects flavour trends and delivers innovative new products to the category. McCoy’s Epic Eats packs that flavour punch with the same signature crunch.” Matt Collins, trading director at KP Snacks, added: “Consumers are always looking for products that are new and differentiated, and McCoy’s is famous for its unique and dynamic flavour proposition. We’re supporting our retailer partners with an exciting new product range delivering the right flavours in the right formats to drive sales”. McCoy’s Epic Eats is available in a grab bag format for £1.25.

Portuguese seafood company Brasmar Group has acquired CT Holmes (Holmes Seafood) for an undisclosed amount. Established more than 70 years ago, Holmes Seafood is a London-based frozen seafood importer and distributor and currently employs around 40 people. The company will retain its current management team and workforce under the new ownership. Through the deal, Brasmar says that it hopes to reinforce its presence and involvement in the UK market. The acquisition represents the fourth made by the Portuguese group in the last four years. Sérgio Silva, chairman of Brasmar’s board, said: “Brasmar is always looking for business opportunities that help us to strengthen our leadership position in the European market. In the specific case of Holmes, it provides us with valuable knowledge, experience and positioning in the UK, significantly increasing our presence in this market.” Andy Thomas, managing director of Holmes Seafood, commented: “It became evident early on that Brasmar Group is a likeminded company that shares the same values and passion for the seafood business. We are delighted to be working with Brasmar and to continue to lead Holmes at such an exciting phase of our growth.”

Cider maker Sandford Orchards has launched Devon Rosé Cider, a medium sweet blush cider, made from English apples and the skins of Pinot Noir red wine grapes. With an ABV of 4%, the beverage is a clean and fresh rosé cider made from Browns, Katja and Jane apple varieties. Barny Butterfield, chief cidermaker at Sandford Orchards, commented: “As cider evangelists, we love nothing more than creating a new cider guaranteed to entice more people to become fans of this fabulous apple nectar. We’re confident that Devon Rosé Cider is one of those drinks. Lovingly produced here in Devon, from locally grown apples, we’ve fermented the cider with the skins of Pinot Noir grapes to give it a delicate pink hue and a fruity kick.” The cider will be available for purchase from February from selected UK retailers and online in 500ml bottles at an RRP of £2.80.

Unilever has announced the appointment of current FrieslandCampina chief executive, Hein Schumacher, as the company's next CEO, effective 1 July 2023. Schumacher will replace Alan Jope, who announced his decision to retire last September, less than a year after a failed attempt by Unilever to buy GlaxoSmithKline’s consumer healthcare business and just months after activist investor Nelson Peltz joined the company’s board. Peltz, cited by Reuters, said he strongly supports Schumacher "as our new CEO and look forward to working closely with him to drive significant sustainable stakeholder value”. Schumacher became a non-executive director of Unilever in October 2022. He has served as CEO of FrieslandCampina since 2018, and the supervisory board for the Dutch dairy company has begun the process of selecting his successor. The board's chairman, Sybren Attema, said: “Hein successfully guided FrieslandCampina through an important transformative period for the company. In often very challenging circumstances, he led the company fully focused on making a sustainable, future-proof FrieslandCampina. It is with regret that we see him leave, and we wish him all the best in his new position.” Prior to joining FrieslandCampina as CFO in 2014, Schumacher also worked for HJ Heinz for over a decade, holding roles across the US, Europe and Asia. He began his career in a finance post at Unilever. Nils Andersen, Unilever's chairman, said: “We are delighted to welcome Hein as our new chief executive, after an extensive, global search process. Hein is a dynamic, values-driven business leader who has a diverse background of experiences and an excellent track record of delivery in the global consumer goods industry." Andersen continued: “He has exceptional strategic capabilities, proven operational effectiveness, and strong experience in both developed and developing markets”. Schumacher said: “I am delighted to have been appointed to lead Unilever. It is a business with an impressive global footprint, a strong brand portfolio, a talented team and an enviable reputation as a leader in sustainability. In my time serving on the board, I have only become more convinced by the strength of Unilever’s fundamentals and its clear growth potential.”

Conagra Brands is debuting a collection of sweet treats, breakfast mixes and flavoured seeds across its Snack Pack, Duncan Hines, Mrs Butterworth's and David Seeds brands. Snack Pack will launch four new flavours of puddings and gels, three of which include an external licensing partner. These include Snack Pack Ice Cream Sandwich Pudding, which features three types of premium imported cocoa; Snack Pack Cinnabon, inspired by the Cinnabon's cinnamon roll, contains a top layer of thick cream cheese frosting-flavoured pudding and a layer of Cinnabon cinnamon roll-flavoured pudding; Snack Pack Fruity Pebbles, features blue and yellow pudding; and Snack Pack Starburst All Pink Juicy Gels, designed to mimic the strawberry-flavoured Starburst sweet. In addition to Snack Pack Cinnabon, Conagra has also extended its partnership with the cinnamon roll brand to release three other new products. The new offerings include: Duncan Hines Epic Cinnabon Muffin Kit, described as "over-the-top muffins" that are filled with cinnamon sugar from Cinnabon and topped with a streusel and cream cheese icing; Mrs Butterworth's Epic Cinnabon Pancake Kit, a cinnamon roll pancake mix that contains cream cheese flavoured icing and cinnamon and brown sugar swirl; and Mrs Butterworth's Cinnabon Syrup, a Cinnabon-flavoured syrup. Meanwhile, David Seeds is partnering with American hot sauce Frank's RedHot to launch its David Frank's RedHot Jumbo Sunflower Seeds, which are currently available at convenience, grocery and sporting goods stores.

Danone has announced that it is considering the sale of its US organic dairy businesses, Horizon Organic and Wallaby, as part of its ongoing strategic portfolio review. In a statement, the French dairy giant said it will “explore strategic options, including a potential sale” of the two businesses, which represent approximately 3% of Danone’s global revenues. Horizon Organic produces milk and other dairy food products. Meanwhile, Wallaby is a manufacturer of organic 'Aussie-inspired' yogurts. According to Danone, the businesses “had a dilutive impact” on its like-for-like sales growth and recurring operating margin in 2022. CEO Antoine de Saint-Affrique said: “Both Horizon Organic and Wallaby are strong, much-loved brands with compelling growth opportunities. That said, seen through the lens of our 'Renew' strategy, which requires us to stay disciplined in how we allocate our resources, they fall outside our priority growth areas of focus.” He continued: “We are confident that exploring strategic options for these brands will enable them to get the focus and resources they need and therefore allow them to maximise their potential and unlock further growth”.

Nestlé says it will invest $100 million into its Colombian production efforts and growth capacity over the next three years. The investment – announced during the inauguration of a new production line for the Milo brand at Nestlé's Bugalagrande, Colombia, facility – represents part of an agreement reached between the country’s government and Nestlé. Nestlé will seek to expand its production capacity, advance its cultural transformation and innovation, and continue working towards the sustainability of its business. The company hopes to contribute to the construction of a “more prosperous society, aligning itself with the priorities of the national government in terms of generating opportunities for young people, building more peaceful communities and protecting the environment”. With the funds, Nestlé says it has taken the first steps in its investment plan for 2026. Its new production line will receive an investment of $10 million, allowing the company to increase its capacity in tons produced by 40% and increase exports of its Milo product by 15%. President Gustavo Petro stated: ''What we have inaugurated is an investment of $13 million and an announcement of $100 million more. This means, these days, a demonstration of confidence in Colombia, in its future, undoubtedly, because these investments are not short-term, they are here to stay.” On social media platform Twitter, Petro also wrote: "Industrialising Colombia is essential if we want to get out of poverty". The investment will be distributed among the different companies in which Nestlé SA has a majority stake, enabling the company to locate resources in cities such as Bugalagrande, Valledupar, Dosquebradas and Mosquera, in addition to expanding the Value Creation programmes. Laurent Freixe, CEO of Nestlé Latin America, said: “The announcement of our investment strategy for the next three years has only one meaning: we believe in Colombia and its development potential”. He continued: “This decision will allow us not only to continue strengthening our product portfolio and the industry, but it is intended as a strategy that transcends our business and that manages to align with some of the government's priority points in terms of youth employability, promotion of human rights and construction of peaceful communities and is committed to developing concrete initiatives to reduce polluting emissions and take care of the planet.”