Oterra to boost Asia production, push ‘bold innovations’
Natural colours manufacturer Oterra is boosting its production capacity in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region while continuing to create “bold innovations” based on its latest survey findings.
Brands & manufacturers
How running with Grupo Bimbo is fighting global hunger
The Mexican bakery giant is using the power of running to make a global impact, donating over 3 million slices of bread to food banks through its Bimbo Global Race.
Nespresso Bloom: The sweet taste of an environmentally sustainable business model
Nespresso USA’s range of honey products launched last week opens the aperture for the potential return on investment in regenerative agriculture, which some may view through an important but limited lens of supply chain security or as a marketing play to...
SAMBAZON eyes growth opportunities for açaí products in Middle East
US-based SAMBAZON is looking to expand uptake of açaí products in the Middle East, where the firm says awareness about the superfruit still has much room for growth.
Sweets & Snacks Expo 2024
Chocolate brands cash in on America’s largest candy and snack trade show
The 2024 Sweets & Snacks Expo became a launch pad for companies looking to crack the US confectionery market with new products from Colombia’s Vivamor, Canada’s Lovo Chocolate, along with reboots of classic brand Godiva and a new partnership deal for...
Sweets & Snacks Expo 2024
Mars Wrigley, Chocolate Cordillera, and Godiva all set to make their mark at the Sweets & Snacks Expo
We take a look at some of the upcoming highlights from this year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo.
Appointments
Mars Snacking appoints Gabriel Fernandez as new GEM president
Mars Snacking has announced Gabriel Fernandez's appointment as its new president for Global Emerging Markets (GEM).
New tech and more data: Diageo's action plan for Latin America
Diageo’s first half results for fiscal 24 were dragged down by a 23% drop in Latin America sales. What happened – and how will the company shift its strategy moving forward?
Sustainability
Mission accomplished: Luker Chocolate wraps up The Cacao Effect project
Luker Chocolate is celebrating the completion of The Cacao Effect, a five-year initiative that the company said positively impacted over 6,000 rural families in Colombia. The closing event was held on 24 November 2023 in Bogotá, Colombia, and showcased...
Kellogg’s Kellanova will focus on innovation, smaller packs & enhanced marketing to drive snack sales
On track to separate from Kellogg Co. in the fourth quarter, Kellanova will position itself as a snacks-led powerhouse and improved company with “a growth mindset, a refreshed strategy and more ambitious financial expectations,” CEO Steve Cahillane said...
M&As
Luker strengthens its presence in Europe with Lyra Group partnership
Colombian Chocolate Manufacturer Luker Chocolate has announced it has acquired a majority stake in Slovakian Lyra Group in a deal that will strengthen Luker’s product capabilities and increase flexibility in logistics for European clients.
Financial results
Mondelēz to up Cocoa Life investment on back of strong Q3 results
Mondelēz International has announced net revenues grew 8.1% year-on-year in the third quarter this year, driven by stronger pricing and volume. The Chicago-headquartered company also raised its full-year results forecasts and announced more price hikes...
Grupo Bimbo reports exceptional growth and snaps up St Pierre Groupe
The Mexican bread titan reported record sales and profits for Q3 2022, along with the acquisition of the UK bakery manufacturer, in a deal thought to be worth more than £300m.
Sustainability
HAPPi invests in future cocoa change-makers with Luker Chocolate
Oat m!lk chocolate brand, HAPPi, is teaming up with Luker Chocolate to create Kids for Nature, an exciting new project that aims to protect the remarkable wildlife of Colombia by educating the next generation to become guardians of their ecosystem.
Nestlé opens $340m coffee factory in Mexico
Nestlé has opened a new Nescafé coffee factory in Veracruz: creating 1,200 new jobs and making Mexico the company’s main coffee producer globally.
Grupo Bimbo posts ‘exceptional’ Q2 performance, addresses challenging environment
The Mexican bakery giant reported a doubled second-quarter net profit and raised its sales and operating earnings outlook, citing strong demand from regions including the US and Europe.
Why former WWF sustainability expert joined JBS: ‘No other company has the leverage and capacity to drive sector-wide transformation’
JBS has set targets to stamp out deforestation in its supply chain and move to net zero emissions by 2040. Former World Wildlife Fund (WWF) sustainability expert Maurício S. Bauer tells us why he has decided to transition from the NGO sector and join the...
Sustainability
GoodSam Foods and Luker Chocolate launch education programme for young cocoa farmers
Connecticut-based healthy snack food brand GoodSam Foods has announced a new venture with Colombian chocolate manufacturer Luker Chocolate to boost educational programmes in cocoa communities.
Bimbo celebrates decade-long inclusivity and looks to the road ahead
Bimbo Bakeries USA (BBU) has released its 2021 Diversity, Equity & Belonging report, highlighting its successes over the past 10 years, and laying out goals for the next three.
AB InBev pilots ‘climate-positive thermoplastic’ in Brazil
AmBev, the Brazilian subsidiary of AB Inbev, will incorporate UBQ Material’s waste-based plastic substitute UBQ into packaging materials.
De La Calle’s fermented tepache brings Mexican street food culture to US with $7m fundraise
With the help of a $7m fundraise, Startup De La Calle is bringing to more Americans nationwide a modern version of the beloved and naturally functional Mexican “street vendor treat” tepache – a probiotic beverage made from fermented organic pineapples...
2021 was yet another ‘exceptional year for Grupo Bimbo’
Mexican bakery giant Grupo Bimbo posted a 66.9% increase in fourth quarter net profit, along with a 74.7% bump up for FY 2021 to reach 15.9 billion pesos ($78m).
Grupo Bimbo leads Series A funding in superfood snack brand LiveKuna: 'We're doubling down on the North American market'
Grupo Bimbo, owner of well-known bakery brands including Sara Lee and Thomas English Muffins, is leading a Series A funding round for Ecuador-based LiveKuna, an emerging brand of superfood snacks, cereals, pastas, and alternative baking flours.
AmBev creates its first carbon neutral brewery in Brazil
AmBev’s first large brewery and first malting facility have become carbon neutral: with four more breweries set to follow by the end of the year.
Diageo invests $500m in tequila production in Mexico
Diageo will expand its manufacturing footprint in Mexico with an investment of more than $500m in new facilities in the State of Jalisco: supporting the company’s growth in the tequila category.
Sustainability at the source: How Unilever is addressing deforestation, living wages, and regenerative agriculture
How is Unilever ensuring sustainability in sourcing regions? Hanneke Faber, President Foods & Refreshment at Unilever, weighs in.
Kraft Heinz to acquire Brazilian condiments and sauces company Hemmer
Kraft Heinz has entered into an agreement to acquire Brazilian condiments and sauces company Companhia Hemmer Indústria e Comércio (a.k.a. 'Hemmer').
Aryzta offloads Brazilian bakery operations to Grupo Bimbo; secures €500m revolving credit
The Swiss-Irish group continues to simplify its business model with the sale of its Brazilian operations to Grupo Bimbo SAB de CV. Its aim to rebuild as a bakery leader in Europe and Asia has also been given a boost with a new €500m revolving credit...
Four companies that are driving sustainability
The alarming UN climate change report was put out over a week ago, but UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ “code red for humanity” message still haunts many as humans continue to cause much of the extreme weather by emitting greenhouse gases.
Bimbo posts record profits, but cautions tougher environment going forward
The Mexican bakery giant posted new highs for the second quarter – with a 16.2% increase in sales and adjusted EBITDA growing nearly 37% – as it motivated to revitalise those channels and categories that suffered during the pandemic.
Nestlé and Starbucks to bring RTD coffee to Southeast Asia, Oceania and Latin America
Building on a global coffee alliance formed in 2018, Nestlé and Starbucks have announced a new collaboration to bring Starbucks RTD coffee drinks to select markets in Southeast Asia, Oceania and Latin America from 2022.
'We are actively looking at all major animal-protein categories...' NotCo raises $235m in series D to expand its global plant-based meat, dairy empire
Santiago-based food tech company NotCo has raised $235m in a Series D round led by Tiger Global and supported by DFJ Growth Fund, ZOMA Lab, athletes Lewis Hamilton and Roger Federer, and musician and DJ Questlove, taking its cumulative funding to $350m...
Coca-Cola reveals early learnings from Topo Chico Hard Seltzer launch
Coca-Cola’s Topo Chico Hard Seltzer has entered a buzzing – but also competitive – hard seltzer market. What has the company learned from its first months in the US and other markets? And with the brand representing Coca-Cola’s first global push into...
Unilever steps up pricing as it continues to deliver strong underlying sales growth
Entering into the second half of 2021, Unilever said it will accelerate pricing across its product portfolio to offset the rising costs of transportation and commodities such as soybean oil.
Investing in the Future of Food
Danone: "There has been a massive shift in how consumers are shopping and their adoption of digital commerce is significant'
With digital commerce sales accelerating during the pandemic and expected to climb from $35 billion to more than $250 billion by 2025, Danone North America is reallocating traditional marketing dollars to online in a bid to better drive consumer...
Corona launches six-pack beer packaging made from barley straw
Corona is launching sustainable, renewable packaging made from surplus barley straw in South America this month, an innovation that it hopes to roll out globally in the future.
Conquering the challenges: AB InBev's Brazil business
AB InBev’s Brazilian beer business delivered strong performance in 2020, despite the challenges of the year. A combination of speedy innovation, premium brand strength and digital developments have been the key to success in the country, says the company.
Grupo Bimbo celebrates 75th anniversary with record results, unwavering commitment and an energised position for the future
The world’s largest bakery company posted outstanding financial results, reported significant market share gains, was recognised as one of the world’s most ethical companies for the fifth consecutive year and increased its global use of renewable...
Retail
Dengo Chocolates opens new concept store in São Paulo
Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in the universe of cocoa, chocolate and other products native to Brazil.
Kraft Heinz to leverage global scale and local agility: ‘That can unleash a lot of growth’
The Kraft Heinz Company’s recently released ‘transformation plan’ detailed the group’s strategy to deliver consistent growth, with top line gains led by its international business. FoodNavigator speaks to International Zone President, Rafa Oliveira, to...
Brown-Forman: ‘RTD alcohol growth this year has exceeded expectations’
Growth in RTD alcohol has exceeded Brown-Forman’s expectations this year: with the spirits giant championing a boom in Jack Daniel’s RTD and recent acquisition Part Time Rangers. But is the growth in RTD alcohol just a reaction to coronavirus or a...
The moment of ‘ground truth’: Unilever pilots Orbital tech to boost transparency in palm oil and soy
Orbital Insight’s technology will combine satellite images of Indonesia and Brazil with geolocation data to provide specific information on ‘the first mile’ – the journey that palm oil fruit or soybeans travel from the plantation to a mill. “With a...
Nestlé continues to expand plant-based dairy alternatives portfolio
Nestlé said it is developing a wide range of plant-based dairy alternatives that are nutritious, great-tasting and have a favorable environmental footprint.
Pivoting in a pandemic… and is Big Food set for a comeback?
Businesses across the country are adapting with lightning speed to adjust business plans, and in some cases, change their business model overnight, in order to adapt and survive as large swathes of the population go into lockdown.
Latin America's food industry reacts to COVID-19 crisis: 'Our operations are indispensable to food security'
Brazil's Marfrig pledges to keep all its meat plants operating; Mercado Libre cuts commission for non-perishable food products; Ambev brewery is now producing alcohol gel. We take a look at how the food industry is responding to the coronavirus outbreak...
Grupo Bimbo goes electric in Mexico
The Mexican bakery giant has invested $146m into its initiative to grow its electrically powered fleet to make emissions-free deliveries in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey.
Probiotic ice cream promotes health benefits in Chile
Ice cream is a treat for most children, but a startup in Chile is incorporating a strain of probiotics as a healthy supplement in the form of a daily snack.
Mexican tortilla manufacturer changes packaging to denounce violence against women
Tortilla manufacturer Esperanza changed the packaging of its tortillas this month to raise awareness of femicide and domestic violence.
'Nature-based solutions': Nestlé to plant 3 million trees in the Americas by 2021
Starting in Mexico and Brazil, Nestlé will plant three million trees, restore degraded ecosystems and help farmers switch to agroforestry methods in a bid to make its supply chain more resilient.
Ambev reduces CO2 emissions by 482 tons a year
Brazilian brewery Ambev has introduced new microturbine technology in its factories to reduce CO2 emissions by 482 tons a year.