January’s top stories: EU protected status for three British foods; PepsiCo’s $5bn expansion plan

Three new British foods gain EU protected status

Anglesey Sea Salt, West Country Beef and West Country Lamb achieved Protected Food Name (PFN) status confirmed by the European Union (EU).

The new products join other popular UK foods already EU protected, including Welsh Lamb, Melton Mowbray Pork Pies and Stilton cheese.

More than 60 British foods have now gained the EU protected status, which aims to help safeguard iconic products and deliver a boost to the economy.

PepsiCo plans $5bn investment in Mexican operations

American food and beverage company PepsiCo outlined plans to invest $5bn in its Mexican operations to further strengthen its food and beverage business in the country.

Mexico is one of the key countries in the company’s global growth plans.

In recent years, PepsiCo has made significant investments to strengthen its presence in emerging markets, which represented 35% of its revenues in 2012.

 

Tetra Pak unveils new Tetra Therm Aseptic Flex aseptic processing unit

Swedish packaging firm Tetra Pak International expanded its range with the launch of the Tetra Therm Aseptic Flex, a continuous aseptic processing unit for indirect UHT treatment of dairy and other food products.

The new version of the machine features a sensor-monitored clean-in-place (CIP) solution – IntelliCIP 2.0* – to perform cleaning based on actual need, to increase production up-time.

The pre-sterilisation and hibernation phases have also been modified to by-pass and stop the homogeniser and deaerator, which can extend the life of the piston seal in the homogeniser.

Vion completes sale of ingredients unit to Darling International for €1.6bn

Dutch food company Vion completed the sale of its ingredients unit to Darling International, a US-based food waste recycler, in a €1.6bn all-cash deal.

Headquartered in Son en Breugel, Netherlands, Vion Ingredients produces speciality ingredients from animal origin for the pharmaceutical, food, feed, pet food, fertiliser and bio-energy sectors.

The unit manufactures edible fats, blood products and plasma meals, bone products, protein meals, fats, gelatin, and natural casings for sausages under six brands – Rendac, Sonac, Ecoson, Rousselot, CTH and Best Hides.

Saputo obtains controlling stake in Warrnambool Cheese and Butter

Canadian dairy firm Saputo increased its shareholding in Australia’s Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory Company (WCB) to 52.7%, gaining a controlling stake.

Earlier in the month, Saputo acquired Bega Cheese’s 18.8% stake in the Australian dairy processor to increase its interest to 45.2%; the transaction ended the latter’s relationship with WCB.

Warrnambool produces a range of dairy products, including cheese, butter and butter blends, milk, cream and dairy ingredients for domestic and export markets.

Kellogg’s to establish Malaysia manufacturing facility

US-based food company Kellogg’s announced plans to expand its supply chain capacity in the Asia-Pacific region with a new snack manufacturing plant in Bandar Estek, Negeri Sembilin, Malaysia.

The company is continuing efforts to optimise its global manufacturing network as part of the recently announced Project K, a four-year efficiency and effectiveness programme to achieve cost savings, strengthen existing businesses in core and emerging markets and drive increased value-added innovation.

Kellogg’s is investing MYR428.2m ($130m) for the latest project, which will ramp up its halal-certified Pringles production capabilities in Asia-Pacific, while creating at least 300 jobs.

Goodman Fielder to sell meat and pizza units in New Zealand

Goodman Fielder, a manufacturer of bread and dairy products in Australia and New Zealand, agreed proposals to divest its meat and pizza units in New Zealand to Hellers and Mommas Frozen Products.

The proposed plans are part of the company’s strategy to optimise its product and brand portfolio and focus on its core categories where it has market-leading, profitable positions.

Goodman Fielder CEO Chris Delaney said, "On finalisation of the sales of meats and pizza businesses, we will have largely completed our divestment programme which will enable the company to focus our resources on our core categories."

Mondelez sells majority stake in SnackWell’s to Brynwood company

US food and beverage firm Mondelez International sold a majority stake in its SnackWell’s cookies and snacks business to Back to Nature Foods, a portfolio company of Brynwood Partners VI.

The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Launched by Nabisco in 1992, SnackWell’s offers a range of reduced-fat and fat-free cookies and crackers including Creme Sandwich Cookies, Devil’s Food Cakes, Fudge Pretzels, Yogurt Pretzels, and Popcorn products.