15 Oct 2018 --- Chr. Hansen is further expanding its enzyme production and presence into the traditional segments of specialty cheeses, with the newly announced acquisition of the assets of Austrian-based ingredient supplier Österreichische Laberzeugung Hundsbichler GmbH. Hundsbichler products are widely recognized for high quality and the purchase will enable Chr. Hansen to offer cheesemakers a second-to-none product portfolio in the animal rennet space, according to the company. Separately, the company announced that it had achieved all the overall financial targets set at the beginning of the year and raised its ambitions 9-11 percent organic growth for next year.
12 Oct 2018 --- A new survey exploring how consumers comprehend the difference between milk and non-dairy alternatives reveals that most people are actually not confused at all. The International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation shows a low level of consumer confusion over nomenclature and basic differences between the two. This comes at a time when the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering a proposal to provide greater clarity on the appropriate labeling of plant-based alternatives.
12 Oct 2018 --- There is plenty of room for robust growth in Asia’s cheese market, particularly for Australian dairy exporters who are well-placed to take advantage of increasing demand for cheese, even though it’s not a traditional part of the Asian diet. Market competition is already intensifying and there are opportunities to tap into growing demand from Asia, according to a new Rabobank report.
11 Oct 2018 --- Nestlé (Malaysia) Berhad is investing more than RM100 million (US$24 million) to expand its MILO factory in Chembong, in line with its strategy of driving strong, profitable and sustainable growth and investing in Malaysia as a key manufacturing hub for the Nestlé Group. Subsequently, French dairy group, Lactalis will acquire and take over operations of the PJ factory as well as Nestlé’s market-leading Chilled Dairy business.
03 Oct 2018 --- Now that the new US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) has been drafted during last-minute talks, the US and Canadian dairy industries have two very different viewpoints on the proposed new version of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The Americans are declaring a victory for dairy farmers because they’ve gained access to the Canadian market, while Canadian farmers claim the Government has sacrificed their livelihoods.
28 Sep 2018 --- The US government is taking a fresh look at labeling by stepping up its review of dairy labels for plant-based foods and asking consumers if they are confused by certain terms and products. As the plant-based alternatives market is growing rapidly, more products are hitting shelves with names like “soy milk,” “almond milk” and “vegan mozzarella cheese” – and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants to get a better handle on how consumers are interpreting and understanding these plant-based products compared to dairy products.
26 Sep 2018 --- Arla Foods is tapping into the increasing demand for healthy, natural products with the launch of a new fruit yogurt innovation. Driven by the dairy co-operative’s desire to create products with no added or unnecessary ingredients, Arla Bio Nur consists of only organic yogurt (75 percent) and organic fruit (25 percent), offering consumers a healthier alternative to sugar-laden yogurt. The line has just hit the shelves in the German market.
25 Sep 2018 --- Agropur Cooperative has announced that it is shutting its plant in Saint-Damase, in Quebec’s Montérégie region. Major investments were needed at the plant. “In view of the inability to reach a long-term agreement with the plant’s employees and the need to honor commitments to customers, Agropur had no choice but to reorganize its investments,” the company states. Operations at the plant will, therefore, be discontinued and it will close permanently in April 2019.
24 Sep 2018 --- Hydrosol is tapping in the growing demand for plant-based proteins with its new stabilizing and texturing systems for a wide spectrum of dairy alternatives that give them properties very close to products made from cow’s milk. These include cultured desserts that contain no milk components, soy or gluten.
17 Sep 2018 --- French dairy group Lactalis is looking to further expand in the infant formula market, with the acquisition of the infant nutrition business of South African company Aspen Pharmacare for €739.8 million (US$860.7 million). Lactalis is a privately owned, global leader in the dairy industry with revenue of €18.4 billion (US$21.4 billion) sales in over 200 countries, approximately 80,000 employees and 246 industrial plants in 47 different countries.
12 Sep 2018 --- Wessanen has acquired Abbot Kinney’s, a fast-growing and innovative leader in plant-based yogurt alternatives and ice-cream. Founded in 2014, Abbot Kinney’s already built a leading position in its category in Health Food Stores in The Netherlands and has started to establish a strong presence in key markets across Europe.
06 Sep 2018 --- The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is developing a series of standards for verifying many of the ingredients of infant formula to show the product is safe for consumption and contains what it says on the label. The latest one, ISO 21422 | IDF 242 for the determination of chloride content, has just been published.
03 Sep 2018 --- Cargill’s global edible vegetable oil business is keeping pace with the fast-paced evolution of the food and infant nutrition market with a US$17.5 million upgrade of its Izegem, Belgium, edible vegetable oil refinery. The company says that ramping up investment to the “world-class” facility will advance food safety and infant nutrition, keeping Cargill ahead of market demands and the European legislation that is driving significant change in the business.
03 Sep 2018 --- Farmer-owned Arla Foods has revealed its plans to build an innovation center in Nr. Vium, Denmark to “unleash the wonders of whey,” by 2021. Part of Arla Foods Ingredients, the new center will be home to leading scientists and innovators who will discover and deliver new ways of using milk and whey to serve the needs of the world’s growing population, according to the company.
31 Aug 2018 --- The North American dairy industry is closely watching how North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) talks are shaping up as today marks the deadline for Canada to sign onto the trade deal that was negotiated earlier this week between the US and Mexico. On Tuesday, the US and Mexico reached a breakthrough in NAFTA negotiations, coming to a bilateral agreement on a revamped trade deal which could pave the way for third-partner Canada to join soon.
30 Aug 2018 --- Dutch dairy giant Royal FrieslandCampina N.V. (FrieslandCampina) has reported a revenue total of €5,721 million over the first half-year of 2018. This is 5.8 percent lower in comparison to the first half-year of 2017, of which 5.0 percent is due to currency effects and the sale of Riedel. Profit decreased by 32.7 percent to €109 million, primarily due to losses on cheese, butter and milk powder basic dairy sales, according to the company.
29 Aug 2018 --- Magnum is set to launch two new vegan versions of its popular ice-cream bars in Sweden and Finland next month. The brand – owned by Unilever – will add Magnum Vegan Classic and Magnum Vegan Almond, which are European Vegetarian Union approved, to its existing product line. The ice cream bars will be made from a pea protein base and covered in smooth dark chocolate. They will be available to purchase in four-piece multipacks and singles from supermarkets in both Sweden and Finland.
27 Aug 2018 --- The number of dairy farmers to receive solar panels through the FrieslandCampina Solar program has more than doubled compared to last year. The Dutch multinational dairy cooperative says that initially 344 additional dairy farms would participate which eventually became 462 bringing the total number of participants in the FrieslandCampina Solar program to 772 dairy farms.
27 Aug 2018 --- Half of the ice creams investigated by UK Consumer Association Which? failed to include fresh vanilla, cream or milk. Vanilla ice cream may be a favorite among UK consumers and sales have soared over the last few weeks as Britain has experienced a heatwave, but a new survey by Which? has revealed some surprising truths about vanilla ice on the shelves of UK supermarkets.
24 Aug 2018 --- The UK dairy sector will receive a multi-million-pound export boost as China agrees to import UK dairy products made with milk from third countries. The £240 million (US$308m) five-year deal was secured in China yesterday (August 23) as International Trade Secretary Dr. Liam Fox MP met with China’s General Administration of Customs to reach the agreement. It comes amid a high period of uncertainty around British exports with the possibility of a no-deal exit from the EU at the end of March 2019 looking increasingly possible.
