Weekly Roundup: AAK acquires remaining Indian JV shares, Britvic & PepsiCo renew partnership

23 Oct 2020 --- This week in industry news, AAK acquired the remaining shares of its joint venture (JV) in India and Olam’s AtSource won the 2020 Reuters Responsible Supply Chain Award. Meanwhile, Nestlé Waters North America (NWNA) is strengthening its ReadyRefresh beverage delivery service, while Britvic and PepsiCo renewed their partnership for a further 20 years.

In brief: Business
To further strengthen its position in the strategic and fast-growing Indian market, AAK has acquired the remaining 31 percent of the shares of AAK Kamani, the JV between AAK and Kamani Oil Industries that was formed in September 2015. AAK now owns 100 percent of AAK Kamani.

AtSource, a sustainability insights platform developed by global food and agri-business Olam, has won the 2020 Reuters Responsible Supply Chain Award. The platform gives companies access into their supply chains, including access to greenhouse gas and water footprint analysis, and records of fertilizer use, irrigation and land-use change. With the information, customers can embark on targeted and cost-efficient sustainability programs with Olam and provide detailed and transparent communications with their stakeholders. Since the launch of AtSource in 2018, it has been rolled out across 30 origins and 150 customers, with a target for all directly sourced products to meet AtSource Entry criteria by 2023.

Banza announced its largest category expansion to date by introducing the first-ever frozen pizza made with a chickpea crust. NWNA is strengthening its ReadyRefresh presence in Southern California by acquiring certain assets from Palomar Mountain Premium Spring Water in Escondido, California, US. The acquisition will expand ReadyRefresh’s reach within San Diego County, Orange County, Riverside County and Los Angeles County. As NWNA’s direct-to-consumer beverage delivery service, ReadyRefresh provides convenient access to leading still and sparkling water brands, coffee and tea products, and water dispenser and filtration services. The acquisition will expand the number of households ReadyRefresh will serve in Southern California and enable the company to reach more customers in the region 

Britvic has reached an agreement with PepsiCo for a new and exclusive 20-year franchise bottling agreement in the UK for the production, distribution, marketing and sales of its carbonated soft drink brands – including Pepsi, 7UP and Mountain Dew. The agreement extends the relationship to December 31, 2040, and includes the Rockstar energy brand, for which Britvic will take responsibility from November 1. Britvic also announced its intent for all plastic bottles in the UK to be made from 100 percent recycled plastic (rPET) by the end of 2022 – three years earlier than initially planned and ahead of the previous target of 50 percent. 

In brief: NPD and ingredient highlights
US-headquartered Green Boy Group has launched Plant-Meat Protein, a functional plant-based protein powder that is non-GMO and developed as “meat” grade. Plant-Meat Protein enhances mouthfeel, boosts nutritional properties and enlarges the textured aspects in plant-based meat products. Plant-Meat Protein is introduced to the food industry to produce plant-based meat-like plant-based burgers, nuggets, sausages and produce textured plant-based proteins (TPP) in the form of crisps or granules. Plant-Meat Protein comes in four different protein types made from pea, mung bean, fava bean and chickpea.

US-based Banzahas announced its largest category expansion to date by introducing the first-ever frozen pizza made with a chickpea crust. The new product reinforces the company’s commitment to making nutritious foods more accessible by upgrading foods traditionally made with wheat, corn or rice, by using chickpeas. Banza’s pizzas have more protein and fiber and fewer net carbs and sodium than traditional and better-for-you frozen pizzas currently sold in the market, the company notes. 

Waitrose is launching an interactive service with its “Cocktails at Home” Experience Boxes, in partnership with John Lewis. The two limited-edition boxes include the key ingredients and kit to make either gin cocktails with a bottle of Roku gin or whisky cocktails with Toki whisky, premium craft spirits from the House of Suntory. 

US organic baking brand, Miss Jones Baking Co, has launched four Keto & Paleo Baking Mixes and sweeteners, SmartSugar and BetterSweet. Available in Sprouts Farmers Market stores in the UK this month, Miss Jones Baking innovations give consumers baked “from scratch” taste without all the sugar. 

Specialist freeze-dried food producer European Freeze Dry is now offering its full range of ingredients direct to customers in Italy. The company’s propoWaitrose is introducing an interactive service with its “Cocktails at Home” Experience Boxes. sition of long-lasting freeze-dried ingredients includes meats such as chicken, beef and seafood, as well as fruits and vegetables, and its new vegan and gourmet ranges. 

In brief: Other highlights
Just days after celebrating its 75th Anniversary and to coincide with the marking of World Statistics Day, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has published its revamped Statistical Yearbook, and also offers digital interactivity and downloadable data sets for the first time. The World Food and Agriculture – Statistical Yearbook 2020 provides a synthesis of the significant factors at play in the current global food and agriculture landscape, including information ranging from farming trends, inputs use, labor utilization, food security and nutrition to greenhouse gas emissions and the impact of agriculture on the environment.

UK’s dairy farmers may be reluctant to invest their hard-earned cash in automating milking processes during the current COVID-19 crisis but must balance labor disruption across the industry and staffing shortages due to self-isolation social distancing rules that challenge traditional manual milking processes. The need for dairy farmers to embrace automation has become apparent, as the challenges of Brexit – the future uncertainty of labor flows from Europe – adds to the pandemic impact. The aim is to find innovative solutions that improve animal welfare, increase efficiency and deliver high-quality milk in a resource-conserving operation to achieve long-term sustainability, according to GEA, a provider of farming technology solutions. 

By Elizabeth Green