7 minute read
Member & Industry News
Member and Industry News
BelGioioso Cheese, Inc., has entered into an agreement to acquire Polly-O, the historic cheese brand founded in 1899, for an undisclosed purchase price. The Polly-O brand will expand BelGioioso’s footprint in the dairy category in addition to its existing Casaro brand. Last year, Polly-O achieved net sales of roughly $177 million.
Chobani announced a limited-edition Complete Shake featuring Peloton instructor and fitness star Cody Rigsby. The product has 25 grams of high-quality protein with all the essential amino acids needed for building muscle – making it a functional and delicious pre- and post-workout snack for everyday athletes and fitness professionals.
In other Chobani news, the company donated 300,000 products to Hurricane Ida victims and Afghan refugees. The company delivered food to Mamaroneck, New York, which was hit hard by Hurricane Ida. Other trucks traveled to New York City, Louisiana and New Jersey. Approximately 200,000 food products went to hurricane victims, and another 100,000 went to Afghan evacuees in temporary housing, as well as the U.S. servicemen and women supporting them.
Mauricio Graber, CEO of Chr. Hansen, reported 7% organic growth for 2020-2021 in a recent statement. “Our performance of 7% organic growth and our EBIT margin b.s.i. of 27.7% both ended at the upper end of our initial outlook range for the full year,” he said. “Free cash flow before acquisitions and special items ended at EUR 196 million and was higher than the full-year outlook, in part, due to a positive impact from timing of payables. Graber noted that it was a year of transition for Chr. Hansen, as it executed changes to its portfolio, including the divestment of Natural Colors and the acquisitions of HSO Health Care, UAS Labs and Jennewein. Positives included the all-time high product launch activity in dairy, animal health, bioprotection and fermented plant bases, as well as a new partnership with UPL in plant health.
Bel Brands USA and Dairy Farmers of America have teamed up to launch a sustainable milk cooling program designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The companies intend to implement and measure sustainable cooling practices in an effort to cut energy usage and reduce the carbon footprint on dairy farms. A 12-month pilot program will see the companies support the adoption of the energy-efficient cooling methods – such as natural well water cooling – by a dairy farm in Iowa that supplies milk to Bel Brands. Ultimately, the goal is to implement these new cooling methods on other U.S. dairy farms to ensure sustainability throughout the supply chain.
Ecolab, Inc., the global leader in water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services, has expanded its wipes manufacturing capabilities with the acquisition of National Wiper Alliance, a 500,000-square-foot wipes manufacturing facility located outside of Asheville, North Carolina. For decades, Ecolab has been a leader in developing cleaning and disinfecting solutions for customers in more than 40 industries. The acquisition of National Wiper Alliance is a critical step in Ecolab’s continued commitment to serve as a leading
wipes partner for its customers, according to Ryan Rensvold, vice president and general manager of Ecolab’s global wipes business.
The Farm Credit Northeast Ag Enhancement Program, a joint effort of Farm Credit East, Yankee Farm Credit and CoBank, recently provided $71,500 in grant funding to 15 organizations to assist efforts to support young and beginning farmer initiatives, encourage youth leadership development, promote diversity and inclusion and advance Northeast agriculture, forestry and commercial fishing.
After nearly two years, Great Lakes Cheese has found a new location in Western New York. The Ohio-based company, which owns Empire Cheese in Cuba, New York, plans to relocate and build a new 486,000-square-foot facility in Franklinville, New York.
After five long winters away, Zero Visibility, one of Perry’s Ice Cream Co., Inc.’s most requested seasonal flavors, is back to honor the hearty spirit of the Western New Yorkers who brave the long winter months. The coconut rum ice cream filled with shredded coconut pieces was originally introduced in 1997 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Blizzard of ’77, the iconic snowstorm that left Perry’s hometown of Buffalo, New York, and surrounding areas, at a standstill for five days. The flavor will be available through January 2022 at retailers throughout New York and Western Pennsylvania and then will return to the vault until 2026!
RELCO, a Koch Separation Solutions company, announced the establishment of a new regional office in Stratford, Wisconsin, positioning the company to support its existing customer base in the Wisconsin area. As a well-established engineering and manufacturing company, RELCO has been providing process technologies to cheese and dairy plants across the globe since 1982 with a concentration on dryers, evaporators and powder handling equipment. The company’s primary objective of its new location is better service and support for existing customers, as well as a continued focus on new product solutions and technologies for the dairy industry, according to President Mark Litchfield.
Saputo Dairy Foods USA, LLC, announced the acquisition of the Carolina Aseptic and Carolina Dairy businesses formerly operated by AmeriQual Group Holdings, LLC, for $118 million. The businesses will join Saputo’s Dairy Division in the U.S. and operate out of two facilities in North Carolina that employ approximately 230 people. Carolina Aseptic develops, manufactures, packages and distributes aseptic shelf-stable food products and beverages, while Carolina Dairy manufactures, packages and distributes refrigerated yogurt in spouted pouches.
Upstate Niagara Cooperative recently completed the move of its new headquarters in Lancaster, New York. The company bought a 119-acre property for $4.75 million from Ecology & Environment, and about 200 of Upstate Niagara’s employees work at that location. The cooperative, which is made up of nearly 300 family-owned farms, plans to sell its former offices in Cheektowaga, New York.
Vermont Creamery announced its B Corp. recertification as a core component of holding itself accountable to its vision and measuring its progress and key to its success as a growing values-led company. This international certification demonstrates Vermont Creamery’s commitment to its mission and measures how the company uses business as a force for good. Originally certified in 2014, the certification has become a key tool for the business in gauging how it is measuring up.
Heinz announced that it is continuing its mission to remove plastic from supermarket shelves with the United Kingdom rollout of Heinz Eco-Friendly Sleeve Multipack, a new, convenient, super skinny paperboard sleeve for all its multipack canned products. Made with WestRock’s PEFC-certified CarrierKote paperboard, the Heinz Eco-Friendly Sleeve is recyclable and comes from sustainably managed forests. The innovative wrap design uses no glue, as well as 50% less material than a fully enclosed wraparound box and 10% less than a tradition paperboard sleeve design. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE ►
New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball announced the winners of the 2021 Dairy Products Competition in celebration of Dairy Day at the Great New York State Fair, held in Syracuse, New York, in August. Upstate Niagara Cooperative earned the most medals overall with a total of 19. The cooperative received the gold in Flavored Milk, Dip, Buttermilk, Mozzarella, Ricotta and Sour Cream categories. In addition, Upstate Niagara took home the silver in the Full Fat Cottage Cheese category and the Award of Excellence in the Lowfat and Nonfat Cottage Cheese categories. Great Lakes Cheese won gold and silver for its Cheddar, Aged Cheddar and Super Aged Cheddar, earning a total of six medals. Stewart’s Shops earned silver for the state’s top scoring milk. HP Hood, LLC, won gold and silver in the Full Fat and Low-Fat Cottage Cheese categories, gold and silver in the Nonfat Cottage Cheese category, silver in the Sour Cream category and also earned the Award of Excellence in the Full Fat Cottage Cheese and Plain Yogurt categories. The Lactalis American Group took silver in the Low Moisture Mozzarella category, as well as the Award of Excellence in the Low Moisture Mozzarella category the Provolone category. Chobani won the award for New York Dairy of Distinction/ Business of Distinction
At the World Dairy Expo, Stewart’s Shops once again showed it has some of the best dairy products in North America. The judging is based on flavor, body and texture, melting quality, appearance and color. This year’s competition received over 1,400 submissions from dairy producers across North America. Stewart’s officially has the best chocolate ice cream in North America, as it walked away the winner in the Regular Chocolate Ice Cream category. Stewart’s Mango Dragon Fruit, which debuted as a seasonal flavor in 2020 and became a customer favorite, was named The Best Sherbet in Show in the Open Class Sherbet category. The company took second place in the Open Class Pasteurized Milk category. And, three third place finishes were in the Frozen Dessert Division – Mint Cookie Crumble in the Mint Ice Cream category, Peanut Butter Pandemonium in the Ice Cream with Peanut Butter category and Milk Chocolate Gelato in the Gelato category. All of Stewart’s dairy products are made fresh at its Greenfield, New York, plant with milk picked up from over 20 local family dairy farms.
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