Food group acquires its first non-food and drink business

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Food group acquires its first non-food and drink business
Regal Food Products Group Plc, the food group owners behind household brands, Regal Foods and Yorkshire Baking Company, have acquired Packaging ‘R’ Us for an undisclosed sum – their first non-food and drink business. The acquisition comes in response to the group’s long-term vision of expanding and strengthening their wholesale and food service offering, whilst providing a diverse product range within their brand portfolio. Since the recent challenges of Covid-19 and Brexit, the Regal group have identified the importance of becoming a one-stop solution for their customers, delivering services including finished goods, ingredients, and now packaging. Packaging ‘R’ Us is a well-established catering supplier, manufacturing and specialising in a wide range of disposable food packaging solutions, including foil containers, catering foil, disposable utensils, and plastic containers. Younis Chaudhry, CEO of Regal Food Products Group Plc, adds: “Following on from our Just Desserts Yorkshire acquisition 18 months ago, we are delighted to be bringing our first non-food and drink business into the Regal group. “Acquiring Packaging ‘R’ Us will allow to develop our wholesale arm of the business, whilst offering our customers an eclectic range that will naturally sit alongside our existing products and brands. “As a PLC we recognised a business that presented itself with opportunities and using our existing teams, manufacturing expertise, distribution networks and channels to market, we can really build and scale what is already a great business. “This is an extremely exciting milestone in the Regal journey, as we not only welcome our first non-food brand into the group but relocate Packaging ‘R’ Us and its production to our main manufacturing and distribution facilities to Bradford. “As a business that has the Bradford community close to its heart, we are pleased the new production site will create approximately 20 new jobs offering employment in a range of keys areas, whilst providing platforms and opportunities for personal development.”

Kite Packaging adds new sizes to single and double wall box range

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Kite Packaging adds new sizes to single and double wall box range
Online packaging supplier, Kite Packaging, has added yet more sizes to their bestselling range of single and double wall boxes. The decision to expand the range comes after continuously growing demand for the popular products. Both single and double wall boxes are a FEFCO 0201 style of box containing between 60-90% recycled content. Further to this, they are 100% kerbside recyclable and feed a circular economy that protects the planet. Kite’s single wall boxes are comprised of a single layer of corrugation that provides high quality protection to support most shipping requirements. Some sizes come multiscored, providing the option to adjust box depths so they better suit the goods packaged within and minimise shipping costs. The company’s double wall boxes use a dual layer of corrugation to provide twice the strength and protection of the single wall variety for heavier duty applications. These boxes deliver increased resistance against the compression forces at play during handling and shipping, ensuring goods are well protected at all times. The leading online packaging supplier offers competitively-priced products with wholesale discounts on bulk orders and the added benefit of free delivery on orders over £45. To learn more about the products and services available at Kite Packaging, please visit www.kitepackaging.co.uk.

TricorBraun acquires CanSource

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TricorBraun acquires CanSource
Global packaging firm TricorBraun has acquired CanSource, a provider of can packaging and related services. The acquisition expands TricorBraun’s beverage packaging capabilities and strengthens its position in the North American beverage packaging market. “Our acquisition of CanSource—a company known for exceptional quality, hands-on service, and reliability—enables us to provide beverage customers across North America with expanded offerings and services, and more sustainable packaging options,” said Brett Binkowski, president, North America, TricorBraun. “We welcome the CanSource team to the TricorBraun family, and we look forward to investing in the company’s continued growth.” Founded in 2011, CanSource is a provider of brite, shrink-sleeved, and printed cans to the craft beer, wine, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverage markets. The company operates from four locations across the US, including headquarters near Denver, CO. “Partnering with TricorBraun is a significant milestone in CanSource’s history,” said Paige Sopcic, CEO, CanSource. “We’ve admired and respected TricorBraun for years and are excited to join a team who shares the same dedication to quality and customer service, while providing multiple opportunities for our expansion and growth.” All CanSource team members will remain with TricorBraun and continue to work out of the company’s existing locations. CanSource now operates as CanSource, a TricorBraun company. Financial details were not disclosed.

Synergy Flavors opens new savory innovation center

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Synergy Flavors opens new savory innovation center

Synergy Flavors, a supplier of sweet and savory flavors, extracts and essences for the global food and beverage industry, has opened a new savory innovation center at its US headquarters in Wauconda, Ill.

“The savory innovation center has been operational for months, and we have seen tremendous interest from our customers to tour the facility and work alongside our team in the culinary demonstration kitchen,” Vice President of R&D and Innovation Mike Brown said. “We look forward to hosting all of our customers in the near future at our state-of-the-art facility for tasting and innovation sessions.”

The new 12,500-square-foot savory innovation center features dedicated space for flavor development, laboratories where customers work alongside Synergy’s technical team and a state-of-the-art applications lab that replicates its customers’ commercial kitchens and processing conditions.

The new culinary demonstration kitchen will host tasting and innovation sessions with customers and the pilot plant features spray dryers, flavor reactors, vacuum drying and retort capabilities.

UK food-tech business secures £2.3m to scale operations in advance of Series A

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UK food-tech business secures £2.3m to scale operations in advance of Series A

UK-based bio-tech business Clean Food Group has secured a further £2.3 million in funding to accelerate the commercialisation of its sustainable oils and fats technology.

International investment has come from industrial food specialists Doehler Group and Alianza Team as the global food industry looks to invest in healthier and more sustainable food choices for future generations.

Agronomics, the listed investment company focused on Cellular Agriculture, and SEED Innovations Ltd, the AIM-listed fund focused on investments in global health opportunities, have also shown their continued support and participated in the latest funding round.

Capital raised from this funding will enable Clean Food Group to accelerate the scale-up of its technology platform while advancing critical regulatory and commercial pathways.

Clean Food Group expects to complete a Series A funding in 2024, by which time the business will have validated the technology at a commercial scale and have a clear line of sight to near term revenue generation. The business will raise funds at Series A to support the build out of a commercial scale manufacturing facility.

In addition to a collaboration agreement with Alianza Team, announced by the company on 8 August 2023, Clean Food Group also recently signed a services agreement with Doehler Group, designed to rapidly scale its fermentation process to a commercial level, and enable the manufacture of product batches required for regulatory approval for Cosmetics and Food applications.

The scale-up process with Doehler is now well advanced, with a successful fermentation run at 1,000 litres recently completed; the manufacture of product batches for the regulatory approvals will be completed later this year.

Additionally, in 2023, Clean Food Group strengthened its Operational team with the hires of Dr. James Mercer, Head of Manufacturing and Scale-up, and Andrea Cattaruzza as Head of Product.

James will be responsible for the scale-up of the company’s technology and brings over 25 years of experience in industrial fermentation and scale-up of alternative proteins, having previously held senior operational roles at Quorn, Croda, and DuPont, amongst others.

Andrea brings 30 years of experience from Mars Global Chocolate, most recently as Director of Science. Andrea will drive Clean Food Group’s product strategy, developing high performance, sustainable ingredients for commercial partners.

Clean Food Group Co-founder and CEO Alex Neves says: “We are delighted with the rapid progress the business has made in the past year.

“The successful conclusion of this current funding round validates the important strides our business is taking in solving critical sustainability and supply chain challenges facing our food and cosmetic manufacturer customers.

“We are now in a great position to validate our technology at a commercial scale, advance our regulatory pathways and develop our growing list of commercial partners in advance of our Series A next year.”

Clean Food Group’s technology platform is the result of eight years of research led by Professor Chris Chuck, Technical Lead at Clean Food Group. The technology platform uses proven, scalable yeast strains and fermentation technology and uses food waste as its food source to deliver sustainable alternatives to traditional oil and fat ingredients.

Kite Packaging launches static roll dispenser

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Kite Packaging launches static roll dispenser
Leading online UK packaging supplier, Kite Packaging, has added a new static roll dispenser to their range. Static roll dispensers are a valuable addition to any warehouse with a stretch wrapper, wrapping station and packing area thanks to the enhanced efficiency they offer. By streamlining manual applications processes, Kite’s dispenser cuts down the time and effort required for such tasks and improves productivity. Designed to be user-friendly, the dispenser facilitates quick and easy dispensing, improving efficiency and output, while its simple operation minimises strain and promotes improved health and safety in warehouse settings. Its powder-coated finish ensures rust prevention for long-lasting use, aligning with the company’s commitment to providing sustainable solutions that stand the test of time. The dispenser also provides clear visibility of stock levels, supplying a visual aid for stock control which can only improve inventory management. Static roll dispensers are available from Kite Packaging at market-leading prices with further discounts available when purchasing wholesale quantities. For more information about Kite Packaging, please visit www.kitepackaging.co.uk.

Molson Coors snaps up Blue Run Spirits

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Molson Coors snaps up Blue Run Spirits
Molson Coors Beverage Company has made its first acquisition in the spirits category, adding Blue Run Spirits to its roster of whiskey and bourbon brands. Founded in 2020 in Georgetown, Ky., Blue Run has won numerous industry awards. It is currently sold at retail or on-premise accounts in 31 states. The company previously announced plans to build its own distillery in Kentucky, and those plans will continue under Molson Coors. Since expanding beyond beer in 2020 – and adding spirits to its repertoire with the launch of Five Trail blended American whiskey in 2021 – Molson Coors has continued to seek ways to premiumize its portfolio. With the addition of Blue Run, Molson Coors has established Coors Spirits Co., which now houses Blue Run, Five Trail, Barmen 1873 Bourbon and future innovations. “Molson Coors has been on a journey to broaden beyond our beer roots and build powerful brands in growing categories, and Blue Run joining us is an exciting next step as we establish Coors Spirits Co.,” said Molson Coors’ Chief Commercial Officer Michelle St. Jacques. “Blue Run has accomplished in three years what many brands hope to do in a generation and has done it at the luxury end of the whiskey category. Importantly, we are committed to maintaining Blue Run’s well-known quality, design and innovation as we continue to grow our spirits portfolio.” With a lineup of rye whiskies and bourbon that retails between $100 and $250, Blue Run benefits from the expertise of its contract master distiller Jim Rutledge, a member of the Bourbon Hall of Fame, and Shaylyn Gammon, creator of 2021’s American Whiskey of the Year, who is the distillery’s whiskey director. Blue Run’s founders – Mike Montgomery, Tim Sparapani, Jesse McKnight and Andy Brown – will remain with the brand, while Montgomery takes on an expanded role as vice president of Coors Spirits Co. Rutledge will continue to serve as Blue Run’s distillery consultant and liquid advisor, while Gammon will serve as Coors Spirits Co.’s whiskey curator. David Coors will continue to lead Molson Coors full-strength spirits strategy and business development as executive chair of Coors Spirits Co. “Since launching Blue Run, we have always strived to do things a little differently to truly embrace today’s younger, more diverse generation of whiskey drinkers,” Montgomery said. “We are humbled by how the whiskey community has embraced our vision and that Molson Coors wants to join and support us in this journey.”

Speciality & Fine Food Fair partners with The Great Brand Exchange for Pitch Live 2023

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Speciality & Fine Food Fair partners with The Great Brand Exchange for Pitch Live 2023
The Great Brand Exchange has joined forces with Speciality & Fine Food Fair 2023, taking place on 11-12 September at Olympia London, to give food & drink brands the opportunity to pitch live to senior industry buyers and secure a unique prize. Pitch Live, taking place on day one of the Fair at 13.45 in the Trends Theatre, will see four innovative producers pitching their business to an esteemed panel of industry judges and a live audience. The judges include Matt Hopkins, founder of The Great Brand Exchange, Emma Issimdar, Buyer Gift Food at John Lewis & Partners, and Stefano Cuomo, CEO of Macknade’s. The winning brand will have the exciting opportunity to take part in a pop up at a John Lewis store for one week, getting their business in front of thousands of potential customers, plus a month of free access to The Great Brand Exchange ‘Found Here’ Directory. Matthew Hopkins, founder of The Great Brand Exchange, says: “At The Great Brand Exchange we believe small brands are good for retail and we are always on the hunt for the next BIG thing so I am thrilled to be a panellist for Pitch Live and really looking forward to unearthing some new and inspiring brands!” The Great Brand Exchange was founded in 2014 with two goals in mind. The first was to help small businesses grow and scale by giving them a route into retail. And the second was to bring exciting, unique, local products to major retailers enabling them to offer something different alongside their big-name brands. Since its inception, the business has generated an incredible £50 million in revenue for small businesses, shipped three million packages, managed 5,000 pop-up events and created an active network of 12,000 emerging brands. It has also recently launched ‘Found Here’ which is a Membership platform where brands can have a listing on a retailer directory, helping them to be ‘found’ by buyers more easily. Via the membership brands can also access recommended suppliers and access a library of live webinars by industry experts to help grow their business. Nicola Woods, event manager for Speciality & Fine Food Fair, comments: “This is a fantastic chance for younger brands to get in front of a diverse consumer audience, receive invaluable feedback from senior industry buyers and stand out from the crowd in the incredibly busy food & drink marketplace.” To find out more about this year’s edition of Pitch Live, in partnership with The Great Brand Exchange, visit specialityandfinefoodfairs.co.uk/pitch-live. Entrants must be exhibiting at Speciality & Fine Food Fair 2023 and have been trading for under three years at the time of the event on 11-12 September.

Döhler Group acquires Boon Flavors in Thailand

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Döhler Group acquires Boon Flavors in Thailand
Döhler, a global producer, marketer and provider of technology-driven natural ingredients, ingredient systems and integrated solutions, has acquired Boon Flavors, a renowned premium flavour house located in Bangkok, Thailand. As part of this acquisition, Boon Flavors will be known as Döhler Thailand going forward and be managed by its founder, Piya Boonnamkitsawad. In 2018, Boon built a state-of-the-art flavour plant in Bangkok. Leveraging its proprietary technologies, the company has developed a great variety of local flavour tonalities that perfectly extends Döhler’s global taste portfolio. Boon will have access to all of Döhler’s cutting-edge taste technologies and, together with Döhler’s application labs in Indonesia and Thailand, global and local customers can expect to benefit from enhanced services and a more extensive product portfolio in the region. Consumers are looking for exceptional sensory experiences in nutrition; superior taste, a perfect appearance and well-balanced mouthfeel play a significant role for consumers when choosing their products, ultimately guiding their preferences towards a better human nutrition. Boon’s premium variety of local flavours, now integrated into Döhler’s global taste portfolio, contributes perfectly to this trend providing superior natural flavours to the food, beverage and lifescience & nutrition industry. This strategic acquisition further strengthens Döhler’s commitment to meeting the evolving needs of customers and consumers for excellent and remarkable tasty, healthy and sustainable solutions. Piya Boonnamkitsawad, the founder of Boon Flavors, said: “Teaming up with Döhler, we are looking forward to enhance our customer-oriented culture, foster long-term customer relationships, expand and strengthen our presence in the Southeast Asia market and continue delivering top-quality products while effectively supporting customers’ demand for more sustainability.”

Serious Sweets expands reach with fresh acquisition

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Serious Sweets expands reach with fresh acquisition
The Serious Sweets Company (SSC), a Harrogate-based independent confectionery business, has acquired the share capital and branded interests of Nom Bites Ltd, and with it the Lexi’s range of mallow and protein bars for an undisclosed sum. Founded in 2020 by Alexei Khatiwada, who set out to ‘create a range of delicious, healthier, allergy-friendly treats’, Lexi’s is an award winning supplier of mallow crispy rice treats and protein bars, with availability across D2C, Ocado, Amazon and Foodservice channels. SSC manufactures and supplies premium own-label treats to all major retailers in the UK together with a successful international business, and has established SSC Brands to manage its branded interests. In 2022, SSC acquired Mighty Fine, the premium honeycomb brand, and Mr Stanley’s, the quintessentially English gifting confectionery brand to its stable. Earlier this year it also acquired Mallow & Marsh, the UK’s leading marshmallow brand, and the wholesale manufacturing arm of John Bull, now renamed the Real Candy Co. Rob Whitehead, cheerleader and MD at SSC, said: “We’re delighted to bring Lexi’s into our family and continue the journey that Alexei and Shama have brilliantly led. “Gluten, dairy and nut free bars fit perfectly into our stable of current brands, enabling us to offer customers a combination of indulgent treats and more healthy treats, ideal for customers with specific dietary needs, or those looking for a healthier snack. “We will be sharing the range with our customers over the next few months and look forward to developing Lexi’s alongside all our brands over the next few years.” Alexei Khatiwada, founder (‘Captain Crispy’), said: “This acquisition marks an exciting milestone for Lexi’s, as we capitalise on the growing demand for our award-winning treats. “I’m proud that Lexi’s has helped deliver more inclusive treats to a mainstream audience and it’s been a pleasure to see the growth of the brand, which started in my home kitchen and has now sold millions of treats across the UK. I’m delighted to see SSC’s ambition and desire to grow the brand further and continue this exciting journey.” A committed food industry lifer, Rob Whitehead has had a successful career buying, developing and growing several food businesses for the last 25 years. In 2014, Rob realised that the crafted food movement was in full swing, not just at farm shops and independent retailers, but increasingly through major supermarkets in many food categories. At the same time, he felt premium sweets were missing from this growth opportunity. Driven by memories of wonderous childhood treats yet huge frustration with the ‘unacceptably miserable face of boring sweets’ dominating so many shop aisles, Rob set up SSC. His aim was twofold – to retain craft skills and small batch passion which are the hallmarks of quality English confectionery, and bring investment for new thinking & innovation back into the market. Adding Lexi’s to this stable now enables SSC Brands to offer customers a broad range of treats, from the purely indulgent to the more healthy snack, meeting a full range of consumer needs.
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