Branston has released a new product, Branstonnaise, a combination of Branston Pickle with mayonnaise. Branstonnaise combines tangy sweet pickle with the creamy texture of mayo and other crunchy flavours. The new product has launched in two varieties, Branstonnaise Small Chunk and Branstonnaise Smooth. Angharad Wilson Dyer Gough, senior brand manager at Branston said: “We’re so excited to be expanding our product range even further with a brand-new recipe: Branstonnaise. From pickles and relishes to chutney and sauces, we know people just can’t get enough of that iconic Branston Pickle taste, so we wanted to create something that’s never been seen before on supermarket shelves. “It might sound funny, but we can assure you it tastes extraordinary. We know Branstonnaise will be a new staple capturing the hearts (and stomachs) of pickle-lovers across the UK.” Branstonnaise Small Chunk and Branstonnaise Smooth is available to purchase at UK stores at a RRP of £1.99.

Cayuga Milk Ingredients (CMI) has announced a $150 million expansion plan for its dairy processing facility in Auburn, New York. Founded in 2014, CMI is a farmer-owned company that processes milk from 30 family-owned dairy farms within the Finger Lakes region. The investment will include an aseptic processor, bottling and packaging line, which will allow CMI to produce finished products for the extended-shelf life beverage market. Additional improvements will focus on areas including wastewater treatment, development of stormwater retention, trucking and parking enrichments, and utility upgrades. The new bottling line will have the capacity to produce up to 150,000 gallons of milk-based beverages each day. CMI is also investing in two raw milk receiving bays, enabling "80 tractor-trailers to pass through the doors per day between deliveries and loadouts to customers". All in all, the expansion project is expected to create 70 full-time jobs. Construction work will begin in spring 2023. CMI chairman, Neil Rejman, said: “Cayuga is strong and profitable, with a long history of growth and transition. We’re looking forward to the future with ambitious projects, like aseptic, that let us build on the dependable people and progress we have developed over the last eight years.”

Grupo Bimbo plans to invest around $630 million to construct two new facilities, located in Georgia and Ohio. An over $200 million project will see the bakery giant establish a second production facility in Valdosta, Georgia, creating 295 new jobs in Lowndes County. "We are delighted that Grupo Bimbo decided to add a second facility in Valdosta and Lowndes County," said Valdosta's Mayor, Scott James Matheson. "This project speaks to the positive collaboration between local and state partners that continues making our community a desirable location for world-class companies like Grupo Bimbo to invest and grow their business." In addition, Bimbo has plans to construct an approximately $431 million facility in Ohio, which is expected to create 320 new jobs, including roles in production, packaging, shipping and receiving, support, administration and management. The baked goods giant has more than 200 facilities and over 1,700 sales centres located across 33 countries and makes products including fresh and frozen sliced bread, buns, cookies and salted snacks, among others.

Sunny Sky Products has acquired low-acid aseptic beverage solutions manufacturer, GoodWest Industries, from Palladium Equity Partners. GoodWest sells shelf-stable and bag-in-box coffee creamers, cold brew coffees and iced coffees. Meanwhile, Sunny Sky Products is a producer of dispensed beverage solutions offering hot, cold, frozen and beverage enhancer products for the convenience store and foodservice channels. Ashley Edens, president and CEO of Sunny Sky Products, said: "Together, Sunny Sky and GoodWest will strengthen our position as a leader in the premium dispensed beverage category and provide expanded product offerings to our valuable customers, while continuing to deliver top-quality products and superior customer service". The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

US snack brand Bobo’s has launched a new wind-powered production facility in Loveland, Colorado. The 123,000-square-foot plant will enable Bobo's to expand production of its bars, bites and toaster pastries, while reducing its carbon footprint. The company is aiming to achieve carbon neutrality by December this year. Bobo's says that it has invested significantly to improve the speed and efficiency of its baking capabilities without changing its products' “handmade look and feel”. Founder Beryl Stafford said: "It's truly amazing to think back to when my daughter Bobo and I baked that first batch of oat bars in my kitchen". She continued: "It's extremely rewarding to see how far we've come today as we stay true to that same home-baked, handmade quality, only now in 24 ovens. All of which produce the same yummy snacks made with the same wholesome ingredients and the same delicious taste and texture as that first oat bar in 2003. “As we have scaled our production from my kitchen to this new 'super' bakery, through it all, it's remained paramount that we maintain the quality of our products." Bobo's says that the new bakery has the ability to produce 1 million bars, bites or toaster pastries per day, with plans already in place to further increase capacity.

Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) has announced its acquisition of a minority stake in US non-alcoholic craft beer maker, Athletic Brewing Company. The $50 million investment will result in KDP having a seat on Athletic Brewing’s board of directors as well as an equity stake in the company "that is comparable to other lead investors". Athletic Brewing founder, Bill Shufelt, said: "We're thrilled to welcome Keurig Dr Pepper as an investor and strategic partner. Their team brings a tremendous amount of expertise and truly embraces our mission of brewing great-tasting non-alcoholic beers that are fit for all times. This investment will enable Athletic Brewing to further accelerate our growth across North America." Founded in 2017, Athletic Brewing now has a line-up of more than 40 brews and this year was named the 26th fastest-growing private company in America by Inc Magazine. "Athletic Brewing is a winning brand in a rapidly growing beverage segment," said KDP’s executive chairman, Bob Gamgort. "Our investment reflects our interest and ability to move into exciting white spaces, including in the blurring of the alcoholic and non-alcoholic categories." The transaction follows KDP’s acquisition of non-alcoholic ready-to-drink cocktail brand, Atypique, earlier this year.

Nescafé Dolce Gusto has launched a new at-home coffee machine, Neo. The coffee pods for the Neo system are paper-based, home-compostable and use 70% less packaging. Through the use of technology, Neo aims to replicate the “coffee shop at home” experience. Its SmartBrew technology combines three brewing methods to create espressos, coffeeshop-like americanos and drip-style coffees, in one single machine, at the touch of a button. Neo automatically recognises the pod, adapting the brewing method to each selected coffee. David Rennie, head of Nestlé coffee brands, said: "Nestlé is a relentless innovator in the coffee category. We are continuously looking to bring consumers new experiences, variety and quality in their coffee, in a sustainable way. With Nescafé Dolce Gusto Neo, we have created the perfect combination of a great coffee experience, new coffee system and packaging, all in one." The new pods are made from 1g of paper certified by Forest Stewardship Council suppliers with a compostable biopolymer lining to help protect the coffee freshness from oxidation. Julia Lauricella, head of Global R&D Center for systems and coffee machines, said: "Whenever we develop a new system, we need to harmonize its three key elements for the perfect in-cup result: the product, its packaging and the machine”. She continued: “We carefully select the coffee, and together with the Nestlé Institute of Packaging Sciences, choose and design the packaging to protect it, and develop the machine to ensure the perfect synergy during extraction. “For Neo, our teams tested over 200 novel material structures before perfecting the paper-based pod. Our proprietary SmartBrew system tunes the extraction parameters for each beverage, and you can even personalize your cup through the connected application." Neo will launch in Brazil this year and plans to roll out into other countries over time.

Danone North America's Two Good has added three new on-the-go smoothies to its portfolio. The Two Good smoothies have 3g of sugar per 7 fluid-ounce bottle and 10g of protein. To achieve lower sugar, the brand uses ultra-filtered milk that removes most of the naturally occurring sugars from milk. It also utilizes live cultures for fermentation. Available in three flavours, Mixed Berry, Strawberry Banana, and Peach, the smoothies have 0g of added sugar with no artificial sweeteners, and 5g of carbs and are non-GMO Project Verified. Surbhi Martin, VP of marketing, greek yogurt and functional wellness at Danone North America said: "As more consumers look for products in the yogurt drinks segment to meet their on-the-go lifestyle and lower sugar needs, we saw an opportunity to launch a new product to deliver on those growing needs". Martin continued: "Since our launch as a brand, we've been proud to offer delicious products with significantly lower sugar, and we're excited to expand our portfolio and introduce our latest innovation, Two Good Smoothies, which offer consumers a portable and delicious cultured dairy drink with only 3g of sugar compared to the category average of 19g." Two Good Smoothies are available now in the yogurt aisle of select US grocery stores and retailers for a suggested retail price of $1.89 per 7 fluid-ounce bottle.

SHS brand of adult soft drinks, Shloer has introduced its new zero-calorie drinks, available in White Grape and Red Grape. Under the sub-brand Shloer Zero, two new calorie-free drinks will form the only branded no-calorie proposition in the ASD category, according to the company. The two variants will retail at £2.36 MRSP for a 750ml glass bottle. Sarah Lawson, head of marketing at SHS Drinks, said: “Shloer Zero is a breakthrough addition to the brand: it’s a great-tasting, zero-compromise, zero-calorie product – one which doesn’t compel shoppers in independents to choose a trade-off between flavour and sugar content”. She continued: “The Zero variants will drive reappraisal and open Shloer up to newer, younger audiences. The brand has long been associated with celebrations and special occasions; these innovative, calorie-free additions to the range now give consumers permission’ to drink Shloer more frequently, creating a bridge to everyday usage. “Shloer Zero is zero-calorie and zero-guilt; it offers a way to reduce calories without having to compromise on taste.”

British bakery brand, Hovis, is expanding its range into part-baked bread, with rustic white and seeded rolls and white baguettes. Each product has been carefully prepared and part-baked ready to be finished at home in the oven. The range has been developed to deliver a crisp crust and soft inside and has a significantly longer shelf life than fresh rolls and baguettes, reducing the risk of food waste. Hovis’ marketing director, Claire Parlour, said: “We are thrilled to launch our new Hovis Bakers Since 1886 Home Bakes range, which has the potential to bring the sensorial delights associated with freshly baked bread into millions of UK households in just 10 minutes”.

Kenneth Hoffström, site director at Absolut Home, Absolut Vodka’s brand home, gives his perspective on how to create an immersive experience that will leave a lasting impression on guests. 'Engagement' is the holy grail for brands looking to get closer to their audiences, and what better way to bring people closer to your product, your heritage, your cultural links and future aspirations, than by inviting them into your home? Located in the picturesque village of Åhus in southern Sweden, Absolut Home invites people to step behind the scenes to learn more about the vodka’s incredible history and production process – from seed to sip. This is important – when guests come to see us, they don’t just want to learn about the liquid, they are eager to uncover the astonishing facts, happenings and characteristics formed through our history and current processes that give them a deeper insight into a product they love. As consumers put more and more emphasis on brand trust and authenticity, a tour can be the perfect way to bring people closer and build an emotional connection through real conversations about the topics that matter to them. An award-winning distillery tour? Think of it as a good lesson in history, manufacturing, culture and art all mixed into one. Location, location, location… As with most distilleries, location is a significant factor in creating the overall experience. Consumers care deeply about provenance, so shout proudly about where you are based, and the deep interconnection and relevance of your links with local culture and community, as well as the value that you bring and the jobs you create. When we talk about location, we aren’t just talking about provenance – we know it also refers to our community, the people, guides and bartenders that bring real impact to our visitors’ experience. Authenticity wins hearts A tour is a fantastic stage to bring concepts and ideas to life, so take the opportunity to show your visitors the things you care about most. Sustainability and responsibility, creativity and innovation are key for Absolut, so we take great care to ensure these values shine through in our tour. For example, a large part of our tour revolves around the social responsibility that comes with large-scale production in a small village. We tell visitors about the commitment to working with local suppliers, such as the farmers delivering winter wheat in the vodka-making process. As well as surprising them with why the local pigs and cows are so fond of The Absolut Company… There’s a place for playfulness and creativity Of course, you want the tour to be informative, but it should be fun too! We’re always delighted to hear comments from guests saying that “the tour was done in a really engaging way with many fun and charming features” and “we learned a part of Swedish history that was unknown to us”. If we have informed and entertained, then we have done our job. A sensory sensation When telling the story of a spirit brand, it’s vital to appeal to all the senses to make the tour engaging and memorable. From tasting and smelling to mixing, our senses help us tell the story from seed to sip. Another playful example of incorporating the senses is having cocktail-making classes available as part of the tour to ensure there are several occasions where guests can get hands-on with the product. All these ingredients must be as perfectly balanced and mixed as the ingredients in a cocktail, to create a visitor experience with real impact and value.

The Canadian government has announced an investment of over CAD 2.4 million ($1.8 million approx.) in P&P Optica (PPO) through the AgriInnovate programme. The investment will help P&P Optica to build and present its food inspection technology for meat processors. The funds will support PPO in building demonstration units that allow it to present its technology to potential users. The Ontario-based company hopes to help processors improve the safety and quality of their products and reduce food waste. The system analyses food composition, evaluating properties such as tenderness, freshness, and protein, water and fat content. The technology can detect imperfections and eliminate foreign bodies like plastic, bones and rubber. Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, said: "Canada's processors are adopting new technologies to increase production and offer quality products across the country and the world. P&P Optica's technology gives processors essential information that provides many benefits, including helping to reduce food waste.” She added: “Our government is committed to investing in innovative projects that support the long-term growth and success of our agriculture and agri-food sector". The investment will also go towards building a demonstration room to optimise the technology, for use by potential clients. The hyperspectral imaging tech evaluates the safety and freshness of meat products by analysing the colour and moisture, providing a large amount of data to processors. Olga Pawluczyk, CEO of P&P Optica, commented: "P&P Optica is grateful for the support of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and AgriFood through the AgriInnovate programme. PPO is focused on working with food processors to improve the safety and quality of our food supply while reducing waste.” Pawluczyk continued: “We're excited about the opportunity to promote our automated inspection system, which is already operating in plants across the US, to Canadian meat processors. We believe the Canadian meat industry, already a global leader in quality products, can increase our competitive edge even further by using technologies like PPO's Smart Imaging System."