April’s top news stories

Nestlé to launch plant-based burgers in Europe and US

Swiss food and drink company Nestlé is all set to launch its 100% plant-based burgers in Europe and the US.

Nestlé’s food business head Wayne England said: “These new burgers don’t compromise on flavour, texture and cooking experience.

“They underline Nestlé’s increased focus on tasty, authentic plant-based food. We believe this trend is here to stay, as consumers look at different ways to enjoy and balance their protein intake and lower the environmental footprint of their diets.”

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Bubs signs agreement to acquire infant formula producer Deloraine

Bubs Australia entered into a conditional sales and purchase agreement to acquire Melbourne-based infant formula producer Australia Deloraine Dairy (Deloraine).

The company agreed to pay a cash consideration of A$25m ($17.7m) and 15,384,615 Bubs shares, amounting to the value of A$10m ($7.1m).

Upon meeting certain performance targets, Bubs Australia agreed to pay up to A$15m ($10.6m) to Deloraine vendors over three years in equal annual instalments.

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C.H. Guenther & Son acquires English muffins maker Mid South

US-based food manufacturer C.H. Guenther & Son (CHG) acquired Mid South Baking Company (Mid South) for an undisclosed amount.

Established in 1978, Mid South supplies buns and English muffins to quick-serve restaurants (QSRs) in the southern US region.

Mid South president Steve Warden said: “CHG’s culture, scale, product set and manufacturing expertise will allow Mid South to grow our reach and better serve our customers. They are well-aligned with our emphasis on customer service and product quality, and we believe we can accomplish great things together.”

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Danone agrees to sell its organic salads business to Taylor Farms

French food company Danone signed a definitive agreement to divest its US organic salads business Earthbound Farm to Taylor Farms.

Financial details of the deal were not divulged.

Based in Salinas, California, Taylor Farms is a leading North American producer of salads and fresh foods. 

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Wessanen board accepts takeover offer of €885m

The board of Amsterdam-listed company Koninklijke Wessanen (Wessanen) accepted a takeover offer from a consortium comprising European private equity firm PAI Partners and Charles Jobson, Wessanen’s largest shareholder.

This deal values Wessanen at around €885m and includes all of its issued and outstanding share capital. It enables the firm to invest in initiatives and maintain its position in the sustainable foods segment.

Wessanen CEO Christophe Barnouin said: “Our vision is to build a European leader in organic and sustainable food. We want to remain at the forefront of making food healthier and more sustainable for the benefit of both consumers and the planet.

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Maple Leaf Foods to open $310m plant-based protein facility in Indiana

Canadian consumer packaged meats company Maple Leaf Foods, along with its subsidiary Greenleaf Foods SPC, revealed plans to build a $310m plant-based protein facility in Shelbyville, Indiana, US.

Maple Leaf Foods claims that the 230,000ft² plant will be the largest facility and investment of its kind in North America.

The facility, which will produce tempeh, franks, sausages and raw foods, will double the company’s existing manufacturing capacity and support a pipeline of innovation to meet rising consumer demand and fuel market growth.

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Nestlé and Carrefour offer blockchain data access for Mousline purée

Swiss food and drink company Nestlé and French multinational retailer Carrefour said that they will provide consumers with access to the blockchain data for Mousline purée in France.

This will be the first initiative by the Swiss company to share information about its products through a blockchain platform.

The move was reported to be part of Nestlé’s blockchain test projects, ranging from logistics to sustainability, designed to help reinforce trust in food.

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FDA releases new guidance for low-calorie sweetener allulose

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued draft guidance called ‘The Declaration of Allulose and Calories from Allulose on Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels.’

Allulose is a low-calorie sweetener, which naturally occurs in wheat, certain fruits and a wide range of food products in small amounts. It can also be manufactured.

The guidelines provide a view on the declaration of calories, carbohydrates and total sugars, as well as added sugars for products that contain allulose, on nutrition and supplement facts labels.

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China likely to increase meat imports from Brazil

China may increase meat imports from Brazil following high-level talks scheduled to take place next month.

Chinese ambassador to Brazil, Yang Wanming, refused to confirm the number of Brazilian meat processing plants that would receive approval to export their products to China.

The number of plants would be discussed during Brazilian Agriculture Minister Tereza Cristina Dias’s visit to China next month.

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Cargill to invest $112m in China corn processing facility expansion

Global food company Cargill is set to expand the capacity of its Songyuan corn processing facility in Jilin province, China, with an investment of $112m.

The plant is part of a joint project with the Songyuan Government called the Sino-US Cargill Biotech Industrial Park, which will feature a Cargill Food Safety and Technology Center.

The centre will focus on testing, research and training in the area of food safety.