The authentically fresh juice brand’s rapid growth furthers its mission to provide world-class juice for generations to come with minimally processed blends

Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Company, the nostalgic and authentic juice brand beloved for its use of high-quality, clean ingredients, is responding to persistent consumer demand across the West Coast in the US with the announcement of several major retailer partnerships in the region to significantly increase the availability of its award-winning juices. This expansion will bring consumers in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Washington the quality juices that Natalie’s is best known for producing. Over the next several months, consumers across the West can expect to find Natalie’s products at retailers including Albertsons, Brookshire Grocery Co., Rouses, Stater Brothers, and new divisions of Whole Foods in over 500 locations.

Natalie’s has experienced tremendous growth with regional sales up + 230 % YTD, primarily driven by over 2,700 new points of distribution in the West. After building strong brand affinity and awareness on the East Coast, Natalie’s is shifting its focus to the West with the company-wide goal of achieving 25 % growth and $ 150 million in sales by the end of 2023, while continuing to provide local customers with easy access to world-class juices.

Natalie’s is now sold in over 42 states in the US and 15 countries. What started as a simple dream for a small family business has grown into an internationally recognised and renowned brand with over 220 team members throughout the US and unrivaled customer loyalty.

The Israeli food tech startup Better Juice can now use its microorganisms to reduce the glucose, fructose, and sucrose of up to 250 million liters of fruit juice every year.

Better Juice uses natural enzymes to convert sugars in juice to non-digestible compounds, like dietary fibers. The technology can reduce up to 80 percent of the simple sugar content in fruit juices and fruit-based condiments without affecting the naturally occurring nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Its manufacturing plant, which is the first of its kind to place its patented enzymes in beverages, has now transitioned to full commercial production, and will be able to reduce the sugar in up to 250 million liters of fruit juices each year.

To read the full article from Ariel Grossman, visit nocamels.com .

The joint initiative digitises end-to-end supply chain processes at Eckes-Granini and breaks down information silos within the organisation

o9 Solutions, a leading enterprise AI software platform provider for transforming planning and decision-making, and Genpact, a global professional services firm focused on delivering digital transformation, announced the completion of the first phase to digitise and augment the global supply chain of Eckes-Granini, a leading supplier of fruit juices and beverages in Europe.

This transformation initiative combines Genpact’s decades of expertise in retail and consumer goods, supply chain optimisation, and digitally enabled operations with o9’s Digital Brain platform, which is powered by o9’s proprietary Enterprise Knowledge Graph (EKG) technology for end-to-end supply chain and scenario planning. Together, the o9 and Genpact teams enabled a digitalisation process that breaks down information silos and transforms Eckes-Granini’s operations into efficiently integrated ecosystems that are fully transparent and streamlined for the company, its vendors, and suppliers.

The implementation will reduce supply chain costs and inventories, eliminate excess inventory, waste and duplicative processes and enhance operating efficiencies to support long-term goals. In the first phase, Eckes-Granini went live with the Valorized Demand Planning process in Spain, Germany, Hungary, Austria, France, Finland, Sweden, and its international business, bringing together Supply Chain, Finance, Sales and Marketing under the same process and tool.

“By digitising our supply chains, we gain transparency to make more meaningful decisions with our alliances and inventories across the value chains, as well as continue to offer the highest quality of products that our customers expect,” said Tobias Rudolf, Chief Information Officer at Eckes-Granini. “We are striving to become one of the most sustainable companies in the juice and fruit beverages sector.”

The harvesting of late orange varieties began at a slow pace in mid-October. Although maturation was not ideal then, oranges were within the minimum standards required by the market, leading farmers to begin the harvesting.

The first variety available in the market was valência, followed by natal. Even the variety “folha murcha”, whose harvesting usually begins in December, arrived at the market in the first fortnight of November.

Agents expect supply (majorly of valência and natal oranges) to increase in the coming weeks, as the harvesting steps up in December – activities are forecast to end in mid-February. Also, the share of late varieties at juice processing plants is expected to gradually increase this month, accounting for the most part in December.

At juice processors, although quality standards (ratio and brix) are not within requirements, agents from the industry reported to be receiving late varieties – many of them blend these varieties with the juice from pear oranges without any quality loss. However, the supply of these varieties is still low because of difficulties to find labor for the harvesting.

Costain is working with Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, Wales and West Utilities and food and drink manufacturer Princes Group on a feasibility study to produce hydrogen from biogas from the Cardiff East Waste Water Treatment Works that willfuel boilersto provide heat for fruit juice pasteurisation.

The programme is funded through the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s (BEIS)£1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, which aims to accelerate the commercialisation of innovative clean energy technologies and processes through the 2020s and 2030s.

The H2Juice project has been awarded £372,931 of funding from the BEIS£26 million Industrial Hydrogen Accelerator Programme (Stream 2A), to demonstrate the feasibility of end-to-end industrial fuel switching to hydrogen. The study will take five months with the possibility to awarded further funding in the subsequent Stream 2B, to conduct further engineering and a demonstrator.

The feasibility study will also investigate the ability to utilise different blends of hydrogen with natural gas, enabling the transition to fuel switching and demonstration of system flexibility.

Costain Energy Sector Director, Matt Browell-Hook, said “I’m delighted that our H2Juice project has been selected under the Government’s hydrogen accelerator programme. Costain has been active for a number of years in the development of hydrogen schemes across the UK and this recent award is a great reflection of the hard work our energy teams have been involved in.”

This project builds on a similar study carried out with Welsh Water to evaluate the feasibility of converting waste gases from the sewage treatment process to produce fuel grade hydrogen, which could power local fleet vehicles.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How about sugar

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Upcycling the cocoa fruit to increase farmers’ income

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

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

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

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

German consumers have been turning away from juices in the last five years^* as these drinks are considered to have a high sugar content. Therefore, juice makers are turning towards innovations in wellness drinks that are clear about their ingredient and nutritional benefits. Leading data and analytics company GlobalData says prebiotic juices with ingredients such as banana, garlic, apple and cocoa have the potential to be the next big thing in Germany.

Holly Inglis, Beverages Analyst at GlobalData comments: “The German juice market has seen a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) wane of 1.6 % in terms of volume over the last five years, spelling bad news for manufacturers. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel in the introduction of prebiotic juices.

“While we haven’t (yet!) seen garlic-flavoured drinks on the shelves, German producers have already started to focus their efforts on juices that promote immunity such as private label brand Dirk Rossmann, whose new launch combines prebiotic apple, mango, vegetable extract, shiitake mushroom and coconut juice. There is long-term potential for German juice manufactures to limit the declines witnessed in the category over the last few years, with the potential to capitalise on novel, innovative and trendy flavours – that in all, promote health and wellness.”

As we have seen before, reformulating products to remove sugar doesn’t always cut it. Experimenting with prebiotic ingredients such as ginger and turmeric emphasise unique ‘added benefits’, as well as being new to the market and appealing to experimental consumers.

Inglis continues: “GlobalData’s latest survey tells us that 55 %^* of German consumers find ingredients that claim to improve digestive health somewhat or very appealing. That’s a large proportion of the market engaged in improving their digestive health. It is also noteworthy that, since the onset of COVID-19, a number of consumers have increased their focus on how these ingredients can improve their mental and physical wellbeing.”

In 2020, the German juice market witnessed a number of innovations from producers such as Hitchcock turmeric juice shot and Innocent ginger power shot; both of which have an ‘on-the-go’ pack size, which appeals to time-short consumers who are seeking to boost their immune system.

Inglis adds: “In the same survey, 49 %^* of consumers highlighted that immunity-boosting ingredients are somewhat or very appealing. Producers could benefit from innovating beverages that boast these claims and sell at premium prices.”

^*GlobalData’s Q2-21 Consumer Survey Results – Germany – Combined responses: “Somewhat appealing” and “Very appealing”

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.

Seed-round, led by iAngels, will propel production and technology to reduce sugars in fruit juice

Better Juice, Ltd., the first company to reduce all sugars from natural juices, announces it has raised US$8M in seed-round investment. This new influx of support was led by iAngels, Israel and includes investors: Maverick Ventures, Israel; Food Tech Lab TFTL, Spain; The Kitchen Hub, Israel, as part of the Strauss Group and IIA; NEOME, Israel; Schestowitz Group, Israel; and Semillero, Puerto Rico.

The start-up’s enzymatic technology uses all-natural ingredients to convert fructose, glucose, and sucrose into prebiotic dietary fibers and other non-digestible molecules. Reducing up to 80 % of all sugars, Better Juice’s non-GMO technology is designed to target orange juice’s specific sugar composition to naturally create a low-calorie, reduced-sugar product with a delicate sweetness. Better Juice opened a pilot plant in January 2021, an important milestone in the startup’s commercial scale-up timeline.

Better Juice will use the investment to build its first full-scale manufacturing plant in Israel to serve the growing demand. The high-tech plant will increase production capacity by 40-fold while generating up to US$50M sales annually. The company will use the funds to expand the sales and marketing teams to support its commercialization stage.

“We are excited to complete this investment round with the support of leading venture capital and CPG companies from around the globe,” says Eran Blachinsky, PhD, founder and CEO of Better Juice. “This investment will enable us to accelerate our growth and expand into other product lines, such as ice cream, soft drinks, and jam.”

About Better Juice
Better Juice was founded in 2018 by Eran Blachinsky, PhD, in collaboration with the Hebrew University, Jerusalem. The company was incubated in The Kitchen Hub – Strauss Group’s foodtech and IIA incubator, and received early funding from Maverick Ventures, Israel and other global partners.

Better Plant Sciences Inc. announced that it has added five 355 ml cold-pressed juices and two 60 ml juice shots under the Jusu brand. With this new product launch, Jusu now has a total of 14 cold-pressed juices based on proprietary blends available for sale.

“The new additions round out our portfolio of juices so we can meet different needs and preferences. We’ve got our super-green vegetable-only juices, lighter, fruit-based green juices, root juices, lemonades, and now we’ve got more exciting fruit flavours and shots”, says Ashleen Montgomery, Director of Research and Development at Better Plant. “As always, our juice is cold-pressed and pasteurized using HPP. This allows us to ensure food safety without the use of preservatives or heat while maintaining the nutritional quality of the juices.”

The juices are sold individually or as part of a 1, 3 or 5-day cleanse, and have a 60-day shelf life.

The growth of the cold-pressed juice market is driven by growing dietary and health concerns, and a rising number of people skipping breakfast and looking for an on-the-go alternative which gives them nutritional benefits.

The global cold pressed juice market is predicted to grow to $ 4.65 billion between 2020 and 2028, largely driven by a rising health consciousness among millennials, according to a report by Market Research Future.

The juices will be available for purchase at the Jusu Bar location in Cadboro Bay, Victoria, British Columbia and through Jusu’s direct-to-consumer platform and are available for wholesale purchases throughout Canada.

The new flavours are:

• Mustang Cel-y: celery and lemon juice
• Shake it Off: clementine, grapefruit and orange juice
• Purple Rain: apple, blueberry, cranberry, lime and fresh mint juice
• Strawberry Fields: apple, strawberry, lemon and fresh mint juice
• La Bamba: green apple, pineapple, cucumber, lemon and fresh mint juice
• Highway to Well: orange, ginger, lemon and cayenne pepper
• Genie in a Bottle: ginger, lemon and turmeric

About Better Plant:
Better Plant harnesses plant intelligence and leverages modern science to offer sustainable, plant-based products that are better for health and better for the earth. It makes and sells over 90 proprietary products, all made with 100 % natural ingredients, under the brands Jusu, Urban Juve and Wright & Well. It has a direct-to-consumer platform for refrigerated goods that offers easy online ordering and convenient home delivery in select cities in Alberta and BC. Better Plant operates Jusu Bar, a quick serve restaurant alternative in Victoria, BC, which serves up fresh, healthy, and nutritious options with a focus on Jusu cold-pressed juices. Jusubar.com offers home delivery of refrigerated plant-based beverages consisting of cold-pressed juices and packaged juice cleanses. Through its Shopify enabled eCommerce sites getjusu.com and urbanjuve.com, Better Plant sells plant-based personal care products, including skin care, hair care and body care. Jusu also has a line of plant-based all-natural home cleaning products that are sold to cleaning companies, retailers and sold directly to consumers. Better Plant also offers operational, financial, and other services to companies with businesses that align with Better Plant’s mission to help create a better world. Better Plant incubated NeonMind Biosciences Inc., which sells medicinal mushroom infused coffees and is developing drugs with psychedelic ingredients to treat obesity and to suppress appetite.

Beverage Partners International (BPI) has the great pleasure of announcing that moving forward, it will offer a licensing and distribution opportunity for SUMOL+COMPAL, a world-leading market player in the fruit beverages category.

SUMOL+COMPAL is the largest juice producer in Portugal, with a global footprint in more than 68 countries around the world. The proud owner of a varied portfolio of 16 brands, the company’s offering is split across 6 different segments: juices and nectars, soft drinks, water, snacks, vegetables and alcoholic drinks.

Moshy Cohen, CEO, BPI, commented: “We are very proud to partner with S+C in their rapid international expansion. S+C is a company with unique know-how in the juice based beverage market, and excellent brands that can significantly improve the capabilities and competitive advantage of BPI’s bottlers across the world.”

Nadia Franco, S+C, Head of New Business, Int’l, added: “Sumol and Compal have great momentum in international markets. Both brands present superior products and unique positioning that perfectly fit the most important consumer trends.

“We are excited to join BPI and present licensing opportunities for it’s bottlers and distributors network across the world. We love our business, our brands and what we do. We want to keep doing better. We improve continuously and we think positively.”

Complementing a healthy lifestyle

SUMOL+COMPAL bases its ethos on inspiration it draws from fruits, vegetables and water, all indispensable natural sources of nutrition, hydration and pleasure. The global market for juice-based beverages, both fruit and vegetable-based, is projected to continue to grow thanks to innovation in the category alongside consumer demand for products that enable a healthy lifestyle.

The drive for Health and Wellness is providing huge opportunities for pioneering beverage industry players. Rising interest in non-alcoholic drinks options and beverages that complement a healthy lifestyle means that SUMOL+COMPAL offers a dynamic opportunity within the beverage category, targeting consumers with tasty, nutritious fruit and vegetable ingredients via established brands and exciting flavours.

Flagship brand COMPAL is the market leader in the Juice category in Portugal, with over 60 % market share in the country as well as a global presence, owing its loyal consumer following to its delicious and nutritional juices and nectars – picked at the perfect moment to ensure the final product is always rich in nutrients, and keeps the flavour and aroma of freshly-picked fruit.

SUMOL, meanwhile, is a slightly sparkling drink made with real fruit juice and pulp. With a wide and unique range of fruit flavours and a 62.4 % market share in Portugal, it is perfect for consumers looking for refreshment without compromising on their health and wellness lifestyle.

Meeting demand for healthy, low calorie beverages containing real fruit and vegetable ingredients, SUMOL+COMPAL’s natural products provide a unique offering that plays into its consumer for individualised products, with a unique range of fruit flavours available in its striking and iconic branded packaging.

Eckes-Granini Group GmbH can look back on a challenging business year in 2020, which was strongly influenced by the global COVID-19 pandemic. With an EBIT of 71 million EUR and an EBIT margin of 8.7 %, business results fell short of expectations in the past year, but the international corporate group for non-alcoholic fruit beverages nevertheless draws a satisfactory conclusion. Compared to the previous year, the company managed to almost maintain its EBIT margin, which was 8.9 % in 2019. Total turnover fell from EUR 921 million in the 2019 financial year to 873 million EUR in 2020 (-5.2 %), while sales volumes also declined in 2020, falling by 10 million litres to 843 million litres.

“The past business year was without a question a challenge for all of us. However, together we have managed to respond to this extraordinary situation with great flexibility and willingness to perform. We have maintained our supply chain and production throughout the year and expanded our market leadership in Europe. The COVID-19 pandemic will continue to affect us in 2021. This year, we will set the strategic internal course for sustainable growth “after Corona”,” says Tim Berger, CEO of the Eckes-Granini Group.

After an initially promising start to the first quarter of 2020, the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a massive setback in the out-of-home business from March onwards. In almost all European countries, restaurants and hotels were completely closed for months due to the Corona restrictions. Accordingly, Eckes-Granini suffered losses of up to 50 % in the out-of-home business in some markets.

Strong food retail partially offsets losses in the out-of-home business

The demand for fruit juices and fruit beverages developed positively in 2020. In contrast to previous years, which saw a declining trend, the FJND (Fruit Juice Nectar Drinks) market developed positively in 2020, both in terms of value (+2.2 %) and volume (+1.5 %). In particular the chilled-juice and ambient-juice segments were able to grow. With a growth of 3.9 %, Eckes-Granini grew almost twice as fast as the market in terms of value and was thus the growth driver in the FJND category again last year. In the food retail segment, the Eckes-Granini Group increased sales by 3 %, driven in particular by higher demand as a result of the ongoing Corona pandemic. Overall, the good results in food retail helped to compensate, at least in part, for the drastic decline in the out-of-home business.

Ongoing health awareness among consumers offers growth potential

The rising demand for fruit juices is also attributable to the continuing strong health trend among consumers. This is reflected in the positive development of the
Eckes-Granini Benefit Ranges, which have won over consumers with their additional health benefits. In Germany, Hungary, Austria and Lithuania, for example, the hohes C PLUS range grew by a total of 10 %, thus outpacing the overall growth of Eckes-Granini brands (+5.9 %) in these markets. The juices in the God Morgon Benefit range also benefited from this trend, with growth of 5 %, as did the shots of the Eckes-Granini brands Rynkeby, Brämhults and Marli.

In solidarity through the pandemic

The difficult situation in the out-of-home market was not the only challenge Eckes- Granini was facing in the pandemic year 2020. Ensuring smooth processes along the supply chain, in production and in operations also demanded a great deal from employees in terms of flexibility and commitment. Nevertheless, in the midst of the global crisis, it was important for the Group not to lose sight of its long-standing business partners and the situation in the communities in which Eckes-Granini operates. In an effort to mitigate the impact of the pandemic, Eckes-Granini supported restaurant owners Germany, Austria and France, among other countries, with donations. Under the umbrella of the Group-wide “Corona Relief Fund”, all eleven national subsidiaries of the Eckes-Granini Group also donated some 500,000 litres of fruit juice to people in systemically important professions and to charitable institutions from April to September 2020. And in the pandemic year, the international charity cycling initiative Team Rynkeby also collected 8.7 million EUR for seriously ill children despite many restrictions with regional country tours. Eckes-Granini has been a main sponsor and partner of the charity cycling race since 2016.

Sustainable management was also a priority in 2020

In the past business year, Eckes-Granini achieved a number of strategic milestones on its way to becoming one of the world’s most sustainable fruit juice producers by establishing an in-house sustainability team. The orange juices of Brazil, granini and God Morgon have carried the Group’s own “Sustainably Grown” label since last year and are produced from 100 % sustainably grown oranges. Through its cooperation with ClimatePartner, Eckes-Granini has also come closer to its goal of successively reducing all greenhouse gas emissions caused directly or indirectly by its own business activities and offsetting them through a compensation project in Portel, Brazil.

Setting the course for future growth

“We have set ourselves a lot of goals for 2025. At the top are innovations strictly oriented to the wishes, expectations and needs of consumers. The current beverage market offers Eckes-Granini numerous growth opportunities, which we will explore. Our goal is to significantly increase our sales revenues and market share in Europe and beyond by 2025″, says Tim Berger, CEO of the Eckes-Granini Group. To this end, the Eckes-Granini Group will continue to develop and expand its strategic brands and existing channels in a targeted manner over the next five years and invest substantially in dynamic growth categories. There will be a clear focus on channels that promise profitable growth, especially e-commerce.”

You can find further information and download the business report at: https://bit.ly/3xK2s2G

About the Eckes-Granini Group:
Eckes-Granini is the leading supplier of fruit juices and fruit beverages in Europe. For the independent family-owned company headquartered in Nieder-Olm, Germany (Rhineland-Palatinate), the focus is on committed and competent employees, strong brands in the areas of juices, fruit beverages and smoothies, and a long-term strategic orientation with sustainable value creation. Today, Eckes-Granini operates mainly in Europe with its own national companies and strategic partners and generates annual sales of 873 million euros with a total of 1708 employees. The company’s foundation is formed by the internationally renowned premium brands granini and Pago together with strong national and regional brands for juices and fruit beverages. Consumers in 80 countries worldwide and especially in Europe know and appreciate our fruit juices and the variety of fruit beverages.

Delivers double-digit net sales and earnings growth
Raises full-year net sales guidance and reaffirms EPS guidance

Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021 and increased its outlook for 2021 net sales growth to 4 % to 6 %, from the Company’s prior net sales guidance of 3 % to 4 %. KDP also reaffirmed its guidance for full-year Adjusted diluted EPS growth of 13 % to 15 %.

Net sales in the first quarter of 2021 advanced approximately 11 % on both a GAAP and constant currency basis, with each of the Company’s business segments reporting strong growth. GAAP diluted earnings per share more than doubled to $ 0.23 and Adjusted¹ diluted EPS grew to $ 0.33, a double-digit increase versus year-ago.

Commenting on the announcement, Chairman and CEO Bob Gamgort stated, “We delivered an exceptional first quarter, driving double-digit net sales and earnings growth, behind outstanding in-market execution. Looking forward, we see an improving, but volatile, macro environment marked by increasing consumer mobility and rising inflationary headwinds. We remain focused on delivering our business plan, with increased net sales growth expectations and growing confidence in achieving our Adjusted diluted EPS growth target of 13 % to 15 % for the year, and we plan to reinvest any earnings upside in the business to drive future growth.”

First Quarter Consolidated Results

Net sales for the first quarter of 2021 increased 11.1 % to $ 2.90 billion, compared to $ 2.61 billion in the year-ago period, driven by strong growth in each business segment, particularly Coffee Systems. On a constant currency basis, net sales advanced 10.8 %, reflecting higher volume/mix of 10.3 % and favourable net price realization of 0.5 %.

KDP in-market performance in the quarter remained strong, with retail dollar consumption² advancing 9.4 % across the Company’s cold beverage retail base, with particular strength in CSDs³, premium unflavoured water, teas, juice drinks, apple juice, vegetable juice, mixers, and coconut water. This performance reflected the strength of Dr Pepper, Canada Dry, A&W, 7UP, and Sunkist CSDs, CORE hydration, Snapple teas and fruit drinks, Clamato vegetable juice, Motts apple juice, and Vita Coco. On a two-year stacked basis, consumption of KDP’s cold beverage portfolio increased 17 %. …

Please read the complete report under: keurigdrpepper.com

¹Employee compensation expense and employee protection costs are both included as the COVID-19 items affecting comparability in the reconciliation of our Adjusted Non-GAAP financial measures.
²In 2021, reflected pay for temporary employees, including the associated taxes, as well as incremental benefits provided to frontline workers such as extended sick leave, in order to maintain essential operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, primarily reflected temporary incremental frontline incentive pay and benefits, as well as pay for temporary employees, including the associated taxes. Impacts both cost of sales and SG&A expenses.
³Included costs associated with personal protective equipment, temperature scans, cleaning and other sanitisation services. Impacts both cost of sales and SG&A expenses.

PepsiCo is shaking up the cocktail mixer category with the launch of Neon Zebra, a new line of non-alcoholic cocktail mixers with a vibrant personality that offers a shortcut to great-tasting-cocktails in seconds. A modern alternative to complicated cocktail recipes or large format cocktail mixers, each 7.5oz mini-can of Neon Zebra mixed with your spirit of choice, makes two tasty cocktails without the fuss. Made with real juice and no artificial sweeteners, Neon Zebra mixers don’t compromise on taste. These non-alcoholic cocktail mixers come in four flavours: Margarita Mix, Strawberry Daiquiri Mix, Mojito Mix and Whiskey Sour Mix.

As a leader in beverage innovation, PepsiCo is entering the growing cocktail mixers category at a time when today’s homebound consumers are looking for easy-to-make cocktails. In fact, the cocktail mixers category (including total mixers, ginger beer, club soda, and tonics) saw 28 % growth in 2020 and is worth more than $858MM.¹ Cocktail culture is taking hold at home, and people are looking for innovations that fit their lifestyle.

“With at-home cocktail consumption on the rise, we saw an opportunity to build and disrupt this fast-growing category with a product that meets consumers’ needs for convenience – to cut out time and mess without compromising on quality and taste,” said Emily Silver, VP of Innovation & Capabilities, PepsiCo Beverages North America. “Neon Zebra adds a new level of personality in the cocktail mixer category with its bold flavours and colours and easy-to-use, recyclable mini-can format. We’re thrilled with this new venture and all of the opportunities to come in the mixology category.”

With Neon Zebra, making classic cocktails is wildly easy, whether you’re an amateur mixologist or just a fan of great cocktails. Simply add 1 can of Neon Zebra + 3 oz. of liquor = 2 #WildlyEasy cocktails. Serve them over ice, top with your favorite garnish (or don’t!) and cheers to cocktail-making made easy.

Neon Zebra cocktail mixers come in four wildly popular flavours:

• Margarita Mix: Paired with your favourite tequila, it’s tangy and bold with a flavourful citrus kick of lime.
• Strawberry Daiquiri Mix: Sweet & fruity strawberry flavour with a hint of lime. The perfect balance with your favourite rum.
• Mojito Mix: Tasty lime and the light sweetness of real sugar makes a refreshing mojito, mixed with your rum of choice.
• Whiskey Sour Mix: Sour, but not too tart, for a balanced citrus flavour your whiskey will appreciate.

Neon Zebra launches in sustainable, recyclable packaging via aluminum cans and paperboard 6-packs. Neon Zebra started to roll out in the US across retail and online stores in March for an MSRP of $6.99-$7.99 for six 7.5FL oz cans.

¹MULOC, 52 weeks, 2020; includes Total Mixers, Ginger Beer, Club Soda and Tonics

Ocean Spray Wave^™ was developed in close collaboration with Walmart to address the rising demand for great tasting, lightly caffeinated sparkling beverages that keep people moving through their day

Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., the agricultural cooperative owned by more than 700 farmer families, introduced Ocean Spray Wave^™, a refreshing, naturally caffeinated sparkling water with a splash of real fruit juice. A healthier option for consumers looking to bypass sugary caffeine drinks without giving up on flavourful taste, Ocean Spray Wave^™ was incubated, developed and shipped in less than a year launching exclusively with Walmart in the US and is a result of the cooperative’s agile approach to product development and innovating to offer healthier options for everyone.

The collaboration with Walmart led to the creation of a lightly caffeinated beverage as consumers look for healthier options to sustain themselves throughout the day. With a new generation of consumers primed to try Ocean Spray beverages following its 90th harvest and the social media sensation around the Dreams Challenge and popularity of the Cran-Raspberry juice, the brand is glad to introduce Ocean Spray Wave^™ in the midst of the company’s current explosion to connect with younger consumers and what they seek in their day-to-day.

Ocean Spray Wave^™ contains real fruit juice and 50 mg of naturally sourced caffeine from black tea. The drink also has zero grams of added sugars, no artificial flavors or preservatives and no artificial sweeteners. It is available in four crisp and refreshing flavours: Strawberry & Lemon, Mango & Passionfruit, Mandarin & Blackberry, and Cranberry & Pineapple.

Ocean Spray Wave^™ is currently available online and in store at Walmart.com. To learn more, visit OceanSpray.com. The suggested retail price is $4.98 for an 8 pack.

A new analysis of nutrition research suggests that consumption of 100 % fruit juice, such as 100 % orange juice, by adults may have cardiovascular benefits and does not increase the risk of cardiovascular disease or its risk factors.

The comprehensive analysis, published in the European Journal of Nutrition, pooled and collectively analyzed the results of 21 prospective and 35 randomized clinical studies published through August 2019, and found that drinking moderate amounts of 100 % fruit juice was associated with a lower risk of total cardiovascular events and stroke. The study also reported no association at any level of 100 % fruit juice intake with weight measures, including body weight, body mass index, and waist circumference, and risk for diabetes or risk factors for diabetes such as insulin resistance.¹

Based on the analysis by researchers that were part of a working group from the Italian Society of Human Nutrition (SINU), significantly lower risks for total cardiovascular disease were observed at 100 % fruit juice intake levels up to 170 ml per day (between 5 and 6 ounces) and lower risks for stroke were seen at intake amounts up to 200 ml per day (between 6 and 7 ounces). Higher consumption amounts did not significantly increase nor decrease risk. The analysis also found significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure with 100 % fruit juice consumption, which could have been responsible for the observed risk reduction with cardiovascular events and stroke.

Additionally, no significant associations were seen with 100 % fruit juice intake and increased risk for diabetes or risk factors for diabetes, including blood glucose and insulin levels and measures of insulin sensitivity. Consistent with many other studies, 100 % fruit juice was not associated with weight parameters, including body weight, body mass index, and waist circumference.

A meta-analysis pools together and analyzes the results from previously conducted and published studies. In the hierarchy of research studies, a systematic review/meta-analysis ranks high with regard to the strength and robustness of results.

“These results help further support a positive role for 100 % fruit juice in cardiovascular health without negative effects on weight, risk for diabetes, or risk factors for these major diseases. While the study looked collectively at all 100 % fruit juices we also have research supporting the beneficial effects of 100 % orange juice on some of these very same health outcomes. In the end, a win for 100 % fruit juice is also a win for 100% orange juice,” said Dr. Rosa Walsh, director of scientific research at the Florida Department of Citrus.

This systematic review and meta-analysis, funded through an unrestricted grant by the European Fruit Juice Association (AIJN), adds to the growing body of scientific research supporting the role of 100 % fruit juice and 100 % orange juice in the diet:

• A randomized controlled trial reported that 100 % orange juice reduced systolic blood pressure in adults with pre- or stage-1 hypertension. Hesperidin, provided almost exclusively in the diet by 100 % orange juice and oranges, appears to play a key role in the observed effects.²
• A meta-analysis of 95 studies showed higher intake of citrus fruit and citrus fruit juice decreased risk of coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and all-cause mortality. Citrus fruit juices were associated with a 25 percent reduction in the risk for ischemic stroke.³
• In a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies, 100% fruit juice was associated with a 33 percent lower risk for stroke mortality.⁴
• Numerous studies report no association between 100% orange juice or 100% fruit juice intake and body weight in children or adults.^5-8

Every glass of 100 % orange juice supports overall health and can help adults and children meet intake recommendations for key nutrients they may be lacking in their diets. An 8-oz. serving size contains vital vitamins and antioxidants, including vitamin C, potassium, folate, hesperidin and more, with no sugar added. From helping improve diet quality to supporting a healthy immune system, 100 % orange juice offers a number of health benefits and can also easily be incorporated into simple, great-tasting recipes.

About the Florida Department of Citrus
The Florida Department of Citrus is an executive agency of Florida government charged with the marketing, research and regulation of the Florida citrus industry.  Its activities are funded by a tax paid by growers on each box of citrus that moves through commercial channels.  The industry employs more than 37,000 people, provides an annual economic impact of $6.5 billion to the state, and contributes hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues that help support Florida’s schools, roads and health care services.

References

• ¹D’Elia L et al. Eur J Nutr. 2020 Nov 4.
• ²Valls RM et al. Eur J Nutr. 2020 Jul 13.
• ³Aune D et al. Int J Epidemiol. 2017;46(3):1029-1056.
• ⁴Zurbau A et al. J Am Heart Assoc. 2020 Oct 20;9(19):e017728.
• ⁵Crowe-White K et al. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2016;56(5):871-884.
• ⁶Nicklas TM et al. International Journal of Child Health and Nutrition. 2020;9(3):100-114.
• ⁷O’Neil CE et al. Pediatric Research and Child Health. 2020;4(1).
• ⁸Sakaki JR et al. Public Health Nutr. 2020 Oct 7:1-8.

The #1 selling organic orange juice brand unveils functional beverage featuring elderberry, vitamin C, vitamin D and zinc for serious immune support

Uncle Matt’s Organic^®, the US #1 selling brand of organic orange juice, announced the launch of its Ultimate Immune orange juice beverage, an immune support powerhouse made with organic orange juice, elderberry, 300 % of your daily dose of vitamin C, 50 % vitamin D and 25 % zinc for immune and wellness support.

“Over the past six months, families have turned to what they associate with daily immune support: vitamin C-rich orange juice,” said Susan McLean, VP of Marketing and Innovation at Uncle Matt’s Organic. “As a mom, I was looking for even more ways to naturally boost my family’s immune health during this unprecedented time, and I kept circling back to these powerfully-proven ingredients: vitamin C, vitamin D and zinc,” she continued. “This trifecta of vitamins – together with the antioxidant elderberry – is the ‘ultimate’ in immunity support. We are really excited to be able to offer Uncle Matt’s Organic Ultimate Immune directly from our family to yours,” Susan stated.

Uncle Matt’s Organic Ultimate Immune will be available in a family friendly 52 oz size at Wegmans and Publix, select Whole Foods and Shoprite stores, as well as online at unclematts.com launching soon! More store announcements will be communicated through the brand’s social channels in the coming weeks.

With the addition of Ultimate Immune, there is a functional Uncle Matt’s Organic offering for everyone in the family, including: Organic Orange Juice with calcium & vitamin D, Organic Orange Defense with turmeric and probiotics and Organic Orange Energy with coffeeberry.

Uncle Matt’s Organic produces the highest quality juice, using only premium 100 % organically-grown fruit that is free from synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and GMOs. As the nation’s oldest organic orange juice company, Uncle Matt’s Organic is committed to growing and producing tasty, good-for-you clean label organic juices that are certified glyphosate residue free.

Ultimate Immune Facts:

• 300 % RDA of Vitamin C per serving
• 50 % RDA Vitamin D per serving
• 25 % RDA Zinc per serving
• Organic elderberry juice
• Antioxidants, B vitamins and citrus bio-flavonoids
• No toxic pesticides, GMOs or artificial junk
• USDA certified organic
• Certified glyphosate residue free by The Detox Project

About Uncle Matt’s Organic
Uncle Matt’s Organic^® is the nation’s oldest organic orange juice company offering premium quality organic products. All Uncle Matt’s products are USDA Organic, have no synthetic additives or preservatives and contain no GMOs. Uncle Matt’s products are available nationwide in fine retailers nationwide. Uncle Matt’s is an active member of Organic Trade Association (OTA) and supports the Organic Farming Research Foundation, The Organic Center, and Organic Voices.

The ready-to-drink cold brew coffee boom continues in 2020, proving its longevity as a category in the face of the global pandemic.

According to Allegra World Coffee Portal, cold-brew coffee generated $10.4bn US sales in 2019, achieving an exceptional 7.3 % growth. As opportunistic brands jostled for position in the chilled aisles in supermarkets around the world, innovation in the category was key to capture consumer attention.

Plant-based innovation

The rise in veganism is making its mark in the RTD coffee market and we are seeing many brands introduce plant-based beverages to their portfolios alongside traditional dairy offerings. Health-conscious consumers are looking to improve their lifestyle and plant-based RTD lattes that use almond, oat, hazelnut, rice, and coconut milks are proving increasingly popular. In fact, the global demand for dairy alternatives is estimated to be over $25.5bn by the end of 2028.

With a clean and sophisticated flavour profile, plant-based RTD coffee is also reaching new audiences who are looking to dabble in a dairy-free lifestyle without committing full time.

Nitro coffee

If you add nitrogen to a cold-brew coffee, you’re rewarded with nitro coffee. Previously considered niche, nitro coffee had made its way into the mainstream as shoppers look to treat themselves to more luxurious beverages. This premium RTD offering is popular with consumers due to its creamy mouthfeel, high caffeine content and sweet flavour.

Nitro coffee is brewed, put in a keg, and then infused with nitrogen before being sold in cans in supermarkets in a variety of flavours, including caramel and vanilla.

Single-origin

Tapping into the provenance trend, coffee drinkers around the world are seeking our RTD coffee that has a distinct flavour profile from coffee beans connected to a single country, region, producer or even farm. This trend is changing how roasters use extracts in RTD coffees as consumers opt for lighter roasts with distinctive characteristics, sourced from specific areas of the world.

Hard RTD coffee

Like hard seltzers, hard RTD coffee offers a healthier, low calorie alternative to other alcoholic beverages on the market. These flavoured beverages marry up two of the fastest growing beverage trends in 2020, adding sugar fermented alcohol (used in hard seltzers) to RTD coffee. Hard RTD coffees are often combined with milk and flavours such as salted caramel and chocolate, to give a creamy, sweet flavour.

Functional energy drinks

Brands are repositioning RTD coffees as the beverage of choice for health-conscious shoppers who need an energy boost, dubbing them as functional energy drinks. As consumers look to switch out traditional sugar laden energy drinks for healthier energy drinks, that give them their much-needed pick me up without the white stuff, Treatt expect to see more low-calorie RTD coffees with natural flavourings and vitamins hit the market.

There’s a good reason why this trend is growing; functional energy drinks that use natural and organic ingredients are on the up, with Grandview Market Research predicting sales to reach $32 billion by 2025, which accounts for nearly 40 % of the US market.

Caffeinated fruit juice

An exciting innovation being seen in North America is caffeinated fruit juice, where fruit juice is infused with cold brew coffee. This is another arm of the functional energy drink category, tapping into the demand from health-conscious consumers. The beverages can deliver multiple benefits, including antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin B and a wake-up kick from the caffeination. Juice flavours seen enjoying the buzz include cranberry, guava, and citrus.

References

• https://www.worldcoffeeportal.com/Latest/News/2019/US-iced-beverage-sales-surge-as-cold-brew-becomes
• https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/nitrogenated-coffee-market
• http://www.fnbnews.com/Top-News/functional-energy-drinks-future-perspectives-and-opportunities-46997

Source: Treatt

Britvic confirmed that following approval by the French Competition Authority in July, Britvic has now completed the sale of its juice assets in France to Refresco. The sale includes the three juice manufacturing sites, related private label juice business and the Fruité brand.

Britvic retains ownership of the Pressade and Fruit Shoot brands, which will be manufactured by Refresco as part of a long-term partnership arrangement. The transaction will not affect the Teisseire and Moulin De Valdonne brands or the private label syrups business, all of which are all manufactured at the company’s production site in Crolles.

This transaction supports our stated strategic priority to improve operating margins in our Western European markets, while also enables our teams to focus on growing our soft drinks portfolio of local favourite and global premium brands.

• Gerald McDonald Ltd wins Japanese deal selling £500,000 worth of organic juices
• The Department for International Trade helped the company attend trade shows in Japan where it acquired new customers
• The UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement concluding earlier this month means 99 % of UK goods exported to Japan will be tariff-free

An Essex-based drink supplier that was founded over a century ago has secured a £500,000 deal to sell its organic fruit juices to Japanese businesses through to April 2021.

Founded by spice trader Gerald McDonald in 1917, the self-named business is now managed by his grandson Gerald and great-grandson Maxim. From its headquarters in Basildon, the juices are exported to over 20 countries, with international sales accounting for 20 % of Gerald McDonald’s £27 million average turnover.

This latest Japanese deal was secured after the Department for International Trade (DIT) assisted the company to attend trade shows and meetings in Japan, where it met new customers. In 2016, Gerald McDonald opened an office in Kobe and DIT is currently providing advice on trademark registration in the country.

Marketing Director at Gerald McDonald, Maxim McDonald: “We are proud to be a British family business and to keep the legacy of my great-grandfather going. Japan has been our biggest exporting step; it is an exciting market and our future focus. It is going to be big for our business and we are in the process of developing our website for future online sales in Japan.”

Gerald McDonald also exports its popular Japanese Yuzu juice outside of Japan and creates bespoke juice mixes at its headquartered blending facility.

On 11 September, International Trade Secretary Liz Truss announced an agreement in principle of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, the UK’s first free trade agreement since leaving the EU.

East of England exporters of food and drink, which were worth over £33 million to Japan last year stand to benefit from reductions in tariffs and red tape as part of this deal.

Secretary of State for International Trade Liz Truss: “The trade deal we signed with Japan was a historic moment and will offer tariff-free trade on 99 % of UK exports to Japan, creating new opportunities for people in the East of England and helping level up the whole country. It will help businesses like Gerald McDonald sell more of their fantastic produce to the world’s third largest economy and encourage more of our small companies do the same. More trade and investment is crucial to overcoming the economic challenges of Coronavirus and supporting UK jobs.”

The UK also plans to become a member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which will open up 11 key pacific markets for UK exporters, reducing tariffs for UK business (95 % of goods traded between members are tariff-free).

Lassonde announced that bendable paper straws will replace plastic straws in all 200 ml single-serve boxes of Kiju and Simple Drop Natural Spring Water products. This initiative marks a first-to-market in Canada and provides consumers with 100 % recyclable packaging. Kiju and Simple Drop products are managed by its Nothing but Nature division. These products are now available at major Canadian grocery retailers, just in time for back-to-school.

“Adding paper straws to two of our brands is an important step for Lassonde to make our packaging even more eco-friendly,” says Jean Gattuso, President and COO of Lassonde Industries Inc. “The market testing we did in fall 2019 on adding paper straws to our 200 ml containers showed consumer interest for innovative packaging. We’re pleased to offer consumers 100 % recyclable packaging made largely from renewable material.”

The paper straws are made from FSC-certified paper, and both the straws and multi-layer boxes meet the highest standards of quality.

“We decided to add paper straws to two brands that are popular with consumers who are particularly concerned about the environmental impact of their purchases. Kiju is the most popular brand of organic juice in Canada, while Simple Drop natural spring water offers an alternative to plastic water bottles., During this pandemic, it’s important to provide alternative option since it has become more difficult to access water fountains in schools, offices and public spaces,” adds Claire Bara, Executive Vice-president and General Manager, Marketing, Trade and Product Development for A. Lassonde Inc.

Multilayer cartons now recycled in Quebec

In May 2020, Sustana Fiber’s mill in Lévis, Québec, announced a Canadian first with the development of new processes to recycle multilayer juice and milk cartons. It can now annually process 3,000 to 4,000 tons of these cartons collected from across the country. The replacement of plastic straws will increase the percentage of recyclable fibre and supply the new facility in Lévis.

“Each recycled multilayer carton provides the raw material needed to continue producing essential items like toilet paper and paper napkins.” says Isabelle Faucher, Managing Director of the Carton Council of Canada. “Stable and thriving end-markets for post-consumer cartons are important to the success of national recycling and recovery efforts. Increased carton recycling helps preserve natural resources, meet important diversion and recycling goals, create jobs and, in the case of COVID-19, helps to avoid shortages of the pulp needed to manufacture essential items.

Sustainable development at Lassonde

This initiative is in line with the company’s sustainable development objectives. By 2025, Lassonde wants to:

• Find alternatives to plastic straws
• Incorporate 20 % post-consumer recycled content in its packaging
• Introduce 100 % recyclable packaging for all its products, while working with governments, the industry and associations to promote the efficient sorting and collection of recyclable materials.

Other Lassonde environmental initiatives include ongoing efforts to reduce its packaging weight and the quantity of water used in its chilling and purification processes.

About Lassonde
Lassonde Industries Inc. is a North American leader in the development, manufacturing and sale of a wide range of fruit and vegetable juices and drinks marketed under recognized brands such as Apple & Eve, Everfresh, Fairlee, Fruité, Graves, Oasis, Old Orchard and Rougemont. Lassonde is the second-largest producer of store brand ready-to-drink fruit juices and drinks in the United States and a major producer of cranberry juices, drinks and sauces.
Lassonde also develops, manufactures and markets specialty food products under recognized trademarks such as Antico and Canton. The Company imports and markets selected wines from various countries of origin and manufactures apple ciders and cider-based beverages.
The Company produces superior quality products through the efforts of some 2,200 employees working in 15 production facilities across Canada and the United States.

Following long years of contract-bottling, the smoothie and juice producer innocent has decided to build the very first bottling plant of its own. Krones won the order for four complete PET bottling lines and the corresponding IT landscape. The paramount consideration for “the blender”, as innocent has christened its greenfield project, was sustainability: the aim is to build an entirely CO₂-neutral factory. “But we’re also keen to reduce water consumption to a minimum, since we want to treat and re-use as much of it as possible,” explains Sam Woollett, Engineering and Facilities Lead. Each of the four identical PET lines handles up to 32,000 containers an hour. The new plant has been tasked with filling about 400 million bottles of chilled drinks a year. In all, innocent has invested approximately 250 million US-dollars in this project.

Four complete PET bottling lines from Krones

The Contipure AseptBloc DA blow-moulder/filler block consists of a Contiform 3 Pro stretch blow-moulding machine and a Modulfill Asept aseptic filler. For the Contipure D preform sterilisation module, innocent naturally enough opted for a particularly sustainable version. This ensures a reduced total cost of ownership (TCO), thanks to lower consumption of hydrogen peroxide, steam and energy, plus shorter preparation times. All containers after being filled are fitted with a tamper-evident seal and – depending on the format involved – dressed in a wrap-around or pressure-sensitive label. What’s more, the modularised Topmodul labeller is block-synchronised directly with the Variopac Pro FS packer.

Syskron is digitalising all the factory’s processes

As the group’s digitalisation specialist, the Krones subsidiary Syskron has developed a turnkey MES concept for innocent that through appropriate interfaces also integrates the ERP system, the process control and warehouse management systems in the new plant. This concept includes various solutions from the SitePilot IT family brand, not least the Planning production planning system, the Line Management order and administration system, plus Line Diagnostics for production data acquisition and analysis. From the category of Share2Act services, innocent will in future be using Connect: this enables all information, such as shift schedules, to be made available to all staff in digital form.

Chief Blender Andy Joynson explained that innocent is “aiming to build the earth’s favourite little healthy drinks factory, the blender. It’s location in the Port of Rotterdam is no accident: We will minimise the distance between the place where the fruits arrive from overseas and the actual production facility. This enables us to reduce the company’s CO₂ footprint by about ten per cent. We are delighted that we will be able to bottle our healthy drinks in our own plant, but more pleased that we will ensure that the production operation and the buildings comply with our sustainable standards.”

Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) is a continuous process that inactivates microorganisms at low temperatures. PEF application enables an extended shelf life whilst retaining the taste, colour and nutritional value of the freshly squeezed raw product.

Elea PEF is a cost-effective solution with efficient energy consumption that brings new opportunities for product and production, i.e. the option to fill glass bottles. Elea PEF Advantage Pipe systems have processing capacities from 50L up to 10,000L per hour. The systems are easy to integrate and enable a continuous production process with small footprint.

The Elea Managing Director Stefan Töpfl, R&D Manager Claudia Siemer and scientific engineer Julian Witt will guide the attendee through how PEF works, perform a live demonstration on juice and will discuss product and process benefits firsthand. A Q&A session will allow addressing any open questions and one-to-one sessions with the experts can be booked for after the webinar.

Sign up for Tuesday, the 9th June at 1:00 pm CEST: www.elea-technology.com

Following their successful 70^th anniversary Juice Conference in Mexico last year, the IFU are now looking forward to the 2020 international conference which will take place over two days in the famous Stellenbosch wine region of South Africa. This event will be held in conjunction with the South African Fruit Juice Association (SAFJA) and will be combined with their annual meetings. With an expected attendance of over 200 participants, the conference is a wonderful opportunity to meet and engage with other juice industry professionals from around the world.

It will be held at the Spier wine farm and conference hotel near Stellenbosch which is one of the oldest wine farms in the region, with a recorded history dating back to 1692. It is home to one of the largest collections of contemporary South African art and its wines are among the most awarded in the country.

Well-known speakers will give presentations covering a variety of informative and interesting topics relevant to the global juice industry, as well as the African market, including the following:

• Global Juice Market: focusing on Europe, the USA and Asia and the complexities of exporting into Africa
• African Juice Market: Flavour matters; Deciduous and Citrus in Africa; Making juice in Senegal
• Supply Chain: Tropicals in Africa; Global transportation issues including Africa; Global apple juice market (including AJ used for cider)
• Quality & Technology: Thermal and non-thermal juice stabilisation technologies overview; Supply chain QA including the detection of lemon & lime; Rapid microbiological methods; Future of authenticity testing; Juice and more – how to create best value from citrus; Enzymatic methods of analysis in fruit juice
• Health & Nutrition: Juice PR; Plant based nutrition; The power of industry collaboration to help reach sustainable development goals
• Sustainability: Use of by-products; SIG on sustainability; Recycling and circular economy

On both evenings, participants will have the chance to network at a welcome dinner on day one and over drinks and canapés on day two.

There will be also an opportunity to take part in an exclusive wine tasting event the day before and visits to local producers in the area have been arranged for the day after the conference.

For more details about attending this exciting event and to experience South African hospitality, visit the IFU website.

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.

Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., the agricultural cooperative owned by more than 700 farmer families, introduced Ocean Spray^® Brew, a first-of-its kind hybrid drink made with real fruit juice and cold brew coffee. With its nearly 90-year old, iconic Ocean Spray^® brand, the cooperative is relentlessly driving innovation to accelerate Ocean Spray’s evolution toward health and wellness.  The launch of Brew builds on a pipeline of innovation coming from the cooperative, bolstering its mission of connecting farms to families for a better life by delivering a new beverage that is both nutritious and provides natural energy.  Brew marks yet another expansion for Ocean Spray into a new category of coffee, and Ocean Spray will continue to drive future growth opportunities for the cooperative this year.

Ocean Spray^® Brew will be available in two flavors, Cranberry Lemonade with Cold Brew Coffee and Cranberry Blueberry with Cold Brew Coffee. Brew features 100 % Colombian Coffee, with each 8 oz serving containing 40 milligrams of naturally sourced caffeine from green coffee beans, which is equal to a 1/2 cup of coffee. In addition, Brew contains antioxidant vitamin C, as well as vitamin B and real fruit juice, with no added sugar, no preservatives, and no artificial flavors or colors.

Ocean Spray^® Brew will be on-shelf in the USA this month in Target, Stop & Shop, Shaw’s, Albertsons, Vons, and Safeway, and will continue to expand to more stores throughout the year.

This recommendation has been revised and is available via the IFU website under Methods of Analysis

General information

Patulin is a mycotoxin produced by particular forms of moulds typically from the genera aspergillus, penicillium and byssochlamys. Patulin is normally found in apples or pears that shows areas of rot but has also been detected in small amounts in other fruits. It can be a significant problem in fruits that are suspectable to “core rot”, e.g. Bramley apples, where the fruit might look quite sound “on the outside” but may actually contain a very high level of contamination with patulin in the centre of the fruit.

Since this recommendation was first published there have been a number of new methods developed to assist in the analysis of patulin, which are discussed in this revised recommendation.

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A new study suggests higher consumption of sugary beverages, including fruit juice, is associated with increased mortality.

Gavin Partington, director-general of the British Soft Drinks Association, said: “This study is inconclusive, and the way its findings are presented is misleading. All age groups in the UK are falling short on their 5 A Day consumption of fruit and vegetables. Therefore, warning against consuming a small 150 ml portion of pure fruit juice – which counts as one of your 5 A Day – risks people foregoing the vitamin and phytonutrient benefits of fruit juice that this study acknowledges.

“Our research shows adults and teenagers who drink fruit juice are about twice as likely to reach their recommended minimum of 5 A Day, than non-drinkers.”

You can read the highly controversial study “Association of Sugary Beverage Consumption With Mortality Risk in US Adults” under: www.jamanetwork.com

Butterfly, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm specializing in the food sector, announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Bolthouse Farms from Campbell Soup Company for $510 million in cash, subject to customary purchase price adjustments.

Founded in 1915 and based in Bakersfield, CA and Santa Monica, CA, Bolthouse Farms is a vertically integrated food and beverage company focused on developing, manufacturing and marketing proprietary, high value-added natural, healthy products. The company has leading market positions in fresh carrots and refrigerated premium beverages in the U.S., along with a strong and growing presence in refrigerated salad dressings. Bolthouse Farms benefits from access to over 65,000 acres of premium growing land, nationwide fresh distribution capabilities, and a state-of-the-art carrot and beverage processing facility. The company has approximately 2,200 employees and operates facilities in Bakersfield, California; Hodgkins, Illinois; Wheatley, Ontario; and Prosser, Washington.

Bolthouse Farms is Butterfly’s fourth investment within its “seed to fork” approach to investing in food across agriculture, aquaculture, food and beverage products, food distribution and foodservice.

The closing of the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions and is expected to occur in summer 2019.

About Butterfly:
Butterfly Equity (“Butterfly”) is a Los Angeles, California based private equity firm specializing in the food sector, spanning the entire food value chain from “seed to fork” via four target verticals: agriculture & aquaculture, food & beverage products, food distribution and foodservice. Butterfly aims to generate attractive investment returns through deep industry specialization, a unique approach to sourcing transactions, and leveraging an operations-focused and technology-driven approach to value creation.

The fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector has undergone a significant transformation over the past decade and it continues to evolve.

Sumit Chopra, Consumer Research Director at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, highlights top five innovation trends that are going to impact the production, marketing and sales of consumer goods in Asia-Pacific (APAC) in 2019.

Fat gets thumbs up

“The consumer sentiment towards fats is evolving. Perceptions such as ‘Not all fat is bad’ and ‘fat is prosperity’ have started picking up in recent years. In an era of personalized nutrition, interest in specialty diet trends such as Keto, Paleo or Whole30 will continue to grow as consumers are questioning the role of sugar weight management, thus, adding more protein and fats to their diets. As specialty diets which rely more on fats move into mainstream, food and beverage makers are capitalizing on the opportunity to deliver low-carb and high-fat products. Buoyed by the unexpected success of high-fat, moderate protein and low-carb keto diet, companies such as US-based Just Inc are exploring Asia’s market to launch their products.

‘Better-for-you’ alcoholic beverages

“Consumers are gravitating towards lighter, less caloric, flavored alcoholic drinks, creating opportunities for manufacturers. Liquor manufacturers are paying close attention to nutrients, calorie counts and healthful ingredients while incorporating ‘better for you’ ingredients such as fruit juice, water and tea. The ‘better-for-you’ alcohol trend is graduating from niche status to a broader market sufficient in size and scope to interest alcohol manufacturers at the global level. Manufacturers in APAC are already keeping a close eye on this space. The Cannabis Co launched The Myrcene Hemp Gin, claimed to be the world’s first cannabis-infused gin that has value as a ‘dietary health and wellness supplement’ in Australia. In the first phase of ‘better-for-you’ alcoholic beverage revolution, we will see alcohol companies find even more ingenious ways to reach out to health-oriented consumers and more product launches in the flavored alcohol category are expected this year.”

360-degree wellness

“According to GlobalData’s 2018 Q3 Consumer Survey, 64 % of consumers in APAC are always or often influenced by how a product impacts their health & wellbeing while making their food choices. Against this back drop, FMCG companies will map out the wellness considerations for the products they offer and position them positive to consumers of all ages to leverage on growing consumer interest in healthy eating, local flavors, and personalization. In the wake of the health & wellness trend, Nestle forayed into the breakfast cereal category with Nesplus to offer healthy breakfast options to Indian consumers. In the non-alcoholic beverage category, Kombucha, turmeric latte or kefir will remain very much on-trend to attract interest from major soft drink manufacturers.

Changing regulatory landscape

“FMCG companies need to be ready for the likelihood of increased regulation of specific products, markets and packaging as governments across the world are exercising more power, particularly around issues such as obesity, consumer welfare and plastic pollution. The Indian government is exploring frameworks to ensure GST rate cut benefits to reach consumers along with proposing new packaged food labeling rules while food and beverage manufacturers in China are required to use a new set of quality and safety standards and have a food production license for all food categories.

Halo effect of plants

“Plant-based ingredients are seen as safer, more natural and better for the environment than ingredients from other sources. As a result, FMCG companies in Asia are beginning to add plant-based ingredients to their products, rebranding them as sustainable and environmentally friendly. Unilever’s move to launch vegan ice-cream in New Zealand under its Magnum brand is an example of major companies getting creative with iconic food ingredients in the region. We will be seeing more launches similar to PepsiCo India’s new packaging format made from 100 % compostable plant-based material for Lay’s and Kurkure snacks products. FMCG non-food makers are also turning to plant-based ingredients.”

Revolution Brands LLC announced it had begun accepting wholesale pre-orders for Slice – a new sparkling water flavoured only with USDA-certified organic fruit juices, organic flavors and carbonated water.

Intellectual property attorney Joseph C. Gioconda of the Gioconda Law Group PLLC represented New Slice Ventures in acquiring the federally registered trademark rights to the Slice brand.  Spiral Sun Ventures, a seed capital fund that invests in early-stage companies that create better-for-you consumer products, has invested in New Slice Ventures.

Slice is now available in four flavours in 12-ounce cans: Raspberry Grapefruit, Blackberry, Mango Pineapple and Apple Cranberry.  Slice will be sold by the 4-pack, but is also available in single serve cans.

Slice has no added sugar, no artificial sweeteners, no artificial colors or caffeine. Slice is only 25 calories per can which is up to 80% fewer calories than most regular cans of soda.

Mark Thomann, CEO of New Slice Ventures LLC, which now owns the Slice trademarks in the United States, said: “We are excited about the launch of Slice. Slice is a great brand and one that can connect with a new generation of consumers who want something a little healthier than soda, but just as delicious.”

Glenn Backus, a former executive with H-E-B, Trader Joe’s and Supervalu is with Revolution Brands, which handled the creation and launch of the new Slice.  “We worked very hard to create an organic sparkling water that tastes amazing and has a sweetness much closer to soda than any other sparkling water on the market.  Customers have asked for a healthier alternative to their usual soda, but traditional sparkling water brands lack the flavour they crave.  So, we created the new Slice. Only 25 calories per can with a refreshing sweetness that everyone will love.”

Following the closing of the public offer on Refresco Group N.V. (“Refresco”) by Sunshine Investments B.V., the consortium of PAI Partners SAS (“PAI”) and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (“BCI”), Refresco announced that Sunshine Mid B.V., the entity owning Sunshine Investments B.V. (the “Issuer” and together with its subsidiaries, “we” or the “Group”) has launched an offering of €445,000,000 aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2026 (the “Notes”).

The net proceeds from the offering, if completed, are expected to be used by the Issuer to repay the bridge facility borrowed in connection with Issuer’s acquisition, through its direct subsidiary, Sunshine Investments B.V., of 99.4 % of the issued and outstanding shares of Refresco and to pay expenses related to the offering of Notes.

The Group, together with its committed sponsors, PAI and BCI, plan to continue to capture organic growth in both the retailer brands and contract manufacturing business, executing the Group’s “buy-and-build” strategy and striving for continuous operational excellence.

An important step in the buy-and-build strategy was taken with the acquisition of the Cott Traditional Beverage business in January 2018. This acquisition has created the world’s largest independent bottler of retailer brands soft drinks by volume and a leading contract manufacturer of soft drinks by volume for A-brands with leadership positions across Europe and North America, providing meaningful diversification to Refresco’s customer base. In 2017, on a standalone basis, Refresco’s top 10 customers accounted for 58 % of its volumes and the Cott Traditional Business’s top 10 customers accounted for 66 % of its volumes. Together, the company’s top 10 customers accounted for 49 % of its pro forma volumes in 2017. Refresco is now circa 4.1 times larger than its next largest competitor (excluding pure-play water players) in the markets in which the company operates.

Integration of the activities in all countries has started, following receipt of CMA approval in the UK last month. Refresco now anticipates total run-rate synergies of €63 million in the first three years following the consolidation. The Group’s Pro Forma Synergies Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2017 was €392.1 million and the Group’s forma net indebtedness as of December 31, 2017 was €2,330.9 million.

The Notes have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction. The offering of the Notes will be made only in the United States to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act  and outside the United States in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act to persons other than retail investors in the European Economic Area, whereby a retail investor is defined as a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU, as amended; or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive 2002/92/EC, as amended, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Directive 2003/71/EC, as amended. No approved prospectus within the meaning of the Prospectus Directive is required is connection with the offering of the Notes.

Regulatory Notice
This announcement may contain inside information of Refresco Group N.V. under Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (16 April 2014).

MiFID II professionals/ECPs-only / No PRIIPs KID – Manufacturer target market (MIFID II product governance) is eligible counterparties and professional clients only (all distribution channels). No PRIIPs key information document (KID) has been prepared as not available to retail in EEA.

In the United Kingdom, this communication is directed only at (i) persons who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”) or (ii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2) of the Order or (iv) persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the “FSMA”)) in connection with the issue or sale of any notes may otherwise be lawfully communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). In the United Kingdom, any investment activity to which this communication relates will only be available to, and will only be engaged with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

Brand launches line of organic premium juice drinks for kids, plus a new drink featuring juice & coconut water

With more than 70 years of innovation under its belt, leading juice company Tropicana continues to evolve to meet consumer demand. Today, the brand is announcing its newest product offerings: Tropicana Kids and Tropicana Coco Blends.

Tropicana Kids is an all-new line of certified USDA Organic premium fruit juice drinks offering delicious taste for kids with nutrition parents expect. Available in three flavors—Fruit Punch, Mixed Berry and Watermelon—Tropicana Kids is made with 45 % real fruit juice and mixed with filtered water, with no added sweeteners, no artificial flavors and is an excellent source of vitamin C. Plus, the packaging features a clear panel so moms and dads can see the goodness inside, and feel good about serving Tropicana Kids to their children.

Tropicana Coco Blends is a tasty Tropicana juice drink featuring a splash of coconut water providing consumers a delicious way to enjoy the coconut water trend. Available in two fun flavors—Pineapple with Coconut Water and Peach Passion Fruit with Coconut Water—Tropicana Coco Blends offer a refreshing twist to great-tasting Tropicana juice with no artificial sweeteners, no artificial flavors and 10 % coconut water.

Both Tropicana Kids and Tropicana Coco Blends are available in early 2018. You can find Tropicana Kids in multi-packs in the juice box aisle at select retailers in the USA and through online retailers. Tropicana Coco Blends can be found in multi- and single-serve sizes with other chilled juices at select retailers nationwide.

Hydrosol now offering trend-forward concepts for fruity refreshment drinks

The market for refreshing beverages is growing around the world. The main drivers in the category are fruit juices and fruit juice drinks, which are seeing disproportionate growth. Hydrosol’s new all-in compounds let beverage manufacturers as well as dairies benefit from this growing demand. Its Stabifruit functional systems contain all the important components for making refreshing fruity drinks, and offer many advantages over concentrates.

Fruit juices and refreshing fruity drinks have a very positive image with consumers. According to research by Innova Market Insights, flavour and health benefits are the most important sales arguments from consumers’ point of view. Fruit juice manufacturers must meet increasing consumer demands while at the same time addressing various production challenges, from growing cost pressure to requirements placed on storage of concentrations, to guaranteeing the optimum product quality. There are also regulations concerning enrichment with vitamins and minerals, as well as the increasingly frequent calls to reduce sugar content, which negatively impacts the mouth feel and viscosity of drinks.

With its Stabifruit line of all-in compounds, Hydrosol offers an attractive solution. Since these functional systems are in powder form, they have high storage stability along with optimum logistics. Unlike with fruit juice concentrates, there are no expiration date issues. Water-free formulations are microbiologically safer than juices or concentrates. In addition, with no water there is less weight to transport. These are measurable cost benefits for users. In addition, these powdered products can be used by manufacturers who were previously not part of the fruit juice industry, and so do not have the specific machinery park.

Naturally the compounds are free of preservatives. They are easy to use, and with just small dosages give refreshing fruity drinks with appealing mouth feel, colour, flavour and viscosity. Individual components can be used flexibly depending on customer wishes. The fruit content is variable. Sugar content can also be reduced without impacting the quality of the beverage. Cloudiness stability is also important, i.e. keeping particles suspended in cloudy drinks. The unusual cloudiness stability of Hydrosol’s formulations has been demonstrated in scientific testing. Hydrosol’s close collaboration with its sister company SternVitamin is an advantage for customers, since it makes it possible to enrich the all-in compounds individually with vitamins and minerals. This gives manufacturers a custom beverage concept from a single source.

A wide portfolio of fruit flavours is available, including favourites like orange, peach and mango as well as special flavours like raspberry, banana and currant. That means that the new Stabifruit line of all-in compounds provides the basis for a wide range of fruit drinks whose mouth feel, colour, taste and viscosity leave nothing to be desired, while offering substantial economic, logistical and production benefits.

Company will be branded “Prodalim Italia”

Prodalim Group, one of the worlds’ biggest suppliers of raw materials and solutions in the beverage industry, announces the completion of the full acquisition of IFB srl.

IFB is a blending house located in the port of Livorno in Italy.

The company, that was founded on 1994, is a major supplier of juices, concentrates, multi fruit blends and compounds that focuses mainly in the Italian market.

In 2016, Prodalim acquired a minority stake in the company, and has now completed the full acquisition of the company.
Tsahi Berezovsky, prodalim CEO: “IFB has a great team and it is positioned perfectly to become the biggest supplier In the Italian market and its surroundings.

We are certain that by integrating IFB completely into prodalim, and leveraging on Prodalim standards, network of customers and suppliers, and our R&D capabilities, we create real synergies, that will bring great benefits to our customers in Italy and the neighbor countries.

The acquisition of IFB is a major part of our strategy to be as near as possible to our customers and to offer them the best solution in terms of service, efficient logistics and great flexibility.

Prodalim has created a “logistical triangle” stretched between Rotterdam, Valencia and Livorno, and we can reach each customer in Europe with an optimized and efficient solution.

This year our accelerated growth strategy, both organically as well as by acquisitions in Europe and North America will be a major part of our corporate focus. We will continue supplying our worldwide customers best of bread services and solutions.”

Chelab Dr. V. Ara chemical laboratory for food, water and environmental analyses was founded in 1977 by Dr. V. Ara. Since 41 years chelab has developed a vast analytical and technical expertise in fruits, all related processed products and aroma analysis.

Chelabs national and international customer base consists of growers, processors, fillers and traders in fruit juice processing. For an ongoing successful continuation, chelab as a partnership decided to convert into chelab Dr. V. Ara GmbH & Co. KG.

At the same time Simone Schmidt and Dr. Fred Siewek have been appointed as managing directors of the new company.

Chelab sets course to remain an indepent, reliable and competent partner for a successful development in the future.

There have been many significant developments in the area of isotopic analysis since this recommendation was first published in the 1996.

Many of these have shown the power of internal referencing, which has often allowed the detection limit at which adulterations can be positively identified to be significantly reduced.

Some examples of these “newer” approaches are:

1. internal carbon isotope ratios of individual sugars
2. relative carbon isotope ratios seen for the sugars, acids, individual acids, pulp and pectin
3. positional carbon isotope ratios of malic and ascorbic acids
4. internal deuterium and carbon isotope ratios of citric acid
5. internal oxygen isotope ratios of juice water and ethanol derived from the sugars

As a corporate IFU member you can download your copy via the website using your log in details @ www.ifu-fruitjuice.com.

Stiff competition prevails in the global juice concentrate market and based on product differentiation few companies are gaining competitive advantage over others. Launch of new products with respect to taste and flavor is what companies in this market are focused on to steal a march from their competitors.

Some of the key growth drivers of the global juice concentrate market are rising popularity of convenience foods, rising consciousness about the importance of good health, and longer shelf life and cost effectiveness of juice concentrates over fresh juices.

Proving to be a roadblock to the growth of this market is increasing awareness about the harmful effects of excess fructose consumption.

A report by Transparency Market Research forecasts the global juice concentrate market to be worth US$ 117.89 bn by 2025 increasing from a value of US$ 89.56 bn in 2016 at a CAGR of 3.4 % therein.

Fruit juice concentrate Garners leading share
The segments into which the juice concentrate market is classified based upon type are fruit juice concentrate and vegetable fruit concentrate. Fruit juice concentrate garnered leading share of the market in 2016. This is because fruit juice concentrates are widely used for a number of foods and beverages such as curds, ice creams, etc.

In terms of form, the segments of the global juice concentrate market are clear concentrate, frozen concentrate, and powdered concentrate. Clear concentrate mostly dominates the market followed by powdered concentrate.

Online distribution channel and offline distribution channel are the segments into which the global juice market is segregated based upon distribution channel. The offline distribution channel is mainly sub-segmented into hypermarkets and supermarkets, departmental stores, and others. In 2016, offline held the leading share of the market; however, online distribution channel is expected to grow immensely in the forthcoming years. The rising number of supermarkets and hypermarkets, especially in emerging economies is a key factor for the leading share of the offline distribution channel.

The application segments of the juice concentrate market considered in this study are beverages, soups and sauces, bakery products, dairy products, confectionery products, and others. In 2016, beverages stood as the leading segment in terms of market share. This is mainly because of large-scale applications of juice concentrates in foods and a high demand for fruit and vegetable juices based beverages.

Advancements in food processing industry has enabled Europe emerge dominant 
By geography, the juice concentrate market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.

Europe held the leading market share in the global juice concentrate market in 2016 and the region is expected to hold on to its lead position over the forecast period. Technological advances in the food processing industry is a key factor driving growth of this regional market. France, Belgium, Germany, and the U.K. are key domestic markets for juice concentrate in the region.

North America held a small share in the global juice concentrate market in 2016. Rising health consciousness regarding excess consumption of fructose and increasing healthy food choices is having a negative influence on the juice concentrate market in North America.

Asia Pacific is anticipated to be the most attractive market for juice concentrate in the forthcoming years. An increasing middle class population in the emerging economies of the region and changing lifestyle are key factors stoking growth in the region.

Some leading players in the global juice concentrate market are Archer Daniels Midland Co., Dohler Company, Ingredion Incorporated, SkyPeople Fruit Juice Inc., Diana Food, AGRANA Group, Sunopta Inc., SVZ International B.V., The Ciatti Company, and Kanegrade Limited.

Now revised and updated

One of the most common tests conducted in the juice manufacturing industry is the measurement of soluble solids by refractometry. It is not only used for the assessment of a quality parameter but it is also commercially important where used in yield assessment. IFU method number 8 describes this method. The principle is that the dry soluble solids content of a sample is estimated from its refractive index, with reference to the refractive index of a pure sugar solution. The refractive index is proportional to the solution concentration (following the theory of Lorentz and Lorenz). In fruit juices the refractive index is therefore dependent upon sugar concentration and also upon the concentration of other soluble materials (organic acids, minerals, amino acids etc.).

The method has been recently revised to include a weight per litre table.

The correction of soluble solids for malic/tartaric acid and salt is still under discussion but will be available in the near future.

Keep your test methods up to date download IFU #8: www.ifu-fruitjuice.com