Danone has posted Q3 net sales of €7.33 billion – up by 9.5% on a like-for-like (LFL) basis – after seeing “sequential growth acceleration across all categories and geographies”. Price increases contributed 10.9% to revenue growth. The owner of Evian and Bonafont recorded sales of €1.34 billion for its Waters business (+14.4% LFL), with volume/mix growth of 4.4%. Danone’s Specialized Nutrition business led LFL sales growth in China and Europe. Overall, the unit recorded €2.13 billion in third-quarter sales – up by 12.2% on an LFL basis. The French group’s Essential Dairy and Plant-based business saw LFL sales growth of 6.3% but recorded a decrease of 6% in volume/mix. On a reported basis, Q3 sales increased by 19.1%, reflecting in particular the appreciation of the US dollar and various Asian and Latin American currencies against the euro. Danone raised its LFL sales forecast and said that it now expects “price-led” growth of 7-8% for 2022. CEO Antoine de Saint-Affrique commented: “We continue to implement pricing actions in a responsible and disciplined manner, while focusing on the quality of our execution and reinvesting behind our brands and capabilities. This shows in the performance of our Specialized Nutrition business, led by Aptamil, in Waters, where our Evian, Bonafont and Aqua brands continue to perform strongly in the marketplace, but also in Essential Dairy and Plant-based, with the resilience of portfolio, notably in the US, Canada and Japan.” He added: “We continue to display consistent progress in all aspects of our 'Renew' agenda, with active portfolio management and a disciplined approach to boosting our winners, fixing our underperformers and driving our core".

Campari Group has announced plans to purchase an initial 70% interest in bourbon and rye whiskey brand, Wilderness Trail Distillery, before buying the remaining 30% in 2031. The alcohol giant will be acquiring the initial stake for $420 million. The corresponding enterprise value for 100% of the outstanding capital of Wilderness Trail is $600 million. The transaction is expected to close before the end of the year. Until then, each company will continue to operate independently. Campari CEO Bob Kunze-Concewitz said: “We are very excited to take a controlling interest in world-class Wilderness Trail Distillery. By adding the fast-growing super-premium Wilderness Trail brand we further expand our bourbon offering, priming it to become Campari Group’s second major leg after the aperitif portfolio.” He added: “Moreover, we accelerate our premiumisation journey, further enriching our Rare portfolio, the division aimed to unlock and accelerate the growth potential of a select range of high-end individual expressions in our core premium spirits markets”. “In addition, we have the opportunity to significantly expand our production capacity and ageing inventory to satisfy the future growth of our premium bourbons, such as the high potential Whiskey Barons range, currently capped due to capacity constraints.” Located in Danville, Kentucky, Wilderness Trail Distillery was launched in 2012 with a focus on making premium bourbon and rye whiskey. According to the company's website, it specialises in producing “unique spirits from locally grown grains”. Wilderness Trail co-founders, Shane Baker and Pat Heist, commented: “We are thrilled about our partnership with Campari Group. Premium bourbon and rye whiskies and state-of-the-art production facilities, coupled with worldwide distribution, first-class marketing and expertise across multiple spirit categories, provide the perfect foundation for the continued success of the Wilderness Trail brand.” Baker and Heist continued: “This is a win-win situation for both parties, and we are very proud of this partnership and what we can achieve together with our shared vision”.

Nutrabolt-owned brand Xtend has expanded its line of hydration and recovery amino acids with the launch of Xtend Healthy Hydration sticks. Xtend Healthy Hydration is an on-the-go electrolyte supplement that offers consumers zero sugar hydration boost, which is also a source of vitamins D and B. The sticks, which need to be added to water for consumption, are available in three flavours: lemon lime, strawberry banana and raspberry lemonade. According to the brand, the supplement "delivers six key electrolytes using efficient amino acid transport to enhance hydration", which is a unique method that is said to set Xtend Healthy Hydration apart within the hydration category. John Herman, president of sales and marketing at Nutrabolt, said: "We are thrilled to offer superior and healthier hydration for the on-the-go active lifestyle consumer with Xtend Healthy Hydration. As the leading BCAA brand in the United States, Xtend has supported athletes in their recovery for over ten years, and we believe this new product will deliver next-level hydration when consumers need it most, whether in the gym or on the go." The Xtend Healthy Hydration sticks are available on Amazon, as well as in stores nationwide at Vitamin Shoppe.

Bobbie has announced the launch of a new research and development hub, Bobbie Labs, which is dedicated to enhancing infant nutrition. The company says that Bobbie Labs is part of its commitment to invest $100 million to increase infant formula accessibility and quality for all US families by 2030. The hub aims to modernise infant feeding for parents by working with experts in the field. Bobbie Labs is investing in research in order to diversify and expand its product offering – from metabolic formulas to infant and parent supplements. Next year, Bobbie Labs will request research proposals within the infant feeding knowledge, focusing on three pillars: 'Nutrition,' which aims to unlock new knowledge about breast milk and infant formula in order to optimise paediatric health and advance industry quality standards; 'Society,' which examines the impact of infant feeding on social and psychological outcomes; and 'Planet,' to understand traceability of raw materials from farm to bottle and support end-to-end assessments of foods and packaging. Laura Modi, CEO and co-founder of Bobbie, said: "While the formula shortage may be ending, the crisis isn’t over. In order to reform this industry from the ground up, we must turn to science and data to truly evolve policies and products, adapt evidence-based practices, and advance infant feeding knowledge." She continued: "Bobbie Labs is proud to support this critical research portfolio – the work being done is for the betterment of the entire industry, no matter how you choose to feed your baby and it will fuel the future of infant and maternal nutrition in this country for the better". Anthony Porto, Bobbie Labs' chief medical director, said: “The research projects we’ve selected will provide critical data on paced bottle feeding, infant protein digestion, iron levels and the infant microbiota, the infant formula shortage and maternal mental health". He added: "In order to drive the innovation this industry so desperately needs, we must start with the science, data and extensively published thought leaders that know the space better than anyone – the future of infant nutrition depends on it".

US food company Entenmann’s has announced the launch of a new range of cake truffles under its namesake brand. Entenmann’s cake truffles is available in two flavours: chocolate delight and cookies and crème. The bite-sized truffles come in packages of eight, with two truffles individually wrapped per tray " to guarantee ultimate freshness," said the company. Entenmann’s said: "Whether you’re looking for a delightful afternoon snack, a late-night treat or a much-needed break, these perfectly portioned indulgences will be just what you need to relax and appreciate your everyday moments". Entenmann's cake truffles are available for purchase at select US retailers for $6.89.

Myprotein has launched its new Clear Whey Protein drink, sold in RTD 500ml bottles, in two flavours. The Myprotein Clear Whey Protein drink has been designed to help consumers effortlessly hit their health targets on the go. The Clear Whey Protein drink comes in two flavours, Peach Tea and Orange and Mango, providing 20g of protein and 81 calories per bottle, with zero fat and zero sugar. The drink is HFSS compliant and comes at an RRP of £2.50. A spokesperson from Myprotein said: “We cannot wait to see what our customers think of the Peach Teas and Orange and Mango flavoured protein water. We believe the demand will be high as shown by the popularity of our Clear Vegan Protein Water, which has sold out multiple times online.”

Solely has introduced a healthy pasta alternative to the market, Organic & Fruit: Green Banana Fusilli Pasta. The pasta is made from just one ingredient, whole organic green bananas, and uses its signature cold-pressing process to transform the most nutritious dried green bananas into a traditional fusilli shape and texture. Simon Sacal, CEO of Solely, said: "At our core, we are food lovers. Solely is constantly searching for ways to rethink the 'better-for-you' food movement led by nutrient restriction and food modification in pursuit of foods that are widely recognised as 'good-for-you.' We seek to push the boundaries beyond what is just permissible to what is genuinely enjoyable, simultaneously still satisfying our need for healthy food." "Organic Green Banana Fusilli Pasta does just that; it's a completely different approach to traditional pasta but has the same taste and texture that one would expect. Eating pasta made from green bananas is a delicious way to add fruit, nutrients, and fibre to your diet while enjoying simple, minimally processed foods that are better for farmers, the planet, and our communities." Solely's Organic Green Banana Fusilli Pasta is available for $3.99 at Whole Foods Market stores nationwide.

The board of Orkla has agreed to implement a new corporate structure that will see the establishment of 12 independent portfolio companies. The Norwegian conglomerate says that the individual units will have greater autonomy and responsibility, as well as their own board of directors. The announcement follows the appointment of Nils K. Selte as Orkla's new group president and CEO earlier this year. “Since Nils K. Selte took up the post of president and CEO on 11 April this year, he has worked systematically on setting up the new structure, and I am glad that we can now establish a new business and operating model,” said Orkla board chairman, Stein Erik Hagen. The revamp will come into effect on 1 March next year, and the 12 independent companies will include: Jotun, Orkla Foods Europe, Orkla Food Ingredients, Orkla Confectionery and Snacks, Orkla Health, Orkla Home and Personal Care, Orkla India, Pizza Out of Home, Orkla House Care, Health and Sports Nutrition Group, Pierre Robert Group and Lilleborg. Selte said: “We will adopt a long-term, industrial approach to the portfolio companies as active owners and will work through the company boards. We will continue to build on the deep consumer insight and experience that we have acquired in developing leading brands. At the same time, we will pursue an active portfolio management policy, targeting rapidly growing consumer segments and markets.” “In the time to come, we will adopt a more dynamic approach to our portfolio, which will entail assessing acquisitions, joint ventures, stock market listings and divestments of companies,” he added. Selte will be joined in Orkla group’s executive board by five executive vice presidents who will together form a single investment team. The new group executive board will be operational from 13 December this year. The Orkla group will maintain its ownership of the Hydro Power energy business and the real estate investments in Orkla Real Estate. The restructuring is not the first business overhaul by the company in recent times. Last year, in another reorganisation plan, Orkla announced the creation of a new division called Orkla Foods, as well as a number of major appointments.

Unilever has posted underlying sales growth of 10.6% for its third quarter, driven by price hikes which had "only a limited impact on volume". Price growth reached 12.5% in the quarter, with volumes declining 1.6%. The owner of Ben & Jerry’s reported turnover of €15.8 billion in Q3 and €45.6 billion for the first nine months. The company said its expectation for net material inflation is "virtually unchanged" at around €4.5 billion, with €2.5 billion in the second half. Unilever stated that although some commodities have softened from their peaks, it expects cost pressure to continue into 2023, “driven by currency devaluation, higher raw material costs versus beneficial covers in the first half of 2022, and higher supplier processing costs from energy and labour inflation”. The company's nutrition business grew its underlying sales 11.8% to €3.3 billion, while Unilever's ice cream sales rose 13.2% to €2.4 billion, led by double-digit price growth in both in-home and out-of-home. Unilever CEO, Alan Jope, said: “Unilever has delivered another quarter of growth in challenging macroeconomic conditions. Underlying sales growth improved to 10.6%, led by further increases in pricing with only a limited impact on volume, and we now expect underlying sales growth for the full year 2022 to be above 8%.” He continued: “We have delivered growth in each of our five business groups, led by a strong performance from our billion+ euro brands, growing 14% in the quarter. Strong pricing allows us to continue to drive increased investment behind our brands. Our organisation is now better structured to deliver consistent growth through a simpler, more category-focused operating model. The full benefits will be realised over time, and we are seeing encouraging early signs of improved accountability and faster decision-making.” “The global macroeconomic outlook remains mixed, and we expect the challenges of high inflation to persist in 2023. The delivery of consistent growth remains our first priority.”

Cultivated seafood company Forsea Foods has raised $5.2 million in a seed round led by Berlin-based investment firm, Target Global. Forsea was founded last year with the mission to preserve the fish population by creating a viable alternative to wild-caught seafood and is initally focusing on growing eel meat, which it says is in high demand for kabayaki and sushi. According to Forsea, it is the first company to use organoid technology to culture seafood products. The food tech start-up uses a non-GMO organoid platform in which the eel meat is grown as a three-dimensional tissue structure in the same manner it would grow in a living fish. Roee Nir, CEO and co-founder of Forsea, said: “We can produce a product identical in flavour, texture, appearance and nutritional values to real eel. organoid platform allows us to design the fish fillet exactly as it grows in the fish, that is in a three-dimensional structure, without growing the fat and muscle tissues separately.” The company says that its technique requires fewer bioreactors and represents a more simplified and cost-effective process than traditional cell culturing, making the final product more affordable. Forsea will inaugurate its pilot plant in 2023 – allowing the company to scale up and launch its first products – and also plans to accelerate research and development on growing eel meat and developing the process for other fish species. "We are extremely pleased to invest in Forsea and welcome the company into our growing portfolio," commented Yoni Glickman, managing partner of FoodSparks by PeakBridge. “Forsea has demonstrated breakthrough technology, having recruited an experienced team to solve a significant problem in the food system caused by overfishing and habitat loss.”

Australian dairy company Bega Cheese has announced that Paul van Heerwaarden has decided to step down after nearly six years as CEO, with Pete Findlay set to succeed him. Van Heerwaarden has worked for Bega Cheese for 13 years, holding several executive roles, and will vacate the position of chief executive “in the coming months”. Meanwhile, Findlay joined the company in 2019 as chief financial officer, before becoming chief operating officer earlier this year. His focus will be on continuing “to execute the strategy and realise the opportunities available to the company as an integrated dairy and food business”. Bega Cheese executive chairman, Barry Irvin, said: “Paul has been a wonderful CEO for Bega Cheese and has led the organisation through a period of great change and development, always giving his all to deal with challenges and execute opportunities. Paul remains committed to the company and, as always, is keen to ensure the best outcomes for the business and that the transition to a new CEO is well planned and continues the stable leadership which has always been a key element in the success of the company.” He continued: “One of the features of Paul’s leadership has been his willingness to give opportunity to others and his capacity to develop people. Paul is always keen to recognise the capacity and capabilities of individuals and his team. Earlier this year, we announced that Pete Findlay had been appointed chief operating officer of the company, and the board is now pleased to announce that Pete will transition to CEO with Paul’s support in the coming months.”

Italian winemaker, Martini, has introduced a collection of non-alcoholic aperitivo and 0.0% sparkling beverages. The non-alcoholic aperitivo range is available in two flavours. Floreale is light tasting and has a botanical flavour profile, paired with delicate notes of roman chamomile. Martini non-alcoholic Vibrante is fruity with notes of Italian bergamot oranges. The brand has also launched Martini Dolce 0.0, a new zero-alcohol drink, providing a bubbly alternative. Martini Dolce is completely alcohol-free and presents notes of citrus, pear and apple as well as fruity and aromatic notes of moscato. “Martini non-alcoholic Aperitivo and Dolce 0.0 Sparkling Beverage allow people to discover a new way to host and celebrate with friends yearlong while also adopting a more mindful approach to drinking,” said Aaron Daniel, senior brand manager at Martini. Designed for those who sip mindfully, without sacrificing quality and taste, Martini Vibrante and Floreale contain an ABV of less than 0.5% alcohol. Both variants are gluten-free and made with the alcohol being gently removed and naturally infused with a masterful blend of botanicals from around the world. Martini non-alcoholic Vibrante and Floreale are now available in select supermarkets across Canada for an RRP of CAD 16.99 (approx. $12.48) and in Quebec at the SAQ for CAD 16.75 (approx. $12.31). Martini Dolce 0.0 can be purchased at select supermarkets in Canada and Quebec for an RRP of CAD 13.99 (approx. $10.28).