< PreviousDiageo reveals plans for € 200m investment in Ireland’s first purpose-built carbon neutral brewery Diageo has revealed plans to invest € 200 million in Ireland’s first purpose-built carbon neutral brewery on a greenfield site in Littleconnell, Newbridge, Co. Kildare. The new facility will brew lagers and ales including Rockshore, Harp, Hop House 13, Smithwick’s, Kilkenny and Carlsberg. When fully operational with a capacity of 2 million hectolitres, it will be the second largest brewing operation in Ireland after St. James’s Gate and support the future growth of Diageo Ireland’s beer brands. The state-of-the-art brewery will be powered with 100% renewable energy and will harness the latest process technology to minimise overall energy and water consumption. This will enable the brewery to avoid up to 15,000 metric tons of carbon emissions annually. As the production of lagers and ales is transferred to the new facility it will enable St James’s Gate to increase the production of Guinness to meet global demand. Diageo will submit a planning application to Kildare County Council in September this year and, if successful, plans to commence brewing in 2024. Kroger expands in Ohio to implement aseptic milk line The Kroger Co. has revealed a 35,000 square- foot expansion at Tamarack Farms Dairy to support the implementation of a state- of-the-art aseptic milk line, capable of manufacturing products such as half and half, heavy whipping cream, coffee creamers and Carbmaster milk beverage. The new line will allow the facility to support over 150 jobs. “We are so pleased to see this continued investment in Newark,” said Doug Blacksten, senior director of supply chain and manufacturing for Kroger. “Kroger is Fresh for Everyone, and that means we are committed to sourcing and manufacturing only the best and freshest products. This cutting-edge innovation at Tamarack Farms Dairy underscores that commitment, improving our ability to offer high- quality dairy products to Kroger customers.” The aseptic milk line is part of Kroger’s largescale efforts to deliver long shelf-life high protein drinks, non-dairy and dairy products through modern technology. Tamarack Farms Dairy, a 20-acre site, is the largest fluid dairy product producer in the state. 10 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net on line Urban farming company to establish its largest growing center to date Infarm, the urban farming company, is establishing its third Growing Center in the US and the largest Infarm Growing Center to date. Alongside the existing vertical farming facility in Seattle and a recently announced one in Austin, Texas, the new North East Growing Center will be located in Columbia, Howard County, Maryland. The opening of this facility is a significant step in the company’s US-expansion roadmap, where Infarm plans to roll out its network of cloud- connected farming facilities with a size of over 500,000 sq ft from coast to coast. The new Growing Center in Maryland will add around 200,000 sq ft to Infarm’s US portfolio and produce up to 45 million crops per year. The Growing Center will create more than 50 jobs in Howard County. More than 50% of the new Growing Center is already pre-ordered with the first harvest planned for Spring 2023. The remaining capacity will be added by early 2024. Pure Harvest Smart Farms secures $180.5m from global investors to fund expansion Pure Harvest Smart Farms, a sustainable technology-enabled agribusiness headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, has raised USD $180.5 million in their latest growth funding round. The financing was embraced by a consortium of key global investors, including Metric Capital Partners, UK, IMM Investment Corp, Korea, and Olayan Group, KSA, joined by several existing investors and management. The company will utilize the capital, together with various forms of debt financing, to invest in research and development, to expand its footprint across the GCC, and to open new markets in Asia. Sky Kurtz, co-founder and CEO at Pure Harvest Smart Farms, said: “We are humbled by this investment from an esteemed group of global investors, backing our mission: to harness the wonders of science, the power of nature, and the passions of people to provide tasty, affordable, sustainably-grown fresh produce anywhere.” Europe’s largest oat mill set for UK Navara Oat Milling, a new joint venture in food manufacturing, is building a state-of-the-art oat processing plant in Kettering supported by a £15 million asset finance funding package from HSBC UK. Navara is jointly owned by crop production and grain marketing company Frontier Agriculture; farmer owned cooperative Camgrain; and Anglia Maltings Holdings (AMH), a food and drink ingredient manufacturer. All three companies bring together a longstanding expertise in their respective supply chains and markets and have come together to meet the demand for oats in the food and drink sector. The support from HSBC UK will enable Navara Oat Milling to build and operate a new cutting-edge processing plant, set for completion in 2023. Mark Aitchison, Managing Director of Frontier and chairman of the new joint venture, said: “There’s increasing demand for oat ingredients in healthy food products and non-dairy drinks. Our collective vision is to build and grow a dedicated oat supply chain, bringing farmer and food manufacturer closer together and delivering improvements that benefit each sector and the environment.” © stock.adobe.com/ Martin Bergsma © stock.adobe.com/ Leonid Shcheglov 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 22/07/2022 14:42 Page 7MEZEAST launches new wrap kits? MEZEAST, Nestlé’s Middle Eastern flavour brand, has relaunched its meal kits to make preparing authentic food at home even easier than before – by including wraps and reducing the cook time to 15 minutes. All three of its new wrap kits - Shawarma, Shish, and Harissa – have eight wraps included in the pack and are now available in Tesco and Morrisons. The kits serve four, take just 15 minutes to make, and come with authentic seasoning mix, sauce and wraps. The move comes after MEZEAST listened to consumer feedback about how it could make its at- home meal packs even better. Rachel Butcher, senior brand manager at Nestlé’s MEZEAST, said: “At MEZEAST, we aim to share Middle Eastern food culture with as many people as possible. After listening to our consumers about how we could make our packs even better, we knew that adding wraps was the next step to make the kits easier to prepare at home. We’re excited to share our new and improved kits with families all over the UK so that they can enjoy delicious, Middle Eastern flavours at home.” on the shelf HEINZ launches new chef-inspired sauce collection HEINZ has announced the new HEINZ 57 Collection - a line of elevated sauces and spreads designed to add magic to the culinary experience, one spoonful, drizzle or spread anywhere, anytime. Aiming to make culinary trends more accessible, HEINZ - a Kraft Heinz Company brand - looked to the culinary expertise of award-winning chefs, Lee Wolen and Joe Frillman, for inspiration in developing the collection. The new chef-inspired line strives to accelerate culinary exploration by transforming simple dishes into mouth watering creations. “I am inspired by premium-crafted ingredients that can turn any meal from ordinary to extraordinary,” said Michelin-star chef, Lee Wolen. “The HEINZ 57 Collection enables foodies to discover and explore new ingredients and cuisines with a modern twist to even the most tried and true family favorites.” Whether looking to add sweet or savory flavors and textures, the versatile HEINZ 57 Collection makes it easy with two innovative product lines: Infused Honeys (offered in Hot Chili and Black Truffle) and Crunch Sauces (offered in Chili Pepper Crunch, Roasted Garlic Crunch and Mandarin Orange Miso Crunch). LALA introduces new breakfast ‘licuados’ LALA U.S. is introducing authentic licuados – traditional Mexican breakfast smoothies containing milk, fruit, and oats – to dairy cases in Walmart and Hispanic-specialty grocers. “LALA Licuados are the perfect way to start your morning,” said Matt Okeson, head of marketing and R&D for LALA U.S. “With the goodness of oats, real milk, and a blend of real fruits, LALA Licuados are a Hispanic breakfast standard in a convenient ready-to- drink format.” Licuados are a classic Mexican beverage, serving as a quick nutritious and delicious breakfast at home or more commonly on the run where people stop for one at juice and licuado stands. Licuados are blended like smoothies but not as thick. The new LALA Licuados are sold in three flavors – Papaya, Mango-Carrot, and Vanilla Honey. Each bottle features 8 grams of protein and is a good source of fiber and vitamins A&D. Food & Drink International 11 www.fdiforum.net Sanpellegrino create new visual identity for Tastefully Light & Classic Taste sparkling fruit ranges A permissible treat - thanks to its selection of Italian ingredients and real fruit juice - the Sanpellegrino Tastefully Light & Classic Taste sparkling fruit ranges, have long been a favourite with consumers looking for a truly thirst quenching and delicious citrus drink. The entire range has now switched to a new premium 33cL sleek can design and multipacks, which feature updated visuals reinforcing Sanpellegrino’s distinctive values of natural ingredients and Italian origin. The new visual identity also sees the drinks manufacturer reducing plastic packaging by replacing the can’s plastic shrink wrap with cardboard packaging. The Sanpellegrino Tastefully Light sparkling fruit range includes Limonata (lemon), Aranciata (orange), Aranciata Rossa (blood orange), Melograno & Arancia (pomegranate & orange), Limone & Menta (lemon & mint) and Pompelmo (grapefruit). Each can includes at least 16% real fruit juice sourced from Italy and the Mediterranean and has no artificial sweeteners (only stevia). For more information, please visit www.sanpellegrinofruitbeverages.com/uk/ It’s Slime Time! Kellogg and Nickelodeon create New Kellogg’s Apple Jacks Slime Cereal Breakfast is getting a nostalgic makeover with Kellogg’s latest collab, adding a splash of Nickelodeon’s iconic green Slime to cereal bowls with all-new Kellogg’s Apple Jacks Slime cereal. Kellogg’s Apple Jacks Slime cereal features sweetened, toasted orange and green loops that evoke notes of delicious green apple flavor. But what makes this Slime-tastic new cereal even more fun are the green flecks that — once milk is added — turn the milk a vibrant shade of Nickelodeon Slime green right before your eyes. “Both known for our bright orange and green colors, Kellogg’s Apple Jacks and Nickelodeon Slime are a perfect pairing,” said Sadie Garcia, director of brand marketing at Kellogg All Family Cereal. “Now families can discover all the fun of Slime at the breakfast table with a delicious new cereal that changes the color of the milk while you eat.” © Business Wire © Business Wire 04-11.qxp_Layout 1 22/07/2022 14:42 Page 812 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT © stock.adobe.com/amazing studio 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 22/07/2022 14:44 Page 1Food & Drink International 13 www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT F rom rice, sugar, and wheat, to fruits, dairy products, and tea, India is one of the largest producers of agriculture and food products across the globe. But it is also a market other countries are keen to gain access to, to capitalise on a rapidly expanding middle class and soaring demand in the health, organic, fortified and ready-to-eat packaged food sectors. The UK for instance has begun negotiations with India for an ambitious free trade agreement, while the implementation of a free trade deal with the United Arab Emirates (in May 2022), is benefiting India, with export growth being seen. Recent figures show a positive start to India’s new financial year for food and drink exports, with exports of agricultural and processed food products rising 14% to $5.98bn in the first quarter (April-June 2022) as compared to the same period in the year prior. This means that of India’s total $23.56bn export target for 2022- 23, 25.4% of this has been achieved already. Fresh fruit and vegetable exports rose 8.6% from $642m in April- June 2021 to $697m, while processed food exports increased 36.4% with other cereals’ exports rising from $237m in April-June 2021 to $306m in April-June 2022 and the export of meat, dairy and poultry products growing from $1.02bn in April-June 2021 to $1.12bn in April-June 2022. Moreover, a key export for the country, rice, saw further expansion, of 13%, in April-June 2022, increasing from $24.1bn in April-June 2021 to $27.2bn. The numbers follow strong agricultural exports in India’s last financial year, rocketing by 19.92% during 2021-22 to $50.2bn. The growth rate is over and above the growth of Exports on the up for India With food exports growing in India, a number of actions are being taken to bolster this further and find new markets for products. 14 Á 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 22/07/2022 14:44 Page 214 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT 17.66% at $41.87bn achieved in 2020-21 and has been accomplished in spite of unprecedented logistical challenges in the form of high freight rates, container shortages, et al. Dr M Angamuthu, chairman of India’s Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), said: “We continue to provide technical and financial assistance to various stakeholders in the agricultural goods value chains for boosting exports of unique products from the country. Through creating a necessary eco- system of exports along with collaboration with key stakeholders in the agri-exports value chains, we are aiming to sustain the growth in India’s agricultural and processed food exports in the current fiscal as well.” To support the rise in exports of agricultural and processed food products, India’s government has focused on initiatives such as organising B2B exhibitions in different countries, exploring new potential markets through product-specific and general marketing campaigns by the active involvement of Indian Embassies, and taken several initiatives to promote products having registered geographical indications (GI) in India by organising virtual Buyer Seller Meets on agricultural and food products with the United Arab Emirates. Darjeeling Tea and Basmati Rice are two popular GI- tagged agricultural products of India, which have ready markets across the globe, however there is a host of products across the country that new export destinations are being sought for, which need to be marketed properly to reach more buyers. This has seen APEDA facilitate trial shipments into new markets worldwide for products like Kala Namak rice, Naga Mircha, Assam Kaji Nemu, Bangalore Rose Onion, Nagpur Oranges, Bhalia wheat, BardhamanMihidana and Sitabhog, Dahanu Gholvad Sapota, Jalgaon Banana, Vazhakulam Pineapple, © stock.adobe.com/JackF 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 22/07/2022 14:44 Page 3Food & Drink International 15 www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT and Marayoor Jaggery. Recent actions include an 8-day-long mango festival in Bahrain to elevate exports of the fruit - which primarily takes place in three forms: fresh mango, mango pulp, and mango slice - displaying 34 varieties, as part of its wider ‘Mango Festival 2022’ exploring international markets for Indian mangoes. This follows India in January securing the approval of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for export of Indian mangoes to the USA after being restricted since 2020, as USDA inspectors were unable to visit India for inspections due to restrictions on international travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile to bolster the export of Indian wine, APEDA facilitated the participation of ten exporters in the London Wine Fair in June, expanding on current main markets for Indian wine in the United Arab Emirates, Ghana, Singapore, Congo, and Cameroon. Furthermore, to give a boost to the export value chain, APEDA recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) focusing on climate-resilient agriculture related to zero carbon emission farming to produce residue/carbon-free food for exports. It has not all been positive for India’s food production and exports however, with the country coming under scrutiny earlier this year, due to restrictions being placed on wheat exports. The export ban decision in May followed heatwaves in the country, reducing forecast domestic production and increasing prices, though exemptions have been issued for certain countries. It came in a quick U- turn after India’s Prime Minister initially declared in April a readiness to fill the gap left by Ukraine in global grain markets in the wake of Russia’s invasion. Restrictions on sugar exports followed. © stock.adobe.com/sakhorn38 12-15.qxp_Layout 1 22/07/2022 14:44 Page 416 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net PROCESSING SPOTLIGHT There’s a myriad of processes that take place across the food production line. Here, we spotlight four that have rapidly evolved with greater levels of automation and efficiency. Washing Nothing is more important in the food processing industry than sanitation. As well as following high standards of hand washing and routine cleaning of machinery, all fresh produce must be washed so it arrives on shelves safe for consumption. An initial wash as produce is transferred from field to factory ensures that soil and other debris is removed, but this is only the starting point for optimum hygiene. Fresh foods will all carry microorganisms from the soil they were grown in, and potentially harmful bacteria must be removed in the factory. All fresh produce, taking a fresh summer favourite of ready-to-eat leafy salads for example, are thoroughly washed once again in water treated either with chlorine or fruit acids. This process cleans the leaves as thoroughly as possible, so they are truly ready to eat off-the-shelves with no need for further washing. Using chlorine is recognised as the most efficient and cost effective way to Progressing processing Progressing processing 16-21.qxp_Layout 1 22/07/2022 14:47 Page 1Food & Drink International 17 www.fdiforum.net PROCESSING SPOTLIGHT keep washing water clean, with chlorine levels always carefully monitored, and the water treated to remove any residual chemical from the product. However, more environmentally-friendly methods are being researched. These include the aforementioned fruit acid biocides, spring water washing and chlorine derivatives, which are all contenders in developing an equally effective alternative cleaning method. The effectiveness of the cleaning process is helped along by machines which remove stones, mud and other surface soiling during the first wash, while others can accomplish multiple cleaning tasks, some combining washing, flotation, destoning and sieving all in one. However, the job gets done, intensive cleaning is a must in order to avoid product recall, fines or even imprisonment, depending on the severity of the results of negligence in this process. Packaging Common packaging equipment used in food processing includes food vacuum packaging machines, cup or tray sealers, gas flush packaging machines, bagging machines, closing machines, vertical form fill machines, sealers, and shrink tanks. There’s also a dizzying array of filling machines so, suffice it to say, packaging is one of the most varied stages in food processing, requiring different materials and equipment based on the products being dealt with. Rigid packs like bottles, cans and jars, or flexible and © stock.adobe.com/ littlewolf1989 18 Á 16-21.qxp_Layout 1 22/07/2022 14:47 Page 218 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net PROCESSING SPOTLIGHT Tel: +44 (0)1707 331111 info@welwyntoolgroup.co.uk www.welwyntoolgroup.co.uk Hot Air delivered direct to the point of application HOTWINDMISTRALVULCAN semi-flexible solutions including shrink wrap, tubes, tetra packs and bags for our salad leaves, all serve to transport their appropriate contents safely while enhancing shelf life. This is often done by using multiple layers of packaging, with outer layers for the purpose of safe transportation, the sales packaging for display in stores serving to preserve the food inside, whether on a fresh or ambient basis. It’s here that it becomes clear that appropriate packaging is just as important for food hygiene as the washing process. After the careful cleaning of produce, it’s crucial not to waste these efforts with unsuitable packaging. At multiple points along the processing chain, produce can be contaminated by pesticides, cleaning chemicals, vehicle fumes and in some cases the harmful organic chemicals that can occur in raw foods themselves. Packaging needs to be suitable and of a high enough quality to withstand these contaminants, and raw foods, or those pungent enough to contaminate with smell, should be packaged in separate areas. In addition, packaging materials should be stored where there is no risk of contact with bacteria. Strict quality assurance rules are in place to assure that no harmful chemicals, bacteria, or even elements of the packaging itself can migrate to the food it contains. This is for quality reasons as well as health and safety, as proper packaging maintains the taste and appearance of food from factory, to point of sale and into the homes of consumers. Legal requirements for good practice surrounding documentation and labelling are key, especially for products of animal origin (POAO). Identification marking must state the POAO country of origin and its 16-21.qxp_Layout 1 22/07/2022 14:47 Page 3Food & Drink International 19 www.fdiforum.net PROCESSING SPOTLIGHT Our extensive product range includes: Innovative, system-compatible air heaters Powerful, robust blowers Compact, flexible hot-air blowers Comprehensive range of accessories 3 Heat output & air volume steplessly adjustable with potentiometers 3 Integrated temperature controls 3 Integrated temperature probes 3 Protection against heating elements or devices overheating 3 Brushless power motors 3 Integrated power electronics processing establishment’s approval number and need to be reapplied if any packaging is removed during the supply process. Freezing The longevity of cold as food preservation, used by our ancestors as far back as prehistoric times, proves the simple effectiveness of freezing. Despite that, frozen foods have only been a commercial product since the 1930s, the missing element being the method of mechanical flash freezing which was discovered at this time. Since then, we have had the ability to effectively delay spoilage, preventing the microorganism and enzyme activity which causes the degradation of food to occur. On a commercial level, this is now accomplished either by blast freezing with cold air from fans or contact freezing by keeping food containers on refrigerated surfaces. As for how this works, the water in produce freezing into ice crystals makes it uninhabitable for growing microorganisms. Nonetheless, excepting parasites, microorganisms do remain alive after freezing, which means extra attention must be made to safety when handling foods before freezing and once defrosted. While freezing isn’t without its risks, there are very few reasons for concern about the quality of the end product, as this process has minimal impact on the nutrient content or flavour of foods. The blanching of some frozen fruits and vegetables — inactivating spoilage- causing enzymes and yeasts — causes 15-20% of vitamin C to be lost, but all are frozen as soon as possible after harvesting. This attention to capturing produce at its freshest means that 20 Á © stock.adobe.com/industrieblick 16-21.qxp_Layout 1 22/07/2022 14:47 Page 4Next >