March’s top stories: Nestlé’s research centre, Pure Hold’s sanitising door handle

Mars opens new chocolate facility in Kansas

US-headquartered confectionery giant Mars opened a new $270m facility in Topeka, Kansas, the first new site for Mars Chocolate North America to be built in 35 years.

The 500,000ft² plant will manufacture M&M’S and SNICKERS brand products, and will allow the company to cater to consumer demand for the next five decades.

Mars said that the project will support Topeka with 200 new jobs, and it is one of the biggest investments it has made to date.

Nestlé strengthens food safety research in China

Swiss food giant Nestlé has strengthened its food safety research activities in China with a new research centre, Nestlé Food Safety Institute (NFSI), in Beijing.

Located at the company’s existing R&D centre, the NFSI will allow Nestlé to meet China’s increasing demand for healthy and safe food, and collaborate with authorities to help provide a scientific base for food safety policies and standards.

It will back early management of food safety issues, and partner with local universities, research institutes and government agencies to resolve them.

Scottish Government to create new food safety body

The Scottish government outlined plans to create a new food safety body, Food Standards Scotland (FSS), as part of the Food (Scotland) Bill.

The key provisions of the bill are to establish FSS to take over over the functions of the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) in Scotland, to allow for the scope to expand beyond the FSA’s remit and to establish new enforcement arrangements.

FSS would carry out the functions currently performed by the FSA, including food safety and standards, feed safety and standards, nutrition, food labelling, meat inspection policy and operational delivery.

Analysing food bacteria strains at genomic level helps limit food spoilage, says NIZO

Analysing food bacteria strains at the genomic level can help limit food spoilage by determining whether a lactic acid bacterium is a food spoiler, according to a study carried out by NIZO food research.

Commissioned by and in collaboration with Unilever R&D, the study tested 121 lactobacillus strains of six different species for their phenotypes relating to growth in carbon source and preservation environments.

The growth of these strains was measured on 21 carbon sources and under 27 preservation-related phenotypic parameters.

Pure Hold develops new Pure Hold Hygiene Handle

UK-based Pure Hold launched the Pure Hold Hygiene Handle, a novel door handle that is designed to automatically sanitise the user’s hands as they pull open the door.

The new product, which was launched at FoodEx 2014, was trialled at food manufacturers Greencore and Unilever during 2013 and has since been adopted by the companies following positive feedback from users, customers and auditors.

Other food companies ranging from convenience food manufacturers to fish and meat processors have also opted for Pure Hold Hygiene Handles to implement higher levels of personal hand hygiene.

ARYZTA to acquire two North American bakery firms for €730m

Swiss food company ARYZTA announced that it is set to strengthen its presence in North America with the acquisition of Pineridge Bakery in Ontario, Canada, and Cloverhill Bakery in the US for €730m.

The two companies had combined sales of €400m in 2013.

ARYZTA stated that the acquired entities will significantly strengthen its baking capabilities, customer access and product portfolio in North America as well as provide double digit EPS accretion in fiscal 2015.

Chiquita Brands signs deal to take over Irish fruit firm Fyffes

Chiquita Brands International, a US-based producer and distributor of bananas and other produce, signed an agreement to acquire Fyffes, an Irish fruit distributor, in a $526m deal.

The transaction will lead to the formation of the leading global banana and other fresh produce company.

To be named ChiquitaFyffes, the new $1bn entity is expected to sell more than 160 million boxes of bananas each year, as well as maintain its presence in the packaged salads and healthy snacks category.

Fonterra announces joint initiative to boost sustainable dairy development

New Zealand dairy exporter Fonterra and China’s National Dairy Industry and Technology System announced that they are to establish a Dairy Exchange Centre in Beijing to support sustainable dairy development in both countries.

The centre will oversee research by China and New Zealand dairy experts on industry policy and technologies.

It will also engage in academic exchanges, industry promotion, dairy technology research and personnel training.