The Wisconsin Dairy Alliance (WDA) has called upon the US Government to urgently act to ‘save’ the dairy industry, claiming dairy farmers have resorted to ‘dumping milk’ as markets collapse amid coronavirus. According to WDA, the pandemic has left the industry facing a ‘staggering’ crisis, as the shutdown of the nation’s schools, restaurants and coffee shops means cheesemakers and milk processors are left with nowhere to ship their produce. As major segments of the milk marketplace ‘dried up virtually overnight’, dairy farmers have reportedly been left ‘dumping milk into fields and down drains’. The alliance goes on to cite Feeding America’s recent statement that they are facing an estimated $1.4 billion shortfall in resources, as it's projected that the number of food-insecure citizens in the US could rise by more than 45% amid the Covid-19 crisis.  WDA calls on the Government to use disaster funds to buy cheese inventory currently in storage, package it into consumer-sized portions, so that it can be delivered to food banks, pantries and shelters and reach the people who need it most. WDA also highlights how at farm level, there is ample milk ready and available for use in processing - a potential source of the high quality dairy protein that is urgently needed.  These concerns are echoed in a letter issued by groups representing dairy farmers and cooperatives in the Midwest to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), which also calls on the Government to act. “Direct relief to dairy farmers and a substantial purchase of dairy commodities by USDA can ensure our industry will remain fiscally able to function in its primary role of feeding the nation and the world,” the groups said. In Europe last month, the European Milk Board (EMB) called on the European Commission to urgently prepare to launch a voluntary volume reduction scheme, with capping.   EMB claimed that pressures caused by the pandemic, including difficulties in procurement and logistics affecting milk-processing and a collapse in demand for some products, meant that in many areas throughout Europe milk production on farms was exceeding processing and market capacity.

Kerry Foods has expanded its Fridge Raiders portfolio with the launch of limited-edition katsu flavoured chicken bites to meet increasing demand for katsu flavoured products in the UK. Katsu Chicken Bites is the first release in a series of new flavours that will form part of the meat snack brand’s new World Flavours range. According to Kerry Foods, the launch responds directly to the rise in demand for katsu flavoured products, particularly as the flavour witnesses a surge in popularity in the UK. Alike its full range, Fridge Raiders’ new product is made with 100% real chicken breast and aims to offer a convenient and nutritious snack that truly delivers on the aromatic cues of spiced katsu sauce. The new flavour will join Fridge Raiders’ current line up of chicken bites including Slow Roasted, Southern Style and Smoky BBQ. Julia May, brand manager at Fridge Raiders, said: “We know that Chicken Katsu has proven to be a real hit with consumers, but we haven’t seen much of this flavour within the snacking space. “We’re therefore excited to launch our new Katsu Flavoured Chicken Bites into the market so that our customers can tap into this trend and attract even more shoppers to their snacks offering in-store. “As with our full range, Katsu Flavoured Chicken Bites are all made with 100% seasoned chicken breast making them a great source of protein – they’re the perfect option for shoppers looking for healthier alternatives that still deliver great taste.” Fridge Raiders’ Katsu Chicken Bites will be available from 9 April in Asda stores for an RRP of £1.50.

Grupo Modelo, the brewer of Corona beer, has announced that it will temporarily stop production in line with the Mexican government’s orders amid the coronavirus pandemic.   The announcement follows a new government order aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus which deemed the brewers’ business activities non-essential. Under the new rules, Grupo Modelo will temporarily stop brewing Corona beer and its other brands – including Modelo and Victoria– that are exported to 180 countries. Grupo Modelo, which is part of AB InBev, operates 11 breweries in Mexico. On 30 March, the Mexican government declared a national health emergency and ordered the immediate suspension of all non-essential activities until 30 April after the number of coronavirus cases in the country surpassed 1,000. In a statement, Grupo Modelo said that the suspension will take place from Sunday and that it was already in the process of scaling down production to a level at which it could resume once the suspension is lifted. According to the government order, only agriculture and food production were considered essential and able to continue to function. “If the federal government considers it appropriate to issue some clarification confirming beer as an agro-industrial product, at Grupo Modelo we are ready to execute a plan with more than 75% of our staff working from home and at the same time guaranteeing the supply of beer,” said the brewer in a statement. In the US, Corona is distributed by Constellation Brands after AB InBev sold Grupo Modelo’s distribution rights in 2013. Earlier this year, AB InBev said it had lost $170 million in profits during the first two months of 2020 because of the coronavirus epidemic. The company said the outbreak has led to a “significant decline” in demand in China, resulting in lost revenue of approximately $285 million during the period. However, the firm highlighted the strong full-year performance of Corona which grew revenue by 21% outside of Mexico, with major contributions from markets such as China and South Africa.

Mondelēz International has joined leading companies by signing two initiatives focused on tackling plastic waste and pollution, as it accelerates its transition to a circular economy for plastic.  The owner of Cadbury and Oreo is now a signatory of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, as well a member of the UK Plastics Pact. The announcement marks a step forward towards the company’s 2025 sustainability goals which are focused on making snacks with less energy, water and waste. At present, 93% of Mondelēz’ total packaging, including both plastic and non-plastic, is designed to be recycled. By partnering with the New Plastics Economy Initiative, Mondelēz joins businesses including Nestle; The Coca-Cola Company; PepsiCo; Pernod Ricard; Unilever; Danone and Mars, which all signed the pledge back in 2018 , along with the government and other organisations. “We are pleased Mondelēz International is joining us as a New Plastics Economy Participant and Global Commitment signatory, by setting concrete 2025 targets,” said Sander Defruyt, lead of the New Plastics Economy Initiative at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Defruyt added: “Our vision is for a world where plastic never becomes waste or pollution. It will be a challenging journey, but by coming together we can eliminate the plastics we don’t need and innovate, so the plastics we do need can be safely and easily circulated – keeping them in the economy and out of the environment.” Through joining the UK Plastics Pact, Mondelēz joins businesses and organisations such as Unilever, Arla and PepsiCo which signed up to the “world-first” initiative back in 2018. At the end of last year, charity WRAP – which launched the programme- published its first annual report for The UK Plastics Pact revealing that the UK is over half-way towards recycling 70% of plastic packaging. As a new member of both programmes, Mondelēz commits to working towards delivering 2025 targets such as eliminating unnecessary plastic packaging, ensuring 100% of plastic packaging is reusable or recyclable and ensuring 5% recycled content (by weight) is used across all plastic packaging. “We believe that sector-wide initiatives, in collaboration with government, are key to reducing the impact of packaging on our planet” said Christine Montenegro McGrath, VP of sustainability and global impact at Mondelēz International. “Through our partnership with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and in joining The UK Plastics Pact, we are accelerating our work toward creating zero net waste packaging and improving recycling globally, and we are fully committed to their vision.”

UK powdered food brand Huel has expanded its high-protein snack bar line-up with the launch of a new peanut butter flavour. The initial range was launched in November last year boasting four vegan flavours: salted caramel, chocolate, chocolate orange and coffee caramel. Huel V3.1 Bars are made using oat flour, rolled outs, pea and brown rice protein, cocoa powder, coconut, date syrup and flaxseed. The new peanut butter flavour features roasted peanuts and vegan chocolate chips. Like all Huel’s products, the new bar contains a blend of 26 essential vitamins and minerals with a low-GI to provide a complete nutritious snack option that provides energy. Each Peanut Butter Huel Bar contains 200 calories, 12g of plant-based protein and a balanced profile of omega-3, omega-6 and monounsaturated fats. Huel’s brand portfolio also features complete meals in powder and ready-to-drink format. The new Peanut Butter Huel Bars are available online for £19.50 per 15 bars.

BrewDog has announced the opening of 102 new virtual bars this Friday, after UK pubs were forced to shut in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19. With its shift to online, BrewDog aims to replicate the experience of its bars across the globe and enable customers to enjoy a beer and socialise with each other online. As part of its move, every single BrewDog bar in the UK, Germany, Australia and USA will have its own online session for locals and regulars to connect. The virtual bars will open this Friday 27 March at 6pm to anyone over 18 for a series of events including beer tasting and homebrewing masterclasses to pub quizzes, live music and comedy. Throughout the sessions, there will be Q&A opportunities, giveaways and exclusive merchandise available from the BrewDog online shop. As part of the event, there will be a series of online tastings from Guest Breweries, Hawkes Cider, Overworks and BrewDog distilling. The craft beer maker will be announcing session details including how to take part throughout this week on its social media channels. The announcement follows BrewDog’s switch to click and collect via its Hop Dropapp, enabling customers to collect beer, food, spirits and cider without leaving their cars. BrewDog co-founder James Watt said: “Community has always been at the absolute core of what we do. And the role that community, and great beer play in our society is now more important than ever. “Our online bars will be open for business on the 27th of March at 6pm, and we are scheduling a series of amazing sessions with guest breweries, online tastings, games, entertainment. We’re looking forward to welcoming you all and sharing a beer.”  Earlier this year, the independent craft brewer unveiled updated pack designs alongside a raft of new sustainability initiatives.

The UK government has relaxed trading laws and competition regulations in an attempt to allow supermarkets to work together during the outbreak of Covid-19. Elements of competition laws are being temporarily relaxed to encourage supermarkets to collaborate and share resources to ensure that the public has access to essential food and goods amid the coronavirus outbreak. As part of a package of measures, retailers are now able to share data with each other on stock levels, cooperate to keep shops open, or share distribution depots and delivery vans. The move also allows retailers to pool staff with one another to help meet demand. Other laws that have been temporarily lifted include rules around drivers’ hours to allow them to meet increased demand for deliveries, as well as lifting the 5p plastic bag charge for online purchases to speed up deliveries and minimise cross-contamination from delivery crates. The support for supermarkets comes as the government and retailers continue to urge people to shop considerately and look out for their friends, family and neighbours. “By relaxing elements of competition laws temporarily, our retailers can work together on their contingency plans and share the resources they need with each other during these unprecedented circumstances," said Environment Secretary George Eustice.  “We welcome the measures supermarkets are already taking to keep shelves stocked and supply chains resilient, and will continue to support them with their response to coronavirus.” Business Secretary Alok Sharma said: “In these extraordinary and challenging times it is important that we remove barriers to our supermarkets working together to serve customers, particularly those who are elderly, ill or vulnerable in all parts of the UK.” Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, added: “We welcome this important decision by the government to give retailers greater flexibility to work together to tackle the challenges posed by coronavirus. “Retailers have been working hard to ensure shelves are stocked and this is an exceptional step taken by government to help retailers and their suppliers cope with problems that might be caused by wide-scale absences across the supply chain.”

Wine, beer and spirits companies, across several countries, have announced shifts in production to hand sanitiser, as they seek to meet the urgent need for the product amid the current Covid-19 pandemic. Among the companies mobilising to curb national and retail shortages of sanitiser are Bacardi, Pernod Ricard USA, Amber Beverage Group (ABG), BrewDog and Corby Spirit and Wine Limited. Bacardi has partnered with Puerto Rico-based Olein Refinery to provide raw materials that will reportedly enable the production of more than 1.7 million units of 10oz sanitiser. The ethanol needed to make the 70% alcohol sanitisers is being produced at the Bacardi Corporation distillery in Cataño, Puerto Rico, where more than 80% of the company’s rums are produced. Two days ago, BrewDog introduced its new Brewgel Punk Sanitiser with the announcement that it had started working on making the product at its distillery in Scotland, while ABG has today said that its Latvijas Balzams factory in Latvia will begin sanitiser production this week. Meanwhile, Pernod Ricard USA and Canada-based Corby Spirit and Wine Limited have both announced that they are working in coordination with their respective governments to address national shortages. Hand sanitiser will be produced at all of Pernod Ricard USA’s manufacturing sites and distilleries, and the brand has credited federal officials with helping it to navigate regulatory hurdles and obtain the necessary approvals to make the shift. Ann Mukherjee, chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard North America, said: "Our company is proud to support the efforts of the administration and communities across the country in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. "In times like this it is important that everyone, especially companies with strong US roots, like ours, prioritise good corporate citizenship and step up in the name of the greater good. “I am glad that we were able to form this public/private partnership and repurpose our spirits production facilities to meet a pressing, national need." Several companies are donating all or a portion of the sanitiser they produce to needy individuals and agencies within their communities. Other products, including ABG’s Virudes sanitiser, will be made available for purchase by major retail chains and institutions suffering from depleted supplies.

Mondelēz International has announced the appointment of Javier Polit to the role of chief information officer (CIO), effective as of 23 March 2020. Most recently, Polit was CIO of The Procter & Gamble Company for almost three years. Prior to that, he served as group CIO for the Bottling Investments Group and Coca-Cola North America at The Coca-Cola Company. Luca Zaramella, Mondelēz’s executive vice president and CFO, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Javier to Mondelēz International to lead our global team of IT professionals and help accelerate our enterprise-wide digital transformation. “He has a successful track record of leading large-scale IT transformations at global companies and extensive experience in managing all facets of strategic enterprise technology. “I look forward to his contributions in leveraging technology to enable all three pillars of our long-term growth strategy.” Newly appointed CIO Polit added: “I am very excited to join Mondelēz International and help make technology a competitive advantage. “I look forward to partnering with the leadership team and our partners around the world to strengthen and expand the impact of IT across the company.” Polit will report to Zaramella, who has served at Mondelēz for more than 20 years and has held several roles including, most recently, CFO after his 2018 appointment to the position.

Kellogg’s has introduced a new all-bran cereal with prebiotic fibre, designed to support digestive health. Two flavours are available, Original and Almond & Pumpkin Seeds, both of which reportedly feature natural prebiotic chicory root fibre and wheat bran fibre to nourish ‘good’ bacteria in the gut. The company also claims that the cereal is low in sugar. Kellogg’s reports that it is planning to double its investment in its high fibre brands this year. The company will also continue to focus on raising awareness of the benefits of high fibre foods and a healthy gut following its 2019 ‘Happy Guts’ campaign. Catriona Campbell-Voegt, nutritionist and Kellogg’s UK wellbeing lead, said: “It’s clear that having a healthy gut can have a massive impact on our overall wellbeing. 70% of our immune cells are found in our gut, and it’s directly linked with our brain, so how we fuel it is so important. “We’re excited to now offer two more delicious cereals which support good gut health to help everyone eat more fibre and feel at their best every day.” Kellogg’s has expanded its portfolio in recent years to include cereals catering to the demand for healthier consumer options, including the launch of a new prebiotics and probiotics range and a vegan ‘no added sugar’ granola. All-Bran Prebiotic Oaty Clusters are available for an RRP of £2.99 per 380g pack from all major supermarkets.

Kopparberg has launched a new Passionfruit and Orange Gin in the UK, as the cider brand aims to capitalise on the continued growth of flavoured gin. With a 37.5% ABV, the gin is infused with sweet passion fruit and orange reportedly offering an alternative to pink gin while still bursting with bold and fruit flavours. The launch follows the success of Kopparberg’s first entry into the spirits category with its Strawberry and Lime Gin in May 2019, which was then introduced into a ready-to-drink format with lemonade and followed by a Mixed Fruit variation in the Summer. The choice of flavour was decided following the successful launch of its Passion Fruit cider variant in 2019 and the increased demand for passion fruit flavoured drinks. According to Kopparberg, the new gin is best served over ice with a tonic or lemonade mixer and a slice of orange. Rob Salvesen, head of marketing, said: “We are extremely excited to bring our new flavour of Kopparberg gin to the UK following the success of our pink gin variants launched last year and after we’ve seen passion fruit as a key and current trend in flavour. “Kopparberg is the perfect drink to enjoy with friends and we look forward to seeing Kopparberg fans making memories with a refreshing serve of the new Passionfruit and Orange Gin." Kopparberg's Passionfruit and Orange Gin is available for £20 per 70cl bottle from select Tesco stores.

Häagen-Dazs has launched a low-calorie ice cream range in the US called the Heaven line, catering to consumers who are desiring indulgence without the calories. There are four flavours in the Heaven range: Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel, Strawberry Waffle Cone, Peanut Butter Chip, and Cold Brew Espresso Chip, and each flavour will be packaged in a 14oz tub. All four flavours in the Heaven line utilise ultra-filtered milk, and Häagen-Dazs claims that each flavour contains one-third fewer calories and 25% less total sugar per serving compared to regular Häagen-Dazs ice cream, and each flavour contains no more than 230 calories per serving. Meredith Saxe, Häagen-Dazs brand manager said: "The Häagen-Dazs brand is dedicated to creating perfect moments for all consumers to indulge, which is why we were inspired to create Heaven. This collection offers lower-calorie options, while still satisfying a sweet tooth with the deliciously rich flavour you'd expect from a Häagen-Dazs product. "These flavours were thoughtfully crafted with the finest ingredients to continue delivering the iconic creamy texture and perfect flavours you expect from the Häagen-Dazs brand." All four flavours of the Häagen-Dazs Heaven range have a suggested retail price of $5.49, and are now available nationwide in the US. Earlier this year, Häagen-Dazs released a limited-edition ruby chocolate ice cream product in the US, as the company aimed to deliver "a new taste and colour experience”.