Italy: Barilla to invest €50 million to fund plant expansion
Italy’s leading pasta maker Barilla is expanding its factory in Rubbiano to increase production of pasta sauces. The investment of €50 million (£53 million) adds to an initial €40 million ($42 million) investment made in 2012 to build the plant, which will be completed by 2018. The expansion, which comes after the factory hit its maximum production […]
USA: Kraft Heinz proposes deal to merge with Unilever
Kraft Heinz, one of the world’s largest food and beverage firms, has offered $143 billion deal to merge with Anglo-Dutch FMCG multinational Unilever. Unilever has reportedly rejected the deal, saying that the offer of $50 per share undervalued the company. A Kraft Heinz spokesman is meanwhile reported as saying: “We look forwards to working to reach agreement on […]
USA: PepsiCo reports results in 2016
PepsiCo, the global snacks and soft drinks giant, has announced its results for the fourth quarter and full-year 2016, with an increase in annual revenue rose of 5% to $19.52 billion. By region, in North America the Frito-Lay group rose 3% while the beverage unit saw organic growth of 2%. In Latin America, organic growth in […]
Austria: Recheis launches pulse-based Balance pasta
Recheis, an Austrian pasta firm, is debuting a new line of health-oriented pasta products that are described as being made from pulses and legumes. Promoted as “innovative, vegan, lighter products in line with one of the most important dietary trends of our time”, Recheis Balance Pasta is said to have 35% reduced carbohydrate content and […]
USA: Lidl set to debut this summer
Lidl, the German retail chain, is set to make its debut in the USA this summer and open up to 100 stores by the end of the year, according to a Reuters report. The move is described by Reuters as being ahead of schedule, since it was previously thought that Lidl would not open its […]
USA: Fresh Del Monte launches vegetable noodles
Fresh Del Monte, the fresh and prepared fruit and vegetables firm, is introducing a range of noodles in North America based on vegetable ingredients. Available in six varieties – Zucchini, Butternut Squash, Sweet Potato, Beet, Yellow Squash and Carrot – Del Monte Vegetable Noodles are promoted as a “100% fresh, healthy and preservative free […] easy […]
USA: Coca Cola launches Sprite Cherry & Cherry Zero
Coca Cola, the American multinational beverage company, has announced the launch of two new flavours of soft drink under the Sprite brand: Cherry and Cherry Zero. The new cherry versions of the lemon-lime soft drink are described as caffeine free and made with 100% natural flavours. The Cherry Zero variety is also described as free from calories […]
UK: JDE launches its L’Or coffee brand
JDE, the world-leading coffee firm, has announced the launch of its coffee brand L’Or in the UK, according to an article in FDIN. Backed by a marketing investment of £8 million L’Or Coffee (meaning ‘Gold’) is described as a response to growing demand for higher quality coffee in the home and comes in instant, roast […]
USA: Diageo to open Guinness Open Gate Brewery
International spirits firm Diageo has announced its intention to bring its “highly successful Guinness Open Gate Brewery concept” to Baltimore County, Maryland, USA. According to the company – which also recently announced a plan to build a new distillery called Roe & Co – the idea will include a mid-sized Guinness brewery and a Guinness visitor experience […]
Japan: Kirin Brewery to introduce Zero Ichi brand
Japanese brewery firm Kirin Brewery has announced the launch of new non-alcohol, beer-flavour beverage brand called Zero Ichi. The launch comes after Kirin’s previous foray into alcohol-free beer-style drinks – a brand called Kirin Free, introduced in 2009 – failed to meet consumers’ taste expectations, a Kirin spokesman said. The new Zero Ichi is described as a […]