Whole roasted bean snack brand, Three Farmers Foods, has closed a CAD 6.2 million investment round. The round was led by District Ventures Capital, which invested CAD 3 million, and saw participation from existing investors including Export Development Canada, Golden Opportunities Fund and PIC Investment Group. The Canadian snack brand says it uses locally sourced pulses from the Canadian prairies to create better-for-you, plant-based products that are high in protein and fibre, gluten-free, nut- and peanut-free and vegan. The brand uses a proprietary dry roasting technique to develop snacks that have a lower level of fat "compared to competing brands". Arlene Dickinson, general partner of District Ventures Capital, said: "Canada continues to demonstrate its enormous agricultural and health expertise and resources. Investments in vertically integrated companies like Three Farmers are what will create generational opportunity for our country. As leading producers for lentil and green pea production in the world, Canada is missing out by not participating in the commercialisation of these resources into products – a gap Three Farmers is able to help fill." The company's five product lines are currently sold in retailers across Noth America, including stores such as Loblaws, Sobeys, Whole Foods and Walmart. "We are very excited to welcome District Ventures as a partner in Three Farmers Foods. Armed with the resources required to build our brand and distribution across Canada and the USA and expand our manufacturing in Saskatchewan, we will be able to continue to push towards our goal of making whole bean snacking a staple in all households across North America," said Three Farmers CEO Natasha Vandenhurk. She continued: "Now, more than ever, consumers are relying on brands like us to provide them with healthy, wholesome foods that truly deliver on the promise of nutrition while still satisfying the need for big crunch and flavour". The investment will support Three Farmers' continued growth in Canada, and provide sales and business development support for the company's US expansion plans.

Molson Coors has recorded a 16.7% increase in its first-quarter net sales, as the company reports its "highest quarterly top-line growth in over a decade". The drinks giant said the increase is due to positive net pricing, favourable sales mix and financial volume growth – particularly revenue generated by its core brands, Coors Light and Miller Lite. The company posted net sales of $2.2 billion in the quarter ending 31 March, compared to $1.9 billion in the prior-year period. Net sales in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific segments increased by 84.2% compared to the same period in 2021, while financial volumes grew by 29.4%, primarily due to growth in its core brands. The company stated that fewer on-premise restrictions led to significant growth in European markets on the strength of brands like Carling. This was compared to a 34.9% decrease in net sales and a 22% decrease in financial volumes in Europe in the same quarter last year, due to Covid-19 restrictions. Molson Coors' premium portfolio continues to grow and has reached its "highest percentage of total trailing 12-month net sales" since the MillerCoors acquisition in 2016, partly fuelled by the launch of Topo Chico Hard Seltzer in collaboration with Coca-Cola. Gavin Hattersley, Molson Coors president and CEO, said: "The start of 2022 brought continued momentum for Molson Coors. Many of our core brands continued to outperform their peers, we again earned the largest growth in US hard seltzers among major brewers and our expansion beyond beer continued to track ahead of our $1 billion revenue target. He continued: "All were factors in delivering not just a successful quarter, but the most quarterly top-line growth this company has had in more than ten years". The company has reaffirmed its 2022 guidance for top- and bottom-line growth, as it continues to deliver on its revitalisation plan and manage costs.

Pernod Ricard's Scotch whisky business, Chivas Brothers, is investing £88 million to expand its Aberlour and Miltonduff (Scotland) distilleries. The expansions will grow the brand's total production by 14 million litres of alcohol per year, which includes whisky brands such as Chivas, Ballantine's, The Glenlivet and Aberlour. The Aberlour distillery will see its production capacity double to support accelerating global demand for Scotch, which has seen significant growth across Latin America, Middle East, Africa and Asia. Meanwhile, Miltonduff’s expansion will consist of a brand new sustainable distillery built next to the existing facility. Jean-Etienne Gourgues, chairman and CEO of Chivas Brothers, said: "Scotch has demonstrated its resilience as a category over the past few challenging years and in the process has opened new avenues for growth". He continued: "This expansion will allow us to increase our volume to capitalise on the increased demand and interest in Scotch but also supports our drive to reduce emissions in line with our sustainability ambitions. We’re once again betting big on the future of Scotch so we can bring in new consumers to the category and continue to shape a sustainable future of whisky." Both sites are expected to be operating at full production capacity by mid-2025.

SHS Drinks is introducing a new addition to its WKD alcopop line with a limited-edition Berry Blast variant, in a move to keep up with current trends in the alcohol sector. The new variant will have the same 4.0% ABV as the brand’s existing regular ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages. Berry is "currently the fastest-growing flavour within the overall alcohol category". Alison Gray, head of brand at WKD, said: "Berry is set to be the next big thing in RTD flavours and our eye-catching Berry Blast packs are going to ensure that WKD is front and centre and grabs consumer attention in independents. Our target market actively seeks out innovation and new variants, they expect WKD to deliver new products on a regular basis and our latest offering will not disappoint." She continued: "Our consumers tell us that when they get together with mates to socialise and enjoy WKD, they always have a great time. Now, with the launch of our latest fruity limited-edition, we can really inspire them to get together and have a blast." The launch will be rolling out across all trade channels, in both 700ml and 275ml glass bottles.

Unilever has expanded its Marmite portfolio with the launch of a truffle-flavoured spread, Marmite Truffle. The offering is crammed with "a luxurious umami flavour and decadent aroma," said Unilever. The company added that its new product can be used in a variety of meals: "From Insta-worthy sourdough truffle toast to creamy Marmite Truffle flavour fettucine, or a rich fillet steak served with Marmite Truffle-infused gravy and pomme purée – Marmite’s new...spread has been carefully curated to give everyday meals a swanky spin". Marmite Truffle is available at Sainsbury's stores for an RRP of £4.50 per jar. Last year, Marmite released a limited-edition chilli-flavoured variant, Marmite Dynamite.

US-based spirits supplier Heaven Hill has announced plans to open a $135 million whiskey distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. The distillery will mark Heaven Hill’s return to Bardstown, nine decades after its first distilling operation was set up in the area. In 1996, a fire ruined the company's Bardstown on-site distillery, seven rickhouses and almost 100,000 barrels of whiskey. Initial production is slated for 150,000 barrels a year, and will eventually be able to produce up to 450,000 barrels. “Bourbon making is an old art, but we are applying forward-thinking approaches to ensure we are environmentally conscious and a good neighbor,” said Conor O’Driscoll, Heaven Hill's master distiller. “Heaven Hill’s tradition of distilling with attention to detail, quality and craftsmanship will now be even more accessible as we grow our distilling heritage in Bardstown.” Construction of the new distillery is expected to begin this spring and will be operational by the end of 2024. Earlier this year, Heaven Hill purchased Samson & Surrey, owner of a number of premium craft spirit brands, for an undisclosed sum.

Barry Callebaut plans to build a $104 million speciality chocolate factory in Ontario, Canada. The new factory will produce sugar-free and high protein chocolates, as well as other speciality products. The facility is expected to have an initial annual production capacity of more than 50,000 metric tonnes of liquid and moulded chocolate production. The move, which marks Barry Callebaut's most significant investment in the region, will join the company's 15 other chocolate and cocoa processing factories located across the Americas. Steve Woolley, president of the region Americas of Barry Callebaut, said: "Consumers are searching for healthier and tasty solutions for the foods they love. ‘Free from’ foods like sugar-free or dairy-free are healthier options that also satisfy the indulgence they are craving." He continued: "Through the addition of a sugar-free facility, Barry Callebaut is positioning itself to be the leader in 'better-for-you' offerings for our customers, which include a wide range of low- and sugar-free solutions". The facility is expected to be operational by 2024.

Denali Flavors' licensed brand, Moose Tracks, has launched a new ice cream flavour to add to its portfolio of frozen treats in the US. The new flavour, Cookie Dough Moose Tracks, combines cookie dough flavoured ice cream with chocolate chip cookie dough pieces and swirls of fudge. The brand produces Moose Tracks ice cream as well as ice cream cakes and Greek yogurts. Neal Glaeser, president of Denali Flavors, commented: "We are thrilled to debut a flavour that we believe will become an instant fan favourite. The popularity of cookie dough flavours continues to grow and this particular concept, when adding the sweet and salty flavour of Moose Tracks fudge, tested off the charts. We believe it'll be very well received by any lover of decadent ice cream." The Cookie Dough Moose Tracks flavour will be available in the frozen aisle of select major grocery stores nationwide across the US later this month. The release will be sold in 48oz containers with a suggested retail price ranging from $3.99 to $4.99.

Lavazza has launched a new range of organic ready-to-drink (RTD) cold brew coffee cans in the US. The drinks will be available in four flavours, in both dairy and non-dairy options, including: classic cold brew, nitro cold brew, cappuccino cold brew with milk and double shot cold brew with oat milk. The new RTD cold brew coffees are USDA Certified Organic, Rainforest Alliance Certified and contain 100% Arabica coffee. Davide Riboni, CEO of Lavazza US, said: "Premium, organic, ready-to-drink coffee is growing at a rate nearly 39% faster than packaged coffee. This is due in part to younger, American coffee drinkers' preference for cold and iced coffees, which makes this market one of the most dynamic." The range is available for $3.49 at select Lavazza cafes, Amazon, Eataly and other retailers across the country.

Unilever has posted underlying sales growth of 7.3% for Q1, and raised its cost forecast for the second half of 2022 as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war. The owner of Ben & Jerry’s and Marmite reported turnover of €13.8 billion for Q1, representing an increase of 11.8% on the year-ago period. The company's foods and refreshment sector recorded underlying sales growth of 6.5%, driven by double-digit increases in food solutions and out-of-home ice cream as channels reopened. Underlying sales grew across Unilever’s Asia/AMET/RUB and Americas segments in the quarter – by 9.1% and 9.0% respectively. In North America, functional nutrition and food solutions continued to show strong momentum, delivering double-digit growth. In Europe, Unilever's underlying sales grew a moderate 0.7%, with most markets in volume decline as consumer demand was impacted by price increases. However, the company's out-of-home ice cream business was boosted by fewer restrictions in the quarter compared with Q1 2021 and a stronger sell-in ahead of the ice cream season. In January, the company announced a new structure organised around five business groups, which it now says is "on track for launch from the middle of the year". It is expected that the new structure will result in around €600 million of cost savings over two years. CEO Alan Jope stated: "We are executing well in a very challenging input cost environment. Underlying sales growth of 7.3% was driven by strong pricing, with a limited impact on volume in the quarter. This performance was delivered against the backdrop of significant rises in input costs that have further accelerated through the first three months of the year and the human tragedy of the war in Ukraine." He added: "We continue to reshape our portfolio into high-growth spaces, with prestige beauty and functional nutrition again growing strongly. We remain on track to deliver the previously announced, simpler, more category-focused organisation structure on 1 July 2022." Unilever says that it continues to expect input cost inflation of around €2.1 billion in the first half, but that the outbreak of war in Ukraine and the related increase in raw material inflation have raised its cost forecast for the second half of the year, when it now expects input cost inflation to be around €2.7 billion.

Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) has posted 6.1% growth in net sales to $3.08 billion for its first quarter, driven by "strong growth" across its packaged beverages, beverage concentrates and Latin America beverages units. For Q1, KDP recorded 13.2% growth in net sales for its packaged beverages segment, led by Canada Dry, Dr Pepper, 7UP, A&W, Sunkist and Squirt CSDs, Mott's and Snapple, as well as growth in Core Hydration, Polar seltzers, Hawaiian Punch and Vita Coco. Meanwhile, the company's coffee systems segment recorded net sales of $1.09 billion, representing a decline of 4.3% on last year's $1.14 billion figure, caused by supply chain challenges. The segment saw pod and brewer shipment volume both decline by 5.2% versus the year-ago quarter. The pod performance reflected the prioritisation of production to rebuild inventory, while the decline in brewer shipment volume reflected comparison with "exceptionally strong" growth of 61% in Q1 last year. KDP's Latin America beverages business saw its net sales for Q1 increase 16.8% to $146 million, while the company's beverage concentrates division witnessed an increase of 9.5% to $359 million. Meanwhile, the company's GAAP operating income grew 51% to $966 million, primarily reflecting KDP's strong net sales performance in the quarter. KDP's chairman and CEO, Bob Gamgort, said: "We delivered another quarter of strong revenue growth, reflecting the power of our brand portfolio and the quality of our execution at retail. Margins were impacted by accelerating inflation, which outpaced the timing of pricing actions, and the previously discussed coffee supply chain disruption." He continued: "We made significant progress during the quarter on increasing coffee production and rebuilding inventories, and we implemented additional pricing actions across most categories. Consequently, we now expect to deliver net sales growth in the high-single-digit range and continue to expect to deliver Adjusted EPS growth in the mid-single-digit range for the year."

US water brand Lemon Perfect has closed a $31 million Series A funding round, which featured participation from singer Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. Founded in 2017, Lemon Perfect offers hydrating lemon-flavoured water with zero sugar and no artificial flavours or sweeteners. The water is "powered by" organic lemons, contains electrolytes from potassium and is packed with vitamin C. Lemon Perfect's founder and CEO, Yanni Hufnagel, said: “Lemon Perfect is quickly taking significant market share from the leading brands in the enhanced water category by offering a better-for-you, better-tasting product that’s resonating broadly with the American consumer”. He added: “ investment and the energy it sparks will accelerate Lemon Perfect’s rise toward its goal of becoming the number one brand in the multibillion-dollar enhanced water category by market share”. The round brings the company's total funding to $42.2 million.