Brothers Cider has expanded its premium cider portfolio with the launch of Wild Cloudy Apple, the Somerset producer's first cloudy apple cider, as it looks to capitalise on growing consumer demand for premium and craft-style cider. The new 7.0% ABV cider is available in 500ml cans with an RRP of £1.75 and has been developed to appeal to consumers seeking more distinctive apple cider options beyond mainstream offerings. Lightly sparkling and naturally cloudy, the product features an unfiltered appearance designed to reinforce the brand's West Country heritage. Wild Cloudy Apple joins Brothers' existing 7.0% ABV Apple & Pear cider, which the company says has delivered strong growth in UK retail. Together, the products are intended to strengthen the brand's presence in the premium cider segment and target consumers looking for higher-strength, characterful ciders. According to market data cited by the company, apple cider accounts for around 60% of total cider sales, while premium apple cider is the fastest-growing segment. Brothers believes the launch will enable it to benefit from increasing interest in premium and craft-style products, particularly among consumers aged 25 to 40. Emma Vanderplank, marketing controller at Brothers Drinks Company, said: "Wild Cloudy Apple lines up alongside our existing higher-ABV variant and its appearance and taste will offer real differentiation against a predominantly clear and standard carbonated competitive set. Consumers are increasingly exploring beyond core offerings, and the look and mouthfeel of Wild Cloudy Apple will appeal to those seeking new and higher quality products." She added that the company's Somerset heritage provides a strong platform for launching a traditional-style cloudy cider into a segment experiencing sustained growth. The launch builds on Brothers' reputation for flavour innovation. The company introduced the UK's first flavoured cider and earlier this year expanded into lower-alcohol beverages with a 1.2% ABV Cider Shandy range. Its portfolio now spans products across 1.2%, 3.4%, 4.5% and 7.0% ABV to address a wider range of drinking occasions.

UK flavour house I.T.S has created a dedicated Health and Wellness division, with the appointment of two new senior hires. I.T.S said the move reflects its continued investment into one of its fastest-growing business areas. The company develops natural flavour solutions for various product applications across sports and active nutrition, healthy ageing and other functional wellness segments. Mark Nicholson joins as head of performance, Health & Wellness, while Paschalina Papadogkona joins as senior performance, Health & Wellness innovation specialist. Nicholson brings more than 30 years of experience in the sports and performance nutrition sector, with a track record of building partnerships with major global brands in the sector. His knowledge spans functional F&B categories including sports nutrition; vitamins, minerals and supplements; botanicals; and nutraceuticals. Meanwhile, Paschalina brings more than 15 years of experience in new product development and innovation. She has led the successful development and launch of a range of products across sports nutrition, wellness and functional food in the UK and Europe. Mike Bagshaw, owner and founder of I.T.S, said: “Health and wellness has become one of the fastest-growing parts of our business as brands continue to innovate in sports nutrition, functional foods and better-for-you products, with flavours being a key component”. “Our customers are looking for a flavour partner that combines technical expertise with creativity along with commercial understanding, and that's exactly what Paschalina and Mark bring to the team.” I.T.S is investing over £10 million into the development of an 8.2-acre site near Hungerford, which will allow for more than 20 times more production capacity across liquid and powdered flavours than its existing site in Newbury. The facility will also enable scalable production of extracts and compounds, with potential for future extensions as the business expands. These moves form part of a broader expansion of I.T.S’ business, with the company reporting growth of around 35% year-over-year. It announced a major expansion plan in early 2026, aiming to build one of the UK’s largest natural flavour manufacturing sites.

The UK and Dutch governments have agreed to deepen cooperation on circular economy finance, a move that could help unlock greater investment for food and beverage businesses developing circular production models and sustainable supply chains. The joint declaration, signed in London on 23 June by UK nature minister Mary Creagh and Dutch minister of climate and green growth Stientje van Veldhoven, sets out plans to improve access to finance for circular economy projects through closer collaboration between governments, financial institutions, businesses and research organisations. The agreement follows a high-level roundtable held at London's Mansion House in March, where policymakers and private sector lenders established the Circular Economy Finance Group to explore ways of increasing investment in circular business models. Both governments acknowledged that current levels of finance remain insufficient to support the transition to a circular economy, despite growing recognition of its role in improving resource efficiency, reducing environmental impact and strengthening long-term economic resilience. For the food and beverage industry, improved access to circular finance could support investment in areas such as food waste reduction, by-product valorisation, recyclable and reusable packaging, water efficiency, ingredient recovery, and low-carbon manufacturing technologies. Under the agreement, the UK and the Netherlands will work towards a shared reference framework for circular economy finance. The voluntary framework is intended to establish common definitions, measurement methodologies, and indicators that banks and investors can use to assess lending and investment opportunities linked to circular activities. The two governments also committed to improving understanding of how circular economy initiatives are currently financed and identifying opportunities to increase capital flows into the sector. In addition, both countries will collaborate internationally to support the development of circular finance standards, working alongside existing initiatives including the World Business Council for Sustainable Development's Global Circularity Protocol for Business, the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative's Circular Economy Guidelines and the International Finance Corporation's Harmonized Circular Economy Finance Guidelines. The declaration recognises the financial sector as a critical enabler of the transition to more sustainable business models, with banks and investors expected to play an increasingly important role in helping companies scale circular production systems. The UK and Dutch governments also pledged to hold regular high-level consultations with financial institutions and industry stakeholders to monitor progress and identify further measures that could encourage investment.

Old El Paso is expanding its Mexican-inspired meal portfolio with the launch of five new products and a reformulated crunchy taco range, as the brand looks to capitalise on growing consumer demand for taco-based meal occasions. The latest additions include three new taco kits and two cooking sauces, alongside improvements to the brand's existing crunchy taco shells, which have been redesigned to deliver enhanced flavour and texture. Leading the launches is the Smoky BBQ Crunchy Taco Kit, which introduces Old El Paso's smoky barbecue flavour to hard-shell tacos for the first time. The range is also being expanded with the Street Vibes Birria Taco Kit, inspired by the increasingly popular Mexican street food trend, and the Sweet Paprika & Garlic Soft Taco Kit, developed to offer a milder flavour profile for family meals. The brand has also introduced Chipotle Taco Cooking Sauce and Fajita Cooking Sauce, designed to provide quick meal solutions by allowing consumers to prepare Mexican-inspired dishes with added protein and vegetables. Alongside the new products, Old El Paso has reformulated its crunchy taco shells using whole corn kernels and a traditional nixtamalisation process to create a lighter, crispier texture with enhanced corn flavour. The upgraded shells are being rolled out across the Crunchy Taco Shells 12-pack, Crunchy Taco Shells Family Pack, Sweet Paprika & Garlic Crunchy Taco Kit and Stand 'N Stuff Taco Kit. The launches come as tacos continue to gain momentum within the UK grocery market. According to NielsenIQ data cited by the company, Mexican food sales have increased by 17% year on year, while online consumer searches for tacos have risen by 261%, making tacos the fastest-growing meal centre within the UK World Foods category. Nicole Whelan, head of brand for Old El Paso and Green Giant UKI, said: "Consumers are looking for quick and convenient meals at home, but they still want great taste and customisable dishes that can please the whole household. Tacos sit at the heart of this demand, which is why we're expanding our range with bold new flavours and easy meal solutions that deliver even better flavour and crunch." In addition to the national launches, Old El Paso is introducing several Tesco-exclusive products, including a Smoky Chipotle Fajita Kit, Smoky Chipotle Seasoning Mix and Smoky & Spicy Chipotle Tortilla Chips. The company is also expanding its free-from offering with new large gluten-free tortilla wraps made from tapioca, corn and quinoa. The campaign aims to reinforce Old El Paso's position in the UK Mexican meal kit category while encouraging consumers to recreate restaurant-inspired dining experiences at home.

Glow25 has entered into a strategic partnership with German dairy group Ehrmann to launch Glow To Go Coffee, a ready-to-drink coffee beverage with added collagen. The product will launch on 3 August 2026 in Caramel and Caffè Latte flavours. Glow To Go Coffee contains 15g of bovine collagen hydrolysate per 250ml glass bottle, alongside biotin, niacin and selenium. The drink also contains 25mg of caffeine per 100ml and will be positioned within the ready-to-drink coffee and functional beverages segment. Glow25 said the launch combines its experience in the collagen category with Ehrmann’s product development, production and retail distribution capabilities. The company claims to be Germany’s leading collagen brand, with a 32% market share in the 'Skin, Hair & Nails' dietary supplements category and more than 2.5 million customers across the DACH region, the Netherlands and France. Ehrmann, one of Europe’s largest dairy groups, has more than 100 years of product experience and expects turnover of around €1.2 billion in 2025. Through subsidiaries including Saliter, the company has expertise in functional milk-based beverages and ready-to-drink formats. Steven Mattwig, CEO of Glow25, said: “With Glow To Go Coffee, we're combining an established everyday product with an active ingredient that our customers already know from their daily ritual. Ehrmann brings the necessary production and sales expertise to the table. Together, we can create functional beverages on a scale that we couldn't achieve alone.” Kurt Hardt, board member for sales and marketing at Ehrmann, added: “Glow25 has proven how to build a category and inspire a community. Its digital expertise and brand strength perfectly complement our retail reach. We look forward to developing products together that offer consumers real added value.” The partnership is planned as a multi-year collaboration, with both companies already working on further products. Additional launches are expected to include more ready-to-drink collagen formats and complementary products, with further details set to follow in the coming quarters. Glow To Go Coffee will be available across grocery retailers including REWE, Edeka and Kaufland, drugstores including Budni and Müller, as well as on Amazon and through Glow25’s online shop.

Brainr has secured a €1.5 million investment from Portugal Ventures, extending its seed funding round as the company looks to scale its AI-powered operating system for meat processors across international markets. The investment follows Brainr's €11 million seed round, announced in September 2025, and will support the company’s commercial expansion across Europe. Based in Leiria, Portugal, Brainr has developed a cloud-native Meat Factory Operating System designed to help meat processors manage production, planning, quality, traceability, warehouse operations and operational intelligence from a single platform. The company said its system is currently used by manufacturers responsible for more than 65% of Portugal’s poultry production. It is also being deployed by meat processors in several European markets. Paulo Gaspar, CEO of Brainr, previously told FoodBev that the challenges the company addresses in Portugal – fragmented systems, paper-based processes and compliance complexity – “are universal,” adding that the company was already in discussions with producers in Spain, France and other markets. Read our interview with Gaspar here. According to Brainr, its platform manages more than €1.3 billion in annual food production, supporting processors with yield improvement, waste reduction, traceability and real-time digitisation of factory operations. Gaspar said: “We're no longer proving that this technology works. We're proving that it scales. Over the last year we've gone from leading the Portuguese market to deploying our platform with some of Europe's most demanding meat processors.” He added: “Welcoming Portugal Ventures gives us additional firepower to accelerate that expansion and continue building the AI operating system the global meat industry has been missing.”

Carlsberg Group has entered into an agreement with Sapporo Breweries, forming a major joint venture across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong, and partnership in the UK. The joint venture builds on Carlsberg and Sapporo’s existing relationship, having collaborated on the sale of Sapporo Premium Beer in Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore since 2024. It will include Carlsberg’s existing operations in these regions, as well as in Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, and includes long-term exclusive rights to produce and distribute Sapporo Premium Beer in these markets. Additionally, Sapporo will grant Carlsberg the licence to produce and distribute Sapporo Premium Beer in the UK and Myanmar on long-term agreements. The breweries will also explore opportunities to introduce the brand to other European and Asian markets. Carlsberg will hold a 75% stake in the JV, and retain full operational control of the markets. It will receive a cash consideration of $643 million from Sapporo, which will hold a 25% stake. Carlsberg said it plans to use the cash consideration to repay debt and for general corporate purposes. Sapporo Premium Beer is described as ‘highly complementary” to Carlsberg’s brand portfolio in the JV markets, known for its Japanese provenance and premium brand positioning. Jacob Aarup-Andersen, Carlsberg Group’s CEO, said: “The new joint venture and long-term strategic partnership add Sapporo’s premium Japanese brand to Carlsberg’s strong portfolio of local and international brands and route-to-market capabilities in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong, enabling us to accelerate our growth ambitions in these important markets”. Hiroshi Tokimatsu, Sapporo Breweries' CEO, commented: “By combining the strong brand equity we have built with Sapporo Premium Beer and the Carlsberg Group’s outstanding business platform across Asia and Europe, we aim to deliver even more premium and attractive experiences to customers around the world”. “This partnership represents a significant milestone in our international business strategy, and we're confident and encouraged to move forwards together as trusted partners.” Completion of the transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

Finnish food company Apetit has agreed to sell the biosteam plant serving its Kantvik vegetable oil milling facility to energy solutions provider Adven, as the two companies expand their long-standing partnership through a new long-term energy supply agreement. The transaction is expected to be completed at the beginning of 2027, after which Adven will assume responsibility for operating the Kirkkonummi-based plant and managing any future investments. The biosteam plant, which was commissioned in 2021, supplies the steam energy required for Apetit's vegetable oil milling operations. Vegetable oil milling is the most energy-intensive stage of the production process, making a reliable and efficient steam supply critical to plant operations. The agreement builds on an existing relationship between the two companies, with Adven having supplied energy to Apetit's Säkylä production site since 2022. Juha Elo, SVP for Industrial Energy Solutions at Adven, said: "We have been supplying energy to Apetit's Säkylä plant since 2022, and we are pleased to deepen our partnership in Kantvik as well. Apetit plays a significant role in the Finnish food industry, and it is important to us to help strengthen domestic food production and Finland's self-sufficiency through sustainable and reliable energy solutions." For Apetit, the divestment allows the company to sharpen its focus on its core food business while retaining access to long-term energy services. Timo Huttunen, director of Apetit's Oilseed Products business, said: "We are pleased with the solution in which a competent operator focused on energy both acquires and takes responsibility for the biosteam plant of the oilseed milling plant. This enables us to focus our resources even more strongly on our core business." The biomass-powered facility primarily uses domestic wood chips as fuel but is also capable of utilising agricultural side streams generated during production, including straw and seed screening fractions delivered with oilseed supplies. The approach supports resource efficiency while providing a renewable source of steam for the milling process. The deal reflects a broader trend across the food manufacturing sector, with processors increasingly partnering with specialist energy providers to improve operational efficiency, reduce capital commitments and support decarbonisation goals without compromising production reliability.

Nestlé has revealed it will remove all artificial food colourings from its entire portfolio worldwide by the end of the year. According to Reuters, Nestlé’s technology chief Stefan Palzer told its reporters this week that the food and beverage giant will cut synthetic colours from all of its products globally – a significant step beyond its previous commitment to do the same across its US portfolio. A spokesperson for Nestlé confirmed to FoodBev that, as part of a long-term effort, the company expects to close the remaining small gap – a handful of products in various markets – within the next six months. The company has already undergone smaller reformulation efforts within specific categories and markets – it removed all artificial colours from its confectionery portfolio in the UK back in 2012. Nestlé made the commitment to eliminate FD&C colours from products sold across its US food and beverage business in 2025, confirming last month that it had completed the removal process. These major milestones form part of a broader reformulation trend across the F&B industry, with consumers paying more attention to artificial ingredients amid growing awareness of ‘ultra-processed foods’ and clean-label trends. The US, in particular, has seen a growing number of major multinational manufacturers committing to removing artificial colours as the regulatory landscape evolves – companies in the States have been under mounting pressure from policymakers in recent years, with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr pushing for the removal of artificial dyes and other additives. Other major food players are making similar commitments across their US portfolios, including Kraft Heinz and General Mills. However, the decision to expand this commitment worldwide is a significant, industry-first move from a major multinational player like Nestlé, underscoring the global scale of demand for natural ingredients and synthetic additive-free formulations. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said it will eliminate all petroleum-based dyes from the US food supply chain, with several dyes already banned, and new, natural colour alternatives being authorised. The moves come as concerns have been raised about health impacts of artificial colours, with some research studies suggesting potential links between certain dyes and health conditions such as ADHD and diabetes. The synthetic colourant Red 3 was banned in the US in early 2025 following two studies that linked the dye to cancer in laboratory rats – though the FDA acknowledged that exposure levels for humans are typically significantly lower than those that cause the effects shown in rats.

Blue Ocean Closures, a Swedish company that develops fibre-based closures and packaging components, has unveiled its latest innovation: Paper-Plug, an integrated fibre-based opening system. The concept aims to unlock new opportunities for convenient, low-cost and low-carbon packaging across food applications such as dry and frozen foods, ingredients and health supplements. It can also be used in personal care and home care applications. Setting the solution apart from traditional closure approaches, which usually rely on tear openings or separate plastic fitments, Paper-Plug integrates directly into paperboard packaging structures. Its opening and dispensing concept combines a fibre internal screw closure with a direct interface to carton and corrugated board structures. This integrated design aims to pave the way for ‘highly functional’ renewable packaging solutions, while maintaining cost efficiency and convenience. While previous packaging formats have often relied on glass, metal or plastic, this new solution creates opportunities for new product architectures, Blue Ocean Closures said. The solution has been crafted using the company’s forming technology, developed to produce advanced fibre components with low energy consumption and at industrial speed. It can be used across premium carton and hybrid board formats, reducing dependency on fossil fuel-derived materials and unlocking opportunities for differentiation and branding. The closure is also compatible with existing paperboard converting approaches, with safe integration of barrier opportunities where necessary. Staffan Andersson, CTO at Blue Ocean Closures, said: “Paper packaging has historically been strong in surfaces and structure but limited in functionality wherever advanced opening, dispensing and reclosure features were needed. With Paper-Plug, we want to expand what paper packaging can become.” “We believe this opens a completely new design space where sustainability, convenience and economics increasingly reinforce each other rather than compete.”

Ingredion and Tate & Lyle’s boards have today (8 June 2026) announced an agreement on the terms of an all-cash £2.7 billion acquisition offer put forward by Ingredion. The transaction, subject to approval by Tate & Lyle’s shareholders, implies a total enterprise value of approximately £3.7 billion ($5 billion). Tate & Lyle shareholders will receive 595p in cash per share, representing a premium of nearly 59% to Tate & Lyle’s closing price on 13 May 2026. The proposal was first announced last month, with Tate & Lyle confirming the discussions following several 'earlier approaches' from Ingredion. The deal would bring together two F&B industry powerhouses with complementary portfolios to create a scaled, global speciality ingredients provider. The companies aim to better address evolving consumer needs by building a wider platform that combines both business’ strengths, technical expertise and international supply networks. In particular, the acquisition of Tate & Lyle will broaden Ingredion’s portfolio across texturants, sugar reduction and fortification, adding complementary capabilities in multi-ingredient systems and recipe development. Completion of the acquisition is expected in the second half of 2027. Tate & Lyle’s board of directors said it will unanimously recommend shareholders vote in favour of the deal. Jim Zallie, chairman, president and CEO of Ingredion, said: “Combining Ingredion and Tate & Lyle’s complementary portfolios establishes a global leader in ingredient solutions with the innovation expertise and geographic reach that will help create the future of food”. “The combined business will be better positioned to serve customers’ needs for the development of great-tasting, healthier and affordable food products that consumers demand. This compelling combination will create exciting new possibilities for employees and generate significant value for all stakeholders.” David Hearn, chair of Tate & Lyle, commented: “Over the last few years, Tate & Lyle has been successfully repositioned as a leading global specialty food and beverage solutions business aligned to growing consumer demand for healthier, more nutritious and sustainable food and drink.” “I would like to recognise the exceptional contribution of the team at Tate & Lyle for their talent, insight and commitment which has been a key driver of this transformation and the business we have built. Looking forward, we believe the next chapter with Ingredion will create a business with even greater potential, greater scale, and increased investment in innovation in support of customers.”

Very Lazy is expanding its range of ready-to-use cooking ingredients with the launch of Chopped Onion, as the brand looks to capitalise on growing consumer demand for convenient meal preparation solutions. The new 195g product will roll out to Tesco stores nationwide from 7 July, adding to existing distribution through Morrisons and Ocado. The launch represents a significant expansion for the brand within the core cooking ingredients category. Designed to eliminate the need for peeling and chopping onions, the new product features Very Lazy's Quick Fry technology, allowing the chopped onion to cook in under a minute directly from the jar. The launch comes as the UK market for wet herbs and spices continues to expand. According to Circana data for the 52 weeks to 16 May 2026, the category has grown by 50% over the past five years to reach a value of £57 million. Very Lazy said it accounted for 45% of category growth over the past year, with brand sales now exceeding £15 million. Kate Sayers, marketing and innovation director at Very Lazy, said: "Very Lazy Chopped Onion delivers all the flavour without the hassle, making it easier than ever for shoppers to cook from scratch. As demand for convenient ingredient solutions continues to grow, we're focused on creating products that remove barriers in the kitchen whilst still delivering great flavour and cooking confidence." The launch reflects broader consumer interest in products that reduce preparation time without replacing home cooking. Independent consumer research commissioned in 2024 found that 65% of UK shoppers are willing to use shortcuts when preparing meals, highlighting continued demand for convenience-led ingredient solutions. Alongside the new onion product, Very Lazy is also expanding distribution of its Roasted Garlic Paste and Italian Herb Paste through Morrisons and Ocado as it broadens its portfolio of ready-to-use flavour ingredients. The Very Lazy range is positioned as a collection of cooking shortcuts that help consumers prepare meals more quickly while maintaining flavour and consistency, targeting shoppers seeking convenient alternatives to preparing fresh herbs, spices and aromatics from scratch. The new Chopped Onion carries a recommended retail price of £2.00, while Roasted Garlic Paste (70g) and Italian Herb Paste (65g) are both priced at £1.90. Very Lazy is part of The English Provender Company and is the UK's largest brand in the wet herbs and spices category.