Müller has completed a £50 million project to build a chilled yogurt manufacturing facility capable of producing 500 million pots each year at its site in Telford, UK. The project has doubled the size of the Telford site, increasing its capacity to make products in formats including big pots, split pots and regular fruited yogurts. Müller said the investment, which has created 65 new jobs, enables it to meet growing demand from consumers for branded and private-label yogurts. The expansion includes the installation of three new production lines, the modernisation of three existing lines, the installation of an energy-efficient cooling facility and a new automated high bay warehouse. It also ensures that Müller will have the capability to pursue further increases in production at the site of up to 700 million pots in the future. Bergen Merey, managing director at Müller Yogurt & Desserts, said: “We are very proud of what we have achieved at Telford. This is a major step towards reducing the UK’s dependence on imported yogurt products, and it gives us a significant competitive advantage. “We have acted to enable us to increase our share of both the private-label and branded yogurt category. We intend to leverage our greater capabilities to support the growth of our private-label business whilst we continue to innovate and drive our core branded products like Müllerlight and Müller Corner. “Yogurt is at the heart of the dairy category, with consumers asking for a wide range of delicious branded and private-label yogurts that are made with their needs in mind – offering everyday dairy goodness, indulgence, protein, lactose free, natural, fat free and reduced or zero added sugar. “As a result of this investment, Müller customers will benefit from increased levels of innovation, choice and capabilities to make healthy, great-tasting yogurt products made in Britain with milk from British farms.” Earlier this month, Müller Milk & Ingredients announced plans to close its facility in Foston, UK, in part due to the “declining consumption” of fresh milk and significant changes in retailing. In February, Müller Milk & Ingredients launched a £100 million cost and margin improvement programme in the UK, in a move to “return to sustainable levels of profitability”.

Zamora Company USA has added three popular Spanish wines - Ramon Bilbao, Ribera Cruz de Alba and Mar de Frades - to its brand portfolio, along with Villa Massa Limoncello. The brands were previously managed in the US by Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits. Effective as of August 1, 2019, Zamora sees opportunity for the products, which are owned by The Zamora Company (Spain), to achieve success in the US market. The sales, distribution, execution and marketing of the wines and limoncello will join Zamora Company USA’s existing brand portfolio, which is anchored by Licor 43. A liqueur flavoured with vanilla and other aromatic herbs and spices and a favourite in Spain, Licor 43 was the fastest growing liquor of scale globally in 2017, according to the International Wines and Spirits Record (IWSR). “Each of these premium brands are world leaders in their class," said Emilio Restoy Cabrera, Zamora Company's CEO. "As we continue to grow our new U.S. division, Zamora Company USA, it was an opportune time to bring these products under our own roof and scale up support." Last month, Zamora USA announced a national alignment with Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits in 41 US markets. With the addition of these new brands, the company aims to position itself as “a fully integrated luxury wine and spirits supplier in the US".

The UK government has announced plans to invest £60 million to help fight the battle against single-use plastics and develop new forms of packaging. Businesses are expected to jointly invest up to £149 million. Funding could be used to find ways to cut waste in the supply chain, develop new business models and create new sustainable recyclable materials. The plans form part of the government’s Clean Growth Challenge – a key part of the Modern Industrial Strategy, which is backing the development of plastics made from plants, and products that degrade easily in an open environment. The government has published a call for evidence on standards for bio-based materials and biodegradable plastics. It is seeking evidence from scientists, manufacturers and the research community on the sustainability and wider impacts of biodegradable, compostable, and bio-based plastics and asks whether new and improved standards and labelling for these materials would be valuable. UK Research and Innovation CEO Professor Sir Mark Walport said: “Plastic pollution is a global crisis that affects our oceans and our land. The new investment through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund will establish the UK as a leading innovator in smart and sustainable plastic packaging solutions, delivering cleaner growth across the supply chain, with a dramatic reduction in plastic waste entering the environment by 2025.” UK Business Secretary Greg Clark said: “We have all seen the enormous damage being caused by single-use plastics across the world. The race is on to develop new effective and practical solutions to end the scourge of single-use plastics, helping protect our planet for future generations. “We have put a record level of research and development investment at the heart of our Industrial Strategy – investing to support our best minds and businesses in developing the solutions and industries of tomorrow. “This government and business co-investment clearly demonstrates that when it comes to cutting plastics pollution there is a shared ambition. This is a unique opportunity for our world-leading businesses and innovators to develop the materials of the future with the potential to transform our economy as well as our environment.” The announcement comes two months after the UK said it will ban the sale and use of plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds with plastic stems in England from April 2020.

The Coca-Cola Company recorded net revenue 6% higher in the second quarter than the same period 12 months ago, thanks in part to the strong performance of its soft drink brands. In the three months to 28 June, net revenue was $10 billion, while operating income was up 8% to $2.99 billion. The company enjoyed 4% volume and transaction growth in trademark Coca-Cola. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar continues to perform well, with a seventh consecutive quarter of double-digit volume growth globally. "Our strategy to transform as a total beverage company has allowed us to continue to win in a growing and vibrant industry," said James Quincey, chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company. "Our progress is positioning the company to create more value for all of our stakeholders, including our shareowners." In North America, the firm’s largest unit by sales, net revenue for the quarter was up 3% and operating income increased 10%. Coca-Cola’s  Global Ventures unit, which was set up at the end of last year, maintained its strong growth from the first quarter, recording a 201% increase in revenue to $635 million and benefitting the £3.9 billion acquisition of Costa Coffee. During the second quarter, Coca-Cola released Costa Coffee ready-to-drink products in the UK, marking the first major introduction since the Costa acquisition. Last week, Coca-Cola HBC announced plans to launch Costa Coffee products in at least ten markets next year. Coca-Cola also said that its Coca-Cola Energy beverage, which went on sale in April, has “shown early signs of success”. The drink, which features caffeine from naturally derived sources, guarana extracts, B vitamins and no taurine, is now available in 14 countries, including recent launches in Japan, Australia and South Africa. Last month, Coca-Cola announced that its Honest, Glacéau Smartwater and Chaudfontaine brands will all be sold in bottles made from 100% recycled plastic across several Western European markets from 2020. For 2019, Coca-Cola expects to record a 5% increase in organic revenue.

Princes has released two new fish-based product ranges – Infused Tuna Fillets and Mackerel Sizzle – as it targets shoppers on the lookout for health, taste and convenience. The Mackerel Sizzle line contains skinless and boneless mackerel fillets in marinades, which when cooked in a pan turn into a sauce. The products are designed to be cooked to create a hot dish and extend canned fish usage into evening meals. The range consists of three flavours: zesty lime and chilli mackerel, rich tomato and herbs, and smokey chilli and tomato. The launch will be supported by a media campaign later this year. Each Mackerel Sizzle pack retails for £1.90. Meanwhile, the Tuna Fillets range features hand-packed pieces of tuna, infused in oil. The line has a transparent lid and is available in two flavours – olive oil and chilli infused oil – both with a recommended retail price of £2. Both lines feature new Princes pack designs, announced as part of a £5 million rebrand focused on enhancing brand consistency and differentiation across all the company’s product categories – fish, meat, fruit, juice and ready meals. Mat Lowery, commercial director fish at Princes Group, said: “These two unique innovations are a result of our response to the changes we are seeing among our consumers, by providing products that meet the needs of modern family life. “We will continue to innovate to remain relevant and provide our consumers with the great-tasting, convenient products they expect from us, as we continue to grow as one of the UK’s largest food and drink brands.”  Earlier this month, Princes completed the first phase of an £80 million investment in its Long Sutton site in the UK – the company’s largest food production facility in the country.

Barry Callebaut has broken ground on a new chocolate and compound manufacturing facility in India, a project that represents the firm’s largest investment in the country to date. Located in Baramati, about 250km south-east of Mumbai, the factory and warehouse will include assembly lines capable of manufacturing chocolate and compound in different delivery formats, catering to the various needs of its customers – international food manufacturers, local confectioneries and semi-industrial bakers and patisseries. The greenfield facility will cover a total of 20,000 square metres and is scheduled to be operational by mid-2020. Once up and running, it will have an annual production capacity of more than 30,000 tons of chocolate and compound. Together with its existing chocolate academy in Mumbai, Barry Callebaut intends to advance its work with customers to co-create innovative chocolate for local consumers. This week, the company also moved its sales operations into a new, larger office in Mumbai. "As a global leader in the chocolate industry, we are excited about India's great growth potential," said Ben De Schryver, president of Barry Callebaut in Asia Pacific. "The new factory will be one of our biggest locations in Asia and it will enable us to meet customers' growing demands for high-quality chocolate in India. We are proud to deepen our presence here and to continue to invest in a country that has been so welcoming to us for more than a decade. “Our expansion will support our business volume growth and ambition to become the leading industrial chocolate manufacturer in India." According to Nielsen data, sales volumes of chocolate confectionery in India grew by 16% in 2018. Dhruva Jyoti Sanyal, managing director for Barry Callebaut India, said: "India is an exciting market where innovation in chocolate is well received by consumers. As an innovation leader, we are proud to bring our innovative capabilities into a market where domestic chocolate production is increasing. We have experienced double-digit growth in India over the last three years. “Our confidence in the future development of the chocolate market in India, together with the desire to better serve our customers in India, has prompted the expansion of our footprint and services." Earlier this year, Barry Callebaut inaugurated a new chocolate academy and office in Beijing to extend distribution to second-tier Chinese cities.

Ardagh Group has signed a ten-year agreement with The Absolut Company, which is owned Pernod Ricard, for the continued production of the unit’s glass bottles. Both Ardagh and Absolut said the deal will ensure that carbon emissions are further reduced in the production of Absolut vodka bottles. The Absolut Company is Sweden's largest exporter in the food sector, accounting for approximately 10% of its food exports. The division's operations and distillery in Åhus are carbon-neutral. "It is very exciting to see the result of a cooperation between two companies located in small Swedish towns,” said Anna Malmhake, CEO of The Absolut Company. “The Absolut Company in Åhus and Ardagh Group in Limmared reach out to more than 120 markets around the world. "The great thing about this long-term partnership is that we can act on a world-leading level when it comes to innovation and sustainability throughout the whole supply chain." Ardagh's production facility in Limmared is the largest supplier of Absolut Vodka bottles, and the company produces more than 100 million bottles each year using more than 40% recycled glass. "We are delighted The Absolut Company have renewed their trust in Ardagh to consistently deliver quality, sustainable packaging," said Bo Nilsson, operations director Nordic, Ardagh Group. "Our team at Limmared has worked in partnership with Absolut for 40 years, consistently delivering premium, innovative products. Ardagh shares their commitment to sustainable packaging and, with this latest agreement, looks forward to cooperating on further advances for many years in the future." The agreement lasts until 2029 and is The Absolut Company's largest supplier agreement.

PepsiCo announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire all the outstanding shares of South African food and beverage company Pioneer Foods Group for approximately $1.7 billion. This will be the PepsiCo's biggest deal outside of the US to date. Pioneer Foods’ product portfolio complements PepsiCo's current lineup, with strong positions in cereals, juices, and other African nutritional food staples, including well-known brands like Weet-Bix, Liqui-Fruit, Ceres, Sasko, Safari, Spekko, and White Star. PepsiCo expects the acquisition to provide a solid position from which to expand into Sub-Saharan Africa. This transaction creates a leading food and beverage company in Africa, led from South Africa, with a commitment to supporting sustainability and local suppliers. As part of this goal, PepsiCo will create a new operating sector for Sub-Saharan Africa, named PepsiCo SSA. The sector will be led by Eugene Willemsen, who most recently served as executive vice president of global categories and franchise management. Willemsen, who has been with PepsiCo for nearly 25 years, has extensive experience in growth markets, having previously led the company's businesses in Turkey and South East Europe. This new structure will not impact PepsiCo's reporting structure, and PepsiCo SSA will remain part of Europe Sub-Saharan Africa (ESSA) from a financial reporting perspective. The acquisition will be funded through a combination of debt and cash, and is subject to a Pioneer Foods shareholder vote, certain regulatory approvals, and other customary conditions. The transaction is expected to close by Q1 calendar year 2020. Pictured: Tertius Carstens, CEO of Pioneer Foods, and Eugene Willemsen, CEO, PepsiCo Sub-Saharan Africa

New research led by Queen Mary University of London has found that salt intake in China is confirmed to be among the highest in the world, with adults over the past four decades consistently consuming on average above 10g of salt a day, which is more than twice the recommended limit. The systematic review and meta-analysis, funded by the National Institute for Health Research and published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, also found that Chinese children aged 3-6 are eating the maximum amount of salt recommended by the World Health Organization for adults (5g a day). The team reviewed all data ever published on salt intake in China (which involved about 900 children and 26,000 adults across the country) and found that salt intake has been consistently high over the past four decades, with a divide between the north and south of the country. While salt intake in northern China is among the highest in the world (11.2g a day on average), it has been declining since the 1980s when it was 12.8g a day, and most markedly since the 2000s. According to the researchers, this could be the result of both governmental efforts in salt awareness education and the lessened reliance on pickled food. However, this trend of decrease was not seen in southern China, which has increased from 8.8g a day average in the 1980s to 10.2g a day in the 2010s. The researchers reviewed potassium intake and found that in contrast to salt intake, it has been consistently low throughout China for the past four decades, with individuals of all age groups consuming less than half the recommended minimum intakes. Lead author Monique Tan, from Queen Mary's Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, said: "Urgent action is needed in China to speed up salt reduction and increase potassium intake. High blood pressure in childhood tracks into adulthood, leading to cardiovascular disease. “If you eat more salt whilst you are young, you are more likely to eat more salt as an adult, and to have higher blood pressure. These incredibly high salt, and low potassium, figures are deeply concerning for the future health of the Chinese population.” Feng J He, Professor of Global Health Research at Queen Mary University of London, added: "Salt intake in northern China declined, but is still over double the maximum intake recommended by the WHO, while salt intake actually increased in southern China. “Most of the salt consumed in China comes from the salt added by the consumers themselves while cooking. However, there is now a rapid increase in the consumption of processed foods and of food from street markets, restaurants, and fast-food chains, and this must be addressed before the hard-won declines are offset.”

Danone North America has added to its So Delicious Dairy Free portfolio in the US with a new line of Oatmilk Yogurt Alternatives. Created using gluten-free oats, along with live and active cultures, the range is available in four flavours: triple berry, spiced pear and fig, strawberry rhubarb, and sweet mango. Each variant is dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free, certified vegan, certified gluten-free and Non-GMO Project verified. "We couldn't be more excited to expand our portfolio and bring Oatmilk Yogurt Alternatives to consumers from coast to coast," said Joshua Cook, brand manager of plant-based yogurt for So Delicious Dairy Free. "Oat milk's creamy texture is the perfect base for a yogurt alternative, and each of our artisanal flavours have been thoughtfully chosen to excite taste buds. The new Oatmilk Yogurt Alternatives are perfect for a morning breakfast, an on-the-go snack or as an ingredient in other delicious dairy-free delights." Now available at Whole Foods stores in the US, So Delicious Oatmilk Yogurt Alternatives retail for a suggested price of $1.89 per 5.3oz cup. The new offerings join the current So Delicious yogurt alternatives made from coconut milk. The So Delicious Dairy Free portfolio consists of a range of dairy-free creamers, yogurts, frozen desserts and beverages. Earlier this year, a line of Oatmilk Frozen Desserts was launched. So Delicious Dairy Free was acquired by Danone in 2016 as part of its $12.5 billion takeover of WhiteWave Foods. It was previously bought by WhiteWave for $195 million in 2014. Last year, Danone revealed plans to triple the size of its plant-based business by 2025 by combining its position in the dairy industry with the high plant-based growth potential.

Royal DSM has launched new cheese culture Delvo Cheese CH-120, a range of phage robust cultures for young cheddar and barrel cheese. This new series aims to allow cheesemakers to increase production efficiency, whilst ensuring consistent quality, taste and texture during the long production runs demanded by today’s large, cost-driven cheese diaries. The Delvo Cheese CH-120 range consists of six rotations and carefully selected culture strains to resist phages. This new range offers excellent durable phage protection and a consistent performance. It also creates young cheddar and barrel cheese with the typical neutral flavour and firm, resilient texture of cheddar cheese that the market expects. “We designed the new Delvo Cheese CH-120 cultures with cheese producers’ needs in mind,” commented Evandro Oliveira de Souza, business lead for Cheese at DSM. “We know that reliability, consistency and efficiency are essential to helping them produce high-quality, great-tasting cheddar cheeses faster and more effectively, while also prioritizing robust protection against phages.”

Nestlé has created a new chocolate made entirely from the cocoa fruit, using the beans and pulp as the only ingredients and not adding any refined sugar. The company has developed a new approach, which allows it to extract the pulp and use it in chocolate. Until now, chocolate has been made with the addition of refined sugars. This patented innovation is said to deliver a "great-tasting chocolate" using just the cocoa fruit. The first product featuring the innovation will be a 70% dark chocolate KitKat bar, which will go on sale in Japan later this year. Further products in other countries will follow next year, through some of Nestlé’s most popular confectionery brands. “We’re proud to bring chocolate lovers a new chocolate made entirely from the cocoa fruit without adding refined sugar,” said Patrice Bula, head of strategic business units, marketing and sales at Nestlé. “This is a real innovation which uses the natural sweetness of the cocoa pulp to provide a pure, novel chocolate experience." According to Nestlé, some of the cocoa pulp of the cocoa fruit is used in the fermentation of the cocoa beans after they are harvested, but a significant proportion is usually removed and the value is lost. Until now it has not been used as an ingredient to naturally sweeten chocolate, the company said. Last year, Nestlé became the first company to sell a product made from ruby chocolate after introducing a ruby version of its KitKat bars in Japan and South Korea.