Berlin Packaging has announced its acquisition of Panvetri, a supplier of glass and metal packaging for the wine and olive oil sectors. Panvetri serves a wide range of wine estates, cooperative wineries, oil mills and food manufacturers, mainly within the Apulia and Basilicata regions of Italy. Alongside wine and olive oil bottles, the company's portfolio includes beer, spirits and sparkling wine bottles, olive oil cans, food jars and closures. Berlin Packaging says that it can help Panvetri further expand its product offerings, while the deal bolsters its own European footprint. Bill Hayes, global CEO of Berlin Packaging, said: "This acquisition is another testament to our commitment to growth in Europe. Panvetri strengthens our already robust presence in Italy and furthers our position as a leader in Italian food and beverage packaging." The acquisition follows Berlin Packaging's purchase of Canadian glass and closures distributor, United Bottles & Packaging, earlier this year. Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.

Cooking oil brand, U:ME, has expanded its range of Spice Shots with the addition of a new flavour – Kansas City Style BBQ. Kansas City Style BBQ contains a combination of fresh tomato, sticky honey and spices. The new variant joins the brand's existing flavours, including Japanese Style and Lebanese Style. U:ME's commercial director, Kim Matthews, said: “Our Lebanese and Japanese Spice Shots were such a hit last year, with families wanting to spice up mealtimes and explore different cuisines from their kitchen, that we knew we had to expand the range – and the Kansas City Style Spice Shot is the perfect addition". She continued: “Its sweet yet smoky taste with a bit of a kick makes it ideal for marinating, grilling, roasting or barbecuing with meat, fish or vegetables”. U:ME Kansas City Style Spice Shots are available at selected Sainsbury’s stores for an RRP of £2.30.

Dairy manufacturer and distributor Ohio Processors has entered into an agreement to acquire Pierre's Ice Cream Company. Ohio-based Pierre's produces ice creams and frozen desserts, including sundae cones, sorbets, and ice cream pints and sandwiches. The deal will allow Ohio Processors to expand its product offerings, customer base and geographic reach. Ohio Processors and the Pierre's team will continue to provide delivery services from the same Pierre's location in Cleveland, Ohio, while current employees are expected to be retained. Doug Smith, president of Ohio Processors, commented: "We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of Pierre’s Ice Cream. Their products and employees will be welcome additions to Ohio Processors. We are excited to get to work and continue Shelley’s success with Pierre’s." Shelley Roth, president of Pierre’s Ice Cream Company, added: “The philosophies of Ohio Processors and the Smith family align with our succession priorities as well as the values and directions we have cultivated over the years. The Smith family shares the same core values that have been instilled in the Pierre’s organisation. "They understand food manufacturing and distribution, and will be able to build upon the foundation that has already been created. They recognise the importance of supporting team members, creating high-quality products, and providing excellent customer service." Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.

Ready-to-drink coffee brand Sleepy Owl has partnered with ice cream brand Noto to launch a limited-edition caffeinated ice cream. Chocolate Coffee Fudgsicle contains 98 calories and is made with zero sugar, no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives. Sleepy Owl's co-founder, Arman Sood, said: “We’ve always wanted people to know what ‘Real Good Instant Coffee’ tasted like. And now that we’ve established it with our previously launched flavoured Premium Instant Coffee, that’s made with premium 100% Arabica beans and the revolutionary Microground Technology, we want them to know that this experience doesn’t stop there.” Noto's co-founder and director, Ashni Shah, added: “We’re delighted to have collaborated with Sleepy Owl for the new limited edition Chocolate Coffee Fudgsicle...Ice cream and coffee are two things our entire team is passionate about, and that is reflected in the product we’ve created. Just in time for the season and perfect for our audience to indulge in guilt-free.”

Atomic Brands has expanded its Monaco Cocktails portfolio with the introduction of a new agave tequila Watermelon Crush variety. With an ABV of 9%, the tequila-based cocktail features two shots in every 12oz can and is free from gluten and malt. “With tequila remaining one of the fastest growing liquor categories and watermelon positioned as one of the most beloved fruits in America, the opportunity is ripe to introduce the ultimate mashup of these refreshing, on-trend flavours," said Don Deubler, CEO of Atomic Brands. “On the heels of the great success we've seen with the recent launches of our Lime Crush and Sun Crush flavours, we're delighted to expand our agave tequila cocktail portfolio with the new Watermelon Crush, to continue delivering on the flavours and innovation our customers crave.” The new offering is available at convenience stores across the US for $2.50-2.99 per 12oz can.

Bel Brands UK has expanded its Nurishh portfolio with the launch of two new dairy-free cheese alternatives to add to its range. The two new launches include Plant-Based Garlic & Herbs Spread and Gran Vegiano. Gran Vegiano comes in a pre-grated format and is dairy-free, lactose-free and only uses natural colours and flavourings. The plant-based alternative to parmesan is also rich in calcium and Vitamin B12. Plant-Based Garlic & Herbs Spread contains sunflower seeds and bamboo fibre and offers a source of calcium, Vitamin B12, fibre and protein for consumers. Justine de Monès, senior brand manager at Nurishh, said: "Not only will the expansive range help our retailer partners meet growing consumer demand but it’s also a core part of our ambition to diversify with a greater focus on healthy snacking, keeping dairy at the heart of Bel UK as we also develop complementary fruit and plant-based options". Nurishh Gran Vegiano will be available for an RSP of £3.50 per 150g and will be launching in ASDA from April and Co-op from May. Nurishh Plant-Based Garlic & Herbs Spread will be available for an RSP of £2 per 130g and will be launching in Waitrose from May.

Chinese yeast company Angel Yeast has opened a new smart factory to expand the production of its baking ingredients and solutions. Angel Yeast offers a portfolio of solutions for baked goods and pastries, including baker's yeast, bread improvers, leavening agents and ready-mixed products. The factory features a packaging workshop, as well as a production line distributed control system and smart automated warehousing facilities. The opening of the new facility is part of the company's efforts to optimise its production process and upgrade its product offerings to meet global consumer demand. Xiao Minghua, general manager of Angel Yeast, said: "Angel has cemented its leadership in China and beyond with its dry yeast business. Meanwhile, more than half of fermented foods in China use Angel's yeast. "Angel's dough improvers enhance the quality of and prolong the shelf life of millions of tonnes of fermented food products each year, significantly reducing food waste. The company has also set up a dedicated e-store where customers are able to purchase Angel's high-quality food ingredients easily." Last year, Angel Yeast opened a purpose-built facility dedicated to yeast and biotechnology research and development.

Swedish water purification company, Bluewater, has announced a merger agreement with US-based FloWater, after investing $15 million in the company back in 2018. The companies claim that the move "will transform the water industry worldwide," helping accelerate innovation and expanding both businesses' footprints into other key markets in the Middle East, China and South Asia. The merger will also enable both corporations to leverage each other's consumer and business water dispensing expertise, research and development, and global commercialisation and supply capabilities. Founded in 2013, Bluewater develops water purification solutions for homes, businesses and public vending. The corporation has sales across the US, Europe, the Middle East, China, Southeast Asia and South Africa, and production facilities in Sweden and China. Established the same year, FloWater is a manufacturer of water purifying refill stations for schools, gyms, offices and hotels. FloWater's customers include Red Bull, Apple, Marriott and Google, among others. Bluewater's founder and CEO, Bengt Rittri, said: “This union is a major milestone for Bluewater in our efforts to upscale and strengthen our position in the global household, commercial and public dispensing water industry”. FloWater's founder, Rich Razgaitis, added: “This merger provides us another big step towards ending the business of “big bottled water” by providing superior alternatives to single-use plastic with the world’s best-tasting and trusted water". He continued: "Everyone deserves access to clean, great-tasting drinking water, and the environment deserves to be free of plastic water bottles. Today, this merger brings together two passionate teams committed to making this a reality worldwide.”

Ingredients manufacturer Loryma is expanding its functional extrudates portfolio for use in applications in the sports nutrition, snack and convenience sectors. The new extrudates include Lory Crisp cereal crispies, Lory IsoCrisp protein crispies and Lory Crumb breadcrumbs. The Lory Crisp cereal crispies provides a 'crunchy effect' to breakfast cereals, muesli and chocolate bars, as well as sweets and baked goods. While Lory IsoCrisp protein crispies are made from whey and milk protein and are ideally suited for applications aimed at health-conscious consumers, such as fitness bars, granola or other snacks. Lory Crumb breadcrumbs protect substrates such as meat, meat alternatives, cheese or potato products when fried or deep-fried. The blend variants differ in colouring, nutritional value and shape. Henrik Hetzer, managing director of Loryma, said: "Extruded cereal and protein products are currently extremely popular because they combine enjoyment with optimised nutritional values. We are sure that our expanded range will inspire our customers. We can also implement individual wishes in design thanks to our own production capabilities, so there are hardly any limits to creative product development."

Belgian health authorities have ordered Ferrero to suspend production at its plant in Arlon, Belgium, after an investigation into salmonella cases suspected as being linked to Kinder chocolate. Last week, Italian confectionery giant Ferrero recalled a number of its Kinder products due to concerns surrounding salmonella. The affected chocolate was produced at the Arlon site, where Ferrero confirmed it had found salmonella in a filter last December. In the UK, the Food Standards Agency stated that at least 63 cases of salmonella have been identified as linked to Kinder products, most of which were in children under five years of age. Other countries affected by recalls included the US and a number of European states. According to Reuters, Belgium's food safety agency AFSCA-FAVV has now said that a link has been confirmed between more than a hundred cases of salmonella and Ferrero production. The agency reportedly said the decision to temporarily close the plant was taken after it concluded that information from Ferrero was incomplete. Commenting on the suspension of operations at Arlon, Ferrero said it acknowledged “there were internal inefficiencies, creating delays in retrieving and sharing information in a timely manner”. The statement continued: “This impacted the speed and effectiveness of the investigations. The plant will only reopen once certified by the authorities.”

Northern Irish food manufacturer Kestrel Foods has announced the acquisition of non-HFSS granola brand, Just Live a Little Granola. The brand will join Kestrel Foods' existing offering, which includes the Forest Feast and Acti-Snack brands as well as private label services, "to continue its growth within the plant-based arena". Additionally, the deal is expected to enable Kestrel Foods to deliver healthier products across more categories. Founded in 2012, Just Live a Little Granola – which has listings in Waitrose, Ocado and Tesco NI – offers a range of non-HFSS granola, such as Whole Almond Granola, Low Sugar Coconut & Chia Granola and Bramley Apple & Cinnamon Granola. Michael Hall, owner and MD of Kestrel Foods, said: “The acquisition of the Just Live a Little brand is aligned to our ambition of creating an innovative snacking and granola business with a strong portfolio of brands, brilliant products, and world-class capability. We are delighted to have the opportunity to build on the legacy of the Just Live a Little brand for wholesome artisan granola and snacks.” The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Cult Food Science has diversified its portfolio with an investment in cell-based mollusk company, Pearlita. Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, Pearlita uses stem cells and bioreactors to produce cultivated oysters that have a "rich flavour and substantial nutrition". Canadian investment platform Cult Food Science is looking to accelerate the commercialisation of cellular agriculture and the incorporation of cultivated and cell-based foods into the global food supply chain. Nikita Michelsen, chief executive officer of Pearlita, commented: "We are so excited to have Cult part of our journey. It is truly inspiring to be part of a portfolio filled with so many forward-thinking and passionate companies that believe in a future without reliance on live animals for human consumption." She continued: "With this investment, Pearlita is one step closer to bringing healthy and nutritious oysters to the plates of seafood lovers". In February, Cult Food Science announced an investment in cultured chocolate manufacturer, California Cultured.