Weekly Roundup: Lantmännen acquires Myllyn Paras, UN calls for greater potato production

03 Jun 2022 --- In industry news this week, Lantmännen acquired Myllyn Paras to dominate the grain-based value chain while Swiss chocolatier Barry Callebaut launched Taycan, its first cocoa bean buying export facility in Ecuador. Meanwhile, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has competition concerns about Cérélia’s merger with Jus-Rol.

In brief: Business moves
Lantmännen acquired Finnish milling and bakery group Myllyn Paras which has net sales of US$64 million. With Myllyn Paras onboard, Lantmännen will cover the entire value chain from field to fork for grain-based food products. The acquisition covers Myllyn Paras’ milling operations with production of pasta, flour and flakes, a bakery for frozen bakery goods and dough.

Jebsen & Jessen Ingredients (JJING) and Nactarome, a specialist in the production of natural flavorings, colors and functional ingredients have partnered. The partnership will see JJING become the exclusive distributor for Nactarome’s F&B coloring solutions in South East Asia and China, under the brand FiorioColori. 

Barry Callebaut opened Taycan, the group’s first cocoa bean buying, cleaning, drying and export facility in Ecuador. It is located near the port of Guayaquil, offering direct access to the Pacific Ocean. The US$10 million investment underlines Barry Callebaut’s commitment to support the further development of the Ecuadorian cocoa sector.Barry Callebaut opened its first export facility in Ecudor.

Swiss cocoa-processing plant, Pronatec Swiss Cocoa Production completed its test phase and is producing organic and fair trade certified, semi-finished cocoa products. The plant will process around 15,000 metric tons of cocoa beans a year, sourced from smallholder cooperatives. It is the first production plant in Switzerland to make all three semi-finished products: cocoa mass, cocoa butter and cocoa powder.

Specialty chemicals and food ingredients service provider, Azelis unveiled its Regional Innovation Center (RIC) for Food & Nutrition (F&N) in Singapore. The RIC will generate food innovation opportunities toward healthier and tastier solutions through ready-to-use formulations with advanced, sustainable ingredients. 

In brief: NPD
Tereos launched Ensemble, a range of plant-based protein products for institutional and commercial catering, retail distribution and the food processing industry. The range contains wheat, chickpeas, sunflower oil, fiber and vegetable stock. 

Strive Nutrition partnered with precision fermentation leader, Perfect Day. Strive will launch a new line of milk alternatives enriched with Perfect Day’s animal-free whey protein with the taste and nutrition of cow’s milk. The main product will be Strive Freemilk Whole, an animal-free milk alternative that whips, foams and blends like animal dairy.Tereos launched Ensemble Foods, plant-based meals for the catering and food processing industries. (Credit: Ensemble)

In brief: Sustainability
Future Crops shifted to 100% renewable energy of its vertical farm harnessing the natural green powers of solar and wind energy. The scale-up developed a unique, proprietary soil substrate to grow crops. All the company’s resources are reused and recycled, including 97% of the water. Produce that does not meet the visual specifications for retail is sold to food producers.

In brief: Other highlights
The CMA has found that Cérélia’s merger with Jus-Rol could lead to higher prices and lower quality products for shoppers in the UK raising competition concerns. Cérélia is the largest manufacturer of bake-at-home dough products in the UK, producing private label products on behalf of grocery retailers. Jus-Rol’s products include puff and shortcrust pastry dough, pizza dough and pain au chocolat dough. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) published an audit which found a level of non-compliance with food law and subsequently led to ten formal enforcement actions being undertaken. The FSAI’s Audit of Food Business Operator Compliance evaluated a representative sample of food businesses including supermarkets; butchers; foodservice establishments; storage and distribution establishments; meat processing plants; and slaughterhouses and their compliance with meat labeling and traceability requirements.Future Crops vertical farm has switched to renewable energy. (Credit: Future Crops)

The director-general of the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) QU Dongyu called on multiple partners to help “greatly improve” potato agrifood systems on the national, regional and global levels, during his keynote speech at the 11th World Potato Congress (WPC) in Ireland pointing to seeds, yields and poverty reduction. Potatoes could contribute even more to world history and global food security, and total production of the food crop could double in the next ten years. Dongyu called for increased support for potato genetic improvements and shorter breeding cycles for potato varieties, and the potential value of virus-free potato seed systems.

By Inga de Jong