Weekly Roundup: Robertet acquires Ecom Food Industries, Tesco partners with Beyond Meat on plant-based offerings

28 May 2021 --- This week, Robertet has acquired Ecom Food Industries and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN’s (FAO) Director-General spoke at the regional dialogue on agri-food systems transformation. Moët Hennessy joined the Pour une Agriculture du Vivant (PADV) movement and in plant-based highlights, Tesco and Beyond Meat launched a new ready meal range for UK consumers.

In brief: Acquisitions
Robertet has acquired Ecom Food Industries of Toronto, Canada. Ecom is a North American-based manufacturer of specialty natural flavors and extracts. Ecom specializes in natural products for the food and beverage industry, in addition to the health, nutraceutical and cosmetic spaces.

In brief: Sustainability
The region of Europe and Central Asia is an economic and agricultural powerhouse that boasts diverse cultures, agri-food systems and climatic zones, according to FAO Director-General QU Dongyu. This implies the significant potential within this region for more investment and innovation. At the Regional Dialogue for Europe and Central Asia on policy and governance issues to transform agri-food systems, an exchange of views and dynamic discussion took place among senior government officials, farmers, producers’ organizations, youth representatives and the general public interested in food and nutrition-related issues. 

Tesco and plant-based meat brand Beyond Meat have launched a new ready meal range.Moët Hennessy’s latest program aims to promote and develop sustainable agricultural and winemaking practices to protect soils and biodiversity. Committing to soil regeneration is one of the pillars of the Living Soils, Living Together program established last year to set ambitious new sustainability goals. As part of the partnership, Moët Hennessy’s teams will be trained on regenerative viticulture. Technical advice will be provided on winemaking practices, particularly regarding plant covers. A measurement tool, the regeneration index, will be tested and adapted to the wine industry.

Phase one of Organic Valley’s dairy life cycle assessment (LCA) evaluated on-farm greenhouse gas emissions from dairy farms has been completed. It covers a diverse range of climates using different management practices. The University of Wisconsin-Madison assessment reveals that, on average, the dairy farms of Organic Valley’s members have a smaller carbon footprint than average US conventional and organic dairy overall. Calculations of the carbon footprint of Organic Valley milk includes the carbon sequestration from pastures, and also from forage and crop production. Including carbon sequestration in the LCA reduced the net farm emissions of the cooperative’s dairy farms by an average of 15 percent. On average, Organic Valley farmers report engaging in 50 percent more pasture grazing than that required by the National Organic Program, and this significant difference impacts the LCA results. In 2022, the full LCA will be completed, and Organic Valley will publish the overall impact of the cooperative’s organic milk.

In brief: Plant-based highlights
Tesco’s exclusive plant-based Wicked Kitchen range is partnering with Beyond Meat to launch a line of frozen ready meals in the UK. It is the first time Beyond Meat has collaborated with another food manufacturer in Britain. But now, Tesco is looking to further develop its frozen plant-based food offering with the launch of a new range of protein-packed meat-free exotic dishes from around the world, which will be offered through its exclusive Wicked Kitchen brand. The move follows the supermarket’s pledge last autumn to grow its plant-based meat-free alternatives by 300 percent by 2025.

In brief: Other highlightsAlmost 60 percent of Swedish consumers eat chilled ready meals at least once a year, according to Micvac.
Palsgaard has launched a new PGPR product that offers chocolate manufacturers the best-ever levels of functionality and efficiency. PGPR (polyglycerol polyricinoleate) is used in chocolate production for mold optimization, flow control and viscosity reduction. Palsgaard’s existing product, Palsgaard PGPR 4150, is already the market leader, but the company’s latest offering takes PGPR performance to new levels. Developed exclusively for chocolate, Palsgaard PGPR 4190 is 15 percent more efficient at controlling viscosity than Palsgaard PGPR 4150. It can be used at a dose 30-40 percent lower than other PGPRs, making it highly cost-effective. Other benefits include easier flow, better coating of inclusions, and taste- and odor-neutrality. Palsgaard PGPR 4190 will be subject to Palsgaard’s quality standards, with batch-to-batch checks guaranteeing uniform stability.

The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) has adopted blockchain and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to create the “Next Generation Cold Food Import Safety Management Platform.” The solution is designed to digitize and enhance the monitoring and control of the import of frozen or chilled meat from mainland China. The platform stores all import documents and container temperature data on the blockchain. Those granted access rights will share the same documents and data to ensure consistency. 

Foodtech company Micvac has mapped Swedish consumers’ consumption of chilled ready meals. The results show that almost 60 percent eat them at least once a year, generally because they regard them as tasty, convenient and value for money. “This is a category that is still relatively young. But it is growing strongly – at around 25 percent a year in recent years, discounting the pandemic year of 2020. This is why we felt this survey was necessary so that we can better understand the consumer,” says Malin Brodén, marketing director at Micvac.

By Elizabeth Green