Plant protein powder is no longer exclusive to vegans and athletes, with significant numbers of mainstream consumers now shopping the category, according to new research commissioned by MycoTechnology, Inc., the mushroom mycelial fermentation specialist.
The survey of 725 plant protein powder users, carried out by Brightfield Group in Q1 2023, found that just 17 % of them identified as vegan. Furthermore, 38 % of the respondents in the survey who declared that they purchase only plant-based protein powders said they mixed them with dairy milk, indicating that they buy such products for reasons other than dietary lifestyle choices.
Meanwhile, fewer than half of the respondents in the survey (46 %) identified as athletes, even though as many as 77 % of them said they exercised at least three times a week. The vast majority (93 %) stated that they exercise to support their mental health.
When asked to describe themselves, 34 % of respondents were identified as ‘early adopter’ consumers. Another 31 % were ‘early majority’ shoppers, indicating a shift for plant protein powder into a more mainstream demographic.
When it comes to product quality, plant-based protein powder consumers are in broad agreement. Nearly all of them (92 %) said they would find a product more appealing if it offered higher quality protein, with 91 % attracted by a protein that is more complete. Beyond nutritional factors, 91 % of respondents said they favour products that promise a better taste.
MycoTechnology’s Marketing Director, Jonas Feliciano, commented: “These findings demonstrate that plant protein is smashing apart outdated stereotypes and is now earning strong support among mainstream consumers. The fact that so many blend their plant protein powder with milk is a strong sign that non-vegans consider plant protein to be a conventional product and a key part of a healthy diet. Most notably, all but a few of the respondents to our survey said that they considered protein quality and flavour to be of the utmost importance. The successful plant proteins of the future will be those which are able to tap into the needs and preferences of these highly discerning consumers.”
Bethany Gomez, Managing Director at Brightfield Group, added: “Plant-based protein users are a young, affluent group that prefers cleaner eating–no sugar added, all natural, preservative free–and they’re willing to pay for high quality products with that strong health profile. This group is also more likely to be using functional ingredients, like mushrooms and adaptogens, so we know they’re open to new and alternative ways to get the types of sustenance and nutrition they’re looking for. Brands that strive to offer high quality products, using cutting edge ingredients, will find a group of users ready and willing to dig in.”
A trailblazer in the development of next-generation plant proteins, MycoTechnology offers a line of plant proteins including FermentIQ™ PTP – a pea and rice protein blend fermented by mushroom mycelia to deliver superior performance and nutrition. Providing all essential amino acids, it has a PDCAAS (Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score) of 1.0 for ages 3 and above. Its unique fermentation process also enhances digestibility, enabling 99.9 % of the protein consumed to be easily digested. As a result, FermentIQ™ PTP offers a nutritional value competitive with animal and soy proteins.
MycoTechnology’s proprietary process also deodorises and de-flavours the plant proteins, offering better tasting, more neutral solutions with superior functionality in a range of applications. For those looking to take the taste of their products to the next level, MycoTechnology also offers ClearIQ™ – a natural, clean-label bitter blocker and flavour clarifier.
REBBL®, the original organic and plant-powered functional beverage brand, unveiled its occasion-based packaging design. Available on shelves in the US, the new design is featured across the brand’s award-winning beverage portfolio, spanning six daily occasions with over sixteen varieties, all developed with the mantra of ‘Empower the People.’
Centered on empowerment, the redesign is a culmination of REBBL’s mission to create not only delicious and nourishing beverages but also to uplift the daily experiences of its valued consumers through a focus on intentional, purpose-driven moments. By connecting each drink with an occasion, the new packaging offers clear functional advantages and key ingredients, enabling customers to intuitively discern the best beverage that aligns with their preferences and desired experience at any time of day.
“We’ve formulated a REBBL drink for every occasion, so no matter what you’re up to — you’ll have delicious functional fuel to complement the journey,” said Andy Fathollahi, CEO of REBBL. “We remain steadfast in prioritising our customers, and we’ve made it easier than ever to select the perfect beverage to enhance their daily experiences through real-food alchemy and transparent, intuitive labels.”
From delicious functional protein beverages that offer clean nourishment as well as immune and gut support, there is a REBBL drink to enhance any occasion:
PROTEIN: Packed with 16 g of plant-powered protein for a functional boost to fuel any time of day. Protein Dark Chocolate, Protein Vanilla, Protein Salted Caramel, Protein Strawberries and Creme, Protein Oatmeal Cookie, Protein Coconut Macaroon, Protein Hazelnut, Protein Peppermint Dark Chocolate, Protein Pumpkin Spiced Pie
AWAKE: Blended with maca and caffeine to support energy and sustain stamina. Recommended for the morning and afternoons. Awake Maca Cold Brew
BALANCE: Formulated with turmeric and maca to support overall wellness. Recommended to complement routines centered around recovery and cultivation at any time of day. Balance Maca Mocha, Balance Turmeric Golden Milk
FOCUS: Crafted with matcha and L-theanine to deliver an added boost of mental acuity for moments of clarity. Focus Matcha Latte
REVIVE: Created with adaptogenic Reishi mushroom to support immunity and the body’s ability to cope with stress. Recommended to complement routines centered around rejuvenation and revitalisation. Revive Reishi Chocolate
WELLNESS: Functional juices with Aquamin™ calcified sea algae to support bone, gut, and joint health while offering refreshing hydration at any time of day.* Wellness Tropical Greens, Wellness Berry Roots
REBBL’s redesigned packaging can be found on the brand’s 100 % rPET bottles in 12 oz. ready-to-drink varieties in natural food and grocery stores in the US.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
FEVE – the European Container Glass Federation elected its Presidency team for the 2023 – 2025 term of office at its Annual General Assembly on Thursday 15th June.
Martin Petersson, CEO Ardagh Glass Packaging – Europe: one of the world’s leading glass packaging manufacturers – has been elected President of the EU container glass federation.
Commenting on his appointment, Mr Petersson said: “I am honoured to take up this important role and look forward to contributing to FEVE’s work in collaboration with FEVE members, staff, and the national associations. We have challenging and exciting times ahead of us, but we are in a strong position to reach our sustainability goals and strengthen our industry’s Circular Economy model.
He added: “Glass is a material that has unique inherent sustainability benefits: it is a permanent material, endlessly recycled in a closed loop and it is inert, meaning that it protects the quality of products, it preserves their taste, and guarantees safety for consumers’ health. It is also uniquely versatile in adding value and premium positioning to products. However, all these qualities are often taken for granted in the marketplace. We need to be more proactive in defending and promoting glass.”
Martin Petersson succeeds Vitaliano Torno, O-I Glass President Business Operations & O-I Europe, who led the association for the previous two years. “Vitaliano did a great job in navigating the federation through recent years, marked by the global pandemic and unforeseeable market dynamics, but he also managed to maintain a united industry in shaping a common vision to face the major challenge of climate neutrality”, commented Petersson.
The FEVE members also elected Michel Giannuzzi, Chairman of the Board of Verallia, as Vice-President. Mr Giannuzzi commented: “Our industry is at a crucial crossroad on the path to the future. We should not be afraid to invest in the sustainability assets of our business model to secure our future as packaging leaders. I am looking forward to supporting Martin and the sector over the next two years in the drive to address climate change and the sustainability agenda.”
Elopak has announced that it will build a new plant in the USA to better serve its customers in the Americas and accelerate growth in the region. The new plant will allow Elopak to build on an already strong track record of organic and profitable growth driven by high customer demand in the region.
Elopak will invest around USD 50 million (including lease liability) in the new plant over the period 2023 – 2024. The investment will be financed by utilizing Elopak’s existing Revolving Credit Facility. The plant is expected to commence production in the fourth quarter of 2024 and will create more than 100 new jobs.
Lionel Ettedgui, EVP North America says: “Over the last few years, Elopak has delivered very strong profitable growth in Americas. The time has now come to increase capacity to further strengthen our organization and enable us to provide quality service to our customers in Americas faster and more efficiently.”
Thomas Körmendi, CEO says: “I am truly excited about this investment. This is a response to the strong demand that we are seeing for our innovative and sustainable solutions. It is a landmark investment for our company as Americas is one of the key building blocks of our strategy.”
Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Company announced today they have introduced two new juice blends: Tomato Reishi, Himalayan Salt, and Black Pepper Juice and Tangerine, Pineapple, Aloe Juice. Both blends are available to order on the Natalie’s Juices website and on grocery shelves in the US.
With Natalie’s Tomato Reishi Juice, Natalie’s is regenerating a generational favourite. This tomato juice is a source of clean hydration that is radical in flavour and low in calories. Mindfully handcrafted with an infusion of coveted holistic ingredients including adaptogens and spices for a robust and delectable sip, this juice is made from only 5 ingredients. Rich in Reishi – known to support the immune system, reduce stress, and improve sleep – this blend is vitality on the vine.
Natalie’s Tangerine, Pineapple, Aloe, Sweet Basil Juice is a vibrant oasis of unrivaled freshness. Handcrafted from only five ingredients, this blend was created to support the mind and body with a natural boost. Prepare to glow from the inside out with this unparalleled combination of vitamin-c-rich oranges and tangerines, paired with immune- supporting pineapples and aloe vera, and a touch of sweet basil.
“At Natalie’s, it is our passion and purpose to produce juices that exceed our customers’ expectations both in quality and value. Our Tomato Reishi blend is an authentic approach to a nostalgic favourite. Made from fresh pressed, wholesome tomatoes, this juice invigorates the consumer’s palette and redefines the standard perception of tomato juice flavour profile,” says Marygrace Sexton, founder and CEO of Natalie’s Juices. “This juice is a living elixir for the epicurious – drink as is or add your boozy accomplice.”
“Producing world-class quality products is what we do best,” says Natalie Sexton, Vice President of Marketing at Natalie’s Juice Company. “Our new blends are designed to support the entire wellness eco-system and provide our consumers with a drinking experience where nostalgia meets authentic freshness.”
Lipton Ice Tea, the number one ready-to-drink tea brand1, is relaunching its range in a modernised design with a packaging makeover for all flavours. The packaging refresh is also accompanied by a reduction in sugar across the core range of Peach, Lemon, and Green Mint & Lime. The reduction will help the brand continue to appeal to the growing number of shoppers on the lookout for lower sugar options without any compromise on taste.
Half of shoppers say they are actively reducing the amount of sugar they consume2, which makes it the perfect time for Lipton’s relaunch. The new and improved drinks will maintain Lipton’s refreshing fruity taste and offer shoppers a lower sugar alternative, without compromising on great flavour.
As the leading brand in ready-to-drink tea3, Lipton Ice Tea’s value grew + 27 % in 20224 with further opportunities to grow as it taps into the 50 % of shoppers who choose food and drink products with reduced or no sugar content5. As a soft drinks segment, ready-to-drink tea represents a trade up opportunity for retailers, holding a price point of £2.43 per litre on average, versus the wider soft drinks’ £1.34 per litre6. This represents a premium option for consumers, and allows retailers to offer a full range of soft drinks which caters to multiple tastes and wallets.
The relaunched range will roll out across all channels from March 2023.
The new Lipton Ice Tea recipes are the latest lower sugar offering from Britvic, with continued innovation and reformulation programmes enabling the company to offer consumers healthier choices as part of ist Healthier People sustainability strategy. In 2022, this meant 96 % of its innovation launches were low or no calorie drinks – with an average of around 14 calories per serve across its Great Britain portfolio.
1NielsenIQ RMS, Total Coverage GB, Ready-To-Drink Ice Tea value sales, Britvic Defined 5Y, 31st Dec 2022 2Mintel – Attitudes towards Sugar and Sweeteners – UK – 2021 3NielsenIQ RMS, Total Coverage GB, Ready-To-Drink Ice Tea value sales, Britvic Defined 5Y, 31st Dec 2022 4NielsenIQ RMS, Total Coverage, RTD Ice Tea value sales, Britvic Defined, MAT we 31.12.2022 5Mintel – Attitudes towards Sugar and Sweeteners – UK – 2021 6NielsenIQ RMS – Total Coverage, Total Soft Drinks Britvic Defined, Average Price Point MAT we 31.12.2022
Pepsi is unveiling a new logo and visual identity system, the first update of the iconic Pepsi globe logo in 14 years. Pepsi will roll out the new look in North America this fall in time for the brand’s 125th anniversary, and globally in 2024, marking the brand’s next era with an eye toward the future. The new design evolves the Pepsi brand to represent its most unapologetic and enjoyable qualities, and will span across all physical and digital touchpoints, including packaging, fountain and cooler equipment, fleet, fashion and dining. Pepsi plays a critical role in achieving the PepsiCo positive sustainable packaging targets and in the U.S., as of 2022, Pepsi has begun to convert all 20oz bottles of Pepsi, including Pepsi Zero Sugar to 100 % recycled PET. The new logo and visual identity pays homage to the brand’s rich heritage while taking a big leap toward the future.
Expert flavorists will enhance sweet and culinary capabilities with cutting-edge modulation technologies
IFF a global leader in solutions for food and beverages, health, biosciences, and scent has increased its innovation capabilities with two new state-of-the-art flavour labs at its facility in Northern Europe. The sweet and culinary flavour creation labs are the latest addition to the company’s expansive campus that has been in operation since 1964, spanning more than 312,150 square feet in Brabrand, Denmark.
The innovation hub is home to more than 400 employees engaged in research, application development, ingredient and flavour creation. The expanded facility will enable local and regional manufacturers to work in close partnership with a new team of flavourists who will introduce the latest modulation technologies and develop solutions for the beverage, bakery, dairy, snacks, culinary, bars and confectionery end markets. Working with an extensive library of proprietary flavor ingredients they will create exciting and unique flavour experiences for consumers, especially in areas such as masking, sweetness and umami.
“This expanded facility is a testament to our continued investment in innovation to meet evolving consumer expectations,” said Jan Bechtel, regional president of Nourish Europe, IFF. “We will continue to build on our deep expertise and scientific knowledge and invest in tools and products to bring what matters most to consumers in the market: creating the next generation of delicious, healthy and experiential food and beverages.”
Expert flavourists will have access to IFF’s latest research innovations, particularly in plant-based and biotechnology, along with resources like pilot plant manufacturing, ingredient expertise and evaluation studios, creating the perfect environment for end-to-end product design.
“We’re thrilled to launch these flavour labs,” said Laurens Reiber, creative director, Nourish Europe, IFF. “Brabrand is already a massive innovation center, and its location helps us better understand local market preferences and deliver trending global flavours. Now we’re investing further to boost our speed-to-market capabilities and to bring greater value to our partners.”
Following the completion of the Culinary Design Center last summer in Denmark, the opening of the new flavour labs is the company’s latest investment in R&D to develop winning solutions that meet customer and market needs with speed, agility and creativity.
Kerry announced details on the consolidation of its distributor network across Europe. The company has chosen Azelis and Caldic as distribution partners for Kerry products* to selected customers in the European region.
The appointment of these two well-recognised and experienced distributors will extend the reach of Kerry’s portfolio in market, enabling the supply of more customers with Kerry’s industry-leading products and technologies.
Caldic will operate in South Europe, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Nordics and Benelux while Azelis will have responsibility for Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Eastern Europe, within the food, beverage and meat sectors.
Kerry will continue to operate direct sales across the region to its established and target customer base.
*Kerry Dairy Ireland, condensed smoke, food service products, retail butchery in UK and Ireland, pharma products and supplements are not included.
On January 1, 2023, Axel Zügel took over the management of the operational areas of ZIEMANN HOLVRIEKA GmbH as COO. In his new function, he relieves Klaus Gehrig, who was both CEO and COO of the company until the end of 2022. As COO, Axel Zügel is responsible for the operational business areas of order processing, purchasing, project management, assembly, logistics and engineering at the Ludwigsburg site. “We’re delighted that Axel Zügel has taken over this important position,” says CEO Klaus Gehrig. “He’s the right man for the job too, because he’s ‘lived’ ZIEMANN HOLVRIEKA for the past nineteen years,” he adds. Thanks to his long affiliation with the company, Axel Zügel has acquired comprehensive know-how in the brewing, beverages and liquid foods industry – and that knowledge will make it easier for the new COO to continue optimizing internal processes and act as a competent contact person for customers.
Axel Zügel is a trained industrial clerk. After completing his training, he worked for a plant manufacturer for several years before moving to ZIEMANN HOLVRIEKA GmbH in 2004. After gaining a Master of Science degree in Strategic Management, he initially held the position of Purchasing Manager in the company. In this position, he was responsible for ensuring that the supply chain ran smoothly. As Director of Projects EPC, he was subsequently in charge of the order processing, project management, assembly and logistics divisions at the Ludwigsburg site. Commenting on his new position as COO, he said: “I’ll continue to be 100 percent committed to strengthening our global capabilities and expanding our worldwide connectivity. My many years of working with our company, employees and partners will contribute to our continued handling of high-quality projects and our punctual adherence to deadlines.”
Bevolution, one of the most diverse and creative beverage providers in the US, has something new bubbling. Soda is now on the menu, but it’s not the Bevolution way to settle on just the classics. While the new options do include traditional flavours like Cola, Ginger Ale, Citrus, and Root Beer, new small-batch craft flavours will also be available. Try something sweet like our Banana Split, maybe a glass of Raspberry Lemonade will hit the spot, or if you are feeling adventurous, how about trying the Tropical Sriracha for a mix of sweet and heat! This is just a taste of everything Bevolution has brewing up. The new product line of sodas was released nationwide on December 1st, 2022.
Looking for something a bit more your own? Bevolution is launching a custom small-batch craft soda program. Bevolution will work with partners to create new and innovative dream flavour combinations that will perk up taste buds everywhere. All the soda flavours are sweetened with pure cane sugar, never high-fructose corn syrup, to ensure the highest quality and best tasting drinks.
“Today’s carbonated soft drink consumers want cane sugar, premium ingredients and better than national brand flavours. Bevolution Group is pleased to announce our Craft Soda line for fountain dispensers. Formulated to appeal to today’s beverage consumer.” – Robert Corlett Sr. VP of Sales
The craft soda market is now more than a 650 million dollar -a-year enterprise with expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 5 % over the next 8 years. As tastes change and demand grows for higher quality ingredients and unique flavours you can expect to see Bevolution at the forefront of craft beverages.
Bevolution Group has a history of beverage innovation dating back to 1962 from iconic mixers in New York bars, juices, energy drinks, and the first shelf stable smoothie free of artificial ingr edients.
SIG announced a BRL 10 million investment in innovative recycling technology that will enable polymers and aluminium from used aseptic carton packs to be recovered and sold separately for the first time on an industrial scale in Brazil. By expanding the range of applications for recycled materials from used aseptic cartons, SIG expects to increase their value by more than 50 %.
Innovative recycling technology
The renewable paper board that makes up around 75 % of aseptic carton packs on average can be separated for recycling in paper mills through Brazil’s existing recycling infrastructure. The polyethylene and aluminium mix (polyaluminium or PolyAl) left over from this process can be recycled into a robust material for purposes such as roofing, pallets and furniture.
SIG’s recycling plant will use innovative technology that makes it possible to separate the polyethylene from the aluminium in PolyAl to create a wider market and demand for these recycled materials. Developed over five years with project partner ECS Consulting, the new technology has already undergone a pilot project that proved the effectiveness of the chemical recycling process.
The new recycling plant is currently in construction in the state of Paraná. It is expected to begin operating in 2024 with an initial production capacity of 200 tonnes per month. Together with industry partners, SIG has also invested in a plant in Germany to separate polymers and aluminium from PolyAl that went into production in 2021.
Ethical collection programmes
Investing in new technology to create a wider market for recycled materials is an important step in increasing recycling rates for used aseptic cartons. SIG has already led the way with innovative programmes to support two other important steps: collection of used packaging from consumers and separation of that packaging to go into the right recycling streams.
SIG’s so+ma vantagens programme, run in partnership with NGO so+ma since 2018, enables people in underprivileged communities to collect loyalty points for bringing in waste for recycling. The points can then be exchanged for rewards, such as essential food products and skills training. SIG is now expanding this model to promote recycling and bring additional societal benefits to further municipalities in Brazil and beyond.
SIG also promotes public policies for selective waste collection in Brazil, and supports effective infrastructure and decent working conditions for waste collectors’ cooperatives as a seed investor in the Recicleiros Cidades programme. Set up with NGO Recicleiros in 2018, the programme is now operational in 13 municipalities and aims to reach 60 by 2027.
Louis Dreyfus Company B.V. announced the successful development of a new product made from not-from-concentrate (NFC) orange juice, presenting a 30 % reduction in natural sugar content and more than triple dietary fiber content, while preserving original taste (Brix value) and vitamin C level.
Further to a five-year research effort by the Group’s in-house R&D laboratory team of food engineers, chemists and biotechnologists in Bebedouro, São Paulo State, Brazil, LDC has developed a successful process to reduce sugar content in orange juice, in line with the company’s commitment to offer nutritious, high-quality juices that address growing consumer demand.
“Complementing our extensive portfolio of juices and ingredients from Brazilian-grown citrus fruits, this new product represents another positive step in LDC’s strategy to diversify revenue through value-added products, including specialty ingredients and products like this one,” said Juan José Blanchard, LDC’s Global Head of Juice. “Leveraging our global network and partnerships, LDC aims to bring this new product to the global market in collaboration with leading beverage industry players, contributing to the advent of healthy, nutritious juice product options that respond to consumer expectations, while continuing to invest in R&D activities targeting further reductions in sugar content.”
Although commercial roll-out is initially focused on Asia Pacific, with an initial launch planned in early 2023 in China, the new product is available to industry customers worldwide, including in Europe, North America and South America, where the Group sees growing consumer demand for healthy, nutritious, great-tasting diet options.
Sidel has opened a new hub dedicated to PET recycling. At its unique small-scale PET recycling pilot line in Octeville, France, Sidel will develop its understanding of PET recycling with the aim of giving comprehensive support to the market as it switches to greater use of recycled PET.
Seeking carbon neutrality, the packaging industry is in the middle of a transition period that aims to replace virgin PET with recycled PET. Sidel is engaging with this transition to circular packaging solutions, enabling r-PET to be more widely used. The unique small-scale PET recycling line will allow Sidel to develop advanced knowledge about the recycling of food-contact PET bottles. As Sidel packaging experts assess the impact of additives and primary packaging materials on r-PET resin the facility will become an important reference for raw material producers, recyclers and recycling regulatory organisations. The line will also enable Sidel to further develop its own knowledge, ideas and innovative packaging solutions.
Helping to meet demand for r-PET
Demand for r-PET is increasing and the market is developing as brand owners seek carbon neutral solutions. The amount of recycled PET in packaging globally has increased to 8 % compared to 5 % in 2018. In Europe, the average is already 15 % and is projected to grow to 35 % in 2030.1
“There is a big move towards recycled PET, but demand is outstripping supply,” says Naima Boutroy, Sidel’s Global Packaging Expert. “The market still has a lot to learn and we can provide valuable insights. There is a variability in recycled PET resin grades, and standardisation is still in development. We need to address this to create the best possible finished bottles. Our line will test the recyclability of post-consumer PET bottles from different feed stocks, including additives and caps as well as labels, inks and glue. We will be working with traditional Sidel customers such as brand owners, converters and co-packers, as well as other suppliers like raw material producers, recyclers and regulatory organisations, to enable the scaling-up of r-PET capacity. We can also check any innovations comply with bottle-to-bottle recycling.”
Fully-equipped line to study entire process
Sidel’s new line will take raw material from industrial partners such as sorting facilities, recyclers and brand owners. It will then recreate and study all aspects of the process from bales to flakes including pellets ready to be injected into preform, injection and blow moulding.
Sidel will give the packaging industry the opportunity to access a fully equipped pilot line. This line covers every step of the recycling process: from washing, drying and pellet extrusion, to solid-state polymerisation, including dedicated process and laboratory controls at every step.
Making PET a more sustainable choice
PET is proven to be recyclable and is the only food-safe bottle-to-bottle recycled material, but the market has yet to see the production of standardised r-PET resin grade in high quantities; achieving this could facilitate the market conversion from virgin PET to r-PET. Lifecycle analysis shows that PET already has the best carbon footprint among materials currently available; creating a robust recycling loop to achieve full circularity at scale will make PET an even more sustainable choice.
Sidel to become one-stop shop for r-PET
Sidel’s investment in the r-PET pilot line is unparalleled in the packaging industry and will also empower Sidel in shaping the packaging solutions of tomorrow. The line, which has a holistic bottle-to-bottle approach, is just one of a range of services that Sidel is establishing under the name RePETable™ services. The services will draw upon Sidel’s 40+ years of blowing and packaging expertise, to support brand owners and convertors in producing r-PET bottles through line upgrade solutions, packaging optimisation, blowing process qualification, troubleshooting, r-PET processing training.
FruitSmartTM showcased two novel fruit beverage concepts at SupplySide West in the US. Created from premium cold-pressed fruit-based ingredients, and blended with botanicals and macronutrients such as protein, they demonstrated how fruit juice is an excellent carrier for both taste and functionality.
Depending on the fruit used, juice can provide a wide range of important nutrients, including antioxidants and polyphenols. FruitSmart’s new beverage concepts illustrate how brands can leverage the natural benefits of high-quality fruit-based drinks as part of a healthy, balanced diet.
Visitors to FruitSmart’s booth at SupplySide West in Las Vegas were able to sample:
A raspberry protein and fiber drink blending red raspberry, apple, pear, and elderberry juice with pea protein and apple fiber. This creates a great-tasting product that provides satiety, immunity and gut-health benefits, alongside better blood glucose control and optimal fructose absorption in the small intestine.
A super-fruits beverage – made from dark sweet cherry, blueberry, raspberry, and elderberry juice, with extract of turmeric, ginger, acai and vanilla, it’s rich in both flavour and micronutrients, including antioxidants and polyphenols.
Wayne Lutomski, President of FruitSmart, said: “Our new fruit beverage concepts show how brands can develop exciting products that are a welcome addition to any healthy diet. Yes, it contains sugar, but look at the friends that fruit can bring to the party – polyphenols, antioxidants, vitamins A and C, folate, and essential minerals such as potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, and sodium. Fruit’s intrinsic health and wellness benefits can be further enhanced by adding other nutrients, such as fiber, protein, and botanicals. And of course it delivers amazing taste!”
About FruitSmartTM FruitSmart specialises in premium, high-quality, fruit-based juices and ingredients. With roots in the food processing industry that go back to 1982, it has decades of experience. Today it has a 13-acre fruit and vegetable processing plant in Grandview Washington, while its 19-acre Prosser campus includes facilities for dry ingredient processing and freezing. Offering a wide variety of juices, purees, concentrates, essences, fibers, seeds, seed oils and seed powders, FruitSmart takes great pride in developing solutions for manufacturers and using fruit in new and novel ways.
European Bioplastics (EUBP), the association representing the interests of the bioplastics industry in Europe, has elected a new Board. The EUBP leadership team will be headed by its new Chairperson, Stefan Barot (BIOTEC) and supported by the new Vice Chairpersons, Lars Börger (Neste) and Mariagiovanna Vetere (NatureWorks). “Never before has our industry received that much of attention. Economically and politically, these are pivotal times, and I’m very pleased to be able to support our industry in my new role as EUBP Chair”, says Stefan Barot.
Crucial EU legislation on bioplastics is expected to be adopted by the end of the year and beyond. This is a great opportunity to fully acknowledge the role of bio-based and compostable plastics within the circular economy. We welcome the European Commission’s initiatives to establish a clear and reliable political environment for bioplastics. This is crucial to ensure a continued successful development of our industry. It also enables bioplastics to contribute to the achievement of the EU’s ambitious climate goals, especially a lower environmental footprint”, he adds.
Afsaneh Nabifar (BASF SE), Peter von den Kerkhoff (Covation Biomaterials LLC), Patrick Zimmermann (FKuR), Franz Kraus (Novamont), Paolo La Scola (TotalEnergies Corbion), and Erwin Lepoudre (Kaneka) are also members of the new Board, with the latter serving as the Treasurer.
“I would like to express my gratitude to all members of the previous board for their great contributions to our association over the past term”, says Barot and adds: “In the name of European Bioplastics I would also like to express special appreciation to my predecessor, François de Bie, who had served the association as Chairperson for almost ten years. Now, important tasks lie ahead of us and I’m very much looking forward to actively approaching them.”
Euromed’s natural ingredient Pomanox® shows potential to help reduce food intake
According to a recently published clinical study by the department of Dietetics, Nutrition and Biological Sciences, those supplementing with Euromed’s natural extract Pomanox® showed significantly lower levels of hunger and a desire to eat, as well as higher levels of satiety, compared to a placebo group.
In the preliminary, independent, placebo-controlled study conducted at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh1, twenty-eight healthy subjects were given either three-week supplementation with Pomanox® or a placebo. During week three, satiety parameters were determined on a testing day after participants ingested breakfast and lunch with pomegranate juice (PJ). The results suggest that subjects in the Pomanox® group with the PJ preload were generally more satisfied than those given the placebo. Participants were also less hungry after Pomanox® intake with PJ during the meal than those who consumed placebo juice and capsules. Scores from the visual analogue scales (VAS), which record subjective sensations, showed significantly lower levels of hunger and a desire to eat, as well as higher levels of fullness and satisfaction, thus greater levels of satiety in participants consuming Pomanox® with PJ, compared to the placebo. These participants also liked the smell of the meal significantly more than the placebo group. Interestingly, the consumption of pomegranate extract was associated with a significantly lower amount of food intake during the satiety session compared with the placebo group.
While preliminary, these findings confirm the appetite-regulating effect of polyphenol-rich extracts reported in previous studies, suggesting possible novel new approaches to reducing risk factors for obesity and compulsive eating, and providing more enjoyable meals while dieting.
Andrea Zangara, Scientific Marketing Manager at Euromed, says: “We are very pleased to see these promising results, as they further support the efficacy and safety of Pomanox®, expanding its numerous evidence-based health applications to include weight management and behavioural support. Pomanox® is available in different formats and strengths, and extracted using safe and eco-friendly, water-only technologies (Pure-Hydro Process®) as with all the other ingredients in our line of Mediterranean Fruit and Vegetable Extracts™. Their production is vertically integrated as they originate from selected fruits grown in the Mediterranean region – close to our dedicated manufacturing plant and in accordance with strict and transparent quality control protocols. In summary, they are ideal for inclusion in premium dietary supplements, functional foods and pharmaceuticals.”
Euromed, S.A., a leading producer of standardised herbal extracts, announced the appointment of industry veteran Chris Tower to the position of General Manager of its key subsidiary Euromed USA Inc. Chris will replace current General Manager Guy Woodman, who will be retiring later this year. He is a highly experienced, senior level executive with an extensive range of skills and more than 25 years of successful sales, business development and operations expertise in the U.S. and global botanical extract industry.
He has previously held key management positions with an array of leading botanical extract manufacturers, including serving as VP Sales and Marketing of Sensient Natural Extracts (formally Mazza Innovation), founding President and CEO of Layn USA Inc. (subsidiary of Layn Natural Ingredients Corp.) and VP Sales and Business Development for leading Italian and German botanical extract manufacturers.
The multimillion-pound investment in Britvic’s Rugby factory comes as the company celebrates 35 years in the town
Rugby MP Mark Pawsey has paid a visit to Britvic’s largest production site to officially open the soft drink manufacturer’s most recent canning line.
The state-of-the-art line, already producing internationally known brands including Tango, Pepsi and 7UP, saw Britvic invest a further £26.9 million in the Rugby factory and create 20 new jobs. This brings the total number of employees at the site to over 340.
Based on Glebe Farm Industrial Estate, the factory boasts some of the fastest lines in Europe, with the new canning line turning out around 120,000 cans per hour. Bringing the site’s total to four canning lines, the most recent line boosts total capacity by around 20 %. This takes total production to an impressive rate of just under half a million cans per hour.
Speaking after the visit, Mark said: “It was a great pleasure to be able to open Britvic’s new canning line and see for myself the additional investment by Britvic in their Rugby site. This is great news for our local economy and has created a number of new jobs, including opportunities for apprentices from the local area. Britvic has a 35 year history of manufacturing in Rugby and the fourth canning line shows that the company remains committed to their site and their employees here.”
Mark continued: “We were also able to discuss the need to ensure that packaging remains sustainable and Britvic’s arrangement with Ardagh Group is a great example of minimising the carbon footprint. It is also vital that the sector continues to recycle as much as they can and the work which is ongoing at Britvic both for plastic and aluminium recycling is extremely positive.”
Nigel Paine, Supply Chain Director, added: “Britvic knows that a strong supply chain is fundamental to its continued success. Having created a modern supply chain for the long-term with our Business Capability Programme, we’re now supercharging it with further investment.
“Consumers love the convenience and sustainability credentials of our cans and, with the increased capacity this new line brings, we’ll be able to put even more of them in their hands this summer and in summers to come.”
Aluminium cans are 100 % recyclable and on average contain 74 % recycled material. Many of the cans used by Britvic also benefit from a considerably reduced carbon footprint due to their arrangement with metal packaging manufacturer Ardagh Group’s neighbouring factory, who send cans to Britvic through a tunnel linking the two factories.
Since December 1, 2021, Alexander John has been strengthening the team of ZIEMANN HOLVRIEKA GmbH, Ludwigsburg as Head of Sales. At the expert for tanks and process technology for the brewing, beverage and liquid food industry, Alexander John will be responsible for sales in Africa. “We are pleased that we were able to win over a brewing technologist with such a profound knowledge of the process and plant industry. Together with him, we will further intensify our activities on this emerging continent. We are convinced that our product and service portfolio is extremely attractive for the given framework conditions there”, says Florian Schneider, Managing Director of Sales and Marketing of ZIEMANN HOLVRIEKA GmbH. For example, on the African continent, other starch sources are often used in addition to the usual raw materials, such as malt, which can be covered in a tailor-made way by the wide range of ZIEMANN HOLVRIEKA’s in-house lautering technologies.
Alexander John is a trained brewer. After graduating as a brewing engineer, John worked as a project engineer and international sales manager for many years. An almost one-year stay in Nigeria for a large brownfield project for a global beverage group strengthened his affinity for the African market. “I am looking forward to supporting the companies in my sales area with my practical knowledge. Together with our customers, we will find the perfect solution for every challenge and plant size”, John summarizes.
Alexander John supports the customers in Africa from the headquarters in Ludwigsburg.
Refresco Group B.V., the global independent beverage solutions provider for Global, National and Ernerging (GNE) brands, and retailers in Europe and North America, announced that Adee Packer has stepped down as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Member ofthe Executive Board.
Bill McFarland, CFO of Refresco North America, will be appointed as CFO for the Group, effective 1 July 2022. Bill joined the Company through the acquisition of Cott Beverages, where he was CFO since 2013, and has over 20 years of experience in the FMCG industry. Prior to his career at Cott, Bill held several finance rotes at Molson Coors, an international beverage company. He has worked and lived in the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK.
Andre Voogt, M&A Director Refresco North America, will step into the rote of CFO Refresco North America, also effective 1 July 2022. Andre has been with Refresco for over 15 years, mainly in senior finance rotes. When Refresco set its first steps in North America in 2016, Andre led the local finance organization. From 2018 to2020, Andre was responsible for the integration of Cott Beverages into Refresco, and member of the North America Leadership Team.
Performance Drink Group, Inc, a new force in the manufacturing of unique Sports Nutrition and Energy Drinks, announced that “Pro Boost”, a new 2 FL OZ (60 ml) zero-calorie, zero-sugar energy supplement drink, is now available to order in the US.
Pro Boost is available to order through www.proboostenergy.com and the Company has already begun taking pre-orders direct from retailers who see this as an explosive space to be entering. Consumers are able to place orders now through the website and product will start to be delivered both to retailers and consumers alike from June 1, 2022.
Management is focused on driving sales of Pro Boost by targeting distribution through specialty-supplement retail, as well as the traditional grocery and convenience store space. The direct to consumer model via the Company’s website is said to also be crucial in the success of the product.
James Gracely, Senior Vice President of Performance Drink Group stated that “Pro Boost will mobilize an often undervalued beverage consumer by focusing on the gamer/streamer community. Pro Boost will have a wide appeal in all classes of trade as we seek placement across a broad spectrum of high-impact high-volume retail end-points.”
In addition to energizers like Taurine, Malic Acid, N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine, Glucuronolactone, Caffeine, and L-Phenylalanine, Pro Boost features a robust burst of B Vitamins, including 100 % of the recommended daily value for Niacin, 2,000 % of the recommended daily value for Vitamin B6, 100 % of the recommended daily value for Folic Acid, and 8,333 % of the recommended daily value for Vitamin B12.
Pro Boost contains no calories, no sugar, no GMO, no gluten, no artificial colours, and no preservatives.
EXBERRY® colouring foods supplier GNT has published a major new report that sets out its plans to become the leader in its field on sustainability.
Each year, GNT produces more than 11,500 metric tons of EXBERRY® concentrates from edible fruit, vegetables, and plants – enough to colour over 40 billion servings of food and drink.
To ensure the company is fit for the future, it has unveiled a sustainability roadmap for 2030 to optimize its environmental and social impacts across its global operations. The full plans feature in GNT’s new ‘Sustainability Report 2021,’ which also includes detailed information on its performance last year.
Frederik Hoeck, Managing Director at GNT Group B.V., said: “Since GNT was founded in 1978, we’ve been revolutionising the food colouring industry with our plant-based EXBERRY® solutions. Today, we’re known for offering the most natural solutions on the market. We now want to take this to the next level and lead the industry in sustainability too. As a family business, sustainability and caring for future generations have always been part of our DNA.”
GNT’s sustainability strategy is built around four key pillars: better products, better operations, better agriculture, and better for people. It features a total of 17 targets for 2030, including cutting the Product Environmental Footprint for EXBERRY® product ranges by 25 % and reducing the intensity of factories’ CO2-equivalent emissions by at least 50 %.
Furthermore, due to GNT’s strong vertical integration, the company will soon be in a position to report on greenhouse gas emissions for 80 % of EXBERRY® products. Covering scopes 1, 2 and 3, this data will provide important advantages for food and beverage brands as it will enable them to calculate final products’ total environmental footprint.
Rutger de Kort, Sustainability Manager at GNT Group B.V., said: “We’re positioning our EXBERRY® brand as the most sustainable food colouring solution on the market. GNT is committed to driving industry standards higher than ever before by providing colours that deliver on cost-in-use, performance, naturalness, and sustainability. Achieving our goals won’t be easy, but we’re already making excellent progress across multiple areas.”
The company will build new storage tanks for not-from-concentrate orange juice, supporting increased commercialization to European markets
Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC), a leading global merchant and processor of agricultural goods, announced the construction of new orange juice storage tanks in the city of Matão, located in Brazil’s largest citrus producing region, in the state of São Paulo. The project aims to increase the company’s production and storage capacity for not-from-concentrate (NFC) orange juice, a product with high added value for the consumer market.
The new investment in Matão, where LDC operates since 1988, will bring NFC storage capacity at the site to 30 million liters, and annual juice production capacity to 300 million liters.
“Increasing production and storage capacity for NFC will allow us to meet growing consumer demand for this high value-added product, especially in Europe, while reinforcing our position among the top three global processors and merchandizers of orange juice,” said Juan José Blanchard, Head of the LDC’s Juice Platform.
This project is the second phase in LDC’s plans to expand commercialization of NFC in Europe, North America and Asia. In 2020, the company announced a new, dedicated fleet for juice transportation that reduces fuel consumption by 40 % and sulfur emission levels by 85 % per ton of product. LDC also increased storage capacity by more than 50 %, and blending capacity by more than 20 %, at its port terminal and processing facility in Ghent, Belgium.
Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of orange juice, a business in which LDC has been active for over 30 years. The company’s operations in the country are fully integrated, comprising more than 25,000 hectares of sustainably grown citrus groves – strategically located in Brazil’s citrus belt – as well as three citrus juice processing plants and an export terminal in the Port of Santos (São Paulo state).
“This project also reinforces the company’s commitment to long-term investment in Brazil, a key origination market for over 80 years,” added Jorge Costa, Global Operations Director for LDC’s Juice Platform.
The new storage tanks are expected to be operational by the end of 2023.
About Louis Dreyfus Company Louis Dreyfus Company is a leading merchant and processor of agricultural goods, founded in 1851. We leverage our global reach and extensive asset network to serve our customers and consumers around the world, delivering the right products to the right location, at the right time – safely, reliably and responsibly. Our activities span the entire value chain, from farm to fork, across a broad range of business lines (platforms) including Grains & Oilseeds, Coffee, Cotton, Juice, Rice, Sugar, Freight, Carbon Solutions and Global Markets. We help feed and clothe some 500 million people every year by originating, processing and transporting approximately 80 million tons of products. Structured as a matrix organization of six geographical regions and nine platforms, Louis Dreyfus Company is active in over 100 countries and employs approximately 17,000 people globally.
Royal DSM, a global purpose-led science-based company, reveals its new integrated Food & Beverage operating structure which unifies three areas of DSM’s nutrition business – Food Specialties, Hydrocolloids and part of its Nutritional Products group – to closely align with emerging customer and market needs. The new business group combines the company’s full range of food and beverage ingredients, expertise and science-based solutions that improve the taste and texture of foods, as well as support healthier lives and a healthier planet. The new Food & Beverage organization will focus on helping consumers ‘enjoy it all’ without having to choose between taste, texture and health. This differentiating message will be the cornerstone of a new campaign.
The global food and beverage market is set to continue its upward trajectory as the world’s population grows, placing new pressures on producers in an already competitive space to innovate and get to market quickly. At the same time, the industry is converging with the health and wellness space, and increasingly aligning with consumer expectations for delicious products that support their health alongside environmental and social aspirations. DSM’s strategy aims to support this market advancement through the creation of one Food & Beverage business group that encompasses the ingredients, global and local expertise and solutions provided by its previously distinct Food Specialties, Hydrocolloids and Nutritional Products business areas.
This simplified structure represents the activation of DSM’s announcement in September 2021 that the company will become a fully-focused Health, Nutrition & Bioscience company. By establishing a ‘one-stop-shop’ of ingredients, solutions and end-to-end capabilities, DSM will help food and beverage manufacturers worldwide fast-track product development and achieve efficient production. As a leading provider of vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients, an innovator in enzyme solutions, and a frontrunner in dairy cultures, DSM has unrivalled nutritional science expertise and deep application knowledge which is paired with prominent advocacy for healthier and more sustainable food systems. This is supported by a number of recent acquisitions – including DSM’s acquisition of First Choice Ingredients, a leading supplier of dairy-based savory flavorings – which have enabled DSM to further elevate its taste, texture and health offering for customers. DSM is therefore uniquely placed to help manufacturers overcome the friction that must be navigated to deliver delicious, nutritious and sustainable food and beverage products, so customers and consumers can ‘enjoy it all’.
As an advocate and leader in enabling a healthier and more sustainable food system, DSM’s solutions help boost process efficiencies, reduce food loss and waste and lower the environmental impact of production and consumption – while also enhancing food’s nutritional profile. As part of this, DSM is taking strategic steps in developing specialty proteins that are produced within planetary boundaries, including CanolaPRO®, and supporting producers to be at the forefront of this protein diversification towards a healthier future. DSM’s recent acquisition of Vestkorn Milling, a supplier of pea- and bean-derived proteins, starches and dietary fibers, will also complement and further accelerate this growth. These efforts are part of DSM’s commitment to reach 150 million people with plant-based protein foods by 2030, in alignment with our recently announced series of quantifiable food system commitments.
This year, VOG Products, an innovative fruit processing company from Trentino-South Tyrol (Italy), produced a base for apple vinegar (cider) for the first time. After all, a current development in the market shows that the trend is moving from balsamic vinegar towards apple vinegar. For apple vinegar, the company has special tanks for fermentation. Concentrate and juice from high-quality raw goods are used as base for the cider that is further processed by the vinegar industry.
Another new addition to the VOG Products assortment: apple flour and dried apples in the form of rings or cubes – as our customers wish – from various apple varieties. With these products, VOG Products primarily targets the baked goods and sweets industries, as well as granola producers and suppliers of fruit preparations.
The continuous availability of premium raw goods, traceability and the highest quality and safety standards are important components of VOG Products’ recipe for success. At the same time, the fruit processing company established in 1967 values innovation and further development highly. VOG Products now belongs to 4 producers’ organisations from South Tyrol and Trentino plus 18 cooperatives from South Tyrol with a total of around 10,000 members.
Avoidance of alcohol is becoming the norm for a growing minority of consumers around the world. While this trend is seen across all age groups, it is most apparent in Generation Z, with as many as a third of consumers aged 18 – 25 now saying that they never consume alcohol.
This trend is creating an entirely new sub-category within the alcoholic drinks market. Younger consumers appear reluctant to turn their backs on either the taste or sophistication of beer, wine and spirits in favour of traditional soft drinks. As a result, alcohol-free choices are flooding the shelves.
According to a new report from Innova Market Insights, four percent of all the beers and spirits launched globally in 2021 contained no alcohol at all, rising to seven percent among flavoured alcoholic beverages (FABs). Launch numbers in each of these areas have grown at CAGRs of 20 – 40 % over the past five years.
Alcohol removal is also becoming far more mainstream. “The big guns are all invested in the alcohol-free movement,” reports Lu Ann Williams, Global Insights Director at Innova Market Insights. “Brands such as Guinness 0.0 alcohol free stout and Freixenet 0.0 sparkling rosé wine offer both familiarity and novelty to young, brand-conscious drinkers.”
It is not all about a ‘no alcohol’ positioning, however, as launches of low-alcohol drinks such as hard seltzers are growing twice as fast. The soft drinks giants have even been exploring this area in partnership with alcohol companies. For example, Coca-Cola (with Molson Coors) already offers the Topo Chico hard seltzers brand, while PepsiCo (with the Boston Beer Co) is ready to roll out Hard Mtn Dew in early 2022. PepsiCo has also applied for a trademark that suggests an alcoholic version of Rockstar could be on the cards.
Whether it is in alcohol reduction or its complete removal, the industry is recognizing that alcohol-shy youngsters are the target audience of tomorrow. Adjusting to their needs is a major focus for right now.
This October, Fruit Shoot singles across its core range are making the move to 100 % rPET (recycled plastic) and clear bottles*.
The update is another step on Britvic’s journey to reaching its ambition that all bottles produced and sold in Great Britain will be made from 100 % rPET by the end of 2022. The product will also undergo a recipe refresh and packaging redesign for the first time in three years. Alongside its new clear bottle, Fruit Shoot will now be preservative free following a reformulation.
Fruit Shoot Apple and Blackcurrant (Photo: Britvic)
As the number one kids soft drinks brand[1], Fruit Shoot is supporting operators to meet the ever-changing needs and considerations of consumers. Sustainability is not only a growing concern, but is also now a factor in their decision-making. A study revealed that 95 % of parents hold brands responsible for addressing their sustainability concerns[2], with a further 71 % claiming they’ve become more concerned about sustainability since becoming a parent[3]. However, it isn’t just parents that are increasingly conscious of their impact on the environment, but also their children – as 95 % of kids say the environment needs protecting[4].
Adam Russell, director of foodservice & licensed at Britvic, comments: “One in four kids juice and juice drink occasions took place outside the home in 2019[5], and as restrictions have eased and families are back on the move, this is only set to increase further with kids drinking while out and about. As the number one kids soft drinks brand[6], Fruit Shoot already has strong brand awareness, but this latest update to the use of 100 % rPET bottles will also demonstrate its packaging sustainability credentials to parents. This is particularly important, as research we recently commissioned revealed that the majority of Brits (80 %) think it is important that manufactures and brands use recycled plastic[7].”
As part of wider consumer research, Britvic found the transition to a clear bottle had several impacts on parents’ perceptions – eight out of 10 parents said they would trust Fruit Shoot more and almost three quarters said it showed Fruit Shoot was more natural than they thought[8]. Made with real fruit, no added sugar, artificial colours, flavourings or preservatives, Fruit Shoot offers parents peace of mind when it comes to the health of their children.
The packaging update will include hand drawn elements added to each bottle, to bring it to life and add an element of fun. As a result, they will be eye-catching in outlets, driving appeal and purchase – particularly for those who are conscious about the contents of the products they purchase.
To drive awareness of the switch to 100 % rPET bottles, Fruit Shoot will be visible across outdoor and digital platforms early next year, demonstrating the new clear bottles with the messaging, ‘New CLEAR bottle, just as fruity!’.
*Across Fruit Shoot single and multipack bottles, excluding caps and labels. [1] NielsenIQ, Total Coverage, Value and Volume MAT to 24.07.21 & CGA Foodservice and Licensed Value and Volume MAT to 30.06.21 – Total Fruit Shoot, Kids Soft Drinks Category (Britvic defined) [2] Kantar Mumsnet Sustainability Study, May 2020 [3] Kantar Mumsnet Sustainability Study, May 2020 [4] https://www.moms.com/gen-alpha-cares-more-study/ Hotwire 1000 kids aged 5-7. 95% children say the environment needs to be protected. [5] Britvic’s Kidscope Research, 2019 [6] NielsenIQ, Total Coverage, Value and Volume MAT to 24.07.21 & CGA Foodservice and Licensed Value and Volume MAT to 30.06.21 – Total Fruit Shoot, Kids Soft Drinks Category (Britvic defined) [7] OnePoll research, 2,000 UK adults, Recycling Lifetime Survey, commissioned by Britvic, August 2021 [8] MMR, Clear Bottle quantitative study, May-June 2020.
Beverage Partners International (BPI) is delighted to announce that Tony Parente has been appointed COO, effective from 1 September 2021.
Moving forward, Tony Parente will oversee BPI’s day-to-day operations, develop the strategic direction of the business and support BPI’s expanding network of bottlers and distributors.
Tony Parente has led an accomplished career and is a well-established figure in the international FMCG and soft drinks industry, working across both global corporates and entrepreneurial companies.
Following a long career in International Franchise Beverage Management at Cadbury Schweppes and then at The Coca-Cola Company, he was appointed Managing Director of start-up T&T Beverages, taking the brand from “zero to hero” in the UK.
He has held senior positions at Powershot UK, Coca-Cola Europe, The Monster Energy Drinks Company and Grenade UK, among others.
On his return to Coca-Cola Europe, Tony Parente held the role of New Ventures Entrepreneur, a business unit working in key markets in Europe, inspired by startups such as Glacéau, ZICO and Honest Tea, developing new venture categories and new brands to drive incremental growth.
New company formed as KPS Capital Partners completes its acquisition of Crown Holdings Inc.’s EMEA food and consumer packaging business
Eviosys, a leader in the metal packaging industry with innovation and sustainability at its core, launches today as a newly formed, independent company. The business is Europe’s largest manufacturer of steel and aluminium food packaging with hundreds of global and regional food and consumer products customers.
Eviosys will focus on unique, smart packaging solutions by combining a rich heritage with an enhanced, market-leading focus on innovation, research and development. Sustainability is at the heart of Eviosys, which has a product portfolio centred on 100 % recyclable metal substrates. The Company will champion the evolution of truly sustainable packaging, developing solutions for its customers that help them meet their sustainability goals while also protecting the planet, people and communities around us.
Eviosys, with seven design studios and three laboratories across Europe, will continue its leadership role in smart packaging solutions by offering exciting, innovative ways to help customers differentiate from the competition and capture opportunities for growth.
Eviosys has the largest manufacturing footprint in the region, with 6,300 employees in 44 manufacturing facilities across 17 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). With its strategically located manufacturing facilities, Eviosys will continue its commitment to uncompromising product quality, preserving products and promoting the reputation of local and international brands in over 100 countries worldwide.
Tomás López, an industry executive with decades of experience leading packaging businesses, will lead Eviosys as its new Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Lopez previously served as CEO of Mivisa prior to its acquisition by Crown Holdings in 2014.
With new management and expanded production area, the plant manufacturer is implementing a step in the long-term development strategy of the site
New management: Bartłomiej Berger, Piotr Cieplinski, Marek Winkler (from left to right) (Photo: Ruland)
The Tychy (Poland) site of plant manufacturer Ruland is starting the new year with a new management team. The new management consists of Piotr Cieplinski, Marek Winkler and Bartłomiej Berger, all three long-time employees of the company. Founded in 1993 by Eugen Blaski, the site serves a great many beverage producers and breweries in Europe, but also supplies plant technology worldwide to all producers who process liquid products. Together with the company founder, the new management has initiated several modernisations in recent years as part of a long-term development strategy. A new ERP system, intensive staff training and, above all, the new production hall provide modern structures and workflows for plant engineering and construction.
Growing demand together with an increased need for manufacturing space for large plant modules made the new production hall necessary. In addition, it enables efficient processing of plant production up to loading. Two modern overhead cranes, eight permanent welding cabins with aeration and ventilation systems as well as dust extraction systems, a closed welding etching system with waste neutralisation facilitate the assembly of the individual plant modules.
At the same time as the new production areas, new office and social rooms were created for the continuously growing staff. Ruland Tychy currently employs 111 people, mainly engineers, plant designers, automation specialists, technicians and fitters.
Eugen Blaski hands over the management of the company with a good feeling: “We have initiated a number of modernisations that have put Ruland Tychy in a good position. Our three new managing directors know the technical requirements in plant construction very well. They know what potential Ruland and the team have and how best to use it.” Eugen Blaski will remain with Ruland Tychy in an advisory role.
About Ruland Engineering & Consulting Ruland Engineering & Consulting GmbH plans and implements process plants worldwide. The owner-managed company offers its customers plant engineering of the highest quality. It supplies individual, innovative and practice-oriented solutions in the fields of tank farms, mixing and dosing systems, thermal plants as well as vacuum degassing plants, filtration plants, fermenters and CIP plants. Complete automation with its own control cabinet construction has been a speciality for many years. Ruland assembles its plants itself and also carries out commissioning, piping assembly and documentation. Services such as maintenance and spart parts management round off the plant construction spectrum.
2021 is starting with a change of management for Erbslöh Geisenheim GmbH. As of 1 January 2021, Dr. Andreas Dietrich will be the new managing director at the company, which specialises in processing and refining beverages and liquid foods. Previous managing director Dr. Jörg Möller retired on 31 December 2020.
Dr. Dietrich is looking forward to his new role: “Erbslöh is a company with a long-standing tradition in the industry. We want to further build on our position as an innovative market leader and partner for our customers in the beverages sector.” Dr. Dietrich has more than 25 years’ experience in the chemical, pharmaceutical and biotech industries.
Chr. Hansen Holding A/S has today appointed Lise Skaarup Mortensen as new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Lise is an experienced international leader with a strong track-record and a passion for leadership who joins from a position as CFO at Microsoft Germany
Lise Skaarup Mortensen (52) has a strong financial background with many years of experience in large international companies and has for the past eight years been with Microsoft in international senior leadership positions in India and Germany. Prior to joining Microsoft, Lise has held senior level positions within the fields of finance and strategy at IBM, AP Moller-Maersk and BG Bank.
Lise Skaarup Mortensen will start at Chr. Hansen on October 1, 2020, after which there will be a short transition period until current CFO Søren Westh Lonning leaves, expected by the end of October. Lise will join the Executive Board after the transition period is completed.
Lise Skaarup Mortensen is a Danish national, currently living in Munich. She will relocate back to Denmark to take up this position. Lise holds a master’s degree in Business Administration & Economics from the University of Aarhus, Denmark.
Starting February 1, 2020, Thomas Hartkämper is the new CEO of Kautex Maschinenbau. He is taking over from Dr. Olaf Weiland, who has had significant influence on the development of the company since 2005. Going forward, Hartkämper is responsible for the areas of operations, research & development, and digitalization. Weiland, who is also a shareholder in Kautex Maschinenbau, is joining the advisory board, which is the controlling body of the company.
Weiland brought Thomas Hartkämper into the company in October 2019 as the preferred candidate to be his successor and initially entrusted him with responsibility for operations. The former CEO had put a succession plan into place four years ago, working in consultation with all members of management. His 50-year-old successor is an expert in change management and organizational development. Hartkämper champions a forward-looking approach to business operations, to ensure they are consistently aligned with customer requirements. Prior to joining Kautex, he had an active role for many years in managing various companies that operate internationally in mechanical engineering and plant engineering. He also has extensive experience in the plastics industry.
Weiland himself is retiring from day-to-day operational business, for reasons of age. As a member of the advisory board, he will continue supporting the development of the company that he has guided for more than 15 years. Kautex Maschinenbau has seen massive sales growth under his leadership. With his keen sense of future market developments and his strategic skill, Weiland was able to drive forward the internationalization of the company and its transition from an automotive to a packaging-focused company at an early stage.
As the market for oat drinks grows, Novozymes has developed a new toolbox to guide producers to expand their businesses into oat drinks.
Half a billion people worldwide are either vegan or vegetarian, 26 % of millennials have already embraced this lifestyle and 73 % among them are willing to pay more for sustainable food and drinks1. The combination of these trends is giving the sale of oat drinks a boost, with an expected growth of 30 % a year2.
“A new market is opening up and booming. To help dairies and beverage producers expand their portfolio and create new types of oat drinks, we have developed a toolbox that can help them expand their business into this new territory,” says Alessandro Palumbo, Market Development Manager at Novozymes.
Oat drinks is the fastest growing category in the plant based beverage segment. This is mainly due to the fact that oat drinks have one of the best nutritional profiles among dairy alternatives. Oat drinks is also known for its benefits when it comes to sustainability.
In spite of huge interest and a growing market, a study finds only 2 in 10 consumers think that plant protein is extremely good tasting2.
“The fast-growing demand gives producers the opportunity to develop and market new types of oat drinks. But at the same time, it’s also a challenge to come up with products that match the consumer’s taste and preference,” Alessandro Palumbo says.
Speed up development and help match consumer’s taste and preference
The new enzymatic toolbox is developed by Novozymes and is the first of its kind. It provides insights into how to use and combine enzymes, raw material and production parameters to adjust sweetness, mouthfeel and nutritional profile in oat drinks. It also provides insights for producers into how to optimize the production process and save costs.
“The toolbox gives dairy and beverage producers the opportunity to develop the oat drinks consumers want. By teaming up with Novozymes, they will be able to select the flavor and nutritional profile of their drink, starting from a prototype and quickly scale it up using the perfect combination of enzymes, raw materials and equipment,” says Alessandro Palumbo.
“This will help them to speed up the go-to-market process while reducing their risks related to new product development”.
By working with Novozymes, producers will also have access to a team of experts, who can provide 360° technical support from raw material to finished product. The toolbox can be accessed from here.
1Vegans, millennials and willingness to pay a premium 2Findings from Quid platform on healthy eating and a Novozymes’ plant protein consumer research conducted in the USA in December 2018 with an online panel of 1,000 respondents, carried out by Natural Marketing Institute (NMI).
Two out of three US consumers “love to discover new flavors’, while the same proportion say that ‘going out for dinner inspires their home cooking” (Innova Market Insights consumer survey 2018). Adventurous, daring and re-imagined flavors are emerging to entice trend-conscious consumers, who enjoy an element of the unexpected on their palates.
Flavor remains the number one factor of importance when buying food and beverages. An increasingly adventurous consumer creates opportunities for bolder, unconventional flavors and novel varieties that bring an element of surprise and the potential to create a social media buzz. Millennials and Gen Z in particular drive the trend of novel, creative, impactful foods with funky colors, shapes and flavors that are exciting to share through social media.
Globalization has sparked the curiosity of consumers to discover new food and beverage, with Innova Market Insights research indicating that three in ten US consumers ‘love to discover flavors of other cultures’.
Food and flavor trends are traveling faster than ever in today’s connected world. Consumers love to explore new flavors from different countries with and increasing range of ethnic flavors appearing across the board to satisfy culinary adventurers. Ethnic flavors proliferate, with sixty five percent growth in food and beverage launches with an ethnic flavor (Global, 2018 vs. 2014). Mediterranean and Far Eastern flavors are seeing the biggest growth in launch activity, with meat, fish and eggs and sauces and seasonings the leading categories.
People now travel the world and are connected online more than ever, getting increasingly familiar with other food cultures, flavors and experiences. To drive deeper connections with the adventurous consumer, brands satisfy their curiosity not only through exotic world flavors, but also new food experiences and telling the story behind the product. Consumers are increasingly engaged by interactive devices such as voting for favorite flavors, submitting their own flavor ideas and sharing flavor experiences with friends and/or online.
Brands also engage with consumers by telling the unique stories behind them, including greater transparency about the source and nature of their ingredients, recipes and processing. There is also rising use of limited editions to create a temporary buzz around brands, via novel and exciting flavors, shapes and concepts.
The Tetra Laval Group Board has appointed Mr Adolfo Orive, President & CEO of Tetra Pak effective April 1, 2019. The appointment follows the decision by Mr Dennis Jönsson to step down from his position after 14 years as President & CEO and 36 years with the company.
Adolfo Orive, presently Cluster Vice President North Central and South America, joined Tetra Pak in 1993. Prior to his present position he has had several managerial positions in the Group, including Managing Director of Colombia, Spain and Cluster Vice President North and Central Europe. He joined the Tetra Pak Global Leadership Team in 2014.
Mr Orive, who is 55 years old, has a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering at Ibero-American University (IBERO), Mexico and a Master’s in Business Administration at Mexico Autonomous Institute of Technology (ITAM), Mexico.
Changing of the guard in August 2019
Walter Pardatscher will take over from Gerhard Dichgans at the helm of VOG. On Wednesday 28 November, the Consortium’s board of directors settled on the figure entrusted with leading the Terlano-based House of Apples in the coming years, once Dichgans steps down from the role.
The company has known for a year that Gerhard Dichgans, the Consortium’s long-serving CEO, was looking to go into retirement. The board has been hunting for a suitable successor for a number of months, now identified thanks also to the support of a renowned recruitment agency based in Monaco.
The board concurred that Walter Pardatscher is the individual with the right skills to drive forward the consortium’s ambitious plans. 48-year-old Pardatscher has a background in apple growing: he grows them himself and is also chairman of one of the VOG cooperatives.
The future CEO of the Terlano consortium will first serve out his current contract with the Autostrada del Brennero motorway company, in his capacity as CEO. From 1 August 2019 he will bring his valuable experience to VOG.
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