On the 25th of May the USA will be celebrating National Wine Day, a beverage which has been enjoyed for centuries by cultures worldwide. From canned wines to cannabis infusions, FoodBev is raising a glass to this perennial alcoholic drink by looking at the top new global wine industry trends of 2019 so far. RTD / canned wines The global alcoholic RTD market has been estimated to grow at a CAGR of 3.32% from 2019-2027, according to Inkwood Research, and wine sold in cans will play a major part in this. One of the main driving forces behind canned wine is millennial drinkers. The convenience of canned wines being sold in single measures, alongside the environmental benefits of the recyclability of cans over glass bottles, are two of the main reasons for this. Earlier this year, British start-up company Nice launched a pale rosé and a sauvignon blanc that rolled out to 600 Sainsbury’s stores. Canned wines hitting the supermarket shelves is a clear indicator that this trend is on the rise this year. Low alcohol & alcohol-free At the end of last year, alcoholic beverage giant Diageo identified low- and no- alcohol as the number one trend for 2019. As consumers are being moving towards healthier lifestyles, there are an increasing number of people seeking to reduce their alcohol intake. Offering low- or no-alcohol options does not necessarily just appeal to the health-conscious, but also has the potential to appeal to consumers more broadly by widening choice. From BrewDog releasing a low-alcohol craft beer to Asahi introducing a 0.0% non-alcoholic beer in the UK, the beer category has taken the lead in this trend. But we are now seeing the wine category step into this arena, with the launch of craft soda brand Sparklingly Sober in January 2019, with brands starting to offer an alcohol- free alternative to fizzy wine. Cannabis infusions While alcohol consumption among younger consumers has reportedly declined, a rise in CBD-infused beverages has been evident over the past year. The increasing legalisation of cannabis in the US has led the trend of cannabis-infused wines across the nation. So far, we have witnessed various US brands, such as Rebel Coast Winery, sell wine infused with cannabinoids. But like most other cannabis-infused wines, this innovative wine does not contain alcohol. In September 2018, the state of California passed Assembly Bill 2914 prohibiting alcoholic beverages combined with cannabinoid being sold, which could set a precedent and lead the way for alcohol-free wine in 2019. Vegan wines There is no doubt consumer demand for plant-based products has rocketed recently. During the winemaking process, egg whites and some fish products are traditionally used when clarifying the wine before bottling. To respond to consumer demand, vegan-friendly wines, that are fined with non-animal agents such as clay-based bentonite, are becoming more popular. Supermarkets have certainly been hopping on this trend, for instance retailer Marks & Spencer now has over 384 vegan-friendly wine options. Sustainability Arguably, one of the biggest recent food and beverage trends has seen brands moving towards more environmentally-friendly decisions in order to align with consumer concerns over sustainability. One way the wine industry has responded to this is seen in the rise of winemakers moving towards renewable energy. At the end of 2018, Pernod Ricard Winemakers announced its commitment to sourcing 100% renewable electricity in Australia by mid-2019. Other big industry names, such as Australian Vintage, are making similar moves by sourcing energy from solar and wind farms. Packaging is another area that the industry has been making sustainable decisions. Garçon Wines, who won a World Food Innovation Award this year for their packaging design, have created a flat wine bottle made from 100% recycled PET that is fully recyclable.

Mars Wrigley Confectionery has expanded the range of its single-serve ice creams with the introduction of the Snickers Dark Chocolate and Twix Triple Chocolate ice cream bars.  The new Snickers Dark Chocolate Ice Cream bars are the first new ice cream flavour in the brand's history, featuring a blend of peanut butter chocolate ice cream, peanuts and caramel, coated in dark chocolate.  Mars has also launched the Twix Triple Chocolate Ice Cream bar to complement the recent launch of its Triple Chocolate Cookie Bar. The ice cream bar features chocolate ice cream coated with caramel and chocolate cookies and dipped in chocolate. Emily Strobel, Mars Ice Cream director of marketing said, "We are thrilled to expand our ice cream line with the launch of new Snickers Dark Chocolate Ice Cream Bars and Twix Triple Chocolate Ice Cream Bars. These two decadent innovations feature a combination of rich, new flavours and a blend of creamy chocolate that make them the perfect summer treat for chocolate lovers everywhere." The Snickers Dark Chocolate Ice Cream bars and Twix Triple Chocolate Ice Cream bars are now available across the USA, with a suggested retail price of $4.19 for 6-pack or $1.99 for individual ice cream bars.

BrewDog has boosted its low-alcohol beer portfolio with Punk AF, which the Scottish brewer says “delivers all the attitude and flavour” of its flagship Punk IPA. The beer maker said the launch marks a new chapter in its quest for craft beer perfection in the low-alcohol category. With an ABV of 0.5%, Punk AF is said to have grassy and pine notes, sitting on a solid malt bassline. The brew is available now in the UK in both 300ml cans and bottles. James Watt, co-founder of BrewDog, said: “Punk IPA is the beer that kick-started a revolution. With the creation of Punk AF, we’re continuing to push our limits and expand the possibility of what craft beer can be. We’re tearing down the image of alcohol-free beer as weak and flavourless. Say hello to the punkest new beer in town.” Following a backlash for creating what it described as “Britain’s strongest beer”, BrewDog released Nanny State in 2009 to counter critics. The focus on Nanny State is on flavour rather than alcoholic strength, and it has now become BrewDog’s fourth-biggest product in the UK off-trade, contributing to 5.7% of the total portfolio, and delivering 38.7% value growth year on year.   Last October, Scotland-headquartered BrewDog closed its Equity for Punks V crowdfunding round , securing £26.2 million in one year.  A total of 50,000 people invested in the crowdfunding drive, more than the total of the previous four Equity for Punks crowdfunding rounds combined. Funds raised through the initiative are supporting BrewDog to expand its breweries in both Ellon, Scotland, and Columbus, Ohio, as well as accelerating the construction of its  new site in Brisbane , Australia. In April, the company acquired a brewery and taproom in Berlin from US-based Stone Brewing, as it aims to further elevate the status of craft beer in Germany.

Nestlé USA will simplify the route to market for its pizza and ice cream products – including brands like Breyer's, Häagen-Dazs and DiGiorno – by exiting its frozen direct store delivery (DSD) network and transitioning to a new warehouse model. The company said that the "change will leverage the highly efficient warehouse network that Nestlé already uses for its frozen meals and snacks", meaning it can better meet the needs of both retailers and consumers. The planned transition will commence in the third quarter of this year, and is expected to be complete early in the second quarter of 2020. Steve Presley, chairman and CEO of Nestlé USA, said: "Ice cream and pizza are growing categories in which we hold strong leadership positions. As we continue to focus on driving long-term profitable growth, leveraging a simpler route to market unlocks resources we can use to fuel our efforts in demand generation, such as product innovation and brand building." The food industry is facing unprecedented shifts in consumer behaviour as the nature of how consumers eat, shop and engage with brands continues to change. At the same time, retail customers are also changing how they do business. Nestlé said it is adapting to this new environment, with the transition part of its broader efforts to transform its organisation and accelerate growth. "Moving to a warehouse model has numerous benefits for us and our retail customers," Presley added. "By taking advantage of the unmatched breadth and depth of our existing frozen warehouse network, our retail customer partners can better leverage their existing networks. This change is a win-win for Nestlé and our customers." Presley added: "This decision came after careful consideration and, while critical to achieve our business goals, it will impact employees in our sales and supply chain teams, and will result in the closure of eight company-owned frozen distribution centres and our frozen inventory transfer points. These employees have worked incredibly hard to serve our customers. Treating them with respect through this process is a top priority for us, and we are committed to doing all we can to provide them information, resources and support."

The Jack and Coke is a staple cocktail for many bars, and now Coca-Cola has developed a range of mixers made specifically for dark spirits such as whisky, bourbon and rum. Marking a global first for the company, the Coca-Cola Signature Mixers have been developed in partnership with a number of bartenders from around the world, a project which started in May 2018. The line will be released in the UK in June and includes four flavours: Coca-Cola Signature Mixers Smoky Notes by Max Venning, Spicy Notes by Adriana Chía and Pippa Guy, Herbal Notes by Antonio Naranjo and Woody Notes by Alex Lawrence. Each flavour was created following a process which saw the bartenders experiment with over 200 contemporary and traditional ingredients. A number of concepts were created and trialled with consumers, and the four most popular flavours were selected for release. The Coca-Cola Signature Mixers will be packaged in a contemporary Hutchinson glass bottle, inspired by the glass bottle first used by Coca-Cola in 1894. Ana Amura, senior brand manager at Coca-Cola Great Britain, said: “Coca-Cola has always had a synergy with dark spirits and classic cocktails, from the inception of the iconic Cuba Libre in the late 1900s to the popular Whisky & Coke in the early 20th century. "With the rise of mixed drinks, we’re excited to announce the launch of Coca-Cola Signature Mixers, a specific range uniquely created to mix with dark spirits. “Working with an inspirational group of global mixologists to create amazing flavour combinations, we hope Coca-Cola Signature Mixers open up the world of mixology to an even wider audience.”

Mondelēz International recorded a 3.7% increase in organic net revenue in its first quarter compared to the same period last year as the company was boosted by its performance in emerging markets. For the three months ended March 31, the maker of Oreo cookies and Cadbury chocolate said its organic net revenue, which is defined as net revenue excluding the impacts of acquisitions, divestitures and currency rate fluctuations, rose to $7.02 billion. Organic net revenue in the firm’s Asia, Middle East & Africa unit was up 6.1%, while growth in North America was 0.5%. However, reported net revenue for the quarter was down 3.4%, in part due to unfavourable currency impacts. Meanwhile, operating income was down 15.4% to $1.04 billion. Mondelēz CEO Dirk Van de Put said: “Our strong start to the year demonstrates clear progress against our plans to accelerate volume-led growth by adopting a more consumer-centric and agile mindset. "We continue to see solid fundamentals in our categories and key markets, including good momentum in emerging markets. Our progress reinforces our confidence that the investments we are making behind our global and local brands, our sales capabilities and our innovation will deliver sustainable long-term growth and create value for our shareholders." In an earnings call with investors, Dirk Van de Put added: “We had strong growth across most global brands, but I want to call out Oreo, our biggest brand, which grew double-digit, which is quite remarkable, and also Cadbury Dairy Milk, another one of our big brands, which grew high single-digit.” During the quarter, Mondelēz bought a minority stake in Uplift Food , a producer of prebiotic functional food supplements, and joined forces with business incubator The Hatchery Chicago to increase innovation efforts in the snacking space. Last month, the firm, through its SnackFutures programme, announced an investment in the company behind snack brand Hu Products . For 2019, Mondelēz predicts organic net revenue growth of between 2% and 3%.

Mondelēz International has announced a collaboration with Israeli food-tech incubator The Kitchen to boost opportunities in the snacking segment. The partnership is led by Mondelēz’s research and development team as well as SnackFutures, the company’s innovation and venture hub. Through the collaboration, Mondelēz said it will have “unparalleled access and visibility to one of the world’s leading food-tech ecosystems”. At the same time, the firm will offer technological and commercial expertise to entrepreneurs from The Kitchen and provide an opportunity to work in the company’s global technical centres, including access to pilot plants and internal experts across areas such as research and development, food safety, marketing insights and operations. Founded in 2015 and owned by Strauss Group, The Kitchen invests in and nurtures technology start-ups. It has partnered with 12 companies so far including plant-based yogurt maker Yofix and Inspecto , an Israeli firm that aims to make food contaminant testing quicker and more reliable. “With over 6,600 active start-up companies and a steady growth year on year, the Israeli innovation ecosystem is one of the most dynamic in the world and we’re thrilled to be part of it,” said Tim Cofer, chief growth officer of Mondelēz International. “We’re looking to collaborate with the best and brightest talent in advancing the future of snacking. We know we don’t have all the answers within our four walls, so we’re on a mission to create an unconventional ecosystem of partners. The collaboration with The Kitchen is another great example of this ecosystem at play.” Jonathan Berger, CEO of The Kitchen, said: “The Kitchen, as a ventures builder, constantly seeks to bring value to its portfolio companies. Partnering with an industry leader such as Mondelēz International will bring tremendous value to The Kitchen and our portfolio companies. “We look forward to working with their dedicated team and to introducing Israeli food-tech innovation from seed to shelf around the globe.” As part of the collaboration, Rob Hargrove, executive vice president of research, development and quality at Mondelēz International, has joined The Kitchen advisory council. “There’s no doubt that Israel is a world leader in food and agricultural innovation, and we’ve been truly inspired by the talented entrepreneurs that are part of The Kitchen,” he said. SnackFutures was launched by Mondelēz last November in a move to capitalise on emerging growth opportunities in the snacking segment. Last week, the company made the second investment as part of the programme – partnering with the company behind snack brand Hu Products .

Pepsi has launched three new flavoured variants in the US, as the uptake of sophisticated flavours in the cola category continues. The new berry, lime and mango colas represent the first time that Pepsi has added real fruit juice to its colas, which the company claimed would "create a bolder flavour experience". They join Pepsi's existing flavour portfolio, which comprises vanilla and wild cherry variants, and comes amid widespread flavour innovation across the category. Rival Coca-Cola has experimented with provenance-led flavours like Georgia peach and California raspberry, as well as completely overhauling its Diet Coke range with flavours such as twisted mango, zesty blood orange and feisty cherry. The launch follows Pepsi's announcement that it will release "the world’s first nitrogen-infused cola", potentially opening up an entirely new beverage category. Called Nitro Pepsi, the drink combines nitrogen infusion with the classic Pepsi taste to deliver "an entirely reimagined cola experience”. The brand has also previously experimented with cola flavours like ginger, raspberry, salted caramel and cinnamon. Todd Kaplan, vice-president of marketing for Pepsi, said: "We are really excited to release these three new flavours, as they provide our fans with a flavourful new cola experience that combines the delicious flavour of an ice-cold Pepsi with a splash of real fruit juice. This unique twist on cola creates an unbelievably delightful taste profile that is unparalleled in the marketplace, creating a refreshing way for people to cool off in the warm weather." All three new flavours are available in 12 packs of 12oz cans through national retailers until mid-June. After, the three products will be available in packs of eight 12oz sleek cans sold at Walmart and Target.

Charoen Pokphand Foods (CP Foods) is to acquire Canadian pork producer HyLife Investments for CAD 498 million ($370 million), expanding its presence in North America. The deal will see CP Foods take control of 50.1% of HyLife, with Japan's Itochu continuing to hold the remaining 49.9% of shares. Manitoba-based HyLife produces and exports a range of premium pork products; set up in 1994, the company today processes more than 2 million hogs per year and exports to 20 different countries, employing over 2,000 people worldwide. The two companies said that CP Foods' investment would propel HyLife’s growth into the fast-growing Asian, North American and international markets. HyLife CEO Grant Lazaruk said: “This is a win-win for HyLife, CP Foods and Manitoba’s agricultural industry. Together, our globally established companies will significantly strengthen our market position. Not only do we share similar values, but our strategies also correspond with one another. Through this agreement, we will build on the success of our growing pork business and brands to our customers globally, including our fresh chilled pork products to Japan, which we proudly grow and process right here in Manitoba.” Claude Vielfaure, President of HyLife, added: “This new agreement will ensure continued job creation across the province and beyond as well as promote increased demand for our value-added pork. The Province of Manitoba has been open for business and has empowered our company to attract foreign investment and to enable us to grow our integrated pork company domestically and internationally. We are proud to put Manitoba on the world map and look forward to continuing our outstanding relationship with suppliers, partners and communities across Manitoba.”

Mondelēz International has made its second investment as part of the SnackFutures programme it launched at the end of last year – this time investing in the company behind snack brand Hu Products. Hu offers a range of minimally processed snack foods – including grain-free crackers, tea and coffee, dark chocolate and chocolate-covered pieces – under the tagline "get back to human". Founded in 2012 as a family business, Hu began as Hu Kitchen in New York City – a high-end kitchen and market focused on paleo-inspired foods – before quickly expanding into the CPG marketplace. Mondelēz's involvement will be just the latest vote of confidence in its rapidly expanding business. Mondelēz said that Hu had "developed into a premium, multi-SKU brand portfolio of wellness-focused… snacking products with a devoted following". It is Mondelēz's second venture as part of its SnackFutures programme, the 'innovation hub' and venturing arm launched at the end of last year with the aim of capitalising on emerging growth opportunities in the snacking segment. SnackFutures has a goal of contributing $100 million to Mondelēz's revenue growth by 2022, and kicked off its investments in March with an initial stake in prebiotic food company Uplift. Speaking about its latest investment in Hu, Mondelēz International chief growth officer Tim Cofer said: “As the global snacking leader, we’re on a mission to lead the future of snacking and push the boundaries of what’s possible. Investing in Hu offers our company an opportunity to do exactly that. The Hu brand sits at the convergence of key growing consumer trends. Building on its initial success in chocolate, we believe there’s an exciting opportunity to continue expanding the Hu proposition into a broad health-focused snacking platform across categories. And, with an in-house test kitchen and insights lab, they have a unique ability to quickly test and learn.” Hu co-founder Jason Karp said: “Jordan, Jessica and I started Hu because we wanted a place where we could trust and understand every ingredient in our food. We chose Mondelēz International as a minority investor because we believe their resources, strengths and progressive vision of SnackFutures can help us accelerate positive change within snacking. This partnership should allow the Hu platform to grow and reach more people in a better and broader way than on our own.” And fellow co-founder Jordan Brown added: “Hu is our passion, and we’re thrilled to fuel its growth with Mondelēz International as our partner. Our perpetual goal is to marry great taste with no weird ingredients, and we’re big believers that using these simpler ingredients can make people feel and perform better than they thought possible. Our new partnership will help us advance this ‘Get Back To Human’ concept to a global audience.”

In anticipation of a potential Easter heatwave, Unilever's Magnum ice cream brand has expanded its ice cream range with a new white chocolate and cookie flavoured product line. Available in both stick and tub formats, the new indulgent flavour expands the brand's white chocolate ice cream offering. Sticks of the new White Chocolate & Cookies range feature the brand's signature layer of white chocolate, which is then supplemented by indulgent cookie crumb throughout and the sticks are packaged in a golden foil wrap. Meanwhile, the ice cream itself is a vanilla-flavoured panna with an indulgent cookie flavour chocolate sauce swirl. The sticks are available in both large 90ml and mini 55ml sizes, and can be purchased in multi-packs or as single-serve sticks. If that wasn't enough to satisfy the sweet cravings of consumers, the brand has also expanded its range of chocolate-layer ice cream tubs with a 440ml White Chocolate & Cookies flavour variant. Featuring a white chocolate disk layer dotted with cookie crumb pieces on top of the ice cream, the tub also features the same vanilla panna ice cream and cookie flavoured swirl, but with the addition of white chocolate shards inside the ice cream. Cocoa beans used for the new range is Rainforest Alliance certified, meaning that the ingredients used for the range have been responsibly sourced. Available now from selected UK retailers, Magnum White Chocolate & Cookies Sticks have a suggested retail price (SRP) of £3.69 for a pack of three, £2.93 for a pack of six mini sticks, while single sticks have an SRP of £2. The new Magnum White Chocolate & Cookies Tubs meanwhile have an SRP of £3.85 per 440ml tub.

BrewDog has acquired a brewery and taproom in Berlin from US-based Stone Brewing, as it aims to further elevate the status of craft beer in Germany. Located in the Mariendorf neighbourhood, the facility contains a 100hl brewhouse, a 10hl pilot brewing system as well as a taproom and beer garden. The site will be closed for between six to eight weeks for refurbishment, with BrewDog moving in on 1 May. San Diego-based Stone Brewing initially worked with BrewDog for a collaborative beer at the Scottish brewer’s original site in Fraserburgh, Scotland. In 2015, BrewDog agreed to a deal to import Stone Brewing beers into the UK. As part of the Berlin agreement, the site will continue to brew Stone Brewing beers. Greg Koch, co-founder and executive chairman of Stone Brewing, said: “Ultimately our project in Berlin turned out to be a bit too aggressively big and bold, and a little too far from home, for Stone to continue to operate. It’s also a much shorter flight from Scotland to Berlin than it is from San Diego. By a lot. “We wish our friends at Brewdog every success with the Mariendorf gasworks property. We loved it and brought it to life, and we know they’ll do the same in their own way. They will do great things. And from time to time, as we’ve done in the past, we’ll do some of those great things together.” BrewDog co-founder James Watt added: “We are really excited to become a small part of the craft beer movement in Germany and the German beer scene overall and we are also really excited to be part of the Mariendorf community. “Beer, people and community have always been the foundations of our business and that is what we will be focusing on in Berlin too as we look to share our passion for craft beer with as many people as we can.” BrewDog has also launched the Berlin Craft Collective, which will see the company open up the new brewery to the independent craft brewers of Berlin, providing them full access to its 10hl pilot system. “We want to make our new Berlin brewery the hub for the craft beer movement and use it to help elevate the status of beer and craft brewing in Germany,” Watt said. Founded in Scotland 2007, BrewDog launched its Equity for Punks crowdfunding initiative in 2010, which saw the company raise £67 million over five rounds. It now has 80 bars globally and exports to 60 countries.