Kellogg’s and Nickelodeon are collaborating on the release of a new cereal – Apple Jacks Slime – featuring sweetened green apple-flavoured cereal that turns milk green. The cereal includes sweetened and toasted orange and green loops that are green apple-flavoured and turn the milk a vibrant shade of Nickelodeon slime green. Sadie Garcia, director of brand marketing at Kellogg All Family Cereal, said: "Both known for our bright orange and green colours, Kellogg’s Apple Jacks and Nickelodeon slime are a perfect pairing. Now families can discover all the fun of slime at the breakfast table with a delicious new cereal that changes the colour of the milk while you eat." Kellogg’s Apple Jacks Slime will be available at US retailers nationwide for a limited time starting this month for a suggested retail price of $4.49 per 8.2oz box.

Simple Mills has paired traditional sandwich cookies with whole food ingredients to launch a new nutrition snack, called Nut Butter Stuffed sandwich cookies. Simple Mills' Nut Butter Stuffed sandwich cookies are made with nutrient-dense cashew flour, cashew butter, organic coconut sugar and organic buckwheat flour. The new product is available in two flavours: creamy peanut butter and cocoa cashew crème. Creamy peanut butter features crispy cookies made from cashew and peanut flour. Meanwhile, General Mills said that the cocoa cashew crème flavour is "the brand's take on the classic chocolate and vanilla sandwich cookie," by adding cashew butter. Katlin Smith, founder and CEO of Simple Mills, said: “The food we eat has an undeniable impact on not just our bodies, but also the planet. We have the ability, and responsibility as a food brand, to create a better world for the future. Since our inception, we’ve focused on personal wellness by reinventing classic packaged foods with purposeful ingredients." She continued: "In 2021, we evolved our product design framework to include planetary health as an equally critical commitment and piloted a new approach that connects regenerative agriculture to our innovation pipeline. We’re committed to being a positive force on every part of the ecosystem and are thrilled to introduce our new Nut Butter Stuffed sandwich cookies as our latest commitment to personal and planetary health.”

Israeli food technology company, Wilk, has developed what it claims is the "world's first" yogurt made using cell-culture milk fat. The company says its concept product will prove the viability of its cell-based technology, minimising the need to use animals in future dairy production. The product contains fat cultured from cells, retaining the inherent macro- and micronutrients only found in real milk fat. Tomer Aizen, CEO of Wilk, commented: “It has long been established that milk fat is integral to supporting human health and nutrition, aiding the absorption of key nutrients, such as vitamins D and E and calcium, into the blood while providing a rich source of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties". He continued: "These core properties cannot be replicated through alternative technologies, making Wilk the first company in the world to develop a dairy product containing genuine, cell-cultured milk fat. We will continue investing our efforts and resources to develop cell-cultured milk and breast milk components that will help our partners produce healthier products in a more sustainable manner.” The project is expected to last six months, during which the company will increase the production capacity of cell-cultured fat in its facilities and establish optimal fat separation methods for use in foods.

Bel Group and Superbrewed Food have entered into a strategic partnership to create a line of cheese products incorporating SuperBrewed's postbiotic cultured protein. The maker of Babybel, The Laughing Cow and Boursin says the partnership is part of its strategy to develop dairy and plant-based foods to meet current and future food challenges. Bel selected Superbrewed's protein ingredient due to its quality, lower environmental impact and functionality. The protein is nutrient-rich, contains all nine essential amino acids, and is made from microflora found in nature that converts plant fibres. The protein will be ready to ship from Superbrewed's Delaware, US, facility in the first half of 2023, upon which Bel will develop a line of products using its expertise in the cheese category. Bel Group chief venture officer, Caroline Sorlin, said: “Pursuing our mission to offer healthy snacks for all, Bel innovates to support the changes in nutritional needs and meet the challenges of a sustainable diet for an ever-growing world population. We are very happy to enter this exclusive collaboration, which is a testament to our pioneering role and acceleration of disruptive technologies." She continued: "As a family business, we are also proud to have adopted an 'open collaboration' model with over 100 partners, including start-ups, to stimulate and scale up their innovations and so prepare the future of food”. Bel Group research and application director, Anne Pitkowski, said: “We are accelerating on biomass fermentation at the R&D level for its environmental, nutritional and accessibility benefits, without compromising on taste and pleasure. Thus, we are very happy to work hand-in-hand with best-in-class startup Superbrewed Food and to be able to offer promising product innovations to consumers.”

Plant-based protein manufacturer, Tmrw Foods, has raised CAD 2m during its latest financing round. The capital will support the company's rapid growth across North America. The company will launch eight products with Sprouts Farmers Market in August this year, increasing its distribution in the US. Investors included the Telus Pollinator Fund for Good, Philip Donne (former CEO of Kellogg's Canada) and further investment from existing stakeholders. Dean Blignaut, co-founder and CEO of Tmrw, said: "We feel tremendously fortunate to be able to surround ourselves with values aligned, impact driven investors that fuel our ability to execute on our mission". He continued: "Tmrw believes the key to plant-based success is to relentlessly pursue the creation of plant proteins that are more flavourful, more nutritious and more accessible than those in existence today. Everything we do is with that goal in mind. It's only through meeting the fundamental needs and expectations of the masses that we will create a solution that leads to a more sustainable food system."

Kraft Heinz and Tesco have reached an agreement that will see Heinz products such as baked beans and tomato ketchup return to the retailer's shelves in the coming days. Last month, Kraft Heinz stopped supplying Tesco with some of its most popular products amid a row over pricing. The dispute began after Kraft Heinz tried to boost the prices it was charging the supermarket chain. Tesco resisted raising the prices of Heinz-branded products at a time of surging inflation. "Tesco and Heinz are pleased to have reached an agreement that will see the full range of Heinz products return to Tesco shelves and online, continuing to offer our customers great value on the nation’s favourite Heinz varieties," said Tesco and Heinz in a joint statement. “Lorries full of Heinz products including Heinz Tomato Ketchup and Heinz Beanz will hit the road shortly, and Tesco colleagues will be working hard to ensure shelves are filled again over the coming days. “With British summertime finally here, Tesco shoppers will be able to get all the essentials they need for their perfect summer salad or barbecue, including the Heinz varieties they know and love. It’s great to be back together.”

Performance nutrition brand House of Macadamias is launching a trio of better-for-you, plant-based snack bars nationwide across the UK. Variants of the tree nut snack bar include chocolate coconut, salted caramel and dark chocolate macadamia. The 100% natural and plant-based nut bars are low-calorie and high in protein. According to the company, they can appeal to both snackers and specialist diet advocates such as those who follow a keto, vegan or paleo diet. Brandon Hiemstra, co-owner of House of Macadamias, said: "As a transparent brand that makes no bones about the fact that macadamias will always be the first name on our ingredient decks (between 45-98% content), we are equally clear that will never denigrate their discerning reputation or our wider wellness focus by surrounding them with refined sugar, cheap fillers or any synthetic nasties." The bars will be available nationwide across the UK this month, including in WHSmiths, Planet Organic and Partridges.

Israeli food tech start-up Phytolon has secured $14.5 million in a Series A funding round, led by DSM Ventures. Other investors included Cibus Fund, Ginkgo Bioworks (in-kind investment in the form of Foundry services) and The Trendlines Agrifood Fund, among current shareholders such as The Trendlines Group, Arkin Holdings and Millennium Foodtech. Phytolon uses its proprietary technology to produce betalain pigments by fermentation of baker's yeast, manufacturing healthy and sustainable natural colouring alternatives to azo/synthetic dyes used in food and beverage applications. The start-up offers a wide range of natural colours (from yellow to purple) for multiple food categories such as alternative meat, dairy, frozen products, baked goods, confectionery and snacks. Halim Jubran, co-founder and CEO of Phytolon, said: "The investments of DSM Venturing, Cibus Fund and Ginkgo Bioworks open the door for broad penetration of our products in the global food industry. We are excited to have new investors who share our vision to create healthy, efficient and sustainable food systems via biotechnology." The funding will be used to accelerate the commercialisation of Phytolon's proprietary colours in food and beverage applications for producers and consumers.

Oterra has acquired India's Akay Group, a manufacturer of natural ingredients for the food, beverage and nutraceutical sectors. Based in Kerala, Akay serves over 40 countries, has four manufacturing sites in southern India and employs more than 400 people. Its product offerings include natural colours and flavours, nutraceutical and dietary supplement ingredients, as well as spices and seasonings. The acquisition will provide Oterra with access to an extensive range of natural colour products, as well as the use of Akay's manufacturing plants and R&D capabilities. Cees de Jong, chairman of Oterra, commented: "Akay is a great strategic match for Oterra. It adds to Oterra’s best-known core-strength – natural colours and its portfolio of nutraceutical products complements Oterra’s existing portfolio of products for natural dietary supplements. The demand for all-natural products in this market is on the rise – and so is Oterra." The acquisition is Oterra's fourth in the past 14 months. In January, the company purchased US-based Food Ingredient Solutions. The transaction was signed earlier this month and is subject to regulatory approval.

Unilever snack brand Pot Noodle is expanding its portfolio in the UK with the launch of a new flavour and a block noodle variant. The new Pot Noodle release is a unique Doner Kebab flavour which will join the brand's extensive core range. Pot Noodle's block noodle line, Lost the Pot, will be extended with the addition of its new Smokin’ BBQ variant – joining reformulated existing flavours Champion Chicken and Chip Shop Curry. Pot Noodle Doner Kebab is available exclusively in Asda for an RRP of £0.80, with further rollout planned to other retailers and convenience stores. The Lost the Pot range is also available in Asda now, as well as rolling out to Morrisons, Iceland and Tesco later this summer for an RRP of £0.70.

Intercontinental Brands is adding to its portfolio with the launch of its passion fruit liqueur under its new Apollo brand. The new offering is made with real passion fruit juice and natural flavours and is available in a 70cl bottle with an ABV of 17%. Clare Gibson, marketing director at Intercontinental Brands, said: "The passion fruit martini remains the UK’s #1 favourite cocktail, making passion fruit liqueur in high demand. We hope Apollo can rival the market and provide a more affordable option that appeals to both the on-trade and consumers looking to shake up passion fruit martinis at home." Passion fruit is the first flavour to launch from the Apollo brand and can be found in Iceland for an RRP of £9.

Tyson Foods and Saudi-based Tanmiah Food Company have entered into a strategic partnership as part of its efforts to meet growing consumer demand for protein in the Middle East and beyond. Through the agreement, Tyson will acquire a 15% equity stake in Tanmiah's subsidiary, Agriculture Development Company (ADC), and a 60% equity stake in its Supreme Foods Processing Company. Tanmiah provides fresh and value-added poultry, as well as other meat products, animal feed and health products. ADC produces broiler chickens and operates hatcheries and feed mills, while also selling fresh poultry under the Tanmiah brand to retailers and food service customers. Supreme Foods manufactures a range of cooked chicken and beef products with a distribution network across the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain. The collaboration between Tyson Foods and Tanmiah will include an investment in the expansion of Supreme Foods' processing capabilities. Chris Langholz, president of international for Tyson Foods, said: "This investment will enable us to access poultry supplies in Saudi Arabia to meet the growing demand for protein in the Middle East and other markets. Expansion into international markets is a key part of our strategic growth plan and we’re pleased to better serve customers in this region." The transaction is still subject to approval by KSA regulators.