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JULY 2025 • ISSUE 20 Raising the Bar Health, Safety & Hygiene Upgrades with impact Engineering & Components Mastering Temperature in Chilled Food Production Temperature Control BUSINESS Flow Measurement & Control Flow Measurement & ControlContents July 2025 4 News 10 Gerhard Schubert GmbH 12 Import & Export 18 Flow Measurement & Control 22 Health, Safety & Hygiene 26 Snack Foods 30 Engineering & Components 36 Temperature Control 38 Events Editorial: UK & Europe: editorial-ukeurope@foodandbeverage. business North America: editorial-northamerica@foodandbeverage. business Europe & Rest of World: editorial-eurow@foodandbeverage.business Sales: sales@foodandbeverage.business Events: events@roodandbeverage.business Finance & Admin: accounts@foodandbeverage.business Design: studio@foodandbeverage.business Where you see a QR code, it will take you to a longer version of that printed piece. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, photocopied, recorded or otherwise without express permission of the copyright holder, for which application should be addressed first to the publisher. While every reasonable care is taken, neither the publisher nor its participating agents accept liability for loss or damage to prints, colour transparencies, negatives or other material of whatever nature submitted to this publication. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of those held by the publishernews SGS, the world leader in testing, inspection and certification, has introduced an all-in-one service to support manufacturers seeking regulatory approval for food contact substances in the US and Canada. These substances must meet strict safety requirements, and the authorization process can take from six months to two years. In the US, the FDA’s Food Contact Notification (FCN) pathway is often preferred due to its proprietary nature and faster timeline. In Canada, while mandatory approval is limited to specific uses, many businesses voluntarily obtain a Letter of No Objection (LONO) from Health Canada to prove compliance. SGS’s new solution simplifies both FCN and LONO submissions by combining expert dossier preparation with advanced migration testing. This comprehensive service offers a faster, more efficient route to regulatory approval and is designed to expand across global markets, providing a true one-stop compliance solution. SGS simplifies regulatory approval for food contact substances in North America Spain’s Grupo Apex Expands with New Acquisition Spanish snacks manufacturer Grupo Apex has expanded its portfolio with the acquisition of Chavez y Clark, a local competitor known for the SuperMex brand. This strategic move reinforces Grupo Apex’s position in the food and beverage industry, particularly in the growing segments of corn and wheat tortillas. The financial specifics of this acquisition have not been disclosed. Operating from El Puerto de Santa María in Cádiz, Chavez y Clark specializes in producing and distributing tortillas, making this acquisition significant for Grupo Apex’s operations. This addition complements Grupo Apex’s existing network, which includes 12 production facilities across Spain. Grupo Apex articulated that this transaction strengthens their “industrial presence” in southern Spain and diversifies their product offerings into burgeoning categories within the food sector, specifically corn tortillas. Santiago Sala, CEO of Grupo Apex, stated, “This acquisition fully reflects our strategy of sustained growth and portfolio diversification, leading the development and value generation in the snacks sector.” SuperMex operates a facility boasting 1,300m² of production space along with a 1,000m² warehouse for finished products. Shift Towards Aluminium- Free Aseptic Cartons: Hochwald Leads the Way with SIG Terra Packaging As the market increasingly demands aseptic cartons without an aluminium layer, Hochwald, a leading dairy in Europe, takes a progressive stance by introducing UHT milk in SIG’s aluminium-free cartons. This initiative employs SIG Terra Alu-free packaging material, which reduces the already minimal carbon footprint of SIG’s standard packaging by up to 34%*. Notably, SIG was the first company in the food and drink packaging industry to unveil a packaging solution that eliminates the aluminium layer for aseptic carton packs. To date, SIG customers have successfully filled over 3.6 billion litres of food in aluminium-free aseptic cartons. Leveraging its extensive experience, SIG expands its Terra portfolio of sustainable packaging innovations continuously. FOODANDBEVERAGE.BUSINESS • 4news Innocent Drinks Appoints New Head for UK and Ireland After a successful 17-year tenure, beginning as commercial manager, Innocent Drinks has announced that John Taylor will transition to Coca- Cola as its Senior Director of GB Franchise Operations. Coca-Cola first partnered with Innocent in 2009, acquiring a 20% stake before taking full ownership in 2013. This strategic move has positioned both entities for future growth. In light of Taylor’s departure, Nicki Garland will step into the role of Head of UK & Ireland. Garland, a seasoned member of the Innocent team for over a decade, has consistently demonstrated her capabilities. She began her career in the UK & Ireland finance team, quickly advancing to lead it. Garland later took on strategic planning during some of the company’s toughest challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic. More recently, she headed the European commercial finance team. Prior to her tenure at Innocent, Garland accumulated valuable experience during six years at Tesco, sharpening her expertise in retail and commercial finance. Maestrani Acquires Belgian Praline Maker Delafaille Swiss chocolate manufacturer Maestrani Schweizer Schokoladen has successfully acquired the family-owned Belgian pralines producer Delafaille. Although the financial terms of this significant acquisition remain undisclosed, it marks a pivotal moment for both companies. In addition to acquiring Delafaille’s shares, the transaction includes the company’s subsidiary Ostrapack, located in Ostrava, Czech Republic, which specializes in chocolate packaging. Maestrani announced on LinkedIn that this deal presents an “opportunity to expand its product range to include Belgian praline and truffle specialties, while simultaneously strengthening its international market presence.” Since its establishment in 1999, Delafaille, based in Beveren, has specialized in manufacturing and packaging molded pralines, enrobed seashells, and cocoa-dusted truffles. Yorkshire Packaging Systems (YPS) has launched a new flexible polyethylene (PE) film with 98% recycled content—currently the highest of any shrink-wrap or bagging film on the market. Fully recyclable and available in a wide range of sizes, colours and print options, the film offers both sustainability and versatility for automated packaging lines. According to YPS Sales Director Josh Gibson, the film significantly reduces environmental impact by minimising the need for virgin plastic. “Thanks to its high quality, the film can also be used 98% recycled-content flexible film now available from YPS FOODANDBEVERAGE.BUSINESS • 5 at lower thicknesses, reducing total plastic consumption by up to 15%,” he explained. Importantly, the material is independently certified. It holds ISCC PLUS accreditation, which verifies sustainability across the supply chain, and the Plastica Seconda Vita certification, confirming the recycled origin and traceability of its raw materials. As both a packaging equipment and material supplier, YPS provides integrated solutions for customers aiming to reduce plastic use and switch to more sustainable formats. All materials supplied by YPS are fully recyclable, and the company is working towards achieving Net Zero by 2035.news FOODANDBEVERAGE.BUSINESS • 6 Sonoco, a global leader in sustainable metal and fibre packaging, has partnered with Grands Moulins de Paris (GMP) to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the iconic Francine brand. To mark the occasion, GMP is launching a limited- edition version of its Suprême flour using Sonoco’s recyclable GreenCan® packaging – honouring Francine’s legacy while underlining both companies’ commitment to sustainability. GMP, part of the farmer-owned VIVESCIA cooperative, sources 100% French wheat from its eight mills and is known for its quality flours and baking expertise, particularly through the Francine brand. The celebratory launch includes a 360° marketing campaign, in-store activations, and employee engagement initiatives. Francine first introduced rigid flour containers in the 1980s and continues to lead on innovation. The GreenCan® container – made from over 60% recycled materials and up to 96% paper content – offers practical, premium and sustainable packaging. Guillaume Sireix, Director of Sonoco GreenCan Studio, reflects on continuing the legacy of his father, who helped develop the GreenCan® solution. Sonoco’s Philippe Choquet praised the long-standing partnership with GMP, calling the limited-edition launch “a perfect expression of quality and shared sustainability goals.” Sonoco and Grands Moulins de Paris Celebrate 60 Years of the Iconic Francine Brand with Limited-Edition GreenCan Packaging Newlat Considers IPO After Integrating Princes Italy’s Newlat Food is contemplating an initial public offering (IPO) along with a listing on the London Stock Exchange following the integration of Princes Group into its operations. In a statement regarding its first-quarter results, Newlat indicated that it is evaluating, “among other things, an initial public offering and listing of a substantial part” of the newly renamed NewPrinces business. Newlat acquired the UK-based food and beverage company Princes for £700 million (approximately $893.6 million) from the Japanese conglomerate Mitsubishi Corp. in June of last year. Chairman Angelo Mastrolia highlighted in the latest filing that the integration of the canned foods and juices manufacturer has been completed swiftly, enabling the company to harness synergies right from the start. Newlat has positioned Princes as the central hub for its international food operations. The company noted, “A potential IPO may provide a tangible opportunity to fully drive the growth potential of the food & drink business, while also enabling the business to secure additional financial resources to accelerate its external growth strategy.” However, it clarified that “at this stage, no decisions have been made, and there can be no certainty that any such transaction or changes will proceed.” Kelly Turkeys Allocates £100k for New Machinery Investment Earlier this year, Kelly Turkeys announced a £500k investment aimed at expanding its operations and launching a diverse array of value-added products. This substantial investment will primarily fund new machinery at its Essex facility. The company seeks to enhance efficiencies in its Krafted By Kelly product line, a range that has experienced increased demand from retailers. Despite facing challenging market conditions for turkey, owner Paul Kelly addressed how cheaper imported butterfly cuts are affecting the domestic market during a recent company conference. “We’ve invested in excess of £100k into a Multi-Vac thermoformer, which, when installed, will pack our Krafted by Kelly products for cooking,” explained Toby Kelly, the head of sales and new product development. news EU Investigation Threatens $36 Billion Mars-Kellogg Merger The European Commission announced the initiation of a Phase II review regarding Mars’ proposed acquisition of Kellanova. This development suggests that regulators see a ‘real risk’ of this merger significantly diminishing competition across essential categories such as savoury snacks, breakfast foods, and frozen ready-to-eat meals. From the start, the $36 billion merger between Mars and Kellanova seemed like an ideal pairing for the snacking sector. Brands like Pringles, Pop-Tarts, Cheez-It, and Eggo would merge with M&M’s, Snickers, and Skittles, potentially yielding the world’s most formidable snacking conglomerate. However, as the EU engages in a deeper investigation, it becomes apparent that Mars might not achieve the global snacking dominance it envisioned. The immediate concern? The possibility that Mars may have to divest parts of either its or Kellanova’s snack portfolio to satisfy regulatory requirements. Potential divestiture targets may include Pringles in Europe, segments of the Eggo or Cheez-It brands, or overlapping snack bar stock-keeping units (SKUs). Avantium Partners with Hoogesteger to Develop PEF Bottles for Fresh Juice Avantium N.V., a frontrunner in renewable and circular polymer materials, has entered into a conditional offtake agreement with Hoogesteger , a prominent producer of fresh cold-pressed juices in the Netherlands. Hoogesteger will source the 100% plant-based, recyclable polymer PEF (polyethylene furanoate) from Avantium’s FDCA Flagship Plant for its juice bottles, which are made from ultra-fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs. Avantium’s PEF, marketed as releaf®, is a fully recyclable, 100% plant- based polymer, providing an innovative and circular packaging solution for Hoogesteger’s fresh cold-pressed juices. Notably, releaf® boasts a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to conventional materials such as PET, glass, or aluminum. Additionally, its oxygen barrier performance is ten times superior to PET, contributing to an extended shelf life for products. ystral is investing around 1.8 million euros in a new validation centre at its headquarters in Ballrechten-Dottingen (Germany). Completion is planned for the end of October. The centre will enable the machine and plant manufacturer to carry out more tests than before and further improve the testing conditions for its customers. Users do not have to be on site during the tests but can also follow them remotely via livestream. Mixing and dispersion technology specialist ystral builds new validation centre ystral plans, designs and manufactures highly efficient mixing, dispersing and powder wetting machines as well as process systems for the food industry. In the new validation centre, production companies will have the opportunity to test ystral technologies, train their operating personnel on ystral machines and use the testing facilities for method and product development. ystral is represented in the UK by S3 Process Limited. www.ystral.com FOODANDBEVERAGE.BUSINESS • 7BUSINESS With our extensive readership and engaged audience, you will receive maximum exposure opening up a gateway to an audience comprising decision-makers and influencers actively interested in the food and beverage industry and services. Deadline 21st July 2025. To find out why Food and Beverage Business is the perfect marketing channel for you email: john@foodandbeverage.business or visit foodandbeverage.business August Issue Processing Software & Hardware Pouch Packaging Cold Storagenews FOODANDBEVERAGE.BUSINESS • 9 In 2024, the Scottish Government will initiate regulations aimed at restricting promotions of foods and drinks high in fat, sugar, or salt (HFSS). These new measures, set to be implemented in Autumn, are designed to foster a food environment that promotes healthier choices. Additionally, the Scottish Government plans to synchronize its restrictions with existing policies in England and Wales. This alignment will focus on food and drink categories that are significant contributors to caloric intake, fat, sugar, or salt within the Scottish diet. Particular attention will be given to items causing concern regarding childhood obesity, such as confectionery, cakes, crisps, and sugary soft drinks. “These regulations will seek to reduce the public health harms associated with the excess consumption of calories, fat, sugar, or salt, including the risks of developing type 2 diabetes, various types of cancer, and other conditions such as cardiovascular disease,” stated Jenni Minto, Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health. “I believe this is an important step setting the path for consideration of what more can be done, in line with the ambition set out in our long-term Population Health Framework, to reduce the health harms caused by poor diet.” In response, David Thomson, chief executive officer of Food and Drink Federation Scotland, remarked: “We welcome the decision from the Scottish Government to align with the regulations in other parts of the UK. This creates a level playing field for businesses selling into Scottish stores compared with England and Wales.” Scotland to Harmonize HFSS Regulations with England and Wales CMA Approves GXO’s Acquisition of Wincanton, Conditional on Sale of Grocery Warehousing Division The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has cleared the GXO-Wincanton merger, contingent upon the sale of Wincanton’s dedicated grocery warehousing business to a buyer approved by the CMA, as of today, June 19, 2025. Earlier this year, the CMA issued an interim report in February, indicating concerns that the merger was “likely to reduce competition in the supply of dedicated warehousing services to grocery customers in the UK.” This assessment followed GXO’s agreement to acquire Wincanton in April 2024. The CMA’s recent summary report revealed that if competition decreases as a result of the merger, it could lead to higher costs for grocers. Such costs might ultimately be passed on to consumers, resulting in increased prices at the checkout. Kraft Heinz to Eliminate Artificial Colors in the U.S. Kraft Heinz has pledged to eliminate all FD&C color additives from its US product portfolio by the end of 2027. Additionally, the Heinz ketchup and Jell-O desserts brand owner announced on June 17 that it has “immediately” ceased launching any new products in the US that contain FD&C colors, also known as food, drug, and cosmetic colors. A spokesperson confirmed that the initiative encompasses beverages as well. The publicly listed group rolled out a three-pronged approach to eliminate FD&C colors: “Removing colors where it is not critical to the consumer experience; replacing FD&C colors with natural colors; or reinventing new colors and shades where matching natural replacements are not available,” explained Kraft Heinz.Next >