Portugal: Orkla invests in Asteriscos e Reticencias
Norwegian company Orkla has announced a 43.5% investment in Portuguese firm Asteriscos e Reticencias, a manufacturer of fermented tea-based health drinks under the brand Captain Kombucha, for an undisclosed sum. Captain Kombucha was established in 2016 and is currently majority owned by its two founders, with the German firm Doehler Ventures also having a 15% […]
UK: Lion acquires Magic Rock Brewing
Lion, the Australian food and drinks firm owned by Kirin, has continued its recent spate of acquisitions with the purchase of UK craft beer maker Magic Rock Brewing. Founded in 2011 in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Magic Rock Brewing produces a range of beers describd as being “inspired by local brewing traditions and the vibrant US craft […]
USA: Kellogg to sell biscuit, snack brands to Ferrero
Kellogg, the leading US cereal and snacks firm, has announced it has reached an agreement to sell selected biscuit, fruit and fruit-flavored snack, pie crust, and ice cream cone businesses to confectionery firm Ferrero in an all-cash transaction valued at $1.3 billion. The transaction includes Kellogg’s biscuit business, including brands like Keebler, Mother’s, Famous Amos, Murray’s, and Murray’s Sugar Free, as […]
UK: Coca-Cola to launch Coca-Cola Energy
Coca-Cola, the soft drinks giant, is launching Coca-Cola Energy, a new energy drink brand for the European market. Featuring “a great Coca-Cola taste and feeling that people already know and love”, the new drink is said to be taurine-free and to feature caffeine from naturally-derived sources, guarana extracts, and B vitamins. Coca-Cola Energy is being […]
Spain: Vegetable firm Huercasa opens factory in Romania
Huercasa, a Spanish producer and trader of processed, ready-to-eat products, is planning to open a new factory in Romania to supply products to its operations in Germany, Poland and other Eastern Europe markets. The new plant is being built on a 200,000 sq m plot in Calarasi, in the Valaquia region, 150km from the Romanian […]
Canada: Coca-Cola upgrades plant to produce “mini bottle”
The Canadian arm of drinks giant Coca-Cola has announced it is spending around C$20 million ($15 million) to upgrade its production lines at a plant in Brampton, Ontario to manufacture a new 250ml “mini bottle” for its Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero, Diet Coke and Sprite brands. In a statement, the firm said the bottle was the […]
China: Yili to acquire Westland Milk Products
Chinese dairy firm Yili has announced that it is set to acquire New Zealand’s Westland Milk Products, a New Zealand dairy firm, via its subsidiary Hongkong Jingang Trade Holding for an enterprise value of 588 million NZD ($400 million). Westland Milk Products manufactures a range of dairy products and ingredients for foodservice, industrial and retail […]
USA: Amazon launches private label skincare brand
E-commerce giant Amazon is expanding its burgeoning private label range with the launch of a new dedicated line of skincare products under the name Belei. Claimed to offer solutions for different skin types and to feature ingredients with proven effectiveness, the new 12-strong line of products includes moisturisers, serums, eye cream and spot treatments. They […]
Water goes alcoholic with ‘natural’ FAB launch
The latest innovation insight from Gama Compass MANCHESTER – 27th March 2019: This month’s Innovation Insight delves into the world of low-sugar, low-alcohol drinks, shining a spotlight on a new launch that creatively fuses together flavoured alcoholic beverages and bottled water: Balans Aqua Spritz. Promoted as “a brand new Swedish brand and drinks concept”, Balans Aqua Spritz […]
China: Nestle opens new research centre and technology hub
Nestle, the Switzerland-based consumer goods giant, has announced an expansion of its research and technology activities in China with the inauguration of a new research & development centre in Beijing and a system technology hub in Shenzhen. In a statement, Nestle said the new R&D centre would enable it to accelerate trend-based innovation in China […]