Emmi divests the Gläserne Molkerei
The Emmi Group is divesting the Gläserne Molkerei, a northeast German-based company specialising in the production of regional organic dairy products, to Mutares with headquarters in Munich.
The transaction is consistent with the Group’s ongoing portfolio transformation and focus on profitable strategic markets and niches such as ready-to-drink coffee, speciality cheeses, premium chilled desserts and plant-based dairy alternatives. The Gläserne Molkerei generated sales of around EUR 100 million with over 120 employees in 2022.
“The new ownership structure creates sustainable future prospects for the Gläserne Molkerei with its high-quality range of organic dairy products and enables Emmi to continue to implement its strategy of focus,” said Ricarda Demarmels, CEO of the Emmi Group.
After a thorough review of various options and intensive discussions with a range of interested parties, Emmi has decided to divest the Gläserne Molkerei to Mutares, a company specialising in turnaround situations. Mutares has a track record of putting companies back on the road to success, both operationally and strategically, thus creating attractive prospects for employees, trading partners, consumers and suppliers alike.
Completion of the sale is subject to approval by the responsible competition authorities. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.
Mars acquires Kevin’s Natural Foods
Mars has signed an agreement to acquire Kevin’s Natural Foods, a high-growth, nutritious meal company, to join its brands in the Mars Food & Nutrition segment.
Kevin’s makes chef-inspired sous-vide meals, sides, and sauces. Using whole foods and simple ingredients, it meets the needs of today’s busy consumers by helping them eat healthier food within minutes, without sacrificing on bold world flavors.
Kevin’s has enjoyed double-digit growth since it was founded in 2019 and is now available across 17,000+ retail locations, from grocery stores and supermarkets, through to digital commerce. Kevin’s Natural Foods will operate as a standalone business within Mars Food & Nutrition, reporting to its president, Shaid Shah.
Kevin’s Natural Foods will play a key role in Mars Food & Nutrition’s ongoing journey to enable delicious, healthier eating to be part of consumers’ daily lives. Kevin’s products will complement Mars Food & Nutrition’s core portfolio and recent product innovations.
Shaid Shah, global president, Mars Food & Nutrition, said: “We are excited to welcome Kevin’s Natural Foods to the Mars Food & Nutrition family of businesses. We have been hugely inspired by Kevin’s, a business whose mission fits squarely with our purpose: Better Food Today. A Better World Tomorrow.
“Kevin’s products are of a very high quality, nutritious, and convenient, without compromising on flavor, and are enjoyed by an engaged and loyal customer base across North America.
“The Kevin’s Natural Foods team has delivered impressive growth since it was founded four years ago, and we look forward to drawing on our experience of nurturing and scaling founder-led brands to help bring their products to even more people.”
Co-founded by Dan Costa, Kelsie Costa-Olson, and Kevin McCray, Kevin’s Natural Foods was born out of Kevin’s desire to be healthier himself, as well as to help other people eat well. Founded in 2019, the company is headquartered in Modesto, California, and has approximately 180 employees, with products currently sold in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Mexico.
Kevin McCray, president and co-founder of Kevin’s Natural Foods, said: “Mars Food & Nutrition shares our vision and passion for the role food plays in people’s lives. We founded Kevin’s with the mission to empower even the busiest people to eat nutritious, great tasting meals in minutes.
“Joining the Mars Food & Nutrition portfolio of brands will allow us to accelerate the development of more product innovations and support our mission of bringing Kevin’s to more consumers across markets.”
“As a standalone business within Mars Food & Nutrition, we’ll be able to maintain the entrepreneurial spirit and authenticity of our brand while getting the support and capabilities to continue our long-term growth journey. It’s a tremendous milestone for Kevin’s Natural Foods and our team, and we’re excited for what’s ahead,” Dan Costa, CEO and co-founder of Kevin’s, added.
This acquisition includes an exit of Kevin’s minority partners, TowerBrook Capital Partners L.P., an international investment management firm, and NewRoad Capital Partners.
The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and expected to close in the third quarter of 2023. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
olam food ingredients turns cocoa shells into power to fuel factory
Two circular biomass boilers have entered operation at olam food ingredients’ (ofi’s) cocoa processing factories in the Netherlands and Germany, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The boilers use cocoa shells, a by-product of the production process, as fuel to generate steam, which in turn powers the crafting of cocoa ingredients from ofi’s premium brand, deZaan, at its factories in Koog aan de Zaan, Netherlands, and in Mannheim, Germany – where it believes it will be the first cocoa shell boiler of its kind in the country.
The boiler at Koog aan de Zaan was partly funded by a subsidy from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and took over four years from concept to completion. It will reduce natural gas usage and CO2 emissions at the facility by 50%. In 2022 alone, ofi used 8,000 tons of residual cocoa shells to generate green energy equivalent to using 3.4 million cubic meters of natural gas, helping cut absolute CO2 emissions at the facility by 23%. This is the equivalent of warming over 3,000 Dutch houses per year.
The second boiler at ofi’s factory in Mannheim has been developed through a joint venture with energy company MVV. It has the potential to provide up to 90% of the steam needed to power the facility, saving approximately 8,000 tons of CO2 annually. The new roll-out adds to the circular biomass shell boilers used in ofi cocoa factories in Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire, Indonesia, and Singapore.
Cardboard trays introduced to by Sainsbury’s steaks, saving over 10 million pieces of plastic each year
Sainsbury’s is removing plastic trays from its by Sainsbury’s steak range, replacing them with a cardboard alternative which uses 70% less plastic.
The new trays will launch across 10 products in the range and will be available in all stores and online from July 5th. They can be recycled at home by rinsing the cardboard before placing it in a kerbside recycling bin.
Sainsbury’s introduced cardboard tray packaging to its Taste the Difference and So Organic steaks previously.
The announcement is the latest in a string of changes made by the retailer on packaging. In April, Sainsbury’s went trayless on whole chickens and also removed plastic bags from its entire banana range earlier this year saving 192 tonnes of plastic.
Claire Hughes, Director of Product and Innovation at Sainsbury’s, said: “As part of our Plan for Better commitments, we are trying to reduce plastic packaging across our own brand ranges, as we know that reducing plastic is important to our customers but also on our environmental impact.
“It’s why we are always looking at ways to innovate our packaging and reduce or replace plastic wherever we can, as quickly as we can. We’re pleased to save another 10 million pieces of plastic a year by swapping our by Sainsbury’s steak trays to cardboard following the changes we have already made on So Organic and Taste the Difference packaging.
“While we are making good progress, we know there is more to do and we are committed to making bold changes that help us achieve our plastic reduction targets.”
The Responsible Packaging Expo: bringing sustainable packaging to the forefront of the industry
Coming to the ExCeL London on the 10th & 11th of October, the Responsible Packaging Expo is the UK’s leading event bringing sustainable packaging to the forefront of the industry. We hope you are brimming with passion and excitement to join fellow business owners in the industry at this unmissable event!
Responsible packaging has never been so important in an ever-increasing ecocentric world. This expo brings together the most innovative packaging solutions to the F&B industry.
The wide-ranging conference schedule is packed with experts in their field, covering everything from the wider issues that affect packaging down to specifics of one small change that can make huge improvements to the way a company packages their products.
Your FREE ticket to the show will grant you access to THE ultimate and exciting hub of innovation and trends, showing you what the future of sustainable packaging holds. Prepare yourself for whatever 2024 might throw at you in the ultimate marketplace for professionals looking to maximise revenue.
Over the course of the two days of the show, there’ll be an incredible range of suppliers showcasing the most innovative products and technology and seminars, teaching you about the industry’s biggest issues led by the sector’s brightest minds!
Better still, this year’s instalment runs alongside 6 other industry-leading events; collectively forming The Hospitality B2B Portfolio, THE biggest B2B event for the growth of the hospitality industry.
So what are you waiting for? Get your FREE ticket now!
Kite Packaging launches new pallet range
Leading online packaging supplier, Kite Packaging, has updated its pallet range to include new, eco-friendly nestable and rackable plastic pallets as well as timber and presswood pallets.
Kite’s durable, lightweight and cheap nestable pallets provide a long-lasting solution for palletising goods. Their impressive dynamic capacity offers the best of both worlds with no compromise on functionality or cost-effectivity. The rackable pallets are suitable for warehouse racking and provide a cost-effective solution for efficiently storing palletised goods. Thanks to being heavy duty, they are ideal for long distance shipping, including export.
Both contain 100% recycled content and are recyclable upon disposal, feeding a circular economy.
The company’s timber-heated pallets are ISPM15 compliant and suitable for global exports. Made from strong timber sourced from sustainably managed resources, these pallets have the integral strength for reuse. Their four way forklift and pump truck entry makes for easy loading and unloading.
Kite’s presswood pallets are made from saw dust and recycled wood chips with no traces of plastic. These are nestable and conserve space when stored, in transit and not in use.
This new pallet range is available at market-beating prices with further discounts available when buying wholesale quantities. For more information about Kite Packaging, please visit www.kitepackaging.co.uk.
Administrators of plant-based foods firm secure sale of manufacturing site
The administrators of Plant and Bean Limited (P&B) have sold the company’s manufacturing site and associated equipment to Vegan Solo Consulting Limited (Vegan Solo) and Duo Renovations Ltd (DRL).
P&B is a dedicated alternative protein food manufacturer based in Boston, Lincolnshire, operating from a 125,000 sq ft factory and producing vegetarian products for large brand names with placements in major supermarkets.
The company entered administration on 31 May 2023 when James Clark and Howard Smith at Interpath were appointed joint administrators.
Vegan Solo specialises in the production of meat-free products and is run by Heather Mills, the entrepreneur and a leading champion for the vegan movement. This purchase will add to Miss Mills’ existing portfolio which includes Vbites – a pioneer of meat-free substitutes.
Like several other businesses in the sector, P&B experienced significant inflation across its cost base, primarily increases in food and energy prices. The business also suffered from several operational issues stemming from a lack of investment.
It is understood that following the sale there will be a period of renovations to upgrade the production capabilities, and that Miss Mills is determined to ensure that any future manufacturing that takes place at the site be plant-based.
Heather Mills said: “I am delighted to acquire the P&B facilities and to keep it as a non-meat factory. I am also pleased to try and help the founder of P&B who has worked in a similar vein to myself for many decades to drive positive change for the environment, the animals and for the health of the global population.”
James Clark, Managing Director at Interpath and a joint administrator of Plant and Bean Limited, said: “I am delighted to secure a sale of this great facility to someone committed to investing and improving on the great manufacturing capabilities implemented by Plant and Bean. The factory has huge scope to deliver improved economic output for the Boston area and we wish the buyer all the best in their new venture.”
Caorunn launches new limited-edition Cask Aged Gin
Caorunn is set to launch their most exclusive gin yet: Caorunn Cask Aged.
Cask Aged will be revealed as the latest, limited-edition gin in the small-batch Scottish gin’s award-winning collection. With only 797 bottles available to purchase directly from Caorunn’s visitor centre at Balmenach distillery and via Caorunn’s website, this is a truly special launch.
Caorunn’s name is inspired by the Gaelic word for ‘Rowan Berry’, one of the five hand-foraged Celtic botanicals found within a ten-minute radius of Balmenach distillery that are combined with six traditional botanicals at the heart of this delightful gin.
To create Cask Aged, these botanicals were infused to perfection in the world’s only working Copper Berry Chamber to make Caorunn’s perfectly balanced gin before being filled into hand-selected Spanish oak casks and gently rested at Balmenach distillery under the watchful eye of Distillery Manager, Kevin MacPherson.
As the first Scottish premium gin to be produced in a working malt distillery, gin aficionados and collectors alike will covet this distinctive new expression which pays homage to Balmenach’s whisky heritage. Cask Aged offers unique notes of bright citrus and vanilla pods which perfectly complement Caorunn’s delicate botanicals.
The use of Spanish oak butts adds a bright gold colour to the gin and a more luxurious mouthfeel. Bottled at an ABV of 56%, Cask Aged lends itself to bold flavours of peppery botanicals, delicate oak, sweet spices and candied citrus peel with an enveloping spiced toffee note.
Commenting on this limited-edition release, Kevin noted: “Myself and the rest of the team behind Caorunn are enormously proud of this innovation – it intertwines our gin and whisky expertise and is something completely different to anything we’ve ever created before. This is likely to be a firm favourite for gin lovers and we can’t wait for people to try it.”
Cask Aged is smooth enough to be sipped neat or can add depth to a variety of cocktails. Alternatively, replace the ‘go to’ with Ginger Ale for that truly indulgent perfect serve.
Perfect Serve Method
1-part Caorunn Cask Aged
3-parts Ginger Ale
Method: Build over ice
Garnish: Rosemary sprig
Caorunn Cask Aged (RRP £45.00, 70cl) will be exclusively available from Balmenach Distillery and via Caorunn’s website from Wednesday 21st June 2023.
Factory automation made easy – with radar sensor VEGAPULS 42
With VEGAPULS 42, VEGA brings its extensive experience with radar measurement technology to factory automation. Equipped with IO-Link and versatile hygienic adapters, the new level sensor meets the key requirements of modern industry: to perform complex measuring tasks faster, be simple to use and more cost-effective.
VEGA has launched a new radar level sensor especially for highly automated processes with stringent demands on hygiene and capable of following fast level changes. By introducing VEGAPULS 42, the instrumentation specialist completes its IO-Link portfolio, which now offers a range of solutions for level measurement, point level and pressure.
Radar reduced to the essentials
Since the various automation technologies in many factory environments are increasingly converging, VEGA’s IO-Link portfolio is now able to offer optimal solutions for applications that extend beyond the boundaries of primary processes. “Our customers can rest assured that they’re in good hands with us for all their applications,” says VEGA product manager Marvin Moser, explaining the current situation. “This requires us to proceed with the greatest care. For that reason, we’ve carefully integrated cutting-edge technology into all the main functions of this sensor. At the same time, we’ve consistently refrained from ‘over-designing’ the sensor. That means it has also been stripped of everything that makes it unnecessarily expensive and technically over-complex.”
Everything but complicated
This means that VEGAPULS 42 is designed specifically for medium measuring distances of up to 15 metres and temperatures of up to max. 150°C. The instrument is geared to circulation systems in production, dosing processes and downstream processes, like those found in conveying and filling systems. It ensures a smooth-running process wherever a level changes quickly and requires continuous monitoring. Or in short, VEGAPULS 42 design has been focused on what is absolutely necessary, it is tailor-made for all standard applications where more functions would only make things more complicated.
A big lead in radar know-how
“If you can do the one, you can also do the other,” it is often said, referring to the merging of process automation and factory automation. However, the two areas are so different from each other that it is easier for the measurement technology of process automation to establish itself in factory automation than the other way around. VEGA’s success story, which culminated in its current position as the world market leader in radar level instrumentation, began more than 30 years ago. The company is now applying the experience and knowledge gained to factory automation solutions. Accordingly, VEGAPULS 42 is based on the best radar chip currently available on the market – with the widest dynamic range, which offers excellent performance and application versatility.
High quality stripped down to the basics
To still be able to monitor current operating states in a highly efficient and cost-optimised manner, every design element of the chip was critically examined for its usefulness. The same principle applied to the IO-Link communication technology, which is common in factory automation, enabling bidirectional data transmission together with extensive diagnostics and parameterisation. For IO-Link sensor VEGAPULS 42 this means: maximum signal quality at minimal cost and complexity.
Radar is the better choice
With the instruments in its IO-Link portfolio, VEGA now adds the advantages of radar measurement technology to a wide variety of processes in factory automation and focusses even more on hygiene-critical industries like food and pharmaceuticals. Radar is the right choice for continuous, non-contact level measurement because, unlike ultrasonic sensors, it is not influenced by the process and ambient operating conditions. Use of the most reliable, cost-effective measurement technology available makes all the difference, especially in factory automation.
Loma Systems® launch X5 4″ Pipeline X-ray inspection system
Loma Systems, a global leader in inspection technologies for food quality and safety, has introduced a new product into its Pipeline portfolio with the launch of a 4” option. Perfect for inspection of pumped and free-flowing applications, such as large-formed hams and gammons, the product complements Loma’s Pipeline family, which is already available with product pipes of 2.5 and 3”, all offering excellent detection across a wide range of contaminants.
Following customer feedback highlighting the need for a product with 4″ couplings and higher throughput, Loma redesigned the Pipeline’s inlet and outlet manifold to accommodate the increase in diameter. The X-ray section itself is now rectangular, which changes the shape of the contents passing through the system, rather than compressing them. Additionally, the feed to the X-ray section is on a gradual incline to aid flow and reduce back pressure.
With its concentric diameter pipe, small footprint and great detection performance, the new X5 4″ Pipeline includes all of the standard features from the X5 range, but also has upgrades from the previous-generation model including a removable cassette for easy cleaning, integrated safety sensors and an easy-to-use capacitive 8” touchscreen, thereby ensuring the highest levels of regulatory compliance through real-time data collection. Providing easy access to all machine areas and rated to IP69 as standard, the system is designed to be used within a high-care or high-temperature, high-pressure wash-down environment.
Equally adept at inspecting fast, free-flowing products such as jam, chutneys, and even soups or sauces, the X5 Pipeline is the next generation in food contaminant detection and can be used for a variety of applications. Providing peace of mind that no contaminants will pass inspection, the unique X5 detector design offers excellent detection levels of all major contaminants, including bone, ceramic, glass and dense plastics as well as stainless steel, ferrous and nonferrous metals.
The X5 Pipeline can be fitted with ARU (2.5”) and ARL (2.5” or 3”,4”) automatic reject options to reduce waste and increase productivity, and is designed to be compatible with vacuum-filling machine brands such as Handtmann, Vemag and Risco.
“The addition of the new 4” X5 Pipeline shows Loma’s continued commitment to developing new and innovative inspection systems to meet industry needs,” said Loma’s Toby Kemp, director of marketing and innovation. “Listening to customers is key to understanding their pain points, enabling Loma to develop new products that not only create added-value, but also help build on our heritage.”
For more information on Loma’s ‘Check & Detect’ solutions, click here.