General Mills has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Helper and Suddenly Salad businesses to Kelso & Company portfolio company, Eagle Family Foods Group, for approximately $610 million. Helper and Suddenly Salad products are sold under the Betty Crocker brand and include boxed instant meals and side dishes. The acquisition creates three diversified platforms within Eagle Foods – snacks, baking, and meals and sides. Jon Nudi, General Mills group president, North America retail, commented: "With this divestiture, we are continuing to reshape our portfolio and advance our accelerate strategy. This transaction improves our North America retail segment’s growth profile and allows us to increase our focus on brands and categories where we have the best opportunities to drive profitable growth." Bernard Kreilmann, CEO of Eagle Foods, said: "We are builders of brands, categories and people. The Helper and Suddenly Salad brands, with strong heritage and high consumer awareness, are a perfect fit for what Eagle does best – investing in, innovating and revitalising brands to drive growth and nurture them to reach their full potential." The proposed transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of fiscal 2023 and is subject to regulatory approval.

The 15th Global Dairy Congress will be held next month from 14 to 16 June at the home of global industry leader Lactalis in Laval, near Paris, France. Attendees will have unrivalled access to insights from the industry’s most influential and knowledgeable figures, alongside high-level networking opportunities. Programme highlights include: Tours of the world’s largest Camembert cheese factory and the Lactalis Lactopôle dairy museum. Extensive networking opportunities with a welcome drinks and cheese-tasting reception, a gala industry dinner featuring the FoodBev World Dairy Innovation Awards and informal networking breaks. Two days of conference sessions covering key topical issues such as dairy nutrition, sustainability, innovation, communication, investment, commerce, future prospects, and market and consumer trends. The Congress will be opened by Lactalis owner Emmanuel Besnier, with participation from top executives at the world’s leading dairy companies, alongside major international and regional manufacturers, innovators, industry experts and suppliers, including Amul, Arla, Bel, Dairy Farmers of America, the International Dairy Federation, Kantar, Fonterra, Meiji, Nestlé, Rabobank, Vinamilk and Yili. Registration is available for just €708 (including taxes) with the promotional code GDC2022CONCESS. For full details and to book, visit www.zenithglobal.com/events/gdc2022 or contact events@zenithglobal.com. #GlobalDairyCongress #partnercontent #ZenithGlobal

Ripple Foods has added a new plant-based milk to its product range – Oat Milk + Protein – which contains 50% less sugar and more calcium than dairy milk. The new oat milk features 6g of plant-based protein per serving, which is said to have three times more protein than most regular oat milk offerings. Ripple Foods uses gluten-free oats and "ultra-clean" pea protein for its new Oatmilk + Protein beverage. Ripple Foods CEO Laura Flanagan said: "There are many consumers who like the taste and texture of oat milk, but the reality is they are disappointed in the nutritional profile, specifically the lack of protein. Ripple is changing the game so that those who like oat milk, can now really love it, as Ripple's version of oat milk provides three times more protein than regular oat milk, along with the great taste and creamy texture people expect." Oat Milk + Protein will be available at Target, Sprouts and other retailers for an RRP of $5.99 per bottle.

Phyto Organix Foods has announced plans to invest CAD 225 million (approx. $175.6 million) to build a new net zero-emission plant protein facility in Strathmore, Alberta, Canada. According to Phyto Organix, the 100,000-square-foot plant will represent the largest-ever capital investment in Strathmore. The plant will serve as a base for Phyto Organix to innovate and grow its plant protein business. The company will use proprietary wet fractionation technology to annually process 40,000 metric tonnes of yellow peas – grown within 75km of the facility – into soluble and insoluble protein isolates, processed fibre and starch, and dietary pea hull fibre. The facility will be able to recycle 75% of its process water and will be powered with low-emission energy sources. Chris Theal, founder, president and CEO of Phyto Organix, said: "Our CAD 225 million investment will generate over CAD 120 million of annual GDP, employ 80 Albertans and yield tangible economic diversification in the town of Strathmore and the province of Alberta. Our team has designed a net-zero facility to produce food products that embody our core values of health, wellness and sustainability. We are energised to lead the plant protein industry in Alberta."

Starbucks has signed a definitive agreement to divest its Evolution Fresh juice brand and business to Butterfly portfolio company, Bolthouse Farms. Evolution Fresh is a California-based producer of primarily organic, cold-pressed juice and smoothie products. Private equity firm Butterfly specialises in the food sector with a particular focus on high-growth, on-trend categories. Evolution Fresh will join Butterfly’s brand portfolio which includes Chosen Foods, MaryRuth Organics, Orgain, and Pete and Gerry’s Organics. Hans Melotte, Starbucks executive vice president of global channel development, said: "Evolution Fresh has grown steadily over the last several years as a result of our partners’ hard work and commitment to the brand. We feel there is a great runway and opportunity to take Evolution Fresh to the next level and Bolthouse Farms’ considerable experience and success in the premium beverage category will allow the brand to continue growing." He continued: "Bolthouse Farms shares the same values and commitment to putting people first in everything they do, which affirms for us that we have found the right opportunity for Evolution Fresh". Starbucks acquired Evolution Fresh in 2011 for $30 million. Starbucks stores within the US will continue to sell Evolution Fresh products. The transaction, which is for an undisclosed amount, is expected to close later in 2022.

Mars Food has added two new ranges to its Ben's Original portfolio in time for the summer season – Plant Powered meals and two microwavable rice pouches. Ben's Plant Powered is a new plant-based meal line available in three variants: Chilli Non-Carne, Spicy Lentil Stew and Sweet Potato & Chickpea Tikka Masala. The microwaveable meals can be ready in 90 seconds, with each ready-meal a source of fibre and protein and containing no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. Ben’s Original is also launching two limited-edition flavours of microwavable rice pouches – Korean BBQ and Katsu Curry. Korean BBQ includes steamed long grain rice with red peppers and infused with fiery hot chilli, sesame oil and Korean BBQ inspired spices. Katsu Curry features steamed long grain rice with a Japanese katsu curry inspired blend of soy sauce, curry spices and a gentle coconut aroma. Gareth Williams, Ben’s Original marketing manager, said: "...Our Ben’s Plant Powered meals have been co-created with consumers to help make it easy to prepare delicious meat-free versions of best-loved recipes. Ben’s Plant Powered pair perfectly with our microwaveable rice range because we know that when people eat plant-based, rice dishes over-index as their meal of choice." Ben’s Plant Powered meals will be available from June for an RRP of £2.49 while the limited-edition microwavable rice pouches will be available from June for an RRP of £1.76.

Halo Top has added two flavours to both of its Keto Pops and Pints ice cream range with the launch of Turtle Cheesecake and Mint Chocolate Cookie. Halo Top's Turtle Cheesecake Pops and Pints features caramel and chocolate swirls, as well as pecan pieces. Meanwhile, the Mint Chocolate Cookie contains mint frozen dessert chocolate cookie crumbles. Both the pops and pints range is made with creamy, "ultra-filtered" skim milk, delivering fewer calories than regular milk, as well as being a good source of protein. Halo Top’s keto-friendly series, which includes ten pints and six pops, is available at grocery stores nationwide for an SRP of $5.49 per pint and $4.99 per pop.

Canadian cultured meat start-up, Evolved Meats, has raised CAD 2 million (approx. $1.6 million) in a seed funding round led by Maple Leaf Foods. The funds will be used to accelerate Evolved Meats' product development and support the initial scale-up of its production processes. The company's technology enables the creation of whole cuts of meat that are "structurally and biochemically identical to conventional cuts of meat butchered from animals". Evolved's "species agnostic" platform can be used to grow a variety of products, such as steak, pork belly, chicken breast and fish fillets. The seed round received participation from Big Idea Ventures, a global protein venture capital fund, Garage Capital, Saltagen Ventures, the University of Waterloo's Velocity Fund and angel investors. Evolved Meats CEO, Alireza Shahin, said: "Our ambition is to recreate meat in a way that is identical to nature by biofabricating functional muscle tissues and capturing the entire muscle to meat transition. The proprietary technologies underlying our modular system allow us to do exactly that. However, recreating whole cuts of meat is only part of the challenge." He continued: "Our unique ability to create functional tissues will help us scale out our production while driving towards price parity with conventional meat. This mix of familiar cuts and affordable prices will enable Evolved to lead a massive transformation of the food system, and we are excited to work with Maple Leaf Foods and Big Idea Ventures to usher in that change." Big Idea Ventures founder and managing general partner, Andrew Ive, added: "Evolved Meats are working to solve important scale-up challenges to cell-based meats. By removing the need for scaffolding, Evolved Meats technology breaks down not one but several barriers in the cultivated meat production process and makes non-processed meat cuts possible." Evolved Meats co-founder and COO, John Cappuccitti, added: "We have a once in a generation opportunity to reimagine our relationship with natural food, and we owe it to ourselves, the planet and nature to make sure we do things sustainably. By creating whole cuts of meat directly from cells, we are enabling consumers to enjoy meat without compromise."

UK savoury pastry brand Ginsters has added two new savoury pastries to its portfolio – a limited-edition Four Cheese & Chive Slice and a Meatball Marinara Bake. The limited-edition Four Cheese and & Chive Slice combines four cheeses – West Country Cheddar, British mozzarella, Red Leicester and full-fat soft cheese – with onion, potato, chives and Dijon mustard. The filling is wrapped in a light puff pastry and topped with mature cheddar and black onion seed crumb. The Meatball Marinara Bake combines 100% British pork and beef meatballs with melted mozzarella, featuring a rich tomato-based sauce with roast garlic, red peppers, SunBlush Tomatade, chopped tomatoes and onion. The filling is wrapped in light puff pastry and seasoned with rosemary, oregano, smoked salt, paprika and black pepper. Sam Mitchell, Ginsters managing director, said: "Our incredible chefs at Ginsters have created these two exciting new flavours in response to our extensive consumer research. We understand that more than ever, people are demanding more choice, excitement and convenience. Whether that’s for a quick and easy family lunchtime, or a convenient snack on the go." He continued: "Our latest launches offer interesting new flavour combinations, creating more choice in this impulse category. We want to help shoppers navigate the fixture and feel excited about trying new savoury pastry products." The Four Cheese & Chive Slice will RRP for £1.30 while the Meatball Marinara Bake will RRP for £1.00. Both are available nationwide across the UK now.

Nestlé Health Science has reached an agreement to acquire Brazilian nutrition and health lifestyle brand, Puravida. Founded in 2015, Puravida produces organic, natural and plant-based foods, as well as "clean label" supplements. Nestlé Health Science says that it shares the belief with Puravida that nutritional supplements, vitamins and minerals play a key role in supporting health and wellness – whether for people with an active lifestyle or for those facing health challenges. The acquisition will enable Nestlé to expand its consumer health portfolio in Brazil. Puravida's mix of products is said to complement Nestlé Health Science’s offering, which includes oral nutritional supplements, protein powders and ready-to-drink nutritional beverages. Monica Meale, an executive responsible for Nestlé Health Science Latam, commented: "Bringing together Puravida and Nestlé Health Science's deep expertise in nutrition research and development will result in further innovation, expanding the breadth and depth of the portfolio in the consumer and healthcare professional channels. Our retail presence will open new opportunities for Puravida's growth and our strong network with healthcare professionals will expand the brand's presence." The financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.

Mars has unveiled its latest Snickers innovation – Snickers Dessert Sauce – which boasts the Snickers flavour of roasted peanuts, nougat, caramel and milk chocolate. The new sauce joins the company's existing Mars and Bounty Dessert sauces. "Whether you want to drizzle on your ice cream, pancakes or waffles it will certainly be the perfect finishing touch for all your summer creations," said Mars. Snickers Dessert Sauce will be available at Tesco stores from the end of this month for an RRP of £1.99 per bottle.

As the global food and beverage market continues to grow, so too does the level of competition. How can manufacturers grow within these markets while addressing increasing consumer demands for delicious, nutritious and sustainable products? It is a question that DSM has been asking itself for some time now: which is why the decision was made to consolidate its Food Specialties, Hydrocolloids and Nutritional Products businesses areas into one simplified, global food and beverage business group. By bringing together its unique blend of ingredients, expertise and scientific solutions, DSM is now better placed to help the industry tackle a wide range of challenges, such as standing out from the competition by fast-tracking innovation cycles; realising production efficiencies; reducing costs; and hitting sustainability targets. Above all, this strategic shift will support DSM in its ultimate goal of striving to achieve a world where food and beverage brands no longer have to choose between taste, texture and health (of both people and planet); and neither do consumers. They can enjoy it all. Learn more. #business #DSM #Food #sustainability