Dairy manufacturer Emmi has commissioned an industrial solar thermal plant at its Langnau production site in Switzerland. The system, from TVP Solar, is equipped with around 100 solar thermal collectors and converts sunlight into CO2-free heat. The high-vacuum solar thermal collectors, distributed over 210m2 of roof space, generate heat efficiently and constantly throughout the year, producing some of the high-temperature process water required for the production of fondue, raclette and other cheese products at the Langnau site. Gerold Schatt, head of group sustainability at Emmi, said: “The new solar thermal system reduces our dependence on fossil fuels, secures a portion of our energy supply and stabilises our energy costs. In this way, we can prevent bottlenecks in our energy supply and also contribute to climate protection.” Installation of the solar thermal system puts Emmi on course for its net zero 2050 target and helps achieve the interim goal of reducing internal greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2027. With this renewable thermal energy, Emmi expects to save around 21,000 litres of heating oil per year, while reducing CO2 emissions by 55 tonnes. Further benefits include lower costs per megawatt hour of thermal energy and less dependence on fossil fuels. Piero Abbate, CEO of TVP Solar, said: “This pioneering project highlights the potential of solar thermal energy for industrial use in Switzerland and positions Emmi as a pioneer in emissions reduction. We are committed to helping local operators reduce their emissions and diversify their energy supply.” The project was subsidised by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) and supported by the Swiss Climate Foundation. Abbate added: “The SFOE played an important role in the implementation of the project. Even broader support from the federal government is needed to achieve faster and more widespread decarbonisation in Swiss companies.” Engineering firm Planair ensured the project’s smooth operation. The firm identified the energy-intensive aspects of the manufacturing process and designed the plant to be optimised for environmental and economic benefits. “Planair established the technical link between the TVP solar plant and Emmi’s existing facilities, allowing for seamless integration into the existing production processes and requirements at Emmi Langnau,” said François Bauer, CEO of Planair.

The Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company (SALIC) has announced its acquisition of a 9.2% stake in India-based basmati rice processing company, LT Foods. Through the deal, SALIC aims to build a solid long-term partnership with LT Foods. The company, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, says that expanding the scope of international investments is one of its strategic goals to achieve national food security targets. SALIC previously acquired a 30% stake in Dawaat, one of LT Foods’ major rice processing subsidiaries in India. The total consideration for this latest deal is around SAR 209 million (approx. $53.2 million).

Gut health food brand Bio&Me, created by The Gut Health Doctor, has secured a £1.6 million investment to support further growth. A portion of the funds will be used for marketing to drive the brand's growth. The capital will also support the expansion of Bio&Me's sales team and the launch of its next innovation. Bio&Me started out selling granolas in November 2019 and has since expanded its range to include porridges and live yogurts – all containing the prebiotic, chicory inulin. Co-founder and CEO, Jon Walsh, commented: “The fact our revenue has more than doubled year-on-year made it a great time for us to do our raise. Bio&Me is now in a really strong position to continue its growth rate across 2023, driven by consumer demand for products that taste good as well as do good. We’re looking ahead to our next big gut health category launch next year – watch this space.” FMCG entrepreneur and lead investor in Bio&Me, Giles Brook, said: “Collectively, the team has done a fantastic job raising our funding target in such a short timeframe, with 70% of those funds coming from existing investors, showing the degree of confidence they have in the business, brand and team”. Brook continued: “With a significant amount of incremental business already secured for 2023, we believe it's set to be another landmark year with even more consumers coming on board and adopting Bio&Me’s great-tasting, gut-healthy products into their daily lives”. Megan Rossi, Bio&Me co-founder, said: “I am so grateful to our current and new investors for believing in us and our mission. My goal has always been to make tasty food solutions that can carry genuine health claims. As a dietitian and scientist, that is what matters to me, and I believe is what is driving Bio&Me’s growth.”

E & J Gallo Winery has announced its acquisition of Californian wine producer, Denner Vineyards. The deal includes the Denner brand, winery and estate vineyards. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Denner Vineyards founder Ron Denner first planted vines on a vineyard in Paso Robles' Willow Creek District in 1999 and later acquired the Adelaida Vineyard, located in the Adelaida District. He said: "From planting my first few acres in 1999 to building Denner Vineyards to what it is today, I have been incredibly blessed with the opportunity to bring this winery to life in one of California's best winegrowing regions. Gallo is a family company with a commitment to quality. I have no doubt they will be good stewards of the land and preserve our legacy of creating sought-after wines and offering best-in-class winery experiences." Denner Vineyards is best known for its proprietary red blends, Rhône and Bordeaux varietal wines. Joseph Gallo, vice president and general manager of Gallo's luxury wine business, added: "For 20 years, Ron Denner has stayed true to the land and his vision to produce great wines from the acclaimed Paso Robles region, cultivating an authentic, diverse portfolio. We look forward to drawing inspiration from and working with Ron and winemaker Anthony Yount."

Nomadic Dairy has introduced two protein puddings, as it expands beyond its core yogurt business. The puddings will be available in vanilla and chocolate flavours. Each 200g pot will contain 20g of protein, no added sugar and low fat. Bethan Miles, brand manager at Nomadic Dairy, said: “We’re keenly aware of the shift in protein products’ appeal, which has significantly expanded consumer demand. Whether people are gym goers or just plain busy, these protein-packed puddings represent functional but easy and great-tasting, additions to on-the-go diets. Our competitive ‘edge’ is a focus on taste, which we think has almost been an afterthought for others.” Nomadic Dairy's protein puddings will be available at Morrisons stores from January 2023 for an RRP of £1.89 per pot.

Fridge Raiders, part of Pilgrim’s Food Masters, has added two new flavours to its snacking range. Available in UK stores, the extended Fridge Raiders’ range includes Smoky BBQ Chicken Bites, Hot and Spicy Chicken Bites along with the return of its Chicken and Stuffing Bites. Chris Doe, marketing controller at Pilgrim’s Food Masters said: “We know consumers are hungry for exciting new flavours in meat snacking and this flavour explosion across our range highlights our commitment to innovation. “As we look to drive the snacking category forward, and cater to ever-growing consumer demand, we want to give retailers snacking options that offer shoppers exciting new flavours in a variety of formats, suitable for every occasion. In addition to shaking up the category with new flavours, we’re delighted that Chicken and Stuffing Bites return for the third year running as we know how much of a hit this SKU is with consumers.” The Hot and Spicy Chicken Bites are available in 4x40g multipacks and the Smoky BBQ Chicken Bites in 165g grazing packs.

Chilled pie producer, Pukka, has launched three new recipes within the savoury pastry sector including a pepperoni pizza pie. According to the company, the pepperoni pizza pie is a first-to-market and is created to appeal to lovers of pizza and pies. The company also launched a pepperoni pizza slice in addition to a Northern classic, meat and potato pie. Pukka’s managing director, Isaac Fisher, said: “Our first-to-market Pepperoni Pizza pie blends two of the nation’s best-loved foods – and is a solid example of how we’re continuing to pioneer modern flavour profiles to excite even more new shoppers and drive them to the pie fixture. We’ve taken this a step further by creating a slice as well so that this unmissable ‘pizza-in-pastry’ combination can be enjoyed during lunchtime at home or on-the-go.” “Of course, we’ve also put our distinctively Pukka ‘full on flavour’ spin on a classic pie recipe favourite – Meat & Potato. This flavour duo is a top 10 in the pie category so for us, this long-awaited launch is sure to appeal to our loyal pie fans who like things a little more traditional,” Fisher added. The new pie products come a week after Pukka announced the launch of a dossier of new frozen products: sausage rolls, vegan sausage rolls, steak bake, chicken bake, vegan applewood and onion bake and a sausage and bean bake. The new pepperoni pizza pie is available in Tesco stores for an RRP of £1.75. The meat and potato pie and pizza slice are available in Asda stores for RRPs of £1.99 and £1.75 respectively. All products will launch into further retail in the coming months.

Primo Water Corporation has posted a 6% increase in third-quarter revenue to $585 million. Revenue growth of 17% in water direct/water exchange, 11% in water refill/water filtration and 47% in water dispensers was partially offset by the company's exit from its North American single-use bottled water retail business. Adjusted EBITDA increased 10% to $117 million. In North America, revenue increased 8% to $447 million. Meanwhile, in Europe revenue grew 6% – and by 24% excluding the impact of foreign exchange – driven by increased demand from residential and B2B customers and tuck-in acquisitions. Primo Water CEO, Tom Harrington, said: "During the quarter, we continued to execute our differentiated 'Water Your Way' platform, and despite near record inflation, we delivered strong revenue and adjusted EBITDA growth. Our investment thesis remains intact with a portfolio of leading water solutions across multiple channels and geographies, strong consumer tailwinds and a compelling financial profile. The continued investment in our digital platforms, increased connectivity of dispenser sales to our water solutions, and continued optimisation of our route-based operations provide a strong foundation to achieve our long-term growth targets." He continued: "As a result, we are maintaining our 2024 outlook for high-single-digit annual organic revenue growth and are increasing our 2024 annualised adjusted EBITDA outlook to approximately $530 million dollars".

SIG has invested in physical PPAs that will secure enough renewable energy capacity to power all of its carton packaging production in Germany from January next year. The physical PPAs encompass a combination of on-site solar installations, renewable electricity from on-shore wind turbines on a real-time supply basis, and a flexible top-up of hydropower. This type of PPA involves the physical delivery of energy from assigned renewable power generators. Arnold Schuhwerk, head of category polymers and energy global at SIG, said: “Securing physical renewable power for our carton packaging production is the highest attainable level of responsible energy sourcing”. He added: “Alongside our growing global portfolio of on-site solar installations, we see power purchase agreements as the most sustainable way to directly invest in renewable energy capacity”. The company claims that its investments in renewable energy for carton packaging production have already avoided over half a million tonnes of CO2 equivalents. This is one of the ways in which SIG says it is working to cut greenhouse gas emissions from its operations and value chain as part of its 'Climate+' ambition.

Home-delivered prepared meal company, Proper Good, has closed a $3.5 million funding round led by Yeti Capital and The Artisan Group. The funding will support the brand's growth across the e-commerce and retail channels as well as product innovation. According to Proper Good, its direct-to-consumer revenue has grown by 400% annually since it was founded in 2020, and the company has recently expanded into over 2,000 Walmart supercentre stores. "Consumers are increasingly looking for nutritious meals that are ready to eat and made with delicious and clean ingredients," said founders Jennifer Jane and Christopher Jane. "We're thrilled to expand the availability of our high-quality products catering to different lifestyles and dietary preferences to Walmart with support from our roster of stellar entrepreneurs and investors." The company’s product portfolio includes ready-to-eat soups, chillis and curries, with more 90-second keto, vegan and gluten-free options in the pipeline. "We are excited to invest in Proper Good, not only because Chris and Jennifer have created a new category of premium shelf-stable meals, but they've custom-built a proprietary data platform with continuous feedback, ensuring consumers' ever-changing demands are met,” added Maxx Karr, managing director of Yeti Capital. Yeti Capital is an investment vehicle created by the founders of Yeti Holdings. Yeti Capital is not affiliated in any way with US outdoor product manufacturer, Yeti.

Dairy giant Saputo has announced plans to permanently close its Maffra, Victoria, facility and "streamline" activities at two further Australian sites. While the two other plants – located in Leongatha, Victoria, and Mil-Lel, South Australia – will remain in operation, activities at both will be reduced. Around 75 personnel are expected to be affected by the changes across Saputo's Australian footprint. The company said in a statement: "Many of the impacted production and packaging functions at these three facilities will be absorbed or integrated into the company’s other Australian facilities, increasing capacity utilisation and reducing costs. Approximately 75 employees will be impacted, and where alternative roles are not available, these employees will be provided with severance and outplacement support." Earlier this year, Saputo revealed it would be closing a facility in California as part of plans to “optimise” its manufacturing operations.

Olive oil, pesto and vinegar brand Filippo Berio has launched a new collection of extra virgin olive oils (EVOO) made from responsibly harvested olives. The sustainable select range uses ingredients sourced from sustainably nurtured groves in a fully traceable and certified process. Each bottle displays a QR code that, when scanned, shows the origins of that bottle, the flavour map of the oil and more unique information. The oil is available in two flavours, Hearty Balance, an aromatic and complex oil with fruity notes and Smooth Harmony with hints of fresh grass, artichoke and tomato featuring a slightly spicy aftertaste. Marco De Feo, VP of marketing at Filippo Berio USA, said: “Through ongoing innovation and research, we are continually refining our cultivation and production methods to be ever-more eco-conscious while enhancing the final product we place before our valued consumers". The sustainable select oils go through a rigorous quality control process which, along with the company’s environmental processes, are monitored and certified by inspection and certification service, SGS. Both varieties will be distributed across the US within select channels.