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BUSINESS From Smart Machines to Intelligent, Integrated Plants engineering The Intelligent Backbone of Modern Manufacturing sorting & weighing Building Smarter, Cleaner and More Resilient Factories facilities management january 2026 • Issue 26 AI & automation AI & automation foodandbeverage.businessYOUR NEXT CONTRACT IS HELD IN THESE HANDS BUSINESS She isn’t scrolling. She isn’t skipping a pre-roll ad. She’s the Director of Operations for a national food group, and for the next 15 minutes, she is doing one thing: reading. She’s reading about AI, processing, manufacturing, and supply chain innovations that will shape her budget for the next financial year. She’s reading foodandbeverage.business In a world of digital noise, we deliver what marketing budgets crave: genuine, focused engagement with the people who make the critical purchasing decisions. Direct Access Reach the C-Suite, Directors, and Senior Managers who are actively seeking solutions sales@foodandbeverage.business foodandbeverage.business Unrivalled Credibility Position your brand within content that our readers trust and rely on to make critical business decisions. Guaranteed Visibility Your message placed in a premium, uncluttered environment - whether in print or online - ensuring the right audience sees When you advertise with us, you aren’t just buying space. You’re buying: Print, online, or email — foodandbeverage.business is where industry leaders engage, make decisions, and open doors to new opportunities Stop Wasting Your Budget. Start Reaching Buyers10 04 14 18 26 sorting & weighing 18 engineering CONTENTS 14 AI & automation FOOD AND BEVERAGE BUSINESS MAGAZINE 3 Editorial: editorial-ukeurope@foodandbeverage.business Sales: sales@foodandbeverage.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. News Everything that has been going on in the Food & Beverage sector this month import & export Few trade agreements have tested Europe’s political, agricultural and industrial nerves quite like the EU–Mercosur deal. What began as a long-awaited breakthrough in global trade relations has, by the end of 2025, become one of the most contested agreements the European Union has attempted to push through in decades. AI & Automation Automation has become such a familiar term in food and drink manufacturing that it risks hiding its own evolution. Ten years ago, automation meant replacing a manual task with a machine. Five years ago, it meant connecting that machine to a sensor to improve reliability. Today, the most advanced factories are treating automation as the foundation for something bigger: decision intelligence. engineering Over the past year, manufacturers across the food and drink industry have taken meaningful steps towards smarter operations. Robots have become a familiar presence on packaging lines, sensors are now part of everyday maintenance planning, and energy data is finally being used to influence production decisions. Most of the major players can point to asset-level wins that reduced waste, improved uptime or cut energy consumption. facilities management Facilities management has always been central to the food and beverage industry, but in 2026 it has become one of its most strategically important disciplines. Rising energy prices, stricter sustainability legislation and the growing complexity of modern production lines have pushed facilities teams into a new era—one defined by digital insight, compliance-led planning and resource efficiency at a scale the industry has never faced before. sorting & weighing Sorting and weighing technology has quietly moved from a supporting role to a strategic one within food and beverage manufacturing. What was once viewed primarily as an end-of-line quality check is now central to how manufacturers protect margins, meet tightening regulation and deliver on sustainability commitments. events guide Everything that has been going on in the Food & Beverage sector this month 22 26 30Glassman Italy 2026 is set to be a landmark event in the glass manufacturing calendar. Taking place on 4–5 February 2026 in the historic city of Bologna, this exclusive edition marks the fi rst time the Glassman series will be hosted in Italy. It’s an unmissable opportunity for professionals in the hollow and container glass sectors to converge, collaborate, and catalyse innovation. Join the Glassman Group@glassmanevents VISIT THE WEBSITE TO FIND OUT MORE AT GLASSMANEVENTS.COM 4-5 FEBRUARY BOLOGNA | ITALY DON’T MISS THIS NEW VENUE VISITOR REGISTRATON IS LIVE SIGN UP FOR YOUR FREE TICKET TODAY BUSINESS MEDIA LTD ORGANISED BYMEDIA PARTNER EXHIBITION CONFERENCE NETWORK EVENT LAUNCH: GLASSMAN IS COMING TO ITALY IN FEBRUARY 2026FOOD AND BEVERAGE BUSINESS MAGAZINE 5 PepsiCo Restructures Executive Team to Drive Growth Forward PepsiCo is undergoing a significant reshuffle in its senior executive team, aimed at accelerating growth within the company. This restructuring, announced on December 15, will take effect later this month and reflects the organization’s response to pressures from activist investor Elliott Investment Management. Steven Williams, previously CEO of PepsiCo North America, will transition to the newly created role of vice chairman and global chief commercial officer. With nearly 30 years at PepsiCo, Williams is tasked with steering the development of a unified selling organization while also overseeing corporate affairs. His focus will be on creating a robust global strategy intended to boost growth in PepsiCo’s away-from-home business—an essential segment in the competitive food and beverage industry. Dairy farm discovers stability for its pallets of milk Assured pallet stability has been a key achievement for a Lancashire dairy farm following the installation of a semi-automatic rotating arm pallet wrapper. Supplied by Yorkshire Packaging Systems (YPS), the equipment wraps pallets of bottled milk and complements the farm’s existing packaging machinery, also provided by YPS. Family-owned for more than 60 years, the farm produces raw milk, cream, yoghurt, cheese and ghee, alongside beef, eggs and fruit, all produced on site. The new pallet wrapper has increased speed and consistency at the end of the line, supporting growth while ensuring products are protected during storage and transit. The rotating arm design keeps pallets stationary while the wrap is applied, making it ideal for loads such as milk bottles, where minimising movement is critical. Multiple wrap programmes provide flexibility for future products, while the compact, turntable-free design suits limited space. An intuitive HMI and robust construction ensure ease of use and long-term reliability in a busy dairy environment. CANDY KITTENS ACQUIRES SNACK BRAND GRAZE Unilever has officially signed an agreement to sell its popular Graze business to Katjes International. The acquisition will place Graze within the expansive Candy Kittens group. Unilever initially acquired the innovative snacking brand Graze in 2019. Since this strategic acquisition, Graze has undergone significant transformation, evolving from a primarily Direct-to-Consumer model to a well-recognized presence in UK retail stores. The brand’s identity has been revitalized to appeal to a wider audience, resulting in increased profitability. Unilever has noted that Graze has “transformed” its profitability, maintaining a consistent growth trajectory within the retail channel. NEWSTetra Pak Processing Equipment SIA has announced its acquisition of Bioreactors.net, a Latvia-based specialist with nearly three decades of experience in designing and manufacturing bioreactor systems. This strategic move stands to significantly enhance Tetra Pak’s capability to provide integrated, full-scale production lines for the rapidly growing New Food sector. Effective from 2 December 2025, this acquisition immediately bolsters Tetra Pak’s processing expertise and equipment portfolio in crucial areas such as precision and biomass fermentation. Bioreactors.net, founded in 1996, specializes in delivering cutting-edge fermentation solutions that produce proteins and other ingredients for New Food applications. Their expertise ranges from laboratory and pilot setups to full-scale commercial production systems—addressing major challenges in the alternative protein sector regarding efficient and cost- effective production scaling. TETRA PAK ACQUIRES BIOREACTORS.NET TO ENHANCE FOOD SCALE-UP INITIATIVES Kraft Heinz Names Steve Cahillane as New CEO Effective January, Steve Cahillane will assume the role of CEO for the Kraft Heinz Company. Additionally, he will join the board of directors and take on the CEO position for Global Taste Elevation Co., following the firm’s strategic split into two independent, publicly traded entities. Carlos Abrams-Rivera, who has led Kraft Heinz for the past two years, will step down next year but will continue as an advisor until March 6, 2026, ensuring a smooth transition amid evolving food manufacturing trends. NETHERLANDS-BASED AKA FOODS RAISES $17.2M TO LAUNCH AI- DRIVEN FOOD INNOVATION SYSTEM In a landmark seed funding round led by AI entrepreneurs Alex and Michael Bronstein, AKA Foods is poised to revolutionize food manufacturing with its claim of developing “the world’s first” secure AI system for food innovation. This funding will facilitate the official launch of AKA Studio—a secure AI system and proprietary platform that consolidates the company’s extensive knowledge and ongoing research and development efforts. According to the company, AKA Studio empowers food manufacturers to “create, optimise, and launch products much faster, smarter, and more affordably than ever before.” The platform integrates experimental and analytical measurements related to texture, aroma, and taste sourced from dedicated sensory research facilities. AI assistants then guide the formulation and optimisation process. 6 FOOD AND BEVERAGE BUSINESS MAGAZINE NEWSMACHINERY AND TECHNOLOGY – LET’S GROW! fruitlogistica.com Berlin 4|5|6 Feb 2026 The leading trade show for the global fresh produce business. GET YOUR TICKET FOOD AND BEVERAGE BUSINESS MAGAZINE 9 NEWS ProAmpac Acquires Flexibles Specialist TC Transcontinental Packaging in £1.12 Billion Deal Headquartered in Chicago, TC serves as the packaging division of Transcontinental, employing approximately 3,500 individuals across 25 production facilities located in North America, Latin America, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. Specializing in extrusion, printing, lamination, converting, and recycling, TC offers a diverse range of flexible products tailored to meet the demands of the food and drink sustainability sector. Greg Tucker, founder, vice chairman, and chief executive of ProAmpac, stated: “This acquisition is a transformative milestone for ProAmpac and TCP. Through TCP, ProAmpac is broadening its end-market focus to include protein, dairy, and medical segments, and expanding its geographic presence. Together we are committed to delivering high-performing and increasingly sustainable packaging solutions to customers.” The recent acquisition marks a significant milestone in the expansion of Bako Group’s operations throughout the UK. This follows the merger of its three regional trading divisions based in Preston, Durham, and Wimbledon, along with the acquisition of Finlay’s Foods in Northern Ireland in 2024. These moves are closely aligned with food manufacturing trends aimed at enhancing operational efficiency. The purchase received approval via a vote from BAKO Western’s members on November 26, 2025. Notably, the organization thrives on a unique structure, being run by bakers for bakers, comprised of around 700 shareholders, all bakers or confectioners who understand current food distribution trends. Although both companies have maintained a shared brand identity since a 1960s agreement, they have operated independently until now. The merger will optimize supply chains and logistics, aligning with the latest advancements in food processing technology. BAKO GROUP EXPANDS ITS REACH WITH ACQUISITION OF BAKO WESTERN This transaction represents a key advancement in Campari Group’s strategy to optimize its portfolio, concentrating on core brands while “reducing business complexity and supporting financial deleverage.” This approach aligns with emerging food and beverage industry trends that emphasize consolidation and efficiency. In line with this strategy, the group declared the sale of its Australian production facility and co-packing operations in March 2025, alongside the divestment of Cinzano in June 2025. Collectively, these changes are projected to contribute approximately 3% to Campari Group’s net sales on a pro-forma basis. Such shifts are critical amidst evolving food manufacturing trends. CAMPARI GROUP TO SELL ITALIAN LIQUEUR BRANDS AMARO AVERNA & ZEDDA PIRAS TO ILLVA SARONNONext >