Health, safety and hygiene spotlight Cartoning and sleeving www.fdiforum.netJANUARY 2022 £3.50 STERLING Fresh Changes Fresh Changes INTERNATIONAL Food &DrinkFood &DrinkImport and export 01.qxp_Layout 1 17/12/2021 14:15 Page 1y raweaakw ts ne’agingacke PKit agingo packOn the g our to all of yect partner te is the perfangr g business with our complete tseaty trast Kit out your b at y takeaway pack p kaging range powered by employee share-ownership 02476 420 065 kitepackaging.co.uk YOUR EXPERTS IN CLEANING IN PLACE DISINFECTION SOLUTIONS Excellence in fluid technology As a worldwide leader in dosing technology, sera ProDos is a system provider of high quality products and services for the dosing and feeding of chemicals and fluids. Indeed, with 75 years of experience, sera ProDos is renowned for its excellent customer service and leading German engineering, offering some of the most robust pumps available on the market to customers involved in the chemical industry, food and beverage, pharma, and water and wastewater treatment. • Saves costs • Meets the highest requirements on hygiene • Increases safety and quality • Used in breweries and food & beverage industries Contact: 01283 753400 sales.uk@sera-web.com www.sera-web.com 02.qxp_Layout 1 17/12/2021 14:17 Page 1Contents January 2022 This magazine is now fully recyclable. By recycling magazines, you can help reduce waste and add to the 5.5 million tonnes of paper already recycled by the UK paper industry each year. Before you recycle your magazine, please ensure you remove all plastic wrapping, free gifts and samples. FoodandDrinkInternational @fdiforumwww.fdiforum.net company/fdiforum News 4 • General news • On line - production news • On the shelf - new products and initiatives Import & export12 As South Korean media and culture take the world by storm, food exports are on the rise. Health, safety and hygiene spotlight16 From the hygienic design of processing machinery and reliable washdown routines, to the importance of robust allergen labelling, food and drink companies have a lot to be aware of when it comes to health, safety and hygiene. Cartoning and sleeving20 Food and Drink International explores the inherent environmental benefits of beverage cartons and paper sleeves and how regulation is driving change. Conveying26 Conveying systems have been hailed as the workhorses of food and drink production and processing. Yet it was the pandemic that led to a major spike in market demand, as Food and Drink International explores. Pumps and fluids 30 Just like the heart in the human body, pumps are one of the core elements in the production line of the food and drink industry, which is why the selection of one should not be taken lightly. Group Editor: Steve Fisher (s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk) Editor: Michael Fisher (m.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk) Editor’s PA: Angela Sharman (a.sharman@blmgroup.co.uk) Journalist: Tess Egginton (t.egginton@blmgroup.co.uk) Eleonora Gallina (e.gallina@blmgroup.co.uk) Sales Director: Teri Cooper (t.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk) Sales: Vicky Hunt (v.hunt@blmgroup.co.uk) Tel: +44 (0) 1472 310302 Accounts & Subscriptions: John Downes (j.downes@blmgroup.co.uk) Design & Production: Gary Jorgensen, Mark Casson (studio@blmgroup.co.uk) Editorial: Tel: +44 (0) 1472 310305, Email: fdi@blmgroup.co.uk Part of the Business Link Magazine Group: Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby, N E Lincs DN31 2QE England All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, photocopied, recorded or otherwise without express permission of the copyright holder, for which application should be addressed first to the publisher. While every reasonable care is taken, neither the publisher nor its participating agents accept liability for loss or damage to prints, colour transparencies, negatives or other material of whatever nature submitted to this publication. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of those held by the publisher. MAIN: ST OCK.ADOBE.COM/ANDREAS BERHEIDE • TOP: SIG • MIDDLE: ST OCK.ADOBE.COM/NORIKKO • BOTT OM: ST OCK.ADOBE.COM/SEVENTYFOUR Sorting and weighing34 Exact measurements are necessary not only to meet industry standards and labelling laws, but also to ensure recipes are kept to. Bakery and confectionary38 Bakery and confectionary goods are not just about fun anymore, but they have become a journey through indulgence that has changed the industry completely. New year, new suppliers42 New suppliers provide numerous opportunities for companies to achieve cost savings, improve products, a brand’s standing with consumers, while being a potential lifeline during current significant supply chain disruption. Events46 Your chance to keep abreast of forthcoming exhibitions and food fairs from around the world Classified 49 Food and Drink Diary 50 03.qxp_Layout 1 17/12/2021 14:24 Page 1McCain Foods invests $55m in plant- based frozen food company McCain Foods is investing $55 million USD in Strong Roots, a plant-based frozen food company, to take a minority stake in the business. The companies say the partnership enables Strong Roots and McCain Foods to continue meeting the rising consumer demand for healthy and natural food globally. They will work together to “leverage both companies’ complementary strengths to continue Strong Roots’ rapid growth and further its mission to ‘fix the freezer aisle’ and provide plant-based, environmentally responsible, positive food choices, for everyone – globally and impactfully.” Samuel Dennigan, Strong Roots founder and CEO, said: “Working in partnership with McCain Foods means that we are able to grow our brand and the values it stands for, while providing us at Strong Roots with the resources and capabilities we need to see change through globally and impactfully.” Howard Snape, regional president of McCain GB & Ireland, said: “Strong Roots is a company that not only focuses strongly on sustainability but is also doing incredible work to grow the range of healthy frozen foods available when consumers are looking for it most.” 4 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net news Bell introduce reused ocean plastic for 2022 One of the most exciting new developments in the plastic packaging industry is our ability to access and reprocess the post-consumer waste found on our beaches, riverbanks and along the perimeters of our oceans. Unfortunately, plastic is now seen as a bad product – yet out of sight, beneath the surface of our oceans, there are millions of tons of other waste packaging made from glass, paperboard and metal that do not float and therefore cannot be seen. Plastic has become a key focus on social media and in television documentaries, with politicians and supermarkets looking for ways to enhance their green credentials and promote a greener world. There can be no excuse for rubbish being discarded into the environment and Bell are one of the first companies in Europe to endorse and support the collection and recycling of these materials. In 2019 Bell launched Retran® - a polyester-based material containing a minimum 70% recycled content. The credentials of this material are very high – pharmaceutical and food grade, with excellent clarity and full certification. The product has been hugely successful and nearly 80% of our customers around the world have switched to this exciting new product. The 70% recycled content meets the new plastic packaging tax being introduced in April 2022, however Bell recognised the need to keep moving forward and in 2021 introduced Biojet®. In simple terms, this is Retran® with an additive that stimulates and accelerates the biodegrading process. Whilst both of these products have been hugely successful, we recognised that even more needed to be done. Bell have worked throughout the pandemic, to identify reliable sources of plastic derived from the ocean. In simple terms this is “Reused Ocean Plastic”. For more information visit www.bellpackaging.com Kellogg’s to trial recyclable paper liners in cereal boxes Kellogg’s Corn Flakes cereal packaging is going fully paper based with the trial of a paper liner in the UK that can be widely recycled. Kellogg’s packaging technologists have worked to create paper-based inner packaging for its cereal that can survive the process of filling and sealing millions of bags in boxes of cereal produced in its factory and transporting them to retailers. This is part of Kellogg’s Wellbeing Manifesto launched in May. The new action plan is a decade-long commitment from the company to improve its food and packaging so that it’s better for people, the planet and the community. Chris Silcock, Kellogg UK and Ireland Managing Director, said: “We know people want to do more to help the planet and that’s why we are working hard towards meeting our commitment of all Kellogg’s packaging being reusable, recyclable or compostable by the end of 2025. This important trial of fully paper cereal packaging ensures we have explored all our options.” Food Standards Agency launches consultation on ‘may contain’ packaging The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has launched a consultation to gather views from businesses and consumers on the use of precautionary allergen information and labels, often written as “may contain” on food packaging. Studies have found that the majority of food businesses are using these labels to try to protect consumers but are confused about when and how they need to do so. There is evidence that businesses need clarity on the measures they need to take to control the risk of allergen cross- contamination, which then informs their labelling decision. To help develop work on this issue, the FSA wants to hear from businesses, local authority food teams, healthcare professionals, allergy charities, consumers and any other interested parties through a consultation and a series of online workshops. Food Standards Agency Director of Policy, Rebecca Sudworth, said: “We know that precautionary allergen information is difficult for businesses and local authorities responsible for enforcing the law, and we very keen to hear from them about how to make the law clearer and easier to follow.” © stock.adobe.com/Pixel-Shot © stock.adobe.com/stokkete 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 17/12/2021 14:27 Page 1Perfect solutions for reliable food production With intelligent and robust sensors, ifm offers solutions for the most demanding production environments found in the food industry. The intelligent MVQ valve sensor continuously monitors valve position and has diagnostic outputs for valve seat and stroke time errors. This prevents unpredictable, costly producti- on downtime whilst maintaining product quality. The O6 Wet Line optical sensor and full-metal inductive sensors performance is uncompromised in high humidity environments. They are also resistant to high pressure water and chemical washdown. In combination with matching ecolink connectors, a guaranteed watertight connection, up to IP69K, makes sudden sensor failures due to moisture ingress a thing of the past! All of these sensors transmit their process and diagnostic data, digitally and without any conversion losses via IO-Link: avoiding any unwanted surprises. ifm – close to you! Everything, without surprises ifm.com / ukifm.com / uk Go ifmonline Go ifmonline years W AR RANTY on ifm pro du ct s 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 17/12/2021 14:27 Page 2Gold&Green® Foods wins plant-based Product of the Year award! Gold&Green® Foods has scored a win with its game changing Protein Flakes. A 100% vegan product developed to help foodservice professionals and manufacturers go plant-based in one easy step. The Nordic food solutions company has been recognised at the prestigious Caterer Supplier Awards 2021 in what was an extremely competitive and sought-after category. Bringing real innovation to food development, the flakes can easily update a whole host of meat-based dishes in one simple swap. From sandwiches and curries to burgers and pasties, introducing plant-based food products has never been easier for manufacturers and foodservice professionals. Speaking about the award, Simon Solway, Country Manager, OOH and Retail, UK and IRE, Gold&Green® Foods said: “We’re incredibly proud to have been recognised by The Caterer. As a high protein food solutions provider, Gold&Green® Foods is on a mission to innovate the plant-based market with nutritious, clean, and sustainable ingredients. We want to help chefs and manufacturers raise the bar when it comes to tasty meat-free dishes and most importantly, consumers will love eating. To be awarded “Plant-Based Product of the Year” which is judged by some of the UK’s most respected chefs and food specialists around means everything to our team.” Fazer to buy Swedish plant-based drink producer Fazer Group has agreed to acquire Trensums Food AB, a Swedish producer of plant-based drinks, with a strategic focus on oat drinks. This acquisition is a further step in the implementation of Fazer’s growth strategy and ambition to become one of the leading players in non-dairy and plant-based food in Northern Europe. Christoph Vitzthum, President and CEO of Fazer Group, said: “The acquisition gives Fazer an even stronger foothold in a rapidly growing category and the opportunity to expand in our current and future markets. With its long history in oat drinks, Trensums Food will also offer us extensive manufacturing and R&D expertise to further strengthen Fazer’s already strong know- how in oats.” “I am very pleased that Fazer, the Nordic food experience company with a long history, will be the new owner of Trensums Food AB. In Fazer we see a strong owner, who is good at oats and wants to invest in plant-based products. This creates good opportunities for Trensum’s continued development, which of course is also positive for Tingsryd,” says Mikael Thörnkvist, CEO of Profura AB, owner of Trensums Food AB. 6 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net news Taylor Farms acquires Curation Foods’ fresh packaged salads, green beans and fresh cut vegetables business Taylor Farms has acquired Curation Foods’ fresh packaged salads, green beans and fresh cut vegetables business from Landec Corporation. The assets include the Eat Smart® brand and production facilities in Guadalupe, CA and Bowling Green, OH. The addition of Curation Foods’ packaged salad and fresh cut vegetables business will help the Taylor Farms Retail Division meet consumers growing demand for chopped salads and fresh cut vegetables. “This acquisition will enhance our commitment to assured supply for our customers with the addition of a sixth Taylor Farms source based production facility, this one located in the fertile Santa Maria Valley,” said Bruce Taylor, Chairman and CEO of Taylor Farms. “We look forward to a smooth transition for associates and customer partners.” Mark Campion, President of Taylor Farms Retail, will have leadership responsibility of the facilities and business integration. Taylor Farms is a North American producer of salads and healthy fresh foods with production facilities across the US, Canada, and Mexico. © stock.adobe.com/ samael334 © stock.adobe.com/ Moving Moment Cauldron Launches Carbon Neutral Product Cauldron Foods, a leading British plant-based food brand, is extending its bestselling snacking range with the launch of mouth-wateringly tasty Korean Bites, available now in Tesco and launching in Sainsbury’s in time for Veganuary. Packed full of colourful veggies and generously seasoned to perfection with classic Asian spices, the new snack is delicious, highly nutritious, and now also certified as Carbon Neutral. Each delicious mouthful contains carrots, sweet potatoes, onion, kale, chargrilled peppers, and classic Asian spices, giving the new Korean Bites an impressive nutritional profile – a source of both fibre and protein and low in saturated fat. As well as being better for our bodies, these bites are also better for the planet. It is well documented that a plant based diet is more environmentally friendly, and Cauldron has worked with ClimatePartner to calculate and offset the carbon footprint of the new Korean Bites making them Carbon Neutral too. Sustainable food producer balances the carbon books having officially achieved carbon neutrality A sustainable food producer has balanced its carbon books, having officially achieved carbon neutrality off the back of its latest carbon tracking report, providing product transparency while undertaking offsetting initiatives as it continues on its journey to net-zero. Following a detailed ‘cradle-to-grave’ life cycle analysis (LCA) the Wild Hare Group has refined its decarbonisation strategy to become officially carbon neutral, having successfully offset the surplus carbon in its supply chain. The brand’s offsetting initiatives involve a variety of measures, which includes tree planting, but also incorporates regenerative agriculture, plans for large scale hedge planting projects, the reversion of arable land to permanent pasture to allow for permanency in the root structure and more. While within the Wild Hare’s carbon footprint assessment, all aspects of farming are reviewed, including reducing the use of tractors to lower diesel emissions and the stopping of tilling. 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 17/12/2021 14:27 Page 3Chilled food company snaps up frozen specialist Wrights Food Group has been sold to The Compleat Food Group. The acquisition of Wrights, a specialist in frozen foods, complements The Compleat Food Group’s existing chilled portfolio, significantly expands its customer base and provides it with much greater penetration into the UK’s foodservice markets. Wrights Food Group was founded in 1926 as a local family-owned pie business. Under the leadership of Peter Wright, it has grown into one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of frozen savoury pastry, sweet bakery and ready meals to foodservice and retail channels across the UK. It also operates a chain of branded bakery stores in the Northwest. Oghma Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to the shareholder of Wrights Food Group. Mark Lynch, partner at Oghma Partners, said: “We were thrilled to be able to work with Peter and the Wrights management team on the sale of the business to The Compleat Food Group. It was important to Peter to pass the ownership of his business to a purchaser that would build on the legacy which the Wrights family worked so hard to create.” Hilton to acquire smoked salmon producer Hilton Food Group has agreed to acquire a leading international smoked salmon producer, Dutch Seafood Company, which trades as Foppen, for an enterprise value of €90 million. The move will expand Hilton’s presence in a growing protein category, as well as see it enter the US, a new geography for Hilton. The company has also launched an equity placing to raise gross proceeds of approximately £75 million to part fund the acquisition. Foppen further brings two smoked salmon facilities in Harderwijk, the Netherlands and Preveza, Greece, and an experienced management team and workforce. The announcement follows the recent acquisition of Dalco, a vegan and vegetarian food manufacturer, the acquisition of Fairfax Meadow, as well as Hilton’s expansion into Hilton Seafood. Hilton’s CEO, Philip Heffer, said: “The acquisition of Foppen is an exceptional opportunity for Hilton and another step towards our goal of becoming the global protein partner of choice. More and more consumers around the world are seeking affordable, high quality, and sustainable protein, and this acquisition will help Hilton take our offer into new markets and to new global customers for the first time. Food & Drink International 7 www.fdiforum.net news © stock.adobe.com/ lado2016 © stock.adobe.com/ M.studio 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 17/12/2021 14:27 Page 48 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net news US market to open doors to UK lamb from 2022 Exports of British lamb to the US market can resume from next year after more than two decades of restrictions. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has amended the rule which currently prevents imports of lamb from the UK into the USA. The amended “small ruminant rule” will come into force on 3 January 2022. The update comes after President Biden committed to lift the ban on British lamb during the Prime Minister’s visit to the White House in September, and follows an easing on restrictions on British beef exports earlier this year. Environment Secretary George Eustice said: “Today’s great news follows years of negotiations and builds on the success in securing the resumption of UK beef exports to the US. UK lamb is renowned for its high quality, food safety and welfare standards. Millions of US consumers will now be able to enjoy British lamb as early as next year.” 1 in 5 consumers plan to eat more plant- based alternatives over coming months Nestlé Professional research has revealed that 22% of UK consumers plan to eat more plant-based meat alternatives, and 19% more plant-based dairy in the coming months. As well as increasing consumption of these less traditional plant-based foods, vegetables and legumes are in ascendency, with 39% and 24% of consumers looking to up their intake of these. With health and wellbeing traditionally front of mind for consumers at the start of the New Year, Nestlé Professional has released these key findings to help food operators plan their 2022 menus. In addition to learning about attitudes towards diet, Nestlé Professional surveyed changing consumer awareness of sustainable food. Findings revealed that more than three quarters of consumers (78%) equate sustainable food choices with their own personal health and wellbeing. And with 71% saying they would be likely to choose sustainable options if available, this presents a big opportunity for food operators to adapt – to meet consumer needs while making a lasting impact on the environment. Eating out, most consumers are conscious about choosing sustainable dishes, with 58% choosing plant-based or vegetarian options: sometimes, often, or always. They could be persuaded to eat more plant-based, however, if presented dishes with improved flavour and texture (30%), greater variety (23%), and plant-based alternatives to popular meat dishes (20%). And a quarter (25%) would like extra encouragement, in the form of free samples or taste testing events. For food operators, this translates into an opportunity to get creative in the kitchen and rework classics with meat alternatives. This is while promoting healthy and sustainable meal choices through events and samples of plant-rich dishes. Katya Simmons, Managing Director, Nestlé Professional UK&I, says: “With Veganuary kicking in at the start of the year, it’s likely that food operators have already been considering what they offer the growing ranks of vegans, vegetarians and flexitarians. These figures indicate a clear opportunity to provide delicious, plant-based meals that offer greater choice for consumers wanting to eat more healthily and sustainably too.” Kraft Heinz to acquire majority stake in Just Spices The Kraft Heinz Company has reached an agreement to acquire an 85% stake in Germany-based Just Spices. The remaining 15% ownership stake will be retained by Just Spices’ three founders, who will continue on with the company and focus on driving the business and its international growth. Launched in 2014, Just Spices is an innovative start-up with annual sales of approximately €60 million. Its 170-plus product portfolio includes spice blends, salad dressings, and easy-to-prepare “In Minutes” blends for diverse meal occasions ranging from breakfast and light snacks to salads and baking, with a broad range of savory, sweet, classic and exotic flavors. Just Spices’ rapidly growing spice revolution business sells approximately 70% of its ready-made and one-step spice blends directly to consumers, with its remaining sales through major grocery retailers both in-store and online in Germany, Spain, Austria, and Switzerland. Rafael Oliveira, International Zone President at Kraft Heinz said: “This is a great opportunity to further accelerate our growth agenda by strengthening our ability to anticipate trends in consumer tastes and preferences, as well as our speed to innovate.” Under the counter hygiene: the latest UC dishwasher from Winterhalter The latest UC undercounter dishwasher from Winterhalter has an innovative wash field design that saves 25% in water usage, yet delivers the very highest standards of hygienic cleaning power. The wash arm features clever nozzle geometry that optimises the flow of water, not only saving on water usage but also reducing the consumption of both chemicals and power. The S-shaped wash field ensures optimum and even distribution of the water, meaning less water can still deliver superior cleaning – the UC is certified to DIN SPEC 10534, ensuring perfect wash results and dishes that are sanitised, hygienically clean, safe and free of COVID-19 (and any other viruses). “The pandemic has brought hygiene, sustainability and cash flow into sharp focus for the catering industry,” said Paul Crowley, marketing development manager at Winterhalter UK. “The UC provides an undercounter solution for all three: superior cleaning, reduced consumption of resources and, as a consequence, a reduction in running costs.” © stock.adobe.com/Deymos.HR © stock.adobe.com/Rasmus © stock.adobe.com/Magdalena Bujak 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 17/12/2021 14:27 Page 5DSM to accelerate growth in plant-based proteins with Vestkorn Milling acquisition Royal DSM has signed an agreement to acquire Norwegian company Vestkorn Milling, one of Europe’s leading producers of pea- and bean-derived ingredients for plant- based protein products, for an enterprise value of €65m. Vestkorn Milling is well-positioned in the buoyant alternative protein market, supplying proteins, starches and dietary fibers for plant-based foods, pet food and animal feed. The company has 55 employees and is based in Tau on the south-west coast of Norway. Patrick Niels, Executive Vice President of DSM’s Food & Beverage division, commented on the acquisition: “We very much look forward to welcoming Vestkorn Milling and their team to DSM. Increasingly, food and beverage producers around the world are looking to partners who can offer an integrated portfolio of ingredients, expertise, and solutions to help them differentiate and get to market fast. Aslak Lie, CEO of Vestkorn Milling, added: “Through the cooperation with DSM we have taken a huge step towards becoming a global leader of pulse-based ingredients. With DSM, we have got a long-term oriented owner that will fuel further growth and expansion.” Food & Drink International 9 www.fdiforum.net UK Plastics Pact cuts plastic packaging by 10% and doubles recycled content The UK Plastics Pact’s third annual report, published by global NGO WRAP, shows good collective progress against the UK Plastics Pact’s four ambitious environmental targets – year on year, while further action is required to scale the recycling of plastic bags and wrapping. A key achievement since its launch in 2018 has been a consistent and significant reduction in consumer plastic packaging by brands and retailers. Comparing data for members that have reported each year, there has been a 10% drop in plastic packaging on supermarket shelves, with problematic and unnecessary plastic items falling by 46% since 2018. This 10% reduction equates to a CO2e reduction of 335,000t – equivalent to taking 150,000 cars off the road since the Pact began. Marcus Gover, WRAP CEO, said: “The UK Plastics Pact arose at a time of great public concern about plastic pollution and has been a constant and practical programme for collective change to reset our relationship with plastics. Comparing 2020 against 2018, it has shown strong progress against its environmental targets during a period of unmitigated societal upheaval. “I believe this work should inspire us when we think about the enormous efforts needed to tackle climate change, and how innovation and experimentation can drive forward action through strong public-private partnerships. The results of real-life reuse and refill trials carried out under the Pact are extremely exciting for how we could shop packaging-free in the future. We see a 50% growth in plastics reprocessing in the UK, which is a massive improvement and Recycle Week marked a record high in terms of the numbers of people recycling – helping complete the cycle of plastics to keep them in the economy and out of the environment. But as COP26 made clear, we have a long way to go and little time to make big changes.” Better Juice is going commercial with sugar reduction deal FoodTech start-up Better Juice, Ltd. sealed its first commercial deal to bring reduced- sugar juices one step closer to supermarket beverage aisles. The company inked an agreement with a major US fruit juice manufacturer for commercial installment of its sugar-reduction technology. This is Better Juice’s first official commercial venture in its long-term collaboration with GEA Group, AG, Germany, a world leader in process engineering for the food and beverage sectors. The two companies joined forces in a strategic move to scale up and promote the sugar-reduction technology throughout the global beverage market. Start-up receives patent and a self-affirmed GRAS approval Better Juice was granted a patent for its sugar-reduction enzymatic process in Europe. Armed with recent self-affirmed GRAS status, the company is out to market its innovative system to food and beverage manufacturers worldwide. “These achievements, together with GEA’s knowhow and cutting-edge technology, will open doors to work more closely with food and beverage companies,” explained Eran Blachinsky, PhD, co-founder and co-CEO of Better Juice. Florida Food Products acquires flavor business Comax Florida Food Products (FFP) is to acquire Comax Manufacturing Corporation (Comax), a provider of clean label flavor solutions focused on the beverage & nutrition markets. Under the stewardship of the Calabretta family, Comax has grown to become one of the largest providers of clean label flavors in the U.S. since its founding in 1977. Comax formulates natural ingredients that replace synthetic flavors and maintains a portfolio of nearly 1,000 natural flavor SKUs. As part of the FFP family, Comax will continue to operate its Melville, NY R&D and manufacturing facility, and develop formulations in its Marlton, NJ R&D facility. The Calabretta family will maintain an equity position in the combined business. FFP is a leader in clean label food and beverage natural ingredient solutions. “We are thrilled to welcome Comax to the FFP family. Comax has built an impressive portfolio of natural flavors, which we intend to augment with FFP’s industry leading clean label, natural ingredient capabilities,” said FFP’s CEO Jim Holdrieth. news © stock.adobe.com/Sergey Ryzhov © stock.adobe.com/Tim UR © stock.adobe.com/SFIO CRACHO 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 17/12/2021 14:27 Page 6Next >