Oterra^™ is pleased to announce that it has closed its acquisition of SECNA Natural Ingredients Group S.L.

This is the first acquisition for Oterra, which itself was purchased by private investment firm EQT in March 2021 when Chr. Hansen divested their natural colours business. Oterra, recently announced its intention to pursue a second acquisition, namely Diana Food’s colours business. 

Odd Erik Hansen, CEO of Oterra, stated, “This is an exciting time for the industry as demand for natural colors continues to increase. We expect the addition of SECNA to be a meaningful contributor to Oterra’s growth in 2021 and beyond, as we solidify our position as one of the world’s leading suppliers of natural colours. We look forward to offering both our, and SECNA’s, customers a fully integrated go-to-market service soon.”

With this acquisition, Oterra, will further enhance its value offerings to customers worldwide. Notable portfolio additions include SECNA’S anthocyanins from black carrots and grape, as well as caramel, and an organic range. After a period, the SECNA group will be fully incorporated into Oterra.

Approximately 80 SECNA employees, based in Spain and Italy, will join Oterra. This is an exciting time for Oterra, who look forward to having them on the team. “SECNA’s skilled and competent workforce stood out from the start, and I am happy to welcome them to the Oterra family,” said Odd Erik Hansen.

A new study suggests substituting 100 % fruit juice in the diet in place of beverages containing added sugars may lower health risks for cardiovascular-related disease, including type-2 diabetes and coronary heart disease.

Researchers performed a modeling analysis simulating the substitution of 100 % fruit juices for fruit and sugar-sweetened beverages in more than 34,000 Dutch participants ages 20 to 70. The findings, published in Public Health Nutrition, support previous research and hypotheses suggesting that substituting fruit juice for sugar-sweetened beverages would be associated with lower cardiometabolic risk with no change in risk when fruit juice was substituted for fruit.

When more than three-quarters of sugar-sweetened beverages in the diet were replaced with 100 % fruit juice, researchers found the risk for diabetes was lowered by 17 % when compared to the lowest substitution level of less than one-quarter. A similar substitution analysis found the risk for coronary heart disease was reduced by 12 %. Substituting 100 % fruit juice for whole fruit resulted in no change in risks. These calculations were made while considering other factors such as age, sex, educational level, physical activity, smoking, family history of diabetes, healthy diet index, alcohol, coffee, fruit intake, body mass index, and waist circumference.

“100 % fruit juice is frequently equated to sugar-sweetened beverages because of similar sugar content, but this study suggests their effects on diabetes and heart disease risk could be very different,” said Gail Rampersaud, Florida Department of Citrus registered dietitian nutritionist. “Substituting nutrient dense 100 % orange juice for sugar-sweetened beverages may be quite beneficial toward enhancing the intake of key nutrients, meeting daily fruit recommendations, reducing the intake of added sugars as recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and reducing the risks for some health conditions.”

Other research supports findings that the consumption of 100 % orange juice or 100 % fruit juice is not related to risk of metabolic syndrome or diabetes and may have beneficial effects on cardiovascular health. Eight ounces of 100 % orange juice is an excellent source of vitamin C and a good source of potassium, folate, and thiamin. Oranges and 100 % orange juice are the primary dietary sources of the polyphenol, hesperidin, which may have beneficial effects on blood pressure in some individuals.

Symrise AG has opened its state-of-the-art development, application, and sensory laboratories in Dubai. The company has invested about 1 million Euro into the facilities to decode, design, and deliver winning taste solutions for leading food and beverages brands that consumers love. To meet the demands of its partners and to accommodate its growing team, the company recently moved to the iconic Gold Tower Building in the Dubai Multi Commodities Center (DMCC), Dubai’s dedicated hub for global trade, business and specialist industries in JLT. Symrise AG has been operation in the Middle East for many decades leading to the first opening of its first sub-regional offices in Dubai in 2005. Since then, the company has seen double-digit growth year on year with its partners across the Middle East region.

The new sub-regional centre spreads across 10,500 sq ft and occupies the entire lower penthouse level/36th floor of the Gold Tower. The contemporary workspace has been designed in line with the company’s four pillars of sustainability in mind; footprint, innovation, sourcing and care. It is working towards achieving carbon neutral status, to support the Symrise AG global objective of halving its greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 and reaching climate positive operations from 2030 onwards.

The facilities are designed to take customers on a journey, and support the development of consumer-led winning concepts and taste solutions for high-growth categories, beverages, culinary, dairy, snacks, and confectionery.

The premises will allow the company to support diverse working styles and is split into a variety of working and meeting areas, for Symrise Middle East’s expanding cross-functional teams to interact and collaborate in a bright, modern, and dynamic working environment. The dedicated application and sensory laboratories will help the teams – from marketing, sensory and consumer insights to regulatory, technical, and commercial to continue achieving in the field of flavour and nutrition evaluation.

The sensory booths, where panellists taste, evaluate, and describe flavours in application, features state of the art equipment and programs that help design solutions meeting customers’ expectations.

Commenting on the move, Dirk Bennwitz, President Flavour Europe, Africa & Middle East, said: “We feel very excited to embark on the next phase of our business growth through our new sub regional center. This will help us further consolidate our strong foothold in the Middle East & Africa sub region. Our investment in the new hub, our human resources, and the ultramodern creation, development and application facilities will allow us to identify and decipher game-changing industry trends and deliver innovation to our customers across strategic categories and the future of food segments: functional beverages and plant protein.”

Current beverage labeling regulations appear to fall short of helping parents identify the ingredients, sugar and juice makeup of beverages they purchase for their children, a recent study published in Pediatric Obesity suggests. This has researchers calling for changes to beverage labeling regulations to increase transparency and help consumers choose healthier beverages.

The experimental online study included over 1,600 parents who had healthy children aged 1 to 5 years old. Parents were shown product label information for commonly consumed children’s beverages, including flavoured waters, 100 % fruit juice, and juice drinks and other beverages containing added sugars or non-nutritive (artificial) sweeteners. Some parents were shown only front labels, while some were shown both front and back or side labels which included the Nutrition Facts panel and other information. Study participants then answered questions concerning the sugar and percent juice content of the beverages.

About one-third of participants indicated they were not confident they could identify the added sugar and juice content of beverages. Only about half of study participants (48 percent) said they looked at the Nutrition Facts panel all or most of the time when choosing beverages for their children.

Overall, participants frequently underestimated the percent of juice in 100 % fruit juice. Even though the percent juice was stated on the package front for the 100 % fruit juice product in the study, only 51 percent of parents who were shown only the package front correctly identified the juice percentage. When exposed to additional information on the back and side panels, 37 percent still could not correctly identify the percent juice and 40 percent incorrectly said that 100 % juice contained added sugars.

Conversely, participants frequently overestimated the amount of pure fruit juice in sugar-sweetened juice drinks and beverages. For an added-sugar product that looks similar to 100 % orange juice but contains only 5 percent juice, almost all participants (98 percent) could not accurately state the amount of pure juice just by looking at the front of the label and, on average, estimated that the product contained 45 percent pure fruit juice, 40 percent higher than the actual juice content. Fewer than half of participants who additionally looked at back/side labels could correctly identify the percent juice content and, on average, estimated that the beverage contained 24 percent pure juice. For beverages that are not 100 % fruit juice there is no requirement to identify sweeteners or juice content on the front label.

“The results are striking and this study suggests that labels for 100 % fruit juice and fruit beverages or drinks are not working as intended and for many parents may result in misunderstandings and confusion when trying to choose healthful beverages for their children,” said Gail Rampersaud, registered dietitian nutritionist in the Scientific Research Department of the Florida Department of Citrus. “Consumers need more education coupled with labels that are clearer and easier to understand,” added Rampersaud.

The results suggest that lack of knowledge and clear labeling may lead parents to choose less healthy added-sugar beverages over 100 % juices, such as 100 % orange juice. The researchers suggest that the Food and Drug Administration allow label declarations that will increase transparency concerning juice percentage and sweetener content, particularly on front of package, to help consumers make healthful beverage choices.

Beloved baby food brand to join growing portfolio of better-for-you whole fruit snacks

Sun-Maid Growers of California announced it will acquire Plum Organics, a leading premium, organic baby food and kids snacks brand, from Campbell Soup Company. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Plum offers a diverse portfolio of organic foods and snacks to meet the nutritional needs of babies, tots and kids. All of Plum’s products are certified organic and non-GMO.

“We’re excited to welcome Plum Organics’ nutritious line of baby, toddler and kids’ food products to our imaginative world of delicious, whole fruit snacks. Our purpose is to help mom find better-for-you food options that taste great and kids will love. Adding Plum to our innovative product lineup delivers even more choices for her and her family,” said Harry Overly, CEO and president of Sun-Maid Growers of California. “Plum is a natural fit for the Sun-Maid family given our expertise, leadership and rapid growth in healthy snacking, along with our strong emotional connection with family households. Its acquisition is an integral part of our continued dedication to providing superior products while delivering category growth. We’re committed to carrying on Plum’s mission of serving babies the very best food from the first bite.”

Chris Foley, Campbell’s President of Meals & Beverages, said, “The sale of the Plum Organics baby food brand is part of our ongoing strategic process to create even greater focus on driving growth in the division’s core categories of soup, sauces and beverages.”

Plum Organics was founded in 2007 by a group of parents on a mission to give the very best food to their little ones. Campbell acquired Plum in 2013.

The anticipated closing date for this transaction is Spring 2021.

Joint venture leverages manufacturing expertise, global go-to-market capabilities, and food and beverage industry experience to create and scale innovative ingredient solutions

Grupo Arcor, the leading food company of Argentina, and Ingredion Incorporated, a leading global ingredient solutions provider to the food and beverage industry, have signed an agreement to create a joint venture that will leverage the two companies’ manufacturing expertise, complementary geographic footprints and commercial capabilities to broaden food and beverage ingredient offerings to customers in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. Arcor and Ingredion will hold a 51 % and 49 % stake, respectively. The joint venture will have a combined turnover of more than US$ 300 million.

• Arcor will transfer its ingredient operations to the joint venture, which includes one manufacturing facility in Lules (province of Tucumán) and two manufacturing facilities in the Industrial Complex Arroyito (province of Córdoba).
• Ingredion will transfer its Argentina, Chile and Uruguay operations to the joint venture, which includes two manufacturing facilities in the districts of Chacabuco and Baradero (province of Buenos Aires).

The manufacturing facilities produce value-added ingredients, such as glucose syrups, maltose, fructose, starch and maltodextrins that are essential to the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries.

The joint venture will be managed by a jointly appointed team of executives who will be responsible for integrating the combined operations to market, sell and manufacture ingredients within Argentina, Chile and Uruguay and to further optimize the manufacturing network and support functions to create incremental shareholder value.

The joint venture will operate on a stand-alone basis and upon the closing of the transaction, Arcor will consolidate the business. Ingredion will account for its interest in the joint venture under the equity method of accounting, and hyperinflation accounting will be applied to equity income for Ingredion’s reporting purposes.

The joint venture has been approved by each company’s board of directors and is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Infupa is acting as financial adviser to Arcor and Bruchou as its legal counsel; Finanzas & Gestión is acting as financial adviser to Ingredion and Baker & McKenzie as its legal adviser.

About Ingredion
Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE: INGR) headquartered in the suburbs of Chicago, is a leading global ingredient solutions provider serving customers in more than 120 countries. With 2019 annual net sales of more than US$6 billion, the company turns grains, fruits, vegetables and other plant-based materials into value-added ingredient solutions for the food, beverage, animal nutrition, brewing and industrial markets. With Ingredion Idea Labs^® innovation centers located around the world and nearly 12,000 employees, the Company co-creates with customers and fulfills its purpose of bringing the potential of people, nature, and technology together to make life better. Visit ingredion.com for more information and the latest Company news.

About Arcor
Arcor is the leading food company in Argentina, the first global producer of hard candy, and the main confectionery exporter in Argentina, Chile, and Peru. It has more than 40 industrial plants and employs nearly 20,000 collaborators. Arcor has entered into many alliances, like the one between Bagley Latinoamérica and the French group Danone, the Grupo Bimbo partnership in Mexico, the strategic alliance with Coca-Cola for the joint development of new products and the creation of Kamay Ventures, one of main open capital investment funds in Argentina. Grupo Arcor’s daily production volume amounts to 3 million kilograms and its brands are sold in more than 100 countries worldwide. Its annual turnover for 2019 was US$ 2.5 billion.

Monster Beverage Corporation announced that Hilton H. Schlosberg was elected by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) as Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mr. Schlosberg will serve as Co-Chief Executive Officer together with Mr. Rodney C. Sacks, who has served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company since 1990. Simultaneously with the foregoing, Mr. Schlosberg resigned his positions as President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary of the Company. Mr. Sacks will continue as Chairman of the Board and Mr. Schlosberg will continue as Vice Chairman of the Board. In addition, the Company also announced that Thomas J. Kelly was elected by the Board as Chief Financial Officer of the Company, succeeding Mr. Schlosberg.

Mr. Schlosberg has held senior leadership positions with the Company for over 30 years, including as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer for over 23 years, and has served as a co-leader of the Company with Mr. Sacks. Mr. Kelly has been Executive Vice President, Finance, and/or Controller and Secretary of Monster Energy Company since 1992. Mr. Kelly is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) and has worked in the beverage business for over 30 years.

Monster Beverage Corporation
Based in Corona, California, Monster Beverage Corporation is a holding company and conducts no operating business except through its consolidated subsidiaries. The Company’s subsidiaries develop and market energy drinks, including Monster Energy^® energy drinks, Monster Energy Ultra^® energy drinks, Monster MAXX^® maximum strength energy drinks, Java Monster^® non-carbonated coffee + energy drinks, Espresso Monster^® non-carbonated espresso + energy drinks, Monster Rehab^® non-carbonated tea + energy drinks, Muscle Monster^® non-carbonated energy shakes, Monster Hydro^® non-carbonated refreshment + energy drinks, Monster HydroSport Super Fuel^® non-carbonated advanced hydration + energy drinks, Monster Dragon Tea^® non-carbonated energy teas, Reign Total Body Fuel® high performance energy drinks, Reign Inferno^® thermogenic fuel high performance energy drinks, NOS^® energy drinks, Full Throttle^® energy drinks, Burn® energy drinks, Samurai^® energy drinks, Relentless^® energy drinks, Mother^® energy drinks, Play^® and Power Play^® (stylized) energy drinks, BU^® energy drinks, Nalu^® energy drinks, BPM^® energy drinks, Gladiator^® energy drinks, Ultra Energy^® energy drinks, Live+^® energy drinks, Predator^® energy drinks and Fury^® energy drinks.

Crown Holdings, Inc. announced that its Brazilian subsidiary CROWN Embalagens S.A., plans to build its sixth beverage can plant in Brazil. The new two-line facility will produce two-piece aluminum cans in multiple sizes and have annual capacity of 2.4 billion cans when fully operational. The first line is expected to begin production in the second quarter of 2022, followed by the second line in the fourth quarter of 2022.

The new plant will be located in Minas Gerais State, southeast Brazil to meet the growing demand in the region for beer and soft drink cans. Crown has been operating in Brazil since 1942 and has a strong presence with two-piece aluminum beverage can plants in Cabreúva (São Paulo State), Estância (Sergipe State), Ponta Grossa (Paraná State), Rio Verde (Goiás State), Teresina (Piaui State) and a beverage end plant in Manaus (Amazonas State). The new plant will expand Crown’s annual production capacity in Brazil to 13.3 billion cans.

“Brazil is an important growth market for us and our partner, Évora S.A. This expansion will help meet the country’s increased demand for beverage cans and demonstrates Crown’s continuing commitment to grow with our customers,” commented Djalma Novaes, President of Crown’s Americas Division. “The aluminum beverage can is perfect for the Brazilian market; it is recyclable and sustainable, is shipped easily and most efficiently preserves the quality of the beverage product for the ultimate consumer.”

PepsiCo and Beyond Meat are joining forces in a new partnership. The goal? Dreaming up a range of snacks and beverages, all made from plant-based protein.

Plant-based proteins are playing an increasingly vital role in modern diets — they’re nutrient-rich and far more sustainable than meat.

Now PepsiCo and Beyond Meat are teaming up to launch The PLANeT Partnership, tapping into growing consumer demand for plant-based proteins that are better for the planet.

Through the PLANeT Partnership, the two companies will develop, produce and market snacks and beverages made from plant-based protein — bringing together Beyond Meat’s innovation expertise with PepsiCo’s marketing and commercial capabilities.

“We look forward to combining their unparalleled expertise with our world-class capabilities in brand-building, consumer insights and distribution,” says Ram Krishnan, PepsiCo Global Chief Commercial Officer.

For PepsiCo, the partnership represents an exciting next step in the company’s ongoing commitment to expanding its portfolio of positive choices for consumers and the planet. Among PepsiCo’s longstanding efforts: doubling down on sustainably sourced ingredients, regenerative agriculture, carbon-emission reduction and other key measures.

Numerous studies have extolled the benefits of plant-based diets, and Krishnan describes Beyond Meat as “a cutting-edge innovator in this rapidly growing category.” The El Segundo, California-based company was founded in 2009 with the goal of creating plant-based products that mimic meat’s taste and texture, with a focus on simple ingredients and no GMOs or bioengineering. Fast forward to 2021, Beyond Meat products are available at approximately 122,000 locations in more than 80 countries.

“With PepsiCo’s unmatched reach and distribution, we’ll be able to accelerate bringing these products to markets around the world as we provide more consumers with the nutritional and environmental benefits of plant-based protein,” says Ethan Brown, Beyond Meat Founder and CEO.

As Krishnan notes, it represents “a new frontier in our efforts to build a more sustainable food system.”

2021 is starting with a change of management for Erbslöh Geisenheim GmbH. As of 1 January 2021, Dr. Andreas Dietrich will be the new managing director at the company, which specialises in processing and refining beverages and liquid foods. Previous managing director Dr. Jörg Möller retired on 31 December 2020.

Dr. Dietrich is looking forward to his new role: “Erbslöh is a company with a long-standing tradition in the industry. We want to further build on our position as an innovative market leader and partner for our customers in the beverages sector.” Dr. Dietrich has more than 25 years’ experience in the chemical, pharmaceutical and biotech industries.

Officially launched and available for purchase online, BRÈINFÚEL (Breinfuel) evolves from coffees, energy drinks, and nootropics to help the brain respond with focus, alertness, and productivity.

Developed by Dr. Gerald Horn, a Lasik surgeon with a background in pharmaceutical science and disruptive drug development, Breinfuel combines highly researched ingredients with an extended release that is designed to support performance and wellbeing.

“Endurance means so many different things to people with various lifestyles, occupations and interests. Yet, the common desired effect is not the jolt offered by traditional caffeinated beverages, but rather sustainable cerebral stamina and high-performance energy,” noted Dr. Horn. “Whether you’re a competitive bodybuilder, a frontline medical worker, or a stay-at-home mom of zoom-schooled children, our mental health is being zapped by today’s challenges and demands. Consumers need a beverage that incorporates more functional benefits that enhance productivity and well-being.”

Breinfuel comes in four palate-pleasing flavours including Thrive Ice, Victory Bliss, Alpha Punch and Limitless Berry. Dr. Horn combined four uniquely differentiated ingredient blends for Breinfuel’s multifaceted effects. The Caffeine Blend, according to Dr. Horn, is “the secret sauce” of Breinfuel, with the best of what’s in coffee without the coffee base. It is derived from green tea and green coffee beans without the toxicity and loss of potency from the roast.

The Fuel Blend includes four grams of low-glycemic sugar, five grams of easily digestible collagen protein, and MCT’s which are a great source of prolonged energy. The Antioxidant blend offers potential added benefits from vitamin C, vitamin E and beet root, all designed to reduce the brain’s known sensitivity to accelerated metabolism. The Brain-Booster blend features zinc, creatine, glycine (from collagen), and L-theanine, all individually shown to support brain health.

“Putting caffeine in water alone can create a toxic jolt to our system, which has contributed to caffeine’s checkered past,” noted Dr. Horn. “Since caffeine is not energy or fuel, but rather a stimulant, it needs to be supported like one. Breinfuel’s attention to these key principles resulted in four targeted blends that, for many, may redefine the caffeine experience.”

The inception of Breinfuel began as part of Dr. Horn’s goal to optimize his nutritional consumption, lifestyle/productivity, and personal health.

“This began as a personal quest to solve the problem of unsupported caffeine in the marketplace, such as in caffeinated drinks with zero calories or high-fructose carbohydrates,” noted Dr. Horn. “Once I and some colleagues began to experience caffeine in a new and better way, I knew it was the right time to bring Breinfuel to market.”

ABOUT BRÈINFÚEL 
Developed by Dr. Gerald Horn, a Lasik surgeon with a background in pharmaceutical science and disruptive drug development, Breinfuel combines highly researched ingredients with an extended release that is designed to support performance and wellbeing. Breinfuel is sold online and comes in four delicious flavours including Thrive Ice, Victory Bliss, Alpha Punch and Limitless Berry. Each bottle of Breinfuel features a proprietary blend of effective ingredients, including: natural caffeine from GCBE and green tea (along with their extracts), D-ribose sugar, collagen protein, MCT’s, vitamin C, vitamin E, beet root, L-theanine, creatine, and zinc.

Investing in new technology that lets consumers make and pour their drink at the push of a button.

Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP), the world’s largest independent Coca-Cola bottler, has completed an investment in Lavit, a leading maker of multi-beverage, counter-top dispensing machines.

Using globally patented technology, the Lavit system lets consumers make and pour their drink in seconds, by dispensing a range of cold beverage options “on-demand” at the tap of a button and offering customisation of beverages based on carbonation and flavour. Since commercialisation, Lavit has a growing network of customers in the US and Canada.

The partnership with Lavit will further CCEP’s intent to explore and test new dispensed delivery solutions as a key strategic route towards eliminating packaging waste and reducing its carbon footprint, while providing consumers with the convenience, choice and experience they expect from drinking Coca-Cola beverages.

The funding and partnership with CCEP will help Lavit test and develop new product capabilities and explore growth opportunities by gaining further insight into customer and consumer demand for dispensed delivery solutions. It follows CCEP Ventures’ recent acquisition of a 25 % stake in Innovative Tap Solutions (ITS), investing in the company’s self-pour, self-pay drink dispensing technology.

The investment in Lavit was led by CCEP Ventures – the innovation engine and investment arm of Coca-Cola European Partners. It builds on previous investments in disruptive, technologically advanced companies and start-ups that enable CCEP to explore new ways to bring innovation into its delivery model and consumer experience.

The pandemic and associated travel and event restrictions have also had an impact on Anuga FoodTec, which was originally scheduled for March 2021. After extensive discussions with industry participants and the German Agricultural Society (DLG), the professional and conceptual sponsor of the trade fair, Koelnmesse sees no alternative but to postpone Anuga FoodTec. The next Anuga FoodTec will take place from 26 to 29 April 2022.

“We sincerely regret that we have to postpone Anuga FoodTec until 2022 despite good preparation and encouragement from the industry. In the past few weeks, however, it has become apparent that there is growing skepticism and concern among all involved. As a result, many companies have pulled out in view of the infection situation and current uncertainty. However, Anuga FoodTec cannot take place without the important key factors of internationality and cross-industry participation. With this in mind, we have responded to the industry’s wish to postpone the trade fair with the new date,” says Oliver Frese, Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse. “The new event date is the best possible solution, taking into consideration the international trade fair calendar, and the available time and space capacities. This allows us to provide the industry with a vision and planning security”.

In 2022, the trade fair will take place as a hybrid event, combining both an inperson and digital platform. The addition of a digital platform to the physical component creates the foundation for as many people as possible from Germany and abroad to have access to the latest technologies and processes in the food and beverage industry and for promoting sustainable networking within the industry.

“Like the companies, we will use the time to fully prepare ourselves for the upcoming trade fair and boost the industry’s restart further with digital tools and additional reach. Koelnmesse will of course continue to count on the presence of international exhibitors and visitors in April 2022,” continued Frese. “Trade fairs offer the opportunity for products and the people behind them to be experienced through personal interaction and exchange. This is the ideal basis for successful business.”

“As the professional and conceptual sponsor of Anuga FoodTec, we very much regret that the leading international supplier fair for the food and beverage industry will not be able to take place in March 2021 as planned. As a platform for professionalexchange across industry boundaries, Anuga FoodTec is a central partner for the entire food sector, focusing on current topics and providing important impetus with the presentation of forward-looking technologies and innovations. We are therefore even more pleased that in spring 2022 Anuga FoodTec will once again be the meeting place for the international food technology and supplier industry under the guiding theme ‘Smart Solutions – Higher Flexibility'”, says Simone Schiller, Managing Director of the DLG Food Technology Center.

Koelnmesse is the organiser of Anuga FoodTec. DLG is the professional and conceptual sponsor of Anuga FoodTec.

Leveraging combined capabilities to shape new sustainable innovations for customers

Givaudan and Novozymes, the world leaders in their respective industries, are excited to announce the formation of a strategic research partnership for the development of synergistic innovative ingredients and technologies for customers. The two companies will jointly work on the research and development of innovative sustainable solutions in the areas of food and cleaning.

This new partnership is fully in line with Novozymes’ updated strategy Better Business with Biology and with Givaudan’s 2025 strategic goals to expand its offering to consumers’ brands through innovative and sustainable solutions.

Givaudan brings the highest investment in research and development in the industry, has an in- depth understanding of consumers around the world and creates the emotional signatures and food experiences for consumer brands.

Novozymes brings innovation with extensive know-how in enzymes and microorganisms with substantial investments in technology and R&D. On the commercial side, Novozymes is in strong commercial partnerships with some of the largest companies in the industries of Household Care and Food & Beverages. Being the world leader within biological solutions, Novozymes drives sustainable solutions that enable differentiated product performance for consumers.

Together the two companies will work on specific projects with the aim to bring to their respective customers a differentiating solution offering. With a significant overlap of end use markets, there is a fundamental belief that the partnership can generate customer value by combining the two companies’ capabilities and solutions.

Gilles Andrier, Chief Executive Officer at Givaudan said: “We are very excited to initiate this strategic partnership with Novozymes, a much respected company that has an impressive heritage and research platform in biological solutions. Our purpose of ‘creating for healthier, happier lives with love for nature’ fully aligns with the aspiration of Novozymes for a world with 100 % biological products. Together we have the potential to grow with our respective customers while increasing our positive impact on the world with products consumers feel good about, and that preserve our planet.

Position as a leading global provider of sugar reduction and clean-label solutions strengthened by acquisition of stevia sweetener solutions business

Tate & Lyle PLC (Tate & Lyle), a leading global provider of food and beverage ingredients and solutions, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Sweet Green Fields (SGF), a leading global stevia solutions business.

The acquisition of SGF brings a broad portfolio of stevia products and a fully integrated stevia supply chain to Tate & Lyle including leaf sourcing, leaf varietal development, established agricultural programmes and cost-efficient manufacturing. It strengthens Tate & Lyle’s position as a leading provider of innovative sweetener solutions with the capabilities to create foods and beverages that are lower in sugar and calories and with cleaner labels for customers across the world. The acquisition also extends Tate & Lyle’s presence in the faster growing Asia Pacific region with dedicated stevia production and research and development facilities located in Anji, China.

Tate & Lyle began its partnership with SGF in 2017 becoming the exclusive global distributor of SGF’s portfolio of stevia-based ingredients and solutions, and then acquired a 15 % equity holding in SGF the following year. Tate & Lyle’s acquisition of the remaining shares of SGF simplifies the existing relationship by creating a fully integrated supply chain and commercial organisation, unified research and development capabilities, and combined strengths to accelerate innovation and optimise production technologies. Sweet Green Fields revenue for the year ending 31 December 2020 is expected to be around US$50 million, including revenue for products Tate & Lyle currently sells as distribution agent.

Stevia is one of the fastest growing low-calorie sweeteners used globally, particularly in beverages, dairy and snacks, as demand from consumers continues to grow for foods and beverages that are lower in sugar and calories. Globally, from 2015 to 2019, product launches that contain stevia grew by compound annual growth rate of 15 %.¹ In the year ended 31 March 2020, Tate & Lyle’s stevia revenues grew by 23 %, making it an important contributor to New Products revenue growth.

¹Mintel GNPD

Two leading companies, Sidel and Elettric80, have started a strategic alliance to provide comprehensive services ranging from production to warehouse, distribution centre and logistics management for beverage and food, home and personal care (FHPC) producers. Both companies will act as a one-stop source, allowing producers to become more flexible, safe and sustainable with Smart Factory tailored solutions. 

Today, beverage and FHPC producers are influenced by different factors that are challenging their performance. Among others, due to the growing e-commerce markets, the need for automated warehouses and logistics management becomes especially important. Sidel and Elettric80 have paired up their know-how in state-of-the-art packaging and highly automated and integrated intralogistics solutions to help producers stay competitive and meet the demands of the market worldwide.

Monica Gimre, CEO at Sidel Group: “For Sidel, it is a principle to always listen to our customers. A strategic alliance with Elettric80 is our approach towards achieving our goal of providing A to Z services to our customers, including intralogistics solutions. We are happy to be in a partnership with a company that shares the same values as we do, and I believe that the synergy and great teamwork between us will bring added value not just to our customers, but also to ourselves by opening space for learning and innovation together.”

Enrico Grassi, President at Elettric80: “Packaging lines with highly automated and integrated intralogistics areas at the end of the line will be the future of any production site. Along with Sidel, we are taking the next step in expanding our business opportunities by increasing our customers’ operational efficiency and sustainability. We are ready to complement this alliance with strong expertise in logistics process

Long-term market foresights will secure tomorrow’s successful brands

DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences has taken another step in advancing innovation in the food industry through a new partnership between its Food & Beverage platform and the Institute for the Future (IFTF), the world’s leading futures organization. The collaboration seeks to drive far-sighted food and beverage innovation that anticipates shifts in market needs.

Today, food manufacturers are already relying on DuPont’s trend-tracking capabilities to inspire and enable new product development. By partnering with the IFTF, DuPont aims to sharpen the ability to co-create innovation with customers and build on long-term forecasts that look at ten years and beyond.

Foresights for stronger brands

Birgitte Borch, global marketing leader, Food & Beverage, DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences explains how the well-researched foresight of IFTF will support stronger food brands.

“Short-term product development strategies are common in the food industry, where consumer demands constantly change. It’s not unusual that new food and beverage launches are a knee-jerk reaction to a trend that appears out of the blue,” Borch said.

“Along with IFTF, we will be looking into trend development beyond consumer behaviors and developing strategic foresight with scenarios that impact the food industry in the short term and long term, to help them get ahead of the markets. This will help our customers navigate in uncertain times and understand the impact on the value chain with a holistic view of the challenges and opportunities. Our work with IFTF will allow us to be prepared with the right solutions, ingredient technology and application concepts, and enable our customers to be more proactive in their product development strategies.“

Disruptive megatrends in food

IFTF has an impressive reputation for mapping market drivers and signals, and providing long-term perspectives on change. All forecasts are based on a systematic review of social, technological, economic, environmental and political factors.

IFTF’s research anticipates four disruptive megatrends over the next decade in the food industry.

“Through our partnership with IFTF, we can better understand how these trends will evolve in the future,” Borch said. “This is key to building and maintaining success in fast-moving markets and will increasingly be part of the conversations we have with food manufacturers.”

About Institute for the Future
Institute for the Future is the world’s leading futures organization. For over 50 years, businesses, governments, and social impact organizations have depended upon IFTF global forecasts, custom research, and foresight training to navigate complex change and develop world-ready strategies. IFTF methodologies and toolsets yield coherent views of transformative possibilities across all sectors that together support a more sustainable future. Institute for the Future is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Palo Alto, California.

SunOpta Inc., a leading global company focused on plant-based foods and beverages, fruit-based foods and beverages, and organic ingredient sourcing and production, announced it has reached an agreement to sell the Company’s global ingredients segment and related assets to an Amsterdam based global commodity trading company, Amsterdam Commodities N.V. for a debt and cash free consideration of €330 million. The transaction, which remains subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to close by January 2021.

“I’m pleased to announce this strategically transformational transaction. This transaction further solidifies SunOpta’s future direction as a high-growth, plant-based company focused on providing value-added products in competitively advantaged categories with consistent, sustainable, above average growth characteristics. The long- term supply agreement negotiated as part of this transaction provides SunOpta with the benefit of a continued strategic relationship with a leading global ingredient player in Acomo. Furthermore, this transaction de-levers and strengthens SunOpta’s balance sheet, enabling the acceleration of near-term expansion plans in our fast-growing plant-based food and beverage segment. The plans include both high-return capital investment projects, as well as synergistic acquisitions, that add to an existing set of strong capabilities in our core plant-based beverage platform. This is a very exciting time for us at SunOpta as we look forward to building on our success of the past four quarters,” said Joe Ennen, Chief Executive Offcer of SunOpta.

“With the exciting acquisition of Tradin, Acomo will realize a highly complementary acquisition, creating a leading global player across organic and conventional unlisted commodities. The company is a leading partner for the organic food industry, benefitting from the rapidly growing global consumer demand for sustainable and healthy foods. Tradin has an attractive financial profile and will continue to be led by a highly experienced management team,” said Allard Goldschmeding, Acomo Group Managing Director.

Under the terms of the agreement, SunOpta will sell processing facilities located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Silistra, Bulgaria; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; and Yirgalem, Ethiopia. These facilities and their employees will continue to operate in ordinary course. Approximately 525 employees will be transferred from SunOpta to Acomo.

The Global Ingredients business being sold contributed approximately US$488 million to SunOpta’s net sales for the twelve months ended September 26, 2020. The transaction valuation represents an approximate 10x multiple of Adjusted EBITDA¹ for the standalone business. This transaction is highly tax effcient and is expected to be accretive to the Company’s long-term growth rate and margin profile further focusing the Company on delivering more consistent financial results for our shareholders.

Proceeds from this transaction will be used for capital investment primarily into the core Plant-Based Foods and Beverages segment and to pay down debt.

¹Non-GAAP Measures
In addition to reporting financial results in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company provides additional information about its operating results regarding segment operating income, adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”), which are not measures in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The Company believes that segment operating income, adjusted earnings and adjusted EBITDA assist investors in comparing performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that are not indicative of its operating performance. The non-GAAP measures of segment operating income, adjusted earnings and adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for performance measures calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

T. Hasegawa announced the release of their Japanese citrus flavour portfolio. T. Hasegawa’s Japanese heritage combined with their team of highly skilled flavour chemists carefully crafted a rich array of sweet, sour, tart and refreshing Japanese citrus flavours that are grown and harvested across the country of Japan.

Each citrus in the collection has a distinctive taste and aroma that will enhance a variety of products from beverages, bakery, dressings, dairy, frozen desserts, sauces, seasonings, snacks and much more. The portfolio includes the following flavour profiles available in water-soluble, oil-soluble and powder form.

Yuzu – Versatile with sour, tart notes and resembles a grapefruit with a hint of mikan orange.

Sudachi – Slightly spicy, sharp, with a tangy taste accented by bergamot notes.

Kabosu – Mild juiciness with a slight metallic note and is an ideal replacement for lime in fish and meats.

Mikan – Fresh, sweet with a juicy character and ideal for the North American palate.

Shikuwasa – A rich citrus flavor with a sour taste and lends itself well to desserts, chips, sweets, juices, jams, dressings and alcoholic beverages.

Iyokan – Sweet and sour profile and can be used as an alternative to orange in confectionery and dessert.

Natsumikan – Slightly bitter, sour and juicy, which makes the perfect accompaniment for dessert and herbal sparkling beverages.

Hassaku – Characterized by its crisp, fresh floral and grapefruit-like notes this citrus.

“The flavours of Japan are often a source of flavour inspiration for product developers across the globe and continue to show strong market growth” says Doug Resh, Director Commercial Marketing. “We are excited to provide our customers on-trend flavours that will elevate and deliver a unique twist to their brand.”

Yuzu in particular has opened up the world to Japanese citrus profiles. Over the last several years, Western chefs featured yuzu as an aromatic and flavourful ingredient in Japanese-inspired dishes; while consumer packaged foods companies featured yuzu in sweets, sauces, vinegars and RTD beverages

According to Mintel, demand for Japanese food increased in the United States by 19.1 % between 2015-2018. With consumers continuing to experience a stronger desire to travel during quarantine, authentic and functional ingredients with engaging stories can quell the frustrations of staying put. Consuming world cuisine offers a substitute for travel, encourages experimentation and it’s easy on the wallet as an affordable excitement.

About T. Hasegawa USA Inc.
Being a global top-10 flavor and fragrance company, T. Hasegawa continues to pioneer the flavour industry with a customer experience that is optimized to rapidly respond with technical expertise. We deliver superior products that meet all your requirements no matter how complex the demand. Recognizing that the food industry needs flexibility, we proactively listen to our customers’ needs in an effort to develop better ways of delivering formulations that have excellent taste and aroma to fit form and function.

ADM Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of ADM (NYSE: ADM), announced its investment in Seventure’s Health For Life Capital (HFLC) Fund II. HFLC, based in Paris, is a leading venture capital fund dedicated to health, nutrition, microbiota and digital health.

“We view Seventure as the premier investor in microbiome startups focused on human health and nutrition, and since 2018, ADM has worked closely with the Seventure team to identify opportunities with microbiome solutions that can ultimately help with dietary supplements and food and beverage applications to serve as functional or proactive solutions,” said Darren Streiler, managing director of ADM Ventures. “We believe Seventure can help meet the long-term demand we see as the result of the convergence of food and pharmaceuticals and consumers looking more towards bioactives and nutrition for wellness solutions.”

The microbiome consists of trillions of micro-organisms that reside on or inside the human body. ADM’s primary interest is the vast, complex bacterial ecosystem that lives within the digestive tract and constitutes the majority of every individual’s unique microbiome.

“With a better understanding of how the microbiome ecosystem works, we can develop functional ingredients for dietary supplements and food and beverage solutions targeted to help improve overall health,” Streiler said. “We are focused on looking at new, innovative solutions that can lead to a more balanced bacterial system in your digestive tract, otherwise known as a healthy gut, and can help lead to better health.”

ADM is committed to discovering and leveraging nutritional ingredients that can be used for preventative health, as well as for treating common ailments or even chronic diseases in both humans and animals. The company’s new probiotics production facility in Valencia, Spain – which will significantly increase its post- and prebiotic production capacity – is planned to be online in 2022.

ADM is an established market leader for microbiome solutions, with an award-winning portfolio of products and ingredients, including NutraIngredients’ 2020 ‘Probiotic Product of the Year’, ADM’s Bio-Kult Migréa^®; 2020 Ingredient of the Year in the Weight Management category, ADM’s Bifidobacterium lactis BPL1; and the 2020 Editor’s Award winner for Functional Food Innovation, ADM’s Bacillus subtilis PXN^®21^®, a live microbial strain shown to reduce the aggregation of α-synuclein, paving the way for future research in Parkinson’s disease.

B1U^™ brand will launch functional infused waters, featuring real ingredients including zinc, vitamin C, black tea caffeine, fiber and protein

Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., the agricultural cooperative owned by more than 700 farmer families, announced the launch of the B1U^™ brand, a new beverage line featuring on-trend functional benefits, simple ingredients, easy-to-understand nutrition, and recyclable packaging. The B1U^™ brand aims to demystify nutrition so everyone can make educated and personalized decisions for their own unique body and ultimately “Own the One You™”.

Ocean Spray is continuing its expansion into the health and wellness categories as 65 % of consumers report wanting more functionality out of their food and beverage products^*. In order to meet this demand; the B1U^™ brand is first unveiling an environmentally conscious, accessible enhanced water as the first product in its line to be followed by further beverage additions in the future.

The B1U^™ brand of functional infused waters features four flavors with no sugar or artificial sweeteners:

• I need a boost^™: Watermelon cucumber infused water with 60 mg of black tea caffeine
• I need rhythm^™: Strawberry basil infused water with 8 g of plant-based fiber
• I need immunity^™: Lemon chamomile infused water with 22 mg of zinc and 128 mg of vitamin C
• I need power^™: Peach kiwi infused water with 10 g of protein

The B1U^™ brand is on-shelf in the U.S. at select Target stores this month, will be available at select Walmart stores in December, and is currently available for purchase on Amazon. B1U is available in 16 oz fully recyclable bottles.

*Kerry Group, Proactive Health: Consumer Demand for Functional Benefits, 2019

JBT Corporation announced that Brian Deck will resume his role as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.

Following further discussions with JBT’s Board of Directors, Tom Giacomini has decided that he is unable to return as Chief Executive Officer of JBT and has stepped down, effective immediately, to focus on his health and recovery. He has also resigned from the Board of Directors.

Alan Feldman will continue in his role as Non-Executive Chairman on a permanent basis. Matt Meister, Vice President and CFO for JBT Protein, has been named Interim Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Meister joined JBT in May 2019 and has responsibility for all finance activity for the Protein Division within the FoodTech segment. He brings a strong track record of driving results and developing process improvements in complex, global businesses to the role of Interim CFO.

The Board has initiated a search to identify a permanent CEO and will retain a leading executive search firm to assist in the process. It will consider both internal and external candidates.

“Over the past few months, Brian and the senior management team have demonstrated outstanding leadership of JBT and we are confident in their ability to continue executing the Company’s strategy while the Board conducts a search for a permanent successor,” said Mr. Feldman. “I look forward to continuing to work with Brian and to leveraging his financial and operational expertise as we focus on ensuring the continued health and safety of our employees and serving our customers.”

Mr. Feldman added, “We owe Tom a great debt of gratitude for spearheading JBT’s transformation over the past seven years. Under his leadership, JBT has generated a significant increase in shareholder value, while laying a strong foundation from which to continue delivering for stakeholders. Today, JBT benefits from a disciplined long-term strategy that focuses on growth and margin expansion while delivering exceptional products and services to its customers. Tom also played a key role in assembling our dynamic team of leaders whose significant expertise will further the strategy and continue to drive results. On behalf of everyone at JBT, I send my very best wishes to Tom, including the sincere hope for his improved health.”

About Matt Meister

Matt Meister joined JBT in May 2019 with extensive experience in global manufacturing across various industries, including his prior roles at IDEX Corporation where he held several operational finance leadership roles, most recently serving as Group Vice President, Health and Science Technologies.  Prior to joining IDEX, he held various roles of increasing responsibility at Navistar International Corporation. Mr. Meister holds an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business and an undergraduate degree in Finance and Operations Management from Washington University in St. Louis.

JBT Corporation (NYSE: JBT) is a leading global technology solutions provider to high-value segments of the food & beverage industry with focus on proteins, liquid foods and automated system solutions. JBT designs, produces and services sophisticated products and systems for multi-national and regional customers through its FoodTech segment. JBT also sells critical equipment and services to domestic and international air transportation customers through its AeroTech segment. JBT Corporation employs approximately 6,300 people worldwide and operates sales, service, manufacturing and sourcing operations in more than 25 countries.

myBeviale.com, the digital dialogue platform for the beverage industry’s regular gathering, is now online. Whether you want to network, make new contacts, or exchange knowledge and ideas, you’ll be able to do all this and more on myBeviale.com all year round and free of charge, no matter where you are. As a complement to the Beviale Family, which also includes BrauBeviale, the new platform is open 365 days a year, allowing dialogue and knowledge-sharing during and beyond the trade fair as such. During the Launch Days from 10 to 12 November, myBeviale.com will also be the virtual venue for the programme originally planned for the BrauBeviale Special Edition. The three-day programme will feature around 100 live talks, presentations and sessions, and is set to attract beverage industry enthusiasts, experts and executives alike to the new platform.

The new digital dialogue platform makes it even easier to interact with members of the beverage community, find suitable specialists and work together to resolve challenges. All year round, myBeviale.com will offer information on the products and solutions of participating suppliers, virtual presentations, workshops and discussion panels, industry news and specialist publications by the various companies. One of the core elements of myBeviale.com is a targeted networking function that allows all participants in the platform to enter a dialogue with one another. Registration is free of charge.

Beverage expertise in five segments

The platform is subdivided into five different zones. Following registration, users will have access to all functions and content. In Products & Solutions, you can access a comprehensive database of solutions for the beverage industry, covering aspects like manufacturing, bottling, packaging or marketing. Using the filters provided, you can quickly locate the most relevant suppliers for your specific challenge. Then simply click to arrange an appointment. Under Companies, you will find extensive information on companies and organisations from the sector, including start-ups, associations and major players, as well as details of the respective contacts. Go to the Community zone to enjoy informal exchanges between colleagues, experts and other beverage industry professionals. Here too, it is easy to arrange to talk to interesting contacts at any time via chat or video call. Stories is the magazine section of myBeviale.com and brings together industry news, user reports, white papers and company news from the drinks manufacturing environment. Readers can browse through the articles and get information and inspiration. If you are looking for knowledge and interesting presentations, head for the Action Area, where all year round you can discover current and archived presentations or discussion panels. During the Launch Days from 10 to 12 November, the Action Area will offer a packed agenda. Six thematic streams within the extensive BrauBeviale@stage programme ensure knowledge transfer and lots of light bulb moments, (almost) as close as it gets to the on-site experience in Nuremberg.

Experience the trade fair forum programme at the myBeviale.com Launch Days

From 10 to 12 November 2020, the new myBeviale.com platform will play a rather special role as the virtual venue for the forum programme BrauBeviale@stage, which was originally planned for the on-site event in Nuremberg. The highlights from the scheduled on-site programme – presentations, discussions panels and award ceremonies – are now available on the digital dialogue platform, so that the entire beverage community can attend them virtually.

For example, you’ll be able to join in the celebrations at the award ceremony for the European Beer Star, one of the most prestigious beer competitions worldwide, as the winner will be announced live on the platform. And even in this year’s exceptional circumstances, visitors don’t have to miss out on the popular tastings of the latest beverage trends in the Craft Drinks Area, as selected specialities are available for home delivery. The matching explanations by a sommelier can then be accessed at any time on myBeviale.com, even when the Launch Days are over.

The presentations also cover a wide range of topics. Many items on the agenda focus on the issue of the future viability of the sector. Our event partners include Private Brauereien Bayern (Bavarian Association of Private Breweries), the honorary sponsor of BrauBeviale, VLB – the Berlin-based research and teaching institute for brewing, Doemens Academy, Bayern Design, BV-BFGH (Association of German Beverage Wholesalers), the World Packaging Organisation, BVE (Federation of German Food and Drink Industries), SGS Fresenius and many more.

Simply register for free now!

The complete programme for the Launch Days from 10 to 12 November 2020 is available at www.mybeviale.com. This is also where you can register and discover the functions, content and community of myBeviale.com.

On 3 November 2020, Coca-Cola European Partners announced it has entered into binding agreements to acquire Coca-Cola Amatil Limited (CCL), one of the largest bottlers and distributors of ready-to-drink non alcoholic and alcoholic beverages and coffee in the Asia Pacific region.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to bring together two of the world’s best bottlers to drive faster and more sustainable growth. Since the creation of CCEP four years ago, we have proven our ability to create value through expansion and integration. Now is the right time to move forward by taking on these great franchises and markets.

“The strategic rationale behind this transaction is compelling, solidifying our position as the largest Coca-Cola bottler by revenue. I am eager to apply our proven formula in Western Europe to Coca-Cola Amatil’s markets, including leadership in areas such as revenue growth management, in-market execution, digital and sustainability. However, I am equally excited and genuinely convinced that there will be many more opportunities as we move forward together with speed, scale, excellent people and a richer, more diverse culture.

“This larger platform will unlock enhanced value for our shareholders, all underpinned by an even stronger and more aligned strategic partnership with The Coca-Cola Company and our other brand partners. We look forward to executing on the ambitious growth plans ahead of us, as we build on the best of who we are and create a very exciting future together.”

Damian Gammell
CEO, Coca-Cola European Partners

Unique floral notes, mellow tartness and bright color offer citrus appeal for beverages

Oregon Fruit Products LLC released Meyer Lemon Puree, an intensely citrusy and brightly-colored Fruit for Fermentation offering that can be incorporated into a variety of beer, wine, cider, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages.

Favored for its unique floral notes and mellow tartness, Meyer lemons are more seasonal and not as widely available as conventional lemons. With Oregon Fruit’s aseptic packaging, beverage makers can take advantage of having shelf-stable Meyer Lemon Puree ready to use any time of year, saving valuable time and money on fruit sourcing and preparation.

Oregon Fruit Meyer Lemon Puree’s smooth consistency, low viscosity and more rounded malic acid profile makes for easy integration into the fermentation process and has proven to be a successful formula with the company’s other citrus offerings.

“As we saw with the demand for our Key Lime Puree, the consumer is constantly seeking new flavor experiences and is more open to trying new types of citrus than ever before,” says Chris Hodge, director of brewing sales at Oregon Fruit. “We expect the Meyer Lemon Puree will offer a similar point of difference in flavor and sourcing for beverage makers to convey in their own marketing.”

Like all Oregon Fruit Purees, Meyer Lemon Puree has no added sugar or preservatives, and is minimally processed to ensure the best fresh fruit flavor and color. The puree’s aseptic packaging allows for a shelf life of five months in ambient temperature.

Oregon Fruit Meyer Lemon Puree is now available in 42 lb. bag-in-box. The product is certified kosher, made in the U.S.A., non-GMO, gluten-free and vegetarian. Oregon Fruit Products does not use, nor does it allow, any of the eight major allergens (milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat) in the products or processing areas.

Oregon Fruit Products LLC
Founded in 1935, Oregon Fruit Products offers a complete line of canned, frozen and shelf-stable premium fruit for consumers, foodservice operators and ingredient sales. The company is located in Salem, Oregon (USA).

Coca-Cola European Partners funds dispensed delivery innovation with investment in self-pour, self-pay drink dispense technology leaders Innovative Tap Solutions

CCEP Ventures, the investment arm of Coca-Cola European Partners, has acquired a 25 % stake in Innovative Tap Solutions (ITS) – the creators of technology that enables consumers to pour their own beverages and increase efficiencies for the hospitality industry. Branded Strategic Hospitality, an investment & solutions platform headquartered in New York City, also participated in the investment in ITS alongside CCEP.

The investment will see CCEP work with ITS to introduce self-pour dispense technology to CCEP’s customers in Western Europe, beginning with a trial in Spain. ITS’s technology allows consumers to pour and pay for drinks themselves – cutting down queues, reducing the need for unnecessary contact and wait times and freeing up serving staff.

The partnership also represents a further step forward for CCEP’s Action on Packaging strategy, launched in 2017. CCEP is committed to investing and innovating in refillable and dispensed delivery models to eliminate packaging waste and lower its carbon footprint. CCEP is looking at developing suitable dispensed solution for different environments, and the partnership with ITS is a key part of this.

This agreement forms part of the wider CCEP Ventures programme – which aims to find, fund and nurture new technology and innovation.

Nik Jhangiani, Chief Financial Officer at CCEP, said: “We are committed to supporting package-free technology and finding new ways to help our customers increase value and provide a better experience to consumers. ITS is an exciting and ambitious business. We are confident we can help them expand successfully into the soft drinks category and grow their presence in Western Europe.”

Josh Goodman, Founder & CEO of ITS, commented on the partnership: “We’re excited to take this Self Pour Revolution to the next level with CCEP. Less than 5 years ago, our company was just me and one other person and our focus was just self-pour taprooms dispensing beer, wine and cocktails through our technology.

The market has spoken, customers and business owners love the concept, the efficiency and experience. We’re a liquid-agnostic company that wants to grow in the non-alcoholic space. Our partnership with CCEP ensures that we can continue investing in our technology to scale with the increasing demand.”

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated Canadian usage of e-commerce with online grocery being one of the main benefactors. The latest research from Mintel reveals that by mid-April, almost four in 10 (37 %^*) Canadians were shopping more online, with 22 %^* of Canadians specifically noting they were buying more groceries online due to COVID-19, including 10 %^* of seniors (those aged 65+).

Physical grocery stores have a big challenge to encourage consumers to come back into stores and spend time inside. Mintel’s research shows that as of mid-April, 70 %^* of Canadian shoppers were making less frequent trips to the grocery store than usual and in the middle of July, 71 %^** were limiting the time they spent in the store. Consumers were also doing what they could to protect themselves: 67 %^* said they were taking extra precautions when shopping in stores, e.g. wiping down their carts, keeping their distance from other shoppers. These protective behaviours are continuing, at the end of July, half (50 %^***) of Canadians continue to be worried about the risk of being exposed to the virus, driving two-thirds (64 %^***) of consumers to limit the time they spend in-stores.

Carol Wong-Li, Associate Director, Lifestyles and Leisure said:

“The challenge grocery retailers face now and in the months to come will be to convince consumers to come back into stores and shop for longer periods of time. Encouraging consumers to do so will have a positive impact on the ‘act of discovery’. Consumers will need to be encouraged to slow down and re-engage in spontaneous behaviours like browsing and trying new products, reminding them that shopping pre-COVID was a leisurely enjoyable activity, not what it is considered now – more ‘mission-minded’ with safety remaining at top of mind for consumers.

“The current uncertainty surrounding the virus remains unhelpful to the grocery shopping experience as much of it tends to be tactile, using touch and smell to assess the freshness of produce or sampling. Grocery retailers will need to replace the tactile experiences with more visual incentives to gain people’s interests, which will open up opportunities to enhance the in-store shopping experience in a safe way. Examples include providing QR codes that can be scanned by mobile phones to access full recipes or how-to cooking videos. Ultimately, leveraging platforms popular with Canadians like scannable signs that bring up recipes and/or cooking videos on Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube will work well to enhance the shopping experience while in-store.”

A renewed appreciation of shelf-stable products

The essential nature of food at home has not been lost, as of the beginning of May, almost half (48 %^****) of consumers said they had made groceries a higher spending priority at the height of the pandemic, while over a quarter (28 %^*) agreed that they were less-budget conscious than usual when it came to buying groceries. Shelf-stable products became a star performer, with 43 %^* of Canadians saying they were buying more groceries that would stay fresh for longer like frozen, canned and boxed food.

“An area that was once stigmatized for being less healthy, the centre of the store where shelf-stable items tend to be, has been revitalized due to the uncertainty associated with the pandemic. Preventative measures put in place, like mandatory restaurant closings, led Canadians to cook more from home – providing a boost to shelf-stable products,” continues Wong-Li.

Stressed out Canadians indulge in comfort food

The link between food and comfort is undeniable amongst Canadians: nearly half (46 %^*****) of Canadians eat comforting foods as a way of managing stress. During the pandemic, the importance of food in addressing elevated levels of stress was seen with a third (33 %^*) of Canadian women reporting that they were eating more indulgent food like chocolate, ice cream or pizza to help them cope with the situation.

“As the uncertainty of the pandemic is set to be the reality for the near future, functional claims – including specific ingredients that help with stress relief or improving sleep – will matter more to consumers now and in the months to come,” concludes Wong-Li.

^*500 internet users aged 18+, April 13-17, 2020, Global COVID-19 Tracker – Canada
^**500 internet users aged 18+, July 13-17, 2020, Global COVID-19 Tracker – Canada
^***2,000 internet users aged 18+, July 23-31, 2020, Global COVID-19 Tracker – Canada
^****500 internet users aged 18+, May 11-15, 2020, Global COVID-19 Tracker – Canada
^*****According to Marketing to Gen Z – Canada, June 2020

With an aging population globally, consumers are increasingly looking for solutions that help them to live their lives to the fullest while maintaining high levels of health and wellness regardless of their age.

While 7 out of 10 global consumers in an Innova Consumer Survey said that they had made changes over the past year to improve their health, these changes were not just for physical health, with consumers balancing physical, mental, and emotional aspects. Changes to improve physical wellbeing continued to lead, with 53 % of respondents saying that they had made a change. However, numbers were also significant for consumers saying that they had taken steps to improve mental health and emotional wellbeing (44 % of respondents) and for consumers saying that they had sought more spiritual time (32 % of respondents).

As a result, nutrition that supports both physical and emotional wellbeing is thriving and can target the needs and preferences of different generations with more specific holistic approaches to help identify opportunities and optimize innovation.

Being aged 60+ continues to be redefined, as this age group strives to remain healthier and more active while potentially working until later in their lives than previous generations out of choice or necessity. Future seniors, however, will come from Generation X and Millennials, raised in a different era to the Silent Generation and Boomers who make up the over 60s of today.

Innova’s 2019 research study indicates that 76 % of consumers aged between 26 and 55 years agreed that healthy aging started with what they ate and drank, while 56 % said that they had increased their consumption of functional foods/drinks over the previous year.

Healthy aging claims are starting to appear more regularly on food products and beverages as younger generations prefer functional food & beverages to classic supplement formats. Global research by Innova Market Insights indicates that while 29.7 % of over 55s cited tablets and 26 % cited capsules as their preferred form of intake for supplements in 2019, among those aged 26 to 35 years, nearly 30 % preferred supplements in the form of food products and 27.7 % as beverages, falling slightly to 22.1 % and 25 %, respectively, for those aged 36 to 45.

This presents opportunities to redefine supplements and how they are used, while we are also seeing blurring boundaries between supplements and food/drinks.

It is clear that products with active health claims are increasingly featuring in the marketplace to cater to a variety of needs. Food and beverage launches with active health claims tracked by Innova Market Insights are seeing a growth of +11 % (Global, 2018 vs. 2019). There is a particular focus on healthy aging or aging well, both for seniors and for younger demographics who already engaging with preventative care.

Joint health, energy/alertness, immune health, and bone health are some of the fastest-growing active health claims for global food and beverage launches in recent years as links between particular nutrients and health benefits are increasingly made.

Brain health is another area of growing interest, particularly in terms of aging well, while targeting physical appearance via nutrition and diet is also seeing rapidly rising levels of interest.

On 7th September 2020 at 13:30 BST, Myrthe de Beukelaar, Market Analyst at Innova Market Insights, will present Health & Happiness: a Holistic Approach to Healthy Aging webinar as part of Vitafoods Virtual Expo event. Join Myrthe to learn more about how consumers are increasingly looking for solutions to live their life to the fullest. Register here.

IFF, a leading innovator of taste, scent, and nutrition, announced that Kathy Fortmann has been appointed IFF Divisional CEO, Taste, effective October 1, 2020. Ms. Fortmann will replace Matthias Haeni, IFF’s current Divisional CEO, Taste, who has informed IFF of his intention to retire from the Company at the culmination of his 30-year career in the industry. Upon completion of the previously announced merger of IFF with DuPont’s Nutrition & Biosciences (N&B) business, Ms. Fortmann will assume the role of President, Taste, Food & Beverage. She will replace Mr. Haeni and Amy Byrick, N&B Food & Beverage Platform Leader, who had been previously announced to lead the Taste, Food & Beverage division upon transaction close. IFF and DuPont continue to target completion of the merger for the first quarter of 2021, subject to approval by IFF shareholders and other customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

In her new role, Ms. Fortmann will join the company’s Executive Committee and oversee the strategy and commercial and creative execution for the division. She will continue to play an instrumental role in executing the integration of IFF’s Taste offering with N&B’s Food & Beverage platform, in close collaboration with Ms. Byrick, to form the combined company’s Taste, Food & Beverage division. Ms. Fortmann joined IFF in April 2020 as Head of Taste Strategy and Cross-fertilization, where she has applied more than 30 years of experience and expertise gained through various leadership roles. She most recently served as President of FrieslandCampina Ingredients, a multi-billion-dollar food ingredients business, and previously held the role of President of Business Services and a member of the Executive Committee at Cargill as well as various positions with DuPont.

“In her short time with IFF, Kathy has already brought tremendous expertise and insight to our team leading IFF’s integration of Taste with N&B’s Food & Beverage platform. With her proven track record of delivering growth and innovation at global food and beverage ingredients organizations, I am confident Kathy is uniquely qualified to lead this division,” said IFF Chairman and CEO, Andreas Fibig. “I am proud to have worked so closely with Matthias, as his leadership for the past seven years as Divisional CEO has been instrumental in the success of our Taste business. His long and successful career has been truly impressive, and during his tenure with IFF he has advanced our position as a leader within the Taste industry and delivered strong financial performance. I wish Matthias the very best for his next chapter.”

Mr. Haeni has agreed to work closely with Ms. Fortmann until the completion of the transaction with N&B to ensure a smooth transition. Ms. Byrick remains fully engaged in running the Food & Beverage business at N&B, as well as assisting Ms. Fortmann with integration planning for the future Taste, Food & Beverage division. Following the transaction close, Ms. Byrick has chosen to pursue her career outside of the combined company.

Let’s start with some good news: BrauBeviale will take place this year! The event concept has been modified due to the current circumstances. In consultation with the relevant authorities, safety and hygiene concepts were developed to ensure a safe and effective trade fair experience for all participants. This year, the international capital goods fair for the beverage industry will therefore take place at Exhibition Centre Nuremberg from 10 to 12 November as a “BrauBeviale Special Edition”. This decision was taken in close consultation with our exhibitors, visitors and partners and therefore specifically meets their requests for the organisation of a physical platform before the end of the year to facilitate dialogue and foster business.

“The decision to hold BrauBeviale this year was not just down to us as the organiser but was taken in close consultation with our exhibitors, visitors and partners,” explains Andrea Kalrait, Executive Director BrauBeviale at NürnbergMesse. “The message that we kept getting in our discussions was that our customers still wanted to have their annual gathering in 2020, all the more so as it was probably the only opportunity for such a meeting this year, not just at national and European level but internationally. So I am really looking forward to welcoming as many visitors as possible in person to our event in Nuremberg!”

The key theme of the current three-year BrauBeviale cycle is the future viability of the beverage industry. This year in particular, which has also forced a lot of companies in the beverage sector to face unprecedented and difficult challenges, the future viability of the industry is more important than ever. The BrauBeviale Special Edition is therefore very much about showing solidarity. As a partner to the entire beverage sector, this year’s event will send out a message and provide an attractive, successful and at the same time safe platform to allow industry stakeholders to share information, network and join forces to emerge from this difficult situation in a stronger position.

BrauBeviale Special Edition – tailored hygiene concept

Andrea Kalrait explains the principle behind the Special Edition: “Naturally, protecting our customers is always a top priority for us, so together with the relevant authorities we developed a safety and hygiene concept tailored to BrauBeviale, to ensure the greatest possible degree of safety for all trade fair participants.” The main protection objectives and the cornerstones of all measures implemented are to make it possible to observe current social distancing rules and facilitate contact tracing and good hand hygiene. The supporting programme was also adapted to meet these requirements: The Craft Drinks Area, BrauBeviale Forum and brau@home will make the necessary adjustments to the way they communicate and provide information so as to ensure the safety of the participants.

“Except for stand parties, things can happen in the usual way but subject to the prescribed conditions that we are all familiar with meanwhile from our daily routines,” says Andrea Kalrait, summing up the concept for the BrauBeviale Special Edition. “There will be a one-way system to direct visitor flows through the halls. Wherever it is not possible to observe social distancing, masks must be worn, and the exhibition stands have to comply with the necessary safety and hygiene standards. In addition, the contact details of all exhibitors and visitors will be collected to ensure the necessary traceability. Because we cannot use the same hall configuration as last year, I encourage all visitors to do a bit more preparation for their trade fair visit this time round.” An obligatory part of this preparation will be to register in advance online. To make sure that the admissible number of visitors per day is not exceeded, only day tickets will be available this year. So each visitor has to decide on a specific day and then register for it. The tickets are available on mobile devices and allow contactless access to the exhibition grounds.

There is positive news from Beviale Family in China about the successful restart of the trade fair business. This is not just pointing the way forward for the exhibition industry worldwide, but also for Nuremberg as a trade fair venue and consequently, for BrauBeviale. CRAFT BEER CHINA took place in Shanghai from 1 to 3 July 2020 and was a professional event that did an excellent job in implementing the necessary distancing and hygiene rules.

Online option: the regular industry gathering on the internet

Considering the current travel restrictions, BrauBeviale has also undertaken to enable trade visitors and companies to participate in the BrauBeviale Special Edition even if they cannot come to Nuremberg in person. Alongside work on implementing the modified event concept at the exhibition centre, preparations are also in full swing for the digital dialogue platform “myBeviale.com” (www.mybeviale.com). It will dovetail the analogue and digital worlds and will also be available to the BrauBeviale community the whole year round after the trade fair is over. For the event the BrauBeviale Forum programme, among other things, will also be put online. Thanks to this online option, trade fair participants will have the opportunity to watch and even interact with interesting presentations live from their homes. In addition, it will be possible to live-stream contributions by high-calibre speakers who are not able to attend the event in person. “So I urge all of you to make a firm note of the dates 10 to 12 November 2020 in your calendar and take your place at the industry’s regular gathering! Whether in person at the Nuremberg venue or in virtual space from your PC at home, we have a wide-ranging programme to offer you!” says Andrea Kalrait in an appeal to all industry players.

Barentz International, a leading global distributor of life science ingredients, has expanded its activities in the dynamic world of taste and nutrition. The company proudly announces its acquisition of Chicago-based Ingredients Inc – a very successful family business in the USA, and a leading developer and supplier of high-quality ingredients to food and beverage, pet food and nutraceutical manufacturers.

Highlights:

• The acquisition diversifies Barentz’ sources, enabling it to deliver a wider range of high-quality ingredient solutions in the USA market.
• Ingredients Inc and Barentz share a proven track-record in developing, formulating, manufacturing and producing ingredients and custom-blends for their clients. Both companies add value by developing new ideas and innovative solutions through their expertise and network of specialized application laboratories.
• With headquarters in Chicago, and serviced by a network of warehouses, Ingredients Inc strengthens Barentz’ national USA coverage.

Innova Market Insights’ latest report on global flavour trends in the food and beverage industry highlights how it is no longer just about tantalizing the taste buds with a range of adventurous, innovative and reimagined flavours, but increasingly about how flavour use can complement and develop the storytelling behind products and brands. In fact, 56 % of consumers in a global survey agreed that stories around a brand influenced their purchasing decisions.

Consumers are increasingly captivated by the stories behind products and brands, and flavours have a key role to play in this, making Storytelling the first of Innova Market Insights’ Top Ten Flavor Trends for 2020. Other important trends include the rise in plant-based alternatives, wellness associations, macronutrient influences and flavours supporting textural developments.

Innova Market Insights Top Five Flavour Trends for 2020 are:

1. Storytelling

Increased consumer interest in the origin of their food and beverage products is resulting in ingredient provenance proving its worth as a key element of brand storytelling. Over 40 % of global consumers wanted to know the story around a brand because they wanted to learn where the ingredients were from, according to an Innova Market Insights survey. Storytelling strategies include a focus on authentic tastes, flavours and recipes, as well as uniqueness through ingredient provenance and artisan/small batch processing.

2. The Power of Plants

The use of plant ingredients and plant-based recipes is soaring across a range of food and drinks categories, with an Innova Consumer Survey finding that 3 in 5 global consumers are increasingly incorporating plant ingredients into their diets. Plant ingredients can provide a healthy and colourful touch, with the use of a multitude of vegetable flavours for a healthy halo, including on-trend purple potato as part of the purple vegetables trend.

3. Wellness Flavours

Pursuit of healthier lifestyles is not only driving the plant-based trend, but also the demand for flavours targeting more general wellness, both mental and physical. Botanical flavours are increasingly popular for relaxation, stress reduction and sleep enhancement, featuring ingredients such as lavender, CBD/cannabis and turmeric. Floral flavoured drinks increasingly have mood associations, being seen as potentially relaxing or energizing.

4. Macronutrient Challenge

Consumer perceptions of macronutrients in relation to health are also evolving. There is a need to maintain taste profiles while reducing sugar, calorie and/or fat content, with sugar seen as a particular priority. Active ingredients are also impacting product flavours, with high protein options, such as cheese, seeds and nuts, as well as the association of ‘source of vitamins’ claims with fruity flavours.

5. Tapping into Texture

Consumers are increasingly recognizing the influence of texture on eating and drinking experiences, with 7 out of 10 global consumers agreeing that texture makes food and beverages a more interesting experience. Meanwhile, 6 out of 10 said that texture claims influenced their purchasing decisions. As part of this, there is growing interest in flavours that create a richer texture experience, such as honeycomb and toffee, while the industry continues to experiment with nuts in a wide variety of applications, including crunchy flavors and smooth bases.

The other top trends identified by Innova Market Insights are:

6. Hello Hybrids

7. All Time Favorites

8. Triggering the Taste Buds

9. Brown Flavours

10. Flavours Unlimited

SIG announced that it will fund breakthrough research into more sustainable materials at EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, Switzerland, as part of a joint initiative with Nestlé, Logitech and other industry partners to tackle environmental challenges associated with plastic waste.

Driving research into sustainable materials

Together, the corporate partners have committed to provide 5 million Swiss francs over 10 years. The funding will support a new Chair for Sustainable Materials research within EPFL’s Institute of Materials.

The Chair, to be appointed as a tenure-track Assistant Professor, will be responsible for developing and implementing a new research programme on sustainable materials at EPFL, one of Europe’s most vibrant and cosmopolitan science and technology institutions.

Research areas of interest will address critical questions such as the overall environmental impact of materials, the exploration of bio-based, bio-degradable and recyclable materials, including high-performance paper-based barrier materials, that could help to address environmental concerns about plastic packaging.

Supporting customers with sustainable solutions

Beverage cartons are fully recyclable and have a much lower environmental footprint than many alternatives for long-life food and beverages such as milk, juice or soups. They are made mainly from renewable paperboard, but small amounts of polymers and aluminium foil are usually needed as barrier layers to contain and protect liquid food products, and for caps and closures.

SIG already offers an innovative aluminium-free aseptic packaging for dairy products, known as combibloc EcoPlus, and its SIGNATURE PACK solution uses a mass balance approach to link the polymers used in the carton to 100% renewable, forest-based feedstock. The company is now working to create an aseptic pack made out of 100% renewable materials – without mass balancing or aluminium – that can be used for a range of products, including juices that are more sensitive to light and oxygen.

Supporting research into more sustainable, high-performance barrier materials will help SIG drive progress towards this goal as it works in partnership with customers to bring food products to consumers around the world in a safe, sustainable and affordable way.

Messe München will organize the International Motor Show (IAA) for the first time in September 2021. As a result, drinktec is changing its event calendar: the world’s leading trade fair for the beverage and liquid food industry will be held three weeks later from October 4–8, 2021, at the Munich exhibition grounds.

Messe München newly acquired International Motor Show organized by the German Association of the Automotive Industry. This decision will mean that the world’s largest automotive trade show will be held every other year in Munich starting in September 2021. “During the final round of negotiations, the engineering association insisted that the motor show be held in September,” said Dr. Reinhard Pfeiffer, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board of Messe München. “We were forced to adjust our event calendar as a result.” “We are really happy that we were able to work out a new date for drinktec in close cooperation with the trade fair’s Advisory Board.”

Volker Kronseder, the head of the drinktec Advisory Board, said: “Of course, at first we were not thrilled about having to reschedule. We then got together in the advisory board, which represents a cross-section of all areas of the industry, and discussed various optional dates. We eventually found an alternative date that was supported by a broad consensus.”

Richard Clemens, Managing Director of the Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association of the German Engineering Federation, said: “Following this intense and constructive discussion with all market experts, we were able to find a new date for drinktec that really underscores its importance as the world’s leading trade fair for the beverage and liquid food industry.”

Preparations for drinktec 2021 are moving forward on schedule. Interested companies may continue to register online at www.drinktec.com.

New date—important information for exhibitors

All companies that have already completed the online registration process (for exhibitors) for the old date (September 13–17, 2021) do not have to do anything.

The drinktec team will send individual stand proposals to them by the end of June 2020–along with a reminder about the new trade fair date. A registration for the new date (October 4–8, 2021) will become binding when a company accepts the stand proposals.

Pursuing its Buy & Build strategy, EOL Packaging Experts (EOL) has made a second add‐on acquisition by investing in BMS Maschinenfabrik GmbH (BMS) in Pfatter, Regensburg District. EOL, composed of A+F Automation + Fördertechnik GmbH (A+F) in Kirchlengern and Standard‐Knapp, Inc. (S‐K) in Portland, Connecticut, has thus gained an important partner in German‐speaking countries. This step will further strengthen the group’s positioning in Europe and boost its growth sustainably.

EOL Packaging Experts, an international group that provides end‐of‐line packaging machines and systems, has invested in BMS. This investment fits perfectly into the EOL group’s strategic planning and aim to be a market leader in end‐of‐line packaging solutions for the food and beverages industry. Together with A+F as a leading provider of integrated and innovative systems solutions for secondary and tertiary packaging, as well as S‐K as a leading manufacturer of end‐of‐line packaging machines in the US market, BMS will in future complement the group as a provider of systems for innovative sorting installations, state of the art end‐of‐line solutions, and flexible repacking solutions. Within EOL’s global sales and service structure, A+F, S‐K, and BMS will equally benefit and complement each other in the market area and the product portfolio as well as in production and machine technology, digitization, service, and project management.

Many of today’s busy consumers are juggling their careers, families and social lives while striving to maintain healthy lifestyles, both physically and mentally. Food and diet plays an essential role in this, with innovation increasingly looking to support consumer choices as many endeavor to balance the benefits and costs of these hectic lifestyles. This, in turn, raises the demand for nutritious foods that are easy to prepare, convenient and portable, while indulgent treats also play a role in relaxation and enjoyment.

The Right Bite was one of Innova Market Insights Top Trends for 2020 , reflecting how food and drinks supporting lifestyle choices can fall into a number of areas. These all aim to help those wishing to embrace healthy lifestyles, balance busy schedules and/or reject their current lifestyles and search for change.

Consumers embracing a healthy lifestyle tend to love having many things do and are dedicated (working long hours, exercising, etc.), but need to plan their time efficiently to get the best benefits. Healthy snacks, energy-boosting food/drinks and on-the-go food and beverages are all of interest, with high protein and energy claims of particular significance. According to Innova Market Insights data, global snacking launches featuring high protein claims had a CAGR of 16.8 % between 2015 and 2019, while the use of energy/alertness claims rose 13.7 % over the same period.

Those seeking healthier lifestyles also looked to find a balance between health and indulgence, while also looking for individual needs and preferences to be met, including the development of more balanced and complete concepts in terms of their nutritional needs.

Balancing busy lifestyles is necessary as consumers live life to the full (holidays, dining out etc.) and benefit from this, but feel that it also takes a toll on them, with ‘fast’ lifestyles also necessitating compromise and rebalancing. Convenience is key in this area, prompting a demand for meals that are easy to prepare and cook, which in turn provides opportunities for ready meals and meal kits. The demand for home cooked food has boosted interest in meal kits, with 28 % growth in the number of launches tracked globally by Innova Market Insights (CAGR 2015-2019).

On the other hand, consumers looking for a change in lifestyle are likely to increasingly distract and distance themselves from their busy lives and try to wind down. Emotional comfort is key here, with interest in comforting, relaxing and sleep-inducing food and drinks, particularly carrying mood, energy and sleep improving claims.

Stress and anxiety are key concerns in modern life as awareness of their negative impact on mental and physical health grows. In a 2019 Innova Consumer Survey 32 % of UK consumers and 39 % of US consumers claimed to experience stress at least once a day, rising to over half in India. The industry response has included more products targeted at improving low mood, tiredness and fatigue and sleep.

During the production of clear beverages a lot of processes are carried out to reach and maintain stability within the recommended shelf life. Technological processes to avoid haze formation in clear fruit based beverages start normally with an enzyme treatment to degrade pectin and in case of apples and pears also starch with pectinases and amylases. In the juice stage, mechanical treatment steps like flotation, racking, decanting, and centrifugation are used to clarify the product. Additionally, colloidal stabilisation is done with classical fining (gelatin/plant proteins, silica sol, bentonite) or polyphenol removing with active carbon, adsorber resins, or PVPP. …

Please feel free and enjoy reading the full article „Instability of fruit-based beverages – clouds, hazes and sediments“ by Prof Dr Frank Will, Jeannette Zacharias, Prof Dr Helmut Dietrich published in the February online edition of FRUIT PROCESSING magazine as a sample free of charge.

The incorporation of sleep-friendly ingredients in food and drinks is expected to have future potential as it closely aligns with many consumers’ want for a better night’s rest through natural methods, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

According to the company’s Global 2019 Q3 Consumer Survey, a notably higher proportion of Gen X and Gen Y consumers worldwide (79 %) are concerned about tiredness/fatigue than the retired Silent Generation (58 %). Among Gen Y, the pressure that comes with starting a new career, combined with a typically higher propensity to watch television or stream apps, could play a part in preventing regular sleep, leading to fatigue in day-to-day life.

GlobalData’s report, ‘Foresights: Night-Time Foods and RTD Beverages’, highlights a growing awareness among consumers that their diets can have a major impact on their sleeping patterns.

New health trend opportunity as sleep-friendly ingredients enter beverages and snacking, says GlobalData

The incorporation of sleep-friendly ingredients in food and drinks is expected to have future potential as it closely aligns with many consumers’ want for a better night’s rest through natural methods, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

According to the company’s Global 2019 Q3 Consumer Survey, a notably higher proportion of Gen X and Gen Y consumers worldwide (79 %) are concerned about tiredness/fatigue than the retired Silent Generation (58 %). Among Gen Y, the pressure that comes with starting a new career, combined with a typically higher propensity to watch television or stream apps, could play a part in preventing regular sleep, leading to fatigue in day-to-day life.

GlobalData’s report, ‘Foresights: Night-Time Foods and RTD Beverages’, highlights a growing awareness among consumers that their diets can have a major impact on their sleeping patterns.

Ramsey Baghdadi, Consumer Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “As fatigue and tiredness are such a high concern for consumers globally, foods and beverages with ‘sleep-friendly’ claims will perform well in an otherwise highly saturated market, as they create a point of differentiation against traditional energy-boosting counterparts.”

Younger consumers are most vulnerable to feeling sleep deprived due to their hard-working, digital-orientated lifestyle. As a result, manufacturers in the past year such as the sleep-easy ice cream brand Nightfood and sleep-friendly ready-to-drink (RTD) brand Snoooze, have been focusing on foods and beverages specially designed to be consumed shortly before bed to improve sleep patterns.

Baghdadi states: “Such products are also an innovative example of how manufacturers can stand out from the competition by highlighting unique benefits to consumers such as specific lifestyle/health benefits, as product specificity is a key driver in consumer purchasing behavior. Manufacturers should use more natural ingredients in their products as a significant proportion of consumers globally are concerned about chemical/pharmaceutical sleep solutions, following global trends towards simpler and more natural lifestyles.

“The key to these sleep-friendly snacks is that they contain more plant-based ingredients that claim to improve digestion, natural melatonin levels and are low in sugar, leading to a deeper sleep.”
Ramsey Baghdadi, Consumer Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “As fatigue and tiredness are such a high concern for consumers globally, foods and beverages with ‘sleep-friendly’ claims will perform well in an otherwise highly saturated market, as they create a point of differentiation against traditional energy-boosting counterparts.”

Younger consumers are most vulnerable to feeling sleep deprived due to their hard-working, digital-orientated lifestyle. As a result, manufacturers in the past year such as the sleep-easy ice cream brand Nightfood and sleep-friendly ready-to-drink (RTD) brand Snoooze, have been focusing on foods and beverages specially designed to be consumed shortly before bed to improve sleep patterns.

Baghdadi states: “Such products are also an innovative example of how manufacturers can stand out from the competition by highlighting unique benefits to consumers such as specific lifestyle/health benefits, as product specificity is a key driver in consumer purchasing behavior. Manufacturers should use more natural ingredients in their products as a significant proportion of consumers globally are concerned about chemical/pharmaceutical sleep solutions, following global trends towards simpler and more natural lifestyles.

“The key to these sleep-friendly snacks is that they contain more plant-based ingredients that claim to improve digestion, natural melatonin levels and are low in sugar, leading to a deeper sleep.”

The iGeneration (also known as Gen Z) is the name given to people born between 1995-2007, following Generation Y. The “i” represents the technology that this generation has grown up with, for example, iPhone, iPod, Wii and iTunes.

Digital Dilemma

The iGeneration are known to consume large amounts of media on a daily basis, averaging between six and nine hours. They use social media such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest and Snapchat as information sources and a way to connect with brands.

Growing Purchasing Power

As this generation graduate from school and college, they begin to have a growing purchasing power, and by 2020, they will account for 40 percent of the consumer market. Influenced by their level of control, identities and globalization, these behaviours and characteristics are shaping the beverage industry, as they look for products to improve their physical and emotional health, as well as helping the environment.

Teetotalism

This digitally-connected generation are more concerned over safety, taking fewer risks and drinking less alcohol than former generations. In comparison to previous generations, the iGeneration have become conscious of what they put in their bodies. This is driving the explosion of variety in low alcohol or no alcohol alternatives on the supermarket shelves.

This is driving the explosion of variety in low alcohol or no alcohol beverages on the supermarket shelves, driving the desire for more sophisticated drinks. Mocktails are becoming more inventive with savoury and spicy notes, appealing to the iGeneration’s broad and adventurous palates. The iGeneration are one of the most ethnically diverse groups and therefore more receptive to ethnic flavours, driving an appeal towards botanical-infused drinks.

Better-for-you

This generation have been educated to make healthier choices, particularly around ever-growing concerns over the consumption of sugar. With CSD’s in decline, bottled and flavoured water has noticeably increased as a replacement, along with cold brew coffees and teas, with more innovative flavours and ingredients.

Transparency is also valued, leading to a higher number of clean label claims. According to Global Data’s study in 2018, 42 % of iGeneration “are often or always influenced by how ethical, environmentally friendly, or socially responsible a product is in the following sectors” in comparison to only 28 % from the silent generation.

Healthy Grab-and-Go

The iGeneration are revolutionising the eating experience. Convenience has become key to meet on-the-go lifestyles and creating grab-and-go convenience opportunities for not just meals, but snacks and beverages. As told by Global Data, “Gen Z and Millennials are most likely to use out-of-home services on a regular basis compared with older age cohorts.” They often prefer to stay at home and use technology to get a food delivery.

According to a study by the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA) and the Centre for Generational Kinetics, 24 % of the iGeneration order a takeout three or four times in a typical week, exceeding any other generation. It is worth noting that these deliveries are mostly healthy in order to keep up to go with their on-the-go lifestyles. As told by Tufts Nutrition, 41 % of Gen Z say they would spend more on foods they perceive as healthier, in comparison to only 32 % of millennials and around 21 % of baby boomers.

Source Treatt: www.treatt.com

A team of technical experts is helping Coca-Cola North America launch breakthrough beverages in emerging categories – from kombuchas, to cultured ciders, to keto-friendly smoothies, to cold-brew coffees – in record time.

The Transformational Innovation Team partners with brands and business units to take new drinks in unfamiliar spaces to commercialization in a handful of months. A rotating group of specialists from Research and Development (R&D), Quality, Safety & Environmental Sustainability, Technical Commercialization and Scientific and Regulatory Affairs (SRA) is helping the company navigate uncharted territory by challenging existing approaches to innovation – from sourcing and seeking approval on new ingredients, to producing beverages in emerging categories, to bringing new brands to market – through an agile, test- and-learn launch model.

“We combine the best of what entrepreneurs do and the best of what Coca-Cola does,” explains team lead Susan Zaripheh. “Entrepreneurs dream of having the power of our brands and scale of our distribution network, and large global companies like Coke want to be able to innovate quickly, iteratively and stay
competitive in emerging spaces.”

Inspiring a mindset shift

This means challenging organizational processes and breaking down boundaries. “Capability isn’t an issue at Coca-Cola,” Zaripheh says. “Our talent and people are top notch. What we’re trying to do is inspire a mindset shift and push the company into new or emerging segments consumers want us to explore.”

The Transformational Innovation Team has partnered with Minute Maid to develop several breakthrough products in 2019, including Cidewinder, which boasts similar digestive health benefits as kombucha but with less sugar. The cultured juice brand, which leveraged a novel ingredient and process from a third-party company, is being tested in grocery and convenience store outlets in Texas and California.

“Cidewinder is an example of how we’re moving quickly, but deliberately, by running small market tests before investing significant time or resources,” Zaripheh said. “Some of the brands we’re helping to launch will not reach scale, but that’s the point of what we’re doing. We’re pushing the company to move faster than ever and to use real-time market data to make informed decisions and gain important learnings for the future.”

Following the consumer

Odwalla, meanwhile, tapped Zaripheh’s team to help develop a zero-sugar, keto-friendly smoothie using trending ingredients like MCT oil and coconut cream – bringing the first-of-its-kind offering in the Coca-Cola portfolio to life in less than six months.

“Our partnership with the Transformational Innovation Team has added tremendous value to our decision making,” said John Hackett, president, Minute Maid Business Unit. “With their support, we’ve been able to test emerging spaces quickly and gain real-world learnings. Direct guidance from the market enables us to focus our investments on ideas and innovations that strongly resonate with consumers.”

The team also partnered with Honest to launch two category-crossing innovations – Honest Kombucha and Honest Cold Brew Co”ee. Honest is building a master brand beyond its core tea business and, as part of that strategy, decided in 2019 to enter the fast-growing – and complex – kombucha segment. “Part of the Honest brand’s strategy is to ‘own the fridge’ of the
Millennial family by offering lower- sugar, organic beverages for all occasions,” said Rafael Acevedo, vice president, Tea Portfolio, Coca-Cola North America. “Given the rising popularity of kombucha, it made sense for a brand known for making tea to enter this space.”

The Transformational Innovation Team helped Honest enter this space by end of the year in a limited, 20-store test, then quickly aligned on a brand proposition and execution strategy. Results are expected in early 2020.

‘Being nimble doesn’t mean cutting corners’

The teams also partnered to secure all required approvals in time to produce and ship samples of Honest Cold Brew Coffee to the Natural Products Expo East tradeshow in only 10 weeks. The brand received great feedback from attendees.

“That project was not a product development challenge – it was a regulatory and food safety challenge,” explained Zaripheh, a food scientist with a PhD in nutrition. “Low-acid beverages like coffee have significant food safety and regulatory hurdles which can take a ton of time, but we were able to do even more due diligence by taking a different approach.”

Acevedo called the collaboration “a great example of how the company is approaching innovation differently and prioritizing agility to achieve effcient results.”

However, Zaripheh insists, the team takes steps to move quickly without compromising safety or quality, or taking due-diligence shortcuts. “Being nimble doesn’t mean cutting corners… it means approaching challenges from different angles and finding ways to parallel-path and operate with flexibility,” she added. “We hear a lot about speed to market these days. But speed by itself isn’t a competitive advantage – anyone can go fast. The key is identifying potential big bets, starting small and learning before making significant investments and launching at scale. That’s what we do.”

Creating a ripple effect

This group of “intrapraneurs” is on a mission to create a ripple effect by sharing learnings with Coca-Cola North America teams leading innovation projects across the system.

“Power is not having one team dedicated to transformational innovation, but seamlessly implementing learnings and frameworks across the organization and fueling new capability to drive growth,” said Simon Yeung, SVP, Innovation and Stewardship, Coca-Cola North America, noting that the team consulted and shared learnings with the sparkling water team spearheading the AHA brand launch. “Our goal is to get the system to move faster and deliver more disruptive innovation… to take on meatier projects and platform-able ideas and bring them to life.”

Mintel, the experts in what consumers want and why, has announced two trends impacting the global packaging industry in 2020:

• Ahead of the Recycling Curve: Packaging manufacturers and brands must continue to develop and commercialize recyclable package innovations even if the capabilities to recycle them do not yet exist.
• In-store Refill: The rapid growth of independent packaging-free stores is driving retailers across the industry to consider how to create simple, branded, and engaging refill opportunities in-store.

Looking ahead, Mintel Global Packaging Director David Luttenberger discusses the major trends influencing the packaging sector worldwide during the coming year.

Ahead of the Recycling Curve

“Despite the world’s wishes, single-use plastic will exist for decades to come. With a fraction of the world’s plastic waste actually being recycled, there is a dire need to explore technologies that are ‘technically’ recyclable now, and for the development of plastic alternatives – not just single-use plastics, but for all types of plastics and packaging. Time is of the essence; these technologies must be developed today, ahead of their ability to be recycled, rather than the other way around. But next-generation technologies are only small pieces of the greater equation that will address and solve the waste and recycling crisis. With all the will in the world, ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ is not universal; it’s hard to recycle if consumers aren’t first reminded to ‘return’ packaging to the proper recycling bin or store take-back system. The ultimate solution is brands, manufacturers, packaging industry bodies, governments and environmental non-profits working in harmony to better inform consumers, develop more easily recyclable packaging and establish better collection systems and recycling processes.”

In-store Refill

“Regardless of the material used, the next iteration of the circular economy is clearly focused on reusability, alongside recyclability. With single-use now a toxic phrase for many consumers, refillable packaging is becoming more and more commonly known and used. While consumers want packaging reduction that comes from reuse, they expect this to be a simple and mess-free transaction. But without packaging to serve as one of the main communication channels from brands to consumers, branding can become challenging. Brands should look to offer memorable experiences through refill in order to create brand engagement, with those bringing some theatre to the refill moment most likely to succeed. And whilst many smaller refill stores use Instagrammable containers (such as attractive heritage glass jars), if refill is to become mainstream, consumers will expect refillable options that are easy to use from start to finish. By meeting this need, brands have an opportunity to ensure that their message is maintained.”

To find out Mintel’s predictions for what consumers in 2020 (and 2030!) will want and why, and what manufacturers and brands must do now to stay ahead of the competition, download the free thought piece here.

The combined trade fair of BIOFACH, the World’s Leading Trade Fair for Organic Food, and VIVANESS, the International Trade Fair for Natural and Organic Personal Care, will be more international and diverse than ever before when it opens its doors at Exhibition Centre Nuremberg from 12 – 15 February. Both shows are setting new records for exhibitor numbers, display area and international focus. A total of 3,792 exhibitors – 292 of them at VIVANESS – from 110 countries will showcase their products to the trade public on a display area measuring 57,609 m2. BIOFACH and VIVANESS 2020 are offering their roughly expected 50,000 visitors even more diversity than ever, in two additional halls. The approaches that the organic system already offers for resolving urgent issues affecting the future will be discussed by the organic sector as part of the congress theme “Organic delivers!”, while water will be the focus of the special show “All about water – is the basis of life endangered?”. The key trends at BIOFACH this year are “Packaging”, “Vegan 2.0”, “Open Pollinated Varieties” and “Region 2.0”.

All facets of organic: the thematic focus areas at BIOFACH

BIOFACH offers three major thematic focus areas to explore: Know-how & Learning, New Products & Trends, and Experience & Discover. Besides the BIOFACH Congress, the Know-how & Learning area includes the German-language “Fachhandelstreff” for specialist retailers, the network hubs “Generation Future” and “Initiatives & NGOs” as well as the new special show “All about water – is the basis of life endangered?”. The focus of “New Products & Trends” is on new products, newcomers and start-ups. This also includes the Novelty Stand (www.biofach.de/noveltystand) with 629 registered new products and the Best New Product Award, which is decided by trade visitors based on the products showcased at the Novelty Stand. The “New Products & Trends” area also includes the Pavilion that the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy sponsors for innovative new companies, the “German Newcomers”. Twenty-five newcomers and start-ups will be presenting to the trade public there under the heading of “Innovation made in Germany”. (www.biofach.de/en/newcomer).

The Experience the World of OLIVE OIL, WINE and VEGAN are part of the thematic focus area “Experience & Discover”. Product presentations, tastings and accompanying events for trade visitors are a long-standing part of the program there. There is also a standing tradition of coveted awards: the international organic wine prize known as MUNDUS VINI BIOFACH, and the Olive Oil Award.

BIOFACH World

NürnbergMesse has proven expertise in the field of organic foodstuffs.In February every year, the international organic sector gathers in Nuremberg at BIOFACH, the World’s Leading Trade Fair for Organic Food. The comprehensive range of certified organic products on display shows their diversity – from fresh products like dairy and cheese, fruit, vegetables, dry products like grains and pulses, nuts and confectionery to beverages. The international patron of BIOFACH is IFOAM – Organics International, while the national supporting organization is the German Federation of Organic Food Producers (BÖLW). An integral part of this world-leading fair is the BIOFACH Congress, a knowledge-sharing platform that is unique worldwide. With another six BIOFACH events in China, India, Japan, South America, Thailand and the USA, BIOFACH World has a global presence and year for year brings together more than 4,500 exhibitors and
150,000 trade visitors.

The UK non-alcoholic spirits category has grown to be worth £37m in 2019, up 506 % versus 2014, and is forecast to more than double in size again over the next five years, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

David Harris, Consumer Analyst at GlobalData, says: “Younger generations are drinking less, with Gen-Z only strengthening this trend as they reach legal drinking age. This is hardly ground-breaking news. Adult soft drinks, premium juices and a growing range of high-quality non-alcoholic beers are all targeted at this demographic, in addition to older consumers who simply want to moderate their alcohol consumption.”

So what about consumers who don’t want a non-alcoholic beer, but still want an ‘alcohol-alike’ beverage? This may be at a party, on a night out, or at home when everyone else is enjoying their gin and tonics. This is the specific opportunity non-alcoholic spirits are targeting. Where craft beers targeted consumers turned off by mainstream German and US lager brands, non-alcoholic spirits aim to engage consumers who want to feel part of the party, but who don’t want a sore head in the morning.

Harris adds: “Talking of craft beer, what is notable is how the rise of non-alcoholic spirits mirrors the rise of craft beer, arguably the beverage trend of the last decade. With laser targeting of a specific need, from a specific demographic, there are clear similarities between non-alcoholic spirits and craft beer.

“Both target younger legal age consumers. Both target consumers who are either tired of, or have no interest in, the mainstream variant of the offering, and both use flashy, stylized and no-nonsense packaging to engage with their audience.”

Excited with the prospect, major players in spirits are increasingly looking to get involved, with William Grant and Sons launching their Atopia range, Pernod-Ricard launching Celtic Soul, as well as the Diageo-funded Seedlip, which has now expanded out of the UK and into overseas markets.

Retailers also seem to agree that this is a category to watch too, with Tesco, Lidl, Asda, and more major UK retailers all stocking at least one non-alcoholic spirit.

Harris concludes: “While this may not be the next craft beer, the opportunity is certainly there, and both brands and retailers agree that this in an opportunity which is too big to miss.

Pectin market value is expected to surpass USD $1.8 billion by 2026, owing to a growing necessity for organic and herbal cosmetic products among the young population.

Global pectin market research studies the types of application (food & beverages: jams, dairy, non-dairy beverages, confectionery), their type (high methylated ester pectin, low methylated ester pectin, and amidated pectin), their function (gelling agents, thickener, stabilizer, fat replacer and others), regional outlook, price trends, growth potential, competitive market share and provides forecasts for 2019–2025. Global Market Insights, Inc., forecasts more than a 7.6 % CAGR for the worldwide pectin industry up to 2025.

Driven by the growing need for plant-based ingredients, the global pectin market is projected to observe significant gains over the forthcoming years. Plant-based ingredients are witnessing this upsurge since they offer immense health benefits.

Pectin products help to control blood sugar levels. These products also help to maintain proper bowel health. Owing to these multiple benefits, pectin products are best suited for nutritional needs, which is likely to foster their market share in the coming years.

Along with health concerns, rising applications of the product in confectionery fillings and sweets would possibly augment the market outlook. Additionally, the increasing usage of pectin in fruit juices and milk drinks as a stabilizer would add up to the industry’s expansion. Pectin helps decrease syneresis in marmalades and jams.

With respect to the raw material segment, apples have dominated the market outlook in recent years. The product is anticipated to witness similar growth in the forthcoming timeframe. This development is attributed to the use of apple pomace in production. Apple peel is one of the major wastes in preserve manufacturing. This peel contains about 1.3 percent of pectin. Apple peel yields more pectin in comparison to sugar beet and citrus peels. In addition, it has better gelling characteristics which further makes it a major raw material in the beverage and food market.

With reference to the geographical landscape, the Asia-Pacific pectin market is predicted to observe significant growth throughout the forthcoming years. Rapidly transforming customer lifestyles is the key factor augmenting the market outlook in the region.

In addition, the increasing demand for consumables that are organic in nature is likely to add up to the growth of the overall market trends. China would possibly lead the market expansion in the region. The country is among the largest producers of pectin. It is also observing mounting demand for health and wellness products due to the increasingly growing middle-class population. Furthermore, rising applications of citrus-based products in the cosmetics sector would further outline the market growth in the region.

Some of the key players in the pectin market includes Cargill, Dupont, Krishna Pectins Pvt Ltd, AEP Colloids, Silvateam S.p.a, CP Kelco U.S., Inc., TIC Gums, Inc. (Ingredion), Compania Espanola de Algas Marinas, S.A., Merck KGaA, Lucid Colloids Ltd., Herbstreith & Fox, Nikunj Chemicals, Pure Ingredients, Cifal Herbal Private Ltd, California Ingredients Inc, Calleva Ingredients Limited etc.

SIG has set a bold new climate target that is one of the first in its industry to be approved by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) as being in line with the latest climate science to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels to prevent the worst effects of climate change. SIG is committed to cutting its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 60 % by 2030 (from the 2016 baseline).

The ambitious new target places SIG among an elite group of companies leading efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the global Paris Agreement to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C.

Around 300 companies have targets approved by the SBTi. Fewer than 100 are currently approved as being in line with the 1.5°C goal. SIG is one of the first in its industry to have a 1.5°C target approved by the SBTi.

SIG’s new target compresses the timeline to achieve a 60 % absolute reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by a full 10 years compared with its previous target, which was already approved by the SBTi as in line with keeping global warming well below 2°C.

A strong focus on renewable energy underpins the company’s efforts to achieve this target. SIG has already switched to 100 % renewable electricity for global production and is exploring opportunities to expand on-site renewables, such as its award-winning rooftop solar array in Thailand.

SIG is not only committed to cutting emissions from its own operations. The company also commits to reduce value chain greenhouse gas emissions by 25 % per litre packed by 2030 (from the 2016 baseline). This target includes scope 1, scope 2 & scope 3 emissions from Purchased Goods and Services, Use of Sold Products, and End of Life Treatment.

Moriyama first to run commercial production using SIG filling technology in Japan

Tokyo-based 50-50 joint venture DNP • SIG Combibloc Co., Ltd has announced that pioneering dairy manufacturer Moriyama is the first customer in Japan to run commercial production using SIG filling technology and the first to offer premium ready-to-drink (RTD) products in SIG carton packs locally filled in Japan.

Japan is one of the most competitive and highly developed markets for food and beverages in the world, with innovation being the key to success. Food safety and quality is of paramount importance with extremely high requirements on both aseptic and industrial standards. SIG’s market entry in Japan with Moriyama clearly demonstrates such high-quality standards, for both filling technology and packaging.

Moriyama’s new premium RTD products, in combifitMidi and combiblocMidi 1000 ml aseptic carton packs from SIG, will be filled at the company’s production plant in Kanagawa Prefecture on a CFA 812 filling machine from SIG. The new products, including cocoa, organic tea and organic coffee, and packaging fit perfectly within Moriyama’s extensive and diverse product portfolio, offering a high level of differentiation in such a mature and challenging environment.

Moriyama is also an important co-packer within the Japanese market and the new filling technology from SIG will benefit this side of its business, helping to expand its market position in the longer term.

DNP • SIG Combibloc Co., Ltd and Moriyama work together on product innovation and differentiation as part of SIG’s Value Proposition, which aims to deliver innovative product and packaging solutions that enable businesses to satisfy ever-changing needs.

The global Probiotics Market value is projected to surpass USD $3.5 billion by 2026, according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc. Changing consumer perception towards easily digestible food and beverages and the rising awareness of the potential benefits of probiotic-enhanced supplements may boost market share.

Increasing probiotics industry demand for high-quality food additives, owing to the changing perception towards overall wellness and rising disposable income, may boost market share. Probiotics-strain-enhanced additives are widely used to improve the nutritional profile of non-dairy, meat, and baked preparations, owing to their rich concentration of antioxidants and vital amino acids, which are likely to encourage market demand. Consumers are shifting towards alternate versions of their favorite snacks, which are fortified by probiotic strains, as they aid in healthy digestion, which may augment market share.

A rising prevalence of poor diets, an increasing elderly population with reduced nutritional uptake capability, and growing health awareness may promote the growth of the probiotics market for food supplement applications. Food supplements offer various advantages, such as offering multiple bacterial strains in a potent dose, correcting bacterial concentrations in the digestive tract, and alleviating abdominal discomfort which should boost market demand.  Moreover, they boost the immune system and prevent bacterial and fungal infections by resisting against airborne pathogens, which is likely to boost market share.

Some major findings of the probiotics market report include:

• The demand for probiotics is increasing due to their benefits, such as their immune system strengthening nature and for the regulation of insulin and bile
• Rising market demand for high-quality dietary additives in Europe due to a rising geriatric population and increasing awareness towards the potential benefits of probiotics strain-induced diets.
• Changing perceptions towards animal rights and increasing demand for high-quality animal derivative products, such as eggs, meat, and milk in Asia-Pacific is expected to open new avenues for probiotics industry expansion.
• Some of the major players operating in the probiotics market include Arla Foods, BioGaia AB, DuPont Danisco, Danone, I- Health, Nestle, and Nebraska Cultures
• Companies are investing in R&D to develop hybrid varieties of strains to counter side effects and diversify product portfolio, which is likely to foster industry growth

Supportive government regulations in Europe and North America towards the use of probiotic strains in the food and beverage market and in animal feed may boost market share. Manufacturers are expanding product portfolios and diversifying segments by introducing probiotics enhanced alternatives, which may boost industry growth.

Browse key industry insights spread across 310 pages with 363 market data tables and 51 figures and charts from the report, “Probiotics Market Share By Ingredients (Lactobacilli, Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus, Bacillus), By End-Use (Human, Animal), By Application (Food and Beverages {Dairy Products, Non-Dairy Products, Cereals, Baked Food, Fermented Meat Products, Dry Food}, Dietary Supplements {Food, Nutritional, Specialty Nutrients, Infant Formula}, Animal Feed), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, Application Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2019 -2026,” in detail along, with the table of contents: www.gminsights.com

Starbucks Coffee Japan, Ltd. announced that it will eliminate single-use plastic straws from nearly 1,500 stores across Japan and begin providing paper straws to customers starting in January 2020. The new paper straws are made from responsibly-sourced paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council^® (FSC), available in standard sizes for iced beverages and large sizes for Frappuccino^® blended beverages.

The new standard-sized paper straws will be available in select stores beginning in January, with a complete rollout to all stores across the Japan market by March. Large-sized straws for Frappuccino blended beverages will be available in all store by May. All paper straws will come in paper packaging with positive messages about sustainability.

“Since we announced our global commitment to eliminate single-use plastic straws across all stores by the end of 2020, Starbucks Japan has focused tirelessly on finding a straw alternative that meets our quality standards,” said Takafumi Minaguchi, representative director and ceo, Starbucks Japan. “We’re pleased to announce that we’ve achieved our goal. As technologies and innovations evolve, we see opportunities to continue to develop the premium Starbucks Experience our customers love in a sustainable way.”

Starbucks continues to explore innovative ways to reduce single-use plastics in stores throughout Japan. Since the first store opened in Ginza, Tokyo in 1996, Starbucks stores in Japan have offered a 20 yen discount for customers who bring their own cups or tumblers.

Symrise has inaugurated its Creative Center in Egypt on November 26, 2019. The subsidiary in the outskirts of Cairo comprises modern development and application laboratories for the categories Beverages, Confectionery, Dairy, Culinary and Snacks. Dirk Bennwitz, President Flavor EAME at Symrise, officially opened the new facilities. They meet the company’s global technology and development standards and are intended to strengthen the company’s reach in the AME region and its collaboration with strategic customers. Partners, customers and guests attended the ceremony.

Symrise has equipped its development and application laboratories with state-of-the-art technology. Within the Creative Center, employees will develop customized product solutions and applications and adapt existing products for the market. Compared to its facilities so far, the new creative center offers a number of advantages. Modern consumer and market analysis and quality assurance procedures guarantee authentic and relevant products for customers and consumers in the region.

“By investing in the new Creative Center, our strong team of food technologists and flavorists can make a significant contribution to the growth in the region in the future,” says Dirk Bennwitz, President Flavor EAME at Symrise. “We are convinced of the strategy, because our location in Cairo offers us proximity to customers and markets in Africa and the Middle East. In the future, we will be able to better serve demand in the region and optimally align our business with our customers, thus contributing to the company’s growth.”

Customers benefit from tailor-made developments

In the future, the Symrise team will have access to all the technologies and innovations available in the Group in the Creative Center. This will make it easier to meet customer demand. In addition, customers benefit from knowledge of the region and the increased use of local raw materials. This helps to meet the diverse wishes of consumers. Another advantage is that Symrise can work with its customers in a time- and cost-efficient manner.

“We use a wide range of manufacturing technologies in Egypt to supply all of Africa and the Middle East,” says Ibrahim Wagdy, responsible Managing Director of Symrise in Egypt. “We are now expanding these capacities with our modernized site thereby increasing the attractiveness for our customers in the region.“

Egypt is an important location for Symrise. On the one hand, because the country’s location in the AME region makes it easy to exchange information with customers from Africa and the Middle East. On the other hand, the industrial and agricultural infrastructure provides valuable advantages for the production and development of flavors for the local market.

Sugar reduction remains a central topic in the media and among consumers and opportunities for reducing sugar intake are taking a number of directions as companies address evolving concerns and demands.

Strategies for reducing sugar intake feature a combination of sugar reduction, sugar substitution and moving beyond sweetness to alternative tastes. These methods are often supported by a combination of functional formulations and blends, next generation sweeteners and other technological developments.

In an Innova Market Insights survey, sugar reduction is a popular option for the three in five US consumers in an Innova Market Insights survey who would rather cut back on sugar than consume artificial sweeteners. Sugar-related claims continue to grow and increasingly take on more prominent on-pack positionings.

In the US, for example, 8 % of all new food and beverage launches tracked by Innova Market Insights in 2018 featured a sugar reduction claim. Claims of no added sugar were most prominent, accounting for 42 % of all sugar-related claims, ahead of sugar-free (36 %) and low sugar (27 %). Although the low sugar claim is smallest in terms of its share of launches, it is also the fastest growing with an NPD CAGR of 17 % over the 2014 to 2018 period.

Sugar reduction can be achieved in a number of ways, including removing or reducing the amount of added sugar, replacing part of the sugar formulation with non-nutritive sweeteners and/or using innovative processing technologies, such as “aeration” to increase perceived sweetness, slow straining milk to remove sugar prior to yogurt making, or using enzymes to convert simple sugars to fibers in juices.

Interest in sugar substitution has also driven the rising use of sweeteners, particularly non-nutritive ones derived from nature, such as stevia, monk fruit and thaumatin. Allulose, which also occurs naturally in small quantities in a variety of sweet foods such as figs, can also be manufactured synthetically.

The April 2019 announcement by the FDA that allulose did not have to be included in total and added sugar counts in US nutritional labeling has also cleared the way for much higher levels of use and a potential move mainstream. Levels of patent activity indicate current interest in the use of allulose, rising 42 % in 2018 over 2017, while global NPD in food and beverages featuring the ingredient had an average annual growth of 45 % over the 2014 to 2018 period, although from a low base.

Companies are also looking at alternative ingredients such as coffee cherries as a potential stealth reducer of sugar in foods containing chocolate. Upcycled coffee cherries can be used to reduce the amount of sugar in finished products by emulating flavor in highlighting the cocoa notes, so that less cocoa powder is needed.

Another approach to sugar reduction is to use alternative flavor notes, such as bitter, sour or spicy, exploiting interest in novel and unconventional flavors to reduce the demand for sweetness overall. Interest in botanicals and their health benefits is also rising and may likewise encourage consumers to move away from more sugar laden foods; the use of botanical flavors for food and drinks NPD is expanding and can be seen across a whole range of different categories.