Beyond The Headlines: Nestlé unveils plant-based white fish alternative, GNT’s interactive “color lab”

03 Nov 2023 --- In industry news this week, Nestlé announced the launch of a range of plant-based alternatives to white fish. Ahold Delhaize agreed to acquire 100% of Romanian grocery retailer Profi Rom Food from MidEuropa, and Premier Foods acquired breakfast brand FUEL10K. Cargill has completed an expansion project at its soybean crush and refined oils facility in Ohio, US.

NPD & innovation
Nestlé announced the launch of a range of plant-based alternatives to white fish, including products such as alternatives to breaded fish filets, nuggets, and fingers, which stand out for their strong nutrition credentials, as well as taste and texture that is close to white fish. They are also certified vegan. In Europe, under the Garden Gourmet brand, Nestlé will launch marine-style crispy filet and marine-style crispy nuggets made with wheat and pea protein. The products are high in protein and low in saturated fat. They also come with a Nutri-score A in countries that use the Nutri-score front-of-Ocean Spray Zero Sugar is the latest in the brand’s developments to create more health-conscious options (Image credit: Ocean Spray Cranberries).pack labeling system. They will launch both online and in-store across Europe, including in Germany, Spain, Italy, Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In Asia, Nestlé introduced fish-free fingers under the Harvest Gourmet brand in Malaysia and Singapore. They are made from soy and wheat.

Ocean Spray Cranberries has launched Ocean Spray Zero Sugar Juice Drink, the first beverage from Ocean Spray with a bold flavor, 0g of sugar, and no artificial sweeteners. It is available in two flavors, Ocean Spray’s iconic Cranberry flavor and Mixed Berry, a new flavor to the brand’s beverage portfolio. It is made with real fruit juice and sweetened with stevia.

Fanta released its latest creation in the ‘What The Fanta’ (WTF) line - a unique dessert-themed flavor that combines dessert-inspired notes with an enticing purple hue to appeal to social media consumers who like to post colorful F&B on platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Facebook. 

Business highlights
Brenntag has acquired OWI Chlor Alkali (Old World Specialty Chemicals and Old World Logistics) from Old World Industries in Illinois, US. The business units will be integrated into Brenntag Essentials’ existing network in North America, significantly expanding Brenntag Essentials’ local and regional footprint. 

Ecotone, a European producer of organic, plant-based, ethical, and sustainable food, has opened the doors to the continent’s largest 100% organic coffee and tea factory. The company has launched Caféière with a €10 million (US$10.6 million) investment to meet the growing demand for quality, organic hot drinks. The company received financial support from the European Union and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). La Caféière has been installed with a roasting smoke burner, which cuts C02 emissions by 30% compared with traditional methods. The factory also operates a 0% landfill, 100% circularity policy, with 85% of total leftover materials being recycled or reused in compost and 15% incinerated with energy recovery.

Ahold Delhaize has agreed to acquire 100% of Romanian grocery retailer Profi Rom Food (Profi) from MidEuropa, subject to approval from the regulatory authorities. This acquisition provides a strong format fit and complementary customer proposition to Ahold Delhaize’s local brand Mega Image in the Romanian market. Romania is an attractive market experiencing continued growth in public wealth and spending power, driven by strong economic fundamentals, says Ahold Delhaize. Profi is a leading traditional grocery retailer in Romania, operating 1,654 stores nationwide. In the twelve months ending June 2023, the company generated €2.5 billion (US$2.6 billion) in sales.Exberry allows manufacturers to achieve vibrant shades while maintaining clean and clear labels (Image credit: GNT).

Premier Foods has acquired breakfast brand FUEL10K, which has a portfolio of granola, oats and drinks products. Premier Foods says the acquisition illustrates that FUEL10K is a differentiated, protein-enriched breakfast brand, an on-trend proposition that attracts a predominantly young consumer demographic. It has a track record of strong double-digit revenue growth over the last three years and substantially increases the Group’s position in the breakfast category, building on the success of Ambrosia porridge pots.

Other highlights
GNT will open up an interactive “color lab” for its plant-based Exberry concentrates at Food Ingredients Europe (Frankfurt, 28-30 November 2023). Exberry Coloring Foods are edible concentrates made from non-GMO fruit, vegetables, and plants using physical processing methods such as chopping and boiling. They are available in more than 400 shades and can be used in all food and drink categories. GNT will showcase Exberry concentrates’ versatility by inviting attendees to color their own dairy, confectionery, and non-alcoholic beverages at special application stations. 

The Cargill crush facility serves as a link between soybean farmers in the region and customers both nearby and around the globe (Image credit: Cargill).Cargill has completed an expansion and modernization project at its integrated soybean crush and refined oils facility in Ohio, US. The upgraded facility will help Cargill better serve farmers and meet the growing demand for soy products across food, feed and renewable fuel markets. The project nearly doubles the previous crush capacity at the facility, providing greater market opportunities for area farmers and feed customers by creating demand for soybeans and offering greater access to soybean meal and hulls. 

An international collaboration, including researchers at John Innes Centre, The Sainsbury Laboratory and GetGenome, announced the Wheat Disease Early Warning Advisory System (Wheat DEWAS) to strengthen crop resilience against devastating wheat diseases. Following a US$7.3 million grant, Wheat DEWAS will bolster the protection of wheat productivity in vulnerable regions of East Africa and South Asia. The project focuses on preventing outbreaks from novel pathogen strains. By bringing together and expanding existing successful systems, the team aims to provide governments with near-real-time risk forecasts and actionable advice for farmers. These insights will enable proactive responses to transboundary wheat diseases, ensuring long-term sustainable crop productivity.

By Gaynor Selby