This week, Givaudan inaugurated a new flavors center in Casablanca, Morocco and French flavor and fragrance house Mane announced a strategic partnership with Sri Lankan tea trader Akbar Brothers. Emmi acquired a blue cheese plant from Great Lakes Cheese Company, in Seymour, Wisconsin, US. Elsewher, six pectin products from the TIC Gums portfolio received Non-GMO Project Verified status and Baileys, the Irish Cream and premium coffee creamer brand partnered on a new line of coffee creamers with a “reinvented recipe.”

In brief: Investment
Givaudan has inaugurated a new flavors technical and commercial center in Casablanca, Morocco. The CHF 1.2 million (US$1.22 million) investment is part of the company’s 2020 high-growth markets strategy and demonstrates its ongoing commitment to the Maghreb and West Africa regions. Louie D’Amico, President of Givaudan’s Flavour Division, comments: “Our new center in Casablanca will enable Givaudan to meet the evolving needs of our food and beverage customers for Givaudan has inaugurated a new flavors technical and commercial center in Casablanca, Morocco.innovative taste and flavor solutions. Through our local presence, customers will benefit from a faster response as well as access to a wider range of Givaudan’s global capabilities in flavors and extracts.”

As part of its joint venture with Kaneka Corporation, PT. Kaneka Foods Indonesia (KFI), Mitsubishi Corporation is on track to open a new processed oil products factory in the city of Bekasi, Indonesia. According to the announcement, the move seeks to enhance KFI’s presence in confectionery and bakery ingredients markets in south-east Asia. The new factory will install equipment for the manufacture of filling and other processed oil products such as margarine and will have a production capacity of 15,000 metric tons per year. This project will see a total of 5 billion yen (US$45.9 million) invested and the start of commercial production is planned for the first quarter of 2020.

In brief: Acquisitions and partnerships
French flavor and flavor house Mane has announced a strategic alliance with Akbar Brothers to provide high-end Ceylon tea and coffee extracts. The joint entity called “Ethical Extracts” will be among the world’s first producers of all natural premium Ceylon tea extracts, while also focusing on specialty coffee. The dedicated Mane Strategic Development Centre in Singapore, in coordination with the other Group Strategic Development Centres, shall work in partnership with customers globally to create new products for beverages. Jean M. Mane, President and CEO of Mane comments: “This partnership creates a unique positioning in the beverage segment with an ability to create even single origin/single estate portfolio of tastes and aromas with 100 percent traceability and sustainability.”

Swiss-based dairy company Emmi has acquired the blue cheese plant from Great Lakes Cheese Company, in Seymour, Wisconsin, US. Operating under the name Emmi Roth, the company is also gaining additional capacity for the production of blue cheese in the US. America is Emmi’s biggest foreign market, wher the company primarily produces and sells cheese. The business involves both exported cheeses from Switzerland and locally produced cheeses. Emmi has strengthened its specialty cheese segment in recent years and the acquisition of this new blue cheese plant will continue to grow these efforts, says the company. 

The Coca-Cola Company has completed the acquisition of Costa Limited from Whitbread PLC. The US$4.9 billion transaction follows approval from regulatory authorities in the European unio and China. The acquisition was first announced in August 2018. 

Kraft Heinz has completed the acquisition of Primal Nutrition, LLC, makers of Primal Kitchen branded products. Primal Kitchen is a better-for-you brand which primarily focuses on condiments, sauces and dressings such as mayonnaise, salad dressings and avocado oil, with growing product lines in healthy snacking and other categories.

Nestlé Waters North America (NWNA) has acquired a bottling facility in High Springs, Florida from Ice River Springs Marianna LLC. The 300,000 square foot facility will be NWNA’s third manufacturing location in Florida, including its operations in Madison and Pasco counties. The transaction closed on December 28, 2018 and there will be a brief mutually agreed upon post-close transition. Financial details have not been disclosed.

In brief: Recognition Six pretested apple pectin products from TIC Gums now carry the Non-GMO Project Verified seal.
Six pretested apple pectin products from TIC Gums (part of Ingredion) now carry the Non-GMO Project Verified seal. According to the Non-GMO Project website, “the Non-GMO Project Verified seal gives shoppers the assurance that a product has completed a comprehensive third-party verification for compliance with the Non-GMO Project Standard.” With the addition of these new pectin products, TIC Gums now offers 30 products that carry the status. Courtney Pineau, Associate Director at the Non-GMO Project, says: “The Non-GMO Project applauds the achievements of TIC Gums in verifying a variety of its products and their commitment to providing consumers a transparent choice in the marketplace.”

In brief: Other highlights
Audrey St. onge has been named President & Chief Executive Officer of Lallemand’s North American Bakers Yeast Business. She succeeds Gary Edwards, appointed Senior VP and Special Advisor in 2018. “I am thrilled to join Lallemand with its storied history and to be back involved in the baking industry,” Ms. onge comments. “I am committed to delivering on the business’ strategic objectives and looking forward to working with our employees to serve our customers in the baking industry.”

Baileys, the Irish Cream and premium coffee creamer brand, has launched a new line of rich and creamy coffee creamers with a “reinvented recipe,” for the new year. Available in three flavors – The Original Irish Cream, Vanilla Cream and Mocha Baileys has launched a new line of rich and creamy coffee creamers with a “reinvented recipe,” for the new year.Mudslide – the new, non-alcoholic creamers offer “an indulgent, premium taste that coffee enthusiasts deserve,” says the company. The Baileys line of coffee creamers is being reintroduced as part of the Baileys licensing agreement with Danone North America and Diageo. Known for its expertise in the dairy and coffee creamer categories, Danone North America has streamlined the Baileys product line, refreshed the packaging and expanded distribution to offer consumers a new indulgent experience.

CHS Inc. a farmer-owned cooperative and a global energy, grains and foods company, has reported a net income of US$347.1 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2019. “Our strong first quarter results position us well as we start our 2019 fiscal year,” says Jay Debertin, CHS President and CEO. “We are focused on making CHS our customers first choice by advancing our technology solutions and equipping employees to meet the changing needs of our customers around the world. We will do this while maintaining financial discipline and rigor.”

Finally, Fonterra is set to sell the Farm Source livestock division to Carrfields Livestock – an established livestock agency provider. Richard Allen, Farm Source Stores Director, says the decision to sell was made in the context of a more extensive review underway within the Co-op. “This move will better serve the livestock team and the farms they service. While Farm Source’s livestock division has contributed positive returns since inception, we believe the investment required to maintain and grow this division can be more effectively targeted towards improving core areas of the Farm Source business,” he notes. Farm Source is working with Carrfields to develop a range of partnership offerings to ensure a positive connection and competitive offer remains for Fonterra farmers.

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