July’s top news stories

DSM expands acrylamide-reduction portfolio with PreventASe XR

Royal DSM introduced a new enzymatic solution known as PreventASe XR, which is claimed to prevent the formation of acrylamide in high-pH applications such as corn chips, biscuits and crackers.

PreventASe is also said to help reduce acrylamide in processed foods by up to 95%.

The new PreventASe XR has been specifically developed for higher-pH products, though it can be used for a wide range of additional applications.

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Unilever completes sale of spreads business to KKR for €6.825bn

Global food company Unilever completed the sale of its spreads business to private investment firm KKR for a sum of €6.825bn on a cash-free, debt-free basis.

Unilever previously received a binding offer from KKR to purchase its global Spreads business in December last year.

At that time, Unilever CEO Paul Polman said: “In April of this year, we set out our 2020 programme to accelerate sustainable value creation.”

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Plant-based meat substitute firm Beyond Meat receives non-GMO status

Los Angeles-based producer of plant-based meat substitutes Beyond Meat secured non-GMO verification from the Non-GMO Project’s Product Verification Program, which is claimed to be North America’s only third-party verification organisation for non-GMO food and products.

The verification was awarded following a one-year review process.

Beyond Meat founder and CEO Ethan Brown said: “Our goal is to be on the centre of the plate for the entire family, and we believe the best way to serve the family is through a commitment to all-natural, non-GMO ingredients when building meat directly from plants.

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Quorn Foods opens Global Innovation Centre in UK

UK-based Quorn Foods is set to open a new Global Innovation Centre at its headquarters in the North East, which is expected to improve the company’s core protein fermentation capabilities.

The £7m investment forms part of the company’s ongoing strategy to further enhance its technological abilities in the meat-free industry.

Quorn Foods intends to break ground on its new facility later this year.

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Dairy Farmers of America to cease production at Hughson plant

Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) is planning to idle its manufacturing plant at Hughson, California, in response to changing market conditions.

DFA is a national milk marketing cooperative, which is currently owned by more than 14,500 farmer-members that represent approximately 8,500 dairy farms across 48 states in the US.

The cooperative noted that the decision to cease production at its Hughson manufacturing plant was taken after a careful review process.

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Fonterra to commission new butter line at Edgecumbe facility

New Zealand-based dairy co-operative Fonterra is set to commission a new butter line at its plant in Edgecumbe in order to address increasing demand for ‘Muddy Buns’, also known as ‘Dirty Dirty Bread’, or ‘Zang Zang Bao’ in China.

The new line is anticipated to increase the plant’s butter production capacity from the existing 4,500 metric tonnes (mt) to 7,000mt.

Fonterra Global Foodservice marketing general manager Susan Cassidy said: “The Dirty Dirty Bread can best be described as a chocolate croissant.”

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Canada’s Icewater Seafoods gets federal boost for cod plant upgrade

The Government of Canada granted a repayable investment to local fish processing company Icewater Seafoods to modernise its cod production plant in Arnold’s Cove, Newfoundland.

Icewater Seafoods is a family owned company that exports its products to premium markets across Europe.

The firm is reported to be the only processor in North America to be dedicated to full-time Atlantic cod production.

The C$2.6m ($1.9m) investment from Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s (ACOA) Business Development Programme (BDP) is expected to help the company stay competitive within the global market.

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Glanbia to build €130m mozzarella cheese facility in Ireland

A joint venture (JV) company comprising Glanbia and Leprino Foods known as Glanbia Cheese is set to build a new mozzarella cheese manufacturing facility in County Laois, Ireland, through an investment of €130m.

The new plant will be built at the recently established Togher National Industrial Estate in Portlaoise.

Glanbia Cheese also received backing for the proposed facility from the Irish Government via Enterprise Ireland.

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JM Smucker to sell US baking business to Brynwood Partners for $375m

Food manufacturer JM Smucker Company signed a definitive agreement to sell its US baking business to Brynwood Partners’ subsidiaries Brynwood Partners VII and Brynwood Partners VIII for $375m.

The deal covers products sold under the Pillsbury, Martha White, Hungry Jack, White Lily and Jim Dandy brands, along with all relevant trademarks and licensing agreements.

It also includes the acquisition of JM Smucker’s manufacturing facility in Toledo, Ohio.

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Cargill launches new carrageenan extract for dairy manufacturers

Global food company Cargill expanded its Seabrid portfolio with the addition of a carrageenan extract known as Satiagel Seabrid, which is intended for use as a texturising solution in creamy dairy desserts.

Satiagel Seabrid is based on 100% cultivated seaweed and is claimed to have been developed using sustainably sourced ingredients to deliver the type of texture preferred by consumers.

Cargill previously launched its Seabrid solution for gelled dairy desserts last year.