Beyond The Headlines: Unilever highlights ice cream sales drop, Tate & Lyle expand in soluble fibers

27 Oct 2023 --- In industry news this week, Indena and dsm-firmenich have joined forces to improve natural solutions, while Unilever reported a decline in ice cream sales and an uptick in dressings. Tate & Lyle announced an investment program in its corn wet mill in Boleráz, Slovakia, to establish new capacity for soluble fibers.

Business moves
Unilever reported third-quarter results with an underlying sales growth of 5.2%, but turnover decreased by 3.8% to €15.2 billion (US$16 billion). Nutrition sales grew 5.6%, driven by price growth and innovation in Southeast Asia and Africa. Dressings grew by high single digits, but volumes were negatively impacted in Europe and the US. Ice cream sales dropped due to volume decline and consumers choosing value formats. Meanwhile, Unilever’s 2023 outlook remains unchanged, with underlying sales growth above 5%. The company has also set out an action plan focused on faster growth, greater productivity and simplicity and Fernando Fernandez has been appointed as Unilever’s new chief financial officer.

Indena and dsm-firmenich have formed a strategic partnership to advance natural solutions for improving human health. The partnership is dedicated to specific health areas and selected ingredients, including those to support immunity, vision, brain health, women’s health, healthy aging and gut health.

Tate & Lyle is improving the understanding of consumers’ views on fiber and the role it plays in their diet (Image credit: Tate & Lyle). Tate & Lyle PLC announced an investment program in its corn wet mill in Boleráz, Slovakia, to establish new capacity for its non-GMO Promitor Soluble Fibers. The production of fibers during the first phase of the program will start in mid-2024, representing a €25 million (around US$26 million) investment. This program is slated to significantly increase Tate & Lyle’s fiber capacity. The facility in Boleráz will give Tate & Lyle the ability to expand existing Promitor product lines and add new ones over time. The investment will also help Tate & Lyle to meet the growing consumer demand for fiber as a tool for supporting gut health and immunity.

Campbell Soup Company announced it has received a request for information from the Federal Trade Commission as part of the agency’s review of Campbell’s proposed acquisition of Sovos Brands, Inc. The company now expects to complete this transaction in the next calendar year.

New product development
WNWN Food Labs announced it will release three new products to the public next week, with dairy-free bars, palm oil-free, and caffeine-free bars. The wrappers will be compostable, and the cardboard sleeves will be recyclable. 

French bakery manufacturer Bridor has unveiled an innovative selection of frozen ready-to-prove (RTP) Viennese pastries, which are suited for artisan bakers. 

Jungle Cup has created a microplastic-free disposable coffee cup that is home-compostable and will disappear in just 16 weeks. According to the company, 79% of Germans support a ban on hidden plastics in paper coffee cups. 

Other highlights
Grain Farmers of Ontario is calling on the Canadian government to ensure the uninterrupted flow of grain through the St. Lawrence Seaway during the ongoing strike by Seaway workers. The closure of the Seaway could disrupt the grain harvest in Ontario, affecting farmers and the food system.

The 51st Plenary Session of the Committee on World Food Security opened at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations headquarters in Rome. The session focused on global food security, emphasizing the need for coordinated policy responses at various levels.

Soybeans are the most affordable and commonly used protein source in aquafeed today.According to the data from Copa and Cogeca’s Wine annual Harvest press conference, the EU wine harvest for 2023 is experiencing a decrease in production across major countries, including Spain, Italy, and Germany. France and Portugal are exceptions, with increased production. The 2023 harvest declined by 5.5% compared to the five-year average due to various climate-related challenges like dry winter, hailstorms, and floods. France is now the top European wine producer, while Italy’s production declined due to heavy rains and mildew. Spain, despite a 14.42% production decrease, remained the third-largest European producer. Germany experienced a slight drop in wine production due to inflation and high costs.

A new study by Enifer, a Finnish biotech start-up and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences shows that farmed fish grow better and healthier with fungi produced from Nordic forestry by-products than with soybeans. The study shows that juvenile salmon growing in freshwater fed with Pekiloaqua mycoprotein had an activation in their immune system and grew better. 

By Sichong Wang