Hilton Food Solutions, a division of Hilton Food Group, has acquired a 25% minority stake in Alf Turner Sausage Company. Based in Aldershot, UK, Alf Turner is a family run butchers that recently received backing on BBC TV programme, Dragons' Den. The company has launched new products across multiple retail and wholesale sectors, with plans to continue expanding its brand portfolio alongside Hilton Food Solutions. The acquisition will enable Alf Turner to expand its geographical reach both in the UK and further afield, and strengthen Hilton Food Solutions' presence in the direct-to-consumer channel. Hilton Food Solutions managing director, Peter Hounsome, said: "It is with great pleasure to announce the purchase of 25% shareholding of Alf Turner, the award-winning company. This investment is all about diversifying across different channels as well as the products we can offer consumers. This is another step towards our goal of being the partner of choice for customers across the UK and on a global scale." Paul Turner, Alf Turner's managing director, added: "I'm beyond excited at the opportunity to work in partnership with Hilton Food Solutions. Hilton Food Solutions pride themselves on being able to maintain long-standing customer and supplier relationships and Peter and the team at Hilton Food Solutions have been as invested into the brand as my own family which is paramount for this brand to succeed. I am confident we have partnered with the right business to develop the brand as we envisioned over ten years ago when starting Alf Turner."

Food tech company Perfect Day has collaborated with betterland foods to produce cow-free milk and plans the "first-ever" retail launch of animal-free milk. betterland milk is produced using precision fermentation which creates a whey protein identical to that found in cow's milk. According to betterland foods, which was founded by food industry pioneer, think! founder and protein expert, Lizanne Falsetto, the recipe creates "creamy and rich" milk that performs better than other plant-based milks while delivering the same functionalities. The cow-free milk contains only MCT and sunflower oils, has less sugar than traditional cow’s milk, contains no lactose, cholesterol or hormones and is created without any use of antibiotics. Ryan Pandya, co-founder and CEO at Perfect Day, said: "This is an incredible moment when we can finally deliver a product consumers have been asking us for since day one and give the world another way to enjoy the milk we’ve loved for literally thousands of years — now with much less impact on the planet". He continued: "We only wanted to launch milk when we knew we could deliver a no-compromise option for consumers and we’re delighted to be doing just that with betterland foods and Lizanne. Her legacy as a protein pioneer and her track record for scaling CPG brands will help bring our protein to even more people while deepening our relentless commitment to quality and sustainability." The launch will include two varieties of betterland milk – Whole and Extra Creamy – and betterland foods will debut the new products at Expo West this March with a further launch in retail stores soon.

Weee! has raised $425 million in a Series E funding round led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2, as it looks to expand its platform offerings to new geographies. Based in the US, Weee!’s offering includes fresh produce, meat, seafood and a wide variety of ethnic ingredients used in Asian and Hispanic cuisines. The company will use the funding to enhance warehouse automation and artificial intelligence (AI) innovations to improve its customer experience. Lydia Jett, managing partner at Softbank Investment Advisors, said: "The market for ethnic groceries and food is massively underserved in the US, and we believe that Weee! is in a prime position to meet the demands of customers. Weee!'s strong execution capabilities and reach across multiple ethnic groups, coupled with a unique customer experience model leveraging AI, has enabled it to scale effectively in a rapidly evolving grocery market." Last year, Weee! secured $315 million in funding to accelerate its geographic expansion.

Fresh from a successful exhibition at Gulfood Dubai last month, Beverage Partners International (BPI) is positioned in the marketplace as an ‘international beverage hub’. Spanning functional, wellness and performance beverage categories, their mission is to provide turn-key solutions to their partners – connecting the brands shaking up the beverage industry, with the largest independent bottlers in the world. We caught up with Moshy Cohen, CEO of BPI, for a quick interview on his impressions post-show. To begin, could you briefly outline BPI and its core objectives as an innovation hub for beverage brands? BPI is an accelerator for the global beverage industry’s most exciting brands, connecting them with independent bottlers and distributors with the aim of bringing innovative, healthy, craft and functional beverages to the world. Our organisation includes a team of beverage industry experts (R&D, commercial, sales, ecommerce, operations) with an eye for new, inspiring beverage brands and concepts to meet current consumer needs. Our brand partners include meaningful partners such as Dilmah Ceylon Tea, Sumol+Compal fruit juices, Teabrary Singapore, SoPro UK, Kofola Czech Republic, BioLift USA and others, but all our partners have a commitment to the same central ethos. We are all fueled by our dedication to health, wellness and social responsibility. For us, meeting consumer needs goes hand in hand with doing meaningful, sustainable business. What were your takeaways from Gulfood last month? Our learnings from Gulfood were much as we expected – craft beverages are the way forward. Just like the brewing industry did with craft beer, consumers want minimally processed, naturally delicious brands that have integrity and meaning. It’s not enough to be new. Brands need to be meaningful and authentic, and that’s why Dilmah Ceylon Iced Tea offers such an amazing opportunity right now. Dilmah Ceylon Iced Tea meets so many important consumer touchpoints, as well as being a truly unique and authentic product. It’s produced with immense care at every stage of the production process. Single Origin pure Ceylon tea leaves are hand-picked in Sri Lanka and processed at source within 24 hours, a method that locks in the essential flavour, aroma and antioxidants of fresh tea. These are lost if the leaves are packed and processed overseas. Like all Dilmah products, Dilmah’s Iced Tea range is sustainable and all natural, and puts social responsibility at the heart of its business. Dilmah prioritises protecting and respecting the environment, supporting restoration and conservation of ecosystems, species conservation, climate change research and adaptation, and environmental education and advocacy. To find out more about BPI’s hub of innovative beverage brands, visit https://bpi-bev.com #BeveragePartnersInternational #functionalbeverages #Dilmah #tea #partnercontent #Gulfood2022 #BPI

How was Dilmah Ceylon Iced Tea received at the show? What makes it stand out in the beverage market? Dilmah Ceylon Iced Tea meets so many important consumer touchpoints, as well as being a truly unique and authentic product. It’s produced with immense care at every stage of the production process. Single Origin pure Ceylon tea leaves are hand-picked in Sri Lanka and processed at source within 24 hours, a method that locks in the essential flavour, aroma and antioxidants of fresh tea. These are lost if the leaves are packed and processed overseas. Like all Dilmah products, Dilmah’s Iced Tea range is sustainable and all natural, and puts social responsibility at the heart of its business. Dilmah prioritises protecting and respecting the environment, supporting restoration and conservation of ecosystems, species conservation, climate change research and adaptation, and environmental education and advocacy. To find out more about BPI’s hub of innovative beverage brands, visit https://bpi-bev.com

Manufacturer of flavours and bakery ingredients, Embassy Ingredients, has announced plans to invest CAD 3 million (approx. $2.35 million) to expand its facility in Toronto, Canada. The investment will enable Embassy to increase warehouse and manufacturing space, and process new upgrades in order to "dramatically increase raw material inventory" following supply chain issues faced by many manufacturers over the past year. The expansion, which will see the production site grow from 55,000 square feet to approximately 90,000 square feet, will help the company accelerate its flavour manufacturing and production capacity by adding a second automated dry blending line. Martino Brambilla, president of Embassy Ingredients, said: "This is an exciting announcement for our team and customers as we invest to meet customer demands". The facility expansion will enable Embassy to offer customised bakery ingredients and flavours and allow for continued growth.

Swedish natural food company, For Real! Foods, has raised SEK 9 million from multiple investors, including Paulig's venture capital branch, Pinc. Other investors include science journalist Maria Borelius, Christer Ridderheim – co-founder of Ridderheim's delicacies – Hans Johansson, co-founder of Semcon and Vinngroup, and Njörd. For Real! Foods produces better-for-you frozen pizzas without cereals and bread. The pizzas feature locally grown cabbage or chicken bases, making them gluten- and additive-free. Marika King, head of Pinc, commented: "For Real! Foods has succeeded with the piece of art in creating a more nutritious alternative to one of the most enjoyable meals we have – pizza". She continued: "Many people are looking for really good alternatives to fast dishes and snacks that are gluten-free, have local ingredients and are without additives – and now they get one that really holds the measure! In addition, the team has several new products underway, so we look forward to an exciting journey". According to the company, the funding will be used to expand its presence in Sweden and the Nordic region, as well as to increase production in order to meet growing consumer demand. The brand also plans to launch new products this year, while selling its pizza bases to the foodservice sector.

Ebro Foods subsidiary Riviana Foods has signed an agreement to acquire the assets of InHarvest for $48.75 million. InHarvest is a Californian manufacturing company that produces speciality rice, whole grains and quinoa with a focus on foodservice, ingredients and retail sectors. The acquisition includes two production plants in Colusa and Woodland, which the company says are "strategically located" in the rice-growing area of western US, and will help expand Riviana's operations and footprint in California. "The acquisition of the InHarvest business is an excellent fit and consistent with our strategic plan to expand our position in the speciality value-added rice, quinoa and grains markets," said Enrique Zaragoza, president and CEO of Riviana. The transaction is expected to be completed in April 2022.

Culligan-owned Quench has acquired point-of-use (POU) water systems company, Blue Caffe, for an undisclosed sum. Founded in 2002, Blue Caffe is a supplier of POU water systems and coffee services located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. According to Quench, the acquisition of Blue Caffe – which has been described as a multi-city Wellsys dealer – will enhance the company's footprint across the state. Ryan Hartley, VP of corporate development for Quench, said: “This is our third acquisition already in 2022 and is another example of our ongoing commitment to providing exit opportunities for POU dealers whenever they are ready”. Brad Kelley, Blue Caffe's owner, added: “Quench has been a trusted partner of Blue Caffe, with their extensive product line and strategic nationwide resources I know that the synergies of products and staff will significantly enhance opportunities to serve our customers in an even better capacity”. This year, Quench has already acquired two other water solutions companies, Pure Aqua Tech of Michigan and Waterfresh.

Blue Moon Brewing Company, a US division of Molson Coors Beverage Company, has released the first line extension of its Blue Moon LightSky brand. Blue Moon LightSky Tropical Wheat, which follows the 2020 launch of LightSky Citrus Wheat, is a light wheat beer brewed with hints of pineapple fruit and orange peel. The new offering contains 95 calories and 34g of carbs per 12oz slim cans. Mara Schaefer, senior director at Molson Coors’ above-premium brands, said: “When we launched Blue Moon LightSky nearly two years ago, we challenged the flavour drinkers expect to find in a light beer and it’s still going strong – at the end of 2021, LightSky remained the top light beer in the craft segment”. Last month, Coca-Cola partnered with Molson Coors to launch a new alcoholic version of the Simply juice brand.

The White Rabbit has unveiled a new range of plant-based and gluten-free ready meals, inspired by recipes from a Northern Italian restaurant. The new range features three brand new oven-ready meals – The Lasagne Al Forno, The Macaroni Gratin and The Tagliatelle Bolognese – alongside dough balls. The Lasagne Al Forno is a rich lentil and chickpea ragù, set between layers of gluten-free lasagne and finished with a plant-based bechamel sauce while The Macaroni Gratin features a creamy vegan cheese sauce, finished with a golden gluten-free crumb. Lastly, The Tagliatelle Bolognese is made from lentils and chickpeas, "perfect with an extra sprinkling of vegan parmesan and fresh basil". White Rabbit's side of doughballs are crafted using pizza sourdough and come with a separate plant-based garlic and herb dip. The range is available from Sainsbury’s nationwide. The White Rabbit ready meals are on sale for an RRP of £5.00 for 350g while The White Rabbit Dough Balls with Garlic & Herb Dip are available for an RRP of £3.75 for 180g.

JBS USA’s Planterra Foods subsidiary is expanding its Ozo range with the introduction of a plant-based bacon product. The new Ozo offering aims to satisfy consumers’ desire to “wake up to the smell, sizzle and taste of bacon,” but with zero cholesterol and less fat. The product will be available in three flavours: cracked black pepper, applewood smoke and spicy jalapeño. Planterra Foods also recently launched plant-based chicken cutlets and shreds. “What makes our Ozo plant-based chicken and bacon unlike anything else on the market is the multi-sensorial experience comparable to that of their meat-based counterparts,” said Darcey Macken, Planterra Foods CEO. “The goal with all of our Ozo products is to bring inspiration to food lovers everywhere with extraordinary plant-based foods that deliver a 'True Bite' eating experience. True Bite is our promise to delight the senses, from first sight to last bite.”