US plant-based cheese producer, Good Planet Foods, has expanded its product line-up with two new plant-based cheese wheels. The new offerings include: Real Smoked Cheddar and Real Smoked Gouda. The plant-based cheese wheels are crafted with allergen-free ingredients and will be available at retailers nationwide for an SRP of $5.99. "We are committed to expanding the plant-based cheese segment by pushing the envelope, and offering consumers new ways to enjoy allergen-free, dairy-free cheese," said Good Planet Foods co-CEO, Bart Adlam. "With our new Smoked Wheels, we are doing just that. These naturally smoked offerings will bring the joy of cheese to consumers who are vegan, flexitarian or just trying to make a small step towards a healthier diet and planet." Good Planet Foods' products are non-GMO and keto-certified, as well as vegan, dairy-, gluten-, soy- and lactose-free.

North American alcohol wholesaler, Breakthru Beverage Group, has signed an agreement to acquire beer distributor J.J Taylor Companies and its 600,000-square-foot warehouse in Minnesota. The acquisition will expand Breakthru's beer portfolio and further strengthen its position in the Midwest. Breakthru will move its beer portfolio to J.J Taylor's warehouse once the deal has been completed, enhancing the company's operational expertise as the summer season brings an increase in beer demand. Tom Bené, Breakthru's president and CEO, said: "There's great synergy between our companies in Minnesota. This combination will dramatically enhance operations in the Twin Cities and reinforce our commitment to this market as we deploy our full suite of best-in-class capabilities and digital resources to help supplier and customer partners better reach their target consumers and drive results." He continued: "This is another strong step in our overall growth agenda, where we remain focused on strengthening our position throughout the US and Canada". The transaction is expected to close later this year and is subject to usual and customary closing conditions. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

NuCicer, a US-based plant genetics spinoff from the University of California, Davis, has raised $4.5 million in an oversubscribed seed round. The round was led by venture capital firm Lever VC, with participation from investors such as The House Fund, Trellis Road and Lifely VC. NuCicer has developed a non-GM proprietary chickpea that features 75% more protein than its traditional counterparts. According to the firm, its technology has the ability to cut the cost of chickpea protein in half. The company says it will use the funding to support commercial trials to bring its ultra-high-protein chickpeas to market. Kathryn Cook, CEO and co-founder of NuCicer, said: "We are excited by the overwhelming interest we received from the investment community in our series seed round and are now focused on moving forward with partnerships and commercialisation. We aim to cut the cost of chickpea protein nearly in half, making it price-competitive with other plant proteins such as soy and pea. She added: "This creates opportunities for our partners to develop new food and beverage products using our highly functional chickpea flour and purified protein ingredients".

Nutritious snack company Eat the Change has unveiled its "first-to-market" vegetable snack for kids, made from organic carrots and fruit juice. The snack range, named Cosmic Carrot Chews, is available in three varieties: Sour Cherry Berry Blast Off, Orange Mango Moonbeam and Apple Cinnamon Asteroid. The chews are made from four ingredients – with the primary elements consisting of organic carrots and fruit juice. The snacks are nutrient-dense, high in fibre, contain 60 calories and are a source of Vitamin A. They are also certified vegan, organic and kosher. Spike Mendelsohn, Eat the Change chef, commented: "The carrot chews are a result of being creative in the kitchen with innovation to avoid waste. I was doing R&D for a carrot chip product and was sent the wrong type of carrots. Instead of letting the food go to waste, I marinated and dehydrated them anyway which yielded a chewy texture versus a chip. When I brought the carrot chews home for my son to taste, he loved them. That’s when I knew we were onto something great." Cosmic Carrot Chews have an SRP of $4.49 per package and the product is available across the US in stores such as Whole Foods Mid-Atlantic, MOM’s Organic Market, Erewhon, Hy-Vee and online on the brand's website.

Molson Coors plans to eliminate the six-pack plastic rings from its Coors Light packaging by the end of 2022, as part of an $85 million investment to increase sustainability efforts across its portfolio. The investment involves upgrading Coors Light's packaging machinery, enabling the company to reduce plastic waste in North America by advancing to a cardboard wrap carrier by the end of 2025. Molson says it will save 1.7 million pounds of plastic waste annually by making this transition. Tracey Schenck, senior marketing manager for Coors Light, commented: "We don’t believe buying beer should mean buying single-use plastic. As one of the largest beer brands in the world, we constantly evaluate how we can improve and evolve our packaging to meet environmental and consumer standards and we are so proud of this step today. We hope it inspires others in the industry to do the same." Last year, Molson Coors launched a low-carbon glass beer bottle that cut the carbon impact of its bottle production by up to 90%.

Finnish dairy manufacturer Valio has signed an agreement to acquire Gold&Green Foods from Paulig. Gold&Green, which is known for its Pulled Oats products, has been a part of Paulig since 2016. The acquisition aims to further strengthen Valio's position in the global plant protein market. The agreement includes Valio's acquisition of the Gold&Green brand, intellectual property, and its research and development (R&D) team. However, it does not include other Gold&Green operations and its production site in Järvenpää, Finland. Tuomas Salusjärvi, EVP growth businesses and R&D at Valio, said: “Gold&Green has been a pioneer in the field of plant-based food and new product development, and Valio has successfully developed its Oddlygood plant-based product portfolio. Now, the Gold&Green R&D team joins us in reaching our strategic goal – to further strengthen our position in the growing global plant protein market. Together, we will develop the innovations in Gold&Green’s pipeline and continue the story of the brand.” Paulig’s CEO, Rolf Ladau, added: “We believe that plant-based diets are a growing trend and will continue to contribute to this growth through our Tex Mex, spices and snacks product categories. Over the years, we have invested in the international growth of Gold&Green and its products are currently available in 17 countries. However, we have not been able to scale the business in a profitable way. This agreement with Valio secures the continuity of the unique and innovative Gold&Green brand and enables the realisation of its full potential in the future”. Until a potential phase-out agreement has been reached, Paulig will continue operating Gold&Green Foods and selling its products under license from Valio in all markets.

'Better-for-you' brand Rowdy Energy has launched a new range of energy drinks that is said to burn 135 calories per can. The Power Burn's range is available in four flavours: watermelon, pineapple passionfruit, pink lemonade and mango dragonfruit. The new offerings contain five calories, zero sugar, no artificial sweeteners, flavours or preservatives, and provide 160mg of natural caffeine from green tea and green coffee beans. According to Rowdy Energy, the line is also packed with amino acids and has "more electrolytes than leading sports drinks". Jeff Church, CEO and co-founder of Rowdy Energy, said: "We're thrilled to introduce this new line as the initial response has been overwhelmingly positive with consumers loving the taste and being excited about the calorie-burning aspect". He continued: "It's important for Rowdy to continue to stand out in the growing energy drink category and having this new health-forward, thermogenic line allows us to be at the forefront of innovation within the industry". The range will be available nationwide at 7-Eleven convenience stores. Last year, Rowdy Energy secured $13 million in a funding round to invest in marketing activity in order to boost the profile of the brand.

Diageo North America has opened a new manufacturing site in Plainfield, Illinois, in a move to strengthen its ready-to-drink (RTD) presence. The drink's giant has invested approximately $110 million in the new 225,000-square-foot facility, which features two new canning lines. Diageo will use the site to "accelerate the development of the company’s RTD portfolio" and build its "growth strategy in the convenience category". The facility, named Lincolnway, will produce some of Diageo’s latest brands, including Smirnoff seltzers and spirits-based RTD cocktails from Crown Royal and Ketel One Botanical Vodka Spritz. Michael L Nelson, senior VP of manufacturing and distillation at Diageo North America, said: "We’re incredibly proud of the speed and innovative approach from our team and partners in their efforts to build this site in record time. Diageo Lincolnway will be instrumental in accelerating our offerings in the convenience space and help meet consumer demand." He continued: "The new facility strengthens our manufacturing footprint in the region and allows us to leverage synergies with our warehouse and bottling operation in Plainfield". Diageo Lincolnway employs 50 full-time team members.

US pancake and waffle mix brand Birch Benders is expanding its portfolio with the launch of four new ready-to-eat keto-friendly cookies. The cookie line features four variants which include: Chocolate Chip, Double Chocolate Chip, Snickerdoodle and Vanilla Shortbread. Birch Benders Cookies are both gluten-free and keto-friendly with no added sugar and contain less than five net carbohydrates per serving. Lucy Rand, general manager at Birch Benders, commented: "The snack aisle is full of empty carbs and excess sugar, which leaves consumers with few options for delicious, satisfying, feel-good snacks and treats. That’s why Birch Benders focuses on creating delicious, better-for-you versions of the comforting foods people enjoy. We are thrilled to bring our cookies to the snack aisle." The new releases are available on the Birch Benders website and Amazon later this month. The products will also be available at select US national retailers, including Kroger, Walmart and Target for an MSRP of $5.99 per 4oz pouch.

Tastewise – an Israeli artificial intelligence (AI) data platform for the food and beverage industry – has secured $17 million in a Series A funding round, bringing the company's total funding to date to $21.5 million. The round was led by Disruptive AI, which joins existing investors including PeakBridge and PICO Venture Partners. Tastewise says it will use the funds to expand into new geographies, including Canada, Australia, Germany, France and India. Founded in 2017, Tastewise offers access to data-driven solutions for new product development, marketing and food services sales. The company helps food companies discover new flavours and product ideas, develop marketing content and find sales opportunities within the restaurant and retailer sectors "by fusing billions of data points across social media, recipes and restaurant menus". Tastewise's customer base includes global food and beverage companies such as Nestlé, PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz and Campbell's, as well as industry start-ups like JustEgg. Izhar Shay, venture partner at Disruptive AI, said: "We're incredibly excited to partner with Tastewise because of the tremendous impact they have already demonstrated on the food and beverage industry and the potential we see for AI to become a key ingredient in the industry's resilience in the foreseen future". He continued: "So much of what we eat and drink may change over the next decades, and Tastewise is positioned to help the world's most significant food and beverage brands build the future of this huge market. Our investment in Tastewise's mission will help create endless opportunities for the entire industry, from major brands to small newcomers, to change the market fundamentally through data-backed innovation." Alon Chen, co-founder and CEO of Tastewise, added: “The way people choose what to eat and drink is transforming in the face of the global pandemic, climate change, new technologies, and increased interest in health – and everything we eat in the near future will be fundamentally different. Tastewise is uniquely positioned to help the food and beverage industry forge this new reality." He added: "This latest round of investment in Tastewise will enable us to take our cutting-edge technology to more players in the market as we work together to create a healthier, tastier and more sustainable industry”.

Uncle Matt's Organic has unveiled a new orange juice beverage that contains prebiotics and probiotics to support gut and immune health. According to the company, Matt50 orange juice beverage contains half the sugar and calories as regular orange juices and is enriched with 100% vitamin C. The new offering also contains 1 gram of prebiotics and 1 billion probiotics in each 8oz serving. "...We are excited to offer consumers who are seeking a great-tasting, lower sugar and calorie option with the launch of Matt50," said Susan McLean, VP of marketing and innovation at Uncle Matt's Organic. "You can now have your juice and drink it too with just 50 calories per serving. Sweetened with organic stevia, Matt50 delivers on taste and nutrition with a delicious blend of sun-kissed oranges, 100% of vitamin C per serving as well as prebiotics and probiotics for immune and digestive health support." Uncle Matt's Organic Matt50 contains organic Reb M stevia, which provides a "sugar-like" sweetness, with zero calories, "and without the health concerns associated with artificial sweeteners," the company said. Matt50 is available at Whole Foods Market and Sprouts Farmers Market across the US for an SRP of $6.49 for a 52oz bottle.

Nestlé and Emmi are launching the 'KlimaStaR Milk' climate protection project in collaboration with milk producer organisations aaremilch and the Central Switzerland Milk Producers Cooperative (ZMP). Through the resource project, the Swiss companies hope to reduce the environmental footprint of milk and dairy products and to also meet the needs and demands of consumers. Approximately 300 farms will be involved in the project. KlimaStaR Milk' aims to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by around 20%, by focusing on four key areas: feed, herd management, energy and farmyard manure. To measure progress, scientific-based survey methods and analysis technologies will be established. Daniel Imhof, head of agricultural affairs at Nestlé Switzerland, said: "Climate protection can only be achieved by joining forces. We are therefore pleased to be able to pull our weight here together with Emmi and make a contribution towards sustainable Swiss dairy farming." He added: "Cow’s milk has been an important resource for us since the birth of Nestlé and remains indispensable in the manufacture of infant nutrition and other products at our factory in Konolfingen. We don’t want to replace our cows, but rather help to improve their environmental footprint." The project is supported by the Federal Office for Agriculture.