This week in industry news, IFF’s new innovation center and Singapore Flexiblend plant are expected to accelerate innovation and broaden co-creation capabilities in Greater Asia. Meanwhile, the American Egg Board aims to deliver novel egg-based ideas and solutions while Olleco and Bunge’s latest joint venture will create a full life-cycle oil collection business in Europe.

In brief: Business moves
IFF opened its Singapore Innovation Center, the first in its global network of research, creative and application centers to integrate the technologies, capabilities and expertise of all four business divisions: Nourish, Health & Biosciences, Scent and Pharma Solutions. At nearly 11,000 square meters, it is IFF’s largest in the region. Following IFF’s newly operational Singapore Flexiblend plant in Tuas, its launch marks the latest in the company’s nearly US$30 million investment into Singapore. 

Danone has decided to initiate a process to transfer the effective control of its Essential Dairy and Plant-based (EDP) business in Russia. Danone considers that this is the best option to ensure long-term local business continuity, for its employees, consumers and partners. Over the first nine months of 2022, the EDP Russia business represented around 5% of Danone net sales and had a dilutive contribution to Danone’s like-for-like sales growth and recurring operating margin. The transaction could result in a write-off of up to €1 billion (US$976 million). once closed, the transaction, which will be subject to regulatory approvals, will result in the deconsolidation of Danone’s EDP Russia business.

Better Nutritionals, a manufacturer and player in nutritional supplements in the gummy category and DouxMatok, a food tech company, have announced a commercial partnership to offer Better

Nutritionals’ network of customers sugar-reduced gummies with the same taste as standard gummies. The companies have developed vegan nutraceutical products using Incredo Sugar with the ability to offer products free of artificial sweeteners, high-intensity sweeteners or sugar alcohols. All products will also be allergen-free, gluten-free, kosher and vegan.

The AEB unveiled the Eggcelerator Lab, a network of innovation and insights capabilities, resources and expertise designed to bring new egg-based ideas to market. The Eggcelerator Lab is developing market-ready products representing new uses for eggs and egg ingredients and new ways to consume eggs. Currently, the Eggcelerator Lab is engaging with dozens of clients and executing pilot projects across industries, including with CPG manufacturers, restaurant chains and others, to help bring new products to market.

In brief: Launches
Be Better My Friend plans to launch Be Better in the UK – the world’s first plant-based butter 100% dedicated to pastry and pastry professionals – used and endorsed by international pastry chefs. Be Better plant butter’s creators aim to halt pastry’s dependency on animal ingredients, provide choice and commercialize more products to the market. 

In brief: Acquisitions and joint ventures 
Primo Water Corporation, a provider of sustainable drinking water solutions in North America and Europe, has announced that Primo Water North America (PWNA), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Primo, has acquired substantially all the assets of Crystal Spring Water Company, a bottled water company based in Rhode Island. The acquisition will add approximately 2,500 customers to PWNA, strengthening its footprint in the Northeast region.

Bunge, a producer of plant-based oils, and Olleco, the renewables division for ABP Food Group, have formed a 50/50 joint venture (JV) to create a business that encompasses the entire life-cycle of edible oils. The JV is expected to work with foodservice and food manufacturing customers in Europe – excluding UK and Ireland – to supply oils and ensure the used cooking oil is efficiently collected and used as a feedstock in producing renewable fuels. 

In brief: Awards
Mane Kancor won the Innovation Product Award at FI India 2022  for  its Colouring Foods – Hibiscus extracts showcased at FI India 2022. Colouring Foods Hibiscus is an FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) approved coloring ingredient that does not carry an INS number; hence, is label-friendly. This water-soluble product is for dairy, sugar, ice cream, desserts, gum confectionery and beverages.

In brief: Appointments
Mondelēz International has appointed Hemant Rupani as president of its Southeast Asia (SEA) Business Unit. Previously the managing director of Mondelez Kinh Do Vietnam, Hemant replaces Caton, who has moved to another position in the company’s global operations. 

In brief: Miscellaneous
After announcing a halt on live broiler exports at the end of May, Malaysia has started to allow producers to sell their chickens abroad. The country is now experiencing an “oversupply“ of chickens, according to the nations ministry of agriculture. This will come as a relief for neighboring Singapore, which imports the practical totality of its live broilers from Malaysia, with authorities in the country suggesting, during the last months, for citizens opt for frozen alternatives. The ban on whole chickens and chicken parts exports has not been lifted as of yet.

The total per capita consumption of meat and meat products in the Netherlands in 2021 was 76.1 kg, almost the same as the 75.9 kg consumed per person in 2020. This is the conclusion of a study by Wageningen University & Research commissioned by Wakker Dier, an animal rights foundation. These figures mean that the downward trend of 2020 (compared to 2019) continued in 2021. The country’s meat consumption did not return to the level of the pre-coronavirus years (2019 and earlier) in 2021. The slight increase in 2021 compared to 2020 was caused by minor increases in consumption of red meat (pork and beef), while white meat (poultry) showed a slight decrease.