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Food focus
Nestlé is introducing a new plan to tackle child labour risks in cocoa production, centered around an innovative ‘income accelerator’ programme. This aims to improve the livelihoods of cocoa-farming families, while also advancing regenerative agriculture practices and gender equality. A cash incentive will be paid directly to cocoa-farming households for certain activities such as enrolment of children in school and pruning among several others.
Nestlé’s new plan also supports the company’s work to transform its global sourcing of cocoa to achieve full traceability and segregation for its cocoa products. As Nestlé continues to expand its cocoa sustainability efforts, the company plans to invest a total of CHF 1.3 billion (€1.25 billion) by 2030, more than tripling its current annual investment.
With Nestlé’s new approach, cocoafarming families will now be rewarded not only for the quantity and quality of cocoa beans they produce but also for the benefi ts they provide to the environment and local communities. These incentives are on top of the premium introduced by the governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana that Nestlé pays and the premiums Nestlé offers for certifi ed cocoa. This cocoa is independently audited against the Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard.
“Our goal is to have an additional tangible, positive impact on a growing number of cocoa-farming families, especially in areas where poverty is widespread and resources are scarce, and to help close the living income gap they face over time,” said Mark Schneider, Nestlé CEO.
Nestlé is incentivising school enrolment for all children in the household aged 6-16 of cocoa-farming families
Irish food and drink exports enjoyed a record year in 2021
The value of Ireland’s food, drink and horticulture exports increased by 4% to a record €13.5 billion in 2021, despite the impact of Covid-19 and Brexit on trading.
Ireland exported the equivalent of almost €37 million worth of food and drink every day last year to customers in more than 180 countries worldwide, according to data from Bord Bia’s Export Performance and Prospects report 2021/2022.
Ireland exports about 90% of its food and drink production and the performance of the export sector was robust in 2021, given the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the fact that the UK is now operating outside of the EU Customs Union. The value of Irish food and drink exports was 2% higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
The dairy sector, which was worth more
than €5 billion last year, remains the largest element within Irish food and drink exports, followed by meat and livestock, which generated over €3.5 billion in export sales, and prepared consumer foods, which was worth more than €2.5 billion. Bord Bia also published ambitious new three-year targets to further contribute to the growth in the valuechain of Irish food and drink exports as part of the launch of its new 10-year Statement of Strategy. The “ The sector’s ability to beat its 2019 plan envisages a performance and deliver a record year for Irish exports is truly impressive, and Irish food and drink producers and signifi cant expansion in the manufacturers deserve huge credit,” said value growth of Bord Bia chief executive Tara McCarthy Irish food and drinks exports during the period, including an 11% increase in the value of dairy, meat, and livestock exports, and a 14% jump in prepared consumer food exports.
Joyce’s Supermarkets launches new healthy school lunchbox initiative
Galway-based independent grocer Joyce’s Supermarkets has launched a new campaign to promote healthy eating options aimed at schoolchildren aged 4 – 12 years old and their parents. QR codes are now on display in ten Joyce’s stores across Galway, which provide shoppers with a link to download a healthy recipe book for their kids.
In addition to this, Joyce’s Supermarkets will be promoting healthy lunchbox ideas on its social media channels and highlighting in-store savings and offers. Families are invited to share their favourite lunchbox creations by tagging the Joyce’s Supermarkets Instagram and Facebook accounts on social media, to inspire others.
QR codes on display in-store reveal a booklet of lunchbox ideas for schoolchildren
Bundle deal launched in Iceland Ireland for Chinese New Year
To mark the Chinese New Year, Iceland Ireland celebrated its Chinese takeaway range with an ‘unbelievabao’ deal! From Thursday, The Chinese New Year bundle 27 January until deal was available across all 27 Iceland stores nationwide Saturday, 5 February, shoppers could buy any three items from the retailer’s authentic takeaway range, all for just €5.
Following traditional oriental recipes, the range boasts a collection of dishes such as Hoisin Duck and Chicken Curry Noodles, which according to the retailer, each deliver the fi nest fl avours from genuine East Asian ingredients and aromatic spices.
Over 1,100 food and drink acquisitions in 2021: Zenith Global
2021 was another record year for food and drink industry transactions, with 1,116 registered on the Zenith Global mergers and acquisitions database, an average of 21 each week.
The total is 34% more than in 2020 and 79% higher than fi ve years ago. The number has risen every year since a dip in 2013. Funding rounds for early-stage businesses have become an increasingly important element.
The top 15 sectors saw some signifi cant changes in 2021. Packaging, plant-based and vertical farming deals more than doubled, with plant-based rising nine places to the top fi ve. Meanwhile, meat-free entered the top 10, outpacing meat. ■
Global food and drink acquisitions 2016-2021
