Industry news
Mars acquires snacking bar manufacturer KIND North America
18 november | DEALS
Confectionery company Mars has finalised an agreement to purchase KIND North America, the manufacturer of Kind snacking bars. Financial details of the deal have not been disclosed.
In 2017, Mars acquired a minority stake in Kind and the latest deal builds on this relationship.
According to the agreement, KIND North America will join KIND International and operate as individual business entities under the Mars Family of Companies.
KIND founder and executive chairman Daniel Lubetzky will continue to be associated with the company, as well as focus on the development and expansion of KIND into new categories and geographies.
Lubetzky will also retain an ongoing financial stake in the company.
24 november | investment
Feast & Fettle secures funding to expand meal delivery services in US
US-based prepared meal delivery service Feast & Fettle has secured fresh investments in the seed funding round to support its expansion plans across the country.
The funding round was led by Salem Capital Management, an investment company based in Providence, Rhode Island.
Established in 2016 by personal chef Maggie Mulvena Pearson, Feast & Fettle offers gourmet meals to its customers in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
The new investment of $1.2m will be used by the company to build a new production facility, which will be used to serve the Boston metropolitan area after the official launch early next year.
23 november | poultry
Netherlands culls 190,000 chickens after bird flu outbreak
Nearly 190,000 chickens are reported to have been culled in the Netherlands after an outbreak of bird flu at two poultry farms in the country.
According to the statement released by the Dutch agriculture ministry, a highly contagious strain was suspected at two poultry farms.
Nearly 100,000 hens were slaughtered by health workers at a poultry farm at Hekendorp outside Gouda, and approximately 90,000 chicks were culled at a poultry farm in Witmarsum, northern Friesland.
The ministry said that there are no other poultry farms located within the 1km radius, and the affected sites have been cleared to restrict the spread of the disease.
20 november | deals
FreshEdge acquires McCartney in the US
Fresh food distributor McCartney Produce has been acquired by FreshEdge, a family of produce and speciality food companies.
Financial details of the deal have not been disclosed.
Established in 1947, McCartney distributes its products to the foodservice and retail customers from its facility in Paris, Tennessee.
According to the deal, Randolph will continue his association with McCartney as president and lead the company’s operations from its current facility.
McCartney will be joining FreshEdge portfolio, which includes Get Fresh, Indianapolis Fruit, Piazza Produce & Specialty Foods, Garden Cut, CIBUS Fresh, and Papania’s brands.
The deal is expected to further diversify FreshEdge's presence in Tennessee, as well as the South-East and Midwest regions.
20 november | confectionary
Ferrero to build chocolate manufacturing facility in Illinois
Italian confectionery group Ferrero has decided to build its first North American chocolate manufacturing plant in Bloomington, Illinois.
The new facility will be an expansion of Ferrero North America’s existing facility in Bloomington.
It will be engaged in the production of chocolate for Crunch, 100Grand, SnoCaps, Raisinets, Goobers, Ferrero Rocher, and other Ferrero products.
Ferrero’s new manufacturing plant will be built with an investment of $75m.
Construction works for the new facility will begin in early next year and add 70,000ft² to Ferrero’s existing plant in Beich Road.
The expansion is expected to create approximately 50 local jobs.
19 october | distribution
HKScan to distribute Apetit’s plant-based food products in Sweden
Finnish meat and food company HKScan has signed an agreement to distribute Apetit’s plant-based value-added products in the Swedish foodservice channel.
HKScan will start distributing Apetit products in the foodservice channel from next February.
Under the agreement with Apetit, HKScan will distribute Apetit brand’s frozen value-added products such as vegetable-based patties and balls.
Primarily targeted at the public sector, Apetit products are said to have been pre-tested with end customers in Sweden.
With a solid presence in the Swedish foodservice channel, HKScan said that the demand for plant-based products is increasing in the sector.
In brief
AAK plans to build plant-based foods centre in Netherlands
Swedish vegetable oils and fats producer AAK has unveiled plans to build a new Plant-based Foods Global Center of Excellence within the company’s premises in Zaandijk, the Netherlands.
Arla Foods Ingredients to invest in dry blend lactose production capacity
Arla Foods Ingredients has announced that it is investing in its dry blend lactose production capacity to help infant formula manufacturers reduce their emissions by nearly 25%.
Chr Hansen launches bioprotection solution for fermented plant-based products
Global bioscience company Chr Hansen has expanded its FreshQ line with the addition of FreshQ DA culture to strengthen the fermentation of plant-based products.
Mother Raw secures funding to accelerate growth across North America
Canadian plant-based condiments brand Mother Raw has closed its Series A financing round to accelerate growth across the North American market.
Danish Crown to invest $321m to automate pork production
Denmark-based meat processing company Danish Crown will invest nearly kr2bn ($321.5m) in automating operations and improving its production capabilities.
17 november | seafood
Western Australia launches seafood support plan
The Western Australian (WA) Government has launched the Aquaculture Development Plan to meet the increasing global demand for seafood.
The new plan is aimed at expanding WA’s blue economy and attract new investments in the seafood sector.
It is estimated that the plan will create 6,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities.
As part of this initiative, the government intends to build WA’s aquaculture industry and support local operators in accessing the global demand for quality seafood.
It anticipates that the aquaculture production for human consumption will increase by more than 30% in this decade.
16 november | poultry
Hong Kong suspends poultry imports
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department in Hong Kong has suspended the imports of poultry meat and products from certain areas in the UK, Russia, and the Netherlands.
The decision was announced after a notification was released by the World Organisation for Animal Health about the outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza.
CFS has instructed companies to immediately suspend poultry meat and egg imports from the aforementioned areas to protect public health in Hong Kong.
In brief
AAK plans to build plant-based foods centre in Netherlands
Swedish vegetable oils and fats producer AAK has unveiled plans to build a new Plant-based Foods Global Center of Excellence within the company’s premises in Zaandijk, the Netherlands.
Arla Foods Ingredients to invest in dry blend lactose production capacity
Arla Foods Ingredients has announced that it is investing in its dry blend lactose production capacity to help infant formula manufacturers reduce their emissions by nearly 25%.
Chr Hansen launches bioprotection solution for fermented plant-based products
Global bioscience company Chr Hansen has expanded its FreshQ line with the addition of FreshQ DA culture to strengthen the fermentation of plant-based products.
Mother Raw secures funding to accelerate growth across North America
Canadian plant-based condiments brand Mother Raw has closed its Series A financing round to accelerate growth across the North American market.
Danish Crown to invest $321m to automate pork production
Denmark-based meat processing company Danish Crown will invest nearly kr2bn ($321.5m) in automating operations and improving its production capabilities.
