August’s top stories: Mezzan buys 70% stake in Al Safi Food, China extends anti-subsidy duties

Mezzan Holding acquires 70% stake in Al Safi Food Company

Kuwait-based food and beverage company Mezzan Holding acquired a 70% stake in Al Safi Food Company, a manufacturing start-up in Saudi Arabia.

Carried out through a capital injection of SAR90.75m ($24.1m), the acquisition will provide Mezzan Holding a local platform to manufacture and distribute food and beverage products in the country.

The capital injection includes planned capital expenditures leading up to the end of next year.
 

China extends anti-subsidy duties on US chicken

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOC) extended the anti-subsidy duties on imports of broiler chicken products from the US for another five years.

The extension became effective from 30 August. The previous five-year duties expired last year.

The decision to extend the anti-subsidy duties follows after Chinese officials launched an investigation to check whether stopping the duties would impact the domestic industry.
 

Dole launches Mixations in US

Fruit and healthy snack producer and distributor Dole Packaged Foods launched DOLE Mixations in the US.

Contains combinations of smooth fruit sauces and juicy chunks, Mixations is available in four flavour pairings such as apple-strawberry sauce with dices of apple, pineapple-mango sauce with pineapple pieces, peach-apple sauce with pineapple pieces, and apple-raspberry sauce with dices of apple.

Dole Packaged Foods North America and Europe president Brad Bartlett said: “Consumers are always looking for delicious, convenient ways to enjoy fruit. With four different flavors, DOLE Mixations offer combinations that are ideal for kids and adult lunches, after-school snacks or a quick bite during the workday.”
 

Fonterra Australia invests $6.2m in Cobden Spreads plant

New Zealand-based dairy company Fonterra invested A$6.2m ($47.2m) to expand the cool room at its Cobden Spreads plant, which produces Australian butter brand Western Star.

The investment will also include use of automatic guided vehicles (AGVs), which will move the finished product off the line and stack away into flow-through pallet racking, increasing efficiency.

The cool room expansion will enhance the storage capacity of butters and spreads once they come off the production line. It will also help the company to meet the growing demand for its dairy products.
 

DuPont Nutrition & Health launches solutions for Indian rotis

DuPont Nutrition & Health entered India’s flatbread market with the launch of its solutions for packaged Indian 'rotis'.

The concept drawn inspiration from the increasing consumer need for a semi-cooked or ready-to-eat rotis with home-cooked freshness and taste.

DuPont Nutrition & Health business head for South Asia Parth Patel said: “Indian flatbread, popularly known as roti, is an integral part of the Indian diet. A majority of them are made at home with a very limited shelf-life. But in this fast-paced world and changing consumer trends, there is an increased need to change the way rotis are made."
 

Hügli acquires 80% stake in Bresc

Switzerland-based Hügli Group acquired an 80% stake in Dutch food service company Bresc, which develops and produces chilled garlic and herb products.

A specialist in the production and distribution of soups, sauces, bouillons and seasoning products, Hügli said that the acquisition is part of its succession plan.

Bresc has a workforce of more than 60 employees and generated sales of €12m, mainly in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.
 

Muuna introduces new line of cottage cheese

US-based food company Muuna unveiled a new line of cottage cheese.

The new cheese line is available in six different flavours, namely strawberry, blueberry, pineapple, peach, mango and low-fat plain.

The company also plans to launch two multi-serve items.

Muuna CEO Gerard Meyer said: “Cottage cheese has been around forever, and mainly thought of as a diet food. The same was true for yogurt, but yogurt innovated while cottage cheese remained stuck in the past."
 

Russia's Cherkizovo begins export of halal poultry meat to Tanzania

Russian meat and feed producer Cherkizovo Group commenced exports of halal poultry meat to Tanzania, marking its entry into the East African market.

The company’s poultry farm in Lipetsk shipped the first batch of 54t of poultry meat to Zanzibar, Tanzania.

The facility received licence to export halal products in April after the production process was certified on its adherence to the Islamic rules of animal slaughter.

Total exports to the country are expected to reach 500t by the end of this year.
 

New complex carbohydrate research centre launched in South Australia

A new comprehensive facility for the analysis of complex carbohydrates (glycans) was established in South Australia.

Launched in collaboration between the University of Adelaide and Agilent Technologies, the new Adelaide Glycomics research laboratory will explore the potential benefits of glycans.

The new research centre is located at the university’s Waite campus and will be the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. It will also feature cutting-edge research technologies in the field of glycoscience.
 

Mondelez acquires remaining stake of Kinh Do Corp

American confectionery, food and beverage company Mondelez International acquired the remaining 20% stake in Vietnam-based Kinh Do Corp for VND2tn ($90m).

In November 2014, Kido sold an 80% stake to Mondelez for $370m.

Mondelez now completely owns the Kinh Do Corp snack unit and the acquisition will help the American confectioner to strengthen its presence in the Vietnamese market.

Upon completion of acquisition, the company's brand name will be changed to Mondelez Kinh Do.

Kinh Do is known for its confectionary products such as biscuits, soft cakes and seasonal moon cakes in the South-East Asian market.