2019 top news stories

Japan to lift two-decade ban on UK beef

The Government of Japan announced plans to end the ban on UK beef and lamb products, which had been in place since 1996 following the outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), also know as mad cow disease.

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced the decision ahead of a meeting between Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the former British Prime Minister Theresa May.

The move to end the ban could be worth  £127m to British farmers over a period of five years.

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PepsiCo intends to invest $1bn in Pakistan’s food sector

American multinational food, snack and beverage company PepsiCo was reportedly planning to invest $1bn in Pakistan.

Pakistan Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry welcomed the company’s decision to invest.

PepsiCo senior vice-president Krista Pilot explained the companies plan during her meeting with Chaudhry in Dubai. According to local media reports, Pilot told the minister that the company intends to establish a potato unit in the city of Multan.

Additionally, Pilot also expressed the desire for the unit to be inaugurated by the Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.

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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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Barry Callebaut officially launches ruby chocolate in US and Canada

Zurich-based chocolate and cocoa products manufacturer Barry Callebaut officially launched ruby, its fourth type of chocolate product in US and Canadian markets.

The initiative is part of Barry Callebaut’s global launch plan and follows the rollout in Asia, Europe, Australia and New Zealand markets.

In September 2017, the company unveiled ruby chocolate, which is produced using ruby cocoa beans.

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Tyson Foods acquires Thai and European businesses from BRF

US-based meat producer Tyson Foods completed the acquisition of BRF’s Thai and European businesses for $340m.

As part of the deal, Tyson Foods acquired four production facilities in Thailand, as well as one each in the Netherlands and the UK.

Tyson Foods president and CEO Noel White said: “The addition of this experienced and talented team combined with these businesses strengthens our capabilities and increases our reach to new markets. I’m glad to welcome them to the Tyson Foods family.

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Royal DSM introduces new series of cheese culture

Dutch life and materials sciences firm Royal DSM launched a new range of phage robust cultures for young cheddar and barrel cheese.

Dubbed Delvo Cheese CH-120, the series of cheese cultures is designed to increase production efficiency.

It also helps cheese producers to deliver consistent quality, taste and texture, even during long production runs, the company claimed.

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Orkla to acquire stake in Iceland’s chocolate brand Nói-Siríus

Orkla, a supplier of branded consumer goods, signed an agreement to acquire a 20% stake in Icelandic chocolate and confectionery manufacturer Nói-Siríus.

Financial details of the acquisition were not divulged.

Nói Siríus operates production plants and warehouse facilities in Reykjavik and is currently owned by several private investors.

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US and Japan sign agreement to improve access for US red meat

The Governments of the US and Japan signed a trade agreement, which is expected to improve access for US red meat imports to Japan.

Once the US-Japan Trade Agreement is implemented, Japan will provide significant market access for food and agricultural products manufactured in the US by eliminating or reducing tariffs, or by allowing a specific quantity of imports at a low duty.

The deal is expected to improve the competitiveness of US producers with other countries that currently have preferential tariffs in the Japanese market under country-specific quotas (CSQs).

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Aleph Farms produces slaughter-free meat in space

Israel-based cultivated beef steaks producer Aleph Farms collaborated with Russian company 3D Bioprinting Solutions to produce its first slaughter-free meat in space.

The company said it was successful in producing meat on the International Space Station (ISS), 339km away from any natural resources.

Co-founded with the food-tech incubator The Kitchen and Technion University professor Shulamit Levenberg, Aleph Farms collaborated with the Russian firm, US-based firms Meal Source Technologies and Finless Foods for this project.

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Cargill opens new culinary experience hub in Belgium

Global food company Cargill announced the opening of a Culinary Experience Hub in its research and development (R&D) facility in Vilvoorde, Belgium.

The new hub will be used by Cargill’s customers in Europe, as well as the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region to address their food formulation challenges. It will also be used to facilitate the co-creation of new ingredients and recipes.

Cargill EMEA R&D leader André van der Wulp said: “Imagine you’re a Cargill customer trying to identify the best ingredients for consumers.