India: Reliance Consumer Products acquires Velvette

Reliance Consumer Products, the FMCG arm of Indian retail major Reliance Retail Ventures, has announced the acquisition of personal care brand Velvette. Founded in 1980 as a brand of Sujatha Biotech, the Velvette brand is described as being the first to introduce PVC shampoo sachets. The brand’s manufacturing unit is in Kashipur, Uttarakhand. Commenting on the move, […]

Spain: Reina Group to acquire Vital Healthy Food

Reina Group, the Spanish retail and foodservice conglomerate has announced the acquisition of sandwich-maker Vital Healthy Food for an undisclosed sum. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Manzanares, Ciudad Real, Vital Healthy Food offers filled brioche and empanadas in addition to its core sandwich range According to sources, the acquisition is intended to allow Reina to opening […]

India: Bajaj Consumer Care acquires Vishal Personal Care

Bajaj Consumer Care, a leading Indian hair care manufacturer, has announced the acquisition of Vishal Personal Care, which operates under the Banjara’s hair and skincare brand, for 108.3 crore INR ($13 million). Founded in 1991 in Hyderabad, Banjara is known for its natural solutions with a product portfolio that includes facial kits, herbal powders, and shampoos and […]

UK: Ferrero launches double-layer Tic Tac sweets

Ferrero, the global confectionery has launched Tic Tac Two, a twist on the brand’s traditional hard sweets and mints that feature dual flavour combinations in a double-sided format. Debuting this February, Tic Tac Two comes in the varieties Raspberry & Lemon, Strawberry & Lime, and Fresh & Mild Spearmint, and reportedly targets young adults. Commenting on […]

USA: Aldi to sell 170 Winn-Dixie And Harveys stores

Aldi, the German retail giant, has announced the sale of 170 Winn-Dixie And Harveys supermarket stores in the US to C&S Wholesale Grocers, a consortium of private investors. Aldi bought 400 Winn-Dixie And Harveys grocery stores and 170 Winn-Dixie liquor stores in 2023 and plans to convert the remaining 220 Winn-Dixie And Harveys stores to […]

UK: Meatly launches ‘world’s first’ cultivated pet food

Meatly, a UK-based cultivated meat company, has announced what it claims is the world’s first launch of cultivated pet food in collaboration with pet food brand The Pack. Chick Bites, which is being launched in Pets At Home stores from this February, is described as a blend of plant-based ingredients with Meatly’s cultivated chicken. Meatly […]

“Whole watermelon” stakes a claim in sports drinks

The latest innovation insight from Gama Compass MANCHESTER – 18th February 2025: In this month’s Innovation Insight, our attention turns to the sports drinks category and a new electrolyte drink from the UK that boasts the functional benefits of “whole watermelon” – Raw Hydrate Electrolyte Drink. Promising “a surge of pure vitality”, Raw Hydrate Electrolyte Drink from […]

Germany: Henkel to divest its retailer brands business in North America

Henkel, the Germany-based personal and household care giant, has announced it has entered into an agreement to sell its Retailer Brands business in North America to an affiliate of First Quality Enterprises, a manufacturer and distributor of hygiene, paper, and packaging products. Henkel said it deemed the Retailer Brands business non-core within the Consumer Brands […]

Brazil: Vinicola Aurora announces investment in manufacturing capability

Brazilian wine cooperative Vinicola Aurora has announced that the company is investing R$25 million in 2025 ($4.3 million) to modernise its production operations. According to sources, the new money comes on the back of R$130 million ($22.5 million) the company has invested in structural improvements over the last few years, including increasing Vinicola Aurora’s total storage capacity […]

Netherlands: Cloetta shelves manufacturing plant plans

Swedish confectionery firm Cloetta has announced it has shelved plans to build a new manufacturing plant in the Netherlands, citing “increased risk related with energy supply” and “issues with the permitting process”. In a press release, Cloetta said it had originally announced the greenfield project in 2022 but then put it on hold for reassessment last […]

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