Plant-based nutrition brand Kos has raised $12 million in Series A funding, as it looks to expand its team and distribution. Based in California, Kos offers protein and other plant-based nutrition powders, as well as functional capsules. The Series A funding was led by Clayton Christopher, who founded the investment firm Cavu Ventures as well as brands including Waterloo Sparkling Water, and Brian Goldberg, founder and managing director of Redbud Brands. Springdale Ventures also supported Kos’s latest funding push, after leading an early-stage investment in the brand in 2020. Kos will use the new funds to expand distribution, boost customer awareness, accelerate product innovation and build its team. “We are beyond excited to continue our journey with Clayton Christopher and Brian Goldberg's involvement,” said Allan Stevens, Kos co-founder and co-CEO. “They are incredibly skilled brand operators who have built multiple iconic brands throughout their careers.” Christopher said: “We've been fans of the Kos brand since it first launched and have watched it develop into something quite special in a very short period”. He continued: “Over time as an investor, you see certain patterns repeat that are clues to a brand's long-term success, and Kos has exhibited many of them. We're excited to be involved and to support the Kos team in their next chapter of growth.”

Heineken has posted organic sales growth of 12.2% in its full-year results, but said that it expects Covid-19 to continue to have an impact on revenue in 2022. The organic sales growth compares with the 11.9% fall in revenue the Dutch brewer reported last year, when it announced that it would cut 8,000 jobs as part of a strategy to restore its operating margins to pre-pandemic levels. Operating profit for 2021 was €3.41 billion, representing organic growth of 43.8%, driven by strong growth in revenue, "partially offset by higher variable and personnel expenses". In 2021, the Heineken brand saw volume growth of 7.4% and recorded double-digit growth in more than 60 markets. Overall, the company's consolidated beer volume grew by 4.6% on an organic basis. Premium beer volume increased by 10%, outperforming the portfolio in the majority of Heineken's markets and accounting for over 60% of the total organic growth in beer volume. In Heineken's Africa, Middle East and Eastern Europe segment, consolidated beer volumes grew organically by 10.4%. The Americas recorded 8.2% growth and Europe volumes rose by 3.8%. Meanwhile, Asia Pacific saw its beer volumes decrease by 11.7%, due to pandemic-related closures and restrictions. Heineken's CEO and chairman, Dolf Van Den Brink, said: "Looking ahead, although the speed of recovery remains uncertain and we face significant inflationary challenges, we are encouraged by the strong performance of our business and how EverGreen is taking shape. This gives me confidence we are on course to deliver superior and balanced growth to drive sustainable long-term value creation."

Kraft Heinz has expanded its sauces portfolio with a new range of "high-quality" ready-to-use, tomato-based pasta sauces. The seven-strong range includes: Tomato & Lentil Ragu, Chunky Tomato & Mediterranean Veggies and Tomato and Mushroom & Pepper, with the core range consisting of Tomato Sauce for Bolognese, Sundried Cherry Tomato & Basil, Tomato & Chilli and Tomato, Mascarpone & Grana Padano Cheese. Heinz pasta sauces are made in Italy using 100% natural ingredients and containing no added sugars. According to the company, the sauces are ideal for vegetarian diets and most of the range is suitable for vegan diets, with the exception of one cheese variant. Caio Fontenele, new ventures director at Kraft Heinz, said: "At Heinz, we believe our sauces are as good as their ingredients. The new Heinz pasta sauces use only the best natural ingredients that consumers can identify and find in their kitchens. That’s why we decided to move the list of ingredients from the back to the front of pack. This will help consumers to make better choices and be more conscious of what they eat." The new sauces are available for an RRP of £2.50 per 350g jar.

US coffee technology company Bellwether Coffee has announced the launch of its next-generation automated coffee roasting system. The Series 2 Bellwether Automated Roasting System delivers "consistent artisan-quality" results without requiring gas lines, ventilation or previous roasting experience. The new device includes 50% extra hourly roasting capacity (three roasts per hour); a 24-inches built-in touchscreen; an online click-and-ship marketplace; an armless cooling tray; and improved efficiency and durability. Ricardo Lopez, founder of Bellwether Coffee, said: "With hundreds of customers roasting on our Series 1 roaster, we've seen firsthand the potential for our roasters to empower coffee retailers in not only reducing their carbon footprint but also in growing revenues and evolving their businesses to meet the needs of the current landscape". He continued: "Our new roaster is a massive step to transforming the coffee industry, making it more sustainable for the planet and accessible to all communities". Kristen Johansen, chief product officer of Bellwether Coffee, added: "Our technology brings the craft of coffee roasting into a digital platform that anyone can use. Our new, intuitive software enables any cafe, bakery or restaurant to take full control of their coffee program and sustainably source and roast their own incredible coffee with the touch of a button." According to Bellwether, the company reduces 87% of the carbon footprint from roasting with its closed-loop system.

Kraft Heinz has reported a 3.3% decrease in its Q4 net sales to $6.71 billion and warned of considerable future price increases to counter raw material and transportation costs. The owner of Heinz Ketchup and Philadelphia recorded full-year organic sales growth of 1.8%. Packaged food companies such as Kraft Heinz, Conagra and Kellogg continue to grapple with the surging cost of grains, meat and edible oils, as well as other commodities. Miguel Patricio, Kraft Heinz CEO, commented: "Our strategic transformation has powered another year of outstanding performance. Our achievements are proof that our scale and agility have led to better results and greater relevance with customers and consumers." The company predicts a low-single-digit percentage increase in its organic net sales for 2022, which will reflect continued healthy consumption versus pre-pandemic levels. Kraft Heinz's ongoing efforts to manage inflationary pressures will continue as it perseveres with its investments in long-term growth. "We are generating efficiencies to fuel incremental investments in our business, which, along with successful pricing, are mitigating inflationary pressures. I'm proud of our incredible team and have great confidence that we will build on our momentum in 2022," Patricio continued.

Nestlé has recorded full-year organic sales growth of 7.5%, driven by retail sales, price increases and market share gains. In its third-quarter results, the Swiss food giant said that it expected full-year organic sales growth of 6-7%. The steady recovery of Nestlé’s out-of-home channels also contributed to helping the company beat its 2021 guidance. Nestlé’s full-year reported sales increased by 3.3% to CHF 87.1 billion ($94.3 billion approx.), compared with last year’s CHF 84.3 billion ($94.1 billion) figure. The company’s net profit grew by 38.2% to CHF 16.9 billion ($18.3 billion). For 2021, Nestlé reported sales of CHF 33.8 billion ($36.6 billion) in the Americas, representing organic growth of 8.5%. The zone saw continued market share gains, led by coffee, pet food, frozen food and ambient culinary. The business witnessed 7.2% organic sales growth in its Zone Europe, Middle East and North Africa to CHF 21.1 billion ($22.8 billion), driven by “continued evolution of the portfolio toward fast-growing categories and channels, as well as innovation”. Sales in Nestlé's Zone Asia, Oceania and sub-Saharan Africa grew by 4.2% on an organic basis. Mark Schneider, Nestlé CEO, said: “In 2021, we remained focused on executing our long-term strategy and stepping up growth investments, while at the same time navigating global supply chain challenges. Our organic growth was strong, with broad-based market share gains, following disciplined execution, rapid innovation and increased digitalisation.” “We limited the impact of exceptional cost inflation through diligent cost management and responsible pricing…The evolution of our portfolio continued, focusing on categories with attractive growth opportunities and differentiated offerings. Recent examples include the acquisition of the core brands of The Bountiful Company and the divestiture of the mainstream water brands in North America.” He continued: “Our sustainability agenda further progressed as we enhance the wellbeing of our consumers, help regenerate the environment and strengthen the farming communities in our supply chains. We continued to create value for our shareholders through disciplined capital allocation, steadily increasing dividends and significant share buybacks.”

US juice brand Jamba and robotics firm Blendid have unveiled two new autonomous robotic smoothie kiosk locations at educational institutions in Georgia. The new locations are at Georgia College in Milledgeville and Kennesaw State University in Marietta. They mark the first Jamba by Blendid openings on college campuses, with the other pilot kiosk locations including a shopping mall and a big box retailer. According to Jamba, this marks a "significant step" as the companies look to open more Jamba by Blendid kiosks in gyms, hospitals and airports. The kiosk uses machine learning, robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) to offer a wide array of nutritious food options, made on demand, that can be customised to consumers' lifestyle and taste preferences. Vipin Jain, CEO and co-founder of Blendid, said: "By utilising robotics and AI technology, we can achieve our team's mission to make delicious and customised food accessible to all. We're thrilled to have accomplished this at the first two Jamba by Blendid pilot locations, and the positive guest feedback validates the potential of our robotic kiosks at a variety of different locations across the country." The smoothies are available in 14oz servings and consumers can place orders either in person or through Blendid's mobile app.

Cannabis-infused beverage company Cann has announced a $27 million Series A funding round and its expansion into Canada. Existing investor Imaginary Ventures participated in the round, along with a roster of celebrity investors, including Nina Dobrev, Adam Devine, Zoey Deutch, Jordan Cooper, Sara Foster and Rosario Dawson. Cann produces and markets alcohol-free microdosed beverages, and all of its core products contain 2mg of THC and 4mg of CBD, designed to deliver a "light, uplifting social buzz". Flavours include Honeydew Mint, Blood Orange Cardamom, Grapefruit Rosemary and Cranberry Sage. Luke Anderson, co-founder of Cann, said: "Despite it being as difficult to sell Cann to retailers as it would be to sell meat in a vegan grocery store, at the end of the day the consumer votes on the company's success with their dollar and as they keep showing up, the channel is finally starting to understand that they have more crowded stores when Cann owns the fridge. Consumers are demanding Cann everywhere and this funding allows us to deliver on that demand across channels and borders."

Princes has expanded its extensive portfolio into the plant-based sector, with new "affordable" canned vegan ready meals. The range comes in four variants: Lentil & Mushroom Bolognese, Mexican Mixed Bean Chilli, Vegetable Green Thai Curry and Chunky Mixed Veg Curry. The ready meals are Vegan Society approved and are 392g per can, ideal "for two to share with a side of rice, pasta or even quinoa". Dean Towey, commercial director for food at Princes, said: "This new range of vegan canned ready meals answers demand from shoppers who love canned food and want even more variety. Princes plant-based ready meals aim to show that eating vegan food doesn’t have to be expensive, time-consuming or difficult. We hope these new products will help even more people incorporate delicious vegan meals into their repertoire." Princes vegan ready meals are available in Sainsbury's, Morrisons, B&M and Co-op for £1.00 per can.

Hostess Brands is expanding its donut range with the launch of two new caffeinated Hostess Boost Jumbo Donettes in the US. The flavours comprise: chocolate mocha and caramel macchiato. Each donut contains between 50-70mg of caffeine, which the company claims has slightly less caffeine than one cup of coffee. The chocolate mocha variety features flavours of chocolate and espresso coffee, while the caramel macchiato variety combines caramel with espresso coffee flavours. "For adults who are increasingly looking for alternative sources of caffeine, our new Hostess Boost Jumbo Donettes offer a tasty, energy-boosting, grab-and-go way to jumpstart the day," said Christopher Balach, general manager of Hostess. Hostess Boost Jumbo Donettes are three times bigger than the original Hostess Donettes mini donuts. The new products are caffeinated with coffee bean extract and are lightly glazed. The donuts come in a 2.5oz single-serve package and will be available from this month at convenience stores nationwide with an SRP of $2.49.

Ebro Foods has launched a new organic rice drink under its Tilda rice brand, aiming to tap into the plant-based alternative milk sector. The new release is made from water, 16% organic rice, rice oil and salt. Tilda rice milk is naturally lactose-free, gluten-free, dairy-free and contains no added sugars or artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. "With over 50 incredible years of expertise in bringing you the finest quality rice, we have now launched a rice MLK plant-based drink that has a naturally sweet taste for your taste buds," claimed Tilda. The product is available now from Waitrose for an RRP of £2.20 per 1-litre carton.

Nestlé-owned frozen snack brand Outshine has announced the launch of Fruit & Yogurt Smoothie pouches, aimed at both children and adults. Made with real fruit with non-fat yogurt, Outshine Fruit & Yogurt Smoothies is available in four flavours: blueberry pear, peach raspberry, strawberry coconut and pear vanilla. Each smoothie, which is the company's first shelf-stable product, contains less than 10g of sugar and no added sugar, no artificial flavours and colours, and no GMO ingredients. Doug Munk, senior director of new business ventures at Nestlé, said: “We know convenience is critical for busy families – seven out of 10 parents are more likely to grab a shelf-stable snack over one they have to keep cold, make at home, cut or heat up. But finding nutritious, on-the-go options that appeal to the whole family can be challenging." He continued: "Outshine Fruit & Yogurt Smoothies are a modern solution, and we’re bringing everything that our fans love about our fruit bars to this new product, with flavours that appeal to both kids and adults, in a convenient grab-and-go pouch with real fruit ingredients, zero grams of added sugars, and no artificial flavours or colours.” Outshine Fruit & Yogurt Smoothie Pouches is available at major retail stores, including Food Lion, Kroger, Ralphs and select Safeway Albertsons in the Pacific Northwest, for an SRP of $4.49.