Pots & Co has announced that General Mills’ venture capital arm is leading a multistage investment of up to £15 million ($20 million) into its business. Based in London, in the UK, Pots & Co produces a range of potted puddings, as well as new mezze-style dips. The company, which currently makes 16 million handmade puddings per year, is said to have generated sales of £14 million in 2020. According to Pots & Co, the 301 Inc-led investment supports its growth strategy to expand its product range and distribution in the US. In addition to the funding, the company has also announced that it has secured increased US retail distribution across the West Coast and Rocky Mountain region. All products distributed in the US are currently made in Pots & Co’s London-based factory. The company says that the new funds will enable it to explore manufacturing capabilities in the US, as well as to invest further in marketing and distribution. Julian Dyer, founder of Pots & Co, said: “We want to create one of the world’s leading food brands and we are thrilled that General Mills has invested in Pots & Co, enabling us to speed up the growth of our business and creating fabulous products for the American consumer.” John Haugen, founder and managing director of General Mills' venture capital arm, 301 Inc, said: “Our mission is to discover new and emerging food brands with a remarkable offering. Pots & Co fulfils that mission with its focus on natural ingredients to create puddings of restaurant quality. “As our first overseas investment and first investment in a UK company, we believe Pots & Co will deliver substantial growth with an increasing range of puddings and with its move into savoury products. We’re excited to partner as the brand expands its presence in the US market.”

German packaging company Südpack has agreed to acquire Netherlands-based manufacturer LPF Flexible Packaging from the Clondalkin Group. Founded in 1907, LPF is a manufacturer of flexible packaging for more than 40 different applications, supplying brands and companies primarily in the food and drink, confectionery, animal feed and agricultural sectors. Located in Grootegast, LPF specialises in high-barrier films for sensitive products. The Dutch company’s key competencies include the development and production of printed and unprinted duplex and tri-plex packaging laminates, which provide protection and prolonged shelf lives to products. LPF has been a part of Clondalkin Group since 2005. As part of the transaction, Südpack says it will gain LPF’s product capabilities, its R&D resources and machinery. The deal – which was made for an undisclosed sum – also marks a step in Südpack’s growth strategy. Erik Bouts, CEO of Südpack, said: “We value LPF’s high level of development and market competence and plan to establish the site in Grootegast as a competence centre for high performance laminates over the long term within the Südpack Group. “In doing so, we want to further expand Südpack’s expertise and performance portfolio in the development and production of high-performance laminates for various applications in order to serve attractive emerging markets and tap into new markets.” Following the transaction, LPF’s workforce will become part of Südpack, while Südpack’s high-performance laminates production will continue as normal at its sites in Ochsenhausen and Bioggio in Switzerland. Jacco Thijen, managing director of LPF, said: “LPF has made significant steps in growing its Flexo laminates business with the support of Egeria during the last four years. In Südpack, we have found a new partner who is willing to make further investments and impresses with their sustainable corporate governance and long-term growth strategy.” The deal is expected to be completed by 1 February and the integration will take place immediately. Last year, Südpack formed a joint venture with Indian packaging manufacturer Kamakshi Flexiprints, as it seeks to accelerate its growth internationally.

Cargill has acquired ProPortion Foods, a US manufacturer of meat products including portion control steaks and marinated ready-to-grill meats. The deal includes two plants, in Round Rock, Texas and Vernon, California, which will produce a variety of fully cooked protein products for Cargill’s retail and foodservice channel customers. According to Cargill, the facilities' capabilities range from ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat meals, to value-added proteins for foodservice. “Our agreement with ProPortion Foods is an exciting next step as we continue to execute our growth strategy and build our value-added cooked business,” said Rob Stewart, managing director for growth ventures in Cargill’s North American protein business. “We are investing in our future and look forward to growing the Cargill team and our presence in the southern and western US while continuing to build our customer portfolio.” Brian Levy, a partner with ProPortion Foods, added: “My partners and I worked really hard to create a great company in ProPortion Foods. “We’re delighted that the business and our employees will have the opportunity to grow with Cargill, completing the vision we set out to achieve.” The financial terms of the deal – which closed in December – have not been disclosed.

Kellogg's has launched a new line of Special K keto-friendly snack bars, containing 1g of sugar, 2g of net carbs and 7g of protein.  The bars are available in two flavours – Chocolate Almond Fudge and Peanut Butter Fudge.  "Our Kellogg's Special K keto-friendly snack bars help you win however you eat, whether you're all-in on keto, a dabbler, a first-timer or just want something delicious and convenient with 1g of sugar," said Courtney Bentley, Special K brand manager. "That's why on the first tempting day of the year – National Chocolate Cake Day – we're challenging keto-ers and chocolate-cake cravers alike to combat their cravings with a chance at free delivery of our new Chocolate Almond Fudge bars." The bars will be available at retailers nationwide from January with a suggested retail price of $6.99 for a five-count box.

Beam Suntory has expanded its Jim Beam range in the UK with the introduction of a new fruity bourbon blend, Jim Beam Peach. The new offering features a mix of peach liqueur and Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, and joins flavours including apple and honey in the brand’s portfolio.   Offering a blend of woody bourbon undertones and fresh peach flavours, the ‘smooth bourbon’ is best served with a dash of soda water or lemonade as part of a highball. For a twist on a pornstar martini, Jim Beam Peach can also be enjoyed mixed with soda water, passion fruit syrup and lemon juice. Jim Beam Peach is available now for £18 as a three-month exclusive at Asda. This week, Beam Suntory has announced that it is relocating its global headquarters from Chicago to New York City in mid-2022.

Westfalia Fruit, a fresh fruit supplier specialising in avocados, has signed an agreement to acquire a controlling stake in German fruit supplier Hausladen Fruchthandel. With the acquisition, Westfalia aims to capitalise on the German retail avocado market and expand its position as a global avocado market leader. The South African company serves markets in the UK, Europe, Latin America, North America and southern Africa. Founded in 1932, Hausladen supplies exotics such as avocado, mango and papaya, as well as southern European produce in Germany. Headquartered in Munich, the company is also active in neighbouring markets including Austria and Slovenia. “Germany is the third largest retail avocado market in Europe which has strong potential for further growth,” said Westfalia Fruit CEO Alk Brand. He added: “Our presence in this country is key to penetrating the market, supplying key customers and solidifying our leading EU presence. It also provides an important platform for our key growers globally.” Hausladen’s founding family, including Andreas and Christoph Buchner, will remain with the business. Christoph Buchner, who will continue to serve as CEO of the German entity, said: “As a leading exotics importer, ripener, packer and distributor in Germany, we have developed a strong base of blue-chip retail customers and have enjoyed strong historic growth. “This deal provides us with further growth opportunities to become the market leader in Germany and other targeted territories, and gives us access to an established and integrated supply chain with the capacity to expand.” The deal, which was made for an undisclosed sum, is subject to merger control approval.

Mars Wrigley is expanding its range of frozen treats with the introduction of Snickers Peanut Brownie Ice Cream bars. The product marks the first time that Snickers Ice Cream and Snickers Chocolate have launched the same flavour variant, according to Mars, which unveiled the Snickers Peanut Brownie last year. The new offering features brownie-flavoured ice cream with chewy brownie bits, topped with a thin layer of caramel and peanuts, and covered in a ‘milk chocolate-y’ coating. “We're thrilled to give Snickers Peanut Brownie fans even more to be excited about in 2021," said Jayesh Shah, Mars ice cream marketing director. “This new treat will no doubt be a frozen aisle favourite for fans of Snickers, brownies and ice cream alike.” Snickers Peanut Brownie Ice Cream is beginning to roll out in the US and will be in stores nationwide by March 2021. The new offering will be available from mass, grocery and convenience stores as individual 2oz bars and in multipack boxes. In the UK, Mars Wrigley is releasing a lower calorie range of its iconic chocolate bars, Mars, Snickers and Twix.

New canned cocktail brand, Mix of Total Happiness (MOTH), has announced the launch of a range of ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails in classic flavours. The line is launching exclusively into Waitrose stores across the UK from 1 February for £3.99 per can. Ranging between 14.9-20% ABV, the cocktail range comes in four canned offerings: old fashioned, margarita, negroni and espresso martini. Co-founder of MOTH, Rob Wallis, said: “We launched MOTH because we wanted to make bar-quality cocktails that can be served as easily as a can of beer. Very simply, to make the best cocktails in a can. “We’re picky with provenance and every ingredient is chosen with precision. At the same time - we’re not snobbish. We don’t talk in master mixologist lingo. We believe in fair prices for great drinks.” According to Wallis, the brand is constantly innovating and will be releasing more drinks this year. John Vine, spirits buyer at Waitrose, said: “We have seen a huge trend in customers experimenting and trying out new formats and cocktail cans are definitely growing in popularity. The four different cocktails are some of our customers' favourites, and it's great they will be able to experience high quality drinks at home.”

Molson Coors Beverage Company has announced a new partnership to distribute CKBG’s Superbird ready-to-drink cocktail. Superbird is a carbonated 5.9% ABV take on a Paloma, made with 100% blue agave tequila, grapefruit juice, agave nectar and sparkling water. Through the partnership, Superbird will leverage the Molson Coors distribution network with the aim of expanding its footprint nationally. The agreement marks Molson Coors’ entry into the premium ready-to-drink (RTD) spirits category and represents its latest effort to expand ‘beyond the beer aisle’. Last year, the company rebranded as Molson Coors Beverage Company as it aimed to diversify its portfolio into new product categories, such as non-alcoholic beverages. “We have clearly executed on our promise to evolve our portfolio beyond beer and moving into fast-growing RTD cocktail space with an incredible brand like Superbird only strengthens our position as a true beverage company,” said Pete Marino, president of emerging growth at Molson Coors. “CKBG created a delicious, authentic, super-premium brand, and it equips our company, and our distributors with another high-quality option.” Joe Marchese, co-founder of CKBG, added: “We’re thrilled to partner with Molson Coors and have a distribution network that aligns with our higher purpose. “We’re honoured to be working hand in hand with one of the best beverage companies in the world, and one that understands the high-quality standards to which we hold ourselves and our product.”

Beam Suntory has announced that it is relocating its global headquarters from Chicago to New York City in mid-2022. The owner of brands such as Jim Beam and Courvoisier cognac will establish its new headquarters at 11 Madison Avenue in Manhattan, where it has entered into a long-term lease agreement for approximately 100,000 square feet of space. The building will also serve as a joint office with Beam Suntory’s parent company, Suntory Holdings, an alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages company based in Japan. “As one of the world’s greatest global cities, New York will provide a unique environment to help us accelerate our premiumisation strategy and growth plans,” said Albert Baladi, president and CEO of Beam Suntory.  “We see excellent opportunities to immerse our company and global brand building efforts more deeply in New York’s vibrant restaurant, bar and consumer environment, what we call the Gemba.” As part of the move, the company will relocate most executive leadership team positions, its global brand house organisation and select global corporate function roles. Meanwhile, Beam Suntory’s current headquarters in Chicago will remain its largest global office and home to its North America business unit and certain corporate positions. Baladi added: “As we look to the future, we anticipate returning to office-based work to enable the kind of collaboration we need to reach our growth ambitions. “Cities clearly have an important role to play in the future of work, and while we will surely offer a higher degree of workplace flexibility, we will continue to build a strong presence in the key global cities that are closest to consumer trends and our customers.”  Beam Suntory expects to open the New York City office next year. The spirits company also has offices in global cities such as Tokyo, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Madrid, Frankfurt, London, Delhi and Los Angeles.

Tony’s Chocolonely has launched four limited-edition ‘look-alike’ chocolate bars to raise awareness that slave labour still exists in the cocoa supply chain. Sweet Solution bars are inspired by the world’s most iconic chocolate brands – featuring nougat pyramids, wafer strips, nutty crunch circles and caramel biscuit strips – but claim its boldly branded wrappers and chunky table form differentiates them. The chocolate bars were planned to be available in UK supermarkets, but Tony’s Chocolonely has alleged that after one day in stores some big chocolate makers put pressure on retailers to remove them, as “they didn’t want to be associated with the claims of illegal labour in the chocolate industry”. The brand’s Sweet Solution chocolate bars aim to raise awareness of child labour that it claims is still prevalent in the industry after promises to eradicate it 20 years ago. It follows the release of the US government-sponsored NORC report that highlighted that over 1.56 million children and at least 30,000 victims of modern slavery are forced to work on cocoa plantations. Paul Schoenmakers, head of impact at Tony’s Chocolonely, said: “With these bars, we aren’t pointing a finger, we’re calling on the whole chocolate industry, all brands, to take responsibility and to collaborate to make 100% slave free the norm in chocolate." Tony’s Chocolonely is calling on all chocolate fans to be part of the ‘Sweet Solution’ by signing its petition to support the need for human rights legislation that holds companies legally accountable for modern slavery and illegal child labour in their supply chains. “We may have to stop selling the bars, but we’ll never stop campaigning until we make chocolate 100% slave free. Not just our chocolate, but all chocolate worldwide. All of us – from Choco Fans to choco makers, governments to grocery stores – are part of the problem. But we can all work together to be part of the sweet solution,” added Schoenmakers. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Nestlé, the maker of KitKat, said: “This is an eye-catching stunt from Tony’s but behind the marketing lies a very serious reality. Child labour exists within the cocoa industry and, at Nestlé, we have been working for many years to help tackle it. “We became the first confectionery company to introduce a comprehensive Child Labour Monitoring and Remediation system, which has had a significant impact since 2012 and, today, Nestlé is investing more than ever to help improve the lives of cocoa farmers through the Nestlé Cocoa Plan. We are working with Tony’s Chocolonely on this shared agenda and we will stand with anyone who seeks to eliminate child labour from cocoa.” All profits from the Sweet Solution chocolate bars – which are available online and in retailers globally – will be donated to 100WEEKS, an independent platform that assists women in escaping extreme poverty.

PepsiCo and Beyond Meat have teamed up to establish The PLANeT Partnership, a joint venture to introduce new plant-based protein offerings.  The partnership will enable the two companies to develop, produce and market snack and beverage products made from plant-based protein. Through the venture, Beyond Meat will leverage its leading technology in plant-based protein development. Meanwhile, PepsiCo will deploy its marketing and commercial capabilities to create and scale new product offerings.  "Plant-based proteins represent an exciting growth opportunity for us, a new frontier in our efforts to build a more sustainable food system and be a positive force for people and the planet, while meeting consumer demand for an expanded portfolio of more nutritious products," said Ram Krishnan, PepsiCo global chief commercial officer. "Beyond Meat is a cutting-edge innovator in this rapidly growing category, and we look forward to combining their unparalleled expertise with our world-class capabilities in brand-building, consumer insights and distribution to deliver exciting new options," he continued.  "We are thrilled to formally join forces with PepsiCo in The PLANeT Partnership, a joint venture that unites the tremendous depth and breadth of their distribution and marketing capabilities with our leading innovation in plant-based protein. We look forward to together unlocking new categories and product lines that will inspire positive choices for both people and planet," said Ethan Brown, Beyond Meat founder and CEO. "PepsiCo represents the ideal partner for us in this exciting endeavour, one of global reach and importance." Operations will be managed through the newly created entity, The PLANeT Partnership.  Financial terms for the joint venture have not yet been disclosed.