UK-based Purition has announced that it is adding a chocolate hazelnut flavour to its range of nutrition blends. Launching at the beginning of April, the new variant joins Purition’s portfolio of wholefood nutrition products made from seeds and nuts, as well as whey or plant-based protein. The brand’s offerings can be stirred into yogurt, added to ‘healthy bakes’, or used to make shakes, smoothies and porridge. Purition founder, Edward Taylor, said: “Almost everyone loves chocolate and hazelnut, but it often comes at the expense of a high sugar load. We wanted to offer consumers a healthier way to enjoy this classic flavour combo.” Purition is available from retailers including Ocado, Morrisons and Holland & Barrett, as well as online via Amazon and the brand’s website.

Mars Wrigley has announced a two-year partnership with Danimer Scientific, a manufacturer of biodegradable materials, which will see the companies develop biodegradable packaging from natural ingredients. The two companies will work together to design and manufacture home compostable packaging for Mars Wrigley’s products using Danimer’s PHA biopolymer Nodax.    Danimer’s signature packaging Nodax PHA is produced through natural fermentation processes using plant oils such as soy and canola, and has been certified as biodegradable in both soil and marine environments.  The companies intend to introduce Nodax PHA into flexible and rigid packaging, which they claim will break down in both industrial composting facilities and backyard compost units. Mars Wrigley will first introduce the biodegradable packaging to its Skittles brand in the US, with the new wrappers targeted to hit shelves in late 2021 or 2022. The confectionery giant intends to scale this sustainable packaging technology across its portfolio, but will start with smaller and single packs that it says are more likely to be littered and less likely to be recycled. The joint development agreement supports Mars’ Sustainable in a Generation planand its goal of 11% reusable, recyclable, or compostable packaging by 2025. "Collaborating with Danimer to advance this breakthrough technology represents a major step to creating positive societal impact and better environmental outcomes across the full lifecycle of small, flexible packaging,” said Alastair Child, Mars Wrigley VP of global sustainability. Stephen Croskrey, CEO at Danimer Scientific, said: "Expectations for sustainable packaging vary from market to market, making it essential for new materials to be adaptable in meeting different standards without sacrificing quality. "PHA provides a versatile platform for manufacturing material that is renewably sourced and leaves a minimal impact on the environment upon disposal. We look forward to working with Mars Wrigley in fighting the global crisis of plastic waste." In 2019, Danimer Scientific partnered with Nestlé to develop new biodegradable water bottles.

Red Bull has revealed that its latest summer edition energy drink is inspired by the exotic taste of dragon fruit. Launching in the US for a limited time, the new flavour is said to feature a “burst of red berries, with a hint of plum and notes of florals”. Each 8.4 fl oz can of Red Bull energy drink contains 80mg of caffeine. Previous Summer Editions include Watermelon, Beach Breeze and Coconut Berry. Meanwhile, the brand’s Editions line also includes the flavours kiwi-apple and açaí berry. Red Bull Summer Edition Dragon Fruit will be available in stores nationwide from 29 March, while stocks last.

Kellogg has announced a €30 million investment in its Pringles plant in Mechelen, Belgium, to boost sustainability and throughput. The facility – which is one of two Pringles plants in Europe – ships cans of the brand’s potato chips to more than 40 countries across the continent, North Africa and the Middle East. The €30 million investment will be used to upgrade production lines with a new fryer to increase throughput. Capital will also be invested in a new utility system at the plant that aims to make it more sustainable. With the new system, Kellogg will generate steam via natural gas consumption and by using the air that comes out of the fryer, in a more efficient way than today. The first phase of the project starts at the end of this year, with a second phase beginning in 2023. The Mechelen plant employs a workforce of around 650. In 2019, Kellogg began construction of a new manufacturing line at its other European Pringles factory in Kutno, Poland.

ADM has agreed to pay $45 million to settle price-fixing allegations levelled against its Golden Peanut division, according to The Wall Street Journal. With the settlement, the company aims to resolve a civil lawsuit filed by around 12,000 US peanut farmers, who have accused leading processors of colluding to keep down prices paid to growers. According to the lawsuit, the two largest US peanut processors – Birdsong Peanuts and ADM’s Golden Peanut unit – jointly handle 80-90% of the country’s peanuts. Olam International is said to handle around 10%. ADM’s peanut-processing division has been accused of coordinating with the other processors to report inaccurate supply and pricing data, keeping prices for growers low over a six-year period. The allegations include that ADM, as well as Birdsong and Olam, overreported peanut inventory totals to make the market appear oversupplied, allowing them to quote low prices. A spokeswoman for ADM, cited by The Wall Street Journal, said that the company denies any wrongdoing in the matter and settled the lawsuit to avoid expending more time and money on it. “ADM has been building strong relationships with farmers since the company’s inception in 1902, and we continue to make farmers the centre of our business,” she said. In separate settlement deals reached late last year, Birdsong and Olam agreed to pay a combined $58 million. Along with ADM, both companies deny the civil litigation’s allegations of wrongdoing, including around pricing and inventory data, and the accusations of collusion and quoting unfair prices. US agriculture giants in other sectors have also recently faced price-fixing allegations, with Pilgrim’s Pride and Tyson Foods reaching a deal earlier this year to settle claims made by a group of poultry buyers.

Functional beverage brand Moju has launched a new plant-based prebiotic shot, which it claims supports immune and digestive health. The product is available as a 500ml dosing bottle and as 60ml shot. Designed to be shot daily, Moju says the beverage encourages a healthier, more diverse gut microbiome. Moju’s new shot contains a blend of prebiotics and plant-based fibres, including chicory root inulin, golden kiwi and green banana. Each shot contains 3.7g of plant-fibre and offers the flavour combination of raspberry, lemon and baobab. According to a survey by Moju, over a third of people are looking to prioritise gut health in the next 12 months, highlighting the need for an accessible and convenient prebiotic. “The gut and digestive health category is a really exciting space which has the potential to have a hugely positive impact on consumers’ lives,” said Moju co-founder, Rich Goldsmith. He added: “To date it’s been driven by dairy based probiotic products, but without a diverse menu of food the good bacteria in your gut cannot thrive. We all want to eat a diet full of a wide variety of whole foods but the realities of modern life often make that challenging, so we developed the UK’s first ready to drink product with an efficacious dose of prebiotics and plant fibres in a super convenient, nutrient dense format. “It delivers big on flavour and is free-from dairy, added sugars, sweeteners, gums and preservatives which is an important and significant step forward for the category.”   Moju’s new Prebiotic Shot is available online, in Waitrose stores nationwide and will be launching in Ocado at the end of March.

Young's Seafood has launched a new line of Fish Fillet Strips in three flavours – Southern Fried, Crispy Battered and Salt and Vinegar. Liz Griffin, marketing controller at Young’s, said: “Our new product will appeal to the whole family and is a perfect option for a delicious, healthy meal, and the convenient format is ideal for anyone working at home and looking to upgrade their lunch break”. “We really wanted some new and exciting flavours for families who are wanting to enjoy healthy and tasty fish, and we’ve done exactly that with our Fish Fillet Strips,” she added.  The new products will be packaged using recyclable materials in line with Young’s wider packaging reduction goals.

Oishii, a vertical farming startup based in New Jersey, has raised $50 million during a Series A funding round led by Sparx Group's Mirai Creation Fund II.  The funds will enable Oishii to open vertical strawberry farms in new markets, expand its flagship farm outside of Manhattan, and accelerate its investment in R&D.  “Our mission is to change the way we grow food. We set out to deliver exceptionally delicious and sustainable produce,” said Oishii CEO Hiroki Koga. “We started with the strawberry – a fruit that routinely tops the dirty dozen of most pesticide-riddled crops – as it has long been considered the ‘holy grail’ of vertical farming.” “We aim to be the largest strawberry producer in the world, and this capital allows us to bring the best-tasting, healthiest berry to everyone. From there, we’ll quickly expand into new fruits and produce,” he added.   Oishii is already known for its innovative farming techniques that have enabled the company to “perfect the strawberry,” while its proprietary and first-of-its-kind pollination method is conducted naturally with bees.  The company's vertical farms feature zero pesticides and produce ripe fruit all year round, using less water and land than traditional agricultural methods.  “Oishii is the farm of the future,” said Sparx Group president and Group CEO Shuhei Abe. “The cultivation and pollination techniques the company has developed set them well apart from the industry, positioning Oishii to quickly revolutionise agriculture as we know it.” The company has raised a total of $55 million since its founding in 2016.

Ultra-premium ice cream company Serendipity Brands has launched a new pint, Central Perk Almond Fudge, inspired by the TV show Friends .  Serendipity has partnered with Warner Bros Consumer Products to release four pints inspired by 'fan-favourite' series and films. The first in the line, inspired by Friends , features chocolate covered almonds and fudge swirls, creating a mocha almond ice cream.  Other releases will include flavours inspired by The Goonies (available this month), Caddyshack and A Christmas Story .  " Friends is a pop culture classic that we couldn't be more thrilled to create a special flavour for! Our Central Perk Almond Fudge flavour is nostalgia in a pint that makes you feel like you're with your six best friends indulging in a sweet treat at a coffee shop," said Sal Pesce, president and COO of Serendipity Brands. All flavours will be available at the suggested RRP of $5.99 in local supermarkets, convenience stores and other food retailers across the country and online.

Mondelēz International has announced the acquisition of Australian premium cracker company Gourmet Food Holdings, for an undisclosed amount.  The move to purchase Gourmet Food, which includes brands such as OB finest, Olina’s Bakehouse and Crispbic, aims to strengthen Mondelēz's position in the premium biscuit and cracker category.  Gourmet Food currently supplies Australia and New Zealand with on-trend products that span the health and wellness categories.  “This is a great strategic asset for us in a very important market,” said Dirk Van de Put, chairman and CEO of Mondelēz. “With our iconic biscuit brands such as Oreo and belVita, as well as our leadership in chocolate with Cadbury, this acquisition will accelerate our broader snacking leadership in Australia and New Zealand.” Oliver Flint, current COO of Gourmet Food, has been appointed as the company's managing director. Meanwhile, co-founder and CEO Todd Wilson will remain with the business as an advisor. A statement from Mondelēz said that the company will provide Gourmet Food with "resources to accelerate growth while leveraging its manufacturing, research and development capabilities". “With fast-growing premium and wellbeing products, strong customer relationships and agile, local manufacturing, these brands will be a great complement to our local portfolio,” said Maurizio Brusadelli, EVP and president, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, Mondelēz. “We are excited to welcome Oliver, Todd and the entire Gourmet Food team to our organisation.” Gourmet Food’s prepackaged seafood business, including the Ocean Blue brand, are included in the transaction.   Mondelēz has highlighted its intentions to strengthen its position in the high-growth snacking sector, with recent acquisitions including Hu Master Holdings ,  Give & Go  and Perfect Snacks . The transaction of Gourmet Foods is expected to close in April.

Diageo’s Crown Royal whisky brand has released a new collection of ready-to-drink cocktails ahead of summer. The range includes three flavours: Washington Apple, featuring Crown Royal whisky, apple and sparkling cranberry flavours; Whisky & Cola, combining Crown Royal whisky with cola; and Peach Tea, with Crown Royal whisky, peach flavour and brewed tea. “There’s an increasing interest in ready-to-drink products and there’s a real desire from our drinkers to enjoy the cocktails they’ve always loved at the bar,” said Nicky Heckles, vice president of Crown Royal. “Whether you’re relaxing in front of the TV or enjoying time in the backyard, Crown Royal ready-to-drink cocktails are perfect for those who want to celebrate with ease, but not compromise on the premium whisky and flavours we all know and love.” Crown Royal's new cocktails are available nationwide for an SRP of $14.99 for a four-pack of a single flavour and an SRP of $3.99 for a single can.

Soreen has brought back its Chocolate & Orange Spring Mini Loaves, with a vegan edition. The malt loaf brand claims that its new offering has "50% less sugar and also 64% fat that the average Easter cake bar". Mark Simester, managing director at Soreen commented: “We have been working hard to launch a full vegan range, ensuring to retain that squidgy texture and treat-like taste that Soreen is notorious for. "The results from our taste panel sessions have been a huge success and we’re pleased to be able to offer an even wider range of vegan products this year, including our firm family favourite Chocolate & Orange Spring Mini Loaves,” he continued. Soreen's loaves come in multipacks of five and will be available in Nisa, Iceland, B&M, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Co-Op, Spar, Morrisons and Aldi for a limited time only. RRP £1.