Gama News – January - March 2024

Tata to acquire Capital Foods and Organic India

Food & drinks major in $845 million deal

Nestle to expand coffee production in Vietnam

$100 million investment to meet local and international demand Insight

Compass Local provenance increasingly anchoring food and drink positioning

Editorial

CEO & Executive Editor

CEO & Executive Editor

Cesar Pereira

Cesar Pereira

The growing importance of local sourcing and provenance from a product marketing standpoint is the focus of our attention in this issue. In our Insight by Gama Compass feature, we look at how the ‘lure of the local’ is being driven by sometimes inter-related elements of consumer sentiment, ranging from the reassurance of the familiar to the discovery of the new. Learn more by turning to page 12.

At the other end of the spectrum, cutting-edge technology promises a revolution in how our foods are formulated. Jump to page 16 for the lowdown on an innovative confectionery product from Fazer that makes use of a novel fermented protein claimed to be made from just "electricity and air" .

Elsewhere, this month's Industry Insight interviews offer valuable advice for start-up drinks brands, and explore the future of the Spanish food and drinks sector. We also review Alimentaria and IFE, and look ahead to the next quarter's major trade events, including Vitafoods, PLMA and Summer Fancy Food Show.

Enjoy our latest issue.

Cesar Pereira CEO, Gama

Peter

Company Number:

GB 8773764

phone: +44 1618188700

info@gamaconsumer.com

@GamaConsumer

www.gamaconsumer.com

Gama News over the years

House, Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 5AN United Kingdom

TATA TO ACQUIRE CAPITAL FOODS AND ORGANIC INDIA

INDIA: FOOD & DRINKS MAJOR IN $845 MILLION DEAL

Tata Consumer Products, the Indian FMCG conglomerate, has announced the acquisition of food and drinks businesses Capital Foods and Organic India for a reported combined investment of 70 billion INR ($845 million).

Tata Consumer Products said the deal was aligned with the company’s strategy to “expand its product portfolio and its target addressable market in fastgrowing/high margin categories”.

The company is reportedly buying 75% of the noodle and condiments firm Capital Foods upfront, leaving the remaining 25% to be paid within three years. Capital Foods’ primary brands are Ching’s Secret, described as a market leader in chutneys, blended ma-

PAKISTAN: FAUJI FOODS ACQUIRES

FAUJI INFRAVEAST FOODS

salas, sauces and soups, and Smith & Jones, said to be a fast-growing brand catering to in-home cooking of Italian and other western cuisines.

Organic India, which offers a range of supplements, ghee, herbal tea and honey, will be acquired for 19 billion INR ($228 million) upfront.

The deal will allow Tata Consumer Products to expand and strengthen its portfolio as well as provide benefits related to distribution, logistics, exports and overheads, the firm said in a statement.

By: Innovation Editor – Asia Pacific

Source: Just Food / Business Standard / MediaBrief

Image source: Tata Consumer Products

Fauji Foods Limited (FFL), a Pakistani maker of dairy products, has announced the acquisition of the entire equity stake of its parent company Fauji Foundation in Fauji Infraveast Foods Limited and its cereals business under the brand name Fauji Cereals, to expand its product portfolio and market reach.

In a filing with the Pakistan Stock Exchange, Fauji Foods Limited said: “This move marks the successful creation of a consumer food vertical within the group and is in line with FFL’s ambition of becoming an FMCG powerhouse in Pakistan”.

According to sources, the merger is set to unite two wellknown Pakistani brands, namely dairy brand Nurpur and Fauji Cereals, the country’s largest breakfast cereal brand. FFL will also be facilitated in its ambition to become a diversified food player by gaining access to a state-of-the-art pasta plant owned by Fauji Infraveast FoodsLimited.

The transaction is expected to bemarginaccretive.

Source: Pakistan Today/Mettis

Global

Image source: Fauji Foods

By: InnovationEditor –Asia Pacific

SPAIN: PAULIG TO INVEST €42 MILLION IN NEW SNACKS FACILITY

Finland-based food company Paulig has announced plans to invest €42 million ($45 million) to construct a new facility in Spain to strengthen its presence in the Tex-Mex and snacking categoriesinEurope.

Founded in 1876, Paulig is described as a family-owned producer of coffee, snacks, plantbased products and spices, with operations in 13 countries. It has production facilities in Sweden, Estonia, UK, Spain and Belgium as well as Finland.

Commenting on the move, PauligCEORolfLadausaid:“This investment marks an important step in the execution of our international growth strategy. It will further strengthen our position in the Tex Mex and snacking categories in Europe after the acquisition of the snacking company Liven in Spain in 2022. It will also increase the company’s innovation capabilities in thesecategories”.

“Snacking is currently one of the fastest growing categories within the food sector. We are firmly committed to accelerating profitable growth in this category over the long term, in collaboration with our trade partners”,headded.

Construction is expected to begin in 2025, and the plant is projected to be operational by 2026.

Source / image source: Paulig

By: InnovationEditor–Europe

BRAZIL: COCA-COLA INVESTS $800 MILLION IN LOGISTICS, MANUFACTURING

US non-alcoholic drinks giant Coca-Cola has announced plans to invest R$4 billion ($809 million) to strengthen its operationsinBrazilin2024.

According to sources, the investment will be used to modernise and expand the company’s manufacturing structure and logistics network, in addition to deepening its relationship with small and mediumsized retailers through an enhanced salesstructure.

The investment will be spread throughout the entire CocaCola System of bottlers and distributors, including Coca-Cola Femsa,Andinaand Solar.

The firm also said it planned to further broaden its portfolio in Brazil, noting its recent entry into flavouredalcoholicbeverages.

Brazil is currently Coca-Cola’s fourth largest market worldwide. In the wider Latin America region, the company’s sales volumesincreased 4%in2023.

Source: Exame Image source: By: InnovationEditor– Latin America

AUSTRALIA: BEGA TO SHUTTER BETTA MILK, PYENGANA DAIRY SITE

its plant in Burnie, Tasmania, traditionally a manufacturing site for the Betta Milk and Pyengana Dairy brands, and transfer production to another factoryinHobart.

Bega acquired the Burnie facility last year when it bought Betta Milk and Meander Valley Dairy, as well as a royaltyfree license to use the Pyengana Dairy brand, from TasFoods in a A$11 million ($7.2 million) deal.

In a statement, Bega said the Burnie site was “an ageing facility that has a number of challenges including its safety and environmental impacts” and was unable to function “in a commercially sustainable way”.

Commenting on the move, Bega Group CEO Pete Findlay said: “Betta Milk has been a household name in Tasmania for over 65 years, and this move is critical to ensuring that the Betta Milk and the Pyengana milk brands will continue to be much-loved Tasmanian made brands for many years to come”.

“Bega Group is committed to continuing its strong local presence in Tasmania, through its Lenah Valley and Kings Meadows operations, sourcing milk from Tasmanian dairy farming families”, headded.

Relocation is scheduled for 18th March.

Source: Food &DrinkBusiness / Just Food

Image source: Bega

Bega, the Australian dairy firm, has announced it plans to close

By: InnovationEditor –Asia Pacific

USA: HERITAGE DISTILLING COMPANY ACQUIRES THINKING TREE SPIRITS

Heritage Distilling Company (HDC), a craft distillery based in the US, has announced the acquisition of local peer Thinking Tree Spirits for an undisclosed sum.

Thinking Tree Spirits was founded in Eugene, OR in 2014 and is described as an awardwinning, women-led, farm-toflask, Oregon grown house of brands.

As a result of the transaction, HDC will own 100% of the Thinking Tree Spirits assets and brands including Gifted Gin, Main Stage Vodka, Whiteaker Rum and Butterfly Lavender Pea Vodka. The new entity will have production facilities for spirits in Tumwater, WA as well as Eugene, OR, along with five retail tasting rooms, a combined online direct-toconsumer presence and growing wholesale distribution across the Pacific Northwest and a number of new states in theMidwest.

Commenting on the acquisition, Jennifer Stiefel, President of Heritage Distilling, said: “When offered the chance to bring these two companies under one roof we readily and humbly accepted it, knowing what it means to take this leap. We are honoured to be entrust-

ed with the enormous task of meeting the public’s expectations for preserving the ethos of the Thinking Tree brand and wearecommitted togrowingit inanauthenticway”.

Source: HeritageDistilling Company(viaGlobeNewsWire)

Image source: HeritageDistillingCompany

By: InnovationEditor– North America

SWEDEN:

LANTMANNEN TO SELL READY MEAL BRAND GOOH TO ATRIA

Lantmannen, a Swedish agricultural cooperative and food manufacturer, has announced the signing of an agreement to divest its Gooh ready meal brand to Atria, a producer of food products across the Nordic countries.

Launched at the beginning of 2000s in cooperation with the restaurant Operakallaren, Gooh offers a range of traditional Swedish and international ready-to-eat dishes manufactured in a commercial kitchen inJarna,southofStockholm.

With volume sales of 5 million and net value sales of around €16 million ($17 million) annually, Gooh is described as the clear market leader in the fresh micromeals product segment in the Swedish retail trade with amarketshareofaround25%.

Commenting on the deal, Jarmo Lindholm, executive vice president of Atria Sweden, said: “The acquisition fits perfectly

with Atria Group’s strategic goal of expanding in the convenience food segment and improves Atria Sweden’s chancesforprofitablegrowth”. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to be completed later in thespring.

Source: Lantmannen/Atria

Image source: Atria

By: InnovationEditor– Europe

BRAZIL: UNILEVER INVESTS IN MAYONNAISE PRODUCTION

Consumer goods giant Unilever has announced an investment of R$80 million ($16.2 million) to expand production of Hellmann’s mayonnaise at its factory in Pouso Alegre, in Brazil’s MinasGeraisstate.

Established in 1974, the Pouso Alegre facility manufactures over 200 SKUs including Hellmann’s mayonnaise and Knorr stock cubes, and has around 800 employees.

According to sources, the investment will be used to add a new production line, enabling a “double-digit” increase in production capacity at the plant, which is said to be Unilever’s largest food operation in Latin America.

Commenting on the move, Unilvever Pouso Alegre factory director Edmundo Mollo said: “This investment reflects Unilever’s strategy to enhance production capabilities, meet consumer demand, and support

NESTLE TO EXPAND COFFEE PRODUCTION IN VIETNAM

SWITZERLAND: $100 MILLION INVESTMENT TO MEET LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL DEMAND

Global FMCG giant Nestle has announced an investment of $100 million to expand its Tri An coffee facility in the southern Vietnamese province of Dong Nai.

According to the company, the investment will help to meet growing local and international consumer demand for high-quality coffee.

The Nestle Tri An factory exports coffee products from brands such as Nescafe, Nescafe Dolce Gusto and Starbucks to more than 29 countries all over the world.

the growth of its popular food brands in key markets. The expansion of Hellmann’s production in Brazil is a significant step for Unilever, reinforcing its position in Latin America’s food industry”.

Construction is expected to be completed byMay2025.

Source: Food Business Africa / JustFood

Image source: Unilever

By: Innovation Editor – Latin America

ITALY: COCA-COLA HBC INVESTS €42 MILLION IN ABRUZZO PLANT

Nestle has invested more than $500 million in this facility since 2011, including introducing a production line dedicated to manufacturing Nescafe Dolce Gusto coffee capsules in 2018.

The company has been operating in Vietnam for nearly three decades and presently has a workforce of around 3,000 across the country.

By: Innovation Editor – Europe

Source / image source: Nestle

Coca-Cola HBC, the leading Coca-Cola bottler in Italy, has announced plans to invest €42 million ($45 million) to add two canning lines at its Oricola facilityinAbruzzo

According to the company, It is the first time in the plant’s history that it will produce cans, as it has previously focused on recycled plastic products (RPET). The expected investment is set to double the plant’s capacity, with one line specifically dedicated to energydrinkproduction.

Commenting on the move, Coca-Cola HBC Italia corporate affairs and sustainability director Giangiacomo Pierini said: “Oricola is historically a cuttingedge factory: it was among the first production sites in Italy to use recycled plastic and today, with the announcement of the new modernisation and expansion, we confirm the central role of this factory and this region in the strategies of growth ofCoca-ColaHBCItalia”.

The new production lines are expected to be operational by the end of 2024 and increase headcount at the plant by about50.

Source: ESM / Food Business Africa

Image source: Coca-ColaHBC

By: InnovationEditor– Europe

GERMANY: VEGAN FOOD GROUP ANNOUNCES

TOFUTOWN BUY

Vegan Food Group (VFG, previously known as VFC Foods) has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Tofutown, a German-based manufacturer of plant-based foods with annual revenues of €60million($64million).

Founded in 1989, Tofutown is described as a large-scale supplier of natural, organic tofu, spreads and meat alternatives in the EU. It has two manufacturing sites, including one Luneburg in Lower Saxony that is described as one of Europe’s largest plant-based manufacturingfacilities.

In a statement, Vegan Food Group noted the combined entity was set to expand group revenues beyond €100 million ($107 million).

Commenting on the acquisition, Vegan Food Group CEO Dave Sparrow said: “VFG will now be a major player in plant-based food, with a significant manufacturing scale across three sites, employing over 300 staff, and with a strong network of strategic manufacturing and supply chain partners”.

MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

IN BRIEF

“This acquisition allows VFG to fast-track our growth across the UK and the EU in chilled, frozen, and ambient products, in both branded and own label retail, as wellasfoodservice”,headded.

Tofutown CEO Markus Kerres said: “Joining the Vegan Food Group is an exciting opportunity for TOFUTOWN to successfully continue Bernd’s [founder Bernd Drosihn] vision over the coming decades. With Germany and the UK being the two biggest markets for plant-based foods, we’re well-positioned to thriveoverthenextdecade”.

Source: Vegconomist/The PlantBase

Image source: VeganFood Group

By: InnovationEditor –Europe

TURKEY: COCA-COLA

ICECEK TO BUY COCACOLA BANGLADESH BEVERAGES

Turkish bottler Coca-Cola Icecek (CCI) and its subsidiary

Sprecher Brewing, a brewer with German heritage situated in Glendale (WI), has announced the acquisition of energy drink brand Juvee from global gaming and lifestyle firm 100 Thieves to increase its footprint in non-alcoholic drinks. Launched in 2022, Juvee energy drinks are claimed to boost energy, elevate mood, increase focus and improve overall well-being.

Source: Food Business News

DayDayCook (DDC), the specialist in ready-tocook and ready-to-eat Asian foods, has an-

CCI International Holland have announced the signing of an agreement to acquire peer Coca-Cola Bangladesh Beverages (CCBB)for$130million.

Established in 2009, CCBB is described as being involved in the production, sale, and distribution of Coca-Cola’s sparkling and still brands in Bangladesh. The firm has over 300 employees, one bottling plant, and threemainwarehouses.

Commenting on the move, CCI CEO Karim Yahi said: “We are very pleased to sign the share purchase agreement to acquire CCBB, which we see as a great opportunity to enter a market with significant future potential, where growth and value can be generated by deploying CCI’scorecapabilities”.

nounced it has entered into an agreement to acquire 51% of GL Industry, an Italian producer of specialized Asian ready meals. The deal comes shortly after DDC agreed to acquire Yai’s Thai, a leading US Thai food brand. Source: DayDayCook

Candy Factory, a leading Italian confectionery manufacturing group, has acquired Monk’s, a historical brand of balsamic sweets produced by Akellas. Manufactured in the Milan area since 1954, Monk’s candies are marketed in Italy and in some parts of Canada, Switzerland and Japan. With the acquisition, Candy Factory is reportedly aiming to bolster its international presence.

Source: Il Sole 24 Ore

“This acquisition also creates a more diverse geographical footprint for CCI and solidifies its alignment with The CocaColaCompany”,headded.

The proposed acquisition is subject to regulatory approval inDhaka.

Source: FoodBev/The FinancialExpress/CCI

Image source: CCI

By: InnovationEditor– Europe

USA: RIND SNACKS ACQUIRES SMALL BATCH ORGANICS

Rind Snacks, a US makerof fruit -based snacks, has announced the acquisition of Small Batch Organics, a US supplier of granola breakfastcereal.

In a statement, Rind Snacks said the deal marked a major milestone in its evolution from a dried fruitbrand into averticallyintegrated healthy snack platform, adding that Small Batch Organics was “a natural extension of RIND’s mission to bring wholesome and sustainable foods[…]tomoreconsumers”.

Commenting on the deal, Matt Weiss, CEO and founder of Rind Snacks, said: “Today marks the start of a fruitful new chapter in Rind’s journey as a leading, better-for-you snack brand. The addition of Small Batch and its dedicated team enhances our ability to craft premium, healthy and innovative snacks

for more customers in a flexible and highlyscalablemanner”.

Lindsay Martin, founder of Small Batch Organics, added: “Rind and Small Batch share a special kinship that makes this outcome such a natural fit. Our products and values are highly complementary, and we’re thrilled to be joining forces with Rind on its mission to produce delicious and sustainable snacks forpeopleandtheplanet”.

Source: Rind Snacks(viaPR NewsWire)

Image source: Rind Snacks

By: InnovationEditor– North America

SWITZERLAND: NESTLE INVESTS IN PURINA PET FOOD FACTORY

Consumer goods major Nestle has announced the commissioning of a new Purina pet food plant at its existing site in Bukin north-westernHungary.

According to the company, the factory, which is the result of a 55 billion HUF ($152.3 million) investment, will add two additional automated production lines, increase capacity by over 50,000tonnesayearandcreate 130 jobs. The new lines, which should be fully operational from the second half of the year, will complete a five-year investment cycle in Hungary which Nestlestarted in2020.

The Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency added that, between 2020 and 2025, the creation of more than 600 new jobs can be linked to Nestle’s Buk pet food production centre, with almost half of the raw materials used coming from Hungariansuppliers.

Source: JustFood/Hungarian InvestmentPromotionAgency

Image source: Nestle

By: InnovationEditor– Europe

USA: MIAMI BEEF ACQUIRES HOFMANN SAUSAGE

Miami Beef, a US makerof fresh and frozen meat products, has announced the acquisition of Hofmann Sausage, a New Yorkbased sausage brand, to expand itsproductportfolio.

Established in 1879, Hofmann Sausage offers beef and pork franks, smoked sausage, bratwursts, beef jerky and condiments.

In a statement, Hofmann Sausage said: “[Miami Beef] aligns well with Hofmann’s core values and produces high-quality products like we have been doing for well over a century. Hofmann will continue to call Syracuse home, producing our famous, classic franks and sausage recipes while also creating new, tasty products for you to enjoy”.

Miami Beef CEO Robert Young commented: “Hofmann has a meaningful heritage and deep connection to its loyal customers, employees, and community, which we plan to continue serving through investment in itsfacilitiesinSyracuse”.

“We are excited to add hot dogs and sausages to our highquality hamburger offerings to give our customers the full grilling experience”, he added. “Our

INDUSTRY INSIGHT

What are the key success factors in creating a new retail drinks brand?

It all starts with an intimate understanding of your consumer and making sure that they love your liquid. There are so many options across all types of drinks categories that it is critical you really know your customer, what they want and ensure that your drink delivers. Then it is important to create desire by developing an aspirational and focused brand strategy and allowing your customer to experience and contribute to it. Equally important is making access to the product easy by thinking omnichannel as early as possible. However, be smart in how you do this so that you cater to your consumer's purchase behaviour and routines. Finally, be as agile as possible so that you can adapt to consumer and market dynamics. This will allow you to pivot where needed and sustain relevance with your consumers.

What major trends do you expect to shape food and drinks innovation in 2024 and beyond?

The movement towards truly natural and good-for-you solutions is surging. Consumers are much more aware and informed about what they should be putting into their bodies and are demanding

FRANK MERTENS

Gama spoke to Frank Mertens, Co-founder & Chief Marketing Officer, Go Mate Drinks

brands to deliver products that contain lower sugars, low caffeine, etc. while also being truly natural, even plant-based. Equally, cognitive enhancing as well as productivity enhancing products are growing in popularity as pressure on workplace performance rises. This is the reason we see a growth in nootropics-based products. Blending these two trends together is where there is exciting innovation taking place.

" Be razor sharp on your differentiation and start small "

What advice would you give other brands seeking to gain a foothold in a competitive market?

Be razor sharp on your differentiation and start small. Get your product in as many hands as possible and be all over your numbers. Allow yourself to get signals from the market to understand where your volume can come from, then ramp. Above all, make sure you are bold and have a strong point of view that resonates with your core

customers. Embrace being hated by some because it will galvanize your advocates.

How is the way food companies are looking to reach and engage with consumers changing? How can a brand successfully resonate with consumers?

The principles of creating meaningful connections between brands and consumers are similar to how they have been in the past but due to the proliferation of media, a growing appetite for brand switching, and product trend cycles accelerating it is paramount to (a) put a strong emphasis on great creativity, and (b) identify your loyal customer community and build off of them. They will be your best advocates and thus a rich source of referrals. Additionally, they will paint the way to helping you identify the most effective and efficient connection points to reach and engage other likeminded prospects.

plan is to turbo-charge the growth of Hofmann’s footprint throughout the country and continue to look for complementarybrandsto acquire”.

Source: Food BusinessNews

Image source: MiamiBeef

By: Innovation Editor – North America

CHILE: VINA CONCHA Y TORO ACQUIRES MALPASO BRAND

Leading Chilean wine firm Vina Concha y Toro has announced the acquisition of Malpaso, a key producer of the fermented grape-juice spirit pisco, as it seeks to bolster its presence in thepremiumspiritscategory.

In a press release, the company said it had been distributing Malpaso for 15 years, and noted the brand had seen 11.5% growth in value between 2022 and 2023. It also has its own Pisco Diablo brand of pisco which it has been marketing since2019.

Commenting on the acquisition, Vina Concha y Toro Chile general manager Niclas Blomstroem said: “The consolidation of ownership of the Malpaso brand, together with its distribution, complements our portfolio with high quality products, in line with the leadership we have in wine and an important presence in the premium and craftbeercategory”.

Dimitri Forno, new business manager at Vina Concha y Toro Chile, added: “This commitment further strengthens the strategy we have been building

to be a relevant player in the alcoholic beverage categories through our own brands and alliances with national and internationalgroups”.

Financial details of the deal werenotdisclosed.

Source / image source: Vina ConchayToro

By: Innovation Editor – Latin America

FRANCE: NESTLE SELLS PLANT TO ITALPIZZA

Italpizza, the Italian frozen pizza firm, has completed the acquisition of a Nestle pizza facility in Caudry,northernFrance.

The company is said to be planning to invest more than €12 million ($13 million) as part of a comprehensive modernization of the facility, which was closed down after an E. coli outbreak in 2022 reportedly led to a sharp decline in sales.

Presently operating in over 50 countries, Italpizza is said to be aiming to strengthen its strategic position across Europe, with its main focus being the manufactureofprivatelabelproducts forkeyretailers.

Commenting on the move, Italpizza president Cristian Pederzini said: “Our three-decade-long presence in France, catering to major retail chains, underscores our commitment to the region. The acquisition of the Caudry facility, strategically positioned and economically attractive, is pivotal

in our overarching internationalizationstrategy”.

“Establishing a production hub in northern Europe enhances ourcompetitiveedgeinproduct distribution, aligning seamlessly with our ongoing global expansioninitiatives”,headded.

Source: ItalianFood /Reuters/ Italpizza

Image source: Nestle/Italpizza(montage)

By: InnovationEditor– Europe

UK: LIDL OPENS NEW BOTTLING PLANT

Lidl, the German retail giant, has announced the opening of a new bottling plant in Derby, UK with capacity to produce 380millionbottlesperyear.

The plant will be known as MEG Derby. MEG is one of Germany’s leading mineral water and soft drinks manufacturers, and the facilitywillbeitsfirstUKventure.

The new factory is reportedly intended to simplify Lidl’s transport logistics, improving the company’s carbon footprint and savingcost.

Commenting on the news, Lidl chief commercial officer Richard Bourns said: “This new venture with MEG Derby Ltd. marks a significant milestone in our commitment to improving efficiency, reducing our impact on the environment, and providing ourcustomerswithgreatquality products at the lowest possible prices. Bringing production of this key product closer to home makes sense and aligns with Lidl GB’s vision of contributing

INSIGHT BY GAMA COMPASS

LOCAL PROVENANCE INCREASINGLY ANCHORING FOOD AND DRINK POSITIONING

In this month’s Insight By Gama Compass, we turn our gaze towards the trend among FMCG suppliers and retailers to tout the use of locally-sourced and traceable ingredients, and explore some of the reasons why provenance is increasingly moving to ‘centre-of-pack’ when it comes to brand messaging. In particular, we look at how of the ‘lure of local’ is being driven by sometimes inter-related elements of consumer sentiment, ranging from the reassurance of the familiar to the discovery

References to “local sourcing” –typically the country, region or even local farm from which a product or central ingredient has been sourced – while far from ubiquitous, have been steadily growing in popularity in new consumer food and drinks introductions over the last 10 years, the latest insights from Gama Compass can reveal. In particular, analysis shows such claims appeared on just 3.4% of launches in 2014/15, but 6.1% of launches by 2023/24, with incremental increases in the interveningperiod.

The concept of 'locally sourcing' evokes a broad range of potential benefits, with Gama, for instance, recognising its role not only as an “environmental” or “ethical” claim but also to support messaging around “quality and value”: speaking in general terms, local ingredients may be perceived not only as better quality or most trustworthy than those from other parts of the world (or indeed of unspecified origin), but also as inherently more sustainable and responsible, for a range of interconnected reasons.

Interestingly, the rise in “locally sourced”claimsoverthelasttenyears does not stand in isolation. While the proportion of products making such claims increased by an impressive 80% between 2014/15 and 2023/2024, the percentage of food and products making an environmental or ethical

claim of any kind actually increased more,toappearon44%and56%ofall food and drink launches respectively in the latest period. This reflects the extent to which consumer expectations of brands, and their sustainability credentials, have grown over the sameperiod.

When it comes to assessing which of many possible factors may be most salient in “locally sourced” positioning, a breakdown of claims by category is perhaps the best place to start: noting that the leading category for such claims is meat, fish and poultry (11% of launches making the claim between 2014 and 2023), followed by wine and dairy (both 9% of launches), cider (8%) and preserves and spreads (7%).

The prominence of the meat and dairy categories in this list is instructive: for such products, claims of locally-sourced ingredients can be seen as an attempt to provide tacit reassurance around issues such as animal welfare standards and product safety, or even to tap into patriotic sentiment (country flags and maps being common design props in such cases). A desire to support local producers (as opposed, perhaps, to a ’faceless’ international consumer goods supply chain) can often underly provenance positioning in the meat and dairy category as well: a recent milk launch in France under the brand “Producers

of the new.

of the South-West”, for instance, promised to support a local farming cooperative by “returning” 5 cents to farmers for every pack sold.

On other occasions, an emphasis on local or regional sourcing – especially from named producers or cooperatives – can be seen as a marker of quality, craftmanship and / or flavour discovery. A Danone yoghurt launch in France under the brand “Fruits d’Ici” (essentially “fruit from round here”), for example, embodied all of these notions with its emphasis on “good local ingredients” and “fruit from our regions” such as “blackcurrants from Burgundy” and “mirabelle plums from Nancy”. In Italy, meanwhile, the recent Fiorentini Tesori Regionali (“Regional Treasures”) line of crackers was devoted to “celebrating ingredients from the agriculturaltraditionsofourland!"

" The predominant association with local sourcing may be less premiumisation or culinary discovery, and more environmental concerns "

While useof “localsourcing” as anindicatorofhigherqualityisundoubtedlya common practice, it is interesting to note that overall data patterns suggest that the primary association with local sourcing may not predominantly be premiumisation or culinary discovery, but rather environmental concerns. By way of illustration, while products that madeanyone“qualityandvalue”claim were 31% more likely than average to alsomakea“locallysourced”claim,this rose to 45% in the “environmental” bracket. In addition, while products making a “locally sourced” claim were somewhat more likely than average to also make claim such as “fresh”, “premium” or “real”, they were more thanthreetimes more likelytomake a “recyclable”, “sustainably sourced” or “low carbon / CO2 neutral” claim than food and drink launches as a whole. This is indicative of a strong link (in the consumer’s mind at least) between local sourcing and wider environmentalbenefits.

For products that pursue “locally sourced” as a central plank of environmental positioning, the emphasis is typically on short supply chains, traceability and low transport emissions. The Kettle crisps brand in the UK, for instance, boasts of using “real food ingredients”, while also claim-

ing "100% of our potatoes are British, most from within 30 miles of our Norfolk home". Meanwhile the recently-launched Mr Organic Flavour Paste in the UK, as part of a broader brand ethic focused on organic, traceable ingredients, boasts that its products come with “zero airmiles”.

While the uptick in locally-sourced claims (and for that matter environ-

mental, ethical and quality claims as a whole) may have plateaued somewhat in the last couple of years or so, the importance of ingredient provenance looks unlikely to diminish any time soon, especially for brands that play in the sustainability space. Although this could be considered a challenge in times of constrained and disrupted supply chains, local sourcing claims also represent a valuable opportunity for brands to showcase their ability to meet heightened consumer expectations around environmental impact, traceability and product quality.

Source: Gama Compass

Image source: Danone / Fiorentini

Localsourcingcanalsobeusedasamarkerofquality,craftmanshipandflavourexploration

Productclaimsinnewfoodanddrinklaunches,2014-2023

Environmental Ethical Quality / value Locally

TRADESHOW INSIGHT

ALIMENTARIA 2024 BARCELONA, SPAIN

For four days this March, Barcelona became the focus of attention for the global food and drink industry as the city’s Fira Barcelona played host to the latest edition of Alimentaria and its co-located show Hostelco.

Proclaimedthemostglobaleditionto date, with 900 of the 3,200 exhibitors hailing from outside Spain, Alimentaria&Hostelco 2024 saw particularly strong representation from the meat, foodservice and hospitality sectors. Altogether, more than 107,000 industry professionals passed through the venue’s doors to explore the latest innovations and trends among the show’s 13 different category-oriented zones,spreadacrossnearly100,000sq mofnetexhibitionspace.

Aheadoftheshow,Alimentariahad trailed functional foods, sustainability and artificial intelligence (AI) as key themes, subsequently noting

the importance of health and environmental benefits and proteinenhancement among the product launches on show, as well as increased focus on robotics in the foodservicesector.

Organisers particularly noted the “return” of Asian companies among its exhibitors, led by China and Hong Kong, as well as a “large representation” from Taiwan, Thailand and South Korea. Meanwhile the buyer invitation programme brought together more than 2,200 importers, distributors, directors and high-level purchasing managers from 98 countries, with the US, Mexico, China, Portugal and the UK leading the way.

tive ways, as demonstrated by launches such as “omelette chips” and yoghurt made from egg whites. Concentrated mixes for kombucha and sangria meanwhile highlighted interest in ‘make-at-home’ beverages.

Out on the show floor, ‘plant power’ was particularly conspicuous as an innovation theme, exemplified by breakthroughs such as an olive-based gin. In the highprotein arena, eggs were also being used in increasingly crea-

Speaking to Gama at the show, Alimentaria director general Josep Antoni Valls identified continuing the “spirit of innovation”, enhancing the international nature of the show, retaining a layout based on differentiated industry verticals, and increasing the emphasis on hospitality as key strategic directions for the event over the next ten years. "That means reshaping every edition to really capture the trends in the food industry, the value chain and the consumer, who is king", he said.

Alimentaria returns for its next outing in March 2026.

Image source: Gama

HM King Felipe VI of Spain at Alimentaria 2024

Gama with Rafael Juan, CEO, and Alberto García, Head of Communications, Vicky Foods

Gama with Anna Bosch Güel, CEO, NOEL Alimentaria

positively to the local communityandeconomy”.

Source: Retail Times / Grocery Gazette

Image source: Lidl

By: InnovationEditor– Europe

INDIA: RELIANCE RETAIL SECURES DEAL FOR RAVALGAON ASSETS

Reliance Consumer Products (RCPL), the FMCG arm of Indian retail major Reliance Retail, has announced the acquisition of trademarks, recipes and all intellectual property rights of sugar confectionery maker Ravalgaon for 27 crore INR ($3.7 million), expanding its FMCG portfolio.

MANUFACTURE & DISTRIBUTION

IN BRIEF

Ravalgaon’s portfolio includes the confectionery brands Mango Mood, Coffee Break, Tutty Fruity, Paan Pasand, Choco CreamandSupreme.

Inastatement,Ravalgaonreportedly said it had lost market share owing to a surge in competition from both organised and unorganised players, while its profitability had been affected by a sustained increase in raw material, energyandlabourprices.

According to sources, the deal does not include a sale of all of Ravalgaon’s assets and liabilities. After completion, Ravalgaon will retain assets such as plant, buildings, and machinery, allowing it to undertake third-party manufacturing for other companies, including RCPL.

The acquisition will augment Reliance’s FMCG portfolio, which already includes brands like Campa, Toffeeman, and Raskik.

The transaction is expected to be completed by March, subject to fulfilment of certain conditions including shareholder approval.

Arla Foods, the Danish dairy cooperative, is making an investment in Finland to boost its manufacturing capacity in the country. The firm has fully acquired Massby Facility and Service, a property management company that services a dairy in Sipoo, near Helsinki, enabling it to take over production and office premises previously used by Unilever. Source: Just Food / Food and Beverage

Mars, the global confectionery giant, has announced it is establishing a 339,000 sq ft bak-

Source: Business Standard / EconomicTimes/HinduBusinessLine

Image source: RelianceRetail

By: InnovationEditor– Asia Pacific

SWITZERLAND: NESTLE TO CLOSE DAIRY PLANT IN NICARAGUA

Global FMCG giant Nestle has announced plans to close a dairy plant in Nicaragua due to “current global dynamics for efficientandproductiveoperations”.

Located in the northern part of Nicaragua, the Matagalpa facility specializes in the production of dairy products under the Prolacsabrand.

In a statement, Juan Gabriel Reyes, CEO and president of Nestle Central America, said:

ing facility for the Nature’s Bakery snack bar brand in Salt Lake City (UT) via a $237 million investment. Founded in 2011, Nature’s Bakery has reportedly become the US’s eighth bestselling and fastest-growing granola and snack bar brand. Source: Mars (via PR Newswire)

PepsiCo, the global snacks and drinks giant, has announced plans to build a $90 million snack facility in Vietnam to supply both the Vietnamese and Cambodian markets. The new 80,000 sq m facility will be built in Dong Van I Expanded Industrial Park in the Ha Nam province and is expected to produce over 23,000 tonnes of goods each year. Source: Baking Business

INNOVATION INSIGHT

FAZER TASTE THE FUTURE CHOCOLATE SNACK BAR SINGAPORE

In this month’s Innovation Insight, we look at a technological innovation that may provide a glimpse into the future of food, in the form of a confectionery bar containing precisionfermented protein – Fazer Taste The Future Chocolate Snack Bar.

Launched as a limited release in select sweets retailers in Singapore, Fazer Taste The Future Chocolate Snack Bar is a dark chocolate bar containing strawberries, hazelnut and Nordic oat puffs, but whose star ingredient is Solein, a proprietary protein developed from an organism created via a fermentation process. In addition to enhancing the bar’s protein content, Solein’s benefits are said to include enriching the flavour of the product and boosting its iron content.

The launch of Fazer Taste The Future Chocolate Snack Bar potentially heralds a new and disruptive era for food and drink manufacturing, where rapid technological advances enable

" Fazer Taste The Future Chocolate Snack Bar could herald a new era of ingredient development uninhibited by the constraints of conventional farming "

the development of ingredients uninhibited by the constraints of conventional farming techniques. Aside from being “nutritionally rich”, Solein’s protein is claimed to be “unparalleled in its functionality” and to contain many of the same amino acids as soy protein. The fermentation process used to “breed” the protein apparently uses only air and electricity as primary resources, as a result needing far less land, water and energy than animal or plant ingredients.

While a much-vaunted technology, Solein is not the only game in town when it comes to novel proteins, especially as lab-grown (cultured) meat and insect proteins gather momentum as potential mass-market commodities. Nor, for that matter, is it the first protein of its kind in the FMCG space generated from a

fermentation process: Perfect Day’s “zero cow” non-animal whey protein, for instance, which is derived from a digitized bovine gene, was used in the 2020 launch of Brave Robot ice cream. Elsewhere, Cult Food Science is reportedly taking lab-grown ingredients once stage further with the planned launch of cell-based confectionery and coffee .

If consumer wariness can be overcome – admittedly not a given in light of sometimes hostile attitudes to biotechnology, Fazer Taste The Future Chocolate Snack Bar could yet signal the start of a revolution where agricultural commodities no longer form the necessary basis of everything we eat, and the food industry takes one step further towards a ‘farm-free’ future.

Image source: Fazer

“To continue offering our consumers accessible and highest quality products, we inform the company’s strategic decision at a regional level to gradually transfer the entire manufacturing operation of Prolacsa S.A., located in Matagalpa (northern Nicaragua) to other factories in LatinAmerica”.

“Shared value creation programs will continue to contribute to the development and well-being of Nicaraguan coffee growers”,headded.

The company stated that it intends to remain in the country through other commercial operations and distribution centres, with an ongoing commitment to acquiring 13% of the nation’scoffee.

Source: JustFood/Qcostarica

Image source: Nestle

By: Innovation Editor– Europe

FRANCE: DANONE INAUGURATES ALPRO FACILITY

Danone, the French consumer goods giant, has inaugurated a plant-based beverage facility for itsAlprobrandinVillecomtal-sur -Arros,southwesternFrance.

According to the company, it invested millions of euros over two years turning the site into its sole French oat flour to oat juice site for Alpro. Once fully operational, the plant will have capacity to output over 300,000 litres of beverages per day for distribution both domestically and throughoutEurope.

Commenting on the move, Danone France operations manager Yann Le Roy said: “We’re a multi-local company, which means our strength and our future lie in our employees and our historic presence in local communities. Today we’re proud to open a new production site for plant-based beverages. Making these products in France gives us a unique positioninthismarket”.

Benjamin Chevallier, country manager for plant-based at Danone France, added: “Our Alpro brand is committed to dietary diversity, and we are working hard to meet demand. Going forward, we aim to raise awareness among France’s 67-million strong population. And to do that, we will be stepping up production of both our oat-based ranges, rich in plant proteins, andouron-the-goformats”.

With the Villecomtal-sur-Arros site, Danone said it now operates two French and four European facilities dedicated to plant-based beverages, with theAlpro brand akeydriver.

Source / image source: Danone

By: InnovationEditor– Europe

BRAZIL: FRUKI OPENS NEW BOTTLING PLANT

Brazilian beverage firm Fruki Bebidas has announced the opening of a new plant in Paverama, in the southern state of Rio GrandedoSul.

According to sources, the Paverama plant was the result of a R$178 million ($35.7 million) investment and combines high technology with sustainability.

The facility is claimed to have capacity to produce 52,000 PET bottles of 500ml per hour or 30,000 2-litre bottles per hour. The technology will also enable 3 litre packaging, a format the company plans to launch to marketlater thisyear.

The new unit has annual production capacity of around 200 million litres, in addition to the 420 million litres produced in theexistingLajeado factory,representing a near 50% increase in totalproductioncapacity.

The facility is expected to boost growth in the Rio Grande do Suland SantaCatarinamarkets. It currently produces Fruki and Frukito soft drinks and bottles of mineral water under the AguadaPedrabrand.

Source: Economia SC

Image source: FrukiBebidas

By: InnovationEditor– Latin America

JAPAN: KIRIN BUYS HEALTHYA TEA BRAND FROM KAO

Kirin, the leading Japanese drinks firm, has announced it is buying the Healthya teacatechin business from personal care company Kao to enhance its presence in healthoriented drinks.

“Under the Long-Term Management Vision, ‘the Kirin Group Vision 2027’, we are aiming at becoming a global leader in CSV (Creating Shared Value), creating value across our world of Food & Beverages to Pharmaceuticals”, Kirin said in a statement, adding: “Withthistransfer,KirinBeverage

will further strengthen and expand its business in the Health Science domain, aiming to achieve highprofitability”.

In its own statement, Kao said the sale of Healthya “enables Kao to further focus its resources on strategic measures to execute its structural reformation strategy and optimize its business portfolio to achieve itsmid-termplan”.

The deal relates to eight product types (Food for Specified Health Uses (FOSHU) and Foods with Function Claims) under the brands Healthya (Green Tea Beverage), Healthya Umami Rich, Healthya Water, Healthya MyRhythm and Healthya GreenTeaPowder. Kirin said it plans to begin production and sales of Healthya beverages from August, subject to obtaining the necessary permitsand approvals.

Source: Kirin / Kao

Image source:

By: InnovationEditor– Asia Pacific

USA: CREATIONS FOODS ACQUIRES HIGHKEY

Creations Foods, a maker of gluten-free, health-oriented snacks, is expanding its presence in biscuits and confectionery with the acquisition of HighKey, a Florida maker of no sugar and low sugar treats, accordingto aJustFood report.

HighKey makes a range of lowcarbohydrate products advertised as “the snacks you crave without all the sugar”. The firm’s product lineup includes

biscuits, crackers, chocolates and cakebites.

Creations Foods, which is owned by agri-food-focused Canadian private-equity firm Rio Investment Partners, markets the Toatzy range of plantbased oat biscuits, as well as the Moon Cheese brand of cheesebites.

Commenting on the deal, Aki Georgacacos, chairman and CEO of Creations Foods, said: “We’re pleased to have acquired the assets of a second leading brand in the better-for-you snack segment. Leveraging our acquisition of Moon Cheese last year, we are moving quickly to reinforce both brands in the marketplace as we continue our evolution into an integrated manufacturer and marketer of leadinglow-carbbakedsnacks”.

Source: JustFood/HighKey/ CreationsFoods

Image source: By: InnovationEditor– North America

USA: COCA-COLA ADDS SPICED FLAVOUR TO COLA LINEUP

Beverage giant Coca-Cola has announced the launch of Spiced, a new flavour variety for the company’s cola lineup in theUSAand Canada.

Said to be the first new permanent flavour addition to the Coca-Cola range in a number of years, Spiced is described as

blending the classic Coca-Cola flavour with notes of spice and raspberry and will roll out in both sugar-sweetened and sugar-free versions. In doing so it will broaden the company’s existing permanent range of flavoured colas, which comprisesCherryand Vanilla.

Spiced was selected as a new addition in response to consumer demand for ‘punchier’ flavours, the company is quoted assaying.

“Consumers are looking for more bold flavors and more complex flavor profiles. That’s a trend we started to see in food, but also in beverage and we thought that was a unique space for us to play in”, commented Sue Lynne Cha, CocaCola vice president of marketingforNorthAmerica.

Source: CNN

Image source: Coca-Cola

By: Innovation Editor – North America

INDIA: LOTTE WELLFOOD TO SET UP NEW PRODUCTION LINE IN HARYANA

Confectionery giant Lotte Wellfood has announced plans to invest 200 crore INR ($27.37 million) to set up a new line for the production of its chocolatecoated biscuit product Lotte Pepero in the northern Indian stateofHaryana.

The new facility, benefitting from automated equipment, is designed to meet global export demand, introduce Original and Crunchy Pepero to the Indian market, and establish Lotte Peperoasapremiumbrandlocally.

Commenting on the move, Lotte Wellfood CEO Lee Changyeop said: “We plan to actively expand our investments in the Indian market, which holds substantial growth potential. Following Lotte Choco Pie success in India, introducing Lotte Pepero will enhance Lotte’s brand strength and expand salesintheIndianmarket”.

“We are also actively pursuing initiatives to create locally tailored Lotte Pepero products that resonate with the regional food culture and cater to the climate-specific dining preferences”, he added. “This investment aims to strengthen the position of Lotte brands in India, a country with a confectionery market worth approximately Rs 27,000 crore. Lotte India’s sales performance reached Rs 654 crore in 2023, and we are targeting more than20%growthin2024”.

The production line is projected to be operational by mid-2025 and will be located alongside theexistingfactoryinHaryana.

Source: Economic Times

Image source: LotteWellfood

By: InnovationEditor– Asia Pacific

NEW PRODUCT LAUNCHES IN BRIEF

USA: PANOS ACQUIRES TESSEMAE’S SALAD DRESSING BRAND

Panos, a producer of branded consumer foods, has announced the acquisition of Tessemae’s, a specialist in refrigerated and shelf-stable organic salad dressings,for$4.5million. The acquisition follows Tessemae’s decision to file for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to restructure its debts.

Founded in 2009, Tessemae’s grew rapidly to secure distribution in national grocers, retailersand hotelchains.

Commenting on the acquisition, Panos CEO Darcy Zbinovec said: “Tessemae’s offers a range of great tasting, organic

Imiracle, the Hong Kong firm behind the leading Elf Bar e-cigarette brand, has announced it is foraying into the nicotine pouches category with the launch of the Tacja brand in the UK, Sweden and Switzerland. The range comes in eight flavours identified as either “mellow” or “frozen”, with flavour release reportedly lasting for up to half an hour. Source: Imiracle (via PR NewsWire)

Dairy firm Danone has announced the launch of a new range of Greek-style yoghurt alter-

salad dressings that consumers love. The products align with consumer interest in clean labels, and will be a great complement to our Walden Farms line of better for you salad dressings. We’re excited to partner with Retailers to expand availability of Tessemae’s across markets to service the strong consumer interest in the refrigerated and shelf stable dressings”.

Source: Panos/BaltimoreBusiness Journal

Image source: Panos

By: InnovationEditor– North America

UK: INNOVATUS DRINKS ACQUIRES SPIRIT BRAND SOLLASA

natives made from pea protein, marketed under its Silk brand. According to the company, the new plant-based yoghurts feature 12g of Canadian pea protein and will be available in key lime and vanilla varieties. Source: Danone (via Newswire)

WK Kellogg, the US breakfast cereal manufacturer that was spun off from Kellogg’s (now Kellanova) last year, has announced its first major piece of NPD with the launch of the Eat Your Mouth Off brand. Claimed to offer 22g of plant-based protein and 2g of net carbs or less per serving, Eat Your Mouth Off comes in Fruity and Chocolate varieties. Source: Food Business News

Innovatus Drinks, the UK spirits company known for brands such as Horse Guards Gin, Barentsz Gin, Pedrino Spritz and Wing Walker Rum, has added to its portfolio with the acquisition of spirit-based aperitif Sollasaforanundisclosed sum.

Launched in 2021, Sollasa is described as a light refreshing spirit with a blend of Indianinspired flavours such as mandarin, lychee and cardamom that is ideal forpairing with Pan -Asian food, as well as making cocktails.

“This strategic move allows Innovatus Drinks to react faster to evolving consumer habits and preferences”, the company said in a statement, particularly highlighting lower-alcohol alternatives and drinks to suit “lower tempo occasions with foodattheircentre”.

“Our acquisition of Sollasa is another example of our agility and ability to quickly react to consumer demand”, commented Innovatus Drinks CEO Paul McCarthy. “There is a growing market for lower alcohol spirits and particularly for Premium products with unique flavour profiles. Over a year ago we set out our Strategy to our shareholders and it’s a great credit to our team and support from those shareholders that we continue to deliver against our targets”.

Source: InnovatusDrinks

Image source: Innovatus Drinks

By: InnovationEditor– Europe

FRANCE: NESTLE IN TALKS TO SELL BABY FOOD BRANDS

Consumer goods giant Nestle has entered into exclusive negotiations with private equity fund FnB to sell its baby food brands in France, according to

JustFoodand FoodBevreports. The deal would see the company transfer its line of NaturNes baby pots, Babicao and Babivanille flavoured cereal powders, and P’tit yogurts, which are produced in Arches, Francebutexported globally.

“This proposed sale would have no impact on the employees concerned” and will “not change the company’s relationship with its customers, partners or local suppliers”, the company is quoted as saying, adding that the disposal would allow it to allocate more resources to its infant formula division.

The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2024, subject to a mandatory consultation period, regulatory approval and the negotiation of sale agreements. Financial terms werenotdisclosed.

Source: JustFood/FoodBev Image source: FnB/Nestle (montage)

By: InnovationEditor– Europe

PHILIPPINES: CCEP

COCA-COLA

PHILIPPINES DEAL GETS GO AHEAD

European soft drinks bottler

Coca-Cola European Partners

(CCEP) has announced it has received approval from Philippine anti-trust regulators to buy peer Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines (CCBPI) from The Coca-Cola Company (KO), in a joint deal with investment fund AboitizEquityVentures(AEV).

Under the terms of the deal, CCEP holds a 60% stake in the acquired business, and AEV the remainder.

In a statement from November, CCEP said the acquisition would build on its successful expansion into Australia Pacific & Indonesia in 2021, further strengthening the partnership with its significant shareholder KO, and positioning CCEP as the world’s largest Coca-Cola bottler by both revenue and volume.

“The transaction is a further step for CCEP to create a more diverse footprint within its existing API business segment”, CCEP said at the time. “It will also provide the opportunity to leverage best practice and talent, including supporting Indonesia’stransformationjourney”.

Source / image source: CCEP

By: InnovationEditor– Asia Pacific

MEXICO: GRUMA TO BUILD NEW BAKED GOODS FACTORY

Gruma, the Mexican bakery firm, has announced plans to spend M$1.5 billion ($87.3 million) over the next six to eight years to build a new plant in Hunucma, Yucatan for the

Retail Roundup

USA

TARGET LAUNCHES BUDGET DEALWORTHY PRIVATE LABEL

US retailer Targethas announcedthelaunch of Dealworthy, anew private labelrangeof home andpersonalcareitems thatpromisestoofferarangeofproductsatlowpriceswithnocompromiseonquality.

According to theretailer, the new line features 400 everyday items such as paper towels, body wash, laundry detergent andcottonballs,withpricesstartingatlessthan$1.

RickGomez,executivevicepresidentandchieffood,essentialsandbeautyofficeratTarget,commented:“Weknowthat value is top of mind for consumers, and dealworthy, backed by our owned brand promise, will not only appeal to our currentguestsbutpositionustoattractevenmorenewshopperstoTarget”.

Inadditiontohomeandpersonalcare,thebrandlineupincludesclothing,accessoriesandelectronics.

Source / image source: Target

FRANCE

CASINO TO SELL 288 STORES TO AUCHAN AND LES MOUSQUETAIRES

Casino, the leading French retail group, has announced it has reached an agreement to sell 288 stores and associated servicestationstopeersAuchanandLesMousquetairesforanenterprisevalueofaround€1.3billion($1.4billion)

Negotiations started last December with Casino aiming to sell almost all of its supermarkets and hypermarkets as part ofarestructuringprocess.Thedisposalswilltakeplaceinthesecondquarterof2024.

Commenting on the deal, Les Mousquetaires chairman Thierry Cotillard and Auchan CEO Yves Claude said: “Relaunching the stores will allow us to offer more modern facilities to consumers with high quality products at more attractiveprices,madepossiblebythepurchasingalliancecurrentlybeingcreatedbetweenourtwocompanies”.

LesMousquetairesissettoacquire190ofthestores,andAuchantheremainder.

Source: Casino / Les Mousquetaires

Image source: Casino / Les Mousquetaires / Auchan

SPAIN

LIDL TO INVEST €140 MILLION IN NEW LOGISTICS HUB

Lidl, the German retail giant, has announced it will invest €140 million ($152 million) to construct its largest logistics hub to date in Spain. Set for completion by mid-2024 and due to open in 2025, the new warehouse will be built in Martorell, near Barcelona, on a 126,000 square metre plot, complementing the retailer’s existing Catalonia distribution centre in Montcada I Reixac.

The project is part of a broader expansion program that includes a further three distribution hubs in Parla (Madrid), Constanti (Tarragona) and Villadangos del Paramo (Leon) hubs, as well as plans to add 30 new stores to its existing network over the course of 2024 .

Lidl currently works with over 900 national suppliers in Spain, from whom it buys approximately €6.7 billion ($7.3 billion) worth of products each year. Its workforce presently stands at 18,500.

Source: Lidl / ESM Image source: Lidl

INDUSTRY INSIGHT

MAURICIO GARCÍA DE QUEVEDO

Gama spoke to Mauricio García de Quevedo, Director General at Federación Española de Industrias de Alimentación y Bebidas (FIAB)

What are FIAB’s current priorities and challenges?

Given the complex international scenario we are facing at the moment, there is a real need to contain cost inflation which is affecting both consumers and businesses. One of our major challenges, as far as the politics of international trade is concerned, is to confront the rise in protectionist policies adopted by some countries. To do this, we believeit’s importanttosign commercial agreements and continue pushing for negotiations with authorities in the US to bring about a definitive end to tariffs on Spanish goods. As far as other international trade objectives are concerned, we continue working for improved cooperation with the UK to achieve a more ambitious trade agreement that is better suited to the postBrexitsituation.

How are Spanish food and drinks companies positioned to succeed in international markets?

Spain is a heavyweight exporter and the success of our products is based on quality, safety and variety. We have almost 19,000 exporting companies, thanks to whom we are one of the primary exporters globallly within the food and drinks industry. Specifically, we are the fourth biggest exporter within the European Union, behind only the Nether-

lands, Germany and France, and among the top ten in the world.

" One of our primary goals is to grow our export activity through enhanced promotion "

In 2024, one of our primary goals is to grow our export activity through enhanced promotion, especially in markets that are especially significant for the food and drink industry. This includes not only traditional markets but also those which offer new opportunities.

You have identified health and sustainability as major trends in food and drinks in 2024. How do you expect these trends to be manifested through product innovation?

Improving product formulations and making products in a more sustainable way is a priority. That’s why, for instance, we have been working with the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition on an ambitious and successful plan to reduce added

sugar, saturated fat and salt from more than 3,50 products.

Our work considers the wellbeing of the consumer and, naturally, of the environment too. Our industry is very closely tied to its surroundings, which is why for many years it has been developing more sustainable methods of production that protect ecosystems and the resources it depends on to allow it to continue at scale. Since 2014, the sector has cut its emissions by 8.2% and become 13.4% more energy efficient, while also reducing its water use by 20%, equivalent to 14 million cubic metres. By 2019, 9.2% of all the sector’s energy use came from renewables.

" Since 2014, the sector has cut its emissions by 8.2% and become 13.4% more energy efficient "

manufacture of tortillas, tostadasandpackaged snacks.

Reportedly intended to address escalating demand in the southeastern region of Mexico, the US and the Caribbean, the plant will integrate local supply chains in Yucatan state for the sourcing of raw materials, packaging and general services, and will have an annual installed capacityof56,000tonnes.

Gruma is described asa leading producer of flour, corn tortillas and flatbread, reporting revenues of $1.6 billion in Q3 2023. It reportedly benefited from a particularly strong performance in the US, where it saw increased demand for valueadded products, notably from itsBetter-For-Youline.

Source: Mexico Business News/Reuters

Image source: Gruma

By: InnovationEditor– Latin America

USA: DANONE TO SELL ORGANIC DAIRY BRANDS

Danone, the French consumer goods giant, has signed an agreement to sell the Horizon Organic and Wallaby dairy brands to US-based investment firm Platinum Equity for an undisclosed sum.

Established in 1991, Horizon Organic offers USDA-certified organic dairy products ranging from milk and creamers to yo-

ghurt, cheese and butter. Australian brand Wallaby Organic specializes in creamy yoghurts, including traditional Australian -style and organic Greek yogurt varieties.

Commenting on the deal, Antoine de Saint-Affrique, chief executive officer of Danone said: “As part of our Renew Danone strategy, we committed to a portfolio review and asset rotation for businesses that fell outside our priority growth areas of focus to drive value creation".

"Today marks an important milestone in delivering this commitment while giving the Horizon Organic and Wallaby businesses the opportunity to thrive undernewleadership”.

“This sale, once completed, will allow us to concentrate further on our current portfolio of strong health-focused brands and reinvest in our growth priorities”,headded.

The proposed acquisition is subject to customary closing conditionsandregulatoryapproval.

Source: PlatinumEquity / ConsumerGoods

Image source: Danone By: InnovationEditor– North America

CHINA: HENKEL OPENS ASIA R&D CENTRE

Henkel, the Germany-based personal and household care giant, has officially inaugurated a new research & development

(R&D)centreinShanghai, China toservetheAsianmarket.

The facility will draw on insights from 11 markets and aims to facilitate flexible product innovation for brands such as Schwarzkopfand Syoss.

Covering an area of more than 2,500 sq m, the hub includes functions such as consumer insights, technology research, product formulation development, packaging design, physicochemical analysis and productperformanceevaluation.

Commenting on the move, David Tung, regional president of Henkel Consumer Brands Asia, said: “This investment represents a pivotal milestone as the first Asia-based R&D center supporting product development and ingredient formulation for both business categories. Leveraging unique research synergies, the center is set to shape our portfolio for higher growth, adding substantial value to the Asian market and propelling Henkel ConsumerBrandstonewheights”.

The company said the centre wouldhelpitbetterobserveChinese consumers and their unique focuses and needs, noting that Asians are “highly concerned” about scalp care, and are increasingly adopting a “skincare approach” to scalp treatment.

Source: Henkel/China Daily

Image source: Henkel

By: InnovationEditor– Asia Pacific

USA: UTZ BRANDS SELLS BRANDS, FACILITIES TO OUR HOME

Utz Brands, the US snacks company,hasannounceditissellinga number of brands and facilities to Our Home, an operating

company of “better-for-you” brands, for a cash consideration of$182.5million.

Under the agreement, affiliates of Our Home have agreed to purchase the Good Health and RW Garcia brands, the Lincolnton (NC) and Lititz (PA) manufacturing facilities and certain related assets, and assume Utz Brands’ Las Vegas, NV facility lease and manufacturingoperations.

Utz Brands described the move as an “acceleration of [its] supply chain transformation and brand portfolio strategy”. It originally bought the RW Garciabrand in2021.

Post-closing, the parties will operate under reciprocal comanufacturing agreements under which Our Home will co-

MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

IN BRIEF

manufacture certain Utz Brands products,andviceversa.

Commenting on the move, Utz Brands CEO Howard Friedman said, “We expect these transactions to deliver on our supply chain transformation and value creation initiatives, to fast-track our deleveraging timeline by a full year, and to accelerate our brand portfolio strategy to better optimize for growth. With this important step in the optimization of our supply chain and brand portfolio, together with immediate benefits to free cash flow from lower interest expense, we arewell-positioned to execute against our expansion plans across the U.S. and deliveronourmargintarget”.

Source: UtzBrands

Image source: Utz Brands / OurHome (montage)

By: Innovation Editor – North America

UK: HALEON SELLS CHAPSTICK LIP BALM BRAND

Yellow Wood Partners, a private equity firm based in Boston,

Unilever, the FMCG multinational, has announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire US haircare brand K18 for an undisclosed sum. K18 is described as bridging the gap between beauty & biotech with six haircare solutions targeting hair damage, and is distributed in North America, the UK and Australia.

Source: Unilever

Netherlands-based coffee and tea major JDE Peet’s has announced it has completed the acquisition of the tea and coffee business of Brazilian firm JAV. Terms of the deal, which

USA, has announced that its portfolio company Suave Brands has signed a binding offer to acquire the lip balm brand ChapStick from Haleon, a consumer healthcare firm, for €468million($519.6million).

ChapStick lip balm first debuted in the 1880s and later diversified its product range with innovative new ingredients, skincare benefits, and flavours, Yellow Wood Partners said in a statement. The brand generated revenue of £112 million ($135.82 million) for the fiscal year ended 31st December 2023.

Commenting on the news, Haleon chief executive officer Brian McNamara commented: “While ChapStick is a great brand, much loved by consumers around the world, it is not a core focus for Haleon. Selling the brand allows us to simplify our business and pay down debt more quickly. We’re confident the

includes brands such as Cafe Marata, Cafe Puro, Cha Marata and Cha Castellari and which was first announced last July, were not disclosed.

Source: JDE Peet’s / Giro News

Systm Foods, a joint venture between brand accelerator Systm Brands and FMCG investment firm Ground Force Capital, has acquired drinks firm Humm for an undisclosed amount. Founded in 2009, Humm makes what is said to be the first and only Whole 30approved kombucha. It will be added to the Systm Foods portfolio alongside fellow plantbased functional beverage brands REBBL and Chameleon Organic Coffee.

Source: FoodBev / CentralOregonDaily

TRADESHOW INSIGHT

IFE, International Food & Drink Event, the annual London-based get-together for the food and drink sector, returned for its latest outing this March, once again proving a key opportunity for a diverse range of brands to pitch their wares to a UK and international audience of industry professionals.

With ExCel in London’s Docklands again playing host, IFE welcomed some 1,500 exhibitors representing over 100 countries, along with 27,000 trade visitors that included buyers from across the retail, foodservice, hospitality, wholesale, distribution, and import and export sectors. The exhibition hall was divided into 14 distinct zones that each represented a particular category or theme, ranging from vegan & plant-based through to hot beverages, speciality food and free from.

Alongside a varied programme of talks and presentations at the Fu-

IFE 2024 London, UK

ture FoodStageandTrends&Innovation Platform, IFE also featured the Startup Market to help newlyfounded companies meet face-tofacewithbuyers,aswellas theNew Products Tasting Theatre, acting as an “immersive experience” for buyers to sample new-to-market products.Meanwhile,valuableadvicefor food and drink brands was shared in sections such as the Exporters Hub, Certification Club and Business Services @ HRC & IFE. Elsewhere the World Food Innovation Awards, in association with IFE, celebrated innovation and excellence across every category of the global foodindustry.

Part of Food & Drink Hospitality Week, IFE ran alongside a number of co-located events, including IFE Manufacturing, The Pub Show, the hospitality-oriented HRC and Inter-

nationalSalonCulinaire, claimedto be the UK’s largest and most prestigious programme of culinary competitions.

Out on the show floor, wellestablished themes such as convenience, sustainability (in terms of both products and packaging) and functionality continued to define much of the NPD on show, with segments such as “healthy” energy drinks particularly prevalent, and protein enhancement still much in evidence. The trend for using fruit, vegetables, herbs and spices in creative new ways was exemplifed through products such as a ketchup made using bananas and a sparkling soft drink with cinnamon as a hero ingredient.

The next edition of IFE is due to take place in March 2025.

Image source: Gama

Gama with HE Inigo Lambertini, Ambassador of Italy to the UK

Gama with Rio Santo

Gama with John Winnard MBE, Managing Director William Santus

brand will continue to thrive under its new ownership”.

Daniel Alter, chief executive officer Suave Brands Company said: “The Yellow Wood team established Suave Brands Company in May 2023 to acquire the Suavebrand fromUnilever […]At Suave Brands Company, our management team is focused on building a platform of category leading brands that consumers love while working with our retail customers and manufacturing partners to grow the brands. We look forward to continuing to build Suave Brands Company by identifying additional personal care brands to addtotheportfolio”.

The deal is expected to be completed in Q2 2024, subject to customaryclosingconditions.

Source: Yellow Wood Partners (viaPRNewswire)/Haleon

Image source: Haleon

By: Innovation Editor– Europe

GERMANY: OETTINGER IN DEAL FOR JOYBRAU FUNCTIONAL BEER BRAND

Oettinger, the German brewer, has announced it is acquiring

JoyBrau, a brand of nonalcoholic beer known for its functionalbenefits.

Launched in 2016, JoyBrau is most famous for its highprotein drinks, but also markets a beer with added vitamins and another with caffeine and guaranaforenergybenefits.

“JoyBräu is maximizing wellbeering around the globe by leveraging patented technology to make functional nutrition delicious, natural, and joyful for the modern health-conscious consumers”, the company says. In a statement, Oettinger said that it intended to integrate JoyBraus’ patented process technology into the product pipeline for Oe, the company’s newly-created innovation brand under which it planstolaunchfunctionaldrinks for Germany and overseas marketsfrom2024onwards

“With this strategic acquisition, we at OeTTINGER are strengthening our innovative strength”, it added. “On the one hand, we are continuing the protein beer brand JoyBräu".

"On the other hand, we are taking their spirit, agility and willingness to experiment to the nextlevel”.

Source: Oettinger/JoyBrau

Image source: Oettinger By: InnovationEditor– Europe

USA: TYSON FOODS OPENS NEW BACON FACILITY IN KENTUCKY

Tyson Foods, the leading US meat firm, has announced the

opening of a $355 million facility in Bowling Green, KY to support the expansion of its bacon productioncapabilities.

The 400,000 sq ft factory is expected to manufacture 2 million pounds of Jimmy Dean and Wright Brand bacon products for retail and food service every week.

Commenting on the move, Tyson Foods president and CEO Donnie King said: “Our innovative new plant in Bowling Green reflects a major investment that we are proud to make in southcentral Kentucky. This enables us to focus on the health and safety of our team members while also delivering best in class service for our customers”.

The new plant will reportedly generatearound 450newjobs.

Source: TysonFoods

Image source:

By: InnovationEditor– North America

FRANCE: BRIDGEPOINT MOVES FOR ANTI-AGING BRAND ROC SKINCARE

Private equity fund Bridgepoint has announced it is acquiring the toiletries brand RoC Skincare from existing backer Gryphon Investors for an undisclosed sum.

Founded in France in 1957, RoC Skincare is described as one of

theworld’slargestindependent skincare brands, offering “clinically proven, dermatologist-backed” products with a focusonageingskin.

RoC Skincare is said to have achieved organic revenue growth of 70% since Gryphon Investors acquired the brand from Johnson & Johnson in 2020. Bridgepoint reportedly plans to support the brand in further accelerating its growth in its “heritage” European markets, in particular France.

The transaction was made via Bridgepoint Europe VII (BE VII), described as a fund focused on investing in mid-market growth businesses. It is expected to closeinFebruary.

Source: PrivateEquityWire

Image source: By: InnovationEditor– Europe

SPAIN: ALDI PLANS STORE, DISTRIBUTION CENTRE EXPANSION

German discount retailer Aldi has announced plans to expand in Spain in 2024 via 50 new store openings and two newdistribution centres.

According to sources, the retailer plans to inaugurate a new distribution centre in Sagunto in the Valencia region this February. The expansion will be focused mostly in the regions of Valencia, Catalonia and Madrid, where Spain’s three largest citiesarelocated.

Commenting on the investment, Aldi managing director Valentín Lumbreras said: “We have been activating an ambitious expansion plan for years, one which we are maintaining and which is allowing us to increase our presence in Spain in asustained manner”.

Source: ThinkSpain

Image source: Aldi

By: InnovationEditor– Europe

ITALY: GALUP ACQUIRES GOLOSI DI SALUTE

Italian bakery firm Galup has acquired Golosi di Salute, a manufacturer of cakes, biscuits, desserts and confectionery based in Monticello d’Alba, in Italy’sPiedmontregion,

Golosi di Salute was founded in 2005 and is said to be particularly known for its use of “unconventional” ingredients including kamut, spelt and rice flours, dextrose, fructose and extravirginolive oil.

In 2017, 50% of Golosi di Salute was acquired by uspcale retailer Eataly and 50% by TCN Group, Galup’s parent company since2014.

Commenting on the acquisition, TCN Group CEO Giuseppe Bernocco said: “As entrepreneurs in thisregion,weconstantlystriveto promote local excellence. It is the same philosophy that guided us many years ago, when we be-

came part of the Galup project. Today, we remain convinced that through commitment, passion and investment, we can contribute to the growth of authentic businesses, not only in Italy but aroundtheworld”.

Source: Distribuzione Moderna/ANSA /TCNGroup

Image source: Galup

By: InnovationEditor– Europe

USA: MPEARLROCK ACQUIRES NUTPODS BRAND

MPearlRock, a partnership between Kroger’s venture capital arm PearlRock Partners and MidOcean Partners, a private equity firm, has announced the acquisition of Nutpods, a plantbased creamer brand, for an undisclosed sum.

Nutpods is described as the leading manufacturer and marketer of plant-based creamers in the US, with a presence in more than 15,000 retail stores. It is said to be the number one plant-based creamerbrand within the natural retail channel, with “deep ecommerce penetration”, and the number two brand in the nondairycreamercategory.

The firm’s product range also includes cold brew coffee and baristaoatmilks.

Source: MidOceanPartners / Nutpods

Image source: MPearlRock

By: InnovationEditor– North America

Upc omin g Events APRIL —

VINITALY 2024

WHAT? Veronafiere in Italy welcomes back wine lovers for the 56th edition of the leading trade fair targeting alcoholic drinks business operators in international markets.

WHERE? Verona, Italy

WHEN? 14th to 17th April 2024

NATURAL & ORGANIC PRODUCTS EXPO 2024

WHAT? Touted as "the home of natural health & wellbeing", Natural & Organic Products Expo is set to attract over 600 exhibitors and 7,000 to the ExCel showgrounds in London. Includes Natural Food Expo and Natural Beauty Expo.

WHERE? London, UK

WHEN? 14th to 15th April 2024

SALON GOURMETS 2024

WHAT? Salon Gourmets is promoted as the main annual showcase for high-end food and beverages. More than 2,000 exhibitors and 100,000 visitors are expected to pack into the halls of Ifema Madrid for the latest edition.

WHERE? Madrid, Spain

WHEN? 22nd to 25th April 2024

FOOD & DRINK EXPO 2024

WHAT? Over 25,000 visitors, including grocery, wholesale, speciality retail, foodservice and manufacturing professionals, are expected to descend on the NEC for the latest edition of this key UK trade fair

WHERE? Birmingham, UK

WHEN? 29th April to 1st May 2024

IDDBA 2024

WHAT? Claimed to be the largest industry-only show in North America for the dairy, deli, bakery and foodservice industries, IDDBA is expected to welcome nearly 2,000 exhibitors for its latest outing, along with over 1,600 retail attendees.

WHERE? Houston, TX, USA

WHEN? 9th to 11th June 2024

GAMA SPOKE TO ANDY MATHER, BRAND DIRECTOR FOR VITAFOODS EUROPE AT INFORMA MARKETS

What are your expectations for this edition of Vitafoods Europe? What features are there for visitors to look forward to?

VITAFOODS 2024

WHERE?

Geneva, Switzerland

WHEN?

14th to 16th May 2024

Since launching in 1997, Vitafoods Europe has become the go-to annual event for the nutraceutical industry, and 2024 marks our final chapter in Geneva before the event moves to Barcelona in 2025. With over 20,000 exhibitors expected and more than 70,000 sq m of floor space, this year promises to be our biggest and best yet!

We’ve introduced new show features – such as an expanded Finished Products Area, which will provide more opportunities to connect with retailers, distributors and brand owners. We also have a new Technology & Equipment Area aimed at spotlighting innovations dedicated to pushing the boundaries of nutrition new product development (NPD).

What key challenges and trends are set to shape consumer goods innovation in 2024?

One of the biggest trends influencing the innovation of consumer goods within the nutrition space is personalisation. Consumers are increasingly looking for products that meet their unique health needs and goals –and this is opening up opportunities for exciting technologies and strategies, such as data integration, as well as genetic testing and microbiome analysis. In the near future, these technologies could be instrumental in helping brands create highly personalised products that cater to increasingly specific consumer segments and their needs.

But this isn’t without its challenges. For example, artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the technologies that could help expedite the development of personalised nutrition solutions. However, ensuring the ethical use of AI is crucial to enabling its use and building consumer trust – transparency about how data is used is a must.

" Personalisation is opening up opportunities for exciting technologies and strategies, such as data integration "

Elsewhere, sustainable nutrition is a growing trend amongst consumers. People are not only looking at the provenance of the wholefoods they eat, but also the supplements and functional foods they’re increasingly including in their diets. Essentially, they’re looking for health and nutrition solutions that are good for both their body and the planet. This is a movement that is only going to grow in importance, so consumer goods brands should take action now to ensure their continued relevance and longevity. Both of these topics will be explored across the agenda at Vitafoods Europe 2024, including at the Future of Nutrition Summit.

PLMA 2024

WHERE?

Amsterdam, Netherlands

WHEN?

28th to 29th May 2024

GAMA SPOKE TO PEGGY DAVIES, PLMA PRESIDENT

What are your expectations for PLMA 2024?

With a record breaking 2,800+ exhibitors from 70 countries, at PLMA's World of Private Label in Amsterdam the industry can expect a variety of trendy products, including free-from alternatives, plant-based meat, sustainable solutions, healthy options, and much more. I highly recommend visiting the Idea Supermarket, where you'll find a broad showcase of trends, innovations and new product development in private label from the past year, all in one convenient location.

" Demand for nonanimal proteins is being met by vegan and vegetarian own label offerings which are, in many cases, obtainable at a price comparable to other options "

I would also highlight our seminar program featuring the latest insights into private label, which we are hosting on Monday 27th May. And, for the first time, we're introducing three interactive workshops tailored for smaller groups on relevant topics in the

industry, complimentary for registered attendees.

I’m looking forward to the dynamics of networking, sourcing, learning, and connecting with industry stakeholders, while exploring the latest products and emerging trends on the trade show floor. The energy of exhibitors and retailers from around the world sharing a common goal of expanding business is tangible.

What key trends are set to shape food & drink innovation in 2024?

Some examples are the noticeable shift towards more indulgent products and premium offerings, such as restaurant-quality ready meals. Furthermore, for adventurous consumers, new flavours and flavour combinations are making their way onto shelves. The increasing demand for nonanimal proteins is being met by numerous vegan and vegetarian own label offerings which are, in many cases, obtainable at a price comparable to or even lower than other options.

In non-food there is a noticeable expansion into new areas like home and personal care, offering quality products such as sun care, cosmetics and perfumes. Private label innovation in health, wellness and sustainability which focuses not only on the product but also the packaging as planet friendly, is also part of the criteria. Across a variety of categories, retailers are continuously updating their offerings with attractive packaging to stay competitive.

SUMMER FANCY FOOD SHOW 2024

WHERE?

New York City, USA

WHEN?

23rd to 25th

June 2024

GAMA SPOKE TO LEANA

SALAMAH, SVP MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS, SPECIALTY FOOD ASSOCIATION

What are your expectations for this edition of the Summer Fancy Food Show? What features are there for visitors to look forward to?

We’re incredibly excited for the 2024 Summer Fancy Food Show. In addition to many returning popular features, this year’s Show will make it easier than ever for attendees to discover the newest of the new by introducing the Debut District, a featured area dedicated exclusively to new products, first-time exhibitors, startups, and incubators. Our colocation with Vinexpo America on June 24 and 25 is another really exciting draw, because badges for each Show will be honoured at the other, and there’s so much synergy between specialty products and wine and spirits. And more to be announced soon!

cy Food Show in January outlining trends to watch. Sustainability is clearly on specialty food consumers’ minds. Plant-based options have been popular for a while, and this year we’re watching plant-based dishes and snacks with international flavours take off. Upcycled ingredients were also big at the Winter Show, even appearing in whisky.

" The major headwind in specialty food is inflation "

" We’re watching plant-based dishes and snacks with international flavours take off, while upcycled ingredients have also been big "

What key trends are shaping the specialty food space in 2024?

From a category and product standpoint, SFA trendspotters did a great job at the Winter Fan-

From a market-level standpoint, there is huge consumer energy for convenience, and also “lessis-more” when it comes to ingredients. Then, of course, inflation continues to impact SFA members and all specialty food manufacturers.

How should companies in the sector ensure success in the face of ongoing industry headwinds?

The major headwind is inflation. In our conversations with SFA members in a variety of roles, several key strategies rise to the top: putting a laser focus on the cost of goods sold, pricing architecture, and dynamic pricing as needed; taking care of employees even in down times and leaning on community and partners to find efficiencies; and emphasizing value and quality to continue engaging dedicated specialty food consumers.

USA: FLAGSHIP FOOD GROUP TO CLOSE CALIFORNIA PLANT

Flagship Food Group, a food company majority owned by CREO Capital Partners which manufactures and distributes a wide portfolio of brands, has announced plans to close the production site for its La Tortilla FactorybrandinSantaRosa,CA.

Founded in 1977, La Tortilla Factory is a leading maker of wraps and tortillas, including low-carbohydrate, grain-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, and added-proteinproducts.

Flagship reportedly cited both cost considerations and fact it did not own the Santa Rosa facility as reasons for the closure, and said it would instead be investing to expand shipping and warehousing capability at another facilityinMoundridge,KS.

“Effective March 31, 2024, we are consolidating our manufacturing facilities to leverage theadvantagesofourexisting operations in Moundridge, Kan.,andotherCalifornialocations we invest in,” the companyisquotedassaying.

“Relocating will safeguard LTF’s ability to make the best tortillas at fair prices while expanding its capacity to reach new customers and serve our existingcustomers”.

Source: Just Food / Food BusinessNews

Image source: Flagship Food Group By:

USA: BIMBO TO CLOSE NEW MEXICO PLANT

Bimbo, the Mexican bakery giant, has announced plans to close its baking plant in Albuquerque, New Mexico by April.

Launched in 1945 in Mexico City, Bimbo is a leading player in the US bakery market, operating 59 plants, employing approximately 20,000 associates and running over 700 sales centers. Its brands include Thomas, Sara Lee, Arnold, Brownberry, Oroweat, Entenmann’s and Stroehmann.

In a statement, Bimbo is said to have cited volume lossand the age of the facility as the reason for the closure, which willreportedlyaffect149jobs.

Commenting on the move, Bimbo Bakeries USA regional director Jessica Santiago said: “This was a difficult decision because of the highly engaged team of associates at the Albuquerque bakery. We value and respect our associates and will assist themaswecan”.

Production is expected to shift to different bakeries within the company’s manufacturingnetwork.

Source: Food Business News / Bimbo

Image source: