Weekly Roundup: Univar Solutions closes sale of environmental sciences business, Campbell Snacks President resigns

10 Jan 2020 --- In business news this week, Univar Solutions and AEA Investors closed the sale of Univar Solutions’ Environmental Sciences business for US$195 million. In NPD news, Independent Scottish craft brewer BrewDog announced a new take on craft beer and spirits – their first bar dedicated to alcohol-free and UK retailer Waitrose revealed its sales for vegan and vegetarian products have increased in the last year. Meanwhile, Carlos Abrams-Rivera, the President of Campbell Snacks, announced his pending resignation from the company, while Rich Clark was named Vice President of Sales for Hälsa Foods.

In brief: Business news
Univar Solutions and AEA Investors (AEA), a global private investment firm, have closed the sale of Univar Solutions’ Environmental Sciences business to affiliates of AEA for US$195 million. The company will use the net proceeds from the transaction to pay down its existing term loan debt balance. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, US, the Environmental Sciences business is a premier pest management business serving customers in the US, Canada and Mexico directly through approximately 250+ sales and service professionals and 70 ProCenters in Latin America and the Caribbean managed through a network of authorized dealer partners.

In brief: New product launches
BrewDog will be opening its first alcohol-free bar. The BrewDog AF Bar will be the world’s first alcohol-free beer bar and will offer 15 taps of draft alcohol-free craft beer. The bar will open in central London, UK, and will be the first of the company’s global bars to feature a line-up solely devoted to drinks without alcohol. In addition to this, BrewDog will be running “Drink All You Can Jan” across all bars. The initiative offers drinkers unlimited refills of BrewDog alcohol-free beers in all bars for the entire month. According to James Watt, Captain of BrewDog, drinkers opting for low or no alcohol are in danger of compromising on quality, taste and experience. “Alcohol free does not need to be synonymous with taste-free. “Drink All You Can Jan” is our anti-Dry January. Whether you have cut alcohol out or are cutting back, we want to show that alcohol-free doesn’t mean compromising on quality or taste,” he says.

UK retailer Waitrose has revealed its sales for vegan and vegetarian products have increased in the last year, with vegan-ready meals overtaking vegetarian for the first time ever. This January, Waitrose & Partners will add over 30 new own-label vegan products, doubling the range from last year to over 120 products in total. The new range includes a number of first-to-market innovations such as the Vegan No Egg Fried Rice, cooked rice with tofu, petits pois, spring onion, ginger and sesame seed oil, and the Crisp-Crumbed Fishless Goujons, made from banana blossom, a natural ingredient found at the end of the banana fruit cluster with a fleshy, flaky texture that mimics fish. Another exclusive only found at Waitrose & Partners is a Vegan Spicy Meatless Feast Pizza, which uses vegan pepperoni.

In brief: Sustainability
Citromax has reached a new milestone, passing the 100,000-tree mark and approaching 110,000 organic lemon trees at its lemon groves in South America. This milestone validates Citromax’s standing as the most abundant organic lemon producer in the world. Citromax’s organic lemon groves are located in the foothills of the Andes, in a unique sub-tropical climate that creates an optimal setting for the cultivation of premium organic lemons that are noted to feature ample flavor and high juice content. “Citromax Group recognizes the increased global demand for organic fruit products, so we continue to invest in our organic groves,” says Mariano Sangronis, Commercial Manager and Head of Fresh Division. “As the world’s largest organic lemon grower and processor, we now produce over 1,000 MT of high-quality organic lemon juice concentrate through sustainable production practices.”

In brief: Appointments & Retirements
Campbell Soup has announced that effective February 1, 2020, Carlos Abrams-Rivera, President of Campbell Snacks, will leave the company to accept a role at another corporation. The company has launched a search for a successor. Abrams-Rivera will continue to lead the Snacks division through the end of the company’s fiscal second quarter. At that time, Mark Clouse, President and CEO, will guide the Snacks division until a new leader is in place.

Gold Coast has appointed Kendra Sgro as Corporate Sales Manager. Sgro, who previously was Gold Coast’s Marketing Manager with over 14 years committed to the company, succeeds former Corporate Sales Manager, Michele Trent. She transitions into her new role as Key Accounts Manager to focus on and grow the select business. Accompanying the changes, Gold Coast selects Megan Byrnes, with over nine years dedicated to the company, as new Marketing Manager, while also adopting the role of Assistant Sales Manager to support customers, business relationships, and strengthen trade show presence globally. 

Rich Clark has been named Vice President of Sales for Hälsa Foods, the maker of the first and only 100 percent clean and organic oat milk yogurt. Rich Clark has been named Vice President of Sales for Hälsa Foods, the maker of the first and only 100 percent clean and organic oat milk yogurt. Clark was a key member of the executive team that grew Perfect Snacks, the maker of Perfect Bar, from a regional brand at US$26 million to a national brand doing in excess of US$100 million in revenue resulting in a successful acquisition by Mondelez International last July. 

Meanwhile, FoodDrinkEurope has appointed Will Surman as its new Director of Public Affairs and Communications. He will support Europe’s food and drink industry in its mission to deliver sustainable food systems. Mella Frewen, FoodDrinkEurope Director-General, says: “We’re delighted to have Will on board. He has a strong background working in global food and agriculture sectors, which will help us lead a positive dialogue on the role of the food and drink industry to deliver on the EU’s Green Deal and the wider contribution of the sector to Europe’s social and economic wellbeing.” 

By Elizabeth Green