In Good Company takes on UK distribution of Normandy’s SASSY Cider
Craft beer portfolio business, In Good Company – which houses brands including Magic Rock, Fourpure and Big Drop – has become the chosen UK distributor for premium French brand, SASSY Cider.
Made with 100% natural juice from locally sourced apples and pears, and with a lower ABV and fewer calories, SASSY Cider blends authentic Normandy provenance with contemporary cocktail culture. The brand has positioned its ciders as more than just a simple drink, but the perfect aperitif, alternative to wine or cocktail ingredient.
This approach has won it high profile listings in the UK including Côte Restaurants, Bill’s, The Ivy Collection, The Wolseley Hospitality Group (including Brasserie Zedel), Majestic Wine, Daylesford, Harvey Nichols and Selfridges. In Good Company has newly been onboarded to manage full UK distribution, with the goal of taking SASSY’s retailer and hospitality listings to the next level.
In Good Company’s CEO, Steve Cox, said: “We’re excited to welcome SASSY to In Good Company as we start work on growing UK distribution of its range of both apple and pear ciders, as well as its brilliant Calvados. The brand has a very compelling point of difference and its products really deliver on taste, and we’re looking forward to utilising both our on and off trade industry relationships to build on the success of its distribution with premium outlets to date.”
He continued: “In the last year, we’ve significantly expanded In Good Company’s portfolio, newly brewing and managing distribution for craft beers Big Drop and People’s Captain and just a few months back, winning the contract to distribute China’s leading beer Tsingtao. It’s a tough market out there but we’re confident that the increasing breadth of our offering, alongside our strong industry knowledge, sets us in good stead to meet ambitious growth targets.”
In Good Company Off Trade Controller, Tom Buckle, said: “We are very excited to be entering into this distribution agreement with Maison Sassy here in the UK. Whilst SASSY already has some fantastic listings across the on and off trade, we are looking forward to introducing this exciting range of products to a wider audience – commencing with an exciting new retailer listing very soon.”
Xavier d’Audiffret, co-founder of SASSY Cider, said: “Steve and his team at In Good Company know the UK retail and hospitality industries inside out. They have long-standing expertise in the premium beverages market and really strong relationships, so felt like the perfect partner where our cider could sit alongside a range of beers in their portfolio that also carry very strong quality and craft credentials.”
SASSY Cider co-chairman, David Flochel continued: “I’m thrilled to chair SASSY alongside Xavier and now working with Steve and his teams to accelerate SASSY’s growth. Together, we will execute our shared plans and next phase of growth!”
Strawberry-picking robots trialled to tackle labour shortages
Robots which can harvest and package strawberries in a matter of seconds have been trialled in Essex as part of plans to tackle a labour shortage in the industry.
Dr Vishwanathan Mohan and Professor Klaus McDonald-Maier, both from Essex’s School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, have helped design and build the robot.
Dr Mohan said: “Through this project we want to transform how food is grown efficiently using robotics and AI, and make state-of-the-art agri-robotics technologies accessible to everyone.
“Even if smaller farms and businesses can afford a robot, you need a whole fleet of them to make a difference, so it is vital we find cost-effective alternatives to help the agricultural industry.
“At the same time robotics is a game changer to tackle some of the critical challenges facing us – food security, labour security, climate and energy.”
The prototype is able to pick the strawberries using a robotic arm, before weighing each one and placing it in packaging. It is hoped the project will not only reduce the repetitive, labour-intensive process of crop picking, but will also extend the shelf-life of produce by speeding up the packaging process.
Existing crop-picking robots cost on average around £150,000 but if successful, the new prototype will cost a fraction of the price at around £10,000.
Chris Newenham, Joint Managing Director of Wilkin & Sons, said: “Wilkin & Sons are once again delighted to partner with the University of Essex in tackling what is currently the most significant challenge for our industry.
“Our experience from our initial work with the institution is that these challenges are inordinately complex and take time, it is work which is definitely not for the faint hearted but we are confident that we are working with the very best partners and very much looking forward to seeing the fruits of our collective labours over the coming years.”
The University of Essex has been working with jam makers, Wilkin & Sons, to test the new prototype, which it says costs a fraction of the price of existing technology.
This latest project, funded by a £1.02million grant via the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ flagship Farming Innovation Programme, has seen the low-cost robot tasked with picking strawberries from one of Wilkins and Sons’ vertical farms in Tiptree.
The robot, which can pick a strawberry in just 2.5 seconds, is based on a previous prototype which has been successfully trialled for the last two seasons.
The modular architecture can be easily adapted to other crops – with robotic harvesting trials planned later on in the project with onions, tomatoes and lettuce.
Britannia Bel Foods inaugurates cheese factory in India
Britannia Bel Foods has marked a significant milestone in its growth, nearly two years after being established as a joint venture between Britannia and Bel Group.
The company has inaugurated its cheese factory in India, dedicated to the local production of Britannia The Laughing Cow products.
Maharashtra is a leading state in India for milk production and boasts of a mature, well integrated dairy ecosystem, making it the “ideal choice” for the cheese factory location within Britannia’s Dairy food park in Ranjangaon.
The plant is fully integrated with a robust milk procurement program, sourcing ~4 lakh liters of 100% cow’s milk daily from over 3,000 farmers in Pune and surrounding areas. Britannia has scaled up the milk procurement program within a few years to 70 Village-Level Bulk Milk Coolers installed within a 100 km radius from the factory, spanning 10 tehsils in the Pune and near districts.
This initiative supports local farmers, ensures a sustainable supply chain, and reinforces Britannia’s commitment to community and agricultural development. Britannia’s Milk Collection Centers have advanced testing capabilities, ensuring that raw milk quality is assessed across 31 quality parameters at site and 20 additional parameters at unloading before being accepted at the factory.
With an investment of nearly 220 crores (around €23.9 millions) from the Joint Venture including the Britannia Dairy facilities being leveraged, the new Greenfield factory is located in one of Maharashtra’s largest food parks. It is integrated within Britannia’s state-of-the-art dairy production facility, which produces a comprehensive range of Britannia dairy products including now Britannia The Laughing Cow Cheese with a full range of products: slices, blocks, spread, diced and cubes.
Equipped with five production lines, the facility has a total production capacity of approximately 6,000 tons per year for natural cheese varieties like cheddar and mozzarella, and around 10,000 tons per year for processed cheese.
Varun Berry, Executive Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Britannia Industries, said: “Britannia is deeply committed to the well-being and prosperity of the milk farming communities that are at the heart of our business. Supporting over 3,000 milk farmers, our integrated farmer support program focuses on empowering them through sustainable cattle management, breeding, and feeding practices.
“By harnessing our integrated milk procurement program, we are setting new benchmarks in quality and sustainability while empowering dairy farmers at the core of our supply chain. The choice of Ranjangaon is a strategic one, as Maharashtra’s leadership in milk production aligns with our vision to create a hub for premium, locally sourced dairy products.
“We believe the new cheese facility will further strengthening Britannia and Bel Group’s strategic partnership and commitment to driving growth and innovation in the industry.”
Cécile Béliot, CEO of Bel Group, said: “I am proud to celebrate with Britannia the start of a state-of-the-art cheese factory leveraging the Bel 160-years legacy of operation on cheese. It is also a great moment to celebrate the growth of the national distribution of our Britannia The Laughing Cow range of products, and our triangular portion of processed cheese specifically developed and designed to please millions of children in India.
“At Bel Group, we aim at contributing to healthier and more sustainable food, creating value alongside our ecosystem, with accessible products answering local nutritional needs. I believe that Britannia and Bel, through this joint venture, and even more now with the opening of this factory have the right know-how and market capabilities at hand to take a leading position with Britannia The Laughing Cow in India.”
Mr. Abhishek Sinha, CEO Britannia Bel Foods Private Limited, said: “Britannia Bel Foods’s state-of-the-art Cheese facility brings the best of Bel Foods’ global expertise to India, combining cutting-edge technology with world-class manufacturing standards. This plant embodies our commitment to delivering premium, locally made Cheese that meets the highest benchmarks in quality and innovation.
“This facility further solidifies the relationship between Britannia and Bel, and the journey of further strengthening our Cheese business in India, supported with a fully integrated dairy program. With this, we are poised to offer Indian consumers an unmatched Cheese experience, tailored to their evolving tastes.”
Sainsbury’s becomes first UK supermarket to introduce peat-free mushrooms
Following a decade of research and development, Sainsbury’s has become the first UK supermarket to launch conventional mushrooms that have been grown without peat – a precious carbon-rich natural resource that takes thousands of years to grow in wetland ecosystems.
This significant change to the growth process reduces the carbon intensity of mushroom production, leaving peat in the ground, which will help protect nature and get the retailer one step closer to its Net Zero goals.
Rolling out from this month, customers will be able to spot ‘Grown without Peat’ on by Sainsbury’s mushroom packaging in 200+ Sainsbury’s stores across the country. Peat-free mushrooms will be first available in the White Closed Cup 300g and White Baby Button 200g variants.
Mushrooms are typically grown in two layers of material – first a layer of natural compost and then a layer of peat, the latter playing a key role in the yield and quality of the mushrooms, making it difficult to replace.
Instead of using peat, Sainsbury’s new mushrooms are grown with a sustainable substrate made from recycled natural materials. Developed in partnership with Sainsbury’s long-term mushroom supplier Monaghan, the new process will remove 20,465 tonnes of peat from mushroom production per year.
As a natural carbon storer, peat plays a key role in regulating earth’s climate. Extracting peat to help grow products such as mushrooms is contributing to climate change and the destruction of wetland ecosystems, as carbon emissions are released during harvest and the peatlands can take decades, if not centuries, to recover.
Peatlands also provide critical habitats for many rare, threatened or declining animal and plant species, while having a significant ability to retain water, and to improve both soil and water quality. With weather patterns becoming increasingly unpredictable due to climate change, peatlands’ ability to slow water flow can potentially help to reduce the risk of flooding.
This breakthrough will not only benefit the planet but also customers as it has resulted in mushrooms that are higher in quality – firmer in texture and whiter in colour – with a day longer shelf life.
Richard Crampton, Director of Fresh Food at Sainsbury’s, said: “At Sainsbury’s, we’re committed to playing our part in enabling and driving a resilient and sustainable food system, including protecting nature and reducing carbon to Net Zero. Our new peat-free mushrooms will help us to get another step closer to achieving these goals in our supply chain.
“We’re proud to be the first supermarket in the UK to bring peat-free mushrooms to our customers, who want easy ways to make more responsible choices when buying food, without compromising on quality. This wouldn’t have been possible without the work of our partner Monaghan who spent 10 years coming up with the alternative.”
Noel Hegarty, Chief Commercial Officer at Monaghan, said: “At Monaghan, we are committed to lowering our climate impact across every facet of our operations. Although mushrooms already have a low carbon footprint in comparison to other foods, we want to take this further with our journey to net zero. Peat-free mushrooms are a huge step forward with that ambition.”
Karl Mitchell, Director of Fundraising at The Woodland Trust, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to hear that Sainsbury’s is introducing peat-free mushrooms as part of its core range. This is a significant step towards protecting our peatlands, which are vital for biodiversity and climate resilience.
“Peatland restoration is an important part of our work at the Woodland Trust, and our 20-year partnership with Sainsbury’s has been instrumental in making a positive impact on our sites. This latest announcement demonstrates a shared commitment to a sustainable future.”
Mérieux NutriSciences to acquire worldwide food testing business of Bureau Veritas
Mérieux NutriSciences has entered into an agreement to acquire the food testing business of Bureau Veritas for an Enterprise Value of €360 million.
This strategic acquisition, supported by its parent company, Institut Mérieux, reinforces Mérieux NutriSciences’ commitment to promoting safer, healthier, and more sustainable food systems on a global scale.
The scope of this deal covers Bureau Veritas’ food laboratory testing activities —microbiological and chemical analysis, and molecular testing. These serve food sector customers through a network of 34 laboratories and 1,900 technical staff across 15 countries in the Americas, Africa, and Asia Pacific.
Additionally, Mérieux NutriSciences is in advanced discussions with AsureQuality, the New Zealand-based food assurance provider, to continue the joint ventures which currently exist between Bureau Veritas and AsureQuality in Australia and Southeast Asia.
Building on Mérieux NutriSciences’ existing worldwide presence, this acquisition will enhance its global footprint, extending its operations to 32 countries, and doubling its presence in Canada and the Asia Pacific region.
Nicolas Cartier, CEO of Mérieux NutriSciences, said: “The acquisition of Bureau Veritas’ food testing business marks a pivotal milestone for Mérieux NutriSciences. It will significantly enhance our ability to serve our customers, and ultimately increase our contribution to the safety, quality, and sustainability of global food systems.
“After closing of the transaction, together with the 1,900 future colleagues joining us from Bureau Veritas, we will be even stronger in fulfilling our purpose: ‘Better Food. Better Health. Better World’.”
“We are pleased to partner with Mérieux NutriSciences, a leader in Food testing, whose global footprint and proven expertise is the perfect fit for our food business and would allow it to thrive and to contribute to make food systems safer, healthier and more sustainable,” added Hinda Gharbi, CEO of Bureau Veritas.
The transaction is expected to close by the end of the fourth quarter of 2024.Cargill launches new cocoa production line in Indonesia
As Asia’s demand for rich, flavorful and innovative indulgent food and beverages continues to grow, Cargill has announced the launch of a new cocoa production line at its cocoa processing plant in Gresik, Indonesia.
Francesca Kleemans, Managing Director of Cargill’s Food Solutions Southeast Asia, said: “When it comes to bakery, chocolate confectionery and ice cream, as well as the indulgent café-style beverages in foodservice, cocoa and chocolate have always been one of the most popular ingredients.
“Cargill expects high growth in these indulgence categories in coming years, driven by consumer demand for multi-sensorial experiences, healthy indulgence, and conscious consumption.”
According to Cargill’s 2024 proprietary TrendTracker study, APAC consumers have a strong and growing appetite for novelty and experimentation, seeking foods with unique tastes, flavors, and textures.
At the same time, consumers are also increasingly putting more focus on holistic health, and seeking products that reflect their personal values.
Complementing an existing cocoa production line in the Gresik facility, the new line enables the production of specialty cocoa solutions with a higher degree of customization, allowing the plant to produce cocoa powders and cocoa liquors with unique flavor and sensory profiles for different consumers’ needs in Asia.
Francesca added: “I am delighted to unveil this investment by Cargill that resets the industry standards for cocoa & chocolate competitiveness and innovation, aiming to meet the needs of Asia’s most demanding customers and consumers. Through our new capabilities in Gresik, we are looking forward to co-creating with our customers in Asia.
“Leveraging the latest manufacturing technology and advanced R&D, the new line enables breakthrough innovation and unparalleled speed to market. At a time where global supply chains are experiencing tremendous challenges, near-shoring strategies are critical for our customers to maintain availability and competitiveness. This is where we are able to add value and support customers through our ‘Asia for Asia’ solutions.”
To celebrate the commissioning of the new line and demonstrate its capabilities, Cargill has also launched two dark Gerkens cocoa powders with deep dark color hues and premium flavor profiles, and a new range of Cargill Craft cocoa liquors that deliver a variety of flavors from fruity and fresh to roasted.
Aldi plans to invest over £30m in dairy farmers
Aldi has announced plans to invest over £30m in dairy farmers over the next three and a half years, through an enhanced partnership with Arla, the UK’s biggest dairy cooperative.
This extended partnership, set to run until the middle of 2027, will provide additional support to Arla’s farm owners, ensuring greater focus on sustainability and animal welfare practices.
The investment will enable Aldi to support Arla’s FarmAhead™ Customer Partnership, a new initiative aimed at supporting farmers’ ongoing efforts to drive reductions in on-farm emissions. Through this programme, Aldi will partner in farming projects and innovation that aim to accelerate more sustainable farming practices and decarbonise dairy.
Aldi has also increased its investment in the Aldi Dairy Farm Partnership (ADFP) programme to cover 100% of Arla’s Fresh Milk supply, which extended its support for British farms from 25 to over 150.
Liz Fox, National Sustainability Director at Aldi UK, said: “At Aldi, our commitment to responsible sourcing is at the heart of everything we do. Our strengthened partnership with Arla allows us to better support farmers while driving positive change in the UK’s dairy sector.
“This investment reflects our long-standing relationship with Arla and our dedication to delivering high-quality dairy products to our customers.”
Tim Dale, Arla farmer and member of the ADFP since 2018, added: “We’re incredibly proud of our ongoing relationship with Aldi, which has spanned six years.
“This investment marks another milestone in our shared goal of supporting dairy farmers to produce quality milk that is made in the best possible way. We are excited to continue working closely on initiatives that create a better future for dairy farming.”
£160m boost for UK poultry industry as exports to South Africa get green light
British poultry can once again reach South African tables, after the UK secured market access estimated to bring up to £160m to industry over the next five years.
The development will allow UK traders to export poultry to South Africa for the first time in eight years, after restrictions were placed on UK imports following outbreaks of avian influenza in the UK. The UK was declared free from avian influenza earlier this year.
Lowering this trade barrier has been one of the UK’s priorities for agricultural trade, and its resolution marks a significant step forward, benefiting South African consumers with access to high-quality and securely supplied poultry meat.
Food Security Minister Daniel Zeichner met South African ministers, Deputy Minister Rosemary Capa (Agriculture) and Deputy Minister Andrew Whitfield (Trade), to finalise the deal. This access will provide further opportunities to grow the UK economy and strengthen the trading relationship between both countries.
Minister for Food Security Daniel Zeichner said: “This deal not only opens new opportunities for UK poultry traders, but grants a new avenue through which to grow the UK economy.
“We’re one step further on our journey to securing better trade deals for UK farmers, improving industry resilience and kickstarting our food exports.”
South Africa has historically been an important market for UK poultry, with exports of poultry worth over £37 million to South Africa in 2016. Teams from across government have worked in combination with their counterparts in South Africa for many years to regain market access. International Meat Trade Association CEO Katie Doherty said: “The reopening of South Africa for UK poultry meat exports is fantastic news for UK producers and exporters – prior to the ban, it was a vital market for UK exporters.“It is testament to all the hard work by Defra’s market access team and the agricultural attachés and other officials who have supported this crucial work over many years, for which we are very grateful.”
British Poultry Council Chief Executive Richard Griffiths said: “Our relationships with markets around the world underpin economic growth right here in the UK. Providing half the meat the nation eats every year, plus the breeding stock of 70% of all poultry consumed globally, British Poultry Council members actively contribute to both domestic and global food security. “That trade of British poultry can resume with South Africa following the lifting of the avian influenza ban is a great example of government and industry working together to overcome technical trade barriers. Unlocking access to what was once one of our biggest markets is incredibly exciting.“Thank you to the Defra market access team and all Government officials and industry representatives involved for their support and engagement throughout this process. We look forward to continuing our work together to build, maintain and enhance trading relationships – both existing and new!”
Groundbreaking sandbox programme announced for cell-cultivated products
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has won a bid to run a programme designed to make sure cell-cultivated products are safe for consumers to eat before they are approved for sale.
The FSA, in collaboration with Food Standards Scotland (FSS), is to be awarded £1.6 million in funding from the Government’s Engineering Biology Sandbox Fund (EBSF) to launch an innovative sandbox programme for cell-cultivated products (CCPs).
CCPs are new foods made without using traditional farming methods such as rearing livestock or growing plants and grains. Using science and technology, cells from plants or animals are grown in a controlled environment to make a food product.
The UK is one of the largest potential markets for CCPs in Europe, but currently there aren’t any approved for human consumption here. This is because CCPs are new, complex and unlike anything previously available in the UK.
The sandbox programme will allow the recruitment of a new team to work across the FSA and FSS. They will gather rigorous scientific evidence on CCPs and the technology used to make them.
This information will enable well-informed and more timely science and evidence-based recommendations to be made about product safety and address questions that must be answered before any CCPs can enter the market. It will also allow companies to be better guided on how to make products in a safe way and how to demonstrate this.
Professor Robin May, FSA Chief Scientific Advisor, said: “Ensuring consumers can trust the safety of new foods is one of our most crucial responsibilities. The CCP sandbox programme will enable safe innovation and allow us to keep pace with new technologies being used by the food industry to ultimately provide consumers with a wider choice of safe foods.”As part of the sandbox, the FSA will also be able to offer pre-application support to CCP companies and address key questions, for example around labelling.
The volume of evidence and expertise built up by the end of the two-year programme means that the FSA will be able to process CCP applications more swiftly and support businesses better in their applications. The sandbox will also help develop assessment approaches that can be applied to other innovative foods, helping support innovation across the global food sector.
Global Brands selected as official UK distributors for American Beverage Marketers
Global Brands has expanded its cocktail and mixers portfolio through a partnership with American Beverage Marketers (ABM), the worldwide producer of cocktail ingredients and culinary applications.
In a move that further strengthens Global Brands’ third-party portfolio, this partnership will see the independent drinks experts become the official distributor of all ABM brands throughout Great Britain.
Family-owned ABM, based in New Albany, IN, is renowned for manufacturing cocktail mixers, syrups and fruit purées, using the finest fruit with all natural flavours.
The brands, which are available in more than 100 countries across on and off-trade channels, including Finest CallⓇ, Re’al Infused ExoticsⓇ, Master of MixesⓇ, and Agalima OrganicⓇ, join Franklin & Sons, All Shook Up, Shake Baby Shake and the recently launched Be, in Global Brands’ existing range of cocktails and mixers brands.
Global Brands will leverage its extensive UK distribution network, plus its market and category insight and expertise to enhance the presence of ABM’s brands in the UK on and off-trade and wholesale channels.
Julian Atkins, Managing Director at Global Brands, said: “Our collaboration with such an established global industry partner is yet another step towards cementing our positioning as the UK’s leading independent cocktail experts.
“ABM’s innovative, quality-driven product range and renowned international reputation makes the brand a perfect fit for us, and we’re excited to help them achieve the same levels of success and brand growth here in the UK market.”
Marco Canova, Division Sales Manager EMEA at ABM, added: “We are thrilled to kickstart this partnership and are excited by the opportunities it presents in a key market like the UK.
“Collaborating with Global Brands is set to significantly enhance our distribution reach and sales performance. We are confident that together, we can achieve sales of 200,000 12-litre cases and beyond, in the near future.”
William Hinkebein, Partner and CMO at ABM, said: “We are pleased to be able to have a larger reach into the UK market in order to elevate quality cocktails for all at home or out.”