UK: Mars to launch vegan chocolate bars

Mars, the global confectionery giant, is rolling out a range of vegan-labelled milk chocolate bars in the UK, according to a report in The Guardian. The new line-up under the Galaxy brand will be offered in the varieties Smooth Orange, Caramelised Hazelnut and Caramel & Sea Salt, and will come in 100g packs bearing Vegan […]

Canada: McCain increases capacity for speciality potato

McCain, the leading potato processor, has announced it is investing C$80 million ($60 million) to increase capacity for formed potato specialities in Canada, to meet growing demand from retail and foodservice customers. The firm said the creation of the new high-speed formed potato speciality line at its Grand Falls plant in New Brunswick would strengthen […]

USA: Riviana Foods expands Tennessee rice plant

Riviana Foods, a leading US rice and pasta firm, has announced it has expanded its production capacity for microwaveable rice products under the Minute rice brand via a $27 million investment. The firm, which claims to be the largest processor, marketer and distributor of branded and private label rice products in the US, said the investment […]

Netherlands: Zwanenberg agrees deal to acquire Struik

Zwanenberg, the diversified food brands firm, has submitted a deal to acquire Struik, the Dutch soup manufacturer, to competition regulators in the Netherlands, according to a Tubantia report. Struik, which is currently owned by veal processor Van Drie Group, following a deal agreed in 2016,  manufactures a range of ambient soups and stocks, as well […]

Brazil: JBS acquires Marba

JBS, the Brazilian meat firm, has acquired beef and pork products maker Marba, via its subsidiary Seara Alimentos, for an undisclosed sum, according to a report in InfoMoney. The company said the acquisition was “in line with our strategy of increasing the number of added-value brands and brands in our portfolio”. Founded in 1961, Marba […]

USA: Bang Energy inaugurates new production site

Bang Energy, a US manufacturer of energy drinks and sports nutrition products, has announced it has spent $52 million to acquire a new 400,000 sq ft manufacturing and distribution facility in Phoenix, AZ in order to expand capacity. The new factory will manufacture products for a range of brands in the Bang Energy portfolio, including Stoked, Bang Keto […]

Canada: Lassonde to acquire fruit snack firm Sun-Rype

Lassonde, the Canadian agri-food firm, has announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Sun-Rype, a fruit-based snack and drinks maker, for a cash consideration of approximately C$80 million ($61 million). Founded in 1946, Sun-Rype produces juices and fruit snacks in Kelowna, BC, and also operates facilities in Selah and Wapato in the USA’s Washington state. The company […]

UAE: Carrefour to expand to central Asia via Majid Al Futtaim partnership

Carrefour, the global retail giant, has announced its first foray into central Asia with the opening of new stores in Uzbekistan via its partnership with UAE-based conglomerate Majid Al Futtaim. Carrefour said it was planning to open three supermarkets and one hypermarket in the Uzbek capital Tashkent in 2020, followed by another two supermarkets and one hypermarket […]

China: Nestle opens infant cereal snack plant

Consumer goods giant Nestle has announced it has opened a plant in Shuangcheng District, Harbin City, in the Heilongjiang province of China, which is said to be the company’s first Chinese factory dedicated to the production of Gerber Nutripuff infant cereal snacks. The factory, built at a cost of around 100 million CYN ($14 million), […]

Canada: Mondelez expands sweets factory

Mondelez, the global snacks and confectionery firm, has invested C$4o million ($30 million) to upgrade a confectionery facility in Hamilton, Canada to increase capacity, according to a report in Canadian Grocer. The investment is reportedly being spent on a new line that will make 11 million pieces of Maynards jelly sweets a day for distribution across Canada and […]

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