Weekly Roundup: UK plant-based sales soar

30 Oct 2020 --- This week in industry news, IMCD opened a new headquarters in Ohio, while Fonterra revealed its plans to expand its foodservice business. UK plant-based meat company THIS announced sales grew by 40 percent during the second wave of COVID-19. Meanwhile, Tate & Lyle agreed to purchase 85 percent of Thai tapioca business Chaodee Modified Starch Co. (CMS) to grow its texturant portfolio.

In brief: Business
IMCD, a distributor of specialty chemicals and ingredients, has opened its new US headquarters in Westlake, Ohio. The company debuts its new location to accommodate its expanding business and complement its global digitalization initiatives to better serve its markets across the US.  

IMCD has opened its new US headquarters in Westlake, Ohio.Fonterra has entered a sales and marketing agreement with American dairy co-operative, Land O’Lakes. The arrangement will open up opportunities to expand Fonterra’s Foodservice products into other US foodservice outlets. Fonterra’s global director for foodservice, Paul Harvey, says the US is not only the largest dairy foodservice market in the world, it is also the most competitive.

Marfrig and ADM have completed regulatory approvals and the formal launch of PlantPlus Foods, a joint venture that will offer a wide range of finished plant-based food products across North and South America, backed by unmatched technology, scale and experience.

Benson Hill has closed a US$150 million Series D funding round led by Wheatsheaf Group and GV (formerly Google Ventures). The company’s leading food innovation engine CropOS taps nature’s genetic diversity to develop and commercialize healthier and more sustainable food and ingredient options. This funding round will accelerate the food tech company’s efforts to deploy its platform technology, expand partner development across the supply chain and scale product commercialization efforts.

Diageo has reached an agreement to acquire Chase Distillery, the owner of Chase GB Gin and the award-winning Chase Original Potato Vodka. Founded in 2008 by entrepreneur William Chase, the Chase Distillery portfolio includes seven gins, four vodkas and an elderflower liqueur. In addition to Chase GB Gin, a smooth, full-bodied gin perfectly balanced with juniper, spice and citrus, Chase has created several flavored gins, including Pink Grapefruit & Pomelo, Seville Marmalade and Rhubarb & Bramley Apple Gin.  

Tate & Lyle has signed an agreement to acquire an 85 percent shareholding in CMS, a tapioca modified food starch manufacturer located in Thailand. This investment extends Tate & Lyle’s presence in specialty tapioca-based texturants and establishes a dedicated production facility in eastern Thailand’s central tapioca region. The acquisition will enable Tate & Lyle to offer a broader range of tapioca-based solutions to meet customers’ needs for better tasting and clean label foods in categories including dairy, bakery, snacks, noodles, soup, sauces and dressings.  

In brief: Appointments The Fry Family Food Co. and Oumph! have announced their sponsorship of Veganuary 2021.
Campden BRI has appointed Tim Foster as Scientific Affairs Director. In this new role, Foster will lead the development and growth of the company’s scientific strategy. Working with the chief executive and the executive team, Foster will develop influential relationships on behalf of its members and clients. 

Meatless Farm has appointed Ben Davy as its new culinary development chef. Davy will be heading up the taste and texture development of new and existing products within the company’s portfolio. Davy has over seven years’ experience as a development chef. His expertise includes venues famed for their meat dishes and some at which he innovated and expanded their plant-based offerings. 

In brief: Other highlights
To mark World Vegan Day on November 01, plant-based food brands The Fry Family Food Co. and Oumph!, both portfolio brands under the Livekindly Collective, announced their sponsorship of Veganuary 2021. LikeMeat, the third food brand in the portfolio, will be amplifying the initiative in Germany. International Marketing Director at Fry’s and Veganuary ambassador of six years, Tammy Fry, will be spearheading the month-long challenge for the Livekindly Collective brands to encourage people worldwide to try a plant-based diet for January and beyond.

UK plant-based meat company THIS has seen sales grow 40 percent since last month during the second wave of COVID-19. The first wave saw its retail sales double (across Holland & Barret, Waitrose, Ocado and Co-op), and the company anticipates similar growth as the pandemic continues into winter. Asda will sell the brand’s popular products, THIS isn't Bacon, and THIS isn't Chicken Salt & Pepper pieces. Having just launched into Sainsbury’s two weeks ago and Tesco in June 2020, the national distribution deal with Asda will make THIS available in three of the “big four” supermarkets within five months. 

Whole Foods Market customers can now purchase a range of fresh produce that has been grown by Infarm – the world's fastest-growing urban farming network. It marks the third major expansion into the UK retail space for Infarm as retailers seek ways to reduce their supply chain’s environmental footprint and develop their range of sustainable produce. The partnership between Infarm and Whole Foods Market aims to satisfy increasing consumer demand for sustainably grown products, helping customers make healthy choices and reduce their food waste.

The Consorcio del Chorizo Español (Spanish Chorizo Consortium) has reported that throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Spanish cured meats industry has established itself as “a key pillar” of the Spanish economy in both the domestic and export markets. The cured meats industry was the only food sector to see a historic 38 percent increase in worldwide exports during the first half of 2020, compared to the same period in 2019. The UK continues to be one of the most significant importers of Spanish sausage products, second only to France. In 2019, over 12.4 million kilos of Spanish cured meat products were exported to the UK, with 9.5 percent of that volume certified by the Consorcio del Chorizo Español – chorizo certified with a quality seal.  

By Elizabeth Green