Brazil: Dr. Oetker acquires baking aids firm Mavalerio

Dr. Oetker, the German food firm, has announced it is strengthening its presence in Brazil with the acquisition of local baking aids firm Mavalerio for an undisclosed sum. Mavalerio has sales volumes of 31,000 tonnes per year. Its product range includes sugar and chocolate sprinkles, chocolate coatings, icing mixes, cocoa powder, sugar, popcorn and flavourings. […]
USA: Nestle launches Starbucks brand coffee creamer

Global consumer goods firm Nestle has announced the launch of three new Starbucks-branded coffee creamers in the USA. The launch follows a licensing agreement, agreed last year, that allows Nestle to market Starbucks-branded products around the world. Starbucks Coffee Creamers will be available in Caramel, White Chocolate, and Cinnamon Dolce, said to be inspired by […]
France: Campari in negotiations to acquire rum brands Trois Rivieres and Maison La Mauny

Campari, the Italy-based spirits group, has announced that it has entered into exclusive negotiations with Compagnie Financiere Chevrillon and a group of minority shareholders to acquire the French company Rhumantilles, owner of 96.5% of the Martinique-based rum maker Bellonnie & Bourdillon Successeurs. Campari described Bellonnie & Bourdillon Successeurs as “an iconic ‘Rhum Agricole’ producer with […]
Brazil: McCain invests in new factory

McCain, the leading frozen potato firm, has announced it is investing $100 million to construct its first factory manufacturing chips (french fries) in Brazil. Due to be opened in the first half of 2021, the facility will significantly increase McCain’s production capacity in Latin America, the company said. Located in the city of Araxa, in […]
Australia: AB InBev sells Australia unit to Asahi

AB InBev, the world-leading brewer, has announced it has agreed to divest Carlton & United Breweries to Japanese beermaker Asahi for an enterprise value of A$16 billion ($11.3 billion). As part of the transaction, AB InBev said it would grant Asahi the rights to commercialize the portfolio of AB InBev’s global and international brands in […]
South Africa: PepsiCo to buy Pioneer Foods

PepsiCo, the global snacks and drinks giant, has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire all the shares of leading South African food manufacturer Pioneer Foods for approximately $1.7 billion. In a press release, PepsiCo described Pioneer Foods as having a “robust, locally relevant” product portfolio of cereals, juices and other African […]
USA: Fresh Express to launch Chiquita-branded snack range

Fresh Express, the Chiquita-owned packaged salad firm, is expanding its on-the-go snack portfolio with the launch of fruit-based Chiquita Bites and Chiquita Sticks. The company said the new lines “make planning delicious and refreshing snacks for weekend getaways or school lunches a breeze”. Chiquita Bites is described as savoury snack packs featuring fresh fruit, cheese […]
Consumers still nuts for coconut

Insight by Gama Compass MANCHESTER – 19th July 2019: Coconut – whether as an ingredient or flavour – is continuing to set the pace in the food and non-alcoholic drinks industries. This month’s Insight By Gama Compass examines how coconut has achieved ‘superstar’ status, assesses its penetration across different categories, and considers some of the trends driving […]
Italy: Peroni invests €13 million in new bottling plant

Peroni, the Italian beer firm now owned by Asahi, has announced it has invested €13 million ($14.6 million) to open a new line at its bottling plant in the southern Italian city of Bari. The company said recent investments at the site had allowed it to surpass volumes of 1.8 million hectolitres in 2018, representing […]
Switzerland: Nestle claims first with 70% dark chocolate “made only from cocoa fruit”

Consumer goods giant Nestle is claiming a world first with the creation of a 70% dark chocolate made entirely from the cocoa fruit, using the beans and pulp as the only ingredients. “Nestlé has developed a natural approach, which allows it to extract the pulp and use it in chocolate with no compromise on taste, […]