Among highlights this week, Mtn Dew partnered up with Dr Disrespect to bring its Championship Citrus Cherry to the gaming community and Royal Avebe developed a multifunctional texturizing potato solution for dairy products. Sainsbury’s became the first supermarket to have its Scottish salmon range independently certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC). Meanwhile, the Danish Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries invested DKK675 million (US$99 million) into a newly created Plantefonden (Plant Fund) to fund plant-based foods.

In brief: NPD highlights
Royal Avebe launched Etenia ES, a multifunctional texturizing potato solution for creamy dairy products. The challenge for dairy manufacturers lies in replacing milk protein, fat and label-unfriendly hydrocolloids while maintaining the same taste and texture. An alternative should be tolerant of high processing and easily adaptable into current dairy processes. Etenia ES offers dairy producers the solution.

Raps expanded its product range for the upcoming barbecue season with two new palm-free “Magic Marinades”. The pure oil marinades are easy to handle and provide versatile application options for meat, fish, vegetables and cheese. “Magic Meadow Herbs” is a fresh aromatic flavor that combines nettle, sage, mint and garden cress with lemon oil and butter notes. Hemp is the dominant flavor in the “Magic Honey-Hemp” range. 

Mtn Dew’s Game Fuel brand and Dr Disrespect partnered to release the limited edition Championship Citrus Cherry specially designed for gamers. As one of the most requested Game Fuel flavors, Citrus Cherry, is getting a championship-level twist. The can features design details of Dr Disrespect’s mustache and mullet.

The Kit Kat brand introduced a fresh take on one of its iconic baked goods, the Blueberry Muffin. The limited-edition bar captures notes of fresh, cooked blueberries, a cake batter-like muffin flavor and graham cookie pieces folded into the bar. It also features blueberry muffin-flavored creme between the crispy wafers.

San-Francisco-based Hooray Foods expanded the distribution of its plant-based bacon to Wegmans Food Markets in the US. The bacon was rolled out at 76 stores located in North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Wegmans Food Markets will offer a retail pack of Hooray Foods bacon in its plant-based refrigerated section. The plant-based bacon mimics the taste and texture of bacon and sizzles in the pan. Since its launch more than a year ago, Hooray Foods has expanded distribution to more than 1,000 stores. 

GoodPops stickless frozen bar (Credit: GoodPops). Klimon launched five flavors of its plant-based, almond-based and dairy-free frozen desserts at selec Walmart locations in the US. The featured flavors are Morning Brew, a coffee flavored frozen dessert with almonds and fudge swirl; Caramel Brûlée, salted caramel flavored frozen dessert with chocolate cookie crumbs and caramelized sugar swirl; Cherry Bomb, cherry flavored frozen dessert with bordeaux cherry chunks and cherry swirl; Mint Condition, mint flavored frozen dessert with mini chocolate chips and fudge swirl and Sunrise Bang, a creamy orange flavored frozen dessert with cream flavored swirl.

GoodPop frozen pops launched its cleaned up classic, Chocolate Vanilla Sandwiches, a gluten-free oat milk frozen dessert. The new stickless plant-based dessert sandwiches are available at Whole Foods Market, Sprouts, HEB, Gelson’s, Raley’s and online at the GoodPop shop. 

In brief: Sustainability moves
Sainsbury’s became the first UK supermarket to have its fresh Scottish salmon range independently certified by the ASC. Seafood that carries the ASC logo has been sourced from farms that have been independently certified as both environmentally and socially responsible. To meet the ASC standard, farms must undertake an independent audit in which they are assessed against a host of strict, science-based requirements. These conditions include the quality of the water, impact on the seabed and fish health, through to the fair treatment and pay of workers on the farm. Certified farms are re-audited every year and must regularly publish key performance metrics to ensure ongoing compliance.

The Danish Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries invested DKK675 million (US$99 million) into a newly created Plantefonden, or Plant Fund. The fund will be active until 2030 with money going exclusively to plant-based foods. The news comes less than six months after the government announced it was investing in plant-based research and production. The Danish Plant-based Business Association will hold a space on the board of the Plant Fund. The organization currently has 68 member companies, including well-known brands like Naturli, Nestlé and Oatly.

Raps expanded its product range for the upcoming barbecue season (Credit: Raps).CARE, in collaboration with the Starbucks Foundation and Cargill launched an initiative to transform cocoa growing communities in Côte d’Ivoire building on decades of experience in developing Village Saving and Loans Associations (VSLAs). VSLAs increase the impact and sustainability of project activities as members become self-reliant and help establish other VSLAs in their communities. The partnership aims to establish 120 VSLAs linked to ten farmer organizations in Cargill’s supply chain, using the platform for integration of broader gender, nutrition, and water sanitation and hygiene interventions. Cargill will help establish and support 100 VSLAs and The Starbucks Foundation will support the creation of an additional 20 VSLAs, enabling women to advance, diversify, and expand their income generating activities.

Ashland initiated the first of a series of sustainable business initiatives resulting in positive economic, environment and social impacts from its Responsible Solvers program to help farmers in India. Fueled by the company’s commitment to social programs focused on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Ashland teamed up with the SM Sehgal Foundation in 2021 to brainstorm better supplier relationships in India. The goal was to increase the volume of guar harvested annually through educational programs for sustainable farming, while respecting the sourcing relationships and local cultures of small village farmers in the Sriganganagar district of Rajasthan, India. The relationships are critical to the company which uses guar to formulate specialty ingredients for personal care, life sciences and coatings applications.

Informbio funded through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Competitive Research Call, will develop a first Foresight Analysis for Ireland’s bioeconomy to understand the available bioresources and value chains which can best contribute to the region’s 2050 climate neutrality target. It is one of 24 successful projects from 131 applications funded to a total of €20.1 million (US$22 million) by the department. The project has a budget of €996,429.91 (US$1.1 million) and will run for four years.

StarKist officially joined the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce. In addition, the company will conduct a community distribution event with Feed the Children, a nonprofit focused on alleviating childhood hunger and Cornerstones to provide food and hygiene items to 400 families at risk of being food insecure this summer.

As a part of the EU’s Circular Economy package, two proposals from the European Commission will give new rights to consumers and provide them with easier access to more sustainable and durable products. Manufacturers will have to abide by sustainability criteria such as durability, repairability, upgradeability and chemicals in their products’ design. Both proposals introduce new obligations for companies to present key information about the durability and repairability of their products, making it easier for consumers to find and choose the more sustainable option. In addition, concrete rules will be introduced to protect consumers from unfair commercial practices such as premature obsolescence and greenwashing.

Sainsbury’s ASC certified Scottish salmon (Credit Sainsbury’s).In brief: Business developments
Eat Well’s portfolio company Belle Pulses planned to upgrade and expand its production facilities to meet recent demand increases caused by the global food supply chain crisis. International markets for pulses entered a period of unprecedented uncertainty following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the resulting wave of sanctions from North America, EU member states, and most of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization member countries. Belle is increasing its production capacity up to 115,000 metric tons of fully traceable product, yielding over 20,000 metric tons of pure plant protein. On average, Russia produces 3.8 million metric tons and exports around 1 million tons of peas annually and Ukraine’s pea exports can reach up to 500,000 metric tons a year. 

Six new Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board Cereals and Oilseeds Monitor Farms have been appointed to help farmers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland prepare for industry changes ahead. The new hosts identified collaboration, productivity and business resilience as key aspects to feature during the three-year program. The six new farms bring the total number of Monitor Farms to 20. The new hosts were selected by AHDB staff and board members and will be supported by a steering group of other local farmers and agronomists.

Following extensive ongoing consultation with stakeholders, Kerry Group suspended operations in Russia and Belarus. The suspension will be managed in an orderly manner, during which the company will continue to pay employees and fulfill its legal obligations.

In brief: Other highlights
The annual event of the Institute of Food Technologists will return in-person and online with an improved lineup of programming. IFT FIRST: Annual Event & Expo, whose updated brand is an acronym for Food Improved by Research, Science and Technology will take place 10 July to 13 at McCormick Place in Chicago featuring at least 2,000 booths. More than 18,000 people are expected to attend. The theme this year is Hacking the Food Supply: Can We Synthesize a More Sustainable Future?. IFT FIRST’s programming will center around how the following areas of the global food system contribute to a more sustainable future: novel technology & innovation, sustainability, health & nutrition, food safety and consumer insights and education.

The Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland advised consumers to avoid certain Ferrero Kinder products with best before dates July 11 and October 7, based on a connection to a potential Salmonella outbreak. Following a precautionary product recall, consumers have been advised to take action if they have purchased a Kinder product linked to the timeframe and outbreak. The majority of cases have been detected in young children.

Starbucks Corporation marked the return of founder Howard Schultz as CEO and director on the company’s board. Schultz is known for his transparent leadership. In one of his first moves back at the company Schultz suspended Starbucks stock repurchasing program to invest in employees and long-term growth of stores.