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BUSINESS Warehousing the Future Warehousing & Distribution Packaging for Proof Sustainable Packaging Clean Sweep Cleaning & Maintenance June 2026 • Issue 29J frozen & chilled foods frozen & chilled foods foodandbeverage.businessCompany Name Address Phone Website 100 Words Logo on Map Marker & Listing Page Company Name Motto / Tag Line Address Phone Whatsapp Email Website Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Youtube Instagram Youtube Video 10 Images 1,000 Words Logo on Map Marker & Listing Page Company Name Motto / Tag Line Address Phone Whatsapp Email Website Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Youtube Instagram Youtube Video 10 Images 1,000 Words On Homepage and at top of each Category listing We’re super excited to finally tell you about all these epic features we’ve worked on during the last months. We have launched a FREESTANDARD PREMIUM foodandbeverage.business/directory10 04 20 20 cleaning & maintenance 30 warehousing & distribution 16 sustainable packaging FOOD AND BEVERAGE BUSINESS MAGAZINE 3 Food & Beverage Business Magazine, 128 City Road, Lodnon, EC1v 2NX Telephone: 020 3633 8987 • Website: www.food and beverage.business Editorial: editorial-ukeurope@foodandbeverage.business • Sales: sales@foodandbeverage.business Finance & Admin: accounts@foodandbeverage.business • Design: studio@foodandbeverage.business News Everything that has been going on in the Food & Beverage sector this month import & export Global food and beverage trade may appear relatively steady on the surface, but beneath the headline figures the rules of market access are shifting. gerhard schubert GMBH The power of modules sustainable packaging Sustainable packaging is no longer judged purely on material choice or recyclability claims. For food and beverage manufacturers in 2026, the real challenge lies in balancing environmental targets with compliance, production efficiency and the technical demands of modern packaging lines. cleaning & maintenance In modern food and beverage manufacturing, cleaning and maintenance have evolved far beyond their traditional roles as background operational tasks. Once viewed largely as routine housekeeping and scheduled engineering support, they now sit at the heart of food safety, regulatory compliance and plant efficiency. chilled & frozen foods Frozen and chilled foods have long been staples of modern retail, but in 2026 they are evolving into one of the most technically demanding segments of food production. What was once viewed largely as a convenience category is now being reshaped by premiumisation, regulatory change, sustainability pressures and a wave of digital transformation across the cold chain. warehouse & distrubution As regulatory pressure, retailer expectations and supply chain complexity intensify, food and beverage warehouses are evolving from simple storage facilities into strategic operational hubs. In 2026, the most effective distribution operations are no longer measured purely by speed or capacity, but by their ability to deliver traceability, resilience and compliance at scale events guide Everything that has been going on in the Food & Beverage sector this month 24 28 14 32 CONTENTS 164 FOOD AND BEVERAGE BUSINESS MAGAZINE Dairy Giant Introduces €300 Million Shift to Functional Nutrition ABF Ingredients (ABFI) has revealed plans to acquire land in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. This investment highlights the company’s dedication to the region while fostering the ongoing development of Ohly, a key player among ABFI’s global specialty ingredients divisions. Additionally, this site presents opportunities for expanded operations, further enhancing ABFI’s capacity to cater to essential markets across North America. The Eau Claire City Council, along with representatives from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), expressed their enthusiasm regarding this announcement, pointing out the positive economic repercussions it will have through job creation, increased local supply chain avenues, and sustained infrastructure growth. ABF Ingredients Unveils Eau Claire, Wisconsin as New Location for Expansion NEWS Mars is making a significant move in the food and beverage industry by introducing cocoa-free alternatives in Germany. The company, renowned for its Snickers bars, is collaborating with Planet A Foods to utilize the ChoViva ingredient in its latest product under the Balisto brand. Starting from April through October, the Balisto Trail Mix will be available in Rewe stores as part of a test launch. This new snack features a blend of nuts, raisins, and ChoViva pieces, designed to cater to evolving food and drink consumer trends. In addition to the Balisto Trail Mix, Mars is also unveiling an M&M’s Trail Mix in Rewe supermarkets. Notably, this product does not incorporate the ChoViva ingredient. Instead, it contains a mix of almonds, peanuts, raisins, and the brand’s classic chocolate treats. Carsten Simon, general manager of Mars Wrigley in Germany, expressed enthusiasm about entering a new segment with these trail mixes, emphasizing the innovative collaboration with ChoViva. Mars Ventures into Cocoa-Free Chocolate Kerry Dairy Ireland has rebranded as Kinisla, marking the onset of a significant growth phase for the company. This extensive Kinisla strategy is designed to promote disciplined and profitable growth in international markets over the next five years. As a venture predominantly owned by farmers, it plans to invest €300 million in advanced manufacturing capabilities, innovative solutions, and efforts to reduce carbon emissions. The company embarks on this new phase with impressive operational dynamics. By 2025, turnover reached €1.4 billion, and EBITDA increased to €86.8 million. To capitalize on this success, the board has sanctioned a focused investment plan totaling €300 million. In addition, Kinisla intends to create 100 new positions in central operations within the coming one to two years. This funding will be strategically directed toward areas with the highest potential for long-term margins, particularly in nutritional ingredients and dairy consumer products.FOOD AND BEVERAGE BUSINESS MAGAZINE 5 Dairy Leader Müller Acquires Plant-Based Company Berief German dairy powerhouse Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller has acquired Berief Food, a notable producer of dairy alternatives and tofu. This strategic move aims to enhance Müller’s position in the rapidly evolving market for plant-based food and beverages. On May 7, Müller announced that this acquisition aligns with its goal to tap into the dynamic growth potential of plant- based offerings. The company currently markets vegan yogurts and desserts in Germany under its own brand, but the addition of Berief Food significantly strengthens its foothold in the food and beverage industry trends surrounding plant- based alternatives. Founded in 1985, Berief Food is a family-run enterprise specializing in a diverse array of plant-based dairy drinks and tofu. Tetra Pak Enhances Nature Strategy: Boosting Responsible Sourcing and Water Resilience Initiatives Tetra Pak has updated its acclaimed Approach to Nature, intensifying its commitment to responsible sourcing and enhancing water resilience. This initiative aims to maximize positive contributions while addressing significant environmental impacts, following two years of practical implementation throughout its value chain. Initially introduced in 2024, the Approach to Nature outlines over twenty specific targets designed to prevent and reverse biodiversity loss, restore ecosystems, and improve global water security, in line with international biodiversity initiatives. Drawing from insights gained during its application, Tetra Pak has refined the framework to focus on areas where it can yield significant results. BLACKSTONE AND CD&R SET THEIR SIGHTS ON THE MAGNUM Blackstone and CD&R are reportedly considering the acquisition of The Magnum Ice Cream Company (TMICC), which was recently spun off from Unilever but remains partially owned by the FMCG giant. TMICC made its debut on the stock exchanges in London, Amsterdam, and New York late last year after separating from Unilever. Industry sources cited by Reuters suggest that the private equity firms are exploring potential bids for this ice cream enterprise. According to insiders, Blackstone and CD&R are in the preliminary phases of assessing their bids for TMICC. NEWSLeerdammer Mini Cubes: Perfect for Adult Charcuterie Boards Lactalis UK & Ireland is set to broaden its renowned Leerdammer brand into the dynamically growing adult snack sector. The company has recently introduced Leerdammer Mini Cubes, designed to cater to contemporary sharing and grazing trends. This innovative cheese snack enables Lactalis to transition beyond traditional sandwich-style slices and tap into the impulse-buy market. This launch is a direct response to the increasing consumer preference for convenient, bite- sized, natural dairy snacks. The cheese snack market is currently thriving across various UK grocery outlets, exhibiting a robust 13.3% annual growth in value. Packaged and portioned cheese products now rank as the fourth largest category within the overall cheese sector. With this positive trend, Lactalis is leveraging the strength of its premium, recognizable brand to enhance shelf presence. Moreover, this new product line specifically caters to ABC1 adults and busy families in search of healthier food options. While cheddar has traditionally captured the UK market, it tends to have a more substantial nutritional profile. In contrast, Leerdammer provides a lighter choice, characterized by its signature mild and nutty flavor. This positions retailers to appeal to health-conscious consumers in search of natural options without artificial additives. Power EPOS partners with Northern Ireland Food to Go Association to support hospitality operators with advanced EPOS solutions Power EPOS, powered by Henderson Technology, has been named an official EPOS provider of the NI Food to Go Association, strengthening its commitment to supporting Northern Ireland’s fast-growing food-to-go and hospitality sector. The partnership will provide association members with access to industry-leading EPOS technology, alongside exclusive commercial benefits designed to help operators streamline operations, improve efficiency and drive profitability. With over 30 years of experience behind the platform, Power EPOS delivers a fully integrated, end-to-end solution for hospitality businesses of all sizes – from independent takeaways to multi-site groups. As part of the collaboration, NI Food to Go Association members will benefit from an exclusive introductory offer, including three months’ free software licensing, alongside tailored packages covering hardware, installation, training and ongoing support. Spanish sustainable packaging company Enbox (World Vypmar) has received the esteemed Arcapack Oro 2026 national award for Best Food Packaging, recognizing its innovative “Snack Shot” container for cherry tomatoes from the brand’s eco-conscious Synergy packaging line. This accolade, which celebrates excellence in packaging design throughout Spain, was presented to structural packaging designer Víctor Folk for developing a solution that effectively addresses the reduction of plastic usage, adheres to stringent European fresh-produce regulations, and fosters consumer engagement NEWS 6 FOOD AND BEVERAGE BUSINESS MAGAZINEPPM Technologies and Key Technology, both Duravant operating companies, will introduce a new fully integrated potato chip processing line at SNACKEX booth 431. Designed for processors facing raw material variability, labour shortages and high-volume production demands, the line combines PPM’s frying, seasoning and product handling expertise with Key’s advanced optical sorting technology. From slicing through to packaging, the unified system is designed to improve product consistency, recover more usable product, reduce labour requirements and provide single-source accountability with global support. PPM’s frying technology anchors the line, with BatchWright™ batch fryers for kettle-style chips and CookWright™ continuous fryers for conventional production. Both include advanced oil filtration and clean-in-place capability to reduce operating costs and downtime. Key’s COMPASS® optical sorter removes defects, foreign material and fryer debris before packaging, while PPM’s FlavorWright™ All-in-One seasoning system applies liquid and dry seasonings with precise, consistent coverage. A coordinated conveyor network links each stage, helping minimise breakage, maintain uptime and support efficient production. The line will be showcased at SNACKEX 2026, taking place June 17–18 at FIL Expo in Lisbon, Portugal. Ardagh Glass Packaging has revealed a reorganization of its leadership structure in anticipation of the retirement of AGP CEO Mike Dick, set for the end of May 2026. In this updated framework, regional leaders will now report directly to Mark Porto, the executive chairman of Ardagh Group, enabling enhanced regional decision-making capabilities and improved commercial operations. Alexander Kuzan has been appointed as CEO of AGP Europe. He previously held the position of vice president and general manager at Novelis, directing the European can division since 2017, where he concentrated on strategies related to food and beverage packaging within the European landscape. FOOD AND BEVERAGE BUSINESS MAGAZINE 7 NEWS PPM Technologies and Key Technology Introduce New Fully-Integrated Potato Chip Processing Line ARDAGH GLASS PACKAGING OVERHAULS LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE Synlait Milk has announced the resignation of CEO Richard Wyeth, who has led the New Zealand-based dairy company for a year. The company confirmed his departure in a stock- exchange filing on May 14, noting that the board has accepted his resignation. Wyeth will remain with Synlait until June 30 to facilitate a smooth transition. He assumed the CEO position on May 19 of the previous year, following four years at Westland Milk Products. Synlait acknowledged Wyeth’s strong contributions during a particularly challenging time for the company. Effective immediately, the board has appointed director Leon Fung as acting CEO. Fung brings valuable experience, having previously held key roles, including CEO of NIG Nutritionals and operations director at Danone’s Oceania division. Since joining Synlait as a director in June 2024, he has built a solid understanding of the company’s operations and challenges. SYNLAIT CEO RESIGNS AFTER ONE YEAR IN LEADERSHIPHumanoid and Schaeffler Finalize Phased Deployment Agreement Recent estimates reveal that one in four bottles of spirits consumed globally may not contain the genuine product. Alarmingly, counterfeit and illicit products comprise 25% to 40% of total consumption in the global spirits market¹, resulting in substantial annual losses in sales and tax revenue. Furthermore, the World Health Organization indicates that 21% of all alcohol consumed worldwide lacks any governmental oversight, being either illegally imported, counterfeited, or untraceable. In response to this pressing issue, Guala Closures—a leader in food and drink packaging solutions—has introduced MAGNEX, an innovative closure for premium spirits created using EMF (Electromagnetic Forming) technology. This cutting-edge process employs high-velocity magnetic pulses to shape aluminum directly around a mold, resulting in complex geometries, micro-engravings, and three-dimensional textures that traditional aluminum forming cannot replicate. Each closure is co-designed with the brand, seamlessly integrating design with extensive protection features. Guala Closures Introduces MAGNEX: The Next-Generation Cap for Enhanced Spirits Protection NEWS Now in its final stages of commissioning, funding will be allocated for the installation of specialized equipment for cottage cheese production at Rodda’s facility located in Scorrier, Cornwall. Once this plant becomes operational, it will join an exclusive group of dedicated cottage cheese production sites in the UK. At optimal capacity, the dairy company anticipates producing 4,000 tonnes of cottage cheese annually, with the creation of 20 new job opportunities. Producing cottage cheese on-site will also enhance sustainability. Rodda’s currently processes approximately 61 million liters of milk each year, with only 7% allocated to its renowned clotted cream, while surplus skimmed milk has largely been sold back into the commodity market. By integrating cottage cheese manufacturing into its operations, Rodda’s will now be able to utilize a greater portion of its surplus skimmed milk internally. Additionally, this initiative will incorporate new workflows and automation technologies into the Scorrier facility. Cornish Dairy Producer Rodda’s Invests £6 Million in Cottage Cheese Facility Humanoid, a robotics and AI firm headquartered in the UK, has established a definitive phased deployment and supply agreement with Schaeffler, a leading technology firm, to embed humanoid robots into active manufacturing workflows. The initial systems are set to be operational in Germany by late 2026, and Humanoid will engage Schaeffler as its preferred provider for actuators. The goal of this deployment is to integrate several thousand wheeled robotic units across Schaeffler’s extensive global network by 2032. This partnership operates within a Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) framework, wherein Humanoid supplies the robotic solutions alongside necessary services for comprehensive deployment and functionality. These services encompass integration with fleet management software, technical support around the clock, updates, maintenance, and continuous performance monitoring. Besides the deployment agreement, Humanoid has also finalized a five-year supply contract with Schaeffler for actuator delivery. Under this arrangement, Schaeffler will fulfill more than half of Humanoid’s requirements for joint actuators for its wheeled platforms through 2031. This collaboration is anticipated to yield a substantial supply of actuators, reaching seven figures. 8 FOOD AND BEVERAGE BUSINESS MAGAZINEYOUR NEXT CONTRACT IS HELD IN THESE HANDS BUSINESS She’s the Director of Operations for a national food group, and for the next 15 minutes, she is doing one thing: reading. 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