This week in industry news, Chr. Hansen Natural Colors seleced Barentz as a strategic partner for UK and Ireland distribution. Meanwhile, Heineken, The Coca-Cola Company and The Coca-Cola System in Brazil announced a new distribution partnership that will become effective mid-2021. Tyson Foods is making changes to deliver a more empowered, agile and accountable organization focusing on its customers and consumers.

In brief: Business moves
The appointment of Barentz by Chr. Hansen is an extension of a partnership between the two companies. It gives Barentz’s customers in the UK and Ireland access to its extensive and vibrant color portfolio in human nutrition, with applications for beverages, confectionery, dairy-based or other prepared foods. 

Heineken, The Coca-Cola Company and The Coca-Cola System in Brazil are redesigning their longstanding distribution partnership in the South American country. The agreement re-aligns all parties’ interests for the future. The parties will begin a smooth transition of the Heineken and Amstel brands to Heineken Brazil’s distribution network. The Coca-Cola System in Brazil will continue to offer Kaiser, Bavaria and Sol, and will complement this portfolio with premium brand Eisenbahn and other international brands. 

Tyson Foods is making organizational changes designed to improve operational agility, customer experience and innovation speed to market, ensuring that all businesses are well-positioned to adapt to a dynamic environment. Each of Tyson Foods’ four business segments will be equipped with the resources and structure needed to enable quicker responses. 

In brief: Sustainability
ADM has been recognized by Ethisphere, a company specializing in advancing ethical business practices standards, as one of the 2021 World’s Most Ethical Companies. This marks the second consecutive year ADM has received this recognition, which honors companies who understand the importance of leading, prioritize ethical business performance and have demonstrated an overall commitment to integrity.

In brief: Appointments
Brian Sikes has been named chief operating officer of Cargill. In this role, he will also serve as a managing director on the Cargill Board of Directors. Sikes joined Cargill’s executive team in 2019, leading the company’s global protein and salt enterprise. Sikes joined Cargill in 1991 and has held leadership positions in the protein business in the US, Canada and Europe. He also led the company’s Talent Center of Expertise and was responsible for advancing the company’s commitment to inclusion and diversity.

In brief: Other highlights
The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has launched a campaign advising young adults to speak up about their food allergies every time they order a takeaway. Research shows that children and young people are at a higher risk of experiencing food allergy reactions. The FSA is also advising young people to rely on allergen information provided online or through in-app messaging services. Instead, they should call the food business directly to make sure their food allergy is fully understood by the person taking the order. The FSA is working with influencers across Instagram and TikTok who will promote #SpeakUpForAllergies to their followers. 

The second phase of Tesco’s Community Cookery School, in partnership with Jamie Oliver and FareShare, launches this month to help train community cooks in delivering helpful and practical food education to families in their communities. The program aims to train 300 community cooks, such as those who operate food banks or charity kitchens, to teach families how to cook simple, balanced and delicious recipes. Following the training, the community cooks will teach at least 15 people in their local community how to cook balanced meals, ultimately reaching 4,500 people between February and May 2021.

Good Moo’d unveiled a line of lactose-free milk to bring real dairy taste back to consumers without digestion consequences. Made with patented ultra-filtration, the new brand brings forward the smooth, creamy, rich taste milk, and contains 25 percent less sugar than the leading lactose-free milk.  

The cost of pig meat production in 17 countries has, once again, been examined in a report published by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB). The annual publication – The Pig Cost of Production in Selected Countries – has been updated with full-year data from 2019. It shows the cost of pig meat production in the UK decreased by 3 percent in 2019. The report also shows the average number of pigs weaned per sow per year in the EU increased by 1 percent in 2019. Pigs weaned per sow per year in Great Britain’s indoor herds remained the same in 2019 at 27.4. Great Britain’s outdoor herds bounced back from the weather effect of 2018, achieving 24.1 in 2019 – an increase of 4 percent.