Funds managed by private equity firm CapVest Partners have acquired Second Nature Brands from a private equity fund affiliated with Palladium Equity Partners. Based in Michigan, Second Nature Brands produces better-for-you snacks and treats. The company's brand portfolio includes Kar’s Nuts, Second Nature Snacks and Sanders Chocolates. Othmane Khelladi, partner, CapVest, commented: "Second Nature Brands is a very exciting platform with ambitious plans to grow its presence in the highly attractive snacking and treats market. Through our ownership, we look forward to supporting Vic Mehren and his world-class team in accelerating growth through further investment in product innovation, category leadership and by scaling the existing platform through transformational acquisitions." Vic Mehren, CEO of Second Nature Brands, said: "Our partnership with Palladium has been extraordinarily successful and we thank them for their contributions to Second Nature Brands. With their support and through the efforts of our great Second Nature Brands team members, Second Nature Brands has transformed into a leader within snacks and treats. We’re now thrilled to be partnering with CapVest for our next phase of growth." Last year, CapVest Partners agreed to offload seafood and pork provider, Eight Fifty Food Group, to Sofina Foods.

Pilgrim’s Food Masters' Fridge Raiders has unveiled its newest snack offering – Meat-Free Tasty Bites – designed for consumers looking for plant-based options. The new meat-free launch is available in two variants: Slow Roasted and Katsu. The plant-based snack is made with the fava bean and mimics the brand’s Chicken Bites. Chris Doe, marketing manager for Fridge Raiders and Richmond, commented: "The growth of the meat-free category is not slowing down, so we’re excited to offer our customers a delicious meat-free snacking option in a category that we know currently under-delivers on taste". He continued: "We know that consumers are on the hunt for a meat-free snack that delivers on taste, texture and quality whilst also being a healthy and fulfilling option. At Fridge Raiders, we love a challenge and we’ve put everything we’ve learned from our much-loved Chicken Bites into creating the perfect plant-based alternative. Our Meat-Free Tasty Bites tick all the boxes for beating hunger cravings and packing a punch with flavour." Fridge Raiders Meat-Free Tasty Bites will be available in 65g bags for an RRP of £1.30 and 45g grab bags for an RRP of £1.00. The variants are available in Sainsbury’s with further rollout expected in May across grocery and convenience channels.

Elegantly Spirited has added a non-alcoholic apéritif – Strykk Not Aperitivo – to its Strykk portfolio, which will be available across the UK. Strykk Not Aperitivo is claimed to be the world's first non-alcoholic apéritif to blend "Prosecco-like notes" with quassia, wormwood and bitter orange. The new beverage contains 25 calories, " five times less than the full-strength alcoholic version," said the company. Strykk's CEO and founder, Alex Carlton, said: “Strykk Not Aperitivo represents a huge growth opportunity both for the grocery and on-trade markets...Strykk Not Aperitivo is a refreshing, vibrant and exciting serve, and allows those who don’t want to drink alcohol to join in the ritual.” He added: “We are determined to democratise the category and believe it is our responsibility to set prices at a reasonable level making non-alcoholic drinks within reach of everyday shoppers. This will allow the category to succeed and consumers to moderate alcohol consumption and enjoy a better lifestyle balance.” Strykk Not Aperitivo is available for an RRP of £12 per 70cl bottle. Last year, Elegantly Spirited announced the launch of Strykk Not Vanilla Vodka.

Carlsberg has posted volume growth of 8.6% for its first quarter, when it says it saw only "limited impact" from the Russia-Ukraine war. The Danish brewer has excluded its Russian operations from its Q1 2021 and 2022 figures. However, it said that if they were part of the calculations, volumes would have increased by 8.3% and revenue by 23.1% – in both cases on an organic basis. In March, Carlsberg announced it had taken the decision to fully dispose of its business in Russia. The brewer now confirmed: "Until completion of the transaction, we will continue operations at the previously announced level to sustain the livelihood of the 8,400 Russian employees and their families". Meanwhile, the company recorded a "strong start to the year," with organic revenue growth of 23.6% to DKK 14.9 billion ($2.1 billion approx.), driven by organic volume growth of 9.1% and strong revenue/hl growth of 13%. In Western Europe, volumes and revenue grew organically by 15.4% and 36.2%, respectively. The results reflected "easy comparables" from lapping a period of widespread restrictions and lockdowns in the previous year and recovery of the on-trade channel during Q1 2022. However, volumes in Poland, Germany and Norway declined, with the former two countries being impacted by soft beer markets and price increases, and Norway by the reopening of the border with Sweden and fewer promotional activities. Carlsberg's Asia business saw organic volume growth of 10.5%. Meanwhile, its Central & Eastern Europe unit, excluding the Russian business, saw a 2.1% fall. In Ukraine, Carlsberg saw volumes significantly impacted by the war. CEO Cees ’t Hart said: “The broader implications of the war and the decision to divest our business in Russia are significant for our people and our company. Looking at business performance, the first quarter saw only limited impact from the war. The group had a strong start to the year, albeit Western Europe had easy comparables due to the extensive lockdowns last year.”

Kellogg's is taking legal action against the UK government over new rules that will prohibit some of its cereals from being prominently displayed in supermarkets due to their sugar content. The new regulations, which come into effect in October, are designed to help tackle childhood obesity. They will see promotion of food and drink products that are high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) being restricted, leading to some Kellogg's cereals being no longer prominently displayed on shelves. Kellogg's said it supports the government's work to tackle obesity, as demonstrated by its past efforts to reduce sugar and salt in its cereals. However, it argues that the way the government is measuring the nutritional value of cereal – without milk or yogurt – is "wrong". Kellogg’s UK managing director, Chris Silcock, said: “We believe the formula being used by the government to measure the nutritional value of breakfast cereals is wrong and not implemented legally. It measures cereals dry when they are almost always eaten with milk." He continued: “All of this matters because, unless you take account of the nutritional elements added when cereal is eaten with milk, the full nutritional value of the meal is not measured". "We’ve tried to have a reasonable conversation with the UK government over the past 12 months about making this change, but to no avail. So, we now find ourselves doing something which we really didn’t want to have to do, which is to go to court to get the formula changed so that it reflects how people eat our food in real life."

Whittard of Chelsea has unveiled a limited edition tropical hot chocolate offering – Pina Colada hot chocolate – to celebrate the summer season. The new variant features a white base hot chocolate with added fruity pineapple and creamy coconut flavours. The drink can be enjoyed hot or cold as a milkshake. Harvy Woodcock, senior buyer – flavoured drinks, coffee and confectionary, said: "For our new summer 2022 hot chocolate, we brainstormed popular flavours that people love during summer and Pina Colada was one of them! Hot or cold, our limited edition Pina Colada hot chocolate will bring the flavour of summer to your tastebuds." The new tropical offering will be available in the UK from 5 June and will retail at £9.

The Ferrero Group has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Irish protein bar producer, Fulfil Nutrition, for an undisclosed sum. Based in Dublin, Fulfil manufactures low-sugar protein bars that are "packed" with vitamins. Confectionery giant Ferrero will take over the brand's portfolio and plans to retain the management, distributors and employees. The move expands Ferrero's presence in the better-for-you market, as it looks to meet the evolving needs of consumers. Meanwhile, the company says that it will support Fulfil with innovation and expansion into new markets and categories. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the next few months.

Meatless Farm has announced the launch of new plant-based steaks made using plant-based ingredients and pea protein to mimic the texture and taste of beef. Meatless Farm Steak, which is sold as two fillets, is gluten- and soya-free and contains over 15g of protein per fillet. According to the company, the new product also "boasts a significantly lower carbon footprint than its meat-based counterpart". Michael Hunter, managing director of Meatless Farm UK and Ireland, said: “Our new plant-based steak is our latest step in creating exciting and innovative new products and further diversifying the plant-based market". He continued: “Responding to consumer demand, we’ve brought another credible contender to the market to challenge the red meat sector. Many people enjoy a steak meal, yet red meat has the highest environmental impact, so we’ve created a plant-based version to help consumers enjoy a steak experience in the week that delivers on taste and texture yet is better for the planet.” Meatless Farm Steak is available at Sainsbury's stores nationwide for an RRP of £3.50 per pack. Last year, Meatless Farm launched the brand's first vegan 'chicken' product in the UK.

Starbucks and Nestlé have collaborated to introduce new dairy-free coffee enhancers to their range of Starbucks Coffee Enhancers. The two new flavours – Caramel Macchiato and Hazelnut Latte – are the first non-dairy flavours in the lineup and are made with a blend of almond and oat. Caramel Macchiato consists of a blend of almond and oat with layers of caramel and hints of vanilla flavour while Hazelnut Latte combines the blend of oat and almond with the flavour of hazelnuts for a "nutty, tasty treat". Eryn Pasut, marketing director of beverages at Nestlé Canada, said: "Last year, Starbucks Coffee at Home introduced Canada to its core range of coffee enhancers. The overwhelming success led to numerous inquiries on our social channels requesting a dairy-free alternative and we are now excited to deliver this product to consumers." She continued: "The two new non-dairy additions to the Starbucks Coffee Enhancers lineup provide the opportunity for more Canadians to become a barista in their own kitchen with the comfort in knowing that they can choose a product to complement their diet and lifestyle". The additions are available now and can be found in the refrigerated aisle of major grocery stores across Canada for an MSRP of $7.99 per 828ml.

>There’s an escalating cost of living crisis in the UK. In the 12 months leading up to February 2022, prices rose by 6.2% – the fastest in 30 years. And to make matters worse, the Office for Budget Responsibility says that inflation and higher taxes from April mean that households are facing the biggest decrease in living standards since records began. Given the impact of the rising cost of living, Toluna wanted to understand the sentiments of UK consumers and the actions that they’re taking in response. The Toluna team fielded a survey of 1,037 UK consumers aged 18+ between 11-14 March 2022. Consumers are really feeling the effect of rising costs Over half of respondents (51%) said that they’re either very or extremely concerned about their personal financial security in light of the current cost of living – an increase of 6% in a matter of just three weeks. Consequently, it should come as no surprise that only 24% of consumers feel confident about spending money over the coming months. Where are consumers feeling the most impact? Look no further than the grocery store, where 51% of consumers are being impacted by price changes to a moderate or large extent. As a result, they’re expecting to spend a bit more in this area (30%), or even a lot more (14%), over the next three months. While they’re observing higher prices across most grocery aisles, it’s fresh (fruits, vegetables) and chilled foods (dairy, meat) that are hurting consumers’ pocketbooks the most. Priorities are changing as a result With the rising cost of essential goods like groceries, it’s natural that consumers are looking for other places to pull back. When asked where they were most likely to spend less, some similar themes rose to the top: eating out (40%), ordering takeaway (39%) and consuming alcohol at bars or pubs (34%). What other actions might UK consumers take? 43% of respondents say they expect to purchase fewer premium branded products over the next three months, and 37% are planning to spend more nights in front of the TV in lieu of nights out. What about the things they won’t do without? As consumers spend less money on food and alcohol outside of the home, they’re unlikely to give up things like drinking alcohol at home, TV/streaming subscriptions and their mobile phone contracts. And so, too, are their shopping habits For nearly half of respondents (49%), price is the top-ranked factor when choosing groceries to buy. When asked how their grocery shopping behaviours might evolve over the next three months, the most popular response was that they’d buy more own label products (38%). What other changes will they be making? 32% changing the number of snacks they buy 27% visit more stores in search of value 25% changing brands 25% changing supermarket How brands are responding Toluna has been looking at how consumer brands are responding to the rising cost of living. Here are the top five business challenges that brands solved last week using the Toluna Start platform: Market understanding: How are buying habits, product usage frequency and behavioural triggers changing? Market knowledge: Why are customers shifting their behaviour? Is it price, value or ESG? Trade-off analysis: What are people going to spend more on? They’re spending more on eating in and giving up eating out Benefits screening: Which benefits (price, health, sustainability) resonate the most on-pack, on-screen and in-store Shelf test: Test price perception versus competitors and own label. As the economic landscape continues to evolve, it’s imperative to stay on top of changing consumer sentiment. If you’re looking to transform the way you collect consumer insights, contact Toluna today and start knowing. #consumerinsights #survey #Toluna #UK

Functional ingredient manufacturer Beneo has announced a €50 million investment in a new pulse processing plant in Offstein, Germany. The site will initially focus on producing protein concentrate, starch-rich flour and hulls from faba bean, fully utilising the crop. The former two ingredients will be used for protein enrichment and texture improvement in meat and dairy alternatives, and gluten-free bakery products and cereals. Meanwhile, the hulls and some of the flour will be used in animal feed. Construction work has already begun on the plant and is expected to be completed by the end of 2024, creating up to 25 jobs. According to Beneo, the faba beans will be sourced locally from farmers that are certified by the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative. The company says that it will process the raw ingredients in intermediate production facilities until the new plant is fully operational, meaning that the first batches of its faba bean ingredients will be available from the start of June this year. Christoph Boettger, member of the executive board at Beneo, said: “The recent investment by Beneo into a new pulse production site is only the starting point”. “We strongly believe in plant-based ingredients and therefore see the new plant as an important first step in enlarging our protein offering moving forwards. This will enable us to produce a wider variety of sustainable plant-based protein ingredients over the coming years.” Beneo says that it will have the option of processing other pulses at the plant in the future.

Kraft Heinz has reported a 5.5% decrease in its first-quarter net sales to $6.05 billion, reflecting the impact of divestitures and currency. On an organic basis, net sales grew 6.8%. Pricing was up 9 percentage points versus the year-ago period, as the company took action to mitigate rising input costs. Meanwhile, volume/mix declined by 2.2 percentage points, reflecting supply constraints that were partially offset by strong demand for products in retail and continued recovery in foodservice channels. The owner of Philadelphia cream cheese is raising its expectations for 2022 organic net sales growth to a mid-single-digit percentage increase, reflecting "strong performance to date, ongoing business momentum and additional pricing actions to mitigate ongoing inflation". Miguel Patricio, Kraft Heinz CEO, commented: "Our first quarter was a strong start to the year and yet another period where our team rose to mitigate new and different macro environment challenges". "We continue to build critical capabilities, greater corporate agility and additional financial flexibility to address short-term turmoil while building our long-term advantage. We still have work to do, more opportunity ahead and we remain confident in our ability to deliver our plan for the year as well as our long-term growth strategy."