January’s top news stories

Nestlé to add sausages to plant-based line-up in Europe and US

Swiss multinational food and drink processing conglomerate Nestlé is all set to launch plant-based sausages in Europe and the US.

The company claims that its new plant-based sausage products look similar and tastes similar to the regular sausage products.

Nestlé head of food business Wayne England said: “After the huge success of our plant-based burgers and grounds, we’re now adding another favourite. These plant-based sausages really deliver on flavour and texture.

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Daniele International merges with Creminelli Fine Meats

Entrepreneurial Equity Partners portfolio company Daniele International merged with Creminelli Fine Meats.

The companies did not disclose the financial details of the merge.

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, US, Creminelli produces and distributes premium charcuterie and protein snacks. Its product portfolio includes charcuterie snack trays, deli trays, artisan salami, artisan deli and salami minis.

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Plant-based pork launched in US by Impossible Foods

The US-based Impossible Foods launched its new plant-based sausage and plant-based pork products in the US.

The company unveiled its new products, which it said are entirely plant-based, at the CES tech show in Las Vegas. Its product range also includes the plant-based Impossible Burger.

Impossible Foods explained that its sausage and plant-based pork products contain no gluten, animal hormones or antibiotics. It said it produces them using heme, a molecule derived from plants, which looks like blood and contains iron.

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Flora signs LOI to acquire 90% stake in Colombia’s Kasa Wholefoods

The US-based company Flora Growth entered into a letter of intent (LOI) to acquire a 90% stake in Colombia-based Kasa Wholefoods Company.

Kasa Wholefoods produces exotic (Amazonian) chocolates and fruit juices. It operates under the Mambe brand in Colombia and offers a wide range of fruits.

Its portfolio includes mango, acai, passion fruit, camu camu, guava, bananas, strawberries, oranges and apples. It produces chocolate confectionery using 70% Colombian cacao.

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Innophos shareholders approve $932m acquisition by One Rock Capital

Innophos Holdings in the US announced that its stockholders voted in favour of the acquisition by an affiliate of One Rock Capital Partners.

The essential ingredients producer’s shareholders approved the $932m acquisition by an affiliate of One Rock Capital Partners, a middle-market private equity firm.

Innophos said that 99% of the stockholders voted in favour of the merger. They represent nearly 83% of the issued and outstanding shares of Innophos common stock as of 25 November 2019.

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Home Style Foods to cease production over food safety violations

US-based food manufacturer Home Style Foods agreed to cease its production activities following repeated food safety violations.

District Judge Sean F Cox entered a consent decree of permanent injunction between the US food regulatory authorities and the company’s owner Michael J Kowalski and its quality manager Juan Valesquez.

The Michigan-based food manufacturer is permitted to commence the sale of products only after it complies with federal regulations and other requirements.

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Coronavirus: China temporarily bans trade of wild animals

The Government of China temporarily imposed a ban on the trade of wild animals in the country, in an effort to contain the spread of deadly coronavirus.

Researchers linked the coronavirus to exotic species being sold in a market as food.

They believe coronavirus originated in Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, a central Chinese city.

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Philippines imposes ban on pork imports from Indonesia

The Department of Agriculture in the Philippines imposed a ban on the imports of pork and related products from Indonesia.

This came after it confirmed an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in Indonesian pigs.

A report submitted to the World Organization for Animal Health included details of an outbreak of ASF. It says that this affected pigs in the Sumatera Utara province.

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US-China trade deal opens opportunities for US beef producers

The US-China trade deal opened up new opportunities for American beef producers as China agreed to ease its limits on hormones in beef.

As part of the phase one trade agreement, the Chinese government agreed to ease hormone limit requirements for beef imports. The new requirements came into effect within one month.

US beef exporters failed to comply with the stringent norms set by the Chinese government on the hormone levels.

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Barry Callebaut opens new chocolate academy in UK

Swiss chocolate and cocoa products company Barry Callebaut opened a new branch of its Chocolate Academy in Banbury, UK.

The company uses the new facility to meet the increasing demand for new chocolate products in the country.

Barry Callebaut UK and Ireland gourmet sales director Vincenzo Mangano said: “Today’s chocolate consumer is on a constant hunt for new and innovative tastes and recipes.