This week, Nestlé-owned Sweet Earth Foods launched a selecion of plant-based foods and US-based Edlong expanded its line of natural dairy-based flavors. In business news, Freshfel Europe urged EU and UK negotiators to provide businesses with “no deal” trading facilitations before the end of summer in a bid to tackle any repercussions in the sector following COVID-19. Also this week, SVZ achieved the EcoVadis gold sustainability certificate, while Raisio made further strides towards sustainability.

In brief: NPD and ingredient launches 
Nestlé-owned Sweet Earth Foods has launched a selection plant-based meals. These two new burritos and six new entrée bowls are available in the frozen aisle of grocery stores, with distribution increasing in the weeks ahead. The new burritos and bowls all incorporate plant-based Awesome Grounds or Mindful Chik’n, making them a good source of protein and fiber. The new products offer consumers quick and flavorful plant-based protein options to fuel on-the-go lifestyles.

Mayorga Organics has released the first-ever organic specialty coffee “brick pack” into the market – containing 10-oz of fresh-roasted and ground organic Café Cubano. Mayorga is importing, roasting, grinding, and packaging this item at its new Miami, Florida, US, facility. The company is currently offering 10 oz. brick packs of espresso ground organic Café Cubano through its website as it prepares to launch distribution through its current grocery and retail clients in Florida, while strategically aligning with other Miami retailers and grocers. 

CropSwap, the farm-to-phone app connecting consumers with local farmers and growers, has announced a new subscription service: CropBox. With the user-friendly CropSwap app, consumers can now subscribe to an assortment of CropBoxes filled with fresh local produce, honey, plants, seeds and more. Each available CropBox on the CropSwap app is curated by local farmers, growers, and creators, ranging from city vertical farm operations to homeowners with prolific fruit trees. In the US, subscribers are available to pick up their CropBox locally or have it delivered directly from a nearby grower. 

UK company THIS has launched its product range into 744 Tesco stores. Aiming to make plant-based food mainstream, THIS will continue to break down borders between real and plant-based meat, launching into Tesco’s meat aisle. In its first year, the London-based business experienced considerable growth in retail, for example in Waitrose, Ocado and Co-op, launching with wholesaler behemoth Brakes, as well as major chains including Honest Burger, Pho and Coco di Mama. 

In the same week, THIS launched product range into Milk & More – one of the UK’s largest online supermarkets. Milk & More began as a dairy distribution service and is now owned by Müller and is globally recognized for its yogurts. The pivot in direction and expansion into plant-based products signifies the rapidly rising demand for alternatives and sustainably produced food and beverages. 

Edlong has expanded its line of dairy-based natural flavors to include a range of high-intensity cheese and cultured profiles for use in sauces, dressings and dips. Sourced from real dairy, the line comprises authentic cheese, sour cream, and buttermilk flavor profiles with multiple benefits: low usage levels and heat-stable functionality, the option to reduce or replac dairy commodities for cost savings while increasing overall flavor impact, as well as potential natural labeling advantages.  

In brief: Recognition & awards
SVZ has achieved the EcoVadis gold sustainability certificate once again, meaning that it belongs to the top 3 percent of sustainable businesses within the international F&B industry. The EcoVadis sustainability rating is a process it has committed to since 2014, and six years on, it is continuing to spearhead sustainability. SVZ’s ongoing commitment to sustainable business practices ensures that environmentally and socially responsible processes are implemented throughout its business. SVZ aims to reduce its environmental impact and deliver high-quality, ethical ingredients to customers from sourcing and traceability to biodiversity and agricultural practices.

General Mills has been recognized as one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by 3BL Media for its outstanding environmental, social and governance (ESG) transparency and performance among the 1,000 largest US public companies. For the third consecutive year, General Mills received the top ranking among its food and beverage peers for its actions and third in the overall rankings. General Mills’ sustainability mission centers on promoting environmentally and socially responsible practices across its value chain to protect the resources and people upon which the company depends. General Mills is focused on initiatives to support climate resilience, regenerative agriculture, healthy watersheds, thriving ecosystems, and protecting human rights and animal welfare.