Belgium: Coca-Cola adds canned drinks line to Ghent site
Soft drinks giant Coca-Cola has announced an investment of €27.9 million ($31.6 million) in its production facility in Ghent, Belgium to install a canned drinks line. The new can line will be added to the current production lines at the facility, which comprises one glass packaging line and two juice lines. Commenting on the investment, […]
India: Unilever seals deal for GSK’s health consumer products division
FMCG giant Unilever has announced it has secured a deal to acquire GSK’s health consumer products division in India, Bangladesh and other predominantly Asian markets, for a total consideration of €3.3 billion ($3.8 billion). The transaction is said to consist of an all-equity merger of Hindustan Unilever Ltd with GSK Consumer Healthcare India, the acquisition of an 82% stake in […]
Look Ahead: Joanne Cook, SIAL Middle East 2018
Gama spoke to Joanne Cook, Managing Director, SIAL Middle East, ahead of the event’s 2018 edition. What are your expectations for this edition of SIAL Middle East? Over the years since its launch, SIAL Middle East has registered double-digit growth. 2018 will be no exception. We are expecting more than 1,000 exhibitors, 20,000 visitors and […]
UK: Duvel Moortgat takes majority stake in Jarr Kombucha
Duvel Moortgat, the Belgian brewing firm, has taken a 60% stake in London-based kombucha firm Jarr Kombucha, according to a report in The Drinks Business. The deal will reportedly allow Jarr Kombucha to “significantly increase production” as well as giving it access to Duvel Moortgat’s UK distribution network. Funds raised from the acquisition are also said to […]
Switzerland: Nestle expands Nespresso site
Consumer goods giant Nestle has announced it is spending 43 million CHF ($43 million) to create two new coffee capsule production lines at its site in Romont, Switzerland. The firm said the investment was to supply demand for its Nespresso Vertuo coffee system. “Nestlé has identified coffee as a strong growth driver and the coffee business […]
Italy: Nestle invests in Acqua Panna brand
Sanpellegrino, the Italian bottled water firm within the Nestle Waters group, has announced an investment of €70 million ($80 million) over three years to make Acqua Panna “the premium still water” within the Nestle portfolio. The group said it was earmarking the investment to improve efficiencies at its Scarperia and San Piero sites, as well […]
China: Nestle introduces first incubator product
FMCG multinational Nestle has announced the launch of its first products developed by its incubator team in China. According to Nestle, the products were released under the new brand name Xingshan and comprise three herbal drinks and three herbal soups, offering the benefits of Chinese medicine and cuisine. Developed jointly by the Nestle China incubator […]
China: Vitasoy to invest $154 million in new facility
Vitasoy, a manufacturer and distributor of plant-based food and beverages, has announced a 1.21 billion HKD ($154 million) investment to build a new manufacturing facility in Dongguan, China. 100,000 sq m in size, the Vitasoy facility will be the firm’s largest production facility in mainland China and it is expected to be operative by 2021. […]
UK: Wessanen to launch plastic-free teabags
Wessanen-owned UK tea firm Clipper Teas has announced the introdcution of plastic free, non-genetically modified and unbleached teabags for use in all of its products. The new teabags will reportedly be made with natural plant-based material, made from a blend of abaca, plant cellulose fibres and biodegradable thermoplastic PLA. Emma Vass, Wessanen UK CEO, commented: […]
Malaysia: Nestle to strengthen presence with manufacturing expansion
Nestle’s Malaysia arm is to invest over 100 million MYR ($24 million) to expand its Chembong Milo production facility, investing in what the company describes as a “key manufacturing hub”. According to Nestle, the Chembong facility expansion will establish the world’s biggest Milo manufacturing centre, with capacity to better meet growing local and export demand. “This move is an […]