US refrigerated yogurt bar brand, Clio Snacks, has announced the launch of two new varieties to its portfolio. The limited-edition Key Lime Pie Granola & Yogurt Parfait bars are layered with a creamy key lime pie-flavoured yogurt and graham cracker-style granola and dipped in yogurt coating. The bars contain 10g of protein and are certified gluten-free. The Salted Caramel Mini Greek Yogurt bars are crafted with caramel Greek yogurt, a pinch of salt and covered in chocolate coating. The mini bars contain 4g of protein, 60 calories and 5g of sugar. John McGuckin, CEO of Clio Snacks, said: “...Innovation is one of the biggest drivers of our growth, as we launch products that encourage consumption across multiple dayparts including morning and afternoon snacking, breakfast and dessert. Key Lime Pie Parfait and Salted Caramel Minis are the first of several new products we’ll be debuting throughout the next 12 months.” Clio Snacks' Key Lime Pie Granola & Yogurt Parfait bars are available for a limited time at Sam’s Club for $12.88 per eight-count box and $28.00 per ten-count box. Meanwhile, the Salted Caramel Mini Greek Yogurt bars are available at Walmart stores for $4.27 per eight-pack box.

Lotus Bakeries has announced plans to construct a new Biscoff production facility in Asia, as it looks to further grow the brand in the Asia-Pacific region. The company has reached an agreement in principle with an "internationally renowned developer" to purchase industrial land in Thailand's Chonburi province, east of Bangkok. The new production facility will provide Lotus Bakeries with additional capacity, help it to bring fresher biscuits to consumers, enable it to respond faster to local opportunities and save on transport costs. According to the company, "recent experience with the construction and start-up of the second Biscoff plant in the US provides the group with a project framework and strongly reduces the project risk". Construction will start in the next few months after the formal closing of the purchase of the land. The first line is expected to be operational in 2026.

US non-alcoholic beverage retailer, Boisson, has raised a $12 million seed round, which was co-led by Connect Ventures and Blue Scorpion Investments. Other investors included professional mixed martial artist, Francis Ngannou, Midnight Ventures and Red Krypton. Launched in 2021, Boisson is a retailer and distributor offering non-alcoholic beverages – in categories including wine, beer, spirits, apéritifs and mixers – from more than 125 brands. The round comes as Boisson expands its store footprint to Los Angeles, with three new locations opening in Studio City, Brentwood and Beverly Hills. Additionally, the company plans to open more stores across the US and internationally, as well as launch new content platforms "to support the growth of the zero-proof category". Nick Bodkins, CEO and co-founder of Boisson, said: “The demand for non-alcoholic beverages has grown significantly over the last year, and we are excited to use these funds to expand our presence and begin partnering with restaurants and hospitality organisations. We believe the non-alcoholic category will become a mainstay in the food and beverage industry and are committed to providing sophisticated zero-proof sips to consumers whether they’re staying at home or enjoying an evening out.” Michael Blank of Connect Ventures said: “As the popularity of non-alcoholic beverages continues to surge, Boisson has quickly emerged as the premier non-alcoholic retailer and distributor, bringing efficiency and scalability to this fragmented market, while providing increased access and product variety to both individual consumers, and the food and beverage industry. Fuelled by the cultural and generational shifts happening within the space, Boisson is poised to use this new capital to accelerate their growth and continue to scale rapidly across the US and around the globe.” The round brings Boisson's valuation to $47 million.

Constellation Brands has acquired a minority stake in premium canned wine brand, Archer Roose, for an undisclosed sum. The investment was made through Constellation’s venture capital group as part of its 'Focus on Female Founders' initiative, as it looks to support female leaders in the drinks industry. Archer Roose, which was founded by Marian Leitner-Waldman and her husband David, offers a portfolio of premium canned wines, including rosé, pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc, malbec and sparkling variants. The brand is currently distributed in 46 states across the US and can be found in major retailers such as Kroger. Mallika Monteiro, executive vice president at Constellation Brands, said: "Marian, Elizabeth and the team have created something truly unique in Archer Roose, making luxury wine distinctively fun and accessible for contemporary consumers who are curious about exploring the category". Monteiro continued: "Their focus on planet-friendly, single-serving formats resonates not just with the environmentally conscious values of this new generation of LDA drinkers, but also with consumer moderation trends that we are beginning to see take hold. We believe Archer Roose is well-positioned to grow the category by introducing premium wine to this segment through their welcoming, thoughtful and honest brand." Earlier this year, Constellation took full ownership of Austin Cocktails, after first investing in the ready-to-drink cocktail brand in 2018.

Monster Beverage Corporation has announced plans to launch its first flavoured alcoholic malt beverage product in its 2022 second quarter financial results. The beverage will be called The Beast Unleashed (6% abv) and will initially be available in four flavours. "We are planning to launch our first flavoured malt beverage alcohol product leveraging Monster’s brand equity late in the 2022 fourth quarter...Our innovation pipeline of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages is robust and exciting," said Rodney C Sacks, chairman and co-chief executive officer. The new alcoholic offering will initially be offered in 16-ounce single-serve cans and a variety pack of 12-ounce sleek cans. The Beast Unleashed will launch through beer distributors in the United States through a phased state launch approach, with the goal of being national by the end of 2023.

German confectionery company Katjes International has bought Paluani, an Italian producer of panettone and pandoro, out of bankruptcy. The deal was made through Katjes' Italian subsidiary, Sperlari. Paluani, which was the fourth largest panettone maker in Italy, reported its revenue in the fiscal year 2021 as around €40 million. However, the company had to file for bankruptcy in October 2021. "We are excited to be able to acquire such a traditional and well-known brand across Italy like Paluani, allowing us to further strengthen our leading market position in the Christmas season," said Tobias Bachmüller, managing shareholder of Katjes. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Boston Beer Company has unveiled a whiskey-infused version of its Twisted Tea Hard Iced Tea brand, as part of its ongoing partnership with Beam Suntory. Twisted Tea Sweet Tea Whiskey is made with real brewed tea, and packed with the sweet tea taste balanced with whiskey for a smooth blend of oak and bright lemon. "We are excited to continue our partnership with Boston Beer Company and to bring Twisted Tea into the whiskey space," said Stephanie Kang, senior director of strategic ventures at Beam Suntory. "We're taking the great taste of Twisted Tea Hard Iced Tea and reimagining it as a whiskey to deliver on the bold and unexpected experiences consumers are looking for." The 32.5% abv beverage will be available across five US markets, including Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Ohio, Missouri and Texas, as well as military outlets. Last year, the Boston Beer Co and Beam Suntory announced a long-term, strategic partnership to bring some iconic brands into the fastest-growing beverage categories.

Kellogg Company has posted Q2 net sales growth of 8.7% to $3.86 billion, driven by positive price/mix and momentum in snacks, noodles and cereal. In the second quarter, the company's reported operating profit decreased by 17.7%, as "the strong net sales growth was more than offset by unfavourable mark-to-market impacts and adverse currency translation". In North America, Kellogg reported a net sales increase of 12%. Meanwhile, in Europe the company's reported net sales declined 3% in Q2, as adverse foreign currency translation more than offset price/mix and sales momentum in snacks and cereal. Kellogg Latin America's reported net sales increased 8%, while Kellogg Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa saw its Q2 reported net sales grow 11%. Steve Cahillane, Kellogg’s chairman and CEO, said: "Our second-quarter performance again demonstrated the strength of our portfolio and the skill and grit of our employees, who managed through an unusually challenging supply and cost environment and delivered strong financial results. We sustained notably strong growth momentum in snacks and emerging markets, while accelerating the recovery of supply and category share in our North America cereal business, all while leveraging productivity initiatives and revenue growth management to mitigate the impact of decades-high input cost inflation." Kellogg has raised its full-year guidance for organic net sales growth to 7-8%. Cahillane added: "Our improved full-year outlook incorporates not only our better-than-expected results of the first half, but also confidence in our ability to continue to manage through the current supply and cost challenges while sustaining momentum in our world-class brands. And even as we prepare for one of our biggest portfolio transformations yet, the proposed separation into three independent companies, we remain laser-focused on delivering on this improved outlook."

US fresh food technology provider, Afresh, has raised $115 million in a Series B funding round led by Spark Capital. The round included participation from Insight Partners, VMG Partners and Bright Pixel Capital, with additional contributions from Walter Robb, senior executive partner at S2G Ventures and former co-CEO of Whole Foods Market, and other existing investors. The capital will help to expand Afresh’s Fresh Operating System – a solution for forecasting, inventory, ordering and store operations – to support new fresh categories, including meat and bakery. The funds will also be used to expand the company's operations to Europe and grow its team. Matt Schwartz, co-founder and CEO of Afresh, said: "Food, more so than anything else, shapes the health of people and our planet. We founded Afresh with the purpose of eliminating food waste and making nutritious food more accessible. We're thrilled to use this capital to expand the scale and scope of our Fresh Operating System." Afresh says that it tripled its customer base last year, signing both regional and national chains such as CUB and Albertsons. The company aims to serve 10% of US grocery stores by the end of 2022. According to Afresh, stores using its technology reduce food waste by 25% or more on average, and also see a 2-4% increase in top-line revenue growth. Will Reed, general partner at Spark Capital, stated: "The transformative results that Afresh provides are not only seen in grocers' bottom lines but also extend to the impact on our planet through the reduction of food waste. We're proud to support Afresh through their next stage of growth as they continue on their mission to curb climate change and improve our ability to feed the world in healthy ways."

Saputo Cheese USA’s Montchevre brand is launching new cheese products to add to its range, including a Hibiscus Berry Goat Cheese Log and two topped goat cheeses. Montchevre's Hibiscus Berry Goat Cheese is available in 4oz sizes in a log-shaped format for slicing or crumbling. The cheese has a "bright, tart and sweet" flavour profile, giving consumers notes of "sangria in cheese format". The range of topped goat cheese includes The Montchevre Topped Cranberry Port, featuring a cranberry-forward flavour which mimics cheesecake, while The Montchevre Topped Roasted Red Pepper consists of a pepper-forward taste, featuring "bright, acidic and assertive" flavours. Nikki Trzeciak, executive chef and senior manager of culinary and sensory at Saputo USA, said: "As hibiscus is the flavour of the summer, we’re thrilled to introduce it in our famous goat cheese log, as the tartness of the flavour really cuts through the tanginess of our goat cheese, making it a natural flavour pairing. The colour is also visually appealing, as it breaks from the norm with its light pink coloring, drawing consumers’ attention on the shelf." Jenny Englert, Saputo senior marketing manager, added: "...Today, there are more US households than ever buying and consuming for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This increased demand for variety has sparked our Montchevre brand team to accelerate our innovation pipeline, adding a variety of new trending flavours and formats we are excited to release into the marketplace."

Del Monte Foods has acquired Kitchen Basics from McCormick & Company, as it looks to build a national retail presence in the stocks and broth category. Kitchen Basics' portfolio includes conventional and organic stocks and broths – such as regular and unsalted chicken, beef and vegetable variants, as well as turkey, seafood and creamy bean & vegetable flavours. Del Monte Foods says that the acquisition supports its overall growth strategy, while expanding the geographic reach of its stocks and broths business. Greg Longstreet, president and CEO of Del Monte Foods, said: "Del Monte Foods has gone through a positive transformation over the past five years and we have become a leading innovative CPG growth company. As we plan for the next decade of growth, we're committed to strengthening our branded product portfolio to meet consumers' changing needs." "Building on our regional College Inn brand, the acquisition of Kitchen Basics will provide synergies across our business to scale our broth and stock portfolio across North America." No employees were involved in the transaction, and financial terms have not been disclosed.

Fonterra has announced that it will close its milk powder plant at its Brightwater site near Nelson, New Zealand, in April 2023. The plant processes around 0.25% of Fonterra's overall milk supply into whole milk powder and the move will instead see the milk being processed at its Darfield site. Milk collection and associated activities will continue at the Brightwater facility, as the dairy company moves its milk transfer activities there from Tuamarina. Fonterra COO, Fraser Whineray, commented: "Part of our long-term strategy is to direct more milk into our foodservice and consumer business, less into ingredients, and in some cases, to divert product away from the Global Dairy Trade auctions. This, along with forecast capital and maintenance costs, means we’ve made the tough decision to close our milk powder plant at Brightwater." He added: "We’re continually working to ensure our assets across the country are as efficient as they can be, changing product mixes and moving more milk into value-add products".