Sargento Foods has partnered with Mondelēz International to create a new snack range that pairs Sargento cheeses with Ritz, Triscuit and Wheat Thins crackers. The new Sargento Balanced Breaks Cheese & Crackers Snacks come in four combinations, each containing 7-9g of protein and up to 170 calories per serving. The four varieties include: Pepper Jack and Colby Jack natural cheeses with Ritz Mini Crackers; Gouda and sharp cheddar natural cheeses with Triscuit Mini Original Crackers; Monterey Jack and mild cheddar natural cheeses and Wheat Thins Mini Original Snacks; and low-moisture mozzarella and fontina natural cheeses with Wheat Thins Mini Sundried Tomato & Basil Flavored Snacks. “We want to provide snackers with even more variety and convenience, and we know that fans of both Sargento and our partnership brands will have their taste buds 'wowed' by these new flavour combinations,” said Nikki Mamuric, director of marketing at Sargento Foods. “For more than 65 years Sargento has led innovation in the cheese category and we're excited to add these products alongside existing favourites in our Balanced Breaks product line.” Sargento Balanced Breaks Cheese & Crackers Snacks come in packs of three single-serve snack trays and can be found online and at major retailers in the US. Last year, Sargento Foods expanded its Reserve Series product line with the introduction of a range of cheese slices.

AB InBev’s Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I subsidiary has announced a more than £115 million investment in its two major UK breweries to increase capacity and efficiency. The investment aims to enable the brewer meet the growing demand for beer – which it says reached record sales levels last year in the off-trade – and help drive post-pandemic economic recovery. Budweiser Brewing Group says that the projects at the sites in South Wales and Lancashire will create 55 jobs by the end of the year. The primary focus of the investment will be installing modern and eco-friendly infrastructure at the company's Magor and Samlesbury breweries to increase capacity in brewing, canning and bottling by a total of 3.6 million hectolitres. The Magor brewery in South Wales is receiving a £72 million investment, with improvements already underway. These include a new bottling line, brewery-wide efficiency improvements, eight new fermenting units and an improved wort cooler, which is expected to result in significant energy savings. Meanwhile, the brewer’s Samlesbury facility is receiving a £45 million investment, which will include the installation of a new canning line for sustainable plastic ring-free cans, brewery-wide efficiency and equipment improvements, and modifications in brewing, utilities and logistics to increase brewing capacity. Paula Lindenberg, president, Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I, said: “Like many in the UK, we are focused on a strong recovery of our economy, our communities and our country. By investing in our breweries with new roles and new technology to increase capacity, we’re ensuring that we can brew and deliver great beers for many years to come. “We know the beer industry is hugely valuable to the UK economy, and we believe our investments in our UK operations will be a catalyst for the recovery post-Covid.” Lord Gerry Grimstone, UK Minister for Investment, said: “Budweiser Brewing Group’s investment is great news for South Wales and Lancashire, supporting local jobs and helping the nation build back better from the Covid-19 crisis. “The UK remains extremely attractive to international investors and this £115 million investment is further testament to our fantastic beer industry.” Last year, Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I announced that the barley used for its UK-produced beers is now 100% sourced from British farms.

Flow Alkaline Spring Water has announced the appointment of former Nestlé Waters head, Maurizio Patarnello, to the role of CEO. Patarnello joins the Canadian water company after working over 27 years for Nestlé, spending a large majority of his career in the bottled water business. He served as CEO and chairman of Nestlé Waters from 2017 until the end of 2019, overlooking brands such as Nestlé Pure Life and Perrier. The original founder and CEO of Flow, Nicholas Reichenbach, will take on the new active role as Flow executive chairman. "Just weeks after we announced our intent to take Flow public, it is incredibly energising to have someone of Maurizio’s stature and expertise join the Flow family, and his leadership will help us accelerate our growth, hone our strategy and execution, and scale our business in North America," said Reichenbach. “His experience in the premium bottled water space and his business acumen will be invaluable as we build Flow together into a leading North American mineral spring water and beverage brand,” he added. Incoming Flow CEO, Maurizio Patarnello, said: “Flow has tapped directly into the modern consumer’s desire for high quality sustainable water and functional beverage products and is poised to be a market leader in the space. Accelerating Flow’s growth will be our main goal in the coming years. I expect great things to come.”

US-based aqua-tech company NaturalShrimp has signed a letter of intent to acquire the aquaculture assets of Hydrenesis Aquaculture for $12.5 million.  In January, Hydenesis – which creates technological processes wastewater treatment, desalination and drinking water applications – announced its partnership with NaturalShimp on a $25 million land-based aquaculture shrimp farm in Florida.  “NaturalShrimp has been working with Hydrenesis since 2018 on several solutions for the industry with the team at Hydrenesis,” said Gerald Easterling, CEO of NaturalShrimp. “We currently have trials ongoing in Norway and Australia. The company intends to immediately begin deployment of the technology in our hatchery and nursery systems.” “We also believe that the Hydrenesis technology will have major impacts on disease control in salmon, barramundi, and tilapia farming segments. We expect to file additional patents around the expansion of the application and use of the combined EC and Hydrenesis technology.” David Antelo, CEO of Hydrenesis, Inc added: “We are excited for the next evolution of our relationship with NaturalShrimp. We have been exploring the application of ‘Redox’ water treatment for several years. Our technologies’ ability to affect water chemistry and elevate water quality is proving to have a significant impact on growth and health metrics.” He continued: “Natural Shrimp's bold vision and rapid growth trajectory make them the ideal partner for extending commercialisation of Hydrenesis technologies to additional species applications”.

Heineken has reached an agreement with The Coca-Cola Company and the Coca-Cola System in Brazil to redesign their long-standing distribution partnership in the country. The redesigned partnership – which the companies claim will allow them to better serve consumers and customers in the Brazilian market with a wider portfolio – is expected to come into effect from mid-2021 until at least the end of 2026. The companies have agreed to an automatic renewal for another five-year term, subject to terms of the agreement. As part of the new agreement, the parties will begin a smooth transition of the Heineken and Amstel brands to Heineken Brazil’s distribution network. Meanwhile, the Coca-Cola System in Brazil will continue to offer Kaiser, Bavaria and Sol; while taking on Eisenbahn and other international brands. Under the terms of the deal, the Coca-Cola System in Brazil will be able to produce and distribute alcoholic beverages and other beers in Heineken’s portfolio; while Heineken will be able to explore further opportunities in the non-alcoholic segments. “I am very pleased to redefine our distribution partnership with the Coca-Cola System in Brazil. Through a dual route to market, we will be able to reach and better serve our consumers and customers with our broad portfolio, leveraging two strong distribution systems,” said Mauricio Giamellaro, managing director of Heineken Brazil. As a result, the parties have agreed to end existing litigation between them relating to previous distribution agreements. Back in 2017, Heineken announced it wasending its distribution contract with Coca-Cola Femsa in Brazil, following its €665 million acquisition of Kirin’s struggling Brazilian business. However, in 2019, Heineken and Coca-Cola Femsa ended their dispute, agreeing that beverages produced by Cervejaria Kaiser will continue to be distributed by Coca-Cola bottlers in Brazil until 2022. Ricardo Mello, president of the association of Coca-Cola Bottlers in Brazil, added: “This new agreement is positive news not only for the parties involved but for our Brazilian clients and consumers as well.” Last March, Heineken announced an investment of $183 million to expand its brewery in Ponta Grossa, Brazil , according to a report from Reuters .

The Kellogg Company has announced that it plans to shut down two production lines at its Mariemont, Ohio, plant, in a bid to strengthen its salty snacks business.  The company will meanwhile add a new line and reconfigure another in Jackson, Tennessee, as part of its broader Deploy for Growth strategy.  Kellogg Spokesperson, Kris Bahner, said: “As Kellogg advances our Deploy for Growth strategy, we must position our salty snacks business for continued success. To support the growth, we need the right manufacturing capacity to better meet our current and future production needs, and the evolving needs of our customers.” He continued: “We recently announced a planned investment in capability and capacity with a new line and the reconfiguring of an existing line in Jackson, Tenn, where we already make a number of our salty snacks. These changes would allow for future growth in crackers, while providing cost savings to our business.” “This planned change would include shutting down two lines at our Mariemont, Ohio plant. While this would be the right thing to do for the business, it is never an easy decision to make when people are impacted. When the planned changes are complete, the plant will continue to produce a number of Kellogg cracker brands.”

Plant-based group The Very Good Food Company has completed its acquisition of The Cultured Nut, an artisan vegan cheese producer in Canada, for an aggregate price of CAD$3m (approximately US$2.4m).  The Cultured Nut, which sells its products through several online and grocery platforms such as Whole Foods, creates products including block-style cheese, cream cheese, as well as plant-based butter, among other products.  The acquisition will enable Very Good Food to capitalise on the growing dairy alternatives market, which is projected to grow at a CAGR of 11.2% between 2020-2027 to reach US$44.9 billion by 2027.  Very will rebrand Cultured Nut's line under a new name, The Very Good Cheese Company, which is expected to launch in Q2 2021 through the company's ecommerce and wholesale distribution networks.  Very also hopes to scale Cultured Nut's existing production facility to over 100,000 units per month this year and in 2022. “The acquisition of Cultured Nut allows Very to efficiently enter into the dairy alternatives space,” said Mitchell Scott, CEO of Very. “This is a significant milestone in the realisation of our long-term strategy of owning several brands under the banner of the Very Good Food Company in all major food categories providing consumers fun, innovative and healthier plant-based alternatives to everyday animal-based products.”

PepsiCo 's latest innovation comes in the form of Neon Zebra, a non-alcoholic mini-can mixer containing real juice and no artificial sweeteners.  Available in four flavours – Margarita Mix, Strawberry Daiquiri Mix, Mojito Mix and Whiskey Sour Mix – this release aims to position PepsiCo as a key player in the cocktail mixer category.  "With at-home cocktail consumption on the rise, we saw an opportunity to build and disrupt this fast-growing category with a product that meets consumers' needs for convenience – to cut out time and mess without compromising on quality and taste," said Emily Silver, VP of innovation & capabilities, PepsiCo Beverages North America. She continued: "Neon Zebra adds a new level of personality in the cocktail mixer category with its bold flavours and colours and easy-to-use, recyclable mini-can format. We're thrilled with this new venture and all of the opportunities to come in the mixology category."

Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) has reported a net sales increase of 4.5% to $11.62 billion in 2020, as performance of its coffee pods and branded soft drinks remained strong amid Covid-19. The company witnessed a strong finish to 2020, with its fourth-quarter net sales rising by 6.4% to $3.12 billion, driven by market share gains across its portfolio and more households using the Keurig system. Operating income stood at $2.48 billion for the full-year, compared to $2.38 billion last year , representing a 4.3% increase driven by strong sales. In KDP’s coffee systems unit, net sales increased 4.7% to $4.43 billion for the full-year and grew by 9.1% in Q4. For 2020, KDP saw the unit record higher volumes of 7.2% due to more consumers using coffee pods at-home, while partially offset by a decline in away-from-home sales. In the year ended 31 December 2020, US households regularly using a Keurig brewer increased approximately 10% to 33 million households. For the company’s packaged beverages division, net sales rose 8.5% to $5.36 billion, reflecting 8.2% volume growth. The unit witnessed market share growth across the entire portfolio, with particular strength in carbonated soft drinks, premium unflavoured water and juice including its Dr Pepper, Canada Dry, 7UP, Snapple tea and Core brands. Meanwhile, KDP’s beverage concentrates unit saw its net sales fall 6.3% to $1.33 billion, driven by the negative impact of Covid-19 on the fountain foodservice business. KDP’s Latin America beverages witnessed its net sales drop by 5.9% to $497 million due to unfavourable foreign currency translation and the impact of the pandemic on Mexico’s volumes. Keurig Dr Pepper chairman and CEO, Bob Gamgort, said: "KDP again delivered on its annual financial commitments in 2020, capped by a strong fourth quarter with exceptional growth in net sales that was driven by market share gains across our portfolio and accelerated household adoption of the Keurig system. “While we expect 2021 to be another challenging and unpredictable year, we're confident in our ability to deliver the final year of the merger commitments communicated in 2018.” In 2021, KDP expects to deliver another year of strong growth and exceed its three-year merger target of 2-3% average annual growth.

Bacardi has introduced Grey Goose Essences, a new collection of vodkas infused with real fruit and botanical essences. Available in the US, the new collection comes in three flavours: strawberry & lemongrass, white peach & raspberry, and watermelon & basil. Each expression is made with flavours derived from fruits and botanicals around the world – such as France, Spain, Thailand and Sri Lanka – which are then blended with cold-distilled botanicals and Grey Goose Vodka. With a 30% ABV, the new vodkas are made from all-natural ingredients and contain no sugar or carbs. Essences marks the latest addition to the Grey Goose portfolio and was developed in an effort to meet demand for simple cocktails that are “brimming with vibrant flavour”. “Spritzes and mindful drinking have been growing trends, and with consumers increasingly trying their hand at mixology, we knew there was an exciting opportunity to create a distinctive liquid that would take the guesswork out of mixing light tasting and delicious cocktails at home,” said Grey Goose VP of global marketing, Martin de Dreuille. Grey Goose cellar master, François Thibault, added: "Grey Goose Essences has been a labour of love for both me and the brand. The freshest ingredients were meticulously searched for and a unique distillation process is used for each fruit and each botanical to ensure we captured the purest flavour in every bottle. All three Essences flavours reveal the most perfect expression of the ingredients they contain." The Grey Goose Essences line is now available at spirits retailers nationwide for an RRP of $29.99 per 750ml bottle.

Mondelēz International has announced the launch of Sustainable Futures, an impact investing platform to support ventures addressing key global issues. The new platform gives the company the opportunity to pursue and incubate innovative projects, together with 'like-minded' investors. Through Sustainable Futures, Mondelēz aims to co-invest in projects addressing climate change, as well as make seed investments in social ventures working to improve livelihoods and build healthier communities. Sustainable Futures will seek to support projects that reduce carbon emissions, protect forests and increase resilience in the landscapes from which Mondelēz sources raw materials. The first social ventures to receive support will include a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in India that will set up a women-owned social enterprise to up-cycle multi-layered plastic packaging into board. In addition, Sustainable Futures will back a project in South Africa supporting agro-entrepreneurs in ‘climate-smart’ food production, along with INMED Aquaponics Social Enterprise. “We don’t have all the answers, but we do know that alone, we can never achieve significant progress in the fight against systemic issues like climate change,” said Dirk Van de Put, chief executive and chairman of Mondelēz International. “Sustainable Futures is our first foray into impact investing and gives us the opportunity to work with others in supporting environmental and social projects that can help drive meaningful, long-term change.” Christine Montenegro McGrath, VP and chief of global impact and sustainability at Mondelēz International, added: “It’s only by testing and learning new approaches, and by seeking new forms of partnership with NGOs, governments and social entrepreneurs, that we can unleash the creativity we need to tackle some of the world’s most challenging issues. “By offering seed investment and expertise through Sustainable Futures, Mondelēz International can help to create lasting solutions in areas like forest protection, carbon emissions reduction, and innovation in recycling.”

Mondelēz International is expanding its Sour Patch Kids candy portfolio with the introduction of new watermelon-flavoured jelly beans. Launching ahead of Easter, the new offering comes in a 13oz bag and joins a soft and chewy watermelon candy product in the brand’s range of watermelon-flavoured treats. With an SRP of $3.00, Sour Patch Kids Watermelon Jelly Beans will be available at retailers nationwide. Sour Patch Kids recently partnered with Conagra Brands-owned Snack Pack to launch new ‘sour and sweet’ Juicy Gels.