Bubs Australia has entered into a binding agreement with Heilongjiang Ubeite Dairy Group (HUG) to manufacture and distribute Bubs' Chinese label goat milk infant formula in China. The “ultra-premium” infant formula will be made according to new Chinese standards that will come into effect in February 2023. The formula has been specially developed for Chinese infants using easily-digestible A2 goat-milk protein, sn2 palmitate (OPO), lactoferrin prebiotics and nucleotides. HUG has commenced submission with the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) to renew its existing registration in line with China’s new GB standards for exclusive use under the Bubs brand. Bubs founder and CEO, Kristy Carr, said: “We are pleased to announce this important milestone for the company to renew an existing registered SAMR brand slot for Bubs China label goat infant formula products in partnership with a reputable Chinese infant formula manufacturer”. She continued: “Over the past six years, Bubs has built strong brand trust and loyalty with Chinese families through marketing and selling Bubs English label infant formula products in the cross-border eCommerce (CBEC) channel, which accounts for around 20% of total infant formula sales in China.” If approved by SAMR, the formula will give Bubs access to the remaining 80% of China's AUD 40 billion ($25.9 billion) infant formula market. Bubs will also enter into a joint venture agreement with Zhitong (Hangzhou) Health Technology to distribute its Chinese label goat infant formula products, which will see the company holding a 75% interest in the newly created joint venture. Bubs Australia expects to launch its product in the second half of FY23, subject to receiving SAMR approval.

JM Smucker announced the release of its new product, Uncrustables Meat and Cheese Bites from its Smucker's Uncrustables brand. The new product can go straight from the freezer to the lunchbox and be ready to consume. Known primarily for its frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwich, the latest product offerings are frozen bites filled with meat, cheese and soft bread. "Smucker's Uncrustables have become a fan favourite," said Chris Achenbach, Director of Brand Strategy, The J.M. Smucker Co. Achenbach added: "Kids and parents love the fun flavours that began with PB&J. To offer an even wider variety, we have now added tasty, wholesome meat & cheese bites that are perfect for the lunchbox." New Smucker's Uncrustables Meat and Cheese Bites come in two varieties including Uncured Ham and Cheddar as well as Turkey & Colby Jack. Each product pack will be available in the US beginning early October.

Lactalis Canada has expanded its portfolio with the introduction of a new speciality yogurt brand, Khaas. The dairy giant will now provide yogurt products from the Khaas Halal and Khaas Dahi lines. Lactalis says that the addition will see the company become the national leader in the ethnic yogurt category. Khaas Dahi yogurt products are 100% certified vegetarian. Meanwhile, Khaas Halal yogurt products are certified Halal by the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of Canada. Both lines are free from gelatine and artificial preservatives. Adrienne Pagot-Gérault, general manager, yogurt and cultured division at Lactalis Canada, said: "Lactalis Canada is thrilled to introduce this new and authentic product line for an important and growing South Asian, Middle Eastern and North African population in Canada, which makes up approximately 10% of the market". Lactalis Canada also plans to expand its ethnic dairy portfolio in the near future with more speciality products, including in the cheese category.

Reese’s has announced its new product collaboration, Reese's Big Cup Stuffed with Reese's Puffs cereal. The new cereal combines Reese’s peanut butter and chocolate with Puffs cereal. "Collaborations are quite popular but what we are about to unleash is next level. We knew the ultimate mashup was already within the Reese's universe, so we made it happen," said Henry Hancock, senior associate brand manager at Reese's. Hancock added: "We're taking chocolate and peanut butter fandom to a new stratosphere by adding Reese's Puffs cereal to our Reese's Big Cup." This epic mashup of Reese's and Reese's will create a Reese's experience (and explosion of chocolate and peanut butter) unlike ever before. Reese's lovers' minds will be blown when they find out there's yet another way to fuel their Reese's fanaticism. Reese's has outdone itself. The new Reese's Big Cups Stuffed with Reese's Puffs cereal will be available in the US in November.

Diageo has acquired the Australian premium cold brew coffee liqueur brand, Mr Black. Launched in 2013, US-based Mr Black applies contemporary coffee techniques and quality sourcing to create its coffee liqueur. The brand is now available in 22 countries. Diageo purchased a minority stake in Mr Black in 2015, through the company-backed accelerator programme, Distill Ventures. The programme, which receives funding from Diageo, aims to support the launch and growth of innovative drinks brands. Co-founder, Tom Baker, will remain involved with Mr Black, working alongside Diageo to build on its success. Baker said: “Coffee is more than just a drink – it’s a culture, ritual, obsession, aesthetic, experience, tradition and a community. We created Mr Black to embody that culture and inspire people to take their love of coffee into their evening drinks. Diageo understood our vision early on and now, after several years with them as a supporter, we are thrilled to be joining the Diageo family.” Claudia Schubert, president, US spirits and Canada at Diageo added: “With its award-winning liquid, eye-catching design and packaging, and ability to thrive in culture, we believe Mr Black is just getting started in the dynamic coffee liqueur segment. This acquisition is in line with our strategy to acquire high-growth brands in exciting categories, and we are delighted to welcome Mr Black into our portfolio.” Diageo says the acquisition has been "funded through existing cash resources". You may also like to read: Diageo revokes sale of Windsor whisky business De Kuyper Royal Distillers acquires Archers Peach Schnapps Diageo to help mitigate climate change in smallholder farms in Africa

Coca-Cola HBC has issued its first green bond and raised €500 million in support of its sustainability projects. The green bond, which was driven by strong investor demand, is a fixed-income instrument designed to support specific climate-related and environmental projects. The net proceeds of the bond will be allocated to projects that meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the group’s Green Finance Framework, which includes four components – use of proceeds, project evaluation and selection, management of proceeds, and reporting. The projects will support the progress of the company’s NetZeroby40 and Mission 2025 commitments, including circularity, energy efficiency, water stewardship, biodiversity and community programmes; innovation in sustainable packaging; and support of sustainable agriculture and procurement. “This milestone demonstrates that sustainability is embedded in every aspect of our business, including our financing strategy. The issue of the Green Bond reinforces our position as Europe’s most sustainable beverage company,” said chief financial officer of Coca-Cola HBC, Ben Almanzar. “Most of all, it was made possible by the unmatched commitment of our teams to achieve net zero across our entire value chain by 2040.”

Tequila brand Cazcabel is set to open a $37 million distillery in Mexico’s Los Altos region in 2023, run by agave farmers and tequila producers, the Vazquez family. The facility will be situated in the Jalisco mountains, in close proximity to the Vazquez family’s agave fields in and around Atotonilco El Alto. The natural springs in the area provide optimum water minerality, enabling the family to produce premium tequila. Father and son, Alfredo and Uziel Vazquez, will lead Cazcabel’s new facility and will contribute generations of knowledge of agave growing, combined with innovative and traditional harvesting and production techniques. The construction of the new distillery has allowed for the conservation of surrounding nature, with the central hub of the building being designed around an ancient tree. Additionally, the Vazquez family has pledged to plant 300 trees in the area in 2023, as well as the installation of wind turbines and solar panels to provide renewable power. Cazcabel’s sustainable focus extends into its farming practice, with the brand’s recipes and techniques designed to continue for generations. New agave is planted every year and leftover piñas are dried out and used to heat Cazcabel’s autoclaves. The fermentation process is accelerated and controlled by naturally occurring yeast on the plant’s leaves. The brand says it will also start using bottles made from 80% recycled glass. The facility will cater to guests and tours with event spaces and will showcase the history of tequila making under the Vazquez family traditions.

Aunt Bessie’s has introduced NaviLens technology to the packaging of two popular items as it partners with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) to support visually impaired shoppers. NaviLens technology uses tags on the packaging to provide audible product information and navigation to assist the visually impaired, increasing the packaging’s inclusivity. The tags are on packs of Aunt Bessie's glorious golden yorkshires and crispy & fluffy roasties. The tags are read through an app and can be accessed without focus and up to 12x further away than ordinary QR codes. This means that the product can be located more easily both in the shop and at home. Additionally, information on ingredients, instructions and recycling can all be heard aloud through the shopper’s mobile device. RNIB accessibility innovation lead, Marc Powell, said: “Blind and partially sighted people should have the same freedom, independence and choice as sighted customers. Currently, important information on packaging can often be in very small print, making it difficult or impossible for people with sight loss to read. “That is why RNIB is working with organisations to bring about a significant step-change in how brands can put accessibility at the forefront of design and packaging decisions, and be a catalyst for change”. “Aunt Bessie’s is the first frozen brand in the world to introduce the NaviLens technology on to packaging and we hope it will make a positive difference to shoppers’ experiences in the frozen aisle, generating conversation and awareness of the challenges many shoppers face every day”, added Lauren Ward, brand manager at Aunt Bessie’s.

Danone North America says it will invest $22 million to improve food access and affordability, nutrition, health and education in the US by 2030. President Joe Biden hosted a conference on 'Hunger, Nutrition and Health' this week, during which Danone revealed plans to invest: $15 million to further nutrition education for consumers and healthcare providers, intending to reach more than 30 million Americans per year; $3 million to improve access and affordability of nutritious and health-promoting products; and $4 million to enhance nutrition and food security research through grants, industry collaboration and non-profit organisations. Danone will also continue to offer low- and no-sugar options, limiting the sugar content in over 95% of its child-focused products and increasing the nutrient density of more than 70% of its plant-based beverages. Shane Grant, CEO at Danone North America, said: "We are honoured to have the opportunity to be part of the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health – an event which provides a historic opportunity to engage stakeholders across the food system to address these critical topics". He continued: "At Danone, our mission to bring health through food to as many people as possible is embedded into everything we do, and for the last 50 years, we've worked to create both shareholder and societal value through what we call our Dual Project. The investment we announced today illustrates our mission in action."

Cult Food Science has announced that its portfolio company, De Novo Dairy, has secured funding from UM6P Ventures to accelerate the release of its first cultivated dairy product into the African market in 2023. With an eye toward the future, the company says it will also use the funds to expand its new product into the US. De Novo is developing a personalised nutrition product containing cultivated dairy proteins using the company's "uniquely-designed" yeast strain. The company is advancing cellular agriculture through the development of novel technologies that can provide sustainable, environmental and ethical solutions to traditional global farming and aquaculture methods. Cult Food Science CEO, Lejjy Gafour, said: "De Novo is growing steadily, and the funding is a key building block in its evolution. We are delighted to see other funders believe in De Novo and cellular agriculture just like we do." In addition, the company has also appointed two members to its strategic advisory board, Lenore Newman and Evan Fraser.

Fonterra has partnered with US energy storage company, PolyJoule, to trial an industrial-scale organic battery at its Waitoa UHT site in New Zealand. Made from electrically conductive polymers, the battery is an organic-based compound that acts like a metal. Fonterra describes it as a low-cost, sustainable and long-life battery capable of providing energy security and distributed electricity generation in the country. The battery was first installed last year on a Fonterra farm at Te Rapa, where it was cycled daily, supporting dairy shed operations for ten months. With the move to the co-op's Waitoa UHT site, the battery can be hit by power disturbances leading to downtime and waste. Fonterra COO, Fraser Whineray, said: “As a significant electricity user at about 2.5% of the national grid, a sustainable and secure electricity supply is vital to the co-operative’s local sales and exports”. He continued: “At Fonterra, we have a strategy to lead in sustainability, and innovation partnerships are a critical ingredient to achieving this. The PolyJoule battery has a remarkable discharge rate, which may ultimately link with ultra-fast charging our fleet, including Milk-E, our electric milk tanker.” PolyJoule CEO, Eli Paster, commented that he “sees great opportunity for growth in New Zealand both in terms of supporting energy security and job creation in the manufacturing and technology sectors”. He continued: “We both have sustainability front and centre of our strategy and understand the importance of a reliable, green supply of electricity for quickly chilling the raw milk on farm, processing and distribution...Since PolyJoule batteries do not rely on lithium, nickel or lead, the materials are easier to source, and the batteries are safer and easier to manufacture anywhere in the world, including New Zealand.” “When you look at where the grid is heading, and the number of batteries needed for the region, building a manufacturing base in New Zealand could create hundreds of new jobs and a new green energy hub.”

UK cheese manufacturer Norseland has introduced a new cheese variation under its Ilchester brand, called the Ilchester Truffle Cheddar. Ilchester Truffle Cheddar features the flavours of British cheddar blended with black summer truffle and infused with white truffle oil. Norseland said that the salsa truffina, olive oil and aromatic seasoning in the oil base with white truffle flavouring ingredients in the cheddar are sourced from Italy, while the black summer truffles are from both Italy and Bulgaria. Lisa Harrison, marketing manager for Ilchester, said: "Launching a new cheese that reflects how Brits have broaden their horizons when it comes to cheese, which is now inspired by ingredients from different regions of the world, felt like the best way to celebrate 60 years of Ilchester, and truffles are a real indication of foodie sophistication". The Ilchester Truffle Cheddar will be available at Tesco stores across the UK from 24 October for £2.20.