Five things to know about fruit juice, from experts at the Fruit Juice Science Centre

A poll¹ of more than 3000 adults, commissioned by the Fruit Juice Science Centre, has found that two thirds of Brits (65 %) and more than a third of French and German adults (34 %) drink 100 % fruit juice to support their immune function. The beverage was most frequently listed after fruit and vegetables amongst the top immunity-support foods.

However, there was less awareness about the nutrients provided in fruit juice, with just half of adults overall agreeing that a daily glass is rich in vitamins and minerals. Fewer than a fifth in France and Germany, and a third in the UK, knew that antioxidants – such as vitamin C – can be found in fruit juice. And most didn’t realise that fruit juice contains polyphenols – beneficial plant compounds also found in fruit, vegetables, and cocoa.

With internet searches on vitamin C soaring during the pandemic, nevertheless four in ten Brits and Germans, and more than half of French didn’t know that vitamin C is necessary for healthy immune function. This is despite six in 10 being more aware of immune health since the pandemic.

Commenting on the survey, Dr Carrie Ruxton from the Fruit Juice Science Centre said: “Awareness of how a glass of fruit juice supports normal immunity has improved but there are still some misconceptions. Considering that 100 % juice is simply squeezed fruit – and has practically identical sugars, vitamins, and positive bioactive compounds compared with whole fruit – there is still a lot of nonsense claimed about fruit juice.

“A key myth is that sugar is added to fruit juice, which it isn’t since that would be illegal in the EU and UK. Another is that the vitamin C in packaged fruit juice is destroyed – that’s also untrue. Neither is it correct to say that pure fruit juice contains preservatives and colours, although thankfully only one in 10 people in our Poll believed that.”

Five facts on fruit juice – from the Fruit Juice Science Centre

1. Just one small glass of 100 % fruit juice provides more than 80 % of the vitamin C recommendation. Vitamin C is an antioxidant and essential for normal immunity;
2. Orange juice is one of the richest sources of hesperidin, a polyphenol that has anti-inflammatory effects;
3. Fruit juice is high in potassium, a mineral that helps to control blood pressure;
4. It takes one or two oranges to make a 150 ml glass of fruit juice and all the sugars in fruit juice come from the fruits used to make them – none is added;
5. Apple, orange, and grapefruit juices are all low GI (glycaemic index) meaning that they raise blood sugars more slowly compared with high GI foods, such as rice, bread, or sugar-sweetened drinks.

How about sugar

The Fruit Juice Science Centre poll found that eight in 10 adults believe that 100 % fruit is not high in sugar. Additionally, a quarter of Brits (24 %) and Germans (28 %), and more than a third of French (35 %), think that pure fruit juice is actually low in sugar. The reality is that a typical glass of orange juice contains the same level of natural sugars (around 13 g) as a couple of oranges.

Dr Ruxton says: “Fruit juice is enjoyed by millions of people every day and most seem to recognise that it has a positive role in the diet. Given that most of the sugar we eat comes from sugar-sweetened drinks, biscuits, cakes, confectionery and desserts – foods which are low in essential nutrients – it’s clear where we need to turn our attention to cut sugar intakes.”

¹Independent poll of 1029 UK adults, 1021 French adults and 1012 German adults; data on file.

Functional food company So Good So You, one of the top producers of immune-boosting probiotic juice shots in the US, announces Fiber, its first formulation with fiber. The cold-pressed juice shot features five grams of organic fiber sourced from the seeds of the guar plant, and provides almost 20 percent of the recommended daily value of dietary fiber. Fiber, formulated with organic strawberry, plum, and clementine juices, plus one billion CFUs of probiotics, is launching this month exclusively at Southeastern Grocers, including Winn-Dixie, Fresco y Mas, and Harveys.

American fiber consumption is an overlooked health crisis. Only seven percent of Americans are getting their recommended daily amount of fiber, according to recent findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, an ongoing study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Fiber is the food source, both directly and indirectly, for the hundreds of species of bacteria that live in the human intestinal tract and are essential for a healthy gut. The short-chain fatty acids released by fiber-eating bacteria fight inflammation in the entire body, and chemical signals given off by the same bacteria keep the cells in the intestinal wall functioning. Inadequate dietary fiber can starve these probiotic bacteria, leading to an inflamed immune response, which in turn causes weight gain, inflammatory bowel disease, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and overall higher mortality.

“Our brand has reached a point where customers help point the way they want us to go, and they have been asking for a shot they can turn to on days they need a little help meeting healthy fiber goals,” says So Good So You co-founder and executive chair, Rita Katona. “Our consumers are invested in their health and want to always feel their best — and are learning fiber might be one of the key pieces. Americans vastly overestimate the amount of fiber in their diets — less than 10 percent are hitting the mark. It’s too easy to get it wrong, and this isn’t the time to take chances with your immune system. We’ve shown up with this organic fiber shot that delivers a gorgeous purple from nutrient-rich plum juice, with a strawberry-plum flavour that really sings.”

Fiber, the newest addition to the So Good So You line of 50 ml cold-pressed juice shots, is made with 18 percent of the recommended daily amount of fiber to fight inflammation and support healthy functioning of the immune system; 30 percent of the recommended daily amount of Vitamin C; and one billion CFUs of vegan probiotics clinically proven to support digestive and immune health.

The woman-owned, WBENC-certified So Good So You continues to expand store distribution across the US, adding flavours in its best-selling immunity shot and energy shot categories, in addition to Fiber. So Good So You owns 25 percent of the functional juice shot category, and has grown more than 380 percent in the last 24 months by meeting consumer demand for convenient, targeted, immunity-boosting health supplements.

The price for pear oranges has been on the rise in Brazil since the beginning of the season, in June, influenced by the low supply of oranges in the market. In the second fortnight of October, pear orange prices surpassed BRL 50.00/40.8-kilo box, on tree, setting a new nominal record in the series of Cepea. The monthly average in October (in São Paulo State) closed at BRL 49.88/box, on tree, 10.1 % up from that in September/21 and 28.3 % above that in October/20, in nominal terms.

Agents in the Brazilian citrus sector did not expect supply in the 2021/22 season to be high, based on the effects of the weather on blooming and flower set. However, along the season, weather issues increased, with rainfall below the ideal and frosts in some locations at the end of July.

Although rains were more frequent in October, agents reported that the oranges were mostly small-sized, which kept the prices for larger-sized fruits on the rise – since this standard is required in the in natura segment. From November onwards, quality may increase, and a higher number of late oranges is expected to be available in the market. On the other hand, high purchases from the industry are also expected to control supply in the in natura market.

TAHITI LIME – In the Brazilian market of tahiti lime, the return of rains favored production and raised supply. Besides, the quality of the fruits continued low, and the exports pace was slow in October. Thus, prices for this variety dropped in the orchards in SP, averaging BRL 23.15/27-kilo box, harvested, 21.8 % down from that in September.

ORCHARDS – The rains that hit São Paulo State in October favored blooming in orange orchards, largely in dryland or those that had not bloomed yet. According to citrus farmers, the scenario varied among regions, according to the volume of rain and the production system (irrigated or dryland), but, in general, all agents agree that blooming was satisfactory.

As in previous seasons, this year’s flowering has been irregular and heterogeneous. While in some regions, orchards bloomed earlier (in September), in others, flowering was observed in October. However, the early flowers were compromised by the hot and dry weather in many areas, which led some of the fruitlets to fall, even in irrigated orchards.

Citrus farmers believe this will be another season of multiple blooming, which would hamper both the harvesting and management of trees because of the different development stages of flowers – as it happened in most Brazilian regions in the last years.

Although flowering brought some relief to citrus farmers in all regions, it is important to consider that plants are still debilitated, due to the long drought, which may hamper fruit fixing. Thus, the success of the recent blooming will depend on the weather from now onwards (high moisture interleaved with sunny periods) and preventive care for blossom-end rot. According to Cptec/Inpe (weather forecast agency), rains may be lower than the average in November and in December, which may be a reflex of the La Niña phenomenon, and hamper flower set.

The World Citrus Organisation (WCO) is finalising preparations towards the second edition of the Global Citrus Congress, which will take place on 16 and 17 November 2021. The virtual event, which managed to gather over 1000 delegates from across the globe in its first edition in 2020, will once again bring together the citrus community to discuss the current trends, challenges, and opportunities for the citrus sector. More than 500 participants from across the globe have already registered to attend the virtual congress.

Following the success of the first Global Citrus Congress in 2020, this year the event will take place online on 16 and 17 November 2021. The opening session of the first day (Tuesday 16 November from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. CET) will provide an in-depth discussion on production and marketing trends for fresh and processed citrus, including a panel discussion with key producing countries over the ongoing Northern Hemisphere 2021 citrus season. During the second day of the congress (Wednesday 17 November), 3 regional modules will zoom into specific issues of the citrus business in Asia (8:00 to 10.00 a.m. CET), Europe (3:00 to 5:00 p.m. CET), and North America (5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CET). Asia’s module will focus on key market developments and branding trends, with speakers including Wayne Prowse (Fresh Intelligence), Neil Barker (BGP International), and Hannes de Waal (Sundays River Citrus Company) among others. The European track of the Congress will in turn discuss post-harvest trends in citrus with key sector representatives from Agrofresh, Apeel, Citrosol, Decco, Jansen, and the Dutch Fresh Produce Centre. During Europe’s session, WCO’s General Delegate Philippe Binard will also discuss citrus consumption trends and promotion strategies with key market leaders from across the chain. Finally, the North America’s section will delve into the US citrus market trends with a focus on easy peelers, lemons, and limes. The strategies and challenges for key producing regions California and Florida will also feature in the programme.

WCO Co-Chair and Director of AILIMPO Jose Antonio Garcia affirmed: “We have been working intensely to improve on the first edition of the Global Citrus Congress by elaborating an attractive agenda with a stronger presence of business-led interactive debates. We want to consolidate the Congress as a must-attend event for the citrus sector, and we hope we held it physically in 2022”. WCO Co-Chair and CEO of the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa Justin Chadwick added: “After the success of the first edition in 2021, the Global Citrus Congress is on the right track to become the key annual event for the community to strengthen the position of citrus fruit in an ever-competitive, challenging environment”.

The Global Citrus Congress will take place online. The sessions will be live and free of charge to attend thanks to the support of our sponsors. Registrations are still open at https://www.citruscongress.com/. The opening session will be available both in English and Spanish.

Symrise AG successfully continued its profitable growth course in the third quarter of 2021. The Group recorded excellent organic sales growth of 8.3 %. In the first nine months of the current financial year, growth even amounted to 9.2 %. Taking into account the portfolio effect from the acquired fragrances business of Sensient as well as currency translation effects, Group sales rose to € 2,883 million during the reporting period (9M 2020: € 2,703 million), up 6.7 % compared to the prior-year period and 10.6 % in the third quarter. Both segments contributed to this positive result.

“We can look back on an exceptionally successful third quarter of 2021. As a result of the progress made in battling the coronavirus pandemic, demand has continued to increase significantly. The demand was particularly high for applications associated with more travel or leisure activities – including, for example, sun protection products, fragrances, but also applications for beverages and culinary products. We are extremely satisfied with our business development since the beginning of the year and we are continuing our accelerated growth path,” said Dr Heinz-Jürgen Bertram, CEO of Symrise AG. “This is why we are once again raising our sales forecast to around 9 %. We are confident that we can achieve even more growth than forecasted after six-months and we will make the best possible use of the remaining weeks in 2021 to achieve this target.”

Applications for beverages and pet food drive strong sales growth for Flavor & Nutrition segment

The Flavor & Nutrition segment increased organic sales by a strong 10.0 % compared to the previous year. In the third quarter, organic growth amounted to 9.7 %. Taking currency translation effects into account, segment sales increased to € 1,752 million (9M 2020: € 1,646 million). Flavor & Nutrition also saw a normalization of consumer behavior owing to progress in combatting the coronavirus pandemic. The increase in out-of-home consumption exerted a positive impact and led to strong demand for beverages. At the same time, the increasing number of households with pets across the world generated high demand for pet food applications, resulting in strong growth in this business unit.

Applications for beverages recorded sales growth in the double-digit range. In all markets, growth was particularly driven by the strong increase in demand for beverages destined for out-of-home consumption.

Sales in the Savory business unit in all regions slightly exceeded the exceptionally high prior-year level, which was characterized by the particularly high demand during the initial months of the coronavirus pandemic.

Sales for sweet product solutions were slightly below the prior-year level. Medium single-digit growth driven by new customers in Latin America and Asia/Pacific was offset by the current low price level for vanilla.

The Pet Food business unit continued its strong growth compared to the already excellent prior-year period and increased sales in the double-digit percentage range. The sales development was particularly dynamic in the national markets of Mexico, Russia and South America.

The Food business unit achieved modest organic growth. This was driven by rising sales in Western Europe, while sales in North America declined slightly.

The ADF/IDF Group also developed extremely well, achieving double-digit organic sales growth. The business recorded strong growth in its home market, the American domestic market.

The Probiotics business unit, including the majority shareholding in the Swedish company Probi AB, did not maintain the strong level of the previous year and recorded a slight decline in sales. This is balanced by strong project vitality with numerous new product launches of customers.

Symrise once again raises its sales forecast for 2021

With its global presence, the continually growing, diversified portfolio and its broad customer base, Symrise considers itself as being robustly positioned despite the ongoing challenging market environment. Symrise has full delivery capability and can reliably meet the strongly rising demand in the wake of successful combatting of the coronavirus pandemic.

Based on the positive business development in the first nine months, Symrise is once again raising the sales target and now expects organic growth of around 9 % for the full year 2021. This corresponds to an increase of around two percentage points compared to the raised forecast of 7 % in August 2021. Symrise thereby highlights its aspiration to once again significantly outperform growth in the relevant market for fragrances and flavors during the current financial year. In the present business environment, current estimates assume market growth of 3 to 4 %.

Furthermore, Symrise is adhering to its profitability target for the financial year 2021 and is aiming for an EBITDA margin of more than 21 %.

The medium-term targets continue to be unchanged. The company expects to increase its sales to between € 5.5 and € 6.0 billion by the end of the financial year 2025. Symrise intends to achieve this increase with annual organic growth of 5 to 7 % (CAGR) and complementary strategic acquisitions. Profitability over the medium term is projected in the target corridor of 20 to 23 %.

PepsiCo, Inc. announced the establishment of the company’s first two Digital Hubs in North America and Europe, with plans to expand to more locations in the future. These Hubs, located in Dallas and Barcelona, are expected to create more than 500 new, high-caliber data and digital jobs over the next three years, bringing additional opportunity to the regions. By creating state-of-the-art spaces designed for real-time collaboration, the talent and capabilities housed in these Digital Hubs will drive PepsiCo’s digitalization agenda and create a strong, global digital delivery network.

As one of the first major consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies to establish a robust Digital Hub in North America, the Dallas-based Hub will support the development of global solutions with a primary focus on meeting the needs of the company’s North America-based businesses: PepsiCo Foods North America and PepsiCo Beverages North America. The Hub in Barcelona will serve as a Center of Excellence for PepsiCo Global Digitalization priority programs. Together, the Hubs will accelerate the way PepsiCo develops, centralizes and deploys critical digital capabilities, such as near instant, holistic, predictive analytics and ecosystem engagement across our global operations.

“Our Digital Hubs will support PepsiCo’s efforts to be an even Faster, Stronger and Better Company,” said Athina Kanioura, Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer, PepsiCo. “By creating an agile and dedicated environment where innovation will thrive, our talent will have the opportunity to lead work that will reach global scale and have a significant impact for PepsiCo for many years to come.”

These capabilities move the company closer to a future vision where customers will have improved access to real-time sales and inventory data; consumers will benefit from consistent product availability at the right place, right time and right price; and employees will utilize predictive decision-making tools, giving them the ability to manage more complexity with enhanced efficiency.

From leveraging AI to ensure perfectly consistent Cheetos every time to optimizing water consumption and preventing leaks in manufacturing facilities, PepsiCo has been at the forefront of digital innovation across its global operations. PepsiCo’s Digital Hubs will greatly influence the way the organization reinvents planning, making, moving, selling and delivering products.

Kanioura added, “We strategically chose Barcelona and Dallas because they are truly innovative cities with topnotch talent, world-class education systems and fully-developed regional infrastructures. Coming into PepsiCo one year ago, I was extremely impressed with the caliber of existing data and digital talent within a CPG, and I’m excited to harness that power to grow our teams in North America and Europe.”

Sponsored Post – “SGF” stands for Sure – Global – Fair. It is the fruit juice industry’s voluntary self-regulation system. As a certified member of SGF, the processing company VOG Products from Trentino-South Tyrol guarantees high quality and safety standards that apply to the entire supply chain.

Traceability to the source and comprehensive quality control along the entire production line are key prerequisites for creating safe, high-quality products. VOG Products, the modern and innovative fruit processing company in Laives, places great importance to safety and quality.

The company belongs to 4 producers’ organisations from South Tyrol and Trentino plus 18 cooperatives from South Tyrol with a total of around 10,000 members. Most of the members are families that care for their apple orchards with love and devotion. Dealing with land and its resources respectfully is firmly embedded in the region’s long agricultural tradition.

VOG Products consistently processes the fruit of the family-run orchards and prepares it further – through its SGF certification as well. The association that supports SGF is committed to food safety and quality.

The fruit juice industry set up a voluntary self-regulation system for all the production and trade stages of its products: In other words, the quality, safety, authenticity and sustainability of juices, fruit nectars, and other products made from fruit in the global market are controlled and action is taken against food fraud. SGF ensures fair competition and compliance with legal and industrial quality and safety standards.

“VOG Products is not only a member of the private, non-profit organisation SGF International e.V. We also participate in the voluntary self-regulation system that includes inspections of our company, half-finished goods and finished goods along the entire supply chain,” explained Christoph Tappeiner, the CEO of VOG Products.

“We request our suppliers to undergo our hygiene, traceability and documentation inspections as well. The suppliers accept the code of behaviour, which contains rules on environmental and social aspects such as the exclusion of child labour. At VOG Products, we are convinced that our participation in the industry’s voluntary self-regulation system generates added value for both our company and our customers,” said Tappeiner, who is also a member of the SGF executive committee.

World leader in human and animal nutrition releases second annual list of global consumer trends

ADM, a global leader in nutrition that powers many of the world’s top food, beverage, and health and wellness brands, released its second annual list of global consumer trends.

Based on in-depth research from ADM’s proprietary Outside Voice^SM consumer insights platform, ADM provides a breakdown of each growth space poised for takeoff in the new year. These insights are used by the world’s leading consumer brands to fuel product innovation.

Brad Schwan, vice president of category marketing for ADM, explains, “Consumers today continue to navigate a tumultuous environment that has uprooted every aspect of their lives. This has led forward-thinking brands to develop new solutions purpose-built to help consumers establish a sense of normality for themselves, their families and their pets. We’re seeing everything from foods, feeds and beverages that promote gut health to plant- based meat and dairy alternatives to biodegradable packaging.”

Below are the eight key consumer trends fueling current and future global growth that point the way for ADM’s innovation, renovation, and development platforms.

1 Nourishment for the Whole Self

Consumers want to be more proactive about supporting their mind and body through a balanced approach to diet and lifestyle. While this is a long-term trend, the recent global pandemic has placed renewed interest on mental well-being, with many looking for more effective ways to cope with stress and anxiety. Wholesome nutrition is one important way consumers are looking to support their holistic well-being. In fact, ADM Outside VoiceSM finds that 37 % of global consumers expect the snacks they eat to improve their mental well-being.

2. Plant-based Lifestyles

A flexitarian approach to eating has become mainstream as consumers look to functional, wholesome, plant-based nutrition to support healthy, environmentally friendlier lifestyles. In fact, it is expected that alternative proteins will very likely account for 11 % of the total protein market in 2035². This is being fueled, in part, by COVID-19, which has accelerated interest in plant-based, as a health-forward alternative for consumers who are paying close attention to their body’s nutritional needs. Food and beverage brands, in response, are broadening the landscape of nutrient- dense plant-based options for consumers, aiming to meet their growing demand for products that are sustainable, health and wellness oriented and safe.

3 Microbiome as The Root Of Wellness

Awareness of the microbiome as central to wellness has grown over time. Data from ADM Outside VoiceSM indicates that 58 % of global consumers are aware of the potential benefits that bacteria in the digestive system can have on their overall health. Today’s consumers are looking for foods, beverages and supplements that support gut health and overall well-being. Linked by consumers to immune function, aspects of metabolic health and even mood, mental acuity and feeling energized, consumers’ approach to supporting a healthy gut is evolving from reactive (seeking foods to alleviate discomfort) to proactive (tailored and customized pre-, pro- and postbiotic solutions), as they strive to achieve greater empowerment over their personal health and well-being.

4 Clean & Transparent Sourcing

Consumer demand for ‘clean label’ products, which they consider to consist of real, kitchen-level ingredients, has become table stakes. Today’s shopper is consistently searching for foods and beverages containing real, simple ingredients that can help promote a healthy, sustainable lifestyle. This has led to a desire for transparency across the entire product lifecycle, from how it’s made to how it’s packaged, and beyond. This is especially true during COVID-19, with consumers placing an increased emphasis on learning where their food comes from and trying to ensure the health and safety of themselves, their families, their pets and their communities. As consumers become more sophisticated in their understanding of the products they consume, 58 % of global consumers say they will be more attentive to locality claims as a result of COVID-19⁵.

5 Humanization Of Pets

Pets are more commonly seen as part of the family – a trend that has been present over time but accelerated in strength during the pandemic. This extends to what their pets eat, with many pet parents transposing their purchasing values and preferences onto their furry companions. There’s been a 41 % increase in “all natural” pet foods launched globally³. Likewise, ADM Outside Voice^SM also found that 30 % of global pet owners spent a significant amount of time researching the best food options in the last year1. As consumers are challenged with changing lifestyles and a return to work, they will continue to monitor their pets’ overall well-being to ensure they’re providing foods and supplements aimed at helping them care for their minds and bodies.

6 Precise & Responsible Animal Feeding

The interconnectedness of the animal product supply chain is top of mind for today’s consumer. There is an increased demand for optimized feed solutions that support human and animal nutrition in an efficient, environmentally friendly manner for a range of animal species. This is driving brands to begin providing digital documentation explaining how the animal was raised, particularly related to its consumption of antibiotics and/or growth hormones. Nearly half (49 %) of consumers are willing to pay a premium for products with high quality assurances and verifiable safety standards⁴.

7 Sustainable Goodness

Consumers see sustainability as a moral imperative as they connect it to what is right and ethical, their community and the environment. In fact, 47 % of global consumers say they are now more attentive to sustainability claims⁵. This has sparked demand for ethical production and sustainable sourcing practices – such as regenerative agriculture and carbon negative production to protect the food supply of the future. Brands are responding by taking positions on environmental matters, aiming to reflect their commitments to increasing the sustainability of their production and distribution systems.

8 Advanced Renewables & BioSolutions

Today’s consumers are more conscious of the environmental impact of their consumption and the food system at large, with a specific focus on the use of finite materials and physical waste. With 38 % of global consumers being willing to pay more for products made with sustainable materials⁵, conscientious consumers are paying close attention to seeking out food, personal care and home care products that support the needs of their families, the environment and their local communities. And, consumers increasingly believe that companies should take greater responsibility for reducing waste and energy use from development to disposal.

Each of these growth trend spaces represents an opportunity for forward-thinking brands eager to maintain relevance with today’s consumer. ADM, a global powerhouse in human and animal nutrition, is positioned to provide these brands with the insights and novel solutions needed to meet consumer needs as they evolve in today’s ever-changing marketplace.

¹ADM Outside Voice^SM
2Boston Consulting Group and Blue Horizon Corporation, Food for Thought, The Protein Transformation Report, 2021
³Mintel, The Future of Pet Food 2021 report
⁴Nielsen, Quality and efficacy may beat out price sensitivities amid coronavirus concerns, 2020
⁵FMCG Gurus: How Has COVID-19 Changed Consumer Behavior, Q21

This October, Fruit Shoot singles across its core range are making the move to 100 % rPET (recycled plastic) and clear bottles^*.

The update is another step on Britvic’s journey to reaching its ambition that all bottles produced and sold in Great Britain will be made from 100 % rPET by the end of 2022. The product will also undergo a recipe refresh and packaging redesign for the first time in three years. Alongside its new clear bottle, Fruit Shoot will now be preservative free following a reformulation.

As the number one kids soft drinks brand^[1], Fruit Shoot is supporting operators to meet the ever-changing needs and considerations of consumers. Sustainability is not only a growing concern, but is also now a factor in their decision-making. A study revealed that 95 % of parents hold brands responsible for addressing their sustainability concerns^[2], with a further 71 % claiming they’ve become more concerned about sustainability since becoming a parent^[3]. However, it isn’t just parents that are increasingly conscious of their impact on the environment, but also their children – as 95 % of kids say the environment needs protecting^[4].

Adam Russell, director of foodservice & licensed at Britvic, comments: “One in four kids juice and juice drink occasions took place outside the home in 2019^[5], and as restrictions have eased and families are back on the move, this is only set to increase further with kids drinking while out and about. As the number one kids soft drinks brand^[6], Fruit Shoot already has strong brand awareness, but this latest update to the use of 100 % rPET bottles will also demonstrate its packaging sustainability credentials to parents. This is particularly important, as research we recently commissioned revealed that the majority of Brits (80 %) think it is important that manufactures and brands use recycled plastic^[7].”

As part of wider consumer research, Britvic found the transition to a clear bottle had several impacts on parents’ perceptions – eight out of 10 parents said they would trust Fruit Shoot more and almost three quarters said it showed Fruit Shoot was more natural than they thought^[8]. Made with real fruit, no added sugar, artificial colours, flavourings or preservatives, Fruit Shoot offers parents peace of mind when it comes to the health of their children.

The packaging update will include hand drawn elements added to each bottle, to bring it to life and add an element of fun. As a result, they will be eye-catching in outlets, driving appeal and purchase – particularly for those who are conscious about the contents of the products they purchase.

To drive awareness of the switch to 100 % rPET bottles, Fruit Shoot will be visible across outdoor and digital platforms early next year, demonstrating the new clear bottles with the messaging, ‘New CLEAR bottle, just as fruity!’.

*Across Fruit Shoot single and multipack bottles, excluding caps and labels.
[1] NielsenIQ, Total Coverage, Value and Volume MAT to 24.07.21 & CGA Foodservice and Licensed Value and Volume MAT to 30.06.21 – Total Fruit Shoot, Kids Soft Drinks Category (Britvic defined)
[2] Kantar Mumsnet Sustainability Study, May 2020
[3] Kantar Mumsnet Sustainability Study, May 2020
[4] https://www.moms.com/gen-alpha-cares-more-study/ Hotwire 1000 kids aged 5-7.  95% children say the environment needs to be protected.
[5] Britvic’s Kidscope Research, 2019
[6] NielsenIQ, Total Coverage, Value and Volume MAT to 24.07.21 & CGA Foodservice and Licensed Value and Volume MAT to 30.06.21 – Total Fruit Shoot, Kids Soft Drinks Category (Britvic defined)
[7] OnePoll research, 2,000 UK adults, Recycling Lifetime Survey, commissioned by Britvic, August 2021
[8] MMR, Clear Bottle quantitative study, May-June 2020.

With the acquisition of GEM Plastics Limited, Schütz is expanding its product portfolio in the field of industrial packaging and further increasing its performance for customers in Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Schütz GmbH & Co KGaA, a leading manufacturer of high-quality transport packaging, has signed a purchase agreement for 100 % of the shares in GEM Plastics Limited of Ireland end of last week. The company, based in Cavan, Republic of Ireland, has been manufacturing plastic industrial packaging for over 30 years. It supplies in particular the chemical, lubricant, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. In addition to established plastic drums and jerrycans, the extensive product range also includes specific packaging solutions for individual customer requirements.

Schütz has been represented in the United Kingdom (Worksop) since 1992 and in Ireland (Killala) since 2000. From these two locations, customers are supplied promptly and effectively with IBCs and plastic drums. With the acquisition of GEM Plastics Limited, the globally operating company in the industrial packaging sector is once again significantly expanding its product range for customers in Ireland, the United Kingdom and beyond. In addition to the established IBC and plastic drum product groups, they will now also benefit from a wide range of jerrycans.

Pro Carton, the European association of carton and cartonboard manufacturers, announced Winfried Muehling as new General Manager – following the recent retirement of Tony Hitchin.

With almost 30-years’ experience working in the global packaging and FMCG industry, Winfried Muehling has held managerial positions in the chemical, food and beverage and capital equipment sectors, demonstrating a passion to bring stakeholders along the value chain together and to deliver consistent commercial and operational excellence.

His previous roles include, Vice President Corporate Accounts at Ecolab, Sales Director for MM Board & Paper, Vice President Sales Management at Tetra Pak, and most recently at Amcor as Global Key Account Director, based in Singapore.

Premium fruit and vegetable ingredients supplier, SVZ, is pleased to announce its new brand tagline, ‘Growing better together’. Accurately demonstrating the business’ sustainable, collaborative values, the tagline also indicates SVZ’s continuing commitment to growing a better, greener world together with its customers and partners.

SVZ is passionate about collaborating with its partners, customers, farmers and suppliers to provide the very best fruit and vegetable purees, concentrates and NFC juices all year round. To further demonstrate the importance of trust, connection and partnerships across the entire supply chain, SVZ’s ‘Growing better together’ slogan represents everything the company stands for in working towards a healthier world for future generations.

SVZ has also refreshed its website to display these collaborative, future-focused values. Easy to navigate and with a refreshed design, the platform reflects the company’s growing better together ideals as it promotes a smoother transaction from concept to consumer.

Pieter Spanjers, CEO, SVZ comments: “At SVZ, ‘growing better together’ is what we do best. From our own employees to our farmers and customers, we’re delighted to work in such close collaboration. It’s only by strengthening these connections that we can create the highest-quality, tastiest fruit and vegetable ingredients.

Take our product development programme, for example, which is based on the latest trends and consumer needs. The ingredients we create are tailored to our customers’ requirements, and it’s only by working closely with our partner farmers that we can ensure that their needs are met with a great taste and high nutritional value. Plus, our connection with growers also means that we can guarantee sustainability credentials in our ingredients, through initiatives like a reduction in pesticides and water usage.

Our new website, which has been built to enhance the user experience, will be a key tool for close collaboration with various stakeholders and we look forward to growing together with our partners on the platform. We work on a global scale with our customers, suppliers and employees of Cosun and SVZ to co-create sustainably sourced ingredients that will appeal to consumers worldwide. Together, we can build a future-proof supply chain for our children and future generations and, ultimately, grow better together.”

For more information please visit: www.svz.com

Hiperbaric received The Association for Packaging and Processing (PMMI)’s Technology Excellence Award for its HPP In-Bulk technology at PACK EXPO 2021, in Las Vegas

Hiperbaric Bulk technology is a global innovation for high volume juice processing. Based on a revolutionary concept, in which beverages are processed in-bulk prior to bottling, the process obtains a 90 % filling volume, nearly double that of in-pack HPP technology. It also allows for any type of packaging, including glass, paper cartons, or aluminum cans. A fully automated process, HPP in-bulk results in an 80 % reduction in labour costs and nearly 50 % cut in energy.

“This technology is being used in Europe with great success and due to the latest trends in packaging sustainability, we remain positive that this will be another success story in the near future for the U.S.,” said Roberto Peregrina, director, Hiperbaric USA.

Hermes Boissons, a French copacker, uses Hiperbaric’s in bulk equipment for its customer, Juste Pressé, a natural fruit and vegetable juice company, which recently launched the world’s first HPP juice in carton packaging.

Alexia Chassagne, co-owner of Juste Pressé, said, “Hiperbaric HPP in-bulk technology has allowed us to develop a product that is 100 % aligned with our brand identity. We see this product as a game-changer in the HPP beverage industry since it provides premium quality and taste with environmentally friendly packaging.”

High pressure processing (HPP) is a cold pasteurization technique by which products, already sealed in their final packaging, undergo high pressure transmitted by water. HPP’s benefits include food safety, clean label and extended shelf life. HPP enhances flavour, texture and nutritional properties of food, without preservatives.

Tate & Lyle expands partnership into Greece, Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia

Tate & Lyle PLC, one of the leading global providers of food and beverage ingredients and solutions, is expanding its successful partnership with distributor Azelis in Europe into three new countries, Greece, Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia, from early 2022.

This means Azelis will now be the distributor of Tate & Lyle’s broad portfolio of ingredients and solutions, including its PROMITOR^® Soluble Fibres, CLARIA^® Clean Label Starches and Stevia sweeteners, to customers in 17 countries.

Azelis is already Tate & Lyle’s biggest distribution partner in Europe and have worked together since 2003. The strengthening of this partnership will allow Tate & Lyle’s customers in Greece, Bulgaria and North Macedonia to benefit from Azelis’ extensive capabilities in solution selling, application and technical services, as well as their market knowledge and supply chain excellence.

The return of rains to important citrus-producing regions in São Paulo State (SP) cheered up farmers about flower development. However, it is still early to estimate results for the 2022/23 season, since the set of fruitlets will depend on the weather along October and more flowers may open until the end of the month.

According to data from Inmet (National Institute of Meteorology), rainfall is expected to average 50 mm in most citrus-producing regions in October.

ORANGE MARKET – The trading pace for oranges was slow in the Brazilian market in the first fortnight of October because of the holiday on the 12th. Higher rainfall is expected to improve the quality of the fruits on tree, although they have not reached the ideal standard to be sold yet. This scenario added to low supply pushed up orange prices in that period.

TAHITI LIME – In the market of tahiti lime, prices faded in the first half of October, reflecting the small size of the fruits available, which is not appreciated in the in natura market. In the second week of the month, values increased slightly, influenced by higher demand during the holiday (on the 12th), which surprised farmers.

ORANGE JUICE EXPORTS – The Brazilian exports of orange juice are on the rise in the current season (2021/22). According to data from Secex (Foreign Trade Secretariat), between July and September, Brazil exported 278.9 thousand tons of Frozen Concentrate Orange Juice (FCOJ) Equivalent to all destinations, 19 % up from that in the same period last season. Revenue increased more sharply, by 32 %, reflecting the higher prices paid for the product, totaling USD 440.8 million. Of the total volume shipped this season, 20 % were sent to the United States – the volume exported to the USA has increased by 33 %, and the revenue received from the country, by 51 %.

The traditionally popular flavours of cola, lemon-lime and pepper saw a combined 4.3 % volume decrease in 2020, according to GlobalData. While these flavours will remain dominant, one of the leading data and analytics companies says that leading drinks brands are making room to experiment with unique, limited-time-only flavours that entice a young generation that is fuelled by a fear of missing out (FOMO).

George Shaw, Beverages Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “These shock factor, experimental beverages tug on the ‘FOMO’ strings – especially when a lot of buzz is generated across different social platforms. Capturing the attention of online influencers is key as they could share the ‘crazy concoctions’ to their social feeds. Further, curiosity is a powerful drive. According to GlobalData’s Q2 2021 consumer survey, around a third^* of US consumers purchase new varieties of soft drinks out of curiosity.”

GlobalData notes that some of the more unusual ingredients that have grown in popularity in the past year include floral flavours, such as rose, violet and elderflower^*. Further, the analytics company expects to see brands experiment with spice flavours in the coming colder months. Coca Cola cinnamon is an example of an industry leading company experimenting with unusual ingredients, which sets a good example for other companies to follow suit.

Soft drinks flavours were taken to a new level in August, with PepsiCo’s release of its ‘Flamin Hot Mountain Dew’. The company released the teen gamer’s ‘dream drink’^*as it combined the Cheetos flamin hot flavour with energy drink. The product^* was released through its online store and used twitter to promote.

Shaw continues: “Flamin Hot Mountain Dew was both a limited edition, as well as limited to two six-can cases per order – creating an air of exclusivity and leveraging FOMO.”

This is not the first time PepsiCo has experimented with ‘unusual’ flavours.

PepsiCo’s collaboration with Peeps in March saw it release a marshmallow soda, which was only available to participants that shared a tweet enjoying springtime activities – tagging Pepsi and using a hashtag. Rather than being a catalyst for sales, this was a fun promotional campaign wherein PepsiCo increased consumer and brand interaction.

Shaw adds: “People spend a lot on fizzy drinks – as admitted by 34 %^* of US consumers in GlobalData’s survey. Successful collaborations and innovations from PepsiCo will pave the way for the continuation of innovative flavours across the soft drinks landscape in the future.”

^*GlobalData’s Consumer Survey Results – Q2 21 US. 35 % of ‘Often’ and ‘Sometimes’ responses combined
^**GlobalData’s 2021 Global Consumer Survey – Ingredients & Flavours

Barry Callebaut, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, leverages its deep scientific knowledge of the cacaofruit and the fruit’s supportive health effect, by presenting the first nutraceutical fruit drink. The new cacaofruit elixir – made from 100 % pure cacaofruit – has a zesty fruity taste. By unlocking the power of science, the elixir is uniquely crafted to preserve the nutrients of the cacaofruit.

The cacaofruit naturally contains the required amount of flavanols to optimize the blood flow across the entire body. It is a good source of iron, magnesium and potassium. Besides the 100 % pure cacaofruit elixir, combinations with herbs and other fruits can be explored to enrich the range with beautiful taste combinations and additional nutrients. The nutraceutical fruit drink contributes to personal as well environmental health. Since it upcycles the whole cacaofruit, ‘Elix’ positively impacts nature and communities.

Gen X believe they need to nurture their nature

Covid accelerated consumers’ interest in the beauty of food and the beneficial health effects of eating and living well. Generation X –born between the mid-1960s and the early-1980s – believe they need to nurture their nature. To keep their body and mind strong, they look out for whole foods that are scientifically proven to actively support their health. They are well informed about which, and what amount, of macro- and micro nutrients to consume.

The cacaofruit elixir has been tested and validated through consumer research by independent global research agency MMR in the UK and the US. As part of these studies Elix’s consumer appeal and purchase intent have been tested, indicating a high interest in the new nutraceutical fruit drink category.

Promoting circulatory health

The health effects of cacaofruit flavanols have been studied by experts across the globe for decades and they have found sound scientific proof of their benefits on human health and wellness. Barry Callebaut’s deep scientific knowledge of the cacaofruit and the effect of the fruit’s flavanols on circulatory health are recognized by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which resulted in the approval of the related health claim under the EU Nutrition and Health Claims regulation. Approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is pending in spring 2022. Cacaofruit flavanols help maintain the elasticity of blood vessels which benefits the blood flow to, for example, organs such as the heart, muscles, brain, and skin.

The science of cacaofruit

Composed of almost 20,000 different types of molecules, the seed of the cacaofruit is one of the most complex food substances on earth. The R&D behind the cacaofruit elixir ‘Elix’ took Barry Callebaut more than 15 years. In addition, there is data available from more than 100 human clinical studies which provide sound scientific proof of the health effects of the cacaofruit flavanols.

Tate & Lyle PLC, a leading global provider of food and beverage solutions and ingredients, announced the appointment of William Magee as President, North America, Food & Beverage Solutions, and as a member of Tate & Lyle’s Executive Committee, with effect from 1 October 2021.

William Magee joined Tate & Lyle in April 2018 as Commercial Vice President, North America, Food & Beverage Solutions, before being promoted to Senior Vice President and General Manager, North America, Food & Beverage Solutions later that year. In these positions, he has been instrumental in leading the Company’s growth transformation in the region over the last three years. Prior to joining Tate & Lyle, Bill held senior leadership roles with Rohm & Haas, H.B Fuller and Michelman.

Diana Food (part of the Symrise Group), a leader in natural ingredients for Food & Beverages, announces that the company has organized and instituted on June 24 a new training session specifically for farmers located in the French Alps who supply fruits for baby food.

The program, which focuses on best practices for soil biodiversity, is designed to improve the quality and yield of the key crops used in baby foods.

Many farmers follow traditional agronomy practices passed down from previous generations, with limited awareness of how a deeper understanding of the nature of their soil can improve output. With this training, Diana Food agronomists are able to show farmers the role soil plays in producing fruits and vegetables that capture all the inherent goodness of their terroir. By combining this new technical knowledge with the farmers’ traditional methods, yield quality is very high.

According to Aurélie Pellé, Global Fruit Product Line Director at Diana Food, “Consumers are looking for products for their babies that are as close as possible to homemade. They want baby foods that are natural, clean, and simple with no added flavours, colours, or preservatives. This is why agronomy is so important to the category. Growing the best, cleanest fruits and vegetables allows minimal processing and an end product that is very close to what nature intended.”

Diana Food offers a large range of baby food ingredients that support the specific nutritional needs of children in the age groups of 6 months to 3 years, beginning with the introduction of solid foods into the diet. Fruit product streams include banana, apple, and strawberry; vegetable streams include carrot, tomato, and spinach. Diana Food production sites are FSC 22000 certified, which enables the company to provide ingredients that meet the health and safety standards this category demands: very low levels of contaminants, low microbiology levels, and low levels of chemical contaminants and foreign bodies.

Consumer demand for organic ingredients is extremely high in the baby food category, with organic products more prevalent in the market than any other category. The Diana Food Baby Food portfolio meets this demand, with organic certification compliant with the European, American and Chinese markets.

Excellence in agronomy is at the foundation of Diana Food’s value proposition. Thanks to the company’s historical know-how, expertise and global network of agronomic experts, Diana Food is able to select the best varieties and the best growing conditions in order to maximize the potential of the species. With proximity to farmers and producers, Diana Food agronomists are fully involved in the cultivation cycle, guaranteeing traceability, transparency, and sustainability of agricultural practices. This expertise and experience from farm to fark makes Diana Food a trusted partner for developing wining solutions for Baby Food manufacturers.

International, inspiring and above all personal – that was the 36th edition of Anuga which was staged from 09.-13.10.2021 in Cologne. With over 70,000 visitors from 169 countries and more than 4,600 exhibitors from 98 nations, the leading global trade fair for food and beverages once again demonstrated that trade fairs of these dimensions are possible again. “We are delighted with this result. It underlines the global significance of Anuga and the trust that is placed in us as a trade fair organisation. Furthermore, it also shows that Germany as a trade fair location continues to hold a leading and attractive position in terms of the global competition,” explained Gerald Böse, President and Chief Executive Officer of Koelnmesse. “Also the hybrid approach worked very well and proved very popular. In the scope of Anuga @home, we were able to offer above all those people, who were not able to travel to the trade fair, a good opportunity to inform themselves about specialised themes and engage in intensive networking,” Böse added.

Anuga also set a benchmark in terms of its level of internationality in these post- Corona times: 97 percent of the exhibitors came from abroad. At 76 percent, the degree of internationality of the visitors remained at a constant level (2019: 75 percent). “People from 169 nations – that is a strong signal and shows at the same time how much the international food industry needs trade fairs to do business again. Our exhibitors, who reported about outstanding customer dialogues and the high quality of the trade visitors, also recognised this fact. The discussions with the buyers also confirmed how highly they estimate the time for intense, personal dialogues with their customers. Anuga 2021 simply made the international world of food personal again. And this euphoria and spirit of optimism was noticeable all over the trade fair,” emphasised Oliver Frese, Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse GmbH.

Top buyers on board

Above all the quality and preparation of the buyers as well as the serious interest in generating business again convinced the exhibitors. Countless buyers with high decision-making competence from the trade and food service, including the relevant top buyers of important chain stores attended the trade fair in Cologne. An initial evaluation of the visitor survey shows that over 70 percent of the respondents use Anuga to groom existing and build up new business relationships.

Hybrid in future

As a hybrid event, Anuga also offered a digital platform for the exhibitors, visitors and media representatives: Anuga @home. In addition to intensive networking, above all the digitally streamed event and congress programme comprising of a variety of lectures, discussions and presentations by renowned trade experts and companies of the food industry met with great interest. In total, 353 formats with more than 6,380 broadcasting minutes were streamed over the three days of the trade fair. Particularly the live streams of the two conferences, the Newtrition X and the New Food Conference, were very popular. The presentations and the networking offers of Anuga @home will also be available on-demand after the trade fair.

Anuga in figures:
4,643 companies from 98 countries took part in Anuga 2021 on exhibition space covering 244,400 m². These included 400 exhibitors from Germany and 4,243 exhibitors from abroad. The share of foreign exhibitors was 92 percent. More than 70,000 trade visitors from 169 countries attended Anuga 2021, the foreign share was 76 percent.

The next Anuga will take place from 07.-11.10.2023.

During Fruit Attraction, SHAFFE organized the seminar “How the sustainable produce sector could look like in 2030”, which was held on October 6, 2021 in a hybrid conference format, where SHAFFE representatives had the opportunity to share some of the learnings and insights from the last 8 months of work, and visions of what the Southern Hemisphere’s sustainability strategy should look like.

“Sustainability is not a foreign issue for Southern Hemisphere fruit exporters. In fact, it is a matter in which each member of SHAFFE is making great and diverse efforts at both production and export levels. Therefore, SHAFFE’s objective is to generate a strategy that not only reflects where the fresh fruit industry of the South is heading, but also the aspects that are important for markets and consumers in these matters”, says Charif Christian Carvajal, SHAFFE President.

Nelly Hajdu, Secretary General SHAFFE stressed the importance of developing a sustainability strategy for the Southern Hemisphere. “Our purpose with task force is to invite all our members to build a White Paper on Sustainability. We are all united by common challenges about it, therefore, the way forward is to face them together, collaboratively and with a common strategy”.

During the task force process the following 10 common Southern Hemisphere Sustainability Challenges have been identified:

1. Water
2. Public-Private Partnerships
3. Biosafety, biodiversity and waste reduction
4. Communication and education
5. Complexity and duplication of external sustainability requirement
6. Carbon emissions and trade
7. Financing, investment and economic viability
8. People
9. Measuring and reporting
10. Preserving the ecosystem

“We hope to have the White Paper ready within the next few weeks, with practical, real and possible actions to be taken by 2030“, says Carvajal.

The SHAFFE sustainability committee is made up of Marta Bentancur from Uruguay, Paul Hardman from South Africa, Ricardo Adonis from Chile, Jorge Souza from Brazil, Gary Jones from New Zealand and Gabriel Wasserman from Argentina, who will also lead the group.

The conference at Fruit Attraction brought together live and virtual SHAFFE members from Argentina (Alejandro Pannunzio and Gabriel Wasserman) Brazil (Jorge de Souza), Perú (Sergio del Castillo), Uruguay (Marta Bentancur), South Africa (Paul Hardman), Chile (Ricardo Adonis and Charif Christian Carvajal), and New Zeland (Alan Pollard).

Christoph Goppelsroeder, former President and CEO of DSM Nutritional Products, was unanimously elected to Bühler Group’s Board of Directors on October 8, 2021.

Christoph Goppelsroeder (62) was unanimously elected to Bühler’s Board of Directors at an extraordinary general shareholders’ meeting on October 8, 2021. With his appointment, the Board of Directors is gaining an experienced executive who has played a crucial role in innovation and who puts customer needs first.

Swiss national Christoph Goppelsroeder began his career at The Boston Consulting Group. From 1994 to 2003, he held management positions at Roche Vitamins in Switzerland, Belgium, and the US. He joined DSM through their acquisition of Roche’s Vitamins business in 2003 when he co-led the integration of Roche Vitamins and acted as DSM Managing Board member from 2005 to 2006. From 2007 to 2012, he oversaw Syngenta’s Global Seed Care Division. In 2013, Christoph Goppelsroeder was appointed President and CEO of DSM Nutritional Products, DSM’s largest business, and Member of DSM’s Executive Committee. He led the division on a robust growth path, both organically as well as through acquisitions. He retired on April 1, 2021.

Elopak is reinforcing its presence in growth markets and investing in profitable growth with the acquisition of Naturepak Beverage Packaging Co Ltd, the leading gable top fresh liquid carton and packaging systems supplier in the MENA region.

Elopak ASA has signed a Share Purchase Agreement to acquire 100 % of Naturepak Beverage from Gulf Industrial Group Company Plc and Evergreen Packaging International LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pactiv Evergreen Inc.

Naturepak Beverage is the leading provider of fresh liquid carton and packaging systems in the MENA region with local production facilities in Morocco and Saudi Arabia, which will be integrated into Elopak’s global production network. Present in 16 countries, Naturepak Beverage has an annual production capacity of 2.7 billion cartons across various product sizes and its customers are global blue chip FMCG players and strong regional champions.

The acquisition will reinforce Elopak’s position in the region and is an important milestone in management’s ambitions to target 2-3% organic revenue growth, deliver inorganic opportunities and grow its global footprint by entering new geographies.

Commenting on the acquisition Thomas Körmendi, Chief Executive Officer of Elopak, stated: “This transaction represents an important part of the growth ambitions we outlined to our shareholders during our IPO this year. I am proud to take ownership of what we deem to be one of the highest quality assets in the region and to welcome the employees of Naturepak Beverage to the Elopak family. By establishing a presence in Morocco and Saudi Arabia we can access important growth markets and deliver Elopak’s brand portfolio to key local and international players. The transaction reflects our strong commitment to growth in the Middle East and Africa”.

Following the acquisition, Naturepak Beverage will be rebranded and incorporated under the Elopak name. The acquisition provides a strategic customer base in the fresh beverage carton segment, primarily in Morocco in fresh dairy, and gives access to growth markets in an attractive region.

Going forward Naturepak Beverage’s client base will have access to a wider fresh and aseptic product portfolio and innovative, sustainable packaging solutions developed by Elopak, with Elopak leveraging its Pure-Pak® carton portfolio and utilizing its technical expertise to drive further growth across products, segments and markets.

All Oranges 47.0 Million Boxes

The 2021-2022 Florida all orange forecast released by the USDA Agricultural Statistics Board is 47.0 million boxes, down 11 percent from last season’s final production. The total includes 19.0 million boxes of non-Valencia oranges (early, mid-season, and Navel varieties) and 28.0 million boxes of Valencia oranges. The Navel orange forecast, at 450,000 boxes, accounts for 2 percent of the non-Valencia total.

The estimated number of bearing trees for all oranges is 49.4 million. Trees planted in 2018 and earlier are considered bearing for this season. Field work for the latest Commercial Citrus Inventory was completed in June 2021. Attrition rates were applied to the results to determine the number of bearing trees used to weigh and expand objective count data in the forecast model.

A 9-year regression was used for comparison purposes. All references to “average”, “minimum”, and “maximum” refer to the previous 10 seasons, excluding the 2017-2018 season, which was affected by Hurricane Irma. Average fruit per tree includes both regular bloom and the first late bloom. …

Please download the full citrus crop production forecast: www.nass.usda.gov

“Shared Planet” leads Innova Market Insights’ Top Ten Trends, focusing on how everyone can play their part in shaping a sustainable and prosperous future. Consumers tell us they want to be ethically and environmentally conscious, so brands need to work alongside consumers to breed confidence in the claims attached to products. Trust and transparency are must-haves for any brand wishing to find common ground with an increasingly educated, forward-thinking and interconnected consumer base.

A sense of joint responsibility for our shared planet is guiding the choices consumers make and the lifestyles they wish to lead. Innova’s study, conducted across eleven countries, revealed that when it comes to food choices, the top two environmental actions people are taking are reducing waste (43 % of respondents) and eating in moderation (32 %).

“One of the biggest shifts we are seeing is that the health of the planet is now the top concern of consumers,” says Innova’s Global Insights Director Lu Ann Williams. “Personal health has been the big concern for the past few years, but consumers now tell us that this has been surpassed by global issues. Sustainability is no longer just a Wall Street issue. It might not be the top purchase driver for all consumers, but for many it clinches the deal when it comes to choosing between products.”

Elsewhere, concerns over health that have been amplified by a pandemic which has massively changed social habits, the continued advancements in technology, and more confident, vocal consumers, all offer clear signs of the direction innovators must take to successfully meet society’s needs and desires in 2022.

Innova’s Top Ten Trends, based on extensive, top-quality consumer and industry knowledge, provides the best insights for those needing to stay on top of the changing food and beverage landscape. Innova’s continually updated consumer research delves into the ‘what’ and the ‘why’ behind trends in the food and beverage industry, allowing innovators to forward plan with accurate and detailed insight into the main drivers behind consumer behavior. Looking to the future, Innova presents the top trends that will drive innovation and success in 2022:

1. Shared Planet

With planetary concerns now the number one global issue for consumers, brands are moving on from simply proclaiming their credentials to meeting a clear, agreed and understandable measurement of their environmental and social impact. There is a pressing need for companies to work together and with consumers to build trust in claims of zero or negative impact. It is vital to ensure universal acceptance of certifications and greater public faith in the transparency of brand actions. This requires quick, clear, tangible and trusted information combined with a product life story that truly stands up to scrutiny.

2. Plant-Based: The Canvas for Innovation

With personal health and global sustainability proving to be strong drivers of consumer choice, plant-based R&D has refocused from mimicking meat, fish and dairy to optimizing options that stand on their own merits. When asked what reasons consumers have for considering plant-based alternatives, they tell us they consider it healthier and better for the planet. A third reason, the desire for diet variation, is further boosting interest in plant-based beyond the traditional vegan and vegetarian sectors, leading to a 59 % increase in launches of new plant-based products in the year to August 2021. From convenience foods to gastronomy, people are looking for the quality alternatives plant-based products can offer.

3. Tech to Table

Technological advances have created major innovation opportunities for the entire food and beverage industry, offering greater possibilities to change every aspect of a product’s lifecycle from conception to consumption. While innovators embrace new production methods, consumers turn to apps and AI for guidance on personalized nutrition and a greater understanding of how to successfully fulfil their needs. Myths and misunderstandings are crumbling, so it has never been more important to engage in honest and open communication with consumers to ensure their continued trust in the advances of food technology. Respondents to Innova’s Consumer Survey say they are more willing to embrace changes such as new food technologies or sharing data if they can be shown to be beneficial to personal and global health.

4. Shifting Occasions

Lockdowns and the pandemic have reshaped existing eating occasions while at the same time helping to create new ones. Consumers have a greater awareness of the comforts and possibilities of home, so now seek more from going out. Industry leaders will be pushed to better serve evolving consumption occasions, creating products geared to the new expectations of a public whose social habits have been challenged.

5. Voice of the Consumer

Consumers are calling the shots and expecting more engagement from brands through digital and real-world channels. People are looking for food and beverages that align with their political, social and ethical values. If they can’t find them, entrepreneurial consumers are taking action to fill the gap themselves, satisfying specific market niches and co-creating products that meet their needs. Health, authenticity, responsibility and the simple craving for pleasure all combine in Innova Market Insights’ Top Ten Trends for 2022.

In addition to the top five, Innova has identified the following themes that will drive consumer actions in the coming 12 months:

6. Gut Glory

7. Back to the Roots

8. Amplified Experiences

9. Upcycling Redefined

Establishing global leadership position in natural colours

As part of its 2025 strategy to expand the portfolio of its global Taste & Wellbeing business, Givaudan announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire DDW, The Color House, a US based natural colour company. The acquisition will enable Givaudan to become a global leader in natural colours, enhancing its ability to create “Feel Good” Food Experiences through its extensive portfolio of taste and sense solutions.

Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, USA, DDW is a leading privately-held company in the natural colour industry, with 12 manufacturing facilities around the world and 315 associates. Founded in 1865, the company has developed a strong market position from its origins in the brewing industry through its market leading capabilities in caramel colours and for the last 20 years having a strong focus on natural colours for the food and beverage industry.

The terms of the deal have not been disclosed and Givaudan plans to debt fund the transaction. DDW’s business would have represented approximately USD 140 million of incremental sales to Givaudan’s results in 2020 on a proforma basis. The transaction is expected to close in Q4 2021.

Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Company will showcase it’s variety of award-winning citrus juices and meticulously-crafted, exotic lemonades and blends at the 2021 Anuga Food and Beverage Trade Fair in Cologne, Germany from Saturday, October 9 through Wednesday, October 13, 2021. Known for sourcing only the highest quality ingredients to produce their juices, Natalie’s delivers on authentic freshness that customers can trust.

Natalie’s Juice Company is a top selling brand in the United States and sells to over 34 countries globally including Japan, Germany, Panama, Qatar, France, South Korea, and more. Headquartered in Fort Pierce, Florida (U.S.), the family run business meticulously juices hand-selected, fresh fruits and vegetables in small batches during the peak season, and then flash-freezes them immediately at – 27 °F so they will retain freshness during transportation around the world. All products have a 3-Year Shelf-Life (Frozen) /40-Days (Defrosted).

Natalie’s Juices includes a fresh line of one ingredient products: Orange Juice, Grapefruit Juice, Tangerine Juice, Blood Orange Juice, Lime Juice and Lemon Juice. Each is squeezed fresh and minimally processed with no preservative, artificial ingredients or GMOs. Exotic fruit blends include Orange Beet Juice, Orange Mango Juice, and Orange Pineapple Juice. All produced with the highest quality fruits available.

“Natalie’s has become the pinnacle of quality for some of the highest ranked resorts, hotels, restaurants and retailers around the world. Our world-class products have allowed our partners to provide a product that will not only satisfy their most demanding customers, but exceed expectations, consistently,” said Aron Levi, Manager of International Sales. “Our international partners revel in supplying a catalog of flavours that are never from concentrate, preservative free, and meticulously produced to a consistent high standard, with every drop. When combining the premium aspects of our lineup in a frozen form, we can ensure minimal shrinkage and maximum satisfaction with every defrosted-on-demand bottle. Sometimes frozen really is fresher.”

Anuga is the leading trade fair for the global food and beverages industry. It features ten trade shows under one roof, 11 food trends and focus themes, many presentations, workshops, and panel discussions. With the largest number of exhibitors, the trade fair provides a global market overview of the entire food and beverage industry.

About Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Company
Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Company is a woman-owned and family-operated business that has been committed to producing only the highest quality, authentically fresh juices for the past 30 years. All of Natalie’s juices are squeezed fresh in small batches using hand-picked fruits and vegetables from Florida Farmers or American growers. The juices are distributed in 32 states across the U.S. and over 41 different countries worldwide.

As part of its commitment to the continuous improvement of its supply chain, Britvic is proud to announce a £26.9 million investment into the future of its factory in Rugby (UK), Britvic’s largest production site. The investment will see the installation of a fourth canning line, growing the site’s total capacity by a further 18 %. As a result, Britvic expects to create at least 20 new jobs at the facility.

The efficient new set-up will produce recyclable 330 ml cans for Britvic’s portfolio of leading brands including Tango, Pepsi and 7UP. The first cans are expected to be produced this November, with the new line fully up and running in 2022.

The new jobs will be predominantly in engineering and manufacturing, helping to build upon Britvic’s role as a leading employer within the community. Apprentices will also play a vital role during the expansion, filling some of the engineering roles and assisting with improvement projects as production commences.

Today’s news is further evidence of Britvic’s continued investment in its supply chain and follows the completion of the transformative £250m Business Capability Programme, improving facilities for the benefit of colleagues and customers.

GEA Group presented end of September ist „Mission 26“ strategy in London as part of its Capital Markets Day. The plan for the next five years defines seven key levers to accelerate sustainable, profitable growth. The focus is on sustainability, innovation and digital solutions, New Food, as well as excellence initiatives in sales, service and operations. The company is also looking at targeted acquisitions.

“We have set ourselves the goal of being at the forefront of the mechanical and plant engineering industry,” says Stefan Klebert, CEO GEA. “We take it upon ourselves to protect future generations by offering sustainable solutions for the food and pharmaceutical industries. In these attractive markets, we want to continue to grow profitably while contributing to a better world, as anchored in our purpose – engineering for a better world.”

Ambitious financial targets set for 2026

“Mission 26” sets ambitious financial targets for 2026. Organic sales growth of 4.0 to 6.0 percent per year is expected, leading to sales of around EUR 6 billion (FY 2020: EUR 4.635 billion). The EBITDA margin before restructuring expenses is projected to grow to a record level of more than 15 percent (FY 2020: 11.5 %). The Group-wide return on capital employed (ROCE) is anticipated to increase significantly to over 30 percent (FY 2020: 17.1 %).

In the context of further targets, a stable ratio of net working capital to sales of 8.0 to 10.0 percent is expected by 2026. Capital expenditure (CAPEX) is projected to be around EUR 200 million annually until 2026. Overall, this leads to strong free cash flow generation of around EUR 2 billion from 2022 until 2026.

“We are creating significant value for our shareholders through 2026 and beyond,” says Marcus Ketter, CFO. “Our shareholders will participate in this success with sustainable dividend increases.”

Holistic climate and sustainability approach

In June 2021, GEA presented its interim targets for reducing its own greenhouse gas emissions alongside its net zero ambition for 2040. Greenhouse gas emissions in Scopes 1 and 2 are to be reduced by 60 percent and in Scope 3 by 18 percent by 2030 (base year 2019). The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), the globally recognized independent body for reviewing climate targets, validated GEA’s CO2 reduction targets in September 2021. SBTi thus confirms that GEA’s interim targets follow the latest climate science and make an effective contribution to achieving the 1.5-degree Celsius target of the Paris Climate Agreement

In addition to the climate targets already communicated, GEA has set ambitious ESG targets. Combined, these measures focus on environmentally sustainable customer solutions and responsible operations. Furthermore, GEA aims to be the employer of choice in the industry.

“Sustainability is firmly anchored in the company’s DNA and is therefore also an essential part of Mission 26,” says Klebert. “With our ambitious approach, we help our customers achieve their own environmental goals. Likewise, we strive for the highest standards in our operations and support our employees in developing their skills. In this way, we live up to our social responsibility and ensure GEA’s lasting success.”

GEA drives product innovation with R&D and digitalization

“Innovation & Digitalization” are also expected to make a significant contribution to realizing the goals of “Mission 26”. Here, GEA aims to increase the proportion of sales of products that are less than five years old – from the current level of 10 percent to about 30 percent. To fuel this development, GEA will increase its research & development spending by approximately 45 percent over the next few years.

In addition to introducing new products, GEA will offer customers more digital solutions to further enhance their processes and GEA machine efficiency. To drive the digital customer journey and the development of digital solutions forward, these competencies haven been combined under the newly created position of Chief Digital Officer (CDO), effective August 1, 2021.

Growth market New Food: GEA with unique position

In the dynamically growing New Food market, GEA will expand its already strong position and become a market leader. Here, the company intends to leverage its strengths in scaling industrial applications and its unique position as a full-line supplier. GEA anticipates order intake for newly developed and existing machines from this segment to exceed EUR 400 million per year by 2026. “Consumer expectations around food are changing. For example, environmental impact and animal welfare are increasingly prioritized, and demand for high-quality, protein-rich foods is growing rapidly. GEA is optimally positioned to meet this demand,” explains Klebert.

GEA has already demonstrated its strength in this dynamic market by winning one of the largest orders in the company’s history: Novozymes, the world’s largest supplier of enzyme and microbial technologies in Denmark, is entrusting GEA with the turnkey fitting of a large-scale plant in the U.S. to produce plant-based proteins.

Excellence initiatives in sales, service and operations

Further growth opportunities for “Mission 26” lie in sales, service, purchasing and production. In GEA’s regions and countries, sales effectiveness and presence will be better exploited by deploying more of the company’s own sales staff in key markets. Sales of new machines are expected to grow by 4.0 to 5.0 percent per year until 2026.

Further growth potential was also identified in the service area, which is a resilient and profitable business for GEA. The aim is to increase coverage and expand the service business with customers by 2026, thereby boosting recurring revenue. This approach is expected to generate annual organic revenue growth of 5.0 to 6.0 percent in the service business until 2026.

The optimization measures announced at the 2019 Capital Markets Day impacting purchasing, production and logistics will be continued. In the process, purchasing activities were bundled in a central purchasing organization, the production network was improved, and greater flexibility was created at sites. The aim is to enable a transition to best-in-class procurement by 2026, further optimize the production network and reduce delivery times to customers.

“Global Operations is undergoing a comprehensive and long-term transformation process,” explains Johannes Giloth, COO GEA: “In addition to cost reductions, this also involves creating structures for further growth. In this way, Global Operations will continue to have a significant positive impact on profitability in the future.” Between 2022 and 2026, further optimizations in purchasing (EUR 90 million) and production (EUR 60 million) are expected to have a total net impact on EBITDA of EUR 150 million.

GEA examines possible acquisitions

Strong cash generation and a solid balance sheet will enable external growth. GEA will therefore examine value-enhancing acquisitions to strengthen its portfolio.

Outlook for business development in 2021 and 2022 confirmed

GEA confirms the guidance for fiscal year 2021 that was raised in July 2021. Organic growth of 5.0 to 7.0 percent is expected for revenue. EBITDA before restructuring expenses at constant exchange rates is anticipated to be in a range between EUR 600 million and EUR 630 million. The outlook for ROCE at constant exchange rates is likely to be in the range between 23 to 26 percent.

At the Capital Markets Day in September 2019, GEA communicated its targets up to 2022. In March 2021, when the annual figures for 2020 were presented, GEA adjusted its medium-term financial targets for 2022 upwards. GEA has confirmed these again. Group revenue is expected to grow by an average of 2.0 to 3.0 percent annually from 2019 until 2022, the EBITDA margin before restructuring expenses is to increase to a target corridor of 12.5 to 13.5 percent (Capital Markets Day 2019: 11.5 to 13.5 percent) and the ratio of net working capital to revenue is to be reduced to the range between 8.0 and 10.0 percent (Capital Markets Day 2019: 12.0 to 14.0 percent).

Sponsored Post – The fruit processing company VOG Products is the world’s largest producer of organic apple juice, concentrate and purée at one location. This year’s harvest in South Tyrol and Trentino provides outstanding conditions for premium quality and high-value products.

The Trentino-South Tyrol region on the southern side of the Alps looks back at a long tradition of fruit cultivation. With 300 sunny days per year and cool nights, the climate there is ideal. This is reflected in the taste and aroma of the fruit that VOG Products processes and refines.

2021 has proven to be an excellent year for apple quality in South Tyrol and Trentino. The weather conditions are currently optimal for the harvest. During the day, the sun shines down on the apple fields and the cool nights ensure that the colour will be intense. The Gala apples harvested this year are a brilliant red colour that is seldom seen – even the apples from areas where colouring does not easily develop are bright red.

VOG Products, the modern fruit processing company headquartered in Laives, belongs to 4 producers’ organisations from South Tyrol and Trentino and 18 cooperatives from South Tyrol with more than 10,000 members. Most of them are small family operations that care for their apple orchards with love and devotion.

Pioneer in Europe

Agriculture is acknowledged for its great importance throughout the region. After all, dealing with land and its resources respectfully is firmly embedded in the culture there. In this spirit, sustainable production is a matter of course for local fruit growers, many of whom have embraced organic cultivation. “Biosüdtirol and Bio Vinschgau have now become the largest organic producers in Europe,” explained Senior Key Account Manager Martin Bristot, who is responsible for the organic sector at VOG Products.

Organic apples now make up around 10 % of the total harvest in South Tyrol. Despite frosty nights in the spring, the official harvest forecasts indicate that the organic proportion in South Tyrol will remain constant in 2021. As compared to the previous year, in Trentino organically cultivated apples should record growth of around 20 %.

The figures show a trend: in three years, the quantity of organic raw goods delivered to VOG Products has more than trebled. As a result, the fruit processing company from Laives is now the world’s largest producer of organic apple juice, concentrate and purée at one location. VOG Products continues to source its organic goods exclusively from its members’ members: the around 10,000 farmers from the growing area.

Bioland: a guarantee of quality

Top conditions at the location, tightly meshed quality control and traceability back to the farmers are particularly valuable in the organic sector. But VOG Products goes a step farther. “VOG Products is Bioland-certified or rather, a portion of our suppliers provide Bioland goods,” said Bristot. The seal has more stringent guidelines than those laid down in the EU regulation on organic production. “In Germany, the most important market for apple juice, the organic niche is growing: the quantities demanded are increasing significantly,” Bristot added.

“In combination with South Tyrol as the region of origin, these quality aspects are important for many purchasers and during the COVID-19 pandemic, they have become even more important.”

Renowned companies in food retailing have also recognised the potential and are jumping onto the organic bandwagon. “They aim to convert a certain percentage of their assortment from conventional to organic. We are primarily observing the trend in Germany, but France, Austria and the Scandinavian countries are all following suit,” explained Bristot. “That is giving the saleable quantities of direct apple juice an enormous boost.” But in the affluent exotic markets in Asia and the US as well, consumers are very aware of organic quality.

Estimates about the 2021/22 orange season in the Brazilian citrus belt (São Paulo and the Triângulo Mineiro) have been revised down, due to weather issues in Brazil. Data released by Fundecitrus (Citrus Defense Fund) in September estimated the harvest to be 8.9 % lower than that forecast in the first report, released in May, at 267.87 million boxes. In light of that, the output may be similar to that in the previous season (268.63 million boxes). Although the 2021/22 season is a positive biennial cycle, oranges have been smaller, which explains lower production.

Although the estimates from May considered rainfall below the average, weather issues have increased since then, with frosts and severe drought. Between May and August, rainfall accounted for 30 % of the usual for the period, according to data from Somar/Climatempo Meteorologia (weather forecast agency).

The lack of rains has been damaging majorly the plants in dryland, however, agents from Fundecitrus highlight that even irrigated orchards (which account for 30 % of the trees in the citrus belt) have been debilitated by the drought, due to the limited availability of water at reservoirs. It is important to mention that the scenario has worsened since the frosts in late July.

Besides the smaller size of the oranges, the rate of premature fall of fruits is one of the highest. As the weather is forecast to continue unfavourable until the end of the season, the scenario is not expected to change, raising expectations for low production in 2021/22. Also, the chance of La Niña phenomena to occur until late 2021 is high, which may result in lower rainfall in southeastern Brazil in the second semester. This scenario would limit the growth of late varieties.

INDUSTRY – With the probable lower harvest of oranges in the 2021/22 season, the number of fruits allocated to processors is supposed to be lower too. CitrusBR (Brazilian Association of Citrus Exporters) has not revised processing estimates yet, but Cepea forecasts the industry to purchase around 225 million boxes of oranges (40-8 kilograms each) this season. If this is confirmed and sales of orange juice are near the usual, juice inventories are expected to decrease steeply, to less than 200 thousand tons (Frozen Concentrate Orange Juice Equivalent), even with higher yield at processing plants, which usually happens in years of low rainfall.

This context will demand high orange production in the 2022/23 season (higher than 330 million boxes) so that ending stocks are replenished with no risk of world shortages. This situation may favor the prices paid to farmers in Brazil.

The new range of organic cold-pressed juice shots from Irish company Just Juice It were created to satisfy the growing desire for plant-based, vegan, healthy functional foods.

The 3 line organic range includes the ever-popular wheatgrass juice and 2 more specialist health shots; a broccoli shot made from 4 day old sprouted broccoli juice and thirdly, a beetroot shot with added broccoli.

The wheatgrass shot is popular because of its chlorophyll content. The broccoli shot is a great source of sulforaphane that boosts anti-oxidants amongst its many other benefits. The beetroot shot has been created with athletes and sports people in mind who have long recognised the advantages of beetroot juice as a performance enhancer. The range will be a valuable addition to the health and wellness market.

Just Juice It ensures that the juice shots are as nature intended by avoiding heat in the preservation process and using high pressure to ensure the juice stays as fresh as the day it was pressed.

Barry Mylett, Managing Director of Just Juice It, comments: ‘We’re really excited to be leading the way in the juice market and delivering juice shots that tick all the boxes; organic, vegan, ultra-healthy with fully recyclable packaging. I love the branding which I helps to show customers that our range is completely natural.”

An SIG-backed beverage carton recycling project has won a A$1.74 million grant from the Federal and New South Wales (NSW) Government towards setting up a A$5 million facility that will turn post-consumer beverage cartons and paper cups into high performance building material. The project is funded by the Australian Government’s Recycling Modernisation Fund and the NSW Government’s Waste Less, Recycle More initiative.

The Australian and NSW Governments and the companies behind the project expect the facility will create confidence in a new market for recycled construction materials, similar to roads made from recycled glass, and enable more packaging to become 100 per cent recyclable, in line with Australian national packaging targets.

The project is the first collaboration between SIG and Tetra Pak in Australia under the umbrella of the Global Recycling Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (GRACE) and is a joint initiative with saveBOARD and its supporters Freightways and Closed Loop.

The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) says this is a fantastic step forward for beverage cartons and for the brands and consumers that use this important type of packaging.

saveBOARD co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Paul Charteris says making high-performance low-carbon building materials using 100 % recycled materials from everyday waste is a game-changer that will transform the construction industry in Australia.

The first Australian saveBOARD plant will reprocess liquid paperboard beverage containers, including both aluminium-lined aseptic packages and non-aluminium-lined containers collected through the container deposit scheme and coffee cups collected through the ‘Simply Cups’ recycling program. It will also source material from document recycling company Shred-X.

Together with supplementary material from industrial processes, these items will be used to manufacture high-performance low-carbon building products to substitute plaster board, particle board, and oriented strand board (OSB) that can be used for interior and exterior applications.

The saveBOARD process uses heat and compression to bond materials, eliminating the need for glues or other chemical additives, to produce a clean product with zero volatile organic compounds (VOCs), suitable for use in homes and commercial buildings.

“Those who weren’t able to attend definitely missed out.” That was the unanimous view of the exhibitors as FACHPACK drew to a close on 30 September 2021. For three days, the trade fair for packaging, technology and processes was brimming with innovation and inspiration for the packaging sector. And the pleasure of being able to meet with customers and business partners in person was palpable throughout the exhibition halls. Goosebumps all around! A total of 788 exhibitors from 33 countries were on hand to answer specific packaging questions from about 24,000 trade visitors. Of the trade visitors, one in three had travelled to Nuremberg from outside Germany. Access to the trade fair with e-tickets and verification of “3G” status (proof of having been vaccinated, tested, or recovered from COVID) at the entrances was quick and uncomplicated. The hygiene strategy worked, with exhibitors and visitors observing the relevant regulations.

FachPack covered a comprehensive range of products from the entire packaging process chain, from packaging materials and machines to printing and processing, logistics systems and services. Forty-one percent of the exhibitors and about one-third of the visitors travelled from outside Germany, mainly from Austria, Switzerland, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Poland, France and Belgium.

The exhibitors had particular praise for the high quality of the industry professionals. That is backed up by the results of a visitor survey by an independent institute: some 90 percent of the trade visitors said they were involved in the purchasing and procurement decisions in their companies. About two-thirds of them held senior positions, and more than one in five were from management. The visitors came mainly from the food and beverage, pharmaceutical and medical, cosmetics, chemical, electronics and automotive industries.

New key theme for FACHPACK 2022: “Transition in packaging”

FACHPACK perceives itself as a guide, and aims to offer direction to the sector. The new key theme for 2022 is therefore devoted to the powerful trends currently impacting on the packaging industry. Sustainability is demanded not only by law but also by consumers – and that is making far-reaching changes to the industry. Subjects such as the circular economy, digitalization and e-commerce add to the mix. Covid-19 has brought a focus to the aspect of hygiene in product protection. In addition, areas such as online shopping and home deliveries will continue to grow. What purchasing behaviours will consumers exhibit in the future? All these themes are not only a task for the packaging industry; they also offer a major opportunity to make changes.

The next FACHPACK will take place in the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg in its usual sequence from 27 to 29 September 2022.

HPP originator offers streamlined design, applications savvy, and unparalleled service for maximum uptime

Pioneering and leading the advancement of high pressure technologies for nearly three-quarters of a century, Quintus Technologies today announces its re-entry into food and beverage high pressure processing (HPP) applications through innovative new HPP equipment and customized service solutions.

“Quintus Technologies has identified a need in the food industry market for improved options for HPP systems and services. As the former manufacturing and engineering arm of Avure Technologies, and with our core competency and rich history in high pressure applications, it is natural that we once again bring our expertise to this arena,” says Jan Söderström, CEO and President of Quintus Technologies.

High Pressure Processing is recognized globally as the premium minimal-processing technique that enables the production of safer, preservative-free refrigerated foods and beverages with superior nutritional benefits and taste. Surging from novel to mainstream technology in less than a decade, HPP has become an ideal method for processors to protect their brands against recalls, develop new products, extend shelf life, enhance quality, and boost profitability.

Quintus press offerings are accompanied by comprehensive application know-how and best-in-class after-market technical and application support. The food science experts at the company’s HPP Application Centers in the U.S., Sweden, and China will be available to advise processors on everything from ingredient choices to optimizing processing parameters for maximum ROI. They provide product development support and in-house validation services, allowing customers to make comprehensive evaluations of new recipes, packaging, regulatory requirements, and more.

The unique mechanical and digital solutions incorporated in the new Quintus presses, such as the wire-wound frame and cylinder for safety and lighter weight, reflect the company’s legacy as the high pressure pioneer. Built to last for maximum reliability and operational efficiency, Quintus HPP systems are designed with an economical smaller footprint for fast installation and ease of operation and maintenance.

“The Quintus press was the world’s first high pressure press, a design that was used to manufacture synthetic diamonds and other products,” notes Ed Williams, General Manager – Americas, Quintus Technologies. “A very large percentage of our systems installed 30+ years ago are still operational today.

“As befits our undisputed leadership position,” Mr. Williams continues, “we are also introducing the industry’s best HPP service program, Quintus® Care, whose commitments will be met by veteran field service engineers with many years of experience in high pressure presses.”

Quintus Care includes prioritized 24/7 technical support, guaranteed access to spare parts, on-site assistance within 24 hours, and site visits including operator and maintenance training. The program also includes extensive application support, ensuring that customers can take full advantage of the HPP technology. Periodic maintenance and annual inspections assure customers that their HPP equipment stays in prime working condition to meet productivity expectations and reduce the risk of unplanned stops.

“The range of products benefitting from high pressure processing has expanded exponentially from the first commercialized product, ‘preservative-free guacamole,’ to today’s large variety of food products,” Mr. Söderström observes.

“Processors now are looking not only to continue the innovation stream of high-margin, value-added products, but to maintain production efficiencies through high system availability and controlled service costs. The new generation of Quintus HPP systems will help them accomplish these goals,” he concludes.

Sun-Rype Products, a division of A. Lassonde Inc., a Canadian fruit-based food and beverage manufacturer, announced that they have replaced plastic straws with recyclable, bendable paper straws on all SunRype 200 ml single-serve beverage boxes in Canada. This includes all of SunRype’s 200 ml 100 per cent juice, and 200 ml 60 per cent less sugar juice products.

“We are on track to meet our sustainable development objectives by 2025,” said Claire Bara, President, A. Lassonde. “We plan on incorporating recyclable packaging for all of our products, and the launch of paper straws on our single-serve juice products is another step in the right direction. We know that our customers place a lot of importance on finding products that meet today’s environmental challenges, and these SunRype juice containers with new bendable paper straws are now available at Canadian grocery retailers – just in time for back to school lunch boxes.”

All packaging on SunRype’s 200 ml multi-layered Tetra Pak product containers is recyclable. By choosing this package with SunRype’s new paper straws, made from FSC-certified paper, consumers are making the choice of a more sustainable and environmentally friendly packaging option.

“In 2020, Lassonde was the first company in Canada to manufacture and commercialize the 200 ml bendable paper straw under the Kiju organic brand, as well as our water brands Simple Drop and Fruit Drop,” said Bara. “We are pleased to provide our customers with this environmentally responsible paper straw on all 200 ml beverage containers of our iconic brand, SunRype.

The launch of the paper straw follows Lassonde’s recent launch of new bottles containing 25 per cent post-consumer recycled plastic (rPET) for all its juice brands available in 300 ml portion-size packages in Canada.

By 2023, SunRype is aiming for a 25 per cent post-consumer recycled content in its PET bottles; using 100 per cent recyclable packaging for all its products; and working with governments, industry and associations to promote the collection of recyclable materials.

Valrhona cooperated with Koa to create Oabika, the new cocoa fruit juice concentrate for chefs and other gastronomy professionals. The flavourful ingredient delivers a new experience with a smooth texture and a unique taste. Oabika is an impactful innovation for the gastronomy with a sustainable vision.

After several months of research and development, Oabika was born. French premium chocolate manufacturer Valrhona has launched the new cocoa fruit ingredient in cooperation with Swiss-Ghanaian start-up Koa. Oabika is the very first cocoa fruit juice concentrate at 72^° Brix^* created especially for the food service. It has the highest concentration on the food service market providing a silky consistency and an amber-coloured appearance. Besides its fruity and tangy flavour, Oabika surprises through its candied, honey-like notes.

Frédéric Bau, pastry explorer at Maison Valrhona, and Victor Delpierre, drink expert and gastronomy consultant, describe Oabika as a “complete and playful experience.” They both state that “Oabika is a magical ingredient that highlights, enhances and balances tastes. It represents an exceptional moment in time, deliciously refreshing, which takes you on a journey deep inside the pod to the heart of a cocoa plantation.”

After Koa’s success with their cocoa fruit juice and dried cocoa fruit, the new concentrate elaborated by Valrhona together with Koa is an innovation that complements the range of cocoa fruit ingredients. Oabika offers a multitude of applications such as ganache, jellies, mousses, toppings, sauces, glazes, creams, ice creams, sorbets, or drinks. Whether it’s to create new flavour experiences or to demonstrate what sustainable value creation in the cocoa-growing countries really means.

Upcycling the cocoa fruit to increase farmers’ income

The availability of cocoa fruit concentrate for chefs and other gastronomy professionals signifies a milestone for the cocoa fruit valorisation and the cocoa farmers. As the demand for cocoa fruit ingredients grows rapidly, the chances to create a positive impact in the cocoa-growing countries increases at the same time. Until recently, the pulp that surrounds the cocoa beans couldn’t be processed in cocoa-growing countries due to a lack of infrastructure and technology. In conventional cocoa processing, only a small part of the white pulp was used for fermentation, the rest was lost. Koa has found an innovative way to gently process the cocoa fruit in close cooperation with 1,600 smallholders. “As we make use of the cocoa pulp, we provide smallholders with an additional income and at the same time, we create jobs for the young population in rural Ghana,” Daniel Otu, Operations Director at Koa in Ghana, explains.

For Koa, the cooperation with Valrhona is a success. Co-Founder and Managing Director Anian Schreiber emphasises: “As a start-up, we’re proud to be cooperating with a highly reputable and well-established chocolate brand as Valrhona who shares our mission of taking responsibility in cocoa-growing countries to the next level. With the launch of Oabika, we demonstrate how indulgence and responsibility for people and planet go hand in hand. We encourage others to seek such partnerships to tackle some of the food system’s most pressing challenges together.”

Oabika has been launched worldwide in September 2021 including Europe, Asia, USA and Middle East.

^*The Brix scale is used to measure the fraction of sucrose in a liquid in degrees Brix, meaning the percentage of soluble, dry matter. The higher the degree Brix, the sweeter the sample, with more concentrated flavours.

Beverage Partners International (BPI) is delighted to announce that Tony Parente has been appointed COO, effective from 1 September 2021.

Moving forward, Tony Parente will oversee BPI’s day-to-day operations, develop the strategic direction of the business and support BPI’s expanding network of bottlers and distributors.

Tony Parente has led an accomplished career and is a well-established figure in the international FMCG and soft drinks industry, working across both global corporates and entrepreneurial companies.

Following a long career in International Franchise Beverage Management at Cadbury Schweppes and then at The Coca-Cola Company, he was appointed Managing Director of start-up T&T Beverages, taking the brand from “zero to hero” in the UK.

He has held senior positions at Powershot UK, Coca-Cola Europe, The Monster Energy Drinks Company and Grenade UK, among others.

On his return to Coca-Cola Europe, Tony Parente held the role of New Ventures Entrepreneur, a business unit working in key markets in Europe, inspired by startups such as Glacéau, ZICO and Honest Tea, developing new venture categories and new brands to drive incremental growth.

The IVLV/VDMA document “Hygienic filling machines of class V according to VDMA: Testing of packaging sterilisation devices for their efficiency” has been revised.

The document specifies test microorganisms for testing of sterilisation devices of this machine class and defines the procedure for carrying out a count reduction test or an end-point test.

This document was compiled in 2002 under the title ‘Testing of aseptic systems with packaging material sterilisation devices for their efficiency’ in the VDMA working group “Interface problems with aseptic systems” in consultation with the Industrievereinigung für Lebensmitteltechnologie und Verpackung e.V. (Industrial Association for Food Technology and Packaging). Compared to the previous version from 2008, the following changes were made:

• Restructuring of the trade association publication
• Alignment of definitions with other VDMA technical association publications
• Revision of the section “Requirements for test germs for testing packaging sterilisation devices for aseptic filling machines”.
• Revision of section “Procedure for inoculation of the packaging”.
• Revision of section “Germ reduction test” (additions to the practice with machines with multiple treatment stations)
• Revision of the section “Endpoint test” including the calculation example in the appendix (addition to the recommendation for the determination of the initial germination scale; additional criterion for the evaluation of the stability of the sterilisation process)
• Updating and addition of references
• Deletion of appendix “Growing conditions for Bacillus subtilis SA 22 and Bacillus atrophaeus and preparation of the spore suspension”.
• Update of annex “Sources of spore suspensions”.
• Additional appendix “Example of a sensitivity test of the spore suspension to the disinfection medium – using hydrogen peroxide as an example”.

The trade association publication is available in German and English and can be downloaded free of charge from VDMA.org using the link below.

An overview of all publications of the working group on the topic of low-germ and aseptic filling with links for free download is also available from there.

Expanding its global distribution presence, Prinova Group LLC, a NAGASE Group Company, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire industry expert The Ingredient House, LLC (“TIH”). TIH has a significant presence in the sweetener, polyol and specialty ingredient sectors both in the U.S. and internationally. This purchase represents another stride forward in Prinova’s long history of growth in the ingredient distribution space.

Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Southern Pines, North Carolina, The Ingredient House is a quality-focused supplier of ingredients to the global food and beverage industry. TIH has experienced substantial growth since its inception through strategic partnerships with global branded customers and offshore manufacturers. Key to TIH’s success is its implementation of and adherence to improved quality standards to consistently deliver the global supply chain needs of its food and beverage customers.

Headquartered Carol Stream, IL and privately owned for 40 years, Prinova was acquired by Nagase & Co., Ltd., based in Tokyo, in 2019. Since then, Prinova has experienced substantial growth in flavour manufacturing, premix manufacturing, and its flagship ingredient distribution offering. This acquisition is an opportunity for Prinova to further leverage industry relationships and integrate The Ingredient House’s unique supply chain advantages into its existing business.

About The Ingredient House, LLC
Founded in 2006, The Ingredient House, LLC is a global supplier of high-quality polyols, high intensity sweeteners, and other specialty ingredients for the food & beverage industry. Utilizing a unique, solutions-oriented business model, TIH is a trusted strategic sales, marketing, and quality partner to its global ingredient manufacturing relationships and world-class customer base. TIH has earned a reputation for its ability to deliver creative solutions to supply chain challenges while offering best-in-class quality and customer service.

About Prinova Group LLC and Nagase & Co. Ltd.
Headquartered Carol Stream, IL, Prinova has been providing high-quality ingredients, flavors, nutrient premixes, and value-added solutions to the food, beverage and nutrition industries for over 40 years. As a world-leading distributor of functional ingredients, Prinova utilizes a global network to help its customers gain the strategic advantage they need to drive their business forward. Prinova was acquired by Nagase & Co., Ltd. (“Nagase”) in 2019. Founded in 1832, Nagase offers global trading services of chemicals, plastics, electronics materials, cosmetics, and food ingredients. With more than 100 Group companies in 30 countries and regions, Nagase offers unique values to customers by combining group functions of manufacturing, processing, and R&D.

Ball Corporation announced today plans to build a new U.S. aluminum beverage packaging plant in North Las Vegas, Nevada. The multi-line plant is scheduled to begin production in late 2022 and is expected to create nearly 180 manufacturing jobs when fully operational.

“Our new North Las Vegas plant is Ball’s latest investment to serve accelerating demand for our portfolio of infinitely recyclable aluminum containers,” said Kathleen Pitre, president, Ball beverage packaging North & Central America. “The new plant is supported by numerous long-duration contracts for committed volume with our strategic global partners and regional customers and will enable us to serve customer and consumer needs for more sustainable aluminum beverage packaging while furthering our Drive for 10 vision.”

Ball plans to invest nearly $290 million in its North Las Vegas facility over multiple years. The plant will supply a range of innovative can sizes to a variety of beverage customers. Infinitely recyclable and economically valuable, aluminum cans, bottles and cups enable a truly circular economy in which materials can be and actually are used again and again. In fact, 75 percent of all aluminum ever produced is still in use today.

Ball chose the North Las Vegas location for its new facility due to its proximity to customer can-filling investments, increasing regional demand, the infrastructure in place, the regional labor base and the cooperation of state and local officials.

ADM unveiled the ADM Food Technology (Pinghu) Co., Ltd., a state-of-the-art, fully automated flavour production facility situated in Pinghu, Zhejiang Province, China.

“Since our acquisition of WILD Flavours in 2014, we’ve invested in organic growth, bolt on and platform M&A, and new innovations and technologies to build ADM into a premier global human and animal nutrition company,” said Chairman and CEO Juan Luciano. “Our strategic actions have benefited our customers and our shareholders alike: we’re achieving key financial goals and delivering record results in no small part because we’ve become the partner of choice for customers around the globe as they meet growing and evolving demand for healthy, delicious foods and beverages from nature. Our new, leading edge flavour facility in Pinghu will serve as ADM’s flavour supply hub in APAC, allowing us to leverage our expertise and leading-edge technologies and build out the ADM pantry to further meet customer needs and advance our growth strategy.”

The 27,000+ square meter flavour production facility is strategically located within an hour of Shanghai, bringing geographic advantages for ADM’s customers while providing the company with direct access to top talent. The complex features:

• The latest in automated flavour lines with advanced dosing technology, along with technologies to ensure seamless and efficient management of complex processes;
• Labs dedicated to flavour production, taste design and product development;
• ISO 9001 and FSSC 22000 V5.1 certifications; and
• Capability to meet demand for specific dietary needs, including Halal and Kosher certified products.
• The Pinghu facility is the latest of ADM’s strategic growth investments in its global Nutrition business. Other recent expansions include:
• The planned acquisition of a 75 % ownership stake in PetDine, Pedigree Ovens, The Pound Bakery and NutraDine, premier providers of private label pet treats and supplements;
• The planned acquisition of Sojaprotein, a leading European provider of non-GMO human nutrition protein solutions; and
• The acquisition of Golden Farm, a state-of-the-art animal nutrition premix provider in Vietnam.

ADM has more than 5,000 employees throughout the wider Asia-Pacific region, across more than 50 operations and business sites, including a recently opened state-of-the-art plant-based innovation lab in Singapore; technical innovation centers in China, Singapore, Australia, Japan and Vietnam; and production and processing facilities, grain origination, grain destination marketing warehouses and trading operations across the region. ADM also owns a strategic stake in Singapore-based Wilmar International Limited, a leading agribusiness and packaged food and oil company in the region.

Krynica Vitamin, one of the top Polish producers of non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beverages, faced many challenges in the second quarter of this year, which influenced the delivered financial result in the first half of 2021. The key factors influencing the achieved results included, in particular, the unpredictability on the raw materials market, which translated into low availability and increased prices of packaging, coupled with growing transport costs, including freight. According to published estimates, the WSE-listed company achieved $52 million (PLN 202.5 million) in sales revenue in H1 2021, which converted into operating profit of $1,3 million (PLN 5.2 million) and net profit of $1,2 million (PLN 4.8 million).

Krynica Vitamin stresses that in its core business, beverage revenue increased by more than 15 percent year-on-year. The Company’s goal is to attract customers with high production volumes. In the second half of the year Krynica Vitamin will focus on further improvement of its standing on the beverage production market, and geographical diversification, looking for customers also in Europe and customers that can be reached by truck, for example France.

Our financial situation is stable and our development is not threatened, despite turbulences. The coronavirus pandemic has shaken the global market, disrupting the supply chain, while the rise in commodity prices has caught businesses by surprise. This has translated into limited access to packaging, particularly aluminum cans, as well as other materials needed to package products like wooden pallets, foil and cardboard. We also experience a continuous increase in labour costs, as well as transport costs – said Piotr Czachorowski, President of the Board of Krynica Vitamin SA.

The Company’s Board notes an increase in transportation costs, primarily by sea. In 2021, the two major markets were the U.S. and Germany.

When we shipped beverages to New Zealand and Australia at the beginning of the year, we did not consider intercontinental trade restrictions. Not even six months later we noted a nearly tenfold increase in the cost of deliveries. This is a huge challenge in overseas exports. Not only have freight prices risen, but Europe is suffering from a shortage of containers, with delays in unloading operations at U.S. and Chinese ports. Many industries have been affected by this disrupted supply chain. The obstruction of the Suez Canal for a just a few days or restrictions on the operations of major ports in China, have a negative knock-on effect for the trade. Despite the challenging environment, we are focused on maximizing the use of our resources and assets. We have rescheduled our investment pipeline due to the delays in obtaining administrative permits. Thus, our capex plan of PLN 38 million will be performed at the level of about 60 percent. Other outlays will be moved to later periods – said Piotr Czachorowski.

Krynica Vitamin in the current difficult market conditions is focused on driving the beverage segment, in which it has the highest competence, best experience, and strongest market position. Recently, the Company notified its investors that it has signed new agreements. In order to increase financial efficiency, the R&D is developing new beverage formulas with less sugar, among other things.

For nearly 30 years, Krynica Vitamin has been shaping the beverage market in Poland, creating innovative products in response to health trends. The company is a showcase of the Polish food and beverage industry in the world. The Company’s products are present in nearly 40 markets around the world. In 2020, exports accounted for more than half of revenue, with Germany, the United States, and the United Kingdom being the main overseas markets.

Geneva, Vitafoods Expo 5 – 7 October 2021, booth J291: Allmicroalgae will introduce its portfolio of nutrient-rich, sustainable and vegan-friendly microalgae ingredients

At Vitafoods Expo, Allmicroalgae will showcase its new organic ‘spirulina’ range. Derived from the microalgae Arthrospira platensis, the sun- or spray-dried ingredients are available in paste, powder, nibs and flakes format. They are rich in protein and dietary fibre, and contain all the essential amino acids, as well as antioxidant phycocyanin, iron, vitamin B12 and omega-3 fatty acids. The combination of valuable plant proteins, iron and vitamin B12 make spirulina-based ingredients a perfect fit for vegan food and supplement concepts, supporting a balanced, plant-based diet. Thanks to their mild flavour, they can easily be incorporated into a wide variety of food and drink products, such as baked goods, pasta, juices, smoothies and fermented beverages. The nibs are a perfect topping for ice cream, yogurt, salad and cheese. Visitors to the booth can learn about the complete range of microalgae-based ingredients, including the organic autotrophic Chlorella vulgaris and the organoleptically improved heterotrophic Smooth, Yellow and White Chlorella vulgaris, all of which combine sustainable processing with a full nutritional load.

According to Allied Market Research, the growing global spirulina market is predicted to reach nearly 900 m USD by 2027, with a CAGR of 10.5 percent (2020-2027).¹ Recognising this development, Allmicroalgae has installed a production line for spirulina ingredients and plans to further extend annual production capacity from 4 – 6 tons to 20 tons in 2022, with the addition of two more raceways. Joana Laranjeira Silva, Plant and R&D Manager at Allmicroalgae, says: “Spirulina has a long history, with proven evidence that the Aztecs consumed the microalgae. With its unique nutritional profile and low-resource cultivation, this ancient superfood is an innovative solution to the modern-day challenge of making our diets more sustainable while maintaining a nutritional profile that contains all of the required nutrients.”

At its production site in Leiria, spirulina ingredients are processed combining an artisanal approach with state-of-the-art technology, and can be manufactured according to EU organic standards (PT-BIO-03 EU Agriculture certificate). The company is the first supplier to make the microalgae widely available as a paste. This form is the result of a concentration step that allows the formation of a spirulina cake, which is the final base for the conventional ingredients in the form of powder and nibs. The advantage of the paste format is minimal processing, unique freshness and a natural texture. It offers advantages for the production of refrigerated and frozen food, such as dairy fermented products, juices, ice cream and sauces.

For the production of powders and nibs, the company is investing in gentle solar drying to maintain the valuable nutritional profile, and its bioactive properties. The latter are related to anti-fatigue effects and support type 2 diabetes treatments, anaemia, pulmonary diseases, muscle and skeletal health. In children, an improvement of fine motor skills, concentration and cognition can also be expected.

Increasing demand for microalgae

With the alternative protein market sky-rocketing, Allmicroalgae has been continuously expanding its capacities and is equipped to achieve a potential annual output of around 100 tons of dried biomass. Its production system covers more than 2,000 cubic metres, 1,300 of which house photobioreactors and fermenters. A further 700 cubic metres of covered raceways were recently installed for the production of spirulina.

Having become a European leader in Organic Chlorella vulgaris production, visitors to the Allmicroalgae booth (J291) discover more about their Organic Chlorella range as well as its innovative light-coloured Chlorella ingredients (White, Smooth and Yellow Chlorella vulgaris) with improved organoleptic profile. These ingredients are available as paste and powder. The company also offers capsules and tablets and in this field a real USP: By reverting to organic carriers and excipients, 100 % organic products can come to life when using Organic Chlorella vulgaris.

All the ingredients are classified as food by EFSA and FDA, and are produced in line with Halal, Kosher and GMP requirements. Furthermore, they are free from gluten, lactose, nuts, additives, soy and GMO, perchlorates and pathogenic flora such as Bacillus cereus, and processed without the use of fertilisers, pesticides and irradiation.

¹https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/spirulina-market, retrieved 22 September 2021

Following PepsiCo’s introduction of Pep+, a policy that aims to improve the company’s agricultural footprint by addressing its packaging processes and greenhouse gas emissions;

Holly Inglis, Beverages Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers her view:

“Pep+ will keep PepsiCo ahead of the competition amid consumers’ ever-increasing demand for sustainability. The policy will be popular with the 70 %^* of global consumers that stated they prefer ingredients that are sourced sustainably and ethically.

“GlobalData notes that consumers are yearning for drinks that are both better for them and better for the planet. Therefore, focusing on beverages that are thought of as ‘healthy’ and ‘sustainable’ such as dairy alternatives, flavoured waters and iced teas may be a good bet in the long term given their historical popularity in a number of markets across the globe. If PepsiCo continues to utilize these categories like Lipton, in combination with the new policies, the company will be able to get a big leg up on its competitors.

“It is clear that consumers are watching brands’ actions closely, as well as changing their purchasing habits based on how brands respond to the environmental crisis. GlobalData’s Q1 2021 global consumer survey reports that 33 %^** of people worldwide like to see news about a brand’s sustainability initiatives.”

^*GlobalData’s Q2-21 Consumer Survey – Global – Combined responses: “somewhat appealing” and ‘very appealing” for the question “how appealing do you find the following? Sustainably/ethically sourced ingredients”
^**GlobalData’s Q1-21 Consumer Survey – Global

In early September, orange trees bloomed in some orchards in São Paulo State (SP). These flowers will become the fruits from the 2022/23 season. Cepea collaborators reported higher blooming in irrigated orchards, majorly in northern and northwestern SP.

However, citrus farmers have been concerned about the effects of the weather on flower settlement. In dryland orchards, which count exclusively on rainfall for moisture, precipitation has been insufficient to trigger blooming.

According to Somar Meteorologia (weather forecast agency), rainfall was low in the major citrus-producing regions in SP in the first half of September. Thus, while it does not rain significantly, farmers are investing in plant nutrition in order to help on fruit set.

During fruit set (after blooming), temperatures and soil and air moisture deeply influence production. However, in the last years, high temperatures and rainfall below the average were common, limiting the output, largely in non-irrigated orchards.

Climatempo (weather forecast agency) forecasts rains for the second fortnight of September, and rainfall is expected to be within the average in the month in most citrus-producing regions in Brazil, except in southern SP. On the other hand, according to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), there is a 70 % chance that La Niña phenomena may return to Brazil until the end of 2021.

In Brazil, La Niña increases rainfall in the northeastern region and delays precipitation in the south. In southeastern BR, the scenario becomes similar to that in the southern area of the country, which concerns agents, in light of the current drought. For citrus farming, this delay may cause more damages to the 2022/23 harvest, since the coming months are critical for the development of trees, when higher moisture is needed.

BRAZILIAN MARKET IN SEPTEMBER – The demand for oranges increased in the in natura market in the first fortnight of September, favored by high temperatures and the payment of workers’ wages early in the month. As regards supply, the hot and dry weather in SP continued to limit the availability of high-quality fruits in the market (most of them are wilted and small-sized). In this scenario, prices increased.

PepsiCo, Inc. introduced pep+ (pep Positive), a strategic end-to-end transformation with sustainability at the center of how the company will create growth and value by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for the planet and people. pep+ will guide how PepsiCo will transform its business operations: from sourcing ingredients and making and selling its products in a more sustainable way, to leveraging its more than one billion connections with consumers each day to take sustainability mainstream and engage people to make choices that are better for themselves and the planet.

“pep+ is the future of our company – a fundamental transformation of what we do and how we do it to create growth and shared value with sustainability and human capital at the center. It reflects a new business reality, where consumers are becoming more interested in the future of the planet and society,” said Ramon Laguarta, PepsiCo’s Chairman and CEO. “pep+ will change our brands and how they win in the market. For example, imagine Lay’s will start with a potato grown sustainably on a regenerative field, and then be cooked and delivered from a Net-Zero and Net Water Positive supply chain, sold in a bio-compostable bag, with the lowest sodium levels in the market. That’s a positive choice. That’s the best tasting, #1 potato chip of the future. That’s how pep+ will be better for people, for the planet, and for our business. Now, imagine the scale and impact when applied to all 23 of our billion-dollar brands.”

pep+ drives action and progress across three key pillars, bringing together a number of industry-leading 2030 goals under a comprehensive framework:

Positive Agriculture: PepsiCo is working to spread regenerative practices to restore the Earth across land equal to the company’s entire agricultural footprint (approximately 7 million acres), sustainably source key crops and ingredients, and improve the livelihoods of more than 250,000 people in its agricultural supply chain.

Positive Value Chain: PepsiCo will help build a circular and inclusive value chain through actions to:

• Achieve Net-Zero emissions by 2040;
• Become Net Water Positive by 2030; and
• Introduce more sustainable packaging into the value chain.

• PepsiCo announced new goals to cut virgin plastic per serving by 50 % across its global food & beverage portfolio by 2030¹, using 50 % recycled content in its plastic packaging and scaling the SodaStream business globally, an innovative platform that almost entirely eliminates the need for beverage packaging, among other levers.

• The company will also progress its more than $570 million diversity, equity and inclusion journey; and
• introduced a new global workforce volunteering program, One Smile at a Time, to encourage, support and empower each one of its 291,000 employees to make positive impacts in their local communities.

Positive Choices: PepsiCo continues to evolve its portfolio of food & beverage products so that they are better for the planet and people, including by:

• Incorporating more diverse ingredients in both new and existing food products that are better for the planet and/or deliver nutritional benefits, prioritizing chickpeas, plant-based proteins and whole grains;
• Expanding its position in the nuts & seeds category, where PepsiCo is already the global branded leader, including leadership positions in Mexico, China and several Western European markets;
• Accelerating its reduction of added sugars and sodium through the use of science-based targets across its portfolio and cooking its food offerings with healthier oils; and
• Continuing to scale new business models that require little or no single-use packaging, including its global SodaStream business – an icon of a Positive Choice and the largest sparkling water brand in the world by volume. SodaStream, already sold in more than 40 countries, is bringing PepsiCo flavor options like Pepsi Zero Sugar, Lipton and bubly to 23 markets, and its new SodaStream Professional platform will expand into functional beverages and reach more than 10 additional markets by the end of 2022, part of the brand’s effort to help consumers avoid more than 200 billion plastic bottles by 2030.

“pep+ directly links the future of our business with the future of our planet, for the benefit of both – from how we source ingredients and make and sell our products; to how we inspire consumers through our iconic brands to make better choices for themselves and the planet; to how we support communities and improve livelihoods throughout our supply chain,” said Jim Andrew, Chief Sustainability Officer, PepsiCo. “Take SodaStream, for example. By rapidly expanding the SodaStream ecosystem, we are meeting the needs of consumers at home, away from home, and on-the-go. At the same time, we are also offering consumers positive choices that use less plastic, create fewer emissions, and are better for people. pep+ is our roadmap to create the food and drinks people love in a way that helps build the sustainable future we all must have.”

The company’s brands across its food & beverage portfolio are accelerating their efforts to realize PepsiCo’s sustainable packaging vision and leveraging their influence to educate consumers on recycling and the planetary impacts of their choices.

11 European markets are moving key Pepsi-branded² products to 100 % rPET bottles by 2022. PepsiCo estimates that shifting to a 100 % rPET bottle will lower GHG emissions by approximately 30 % per bottle.

In the U.S., all Pepsi-branded products will be converted to 100 % rPET bottles by 2030, with Pepsi Zero Sugar beginning to be sold in 100 % rPET bottles by 2022. The brand is celebrating this important move to sustainable packaging with a new consumer-centric platform leveraging fall football and driving recycling awareness, education and advocacy, which are critical because rPET availability depends on consumers’ commitment to recycling.

PepsiCo has been investing in breakthrough food packaging technology and is now introducing a fully compostable bag made with plant-based materials. Starting with Off The Eaten Path, one of Frito-Lay’s plant-based brands, this industrially compostable packaging will be available to consumers in the U.S. at Whole Foods stores beginning this month. Notably, the company also announced today that it is willing to work with other companies to license the same technology at no cost given the importance of creating a circular food packaging system.

To learn more about the pep+ agenda, please visit www.pepsico.com/pepsicopositive.

¹Against 2020 baseline.
²Includes Pepsi, Pepsi MAX, Pepsi MAX Lime, Pepsi MAX without caffeine, Pepsi Light, Pepsi Light without caffeine.

Sponsored Post

VOG Products has always relied on premium quality. The new NFC juice line blends seamlessly into the quality strategy of the modern fruit processing company headquartered in Laives, in the Trentino-South Tyrol (Italy) region.

As a pioneer in the premium juice segment, VOG Products continuously invests in new technologies in order to attain even higher quality standards. The most recent example is the NFC juice line, which was commissioned this year. “Even better juices resulting from more careful processing – this is VOG Products’ strategy for success,” said Christoph Tappeiner, CEO of VOG Products.

The new intake line can receive up to 150 tonnes of fruit per hour and transports the raw goods very carefully. “The apples are transported dry and not in water. We use sails to prevent them from falling from great heights. Instead, they roll towards the processing line,” Tappeiner explained. “This results in fewer bruises or damaged spots – and excellent raw goods are the indispensable basis for a safe, high-quality end product.”

Not least due to its dry transport technology, the system also features low water consumption. “We constantly think through our processes critically in order to conserve resources and work sustainably,” said Tappeiner.

After all, VOG Products is closely connected to Trentino-South Tyrol, a region with a long tradition of agriculture that prizes handling the land and its resources with respect and a view to the future. Today, the fruit processing company belongs to 4 producer organisations from South Tyrol and Trentino and 18 cooperatives with more than 10,000 members, most of which are small family operations that care for their apple orchards with love and devotion.

The belt press: a mark of quality

After the apples are washed, pre-sorted, and cut up, the belt press is essential for juice extraction. “The belt press yields high-quality premium juice that is particularly rich in vitamins and features a long shelf life and more appealing colouration, among other properties.”

VOG Products ensures that the juice’s quality and turbidity are consistently in line with consumer wishes. In the separator (centrifuge), solid material and starches are removed from the juice with high efficiency and 100 % automation – exactly to the extent that meets the specified quality standards.

VOG Products is orientated to its customers’ individual requirements in all respects. Direct juice from VOG Products is also available by type and in organic quality.

Alfa Laval has signed a partner agreement with Wayout International, a Swedish innovation company, to develop micro-factories for local and sustainable production of water and other beverages. The micro-factories will use Alfa Laval technology and be built at the company’s site in Copenhagen, Denmark. The agreement covers the production of up to 100 micro-factories, and the partnership starts in 2022.

Today more than 2 billion people lack access to clean drinking water. Wayout’s micro-factories can treat all types of water and remineralize it to produce high quality drinking water. The fully automated plug-and-play system is powered by solar panels. Producing water locally addresses the challenges of bottling, logistics, and distribution, and reduces the generation of plastic waste.

The partner agreement includes the production of two different micro-factory concepts: one for drinking water and another for brewed beverages.

“This partnership combines Alfa Laval’s technological expertise with Wayout’s innovative processes to accelerate sustainable solutions,” says Nish Patel, President of the Food & Water Division. “It addresses a globally important issue – access to safe drinking water – and we are very pleased our technology is part of the solution.”

Did you know … One micro-factory can produce 70,000 litres of drinking water each month, preventing up to 200,000 plastic bottles and 8 tons of carbon dioxide from entering the eco system.

About Wayout
Wayout was founded in Stockholm in 2018 by a group of entrepreneurs within process engineering, IT/IoT, and tech innovation. Their micro-factories are offered to organizations and entrepreneurs that see the opportunities in locally producing beverages with a minimal eco-footprint.

Orange¹ production forecast update totals 267.87 million boxes

The first 2021-2022 orange crop forecast update for the Sao Paulo and West-Southwest Minas Gerais citrus belt by Fundecitrus – performed in cooperation with Markestrat, FEA-RP/USP and FCAV/Unesp² – is 267.87 million boxes of 40.8 kg each, differently from the 294.17 million estimated in May this year. The reduction of 26.30 million in relation to the initial expectation corresponds to – 8.9 %. The main reason for this crop loss is the poorer rainfall regime constituting the most severe water crisis ever to hit Brazil for the last 91 years³. The combination of this drought never before experienced by citriculture and successive frosts in July culminated in a gradual crop decline that has been seen as harvests progress and disclose totally atypical figures. Field surveys also show results other than expected for this time of the year for orange planted areas yet to be harvested. In general, oranges are excessively small, and early fruit drop reaches one of its highest rates. These factors make production go back to the same levels of last crop season that totaled 268.63 million boxes, despite fruit load being 12.50 % larger since this is an “on” year. In view of this data and the perspective of climate conditions remaining adverse until harvests end, fruit should present the most critical size and drop rate in historical data. If this scenario is confirmed, there will no longer be an increase in this crop in relation to the previous season, estimated at 9.51 % in May, but rather a smaller volume than the production in the last season (- 0,28 %). …

¹Hamlin, Westin, Rubi, Valencia Americana, Seleta, Pineapple, Pera Rio, Valencia, Valencia Folha Murcha and Natal.
²Department of math and science, FCAV/Unesp Jaboticabal Campus.
³National operator of the energy system – ONS. Data for the Parana River basin, encompassing the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás and Distrito Federal.

Please download the complete forecast under: www.fundecitrus.com.br/pdf