Beyond The Headlines: USDA tackles competition protection, Russia seizes Carlsberg assets

21 Jul 2023 --- In this week’s news, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) worked to enhance competition to protect consumers. Meanwhile, Carlsberg confirmed that it’s no longer in control of its Russian business. We also look at some developments in sustainability across the F&B industry, such as Symrise Pet Food’s new nutrition brand, Amcor’s capsule transparency program and Fonterra’s more ambitious climate targets.

In brief: Regulatory news
USDA announced plans to partner with bipartisan attorneys generals in 31 US states and the District of Columbia to enhance competition and protect consumers in food and agricultural markets, including in grocery, meat and poultry processing. This new partnership will assist state attorneys general in tackling anti-competitive market structures in agriculture and related industries that are raising prices and limiting choices for consumers and producers. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the partnership at the White House Competition Council meeting, which marked the second anniversary of President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting Competition.

The Carlsberg Group gave an update on Russia seizing its operations in Russia earlier this week. It confirmed statements published by the Russian Federal Agency for State Property Management regarding the appointment of temporary management of Baltika Breweries are correct. “The change to the management of Baltika Breweries has consequently been made without the knowledge or approval of Carlsberg Group. It is unclear to Carlsberg Group what implications this development will have on the ongoing operations of Baltika Breweries in Russia as well as the current sales process. Carlsberg Group will continue to provide information on material developments related to the temporary management of Baltika Breweries following the presidential decree,” the update said. 

In brief: Sustainability news
Symrise Pet Food announced plans to transform its nutrition ingredients brand into Nuvin, including plans to expand growth and advance sustainability for the complete offering of egg, chicken, hydrolyzed proteins and health solutions. The company intends to strengthen its pet food offering for its customers strategically. The new brand inherits a portfolio in natural pet nutrition: value-added eggs in the form of Ovalin nutritional products and OvaBind binding and emulsification ingredients for functional applications. Pepti’One hydrolysates come from a range of select, single-source animal proteins. Premium-quality chicken protein, broth, and fat for dry and wet formulations also add to the portfolio as well as health solutions, the company notes.

Russian authorities have seized Carlsberg Group's operations in the country.Lithuanian brewer Švyturys-Utenos Alus, part of the Carlsberg Group, and renewable energy company Green Genius entered into a novel Energy-as-a-Service power purchase agreement. Green Genius will develop, construct, commission and operate two PV-plus-storage systems in Lithuania that will provide renewable energy to the brewery and cover 100% of its annual demand with carbon-free electricity. The agreement is reportedly the first of its kind in Lithuania and the Baltics more broadly and accelerates progress toward the Carlsberg Group’s Zero Carbon Footprint ambition.

Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) revealed plans to partner with ITN Business to showcase the positive impact of livestock on the environment and food systems. To raise awareness and understanding of the importance of livestock and the role it has to play in feeding the population sustainably, AHDB partnered with ITN Business to produce news-style program “Farming a Greener Future.”

Amcor Capsules, which develops and produces responsible closures for wine and spirits, announced Transparence, a sustainability program to support the wine and spirits industry. The program establishes clear data-driven objectives to help wine and spirits brands and distributors deliver more sustainable closures and capsules. 

Fonterra announced a lift in its decarbonization ambition with a new Scope 1 & 2 emissions reduction target, which will be achieved by bringing forward some of its work to get out of coal. Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell said the co-op is targeting a 50% absolute reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 2030, from a 2018 baseline, an increase on its previous target of a 30% reduction by 2030. Achieving the new target will require Fonterra to continue to undertake energy efficiency improvements and fuel switching to renewable energy source activities across its milk collection fleet and manufacturing sites, with a focus on the six where it uses coal.Fonterra says it is targeting a 50% absolute reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 2030.

In brief: Business news
Finlays, a global B2B beverage solutions supplier, strengthened its capabilities in tea extraction after agreeing to purchase the tea and yerba mate extraction assets from the Paraguayan food ingredients business Natural Instant Foods. Finlays will move the extraction assets to Kenya to serve as a small-scale production line and pilot plant at its Saosa tea extraction facility in Kericho. This will enhance Finlays’ R&D capabilities by allowing Saosa to offer sampling and small-batch capabilities, increasing its speed and agility to respond to requests from its global customer base. Saosa is one of the world’s only tea extraction facilities located on a tea farm, giving Finlays the unusual ability to extract from fresh leaf on the same day as harvesting. This means Finlays can create premium tea extracts rich in bioactive compounds, helping its customers tap into growing consumer demand for healthy, natural and sustainable beverages.

The Institute of Food Technologists launched two product development platforms that address the challenges, resource shortages and learning gaps that exist in the product development process in the food and beverage industry. The Product Development Bootcamp is designed to equip product developers with the skills and knowledge to overcome challenges and bring products to market more efficiently. At the same time, Concierge Service supports food and beverage professionals who might be lacking the bandwidth to conduct the critical research and other time-intensive activities necessary in the product development process.

Roquette opened its new Customer Experience Center in Singapore. This new facility aims at further advancing Roquette’s leadership as a strategic partner to its customers for food innovations that suit the Asian palate. It consists of a culinary studio and a sensory hub.

By Gaynor Selby