Refresco has acquired Cott Corporation’s concentrate manufacturing business in Columbus, Georgia - Cott Beverages LLC for US$50 billion. Cott Beverages LLC is a leading developer and manufacturer of soft drink concentrates for bottlers in more than 70 countries. The business generated approximately $80 million in sales during 2018 including concentrate production directly supporting Refresco’s beverage…

Arla Foods, the farmer-owned cooperative, has won the Award for Innovation at the 2019 Cream Awards, for its innovative new Arla UK 360 programme to ensure sustainable production of dairy. Launched in October last year, Arla UK 360 seeks to create a supply chain that works for everyone in today’s changing world. Developed and trialled by Arla’s…

Carlsberg Group has reported a 3% rise in net revenue to DKr62.50 billion (€8.37 billion) for 2018 with organic growth of 6.5%. Operating profit grew 5.1% to DKr9.329 billion – up 11% organically. Adjusted net profit was 9% higher at DKr5.359 billion.

During the year, Carlsberg successfully completed its Funding the Journey cost saving and profit…

The Irish grocery market followed up a record-breaking festive period by posting year-on-year sales growth of 3.4% during the 12 weeks to 27 January. Despite shoppers tightening the purse strings, the latest figures from Kantar Worldpanel show a strong start to 2019 as New Year’s resolutions shaped shopping baskets.

Sales of beer in 2018 were up 2.6% on 2017, according to the latest Beer Barometer sales data from the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA). The increase marks the biggest year-on-year sales growth of beer in 45 years.

In the off trade, full year 2018 sales of beer increased by 4.7% on full year 2017…

US-based Tyson Foods, which is one of the world’s largest food companies and a global leader in protein, has agreed to acquire the Thai and European operations of BRF, the Brazilian meat group, for US$340 million. The purchase includes four processing facilities in Thailand, one processing facility in the Netherlands and one processing facility in…

The Irish Whiskey Association (IWA) has successfully registered ‘Irish whiskey’ as a certification mark in Australia. This registration provides legal protection for Irish whiskey in Australia for the first time. This will mean that decisive action can be taken against fake Irish whiskey products and will ensure consumer confidence in the quality and authenticity of…

Unilever has acquired graze, the UK’s leading healthy snacking brand, for an undisclosed sum. Founded in 2008, graze produces a range of snacking nuts, seeds, trail mixes and snack bars, with no artificial ingredients. Having started with a snack box delivery service, graze is now a multichannel brand, with products available via retail stores, e-commerce…

Investors and consultants alike are full of excitement about the success potential of start-ups. Phrases like “there’s never been a better time to launch a start-up” pop up frequently.

“But the reality is that although start-ups are doing better than established companies, they are only doing a little bit better,” says food industry analyst Julian Mellentin,…

Stock Spirits Group is acquiring Distillerie Franciacorta, one of the leading Italian producers of grappa, liqueurs and Franciacorta – a premium Italian sparkling wine that is produced solely in the Franciacorta region. Founded in 1901, Distillerie Franciacorta is owned by the Gozio family and is located in Franciacorta, in the Lombardy region of Italy.

Vitafoods Europe 2019 (7-9 May, Palexpo, Geneva) will this year explore the collaboration required to shape a more sustainable future for the nutraceutical industry. This follows the growing popularity of plant-based ingredients, as well as the demand for more responsible farming methods, and the unprecedented backlash against packaging over recent years.

Burton’s Biscuit Company, which bakes some of the UK’s best loved biscuits brands including Jammie Dodger, Maryland Cookie and Wagon Wheel, has completed the acquisition of premium sweet and savoury biscuit manufacturer, Dorset-based Thomas Fudge’s from Livingbridge, one of the UK’s leading mid-market private equity investors.

Experts from some of the world’s biggest brands, including Marks & Spencer, Pepsi Lipton and Church & Dwight Co, together with British Plastics Federation, A Plastic Planet and WRAP, will come together under one roof at Packaging Innovations 2019 to tackle the industry’s most contentious issue – plastics in packaging. The Big Plastics…

McCormick & Company, the US-based ingredients specialist, and IT giant IBM have announced their ongoing research collaboration to pioneer the application of artificial intelligence (AI) for flavour and food product development.

Using IBM Research AI for Product Composition, McCormick is ushering in a new era of flavour innovation and changing the course of the industry. Product…

In September 2018, GEA secured an order from the Shijiazhuang Junlebao Dairy Co in China to supply the country’s largest spray dryer for the manufacture of infant milk formula (IMF), with a planned production capacity of six tons per hour. The project has already kicked-off, with commercial production scheduled in the second quarter…

Growing demand for functional packaging of fresh produce that is suited for automation has prompted StePac to tailor its branded range of Xtend® Modified Atmosphere/Modified Humidity (MA/MH) packaging solutions to be compatible with both automated bulk and retail packing lines.

Label&Print, which returns to Birmingham’s NEC on 27 & 28 February 2019, will offer visitors an exclusive look at the future of the industry, showcasing the very latest products, services and technologies available to the packaging community. From leading sellers and manufacturers of print and labelling equipment, through to designing, branding and finishing…