UK retailer Sainsbury's has announced that it will launch its first plant-based own label tea bags later this year. Currently, Sainsbury’s own label teabags are composed of 75% natural fibres and 25% polypropylene sealing material. This sealing material ensures the teabag remains intact and that tea leaves don’t seep into the cup. However, the new plant-based tea bags will be made from polylactic acid (PLA), sourced from the sugars in cornstarch, cassava or sugarcane. According to Sainsbury's, the introduction of the new PLA tea bags in June 2021 will see the retailer move over 815 million individual teabags a year from using oil-based plastic to plant-based plastic, as part of its efforts to halve its use of plastic packaging by 2025. The PLA teabags will be industrially compostable, and Sainsbury's recommends that they are disposed of in kerbside food or garden waste bins. As well as introducing the new PLA tea bags, the retailer has also announced that it will remove the outer plastic wrapping from 11 products, equating to 16.2 tonnes of plastic. Claire Hughes, director of product, packaging and innovation at Sainsbury’s, said: “This extensive rollout of our new tea bags, is another example of how we are looking to implement new innovative products that will reduce the impact our business has on the environment. "Our move towards plant-based teabags has required significant time and multiple trials to ensure that our customers receive the same great quality teabag and we look forward to the roll out in stores this year.”

Nestlé has announced that its Rowntree's brand will expand its confectionery offering with the release of new Dessert Pastilles in February. Each pack of the new Rowntree's Dessert Pastilles will feature mango sorbet, blueberry pie, cherry bakewell and apple crumble flavoured pastilles. As with the rest of the Rowntree's range, the new Dessert Pastilles are vegan-friendly, as they do not include gelatin. The new formulation was introduced by Nestlé last year, with the company reportedly trialling 30 new formulations in order to find a recipe which removed gelatin yet retained the 'soft chew' associated with the brand's sweets. Meg Miller, brand manager for Rowntree’s said: “There has been an incredible response to our slightly softer, vegan-friendly Fruit Pastilles and we’re delighted consumers agree that the chew remains as fabulously fruity as ever. "Now we are introducing an innovative twist on our classic pastilles with four on-trend flavours that evoke the taste of some of the nation’s best-loved puddings." Rowntree's Dessert Pastilles will be available nationwide across the UK and Ireland from the beginning of February in 139g sharing packs, with a suggested retail price of £1.39 per bag.

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an inquiry into Diageo's purchase of British gin and vodka maker, Chase Distillery, due to competition concerns. Diageo's agreement to purchase Chase Distillery for an undisclosed sum was initially announced in October 2020. Chase Distillery's spirits portfolio is composed of seven gins, four vodkas and an elderflower liqueur, and Diageo pursued a deal for the firm to expand its position in the premium spirits category. The CMA announced that a Phase 1 investigation has been launched into the merger, whereby the CMA will consider whether the deal constitutes a "relevant merger situation" under the provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002. The investigation aims to determine whether the merger will result in a “substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the UK for goods or services”. Comments from interested parties are invited by the CMA and should be provided to the competition watchdog by 21 January 2021. The CMA will announce whether it has decided to refer the merger for a Phase 2 investigation on 4 March 2021.

Flexible packaging company ProAmpac has acquired Rapid Action Packaging (RAP), a manufacturer of cellulose-based food packaging products. Gijs Voskamp, CEO of Ludgate Investments, which has exited its investment in RAP, said that Ludgate was “delighted to have been an integral part in the development of RAP as the leading manufacturer of sustainable food packaging solutions”.  Based in the UK, RAP makes sustainable packaging for fresh prepared foods sold at retail, including sandwiches and salads. The company will join the ProAmpac brand and will maintain operations at its production facilities in Ireland and London. Cincinnati-based ProAmpac’s acquisition of RAP expands its manufacturing capabilities to produce primary packaging for ready-to-eat and fresh prepared foods. The company, which is owned by Pritzker Private Capital along with management and other investors, also aims to broaden its sustainable product offering for retail food markets. “RAP is an excellent addition to the ProAmpac family. We are excited to add RAP’s focus on research and development for fresh prepared food packaging to our portfolio," said Greg Tucker, CEO of ProAmpac. “Together with RAP, we are extending our product reach in foodservice to now include a ready-to-eat portfolio, and we will continue to bring innovative ideas and products to a growing customer base.” Chris Trick, investment partner at Pritzker Private Capital, added: “This acquisition extends ProAmpac’s capabilities into the fresh prepared and ready-to-eat retail market, an important strategic growth opportunity for the company.” The financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. In 2019, ProAmpac unveiled several new sustainable packaging ranges that were created as part of the company’s commitment to create increasingly sustainable flexible packaging solutions.

Plant-based snack brand Outstanding Foods has raised $10 million in a Series A financing led by SternAegis Ventures, as it prepares for a 2021 retail expansion. With the capital, Outstanding Foods is looking to expand both its retail footprint and direct-to-consumer (DTC) marketing efforts nationally and globally. The funding comes after Outstanding Foods raised $5 million in a financing roundlast year, also led by SternAegis Ventures, which the US company said would be used to expand its portfolio. The brand is the manufacturer of PigOut Pigless Pork Rinds and most recently TakeOut Meal-In-A-Bag Puffs – both free-from gluten, soy and GMOs – which are currently sold in retailers such as Walmart, Kroger and Whole Foods. In addition, Outstanding will also use the capital to strengthen its research and development team to accelerate the development of new plant-based, better-for-you products. Other investors in the round include Kenneth Harris, former board chairman of Enjoy Life Foods, and Javier Valéz-Bautista, former CEO of Mission Foods and current CEO of El Dorado Foods. "We've experienced explosive growth in 2020 in both our DTC and retailer channels, and feedback on our Addictively Delicious and nutritious products has been outstandingly positive," said Bill Glaser, CEO and co-founder of Outstanding Foods. He added: "This Series A financing will enable us to accelerate our mission of making it easier for anyone to eat healthier plant-based foods. Look for more Outstanding Foods tasty innovative products to come." Cassel Shapiro, CFA and partner at SternAegis Ventures, said: "We are committed to supporting the Outstanding Foods team in its mission to develop a plant-based snack products global brand. "Outstanding Foods is led by passionate serial entrepreneurs seeking to push the boundaries of what's possible with plant-based ingredients."

PepsiCo has announced ten finalists from around the world to join its fifth Greenhouse Accelerator, in a bid to grow the next generation of wellness technologies, services and ingredients. The mentor-guided programme will support the acceleration of emerging innovators that “seek to transform the ways consumers eat, drink and live their lives,” a statement from PepsiCo explained. Each finalist will receive $20,000 in grant funding and begin a six-month programme designed to foster and support growth through personalised mentorship, with a focus on R&D, supply chain and design. Mentors will also collaborate with the companies to solve a range of challenges, for example, business model development, scaling technology and go-to-market strategy. “We’re excited to evolve our Greenhouse Accelerator programme to new areas, including cutting-edge science and technology,” said Daniel Grubbs, managing director, PepsiCo Ventures Group. “We have a lot to learn from this group and look forward to collaborating closely with these ten innovators who are changing the game through personalisation, emerging technologies, and unique services and ingredients.” In June, one selected company will be awarded an additional $100,000 in funding to continue its growth. “There’s no question that Covid-19 has renewed consumer interest in taking control of their personal health and wellness, and we continue to explore how this evolves in the food and beverage space,” said Antonio Tataranni, SVP, R&D and chief medical officer of PepsiCo. “Our research and development team continues to look for emerging and disruptive solutions that address consumer needs, such as creative innovations in personalised nutrition, functional foods and supplements, and new technologies that enable vitality.” The ten companies selected for the fifth annual Greenhouse Accelerator include: BioLumen (California, US): A nutritional technology company engineering 100% natural structured fibre that absorbs sugars and fats in the stomach. Biosustain Labs (Kodagu, India): Which develops sustainable functional products for consumers looking for specific health benefits from their foods. Braingaze (Barcelona, Spain): A scientifically proven and clinically validated digital solution to detect and treat cognitive dysfunctions using mind-tracking technology. Canomiks (Minnesota, US): Which makes ‘food as medicine’ a reality through its genomics and AI-based Product Superiority Platform. Carbiotix AB (Lund, Sweden): A company pioneering microbiome healthcare through modulators and gut health testing services. LifeNome – Ask Sophie (New York, US): A precision pregnancy nutrition and health companion that targets an expecting mother’s unique biological needs from preconception to post-delivery. Melico Science (London, UK): Which uses advanced technology to provide metabolically personalised dietary advice using chemical fingerprinting of a urine sample. Seqbiome (Cork, Ireland): Which currently offers microbiome sequencing, analysis and consultancy for the industry to academia clients, and is now looking to expand this into a B2C offering to athletic and performance consumers to improve or maintain their overall physical and mental performance. Sphera Encapsulation (Verona, Italy): Which is building a more sustainable food system by using patented technology to develop the next generation of encapsulated products. ZBiotics (California, US): A company using proprietary technology to make genetically engineered probiotics that execute specific beneficial functions for your body, making your healthy life healthier.

Cereal Partners UK, the maker of Nestlé cereals in the UK, has announced the launch of Organic Honey and Chocolate Cheerios, which will launch nationwide in the UK this month. The product marks Cheerios UK's entrance into the UK’s organic market, with the certified organic cereal featuring organic honey hoops from five whole grains and chocolate cereal pieces. Cereal Partners UK claims that all ingredients used in the cereal are sourced from farmers that follow organic farming practices. Alongside the product launch, Cheerios UK has also announced a new partnership with The Bee Friendly Trust – a charity dedicated to creating habitats for honeybees and pollinators – with Cheerios raising awareness of The Bee Friendly Trust and its work through consumer activations throughout the year. Toby Baker, regional marketing director UK & Australia – Nestlé Cereals: “Given that £200m a month is now spent on organic food and drink in the UK, it’s clear that sustainably conscious consumers are looking for products that are good for our planet. This growing interest has intensified during the pandemic, with many families placing greater emphasis on leading better lifestyles, focused on wellbeing and sustainability. “As a business, our promise is to make breakfast better as well as doing our bit to help protect the planet. Our breakfast cereals already come in packaging specially designed for a lower environmental impact- with cereal boxes that can be easily recycled. "The launch of Cheerios UK’s first organic cereal is yet another milestone in our own journey, which will also help meet growing consumer demand for organic products.” The Organic Honey and Chocolate Cheerios cereal will initially be available exclusively nationwide from Waitrose stores in the UK from 13 January 2021, and will launch in Sainsbury's stores in May 2021.

Luxury ice cream brand H äagen-Dazs is launching a new two-in-one ice cream at the end of January.  The Duo range (RSP £4.99, 420ml) will come in three flavours: Belgian Chocolate & Vanilla Crunch, Dark Chocolate & Salted Caramel Crunch and Belgian Chocolate & Strawberry Kat Jones, marketing manager at Häagen-Dazs UK, said: “This new format sees two worlds collide and we’re confidently predicting consumers will absolutely love it! Product quality and distinctiveness are most important to buyers seeking a luxury experience and our Duo range responds to that demand and provides an ideal offering." “This launch is one of our most sophisticated, it really taps into the opportunity to fulfil shoppers’ increased desire for chocolate indulgence, of which 77% of consumers assuage with ice cream.”

AB InBev’s Bud Light brand is expanding its portfolio with the addition of new Seltzer Lemonades, which will be available in the US as a variety pack. With an ABV of 5%, the new offering comes in four flavours: original lemonade, black cherry lemonade, strawberry lemonade and peach lemonade. Bud Light Seltzer Lemonade is brewed with cane sugar and natural fruit flavours, and contains just 100 calories and less than 1g of sugar per drink. “After launching Bud Light Seltzer last year, it quickly became one of the top innovations in the entire category and in the history of the brand,” said Andy Goeler, vice president of marketing, Bud Light. “We are excited to continue expanding our portfolio with the new Bud Light Seltzer Lemonade variety pack. “Our Seltzer Lemonade marries the bold flavours of lemonade with the refreshing bubbliness of seltzer; this new offering is perfect for both established seltzer fans and those who are looking to give seltzer a try.” Bud Light Seltzer Lemonade will be available nationwide in 12oz slim can variety 12-packs, starting 18 January. Last year, Bud Light unveiled new limited-edition hard seltzer varieties for the holiday season, featuring ‘ugly sweater’ designs and festive flavours.

Dutch food and biochemicals company, Corbion , has closed the sale of its frozen dough business (located in East Rutherford, New Jersey) to Frodo Baking Company, with immediate effect.  Frodo Baking Company will take over all operations, and is expected to hire most of the employees already working at the frozen dough business.  The sale follows a portfolio assessment conducted by Corbion as part of its 2025 strategy, which was announced in March 2020.  "Being the only (semi-)finished product line delivering to consumer outlets, whereas Corbion is a global leader in ingredients and strong in B-t-B markets, the frozen dough business’s fit with the new strategy was limited," the company statement read.  “This divestment allows us to further increase our focus on our preservation and functional systems ingredients," said Corbion’s president of sustainable food solutions, Andy Muller. "And we can do so in full confidence that our colleagues in the frozen dough business will be better positioned to flourish in this growth market under the new owner, with a clear, singular focus. "Finally, I would like to thank our colleagues from the frozen dough business for their valuable contribution to Corbion over many years,” he added.

GEA has unveiled its new PowerPak Plus thermoforming packaging machine that enables the use of paper-based packaging alternatives to meet sustainability demands. Following technical modifications, the machine is now able to use paper in its range of solutions – including vacuum, MAP and shrink packaging – for a variety of food products such as meat, dairy, bakery and convenience foods. The new packaging option is made from a moldable paper composite consisting of more than 80% paper and a residual amount of plastic for features that deliver barrier properties. The machine produces thermoformed packs of around 20mm in height with a thin top film to close and seal each pack. Volker Sassmannshausen, senior product manager of thermoforming packaging systems at GEA, said: “While consumers and food retailers are demanding reductions in plastic usage, the food industry must ensure safe packaging from beginning to end of the supply chain. “Not only must all hygiene and quality standards be met, but also legal requirements which call for a significant reduction in the amount of plastic used in packaging. When developing our machines, we always take our cues from what our customers need, so this was an obvious focus area for us.” According to GEA, the packaging machine’s newly-developed multi-zone heating system and sealing capabilities ensure that fresh foods are safely and hygienically packaged. The heating system warms the coated paper to the precise temperature required so that it’s ready for molding via vacuum and compressed air. As a result, GEA says the new features make it easier for consumers to separate the paper from the plastic for disposal into their respective recycling stream. Sassmannshausen added: “It’s great to see that we can mold paper-based materials without any difficulty. Our paper-composite packaging solution is already successfully used and these products are now on supermarket shelves there. We’re proud that we’re able to make an important contribution to producing more sustainable food packaging.”

British dairy exporter Somerdale International has acquired the blended cheese business of Abergavenny Fine Foods (AFF) for an undisclosed sum.  The transaction includes AFF’s blended cheese processing assets, brands and associated trademarks. The deal sees Somerdale take over the full rights to brands including Tintern and Harlech, which AFF previously produced in partnership with the company. Somerdale says that the acquisition will enable it to grow its portfolio of blended cheeses developed specifically for the international marketplace. As a result of the deal, Somerdale will transfer the production of blended cheese to its other cheese making partners, which include Cheshire-based Joseph Heler.  “We are delighted to have acquired the assets of AFF’s blended cheese business,” said Alan Jenkins, director of Somerdale International.  “In particular, it will strengthen our position as the leading exporter of British blended cheeses and, working closely with our award-winning cheese makers, it will enable us to give greater focus to the development of brands such as Red Dragon, which is already one of our largest-selling brands in the US market." According to Somerdale, the acquisition comes at a time when its range of blended cheeses is experiencing strong growth, with branded sales up 10.4% year on year. “Across both established international markets such as North America and Australia, and new emerging markets such as China, sales of our branded blended cheeses are growing strongly. “Our acquisition of the AFF blended cheese business will reinforce both our capacity and capabilities in this fast-growing and dynamic part of the market.”