This week in industry news, Azelis and Novozymes boosted their joint agricultural and environmental reach in Malaysia. Also, Britvic eyed energy savings with an £8 million (US$10 million) investment to improve efficiency at its London factory. Meanwhile, Ingredion was named on the Top Regional Companies List by DiversityInc and Kellogg’s rolled out its latest breakfast launches.

In brief: Business moves
Azelis expanded its partnership with Novozymes, allowing Azelis to distribute Novozymes’ bio-based agriculture (BioAg) solutions, including its portfolio of microbial inoculant, biostimulant and biocontrol solutions, in Malaysia. This mandate builds on Azelis’ partnership with Novozymes across Asia Pacific in other markets, from Home Care & Industrial Cleaning in the Philippines to Food & Nutrition in New Zealand. Novozymes’ dynamic biological solutions are derived from naturally occurring microbes and biomolecules. Their portfolio of solutions drives crop performance, improves nutrient use efficiency and helps crops manage abiotic stresses through natural processes. 

Fruit, starch and sugar group Agrana revealed it is constructing an additional drum drying plant at the site of the potato starch factory in Gmünd in the Waldviertel, Austria. With an investment volume of €23 million (US$25 million), the company intends to increase the production of special technical starches for the construction and adhesives industries. The completion of the new facility, which will increase the production capacity of technical strengths by one-third, is scheduled for July 2025.

In brief: Sustainability efforts
Soft drinks business Britvic redoubled its efforts to cut carbon emissions and save energy with an £8 million (US$10 million) investment to improve efficiency. The project at its Beckton site in London, UK, will see the installation of a new heat recovery system – cutting factory emissions by an estimated 1,200 metric tons annually – equivalent to the annual energy usage of around 500 UK homes. Partly funded by a £4.4 million (US$5.5 million) government grant from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the new heat recovery system will see the soft drink manufacturer switching its heating from natural gas boilers to carbon-free heat extractors.

GEA received an order from Arla Foods AKAFA to install the GEA AddCool sustainable heat pump solution at its facility in Svenstrup, Denmark. The dairy manufacturer plans to produce milk powder at this site using a more sustainable process. GEA’s AddCool technology halves a plant’s consumption of fossil fuels and its associated carbon footprint. The new GEA AddCool system not only reduces the carbon footprint of Arla’s spray drying plant (GEA MSD 315 spray dryer) by 50% but also reduces the plant’s fossil fuel consumption by more than 50%. In addition, the GEA AddCool system delivers ice water to the existing system, reducing the need for cooling capacity. This will increase the total efficiency of different approaches on the site, making it more sustainable overall.

GEA also unveiled its New Generation Pre-Dryer for the first stage of pasta drying, representing a “significant advance” on all previous designs. The machine helps reduce costs and improve efficiency in food production plants and overcomes many inherent limitations associated with previous models and other technology currently available on the market. In redesigning the new pre-dryer, GEA notes it is focusing on simplicity and practicality. This approach has improved accessibility to reduce cleaning time and maintenance costs. It has successfully improved the efficiency of the process using CFD simulation (Computational Fluid Dynamics) to ensure high productivity and excellent product quality.

In brief: Recognition & awards
Ingredion was recognized as one of the 2023 Top Regional Companies in the US by DiversityInc. This recognizes US employers that demonstrate an unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion by promoting workplace fairness through talent strategy, supplier diversity practices and philanthropic engagement.

GoodWheat, a high-fiber wheat pasta, was selected as the “Best New Product” by the Retail Dietitians Business Alliance (RDBA) at its “New Product Showcase” during the 2023 RDBA Virtual Experience. The RDBA chose heart-healthy GoodWheat pasta based on its better-for-you attributes, including delivering four times the fiber of regular pasta – with 8 g per serving versus 2 g in regular wheat pasta and 9 g of protein – with zero compromises on taste or texture.

In brief: Product launches
Carlsberg Denmark launched Somersby Apple Lite with 52% fewer calories than the original Somersby Apple Cider. Danish consumers’ thirst for sugar-free and lower-calorie soft drinks and beer has increased significantly recently, the company highlighted. More diet and sugar-free products have entered shopping baskets, the brewer maintains. While the range of soft drinks and beer has grown, there has not been a reduced-calorie cider until now, it notes. 

Redefine Meat unveiled its New-Meat in Italy, now available to restaurants nationwide via its European distribution partner, Giraudi Meats, with a selec group of launch restaurants serving New-Meat on their menus for the public. Redefine Meat’s diverse range of plant-based premium cuts, pulled meats and minced-based products achieve a taste, texture and mouthfeel comparable to high-quality animal meat – endorsed by Michelin-starred chefs across Europe, including Joe Bastianich, former Italian Masterchef judge and Michelin-star chef of several restaurants across Italy.

Kellogg’s Raisin Bran launched Kellogg’s Raisin Bran Maple Flavor. The new concept is touted as a combination of sweet maple flavor and the benefits of essential vitamins and minerals, delicious whole grains and hearty fiber to kickstart the day. According to Kellogg’s, every Raisin Bran Maple Flavor bowl contains 100% daily value of 10 essential vitamins and minerals, 5 g of fiber and 16 g of whole grains per serving.

Meanwhile, Kellogg’s brand RXBAR expanded its A.M. bars lineup with an all-new Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate flavor, which the company says adds “wholesome decadence to your morning routine.” This new flavor boasts a soft and crispy texture, balanced with rich dark chocolate and salty-sweet peanut butter for maximum enjoyment – all packed with 10 g of protein.