Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company has partnered with Encirc to trial a glass beer bottle that has the potential to cut the carbon impact of its bottles by up to 90%.  The trial – part of a series of innovations to reduce the carbon footprint of packaging across Carlsberg Group – will include the use of "100% biofuel and increases recycled content of the bottles to 100% while maintaining quality," a statement from brewing giant said.  Carlberg said the trial had significant potential to support its target to cut emissions across its supply chain, with the possibility to transform the bottle from "the highest-carbon impact packaging type to the lowest".    Mark Comline, senior category director group packaging materials, Carlsberg Group, said: “We are delighted this ground-breaking trial has successfully proven and produced ultra-low carbon Carlsberg glass beer bottles. Across Carlsberg, we are inspired to work together towards a zero-carbon future. Trials like this in partnership with Encirc are a massive leap towards making it a reality.” Adrian Curry, managing director at Encirc added: “This is a truly momentous occasion for glass. We have set the standard globally with this trial and now the glass industry needs to work towards realising what we’ve proved is possible. We now know that glass can be the most sustainable of all packaging types and must all work together to ensure that happens.”

Diageo has extended its Baileys portfolio with a new lighter option that is made with 40% less sugar and calories than its Original Irish Cream. Baileys Deliciously Light is made with Irish cream and whiskey and is said to offer the same rich cocoa and vanilla flavours as its flagship drink. The new light variant contains on average 139 calories, 3.7g of fat and 7.8g of sugar per 2.5fl oz serving; in comparison to 233 calories, 10.1g of fat and 13.3g of sugar in the same pour of Baileys Original Irish Cream. With a 16.1% ABV, Baileys says the new offering can be enjoyed over ice, chilled, in a smoothie or with hot, iced or whipped coffee. Baileys' lighter option joins its portfolio that includes a dairy-free variant made with almonds, salted caramel, and a strawberries and cream offering. Last year, the brand launched a limited-edition Apple Pie Irish Cream Liqueur for Autumn. "We're delighted to offer a lighter version of our beloved Baileys Original Irish Cream," said Stacey Cunningham, director of Baileys & Liqueurs, Diageo North America. "We all deserve a little treat and with the launch of Baileys Deliciously Light, it's the perfect reminder for us to take that well-deserved time for ourselves this year." The brand has also partnered with Cocktail Courier to offer four custom ‘light break’ packages in the US, featuring a cocktail (combining the new Baileys with espresso or green tea or Belgian chocolate) and other assorted goodies such as a yoga towel, coffee mug, head massager and socks. Baileys Deliciously Light is available now in the US nationwide for an RRP of $24.99 per 750ml bottle.

Snack company Made For Drink has announced that it is expanding into the UK potato crisp category with the introduction of two new products. The brand's new Chicken Salt Fries feature thin-cut potato fries paired with popular Australian seasoning chicken salt and are designed to be enjoyed with a cold beer. Made For Drink worked with seasoning house Mitani, which has been producing chicken salt for more than 40 years, to create the vegetarian-friendly offering. ‘Made for aperitivo’, the brand’s new Tapas Fries feature a mix of thin-cut straw fries and crisp slices of Spanish chorizo, seasoned with olives, sun-ripened tomatoes and paprika.  “Having taken the time we needed to bed down as a business, team and a brand, we felt 2021 was the perfect moment to build upon a blossoming off-trade/online reputation by taking an ambitious ‘next step’ into the £1 billion potato crisp category,” said Made for Drink founder, Dan Featherstone. “We have shown our ability to bring new foodie shoppers into the snacks category through our unique brand proposition, products and reputation. We’ve had this idea for a range of ‘fries’ products for some time, in fact we’ve been buzzing about it for ages and they are absolutely delicious. They will be our biggest and best-selling products; they are that good.” Both lines launch in April into Sainsbury’s and will also be available from the independent sector.

AB InBev ’s Mexican arm Grupo Modelo has filed a lawsuit against Constellation Brands , accusing the US company of breaching its Corona brand licensing agreement with the launch of Corona Hard Seltzer. Grupo Modelo filed the lawsuit in the US district court of the southern district of New York. Constellation Brands acquired the rights to the Corona name and trademark in the US in 2013, after it bought Grupo Modelo’s US beer business. Following the divestiture, AB InBev retained the rights to Modelo’s brands elsewhere. In February last year, Constellation Brands launched Corona Hard Seltzer and according to Reuters , said in October that the brand had a 6% share in the US seltzer market, making it the fourth-biggest in the sector after White Claw, Truly and Bud Light. Grupo Modelo claims the new product breaches its licensing arrangement for Corona, which only extended to beer and did not include hard seltzer. A Grupo Modelo spokesperson told FoodBev in an emailed statement: “Constellation’s newest product in the US – Corona Hard Seltzer – improperly uses our Corona name for a spiked sparkling water featuring flavors like cherry and blackberry lime. “We never agreed that Constellation could use our Corona name for products such as hard seltzer. Corona has a rich history and authentic Mexican heritage, and we are filing this lawsuit to protect our rights to this iconic brand.” Meanwhile, Constellation Brands told FoodBev that it had "fully and completely complied with the terms of our sublicense agreement" and that it will "vigorously defend" its rights. In an emailed statement to FoodBev, a company spokesperson added: "We find these claims, including the insinuation that Corona Hard Seltzer should not be classified as beer or a version thereof, to be completely without merit, a blatant attempt to restrain a strong and well-established competitor in a high growth segment of the US beer category, and completely misaligned with general industry and legal standards." The case marks the latest in an increasingly competitive US brewing market and comes after an Oregon-based brewer sued Anheuser-Busch over marketing its Michelob Ultra Organic Seltzer as the first and only seltzer certified as organic by the USDA.

Fresh fruit distributor Unifrutti has expanded into the vegetable sector after finalising its acquisition of Dimifruit in Almeria. The deal forms part of Unifrutti’s global strategy as it looks to expand and diversify its product offering across Europe and establish itself “as a producer of vegetables”. It follows the purchase of Oranfrizer, an Italian producer of blood oranges. Dimifruit harvests vegetables such as tomatoes, aubergines, peppers and courgettes in greenhouses in Almeria. According to Unifrutti, the company’s location offers a unique microclimate, where natural ventilation and the lack of humidity limits the spread of fungal diseases. Dimifruit’s controlled production takes place for the most part in winter, starting in September and ending in April. The company employs around 400 workers to harvest the produce. “Dimifruit vegetables are all produced using the integrated pest management system and are already widely known by large-scale European and Italian retailers for their quality and low environmental impact," said Dimitri Calabrese, Dimifruit CEO and founder, who will become Unifrutti's sales manager in Italy. Gianluca Defendini, CEO of the Unifrutti division based in Italy, added: “Following the group’s global strategy, we in Europe believe in production companies that are well-established in their territory of origin…and which practice advanced farming methods with an increasingly low environmental impact. We are creating an offering that is valuable, diverse and responsible."

PepsiCo's Bubly water brand has announced the launch of a new caffeinated sparkling water drink called Bubly Bounce. Bubly Bounce sparkling water will initially be available in five combo flavours: mango passion fruit, triple berry, blood orange grapefruit, citrus cherry and blueberry pomegranate. According to PepsiCo, all five zero-calorie flavours feature no sweeteners or artificial flavours. The drinks will be available in 12oz and 16oz cans, providing 35mg of caffeine per 12oz can and 47mg of caffeine per 16oz can. Zach Harris, vice-president, water portfolio at PepsiCo Beverages North America, said: "Bubly sparkling water was created to bring more smiles into the sparkling water category, and new Bubly bounce takes it to the next level with caffeine. "As more individuals seek out sparkling waters with added benefits, Bubly bounce delivers all of the delicious flavour and hydration of the original, now with just a kick of caffeine." The new Bubly Bounce range is now available from major retailers across the US.

Major chocolate manufacturers including Nestlé, Mars and Mondelēz International have been accused of profiting from child slavery in a US lawsuit lodged on behalf of several former child labourers. Nestlé, Mars, Mondelēz, Cargill, Barry Callebaut, Olam and Hershey have been named as defendants in the lawsuit, which has been filed in Washington DC, US by the human rights organisation International Rights Advocates (IRA). The legal action has been launched on behalf of eight former child workers from Mali, who claim they were forced to work without pay on cocoa plantations in Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) for 'one or more of the defendant companies'. The lawsuit is based primarily on the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, and one of the central allegations of the lawsuit is that the defendants 'knowingly profited' from the illegal work of children – though they did not directly own the plantations in question. The eight plaintiffs are seeking damages for alleged forced labour and further compensation for unjust enrichment, negligent supervision and intentional infliction of emotional distress. A statement from IRA alleges that the issue of child labour in the cocoa industry is intensifying: "In 2001, they (the defendants) signed the Harkin-Engle Protocol in which they explicitly promised consumers and regulators they would stop using child labour by 2005. Instead, they have given themselves numerous unilateral extensions of time and now claim that by 2025 they will reduce by 70% their reliance on child labour.  "Rather than make progress, their use of child labour is actually getting worse. In late 2020, a study by NORC at the University of Chicago and funded by the US Department of Labor concluded that 1.56 million child labourers were working in cocoa-growing areas of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana in the 2018/19 growing season, an increase of 14% since a 2015 study, and 1.48 million child labourers engaged in hazardous work during this period."Responding to the allegations, cocoa manufacturer Cargill told The Guardian: “We are aware of the filing and while we cannot comment on specifics of this case right now, to reinforce we have no tolerance for child labour in cocoa production. Children belong in school. They deserve safe living conditions and access to good nutrition. ”In an additional statement also provided to The Guardian, Nestlé said that the lawsuit “does not advance the shared goal of ending child labour in the cocoa industry” and added, “child labour is unacceptable and goes against everything we stand for."Nestlé has explicit policies against it and is unwavering in our dedication to ending it. We remain committed to combatting child labour within the cocoa supply chain and addressing its root causes as part of the Nestlé Cocoa Plan and through collaborative efforts.”

Innovative plant-based food systems company, Puris Holdings , and Livekindly Collective have announced two new joint ventures with the aim of tackling food waste and delivering cleaner products to consumers worldwide.  Puris will bring its expertise in plant-based food development, while Livekindly Collective will offer its global network of leaders in the plant-based space.  Through this collaboration, the two companies aim to accelerate the adoption of plant-based nutrition by solving major issues within the supply chain – with the ultimate objective of making food systems more sustainable.  “The plant-based food industry is experiencing unparalleled growth, on track to hit $85 billion by 2030, and the full supply chain must scale along with it,” said Nicole Atchison, CEO of Puris Holdings. “Joining forces with Livekindly Collective allows us to push all parts of the industry forward, ensuring it scales sustainably and affordably. Both Livekindly Collective and Puris believe in a future where our food system is a force for good – benefiting people and planet.” The first of the ventures will aim to deliver innovation to improve plant protein waste streams, developing "simple, clean, plant-based foods for like-minded brand partners that create food consumers want to eat and feel good about buying," a statement said. To achieve this target, the two companies will invest in disruptive solutions to maximise usage of all parts of the plant.  The second will focus on accelerating the global adoption of soil-enhancing protein-rich crops. The teams will foster agricultural wealth and social inclusiveness by leading a "measurable shift from degenerative to regenerative farming practices". Part of this mission will include work in Southern Africa, where Puris' pea variety had its early trials.  “What got us here won’t take us where we need to go,” added Mark Hassenkamp, chief agriculture operations director of Livekindly. “We are facing an existential question of how to feed ourselves in the face of growing demand, diminishing resources and the need for sustainability. Together with Puris, we can accelerate the growing global plant-based food conversion by realizing seed to silo cost efficiencies, leveraging unique germplasm, digital tools and operational scale to grow more clean, affordable, high-quality food.”

London-based craft brewing company, Fourpure , has completed its £2.5 million expansion, with new state-of-the-art kegging and canning lines.  The new lines will help Fourpure to fulfil consumer demand for craft beer, which the company says has doubled since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, due to more people drinking at home. The brewery – part of the Lion Little World Beverages craft beer portfolio – has transitioned to an automated keg operation that will help to improve safety, quality and productivity at its site in Bermondsey. The new keg system features advanced cleaning equipment capable of sterilising kegs using pressurised steam at 130 oC. It also guarantees high precision results, while the switch to automated alleviates the need for intensive labour, by assisting staff in the heavy lifting of kegs, enabling 60 kegs to be filled every hour.  Meanwhile, its new canning line will give the brewery more flexibility for in-line labelling of cans, as well as accelerated speed and optimised performance. In order to complete the upgrade, the company took over new units at its industrial site, allowing for the creation of a purpose-built packaging area.  “The new, completely bespoke designed kegging and canning facilities will form a crucial part of our continued expansion and future success,” said Steve Morris, head of operations at Fourpure . “The demand for our canned beer has doubled since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the improved facilities mean we can fulfil this increase in sales, while still meeting world-class hygiene and safety standards.” He continued: “Carrying out this update in current times has obviously brought its own challenges and I am incredibly proud of the excellent safety standards our team met throughout. We were also really happy to be able to support a number of contractors during this process, many of them smaller businesses and many brewing specific.”

Lactalis Ingredients has expanded its Pronativ native whey protein range with a new micellar casein isolate targeted at consumers who are proactive about healthy ageing. Pronativ Native Micellar Casein contains 88% protein and is suitable for food and beverage enrichment, in particular as a nutritional solution for healthy ageing and medical applications. With its new ingredient, Lactalis aims to meet the rising demand for functional products among an ageing population, as well as younger consumers looking to support an active lifestyle. Lactalis says its new micellar casein is heat-stable and a good source of micellar calcium, while offering low viscosity, low spores and a neutral taste. The minimally-processed protein is extracted directly from milk using gentle processing with no added ingredients or chemicals – a non-denaturing process which enables Lactalis to obtain a native protein, which it claims is very close to the conformation of the protein present in the milk. Pronativ Native Micellar Casein is suitable for a range of food and drink applications, such as ready-to-drink beverages and cream desserts. Lactalis emphasises that protein’s benefits for muscle growth, recovery and weight management make them ideal for food and drink fortification. Last year, Lactalis Ingredients unveiled a new clean-label whey protein range made with sunflower lecithin.

UK dairy co-operative Omsco has announced the appointment of Arla Foods’ executive David Williams to the newly-created role of CEO. Williams – who is the current global head of finance, members, milk and trading at Arla Foods – will take up the role as Omsco CEO at the start of April. Williams has over 25 years of experience working in the dairy industry including several board and senior executive posts in major UK and European farmer-owned dairy co-operatives. Prior to joining Arla Foods, Williams held the role of corporate finance and strategy director at Milk Link for seven years, where he supported the UK dairy co-operative’s transition into a progressive farmer-owned dairy processing business. Neil Kennedy, chairman of Omsco, said: “I am delighted to announce David’s appointment as chief executive of Omsco. He has proven leadership skills which are complemented by his having a deep knowledge of the dairy industry and a significant track record of working with leading farmer-owned dairy businesses.   “I believe the combination of both his dairy industry and co-operative experience makes David ideally positioned to lead the business as we enter the next phase in our growth and development.” As Omsco’s new CEO, Williams will oversee and drive forward the development of the company’s value-added strategy based on investing in processing, products and brands. Commenting on his appointment, Williams said: “Omsco has clearly made good progress in moving from simply being a broker of organic milk to establishing a strategic presence in value-added processing and more premium markets, both in the UK and overseas.   “The challenge now is to build upon these strong foundations and create evermore valuable and sustainable outlets for our members’ organic milk – a challenge I’m incredibly excited to take on.” Following the new CEO appointment, Omsco’s current managing director Richard Hampton will focus on commercial and business development. Omsco is currently owned by over 200 members nationwide, produces over 50% of the UK’s organic milk and has a global market for its dairy products and ingredients.

US meal delivery service Freshly has announced that it will open its largest dedicated order-assembly facility to date in Austell, Georgia. The announcement comes after a year of growth for the company amid the popularity of at-home convenience food. In the last 12 months, Freshly has surpassed its goal of delivering one million meals per week. The 134,000 square-foot facility – which will begin operating in mid-February – is excepted to increase Freshly’s assembly and distribution operations capacity by 40% this year for an additional 450,000 meals distributed weekly. By being centrally located in the southeast, Freshly says the distribution centre will reduce the order-to-delivery cycle time to its growing consumer base. Most recently, Freshly was acquired by Nestlé in a deal that values the prepared meal delivery service at $950 million. "Joining Nestlé has allowed us to scale bigger and faster, getting us to this next stage of growth,” said Mike Wystrach, Freshly founder and CEO.  “We are thrilled to continue in 2021 by expanding operations in the southeast and have plans to add even more facilities this year that will help further our mission of delivering nutritious and convenient meals." The Georgia centre will mark the company’s fifth facility and comes a few months after it announced it was opening a facility in Commerce, California. Freshly also has facilities in New Jersey, Maryland and Arizona. Freshly says the new centre will bring over 250 jobs to the greater Atlanta area. During the initial launch phase, the company will hire 150 people for operations, support staff, warehousing and maintenance roles, with plans to hire 250 by the end of 2021. Rick Stoecklein, Freshly's senior vice president of operations, said: "Our new Georgia facility creates opportunities to bring innovation to the direct-to-consumer distribution channel with added capacity for efficient assembly and distribution of fresh prepared meals. We are excited to expand Freshly's footprint and to join the Austell community.”