Beyond The Headlines: Mondelēz sells gum business to Perfetti Van Melle, Nestlé supports coffee farmers

06 Oct 2023 --- In industry news this week, Mondelēz sells its gum business in developed markets to Perfetti Van Melle Group while the Carlsberg Group has terminated license agreements with Baltika Breweries. Nestlé launches a weather insurance program to assist coffee farmers.

Business moves
Oddlygood, a Finnish plant-based food producer, has acquired the Nordic brand Planti to manufacture plant-based dairy alternative spoonable snacks in Sweden and dairy alternative cooking products in Finland. The move aligns with the company’s strategy to offer more tasty plant-based products. Also, it follows the global growing trend in the plant-based dairy alternatives market, driven by sustainability concerns and the demand for healthier, delicious products.

Mondelēz International has completed the sale of its developed-market gum business in the US, Canada, and Europe (excluding Portugal) to Perfetti Van Melle Group, a gum and confectionery manufacturer. Mondelēz focuses its portfolio on core categories like chocolate, biscuits, and baked snacks. The sale includes gum brands like Trident, Dentyne, Stimorol, and others. The Portugal portion of the business is pending regulatory approval and will also be sold to the Perfetti Van Melle Group upon clearance. Mondelēz will retain its gum business outside these regions.

The Carlsberg Group has terminated license agreements with Baltika Breweries, allowing Baltika to produce, market, and sell Carlsberg Group products, including international and regional brands. This decision comes in response to a presidential decree transferring the management of Baltika to Russian authorities. 

Olam Food Ingredients (ofi) has achieved over 50% of its goal to improve the livelihoods of 200,000 coffee farmers by 2025. Its Coffee LENS sustainability impact report outlines that ofi, in collaboration with partners and customers, has invested over US$50 million across 44 projects since its launch in 2020. The company uses digital tools, such as Atsource, to reduce carbon footprints and ensure supply chain transparency to secure coffee’s future.

Bioflytech, a producer of black soldier fly larvae for animal feed, is progressing in constructing its second plant in Palas de Rei, Galicia, Spain. This new facility aims to produce 12,000 tons of fresh black soldier fly larvae annually in its first phase, utilizing six fattening halls. The new plant includes a rendering facility, it offers customized flours with specificBioflytech's new facility aims to produce 12,000 tons of fresh black soldier fly larvae annually in its first phase (Image credit: Bioflytech). protein and fat percentages to meet customer demands and plans to advance insect protein flour production.

BetterBrand, a food tech company specializing in innovative products in the refined carb space, is expanding to the UK after gaining popularity in the US. The company recently raised US$170 million in a Series A round. Their Better Bagel product will debut exclusively at Whole Foods Market locations in the UK this month. 

Vortice, a Dutch beverage technology company, received an investment of €350,000 (around US$367,950) from UNIIQ. Vortice is developing an innovative soda maker to promote sustainability while providing a healthy alternative to traditional sugary sodas. The project aims to combat the CO2 emissions generated by the production of PET bottles in Europe. 

Australian precision fermentation company Eden Brew has raised US$25 million to scale its protein brewing process and develop animal-free dairy products. Garnered support from various sectors, including celebrities and athletes, the funds will play a crucial role in advancing alternative proteins and sustainable food options to address the challenges of feeding a growing population while reducing pressure on agricultural ecosystems. 

Innovation highlights
PGP International (PGPI), a part of ABF Ingredients, has collaborated with Brightseed, an AI-powered bioactives company, to create Bio Hemp Fiber Crisps. These extruded crisps contain PGPI’s high-quality rice flour blended with Brightseed’s Bio Gut Fiber, sourced from upcycled hemp hulls. Bio Gut Fiber includes two bioactive compounds, NCT and NFT, identified in hemp hulls by Brightseed’s artificial intelligence. The Bio Hemp Fiber Crisps offer a 20% fiber content and a crispy texture, making them suitable for applications like snack bars, granolas, and functional foods.PGP International has collaborated with Brightseed to create Bio Hemp Fiber Crisps (Image credit: PGP International).

Nestlé is launching a weather insurance program in Indonesia in partnership with climate insurance specialist Blue Marble. The initiative will benefit over 800 smallholder coffee farmers supplying Nescafé. It provides financial protection for unpredictable weather patterns, such as rainfall and drought, using satellite-based climate data to determine crop impacts. Nestlé has also contributed to a guidebook on regenerative agriculture for coffee farms developed by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT. The guidebook offers best practices for coffee farmers to transition to regenerative agriculture, helping restore soil health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Dr. Praeger’s, a US frozen food company, is reimagining the veggie burger by introducing two new Crunchy Burgers. These burgers are vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO certified while addressing the consumer concern regarding the texture of plant-based products. Dr. Praeger’s offers crispy-coated veggie burgers in two flavors: Crunchy Cauliflower Veggie Burgers and Crunchy Southwestern Sweet Potato Burgers. 

Other highlights
Tate & Lyle has achieved a top “Prime” rating from Institutional Shareholder Services for its Environmental, Social, and Governance performance. Tate & Lyle’s ESG initiatives include science-based emissions reduction targets, sustainable agriculture programs, and gender equality goals. 

Flybox, a UK agri-tech innovator, has introduced the country’s first modular end-to-end insect farm in Buckinghamshire, addressing food security challenges. This farm employs modular technology to transform organic waste into sustainable protein, reducing the reliance on environmentally problematic sources like soy and fish meal. 

By Sichong Wang