Weekly Roundup: Wells Enterprises snaps up Halo Top brand, Brenntag Food & Nutrition lands distribution deal with Axiom Foods

13 Sep 2019 --- This week in industry news, US ice cream and frozen treat brand Wells Enterprises signed a purchase agreement with Eden Creamery to acquire the Halo Top brand, a manufacturer of high-protein, low-sugar, low-calorie ice creams. Brenntag Food & Nutrition closed a deal with Axiom Foods for the distribution of its plant-based products in EMEA, excluding the UK and Ireland. Norway’s Orkla debuted a new range of plant-based and eco-friendly offerings as part of its autumn launches. Meanwhile, Z Natural Foods launched a new Cashew Milk Powder, marketed as a healthy and natural alternative to traditional milk products. Also, Lily’s Sweets, a specialist in botanically-sweetened (low-sugar) chocolate and confections, debuted nine new products.

Wells Enterprises is to acquire the Halo Top brand.In brief: Business developments
US ice cream and frozen treat company Wells Enterprises has signed a purchase agreement with Eden Creamery to acquire the Halo Top brand, manufacturer of high-protein, low-sugar, low-calorie ice creams. This purchase marks the fifth brand under Wells’ current portfolio. The sale is expected to be completed in September, subject to standard closing conditions. Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed. In connection with the purchase, Wells also has agreed to license the Halo Top brand outside of the US and Canada to a new company that Doug Bouton, President & COO of Halo Top, plans to operate after closing.

Brenntag Food & Nutrition has signed an agreement with Axiom Foods for the distribution of its plant-based products in EMEA, excluding the UK and Ireland. Axiom Foods headquartered in Los Angeles, US, specializes in plant-based ingredients, such as rice and pea proteins. “Axiom’s sustainable product portfolio will reinforce our position in the vegetable proteins business. The plant-based products have an important role in vegetarian, vegan as well as allergen-free applications, functional food and bakery. This agreement is an important step for us into the continuously growing plant-based food industry which has a promising future ahead,” says Frank Haven, Vice President Food & Nutrition EMEA.

In brief: New product launchesCashew Milk Powder by Z Natural Foods.
Vegetarian pizza, “climate-friendly” meals and chocolate varieties in environmentally-friendly packaging are among this autumn’s new product launches from Orkla. The Norwegian conglomerate is planning a rollout of numerous new products with plant-based and eco-friendly attributes across Nordic countries and the Baltics. “Across Orkla we see many innovative new products which make it easier for our consumers to make healthy, more sustainable choices every day,” says Nils Goller, Senior Vice President, Orkla Marketing & Innovation.

Z Natural Foods has launched its new Cashew Milk Powder, marketed as a healthy and natural alternative to traditional milk products. Cashew milk contains omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, calcium, iron, potassium, and zinc as well as Vitamin A, C, D, E and K, according to Z Natural Foods. The nut is also a source of magnesium and copper, two vital minerals which are rare in the standard diet. Z Natural Foods' cashew milk uses only two ingredients, cashews and inulin. While only a small amount is added, inulin is a prebiotic fiber that feeds the gut bacteria, as well as keeping the powder from clumping. Additionally, cashews have a lower fat content than most other nuts but still contain oleic acid, while offering the same heart-healthy fat found in olive oil, notes the brand.

Intensely Dark Chocolate by Lily’s Sweets.Lily’s Sweets, a specialist in botanically-sweetened (low-sugar) chocolate and confections, is debuting nine new products. The line includes: Dark Chocolate and Milk Chocolate Style Caramels, Dark Chocolate and Milk Chocolate Style Caramel Popcorn, a new two-pack format of the brand’s Milk Chocolate Style and Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, and three new chocolate bars, including a 92 percent Intensely Dark variety, 40 percent Milk Chocolate Style Hazelnut Bar, and a 70 percent Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Bar. All nine products are set to launch at Whole Foods Market stores in January 2020 with other retailers to follow in the first quarter of 2020.

In brief: Miscellaneous
Walmart has announced plans to expand the reach of Delivery Unlimited – a Grocery Delivery membership option for customers – to 1,400 stores in the US this autumn. Grocery Delivery builds on Walmart’s Grocery Pickup service that allows customers to order their groceries online and pick them up in stores without leaving their cars. The new program gives customers the option to pay a yearly US$98 fee or a monthly US$12.95 fee to receive unlimited Walmart Grocery Delivery orders. The retailer began piloting Delivery Unlimited in four US cities – Houston, Miami, Salt Lake City and Tampa – earlier this year and plans to make the service available in more than 1,600 stores by the end of the year. 

UEFA and Coca-Cola have announced a deal that will see the beverage manufacturer become the official non-alcoholic beverage sponsor for UEFA EURO 2020 football tournament. Next summer’s competition will be hosted in 12 cities across the continent to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the UEFA EURO. The sponsorship deal will give the company the opportunity to showcase several brands, including sparkling beverages, sports drinks, water, ready-to-drink coffee and fruit-based drinks, with low- and sugar-free options. UEFA EURO 2020 will kick off in Rome on June 12, concluding a month later, with the final taking place at Wembley Stadium in London.

US fishing company Omega Protein’s Atlantic menhaden fishery has been officially certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) The “blue checkmark” of the Marine Stewardship Council.standards. Fisheries that carry the Council’s blue checkmark are required to follow internationally recognized best practices for operating healthy, sustainable fisheries. The Atlantic menhaden fishery has operated continuously out of Reedville, Virginia since the 1870s. Fisheries managers at the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) have repeatedly recognized the health of the stock. According to its latest assessment, the stock is not overfished, and overfishing is not occurring. The certification comes after a final approval by an independent adjudicator, who ruled against challenges to the certification. The approval ends a two-year effort by Omega Protein to secure the certification.

Winners of the 21st Sélection Caseus fine cheeses competition, held in Quebec, Canada, were announced this week. A total of 169 cheeses were in the running for the ceremony’s 24 prizes. Two cheeses from the Agropur Dairy Cooperative were awarded: Champfleury, “Best soft cheese with a washed, mixed or natural rind in Quebec”; and Agropur Grand cheddar (aged five years), “Best cheddar in Quebec.”

By Benjamin Ferrer