Drop Bear Beer Co. has secured a £1.8 million equity investment to build what it says will be one of the world’s first dedicated alcohol-free breweries. Based in Swansea, Wales, Drop Bear offers a range of vegan, gluten-free and low-calorie beers, which come in at around 0.5% ABV. The company – which was founded in 2019 – aims to establish a brewery in South Wales, as it looks to increase production and market share. The new funding includes a £1.5 million investment by Admiral Group founder Henry Engelhardt and £300,000 from a campaign on equity crowdfunding platform, Crowdcube. Drop Bear will use the new funds to press ahead with its plans for the alcohol-free brewery, which it claims will be only the second to open in the UK. The company says that it currently has a site under consideration and plans for the brewery to be fully operational by the end of October. “To have a businessman of Henry’s experience and reputation on board recognising the incredible work we’re doing with Drop Bear is absolutely fantastic,” said Drop Bear co-founder and operations and finance director, Sarah McNena. “His investment, along with £300,000 that is coming from our Crowdcube campaign, enables us to increase production capacity further, create more jobs and make even more of an impact on both the national and international stage.” Drop Bear co-founder and sales and marketing director, Joelle Drummond, added: “In less than two years and with a very humble personal investment, Sarah and I have transformed Drop Bear from just an idea into a multimillion-pound business with an international reputation. “As the founders of Drop Bear, we’re so excited and motivated to show the world what Drop Bear can do with significant investment and what this brewery will mean for the industry as a whole.” The Drop Bear range currently consists of four beers: Tropical IPA, Yuzu Pale Ale, Bonfire Stout and New World Lager.

Mars is expanding its biscuit offering for the UK market with the introduction of Galaxy Chocolatey Moments. Sold in packs of ten, the new offering features shortcake biscuits ‘smothered’ in chocolate.  “We are delighted to be introducing a new Galaxy SKU to our growing portfolio of biscuits,” said Michelle Frost, general manager at Mars Chocolate Drinks and Treats. “We are confident that the innovative format, great taste and the strength of the brand will appeal to both Galaxy and biscuit fans alike.” With an RRP of £1.50 per 110g pack, Galaxy Chocolatey Moments will be available at Sainsbury’s from 7 February and Tesco from 15 February. Mars recently added to its range of vegan and gluten-free chocolate in the UK with the launch of Bounty Vegan and Topic Vegan.

Carlsberg has posted an 8.4% decline in organic revenue in its 2020 results, following significant impact to its on-trade channel amid a "challenging year".  The company posted revenues of DKK 58.54 billion ($9.42 billion) in 2020, but says it delivered a “solid set of results despite Covid-19” and that the group’s financial situation remains strong. Carlsberg posted a 3.1% decline in organic operating profit to DKK 9.7 billion ($1.56 billion), in line with its expectations announced in Q3 after it witnessed positive volume trends in Russia and China. Accounting for around 25% of Carlsberg volumes, the brewer said the beer market was significantly impacted by the on-trade due to a range of lockdowns and restrictions on gatherings. Volumes in the on-trade channel declined by more than 20%, however in local markets, the company developed online delivery and takeaway platforms to support its on-trade customers. The impact of the off-trade varied significantly between Carlsberg’s markets. Overall the sector increased by mid-single-digit percentages, however this was not enough to offset the volume decline in the on-trade. Total organic volume dropped by 3.8%, representing a 9% decline in Tuborg (despite growing 15% in Russia, this was offset by other large market declines such as India, Nepal and Denmark) and a 10% fall in Carlsberg – impacted by market declines in India and Malaysia and the closure of the night entertainment channel in China. Meanwhile, 1664 Blanc witnessed an 8% volume rise and its Somersby brand a 2% rise. Nevertheless, the company’s growth priorities of craft and speciality and alcohol-free brews proved resilient. Craft and speciality volumes grew 1% with Russia as a key driver, while alcohol-free brews grew 11%, as more consumers became increasingly aware around health and wellbeing amid the pandemic. Carlsberg particularly saw good results for recent launches in the category including Baltika Zero Grapefruit and Raspberry, Brooklyn Special Effects and Somersby 0.0. The company witnessed its third-party ecommerce sales go up by approximately 60%, with particular strong growth in Asia. During 2020, Carlsberg UK completed its merger with Marston’s, while last month the brewer’s acquisition of  Wernesgrüner Brewery in Germany was completed. Carlsberg CEO Cees ’t Hart said: “While the pandemic is not yet behind us and we don’t know how long it will remain a challenge in 2021, we believe that Carlsberg will emerge even stronger from the crisis. “The group’s financial situation remains strong. Despite Covid-19, we improved our operating margin, delivered strong cash flow, increased dividend per share, carried out a sizeable share buyback programme and strengthened the business through acquisitions.” The company has also announced a new DKK 750 million share buy-back programme, which will run until 23 April. With the Covid-19 pandemic continuing to impact business performance in 2021, Carlsberg expects organic growth in operating profit within the range of 3-10%.

Mondelēz International has announced plans for a £15 million investment to bring more Dairy Milk production to Cadbury's “home” at Bournville. The company will invest £11 million to create a new production line, as it plans to consolidate the majority of its Cadbury Dairy Milk tablet production at the Birmingham site. Mondelēz says that the new ‘line of the future’ will enable 125 million more of the large sharing bars to be made at the factory annually. Alongside the new line, Mondelēz is planning to invest a further £4 million at Bournville in increasing chocolate production capacity, to meet demand. “At a time when manufacturing in the UK is facing significant challenges, it has never been more vital to secure the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of our business,” said Louise Stigant, UK managing director, Mondelēz International. “We now have an opportunity at Bournville to further invest in its future as the home and heart of Cadbury by bringing more Cadbury Dairy Milk production to Bournville. “This investment will continue the modernising of our production processes at Bournville and ensure we are meeting the need for a highly efficient and robust supply infrastructure for our iconic Cadbury Dairy Milk tablets.” The Bournville factory produces five and a half million blocks of Cadbury Dairy Milk every day. The site also makes products including Wispa and Cadbury Creme Eggs. According to Mondelēz, five years ago production costs at Bournville were three times those of similar factories in Germany and other European markets. The company says that it has invested more than £80 million at the site since 2014 and that as a result, production efficiency has increased by more than 30% during the same period.

Valeo Foods has moved its Rowse brand beyond honey with the introduction of a chocolate spread in the UK. Rowse ChocoBee is made from only two ingredients – 100% pure natural honey and UTZ-certified sustainable cocoa. The product contains no palm oil and all packaging is 100% recyclable. The chocolate spread joins Rowse’s wide range of honeys including manuka, organic acacia and Greek, and is part of the brand’s Hives for Lives programme; a group of initiatives that protects honey bees and supports beekeepers around the world. “We know consumers are looking for a chocolate spread that not only tastes great but delivers on their desire to choose sustainable products, meaning no palm oil and 100% sustainably sourced ingredients,” said Kirstie Jamieson, marketing director at Rowse Honey. “This is what Rowse ChocoBee delivers to the chocolate spreads category containing only 100% pure natural honey and sustainably farmed cocoa, certified by UTZ, a programme that’s part of the Rainforest Alliance,” she added. Suitable for both vegetarians and coeliacs, the new product can be stirred into porridge, added to hot milk or spread on toast as well as other breakfast favourites, such as muffins, croissants, crepes and brioches. “With Pancake Day around the corner, we really look forward to people trying it out for themselves and on top of our exceptional brand growth we are confident it will create incremental growth in the category,” said Jamieson.  Rowse ChocoBee is available to purchase now in Asda for an RRP of £2.49, with other retailers to follow this month.

The government of Canada and the province of Nova Scotia are investing more than CAD 44 million ($34.4 million approx.) in the fish and seafood sector through the Atlantic Fisheries Fund. The funding will support 11 projects in Nova Scotia focused on the adoption of new technology and partnerships to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of the sector. The contribution comes from the Atlantic Fisheries Fund, which is investing more than CAD 400 million ($312.6 million approx.) over seven years to support Canada's fish and seafood sector. Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, said: “The projects we are supporting through the Atlantic Fisheries Fund will help our fisheries adapt to ever-changing markets and become even more sustainable and productive. And a stronger fishery means more jobs for coastal Canadians, and more prosperity in our coastal communities.” Keith Colwell, Nova Scotia Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, added: “Nova Scotia's seafood quality is world-renown and this support for our fishery sector will go to enhance equipment, innovation, productivity and Covid-19 protections. “It will help our seafood industry remain safe and sustainable, and provide top-quality seafood products to the world. We are excited to join with our federal partners, DFO, in these important investments.” Jointly funded by the federal government and the Atlantic provinces – with a 70% and 30% contribution, respectively – the Atlantic Fisheries Fund aims to help Canada's seafood sector transition to meet the growing demand for high-quality, value-added and sustainably sourced products. Eligible projects must focus on innovation, infrastructure or science partnerships, and a wide range of entities, from commercial fisheries to universities, may apply.

A group of investors advised by Rigeto Unternehmerkapital have bought a majority stake in German seafood group Crusta Nova for an undisclosed sum.  Based in Langenpreising near Munich, Crusta Nova breeds saltwater shrimp in a land-based aquaculture system and sells its products to restaurants and food retailers, as well as to end-consumers. According to Rigeto, Crusta Nova is the leading German shrimp farm and seafood brand. Founded in 2012, the company operates a B2B seafood platform and B2C ecommerce business (via Germany and Austria) for sustainable seafood and fish. With the support of specially-developed software-supported cycle technology, Crusta Nova says it is possible to bring the sea onto land.  Following the acquisition, Crusta Nova founder Fabian Riedel will continue to hold a significant stake in the company and work on its growth strategy. Together with Rigeto, the company is looking to expand its position in European shrimp farming – by increasing its house shrimp production – and accelerate the growth of its seafood wholesale business and ecommerce business internationally. This includes establishing a company headquarters with a brand store in Munich-Schwabing, expanding its workforce at both locations and further developing its retail range.  Fabian Riedel, managing partner and founder of Crusta Nova, said: “We have reached important milestones in the establishment of land-based breeding in Langenpreising. With Rigeto, I have the ideal partner at my side to expand the growth that has already been initiated and to initiate important steps, among other things, in the area of ​​new sales markets, range expansion and expansion of sales and marketing.” Rigeto pursues a long-term investment approach to the development companies it supports, representing a group of German and Swiss entrepreneurs. Wolf Hoffmann, associate partner at Rigeto Unternehmerkapital, added: “For Rigeto, the stake in Crusta Nova marks the entry into another sustainable growth market with innovative technology. “Changing consumer habits such as online grocery retailing as well as increased consumer awareness for ecologically or sustainably produced foods and healthy, protein-rich nutrition are current trends in the food market that are served by Crusta Nova.”

Bühler has announced the launch of PolyCool 1000, a new high-capacity cooling die for high-moisture plant-based meat substitutes. Together with an extruder, PolyCool 1000 reportedly provides an efficient and flexible solution for food producers creating sustainable plant-based meat or fish alternatives. For the first time, the PolyCool 1000 allows a throughput of more than 1,000kg per hour. According to Bühler, cooling dies work with extrusion technology to create structures and textures that closely resemble animal-based meat products such as chicken, fish or beef.  The company claims that its PolyCool 1000 cooling die – in combination with an extruder – enables the production of wet-textured proteins based on a wide range of raw materials, including soy, pulses, oilseeds, upcycled side streams like brewer spent grains, as well as newer ingredients such as microalgae. “Bühler has for many years supported food producers in developing innovative products that offer an attractive alternative to animal meat – products that are similar in terms of fibre structure, colour, texture, and taste,” said Christoph Vogel, head of market segment proteins & ingredients. “With the PolyCool 1000, customers can achieve high-capacity production, bringing down costs and making meat substitutes more affordable,” he added. The high-capacity cooling die can withstand pressures of up to 50 bar, as it cools down the extrudate from around 150 ºC to below boiling point. It also enables the production of products of different shapes and structures and the individual cooling circuits can each be controlled independently. PolyCool 1000 joins and completes Bühler’s range of high-moisture cooling dies including PolyCool 500 and PolyCool 50. With its new product, Bühler aims to meet the growing demand of plant-based proteins as a sustainable solution. "As the market shifts to a more plant-based diet, fuelled by consumers’ growing interest in health, sustainability and ethical concerns, the PolyCool 1000 supports food producers in grasping this opportunity,” said Vogel. Last month, Bühler announced a new partnership with the Deutsches Institut für Lebensmitteltechnik (DIL) to advance the development of sustainable protein products.

Chicago-based food start-up Tovala has closed a $30 million Series C funding round to fuel the growth of its smart oven and self-cook meal service. Launched in 2017, Tovala pairs its countertop smart oven with ready-to-cook meals. The smart oven offers five different cooking functions – steam, bake, broil, toast and reheat – and the ability to scan-to-cook nearly 1,000 brand-name grocery items. The round was led by Left Lane Capital, with participation from previous investors Finistere Ventures, Comcast Ventures, OurCrowd, Origin Ventures, Pritzker Group Venture Capital and Joe Mansueto. It marks Tovala’s second fundraise in six months, bringing its total to over $50 million. In 2018, the company received an investment from Tyson Foods. With the capital, Tovala plans to open a new production facility, expand its team, improve the customer experience and continue developing its food and consumer technology brand. According to Tovala, its upward trajectory reached new levels in 2020 as consumers invested in at-home meal solutions that met demands for convenience and quality. Throughout the year, the start-up increased its employees by 40%, launched more than 400 new meals in its rotating weekly menu, rolled out meal customisation options and opened a new production facility. “During a year when normal life was impossible and we collectively faced unexpected hardships, the Tovala team rallied to provide our customers with a source of comfort: meals they could rely on,” said David Rabie, CEO of Tovala. “We are grateful to be a growing company during a difficult economic moment and we appreciate the partnership of Left Lane Capital to help our business reach more people in the months and years to come,” he added. Following the investment, Left Lane Capital – which has invested in HelloFresh – will work closely with the Tovala team as it continues to scale its business nationwide. Jason Fiedler, co-founder and managing partner at Left Lane Capital, said: “The pairing of a meal subscription with a connected device has enabled Tovala to achieve a customer retention rate that is a step-function better than anything else we’ve seen in food delivery.”

Nestlé has expanded its KitKat offering for the UK and Ireland with the introduction of a new marbled bar. KitKat Zebra features the brand’s signature crispy wafer on a dark chocolate base, topped with marbled dark and white chocolate. Like the rest of the KitKat range, the new four-finger treat uses Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa that Nestlé says has been responsibly sourced as part of its Cocoa Plan. KitKat Zebra is also said to be free from artificial colours, flavours and preservatives. Last year, Nestlé introduced KitKat Gold, a caramel-flavoured chocolate bar, to the UK market. Other recent UK launches include honeycomb and chocolate hazelnut spread two-finger KitKats. Callum Smith, assistant brand manager for KitKat, said: “Now over 85 years old, KitKat’s unique mix of heritage and innovation has helped to make it one of the UK’s most iconic confectionery brands. We know how much people love to discover new KitKat flavours, and we think Zebra is an innovation they will go wild for. “KitKat Zebra brings you the best of both worlds - combining deliciously rich dark and white chocolate with our crispy wafer – and we hope fans will agree that it tastes as good as it looks. All we can say is, stripes are definitely in this season.” With an RRP of £0.85, the 41.5g bar can be found now at major retailers and wholesalers, and will be available in convenience stores from next month.  Zebra will also be sold in a multipack exclusively in Tesco stores.

Vivino – an online wine marketplace and app – has raised $155 million in Series D funding to support its expansion and investment into smarter artificial intelligence (AI). The Series D round was led by Swedish investment firm Kinnevik with Sprints Capital accompanying as a new investor. Other participants include GP Bullhound and existing early-stage investor Creandum. Founded in 2010, Vivino claims it is the world’s largest online wine marketplace and most downloaded wine app. Through its platform, Vivino provides personalised recommendations, an unbiased rating system and a selection of wine from more than 700 marketplace partners worldwide.  With the capital, Vivino is looking to improve its core technology and AI platform in order to create better and more personalised recommendations for its users. The company also plans to strengthen its focus on select markets that offer the greatest potential growth including the US, Germany, the UK, Italy, Japan and Portugal. "This is a testament to the remarkable work that our teams around the globe have done to build an extraordinary business," said Heini Zachariassen, Vivino's founder and CEO. He added: “This round has raised important capital for our rapidly growing company and drawn some exceptional new leaders to our board. The funding will enable us to continue to build on our core strengths, expand industry partnerships drawing more merchants and wineries to our marketplace, and support our continued global growth." The latest round brings Vivino’s total funds raised to date to $221 million and comes at a time when alcohol ecommerce sales are rising amid a shift in consumer behaviour. "Our user retention rates are high, and we're seeing a steady conversion of app users to wine buyers. That's a good move in the right direction. By creating more value for our users, we also create more value for the company and industry at large,” said Zachariassen. Since its Series C raise in February 2018 led by the company's current board chairman Christophe Navarre – former CEO and chairman of Moët Hennessy – Vivino has increased its user base from 29 million to 50 million.

Unilever has recorded underlying sales growth of 1.9% in its full-year 2020 results, following a year of market volatility due to the impact of Covid-19. Underlying sales grew across Unilever’s Asia/AMET/RUB and Americas segments last year, by 0.4% and 6.2% respectively, while Europe witnessed a decline in underlying sales of 1%. Overall, Unilever says that ecommerce grew by 61% in 2020. The owner of Ben & Jerry’s, Marmite and Hellmann’s reported that its food and refreshment unit grew its full-year underlying sales by 1.3%, with ‘double-digit’ growth in Unilever's retail foods business. Meanwhile, the company's plant-based brand The Vegetarian Butcher grew over 70%. With extended closures of out-of-home channels, Unilever’s food solutions declined by 30% but ice cream – which accounted in part for Unilever’s flat first-quarter results – grew slightly overall as the company shifted resources towards the in-home business. Tea saw ‘low-single-digit’ growth and Unilever CEO Alan Jope said that the company “continue to work on separating out the tea business”, in the wake of a strategic review process announced early last year. Unilever reported turnover of €50.7 billion for 2020, representing a fall of 2.4%, primarily driven by a negative impact of 5.4% from currency-related items. In its last quarter, the company delivered underlying sales growth of 3.5% – in line with estimates, according to Reuters. Unilever CEO, Jope, said: “In a volatile and unpredictable year, we have demonstrated Unilever’s resilience and agility through the Covid-19 pandemic.” Jope continued: “Early in the year, we refocused the business on competitive growth, and the delivery of profit and cash as the best way to maximise value. “We have delivered a step change in operational excellence through our focus on the fundamentals of growth. As a result, we are winning market share in over 60% of our business in the last quarter, on the basis of measurable markets. “The business also generated underlying operating profit of €9.4 billion and free cash flow of €7.7 billion, an increase of €1.5 billion.” The results are Unilever’s first since the company completed the unification of its group legal structure, moving to a single parent company. Jope added: “While volatility and unpredictability will continue throughout 2021, we begin the year in good shape and are confident in our ability to adapt to a rapidly changing environment.”