Glanbia, the global nutrition group, has agreed to acquire SlimFast and other brands for $350 million from the owners KSF Holdings LLP and HNS Intermediate Corporation. SlimFast is a leading weight management and health & wellness brand family distributed primarily in the food, drug, mass and club (FDMC) channel in the US and UK. It…

The Barry Callebaut Group, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, has agreed to acquire Inforum, a leading Russian B2B producer of chocolate, coatings and fillings, serving many of the well-known consumer chocolate brands in Russia. This strategic acquisition will strengthen Barry Callebaut’s presence and production capacity in the high-growth Russian market,…

Jacobs Douwe Egberts (JDE) is to acquire JOBmeal in Sweden and Finland from and Valedo Partners Fund II. Subject to a limited number of pre-closing conditions, the transaction is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2018.

JOBmeal is a dedicated out of home coffee business, head quartered in Stockholm, offering a range of office…

Calbee UK has acquired the Seabrook Crisps business for an undisclosed sum from mid-market private equity investor LDC. The purchase brings the Seabrook brand into the Calbee UK portfolio as well as its equally important bagged-snack private label business.

LDC backed the management buyout of the Seabrook Crisps business in July 2015 to support its growth.…

The Board of Unilever has decided to withdraw its proposal to simplify the global consumer products group’s dual-headed legal structure. Unilever had proposed to streamline its corporate structure by moving from two legal entities - Unilever NV and Unilever PLC, into a single legal entity incorporated in the Netherlands.

In developing the proposal, the Board was…

International Flavors & Fragrances has completed its $7.1 billion acquisition of Frutarom to become a global leader in taste, scent and nutrition. The acquisition creates a differentiated portfolio with an increased focus on naturals and health and wellness as well as more comprehensive solutions. It also provides opportunities to expand into attractive and fast-growing categories,…

McCormick & Company, a global leader in flavour, has opened its new global headquarters at Hunt Valley in the US. The state-of-the-art headquarters brings together 1,000 employees…

HKScan’s strategic target is to establish a strong global footprint in the rapidly growing meals segment. Demand for ready meals is growing at an annual rate of 10% across Europe. HKScan is currently expanding its production facility at Rakvere in Estonia. The investment is progressing on schedule as part of the Nordic food group’s drive…

The European Commission has launched a feedback mechanism to seek stakeholders' views on setting a maximum limit of trans fats of 2 grams per 100 grams of fat in the food intended for the final consumer. Commission's proposed Regulation comes as a follow-up of the Report adopted in 2015 and of discussions with stakeholders (notably NGOs, industry…) which…

Truly Grass Fed™ - a natural dairy ingredients range from Glanbia Ireland - has recently been Certified Animal Welfare Approved by A Greener World (AGW), the leading animal welfare label in North America (and now operating in Europe). Launched in 2016, TGF is a range of natural dairy ingredients from Glanbia Ireland made…

Over 200 experts from across the food contact industry will come together in Vienna, Austria from 3–6 December 2018 to attend Smithers Pira’s P&P (Plastics & Paper in Contact with Foodstuffs) - http://www.foodcontact.com/plastics-paper.

P&P will provide an in-depth and timely overview of the latest EU legislation as well as a small focus on global regulations. Described…

This year, taking place from 27–29 November in Frankfurt, Germany, Hi Europe & Ni will shine a spotlight on processing and packaging technology. Numerous exhibitors will demonstrate the industry’s innovative power in the new Expo FoodTec pavilion. Additionally, with food safety being a key topic, expert presentations will showcase innovations in processing technologies, hygiene, certification…

As part of Hi Europe & Ni 2018, trade show organizer UBM will showcase some of the most promising start-ups involved in the F&B industry. Applications for the Start-up Innovation Challenge are now being accepted and the most promising concepts will be presented live to a professional audience on the first day of the event.…

New research, commissioned by functional ingredients manufacturer BENEO, shows that consumers pay more attention to what is inside the products they are buying, than to either the product’s description, or the brand name itself. This highlights the drive by consumers to make healthier choices and shows the continued importance of manufacturers offering cleaner…

Celebrating its 21st year, The International Food & Drink Event (IFE) – the UK’s leading and largest food & drink event – is returning to ExCeL London 17–20 March 2019. A must-attend event, IFE 2019 will provide buyers with the chance to discover emerging trends; meet with thousands of international, future-focused producers and brands; and hear inspiring and…

With the increased customer focus on postable items such as confectionery, drinks and gifts, UK plastic bottle manufacturers Measom Freer have developed their very own Post Bottle (Ref 6143). With a flat rectangular shape, the bottle can easily be boxed and posted through standard letterboxes, fitting the UK large letter dimensions.

Made from clear PVC, which…

Harrogate Water, Britain’s largest independent producer of bottled water, has unveiled a ‘daring and disruptive’ shrink wrap design to give stand-out appeal to its retail multipacks. The new style borrows from the brand’s artistic roots to create something design-led and avant-garde with abstract bursts of colour.

Brand manager Nicky Cain says: “When contemplating…

Instinctif Partners is launching a service for the food industry designed to enhance food safety culture, which puts driving cultural and individual behavioural change in food manufacturing at its heart.

The service will help food manufacturers meet the food safety culture challenge set out in the newly-published BRC Global Food Safety Standard Issue 8 (BRC8). This…

Liquid filling, capping and labelling specialist Karmelle Ltd has launched a fully automatic ‘T’ cork capper. Developed as part of a turnkey project for a leading gin distillery, Karmelle’s ‘T’ cork capper sorts corks, before placing and pushing them into bottles.

The machine is housed in a stainless steel cabinet, and operated via an HMI touch-screen.…

Baxters Food Group is using an ABB variable speed drive (VSD) to help ensure consistent mixing of its range of sauces, dressing and marinades. The drive is used to adjust the mixer motor’s speed based on requirements for a particular product.

Installed on a 750 kg capacity holding vessel, the VSD is used to mix sauces…

One of the UK’s leading suppliers of branded soft drinks is enjoying substantial environmental savings, thanks to the use of CHEP’s pooled pallets within its supply chain. In early 2017, the owner of brands such as IRN-BRU, Rubicon and Strathmore, signed a three-year contract renewal with CHEP, the supply chain solutions company, and is now…