Beyond The Headlines: Nestlé to decarbonize beef supply, Campbell’s expands crackers production

28 Jul 2023 --- In this week’s news, Nestlé has partnered with Grassroots Carbon to support regenerative land management practices while Tesco works to boost sustainable agriculture. Campbell Soup Company is expanding production of Goldfish crackers, Hilmar Cheese Company has launched a hydrolyzed whey protein isolate aimed at the sports and healthy living nutrition markets and Maxwell House introduces its first innovation in nearly a decade, a new Iced Latte with Foam.

In brief: Sustainability news
Nestlé has partnered with Grassroots Carbon to support regenerative land management practices and remove carbon in Nestlé’s US supply shed, with a primary focus on enhancing soil health and significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Both Grassroots Carbon and Nestlé recognize the critical role that agriculture, particularly livestock production, plays in the ecosystem and the subsequent impact on climate change. Grassroots Carbon works with ranchers to measure and certify carbon storage and monitor and measure carbon levels in their soil. The partnership will measure and certify additional carbon sequestered over 15 years. The companies note that Nestlé’s investment helps defray the expenses ranchers incur when implementing regenerative land practices. 

Meati is expanding its new protein cuts made from Mushroom Root across the US.
(Image credits: Meati).Tesco and Harper Adams University’s School of Sustainable Food and Farming (SSFF) have launched a major new multi-year program that will help up-and-coming British farmers develop their skills in sustainable agriculture. With recent surveys suggesting younger farmers have identified skills gaps in areas including sustainability and the environment, the Future Farmer Programme will provide 75 young farmers with face-to-face and live online training on how to implement sustainable agriculture practices and protect biodiversity. The nine-month course, which will run each year for the next three years, will include events and mentoring sessions on business operations and personal development.

EIT Food has announced its latest application window for the Proof of Concepts Call, which aims to create a positive societal impact through public engagement initiatives that enhance consumer trust, improve health outcomes and reduce the environmental impacts of the food system. EIT Food is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, a body of the European Union. Applications are now open, with a total of up to €400,000 (US$439,000) available for projects that propose to bring about a positive impact on society. These include equipping individuals to make more informed choices related to health and/or sustainability, increasing transparency and engagement in the food system and enabling consumer involvement in shaping the future food system.

A new report by economists at Teagasc provides an update on the forecast average margins and incomes, which are likely across the agricultural sector in Ireland in 2023. Agriculture continues to face substantial input price inflation, much of it prompted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Agricultural production costs in 2023 look like they will differ slightly from the high level experienced in 2022. At the same time, there have been significant negative price movements in some farm output prices, which will reduce margins in 2023. This is particularly the case in the dairy and tillage sectors, which enjoyed record incomes in 2022. Dairy farms and Tillage farms are forecast to experience a substantial drop in incomes in 2023 compared with last year. Incomes on Cattle Rearing farms are expected to rise from a low level in 2022.

In brief: Business highlights
Hilmar Cheese Company has launched a new product aimed at the sports and healthy living nutrition markets. Hilmar PROtelyze Extend is a hydrolyzed whey protein isolate intended for nutrition bars. It boosts protein content while ensuring a desirable texture throughout shelf life.
A growing number of better-for-you foods are fueled by whey proteins, which are high-quality, readily digestible proteins derived from milk that consumers appreciate for their ability to provide a power boost. Consumption of these proteins is often through nutrition bars due to their convenience and variety of flavors.Hilmar PROtelyze Extend is a hydrolyzed whey protein isolate intended for nutrition bars.
(Image credits: Hilmar Cheese company).

BigCommerce, an Open SaaS e-commerce platform for fast-growing and established B2C and B2B brands, has announced international coffee brand Lavazza has launched a new store on the BigCommerce platform to support sales in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Campbell Soup Company is investing approximately US$160 million in its Richmond, Utah, manufacturing facility to expand production of Goldfish crackers to help meet increased consumer demand. The new line will increase the bakery’s output of Goldfish by 50% and produce over 5 million Goldfish per hour. The expansion also includes the construction of an onsite flour mill that will be separately owned and operated.

In brief: Innovation and NPD
Meati Foods, the producer of new protein cuts made from Mushroom Root, is expanding to all Whole Foods Market locations across the US as part of its omnichannel strategy. Consumers have rapidly pushed Meati into a category-leading position, leading to strong sales flags for the company. Meati Foods continues to scale its fully vertically integrated manufacturing capabilities to support its growth plan in retail and foodservice locations in the coming months. The Classic Cutlet, Crispy Cutlet, Classic Steak and Carne Asada Steak of the eat Meati product line will be available at all Whole Foods Market locations in two-unit packages in the refrigerated plant-based protein sets.

Maxwell House's cold-stirred foam technology provides a thick, creamy, and flavorful coffee.
(Image credits: Maxwell House).Maxwell House is introducing its first innovation in nearly a decade, the new Iced Latte with Foam. The unique cold-stirred foam technology provides a thick, creamy, and flavorful coffee without using a café’s specialized equipment. While 31% of coffee shop beverages are served cold, only 7% of coffee consumed at home is iced due to difficulty recreating a café-style iced latte. Maxwell House is set to deliver on this whitespace with an option that makes it easier for everyone to make a café style iced latte at home or conveniently on the go.

By Gaynor Selby