Drinkworks has unveiled three new co-branded cocktail pods for use in the Drinkworks Home Bar system, as part of its latest partnership with Pernod Ricard USA. The new products come as part of a new licensing agreement between Drinkworks, Pernod Ricard USA and The Absolut Company to develop signature cocktails with the company’s spirit brands. The first two cocktail offerings will include Absolut Pineapple Martini and Kahlúa Espresso Martini, which are expected to launch in late 2021. Meanwhile, a Malibu cocktail is currently in development for a planned release in 2022. "Pernod Ricard has one of the most unique and comprehensive brand portfolios on the market, and we look forward to the opportunity to bring additional Pernod Ricard brands into Drinkworks' open system," said Nathaniel Davis, CEO of Drinkworks,a joint venture between AB InBev and Keurig. The new pods will join Drinkworks’ portfolio of more than 30 varieties of cocktails including Brown-Forman’s co-branded Jack Daniel’s Lynchburg Lemonade pod. Kate Pomeroy, Pernod Ricard USA head of innovation, said: "The trend of elevated at-home consumption is expected to have a lasting impact on consumption habits. The partnership between Drinkworks and Pernod Ricard USA, specifically with Absolut, Malibu and Kahlúa, is consistent with our drive to become a truly consumer-centric organisation." Amy Karayannis, director, corporate strategy and mergers and acquisitions at Pernod Ricard USA, added: "Absolut Pineapple and Kahlúa Espresso Martinis are classic bar favourites, and we can't wait to delight both cocktail enthusiasts and those new to enjoying cocktails at home with the premium ingredients and bar-quality experience they expect from our brands and Pernod Ricard." The new cocktail pods will be available on Drinkworks.com and at select retailers across the US.

Arla Foods has announced plans to build a new commercial dairy farm in northern Nigeria, in an effort to support local milk production in the country.   Located in Kaduna State, the 200-hectare farm will house 400 dairy cows, modern milking parlours and technology, grassland, as well as living facilities for 25 employees. The dairy cooperative has said it will train and support up to 1,000 local dairy farmers to improve milk yields and quality, animal welfare and farm profitability. The investment forms part of Arla’s long-term commitment to increase local food production in the country.   According to Arla, Nigeria’s population is set to reach nearly 400 million people by 2050; yet the country’s dairy sector is currently only able to supply less than 10% of its demand – a gap that is expected to grow in line with the growth of its population. The farm – scheduled to open in 2022 – is eventually expected to produce over 10 tonnes of milk per day, which will then be processed by Arla’s dairy plant in Kaduna State to supply locally produced dairy products to Nigerian consumers. Executive vice president and head of Arla Foods International, Simon Stevens, said: “There is a great need for nutritious food and dairy products to satisfy the growing demand from Nigeria’s fast-growing population. “This requires a complementary approach where imported food is crucial to ensure food security, while also supporting the government’s long-term agricultural transformation plan to build a sustainable dairy sector in Nigeria. Our new dairy farm is our next step in our commitment to Nigeria.” Since 2017, Arla has been the lead business partner in The Milky Way Partnership, which was formed in collaboration with the Danish Agricultural and Food Council, Care Denmark, Seges and the Nigerian pastoralist organisation Coret, in order to develop a sustainable dairy value chain in Nigeria. In 2019, Arla entered a new public-private partnership with Kaduna State government to offer 1,000 nomadic dairy farmers permanent farmland. Arla Foods chairman, Jan Toft Nørgaard, said: “To collaborate with farmers in many parts of world, sharing knowledge and supporting local dairy industries is a key part of our cooperative mindset and our farm in Nigeria is the next important step. When it is built, we can support local dairy farmers to create better livelihoods and it is a key enabler to growing dairy and food production on a local scale.”

Haribo is investing £22 million at its manufacturing facility in Castleford, West Yorkshire, as it looks to strengthen its position in the UK market. The investment will be used to enhance technologies at the purpose-built UK site and deliver additional capacity, greater efficiencies and reduced costs. In addition, Haribo will strengthen its product reformulation efforts, with sugar reduction as a key focus. The company has already launched a number of reduced-sugar products such as its Fruitilicious gum sweets and reformulated its Jelly Babies to reduce sugar content. The £22 million investment will be rolled out throughout this year and is said to reiterate Haribo’s commitment to the UK market. “As we continue to face tough challenges following the ongoing impact of Covid-19, we are showing our resilience and commitment to world-class production in an increasingly competitive market,” said Jon Hughes, managing director of Haribo UK.  “Investing £22 million into our already world-class manufacturing facility will give us greater opportunity to produce the variety of sweets that we know bring childlike happiness to our customers. We focus on making great-tasting treats that are just sweet enough and will continue to look for ways to reduce sugar content where we can.” Last year, Haribo Group announced that it would be beginning construction of its first-ever manufacturing plant in the US, stating that it would invest over $300 million in the project.

Kellogg’s Pringles brand has unveiled a new sweet and spicy flavour, which is available in the US for a limited time only. Pringles Wavy Pineapple Habanero is said to be inspired by tropical destinations and combines ‘sweet and tangy’ pineapple with smoky habanero peppers in thick, wavy crisps. “We love epic flavour combinations at Pringles, and these new tropical-inspired crisps are no exception,” said Gareth Maguire, senior director of marketing for Pringles. “The sweet and spicy flavour will have snackers in vacation mode all summer long, making backyard grills and local beach trips feel like a getaway.” Pringles Wavy Pineapple Habanero is available now at Walgreens and Duane Reade stores, as well as online, while supplies last. Earlier this year, Pringles released a limited-edition pickle-flavoured snack.

Unilever has announced its new partnership with food-tech company Enough, which produces fungi-based mycoprotein, as it looks to bring more plant-based meat products to market. Formerly known as 3F Bio, Enough produces Abunda mycoprotein using what it claims is a zero-waste fermentation process that feeds natural fungi renewable feedstock such as wheat and corn. Based in Scotland, Enough supplies Abunda as a food ingredient to consumer brands and retailers. According to Unilever, the ingredient contains all essential amino acids and is high in dietary fibre. With the new partnership, Unilever intends to explore the use of Abunda mycoprotein in the manufacture of foods under its meat alternative brand The Vegetarian Butcher, which it acquired in 2018. “Plant-based foods is one of Unilever’s fastest growing segments and we’re delighted to partner with Enough to develop more sustainable protein products that are delicious, nutritious, and a force for good,” said Carla Hilhorst, executive vice president of R&D for foods & refreshment at Unilever. “We’re excited by the potential that this technology has for future innovations across our portfolio, and we can’t wait to launch more plant-based foods that help people cut down on meat, without compromising on taste.” The partnership marks a step by Unilever towards its annual global sales target of €1 billion from plant-based meat and dairy alternatives by 2025-2027, as part of its ‘Future Foods’ ambition. Last July, Unilever partnered with Algenuity to explore ways of bringing plant-based foods made with microalgae to the market. In 2020, The Vegetarian Butcher reportedly grew over 70%. The meat alternatives brand’s portfolio is currently available in 45 countries and is used for vegan Burger King menu items such as the Plant-Based Whopper, Nuggets and Vegan Royal. Andrew Beasley, commercial director of Enough, said: “Producing vast quantities of healthy and sustainable protein is one of the most urgent global priorities. There’s a rapid transition in the food industry and we are excited with this collaboration with Unilever and The Vegetarian Butcher, which truly supports our aim to create impact and scale.”

Huhtamaki has announced that it is establishing a new manufacturing facility in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, which will serve egg packaging customers in the region. The site will supply new and existing Huhtamaki customers with a range of locally produced packaging solutions and is expected to begin manufacturing operations during the fourth quarter of this year. Employing around 30 people when fully operational, the facility will be located close to one of South Africa’s main export ports. Eric Le Lay, president, fibre foodservice Europe-Asia-Oceania, said: “The addition of a unit in KwaZulu-Natal is an important addition to our fibre packaging footprint in South Africa, not only providing efficiencies in our service to customers in South Africa but an additional benefit in terms of proximity to a major port which will drive access to markets across East Africa. “The new facility sets us up to better meet the growth of the fibre packaging sector and future demand for sustainable packaging. It also strengthens our position in the region significantly.” Huhtamaki says that the investment underlines its commitment to the South Africa and East Africa markets. The company has operated in South Africa since 2000 and currently employs around 530 people across four manufacturing units, producing fibre packaging for a range of applications. Earlier this year, Huhtamaki announced a €10 million investment in a new manufacturing site in Malaysia, in order to better serve its customers in Southeast Asia.

Mondelēz International  has agreed to acquire Chipita, a manufacturer of croissants and baked snacks in central and eastern Europe, for $2 billion. Established in Greece in 1973, Chipita manufactures a range of croissants and baked snacks – including cakes, biscuits and spreads – under its brands 7Days, Chipicao and Fineti. The company’s baked goods, which are produced in 13 manufacturing plants, are distributed to more than 50 countries. In 2020, Chipita recorded annual revenues of approximately $580 million. Mondelēz says the deal will enable it to meet growing consumer demand for the baking products segment including biscuits, cake and pastry. The acquisition builds on the multinational company’s expansion into the fast-growing snacking segment, following the purchase of UK performance nutrition brand Grenade , premium cracker company Gourmet Food Holdings , and plant-based snack brand Hu . “Welcoming Chipita’s delicious pastry products into the Mondelēz International family advances our strategy to become the global leader in broader snacking,” said Dirk Van de Put, chairman and CEO of Mondelēz International. “Their iconic brands and significant scale across so many attractive geographies make them a strong strategic complement to our existing portfolio and future growth ambitions in Europe and beyond.” With the acquisition, Mondelēz will also utilise Chipita’s distribution network capabilities in central and eastern Europe, increasing its presence in the regions. According to Mondelēz, the transaction could also lead to innovation and co-branding opportunities as it looks to bring its chocolate brands to new categories.   Chipita CEO, Spyros Theodoropoulos, said: “Chipita, for more than 40 years, based on quality and innovation created a new category of snacks loved by consumers internationally. I am certain that the acquisition of Chipita by Mondelēz International, one of the world’s leading snacking companies, will create new prospects for its people and products.” The transaction is subject to certain antitrust approvals and closing conditions.

Barry Callebaut-owned Dutch brand Van Houten has announced the launch of a new powdered chocolate drink made from ruby chocolate. The Swiss chocolatier says it is the first to introduce ruby chocolate in a powdered form. The ruby chocolate drinking powder will initially be made available to the hospitality sector, specifically to baristas and coffee bars across the UK. Ruby chocolate was the fourth type of chocolate to be introduced by Barry Callebaut in 2017, described as having a naturally occurring fresh berry fruitiness and reddish colour. “The new Van Houten ruby chocolate drink confirms the brand’s status as a cocoa pioneer,” said Freek van der Knaap, vice president of vending & beverages EMEA at Barry Callebaut. He added: “This chocolate drink has all the flavour and colour of ruby chocolate and the powder dissolves very easily in any type of milk, or hot and cold applications. It’s the perfect option for when speed and preparation is important. “This is a real innovation for the beverages industry, and we are proud to be the first company to offer this brand-new product.” Owned by Barry Callebaut since 1998, Van Houten is known for its range of confectionery bars and cocoa powders used to make chocolate drinks.

Montreal-based dairy company Saputo has announced two strategic acquisitions in the dairy alternatives and value-added ingredients sectors, representing a combined investment of CAD 187 million ($72.6 million approx). Saputo has acquired Bute Island Foods, a manufacturer and distributor of vegan cheese for the retail and foodservice industries. Bute produces the popular Sheese brand, as well as private label brands. Located on the Isle of Bute on the west coast of Scotland, the company employs 180 people. “We are delighted to welcome the Bute Island Foods team and the wealth of knowledge they bring to our global family,” said Lino A Saputo, chair of the board and CEO of Saputo. “Our commitment remains to expand our footprint in the dairy alternatives space to meet the changing demands of our customers and consumers.” He continued: “This investment marks an important milestone that will allow us to accelerate our growth in this area globally, putting innovation at the forefront of our priorities”. In addition, Saputo has pledged more than CAD 5 million over five years to support local Bute Island community initiatives and organisations. Saputo’s second acquisition is for the Reedsburg facility of Wisconsin Specialty Protein, which manufactures value-added ingredients such as goat whey, organic lactose and other dairy powders. The transaction is expected to close at the end of May and will enable Saputo to expand and accelerate its ingredients offering in the US and internationally.

The shortlist of finalists for the World Dairy Innovation Awards 2021 has been announced. The winners in all 20 categories will be announced as part of a special virtual ceremony hosted in association with the Global Dairy Congress live on YouTube on June 23 at 6pm (BST) 2021. Be sure to register for the premiere, subscribe and turn notifications on so you don't miss out! FoodBev Media’s Awards Marketing Executive, Lily Benham, said: “This is the seventh annual World Dairy Innovation Awards, and despite all of the challenges the global dairy industry has faced over the past year, we are once again amazed by the number of exciting, innovative entries shown within this year’s entries.” “From new flavour concepts, to sustainable packaging designs and game changing manufacturing technologies, it is fantastic to see both household names and small challengers alike from every continent taking pride and celebrating their success. This year’s awards really showcase some of the most exciting new products and developments of the year and we can't wait to see who will be crowned the winners in June." A full list of finalists in each category follows below. Best brand extension or reformulation Inner Mongolia Group - AMBROSIAL AMX Brownes Dairy - Barista Milk CP-Meiji - Grape Flavored Yoghurt with Nata De Coco,Peach Flavored Yoghurt with Nata De Coco Biotiful Dairy - Kefir Coffee Best butter/dairy spread Posh Cow Dairy - Flavoured Butter Milkio Foods Limited - A2 Organic Grass-fed Ghee from New Zealand Moose Maple UK Ltd - Moose Maple Butter Land O'Lakes - Butter Spread with Seeds – Flax, Chia and Hemp Best cheese ALDI - exclusive Emporium Selection Limoncello Wensleydale and Lemon & Honey Wensleydale Norseland Ltd. – Ilchester® Spiced Blueberry Hot Cross Bun Wheeler Meiji – Hokkaido Tokachi Fresh Mozzarella Cheese Meiji – Quark Fresh Cheese Primula – Spicy Cheese ‘n’ Jalapenos Best children’s dairy product  YILI - QQ star zhengao kids formula Horizon Organic - Growing Years  Ingenuity Brands - Braniac Kids Yogurts Biotiful Dairy - Kefir Slurpy Yum Actually – Fruit & Veggie Ice Cream Snack Cups Best dairy alternative  Silk – ULTRA  The Live Green Co – Plant-Based Ice Cream Sesamilk – Sesamilk Eclipse Foods – Eclipse Ice Cream Happy Cheeze GmbH – Camembert Alternative based on Cauliflower Best dairy dessert  English Cheesecake Company - Cheesecake Range CP-Meiji Co., Ltd. - Meiji Brown Yoghurt Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams - Everything Bagel Ice Cream Ice Cream Cloud & Joy - Better-for-You Frozen Dessert Best dairy drink Ballyvolane House Spirits Company Ltd - Bertha's Revenge Gin Maple Hill Creamery - 100% Grassfed Organic Reduced Sugar Chocolate Milk WNS Group - WDOM Organic A2β-casein Milk Meiji Co - Savas for Woman Milk Protein Dairy Farmers of America - Siips Inner Mongolia Yili Group - Cute Star Rub Your Tummy dietary fiber yogurt drink Best dairy ingredient Glanbia Nutritionals - OptiSol 1005 & 1007 Two Good ‘Good Save’ - Meyer Lemons DĒRĺNĺCE LLC - Ice Cream with Collagen Peptide Chr. Hansen - Next-generation FreshQ® cultures Best dairy protein product Dairy Farmers of America - Kemps Bold Cottage Cheese Nadec - Protein Based Milk Perfect Day - Perfect Day Responsible Foods - Næra™ Power Protein Crunch Best dairy snack  Dairy Farmers of America - Kemps Mixed-In Cottage Cheese  Icelandic Provisions - Fruit & Nuts Cheesies Ltd. - Cheesies Range Responsible Foods - Næra™ Icelandic Skyr Snacks WNS Group - WDOM Donno & Donna Milk Beans Best functional dairy  YILI - ShuHua Selenium Fortified Lactose-Free Milk Cp-Meiji - Pasteurized Milk Meiji B Complex Biotiful Dairy - Kefir Shots Biolactive IMMUNE - Lactoferrin Sparkling Water (no added sugar) YILI - Black Milk Powder Best ice cream/frozen yogurt  The Food Shop - Gallivant Mawa Ice Creams ChurnBaby - Boutique Style Ice Cream Sandwiches N!ck's - Ground Breaking Low Calorie Ice Cream Brand Dairy Farmers of America- Ittibitz Red, White, & Pop! Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams – Sunshine Ice Cream Best infant nutrition  Blueriver Nutrition Co Ltd - Sheep Milk Growing-up Formula China Feihe Limited - Astrobaby A2 Formula China Feihe Limited - Astrobaby Platinum Formula Wyeth Nutrition - Wyeth BELSOL Spring Sheep Milk Co - Gentle Sheep Best intolerance friendly dairy product  Ausnutria Dairy (China) - Holisure Lactoferrin Formulated Milk Powder Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams - Caramel Pecan Sticky Buns Milk Academy - Al Nutrica Organic Lactose Free Labneh Mixed Fruit WNS Group - WDOM Lactose Free Milk Best manufacturing/technology innovation  GEA Westfalia Separator Group GmbH - IDEAL Whey Separation SwissDeCode - DNAFoil® A2 Family of Tests TMV SS - Veterinary SPXFLOW Technology - Cheasly Technology for Cheese making Lely International – Lely Orbiter Best marketing campaign or initiative  Dairy Farmers of America - Kemps Giving Cow Campaign Inner Mongolia Yili Group - Cool Either Way Campaign China Feihe Limited - Yun Su Yuan (tracing the source through live streaming) project in 2020 Brownes Dairy - School Tours Incursions Best new brand or business  DFA Rebranding - DairyPure Transition to 19 Regional Brands Cheesies Ltd. - Cheesies Range Responsible Foods - Næra™ Icelandic Dairy Snacks ChurnBaby – Boutique Style Cookie Cups Best packaging design  Dairy Farmers of America - Live Real Farms Dairy+ Elopak - Pure-Pak® Imagine carton Inner Mongolia yili group - AMBROSIAL new high-end curd spoon eating yogurt(5G yogurt) EcoTensil® - Sustainable Grab-and-Go TabLock©, EcoSpoon® & EcoTensil® YILI – SATINE X Palace Museum Product of Special Edition Best sustainability/ CSR initiative  EcoTensil ® - AquaDot ™ EcoSpoon for packaging and food service Müller UK & Ireland - Müller Advantage Fonterra Cooperative group - NZMP Carbonzero™ Certified Organic Butter Glenisk - #OneMillionTrees Best yogurt Brownes Dairy - Cacao Natural Yoghurt Inner Mongolia yili group -AMBROSIAL new yogurt (5G yogurt) Biotiful Dairy - Kefir Yogurts Icelandic Provisions - Fruit & Nuts

Jealous Sweets has launched a new gluten-free confectionery, Foams.  Foams come in two variants: Berry Foams (featuring strawberry, cherry and blackberry flavours) and Juice Foams (featuring peach, mango and raspberry flavours), each available in a 125g sharing bag.  The company said the Foams are filled with micro-bubbles that retain flavour, and include pectin (instead of gelatin) for a smooth soft sweet with "no nasties".  Imran Merza, co-founder of Jealous Sweets said “Our mission is to make life sweeter for our customers, retailers, animals and the planet. I am delighted that the new Foams range delivers a consistent, high-quality, sophisticated taste profile while maintaining zero toxins, no animal derivatives, and using ethically sourced premium ingredients." "We’re dedicated to creating products that are plant-based, gluten-free, real fruit juices, no palm oil, no synthetic flavours, no artificial colours,” she added.  RRP £2.

US-based Köe Kombucha has added two new flavours to its product lineup: Köe Watermelon (with a dash of lime) and Köe Tropical (which features pineapple, citrus and guava).   Each better-for-you beverage is crafted with billions of probiotics and will be available in 12oz recyclable cans at the beginning of July.  “We are sparking a broader interest in kombucha and will heighten our reach with the launch of our Tropical and Watermelon,” said Louisa Lawless, chief strategy officer at Köe. “We’re seeing strong growth in cities like Atlanta, where our dollar velocities are double those of the legacy kombucha brands, and San Diego, where three of our SKUs are in the top 10, according to IRI. "We’re excited to launch these amazing new flavours to support a future where healthy probiotic drinks are more accessible – in taste, price point and availability,” she added.  The new flavours will join Köe’s current lineup of Lemon Lime, Mango, Strawberry Lemonade, Raspberry Dragonfruit and Blueberry Ginger.