Baby and toddler food brand Piccolo has added two new high-fibre products – Mighty Melts and Oaty Bars – to its range of snacks in the UK. The new duo is organic, gluten free and contain no added sugar. The brand says the product launch aims to support the back to nursery and school occasion, as well as parents with their kids at home or on-the-go. Made with soft textured multi-grains, Oaty Bars offer 2.7g of fibre per bar and is available in an apple, carrot and orange variant. Designed for 12 months plus, the vegan bars are made with inulin from agave, a pre-biotic fibre. A portion of one of your five-a-day, the Mighty Melts contain 0.5g of fibre per 6g bag and are made with real yogurt. Available in an apple, banana, yogurt and strawberry flavour, the product offers a 100% natural 'finger food'. Co-founder and Piccolo’s infant nutritionist, Alice Fotheringham, said: “As with all Piccolo foods, our snacks are packed with natural ingredients. We use real fruit and yogurt, ensuring a range of natural flavours and with no added sugar, they provide great snack choices for one year olds. “Fibre is also an essential part of little ones’ diets, as it has been shown to support digestive systems. So our aim is to support parents by providing healthy, fibre-rich snacks which also have the added bonus of being one of their five a day." The new products join Piccolo’s portfolio of baby food pouches, infant formula, snacks and cooking products such as pasta sauces and stock sachets. Piccolo’s Mighty Melts will launch into Sainsburys this month for an RRP of £0.85 per bag, while Oaty Bars will retail for £2.95 for a pack of six and will be available to purchase in a new retailer from 28 September. All new products will also be available on the brand’s e-commerce shop.

Chilean food-tech firm NotCo has raised $85 million in a Series C funding round, as it announces the expansion of its plant-based milk and meat products to the US market. The round was co-led by Future Positive – which has invested in Beyond Meat and Memphis Meat – and consumer-focused private equity firm L Catterton. They join existing investors such as Kaszek Ventures, Indie Bio and Bezos Expeditions which also participated in a $30 million funding round in the company last year. Founded in 2015, NotCo uses artificial intelligence (AI) to develop plant-based foods. Its portfolio consists of NotMilk, NotBurger, NotIceCream and NotMayo which have been launched in Brazil, Argentina and Chile. According to NotCo, in less than three years it has become the largest and fastest-growing food-tech company in Latin America. The new funding comes as the company announces scaled up operations and its plans for international expansion, beginning with its entry into the US. NotCo says it will evaluate both food service and retail partners as a part of this expansion, building on from its NotBurger and NotMeat partnerships with Burger King and Papa John’s in Chile. “We are pleased to partner with a true disruptor in the food-tech industry,” said Ramiro Lauzan, partner at L Catterton Latin America. He added: “NotCo is pursuing a fundamentally original way of replacing animal-based foods with more sustainable alternatives through the application of food science and innovative technology. By leveraging our experience in ‘better for you’ businesses around the world, and working alongside NotCo’s talented team, we look forward to materialising the company’s successful expansion into the US market.” To assist its international expansion plans, a number of senior executives from multi-national brands join the company, while NotCo’s co-founders, Matias Muchnick (CEO) and Karim Pichara (CTO), will now be based in the US. Flavia Buchmann, formerly in charge of the Sprite global business for Coca-Cola, will take up the position of global CMO; former Danone executive Catriel Giuliano will head the global R&D; while Jose Menendez, formerly at tech-company Jeffries and Tapad, will serve as global COO. Fred Blackford, co-founder of Future Positive, said: “We are inspired by the vision and global ambition for the NotCo brand, and impressed by the quality of NotCo’s products, which speak for themselves. We see vast potential for the company’s technology, which is creating new product categories faster and more accurately than anyone else in the industry.” #Chile #NotCo #plantbased #US

Chilean food-tech firm NotCo has raised $85 million in a Series C funding round, as it announces the expansion of its plant-based milk and meat products to the US market. The round was co-led by Future Positive – which has invested in Beyond Meat and Memphis Meat – and consumer-focused private equity firm L Catterton. They join existing investors such as Kaszek Ventures, Indie Bio and Bezos Expeditions which also participated in a $30 million funding round in the company last year. Founded in 2015, NotCo uses artificial intelligence (AI) to develop plant-based foods. Its portfolio consists of NotMilk, NotBurger, NotIceCream and NotMayo which have been launched in Brazil, Argentina and Chile. According to NotCo, in less than three years it has become the largest and fastest-growing food-tech company in Latin America. The new funding comes as the company announces scaled up operations and its plans for international expansion, beginning with its entry into the US. NotCo says it will evaluate both food service and retail partners as a part of this expansion, building on from its NotBurger and NotMeat partnerships with Burger King and Papa John’s in Chile. “We are pleased to partner with a true disruptor in the food-tech industry,” said Ramiro Lauzan, partner at L Catterton Latin America. He added: “NotCo is pursuing a fundamentally original way of replacing animal-based foods with more sustainable alternatives through the application of food science and innovative technology. By leveraging our experience in ‘better for you’ businesses around the world, and working alongside NotCo’s talented team, we look forward to materialising the company’s successful expansion into the US market.” To assist its international expansion plans, a number of senior executives from multi-national brands join the company, while NotCo’s co-founders, Matias Muchnick (CEO) and Karim Pichara (CTO), will now be based in the US. Flavia Buchmann, formerly in charge of the Sprite global business for Coca-Cola, will take up the position of global CMO; former Danone executive Catriel Giuliano will head the global R&D; while Jose Menendez, formerly at tech-company Jeffries and Tapad, will serve as global COO. Fred Blackford, co-founder of Future Positive, said: "We are inspired by the vision and global ambition for the NotCo brand, and impressed by the quality of NotCo’s products, which speak for themselves. We see vast potential for the company’s technology, which is creating new product categories faster and more accurately than anyone else in the industry.”

Universal Corporation has entered into an agreement to acquire Silva International, a US supplier of natural, specialty dehydrated vegetable, fruit and herb ingredients, for $170 million. Founded in 1979, Silva provides a wide range of dehydrated vegetable, herb, and select fruit ingredients to the food industry for a variety of end products. Headquartered in Momence, Illinois, Silva employs over 200 people and has a 380,000 square foot manufacturing facility, which it recently expanded. Universal says that Silva is well positioned to take advantage of the increasing demand for natural and clean-label products across the end markets it serves. Following the close of the deal, Silva will operate as part of Universal’s plant-based ingredients platform, which currently includes FruitSmart – which it agreed to buy last year – and Carolina Innovative Food Ingredients. With Silva joining its plant-based platform, Universal says it will be able to offer customers a single source for vegetable and fruit ingredients solutions. Universal’s recent transactions represent the agri-product supplier’s efforts to identify growth opportunities in adjacent markets and to capitalise on the plant-based ingredients market. “We’re excited to have reached this agreement with Silva as we continue to diversify our offerings and generate new opportunities for value creation,” said George Freeman, chairman, president and CEO of Universal Corporation. He added: “This acquisition builds on our investment in FruitSmart and expands our plant-based ingredients platform. With this acquisition, we expect these businesses to represent 10% to 20% of our EBITDA by fiscal year 2022, ahead of our previously stated target outlined as part of our capital allocation strategy.” Following the close of the transaction, Kent DeVries, president of Silva, will continue to run the business and report to Patrick O’Keefe, senior vice president of Universal Global Ventures. “For more than 40 years, Silva has consistently produced flavourful, high-quality, natural specialty ingredients to meet our customers’ specifications. By joining Universal, we will be able to take advantage of opportunities for collaboration and growth while remaining true to our culture and our mission,” said Heinz-Peter Schmidt, majority owner and CEO of Silva. The acquisition is expected to close in October 2020, subject to customary closing conditions. #SilvaInternational #UniversalCorporation #US

Universal Corporation has entered into an agreement to acquire Silva International, a US supplier of natural, specialty dehydrated vegetable, fruit and herb ingredients, for $170 million. Founded in 1979, Silva provides a wide range of dehydrated vegetable, herb, and select fruit ingredients to the food industry for a variety of end products. Headquartered in Momence, Illinois, Silva employs over 200 people and has a 380,000 square foot manufacturing facility, which it recently expanded. Universal says that Silva is well positioned to take advantage of the increasing demand for natural and clean-label products across the end markets it serves. Following the close of the deal, Silva will operate as part of Universal's plant-based ingredients platform, which currently includes FruitSmart – which it agreed to buy last year – and Carolina Innovative Food Ingredients. With Silva joining its plant-based platform, Universal says it will be able to offer customers a single source for vegetable and fruit ingredients solutions. Universal's recent transactions represent the agri-product supplier's efforts to identify growth opportunities in adjacent markets and to capitalise on the plant-based ingredients market. "We're excited to have reached this agreement with Silva as we continue to diversify our offerings and generate new opportunities for value creation,” said George Freeman, chairman, president and CEO of Universal Corporation. He added: “This acquisition builds on our investment in FruitSmart and expands our plant-based ingredients platform. With this acquisition, we expect these businesses to represent 10% to 20% of our EBITDA by fiscal year 2022, ahead of our previously stated target outlined as part of our capital allocation strategy." Following the close of the transaction, Kent DeVries, president of Silva, will continue to run the business and report to Patrick O'Keefe, senior vice president of Universal Global Ventures. "For more than 40 years, Silva has consistently produced flavourful, high-quality, natural specialty ingredients to meet our customers' specifications. By joining Universal, we will be able to take advantage of opportunities for collaboration and growth while remaining true to our culture and our mission," said Heinz-Peter Schmidt, majority owner and CEO of Silva. The acquisition is expected to close in October 2020, subject to customary closing conditions.

Beyond Meat has signed a deal which will see the company begin the production of its plant-based meat products in the Chinese market. The company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Beyond Meat Food, has signed an agreement with Jiaxing Economic & Technological Development Zone (JXEDZ) to design and develop manufacturing facilities in the region. The deal includes a ‘state-of-the-art’ production facility – which will be located near the business hub of Shanghai – to manufacture plant-based meat products including beef, pork and chicken under the Beyond Meat brand in China. Beyond Meat says it will be the first multinational company focused solely on plant-based meat production to bring its own major production facility into China. The agreement builds on Beyond Meat’s existing deals within the China market – such as its partnerships with fast-food restaurant operator Yum China and Starbucks – as the company claims the country will be one of its most important markets in the world. “China is one of the world’s largest markets for animal-based meat products, and potentially for plant-based meat,” said Ethan Brown, CEO and founder of Beyond Meat. He added: “We are delighted and confident that after several months of productive and collaborative discussions, we will partner with the JXEDZ to develop two production facilities, including one of the world’s largest and technologically advanced plant-based meat factories.” Candy Chan, general manager for Beyond Meat in China, added: “With its expertise in the food industry, proximity to Shanghai, and excellent logistics and people capabilities, the JXEDZ will be the perfect partner and location for our ambitious plans for the China market.” Trial production is expected to begin within months, with full scale production in early 2021. #BeyondMeat #China #Jiaxing #plantbasedmeat

UK-based Pip & Nut has released its limited edition Gingerbread Almond Butter (RRP £3.95), in support of the food brand’s local Hackney Foodbank charity. With an on-pack 25p donation for every jar sold, the product will roll-out nationwide this month in Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Ocado and Whole Foods. The festive flavour features a “blend of smooth almond butter with warming ginger and cinnamon spices”. Pip Murray, founder at Pip & Nut, said: “We’re really proud of our new Gingerbread Almond Butter not only because it offers a delicious, versatile and fun seasonal flavour profile but because it provides us with another opportunity to support Hackney Foodbank at this time of significant need.” “The charity has seen up to triple the demand for food parcels during the Covid crisis and there’s no sign of this easing up in the next few months. We are thrilled to have the ongoing support of our retail partners to help us to do this and are excited to see the limited edition roll-out into stores this month,” she continued. Melanie Rochford, business & development director at Hackney Foodbank, also added: “With the money we receive from Pip & Nut through this initiative we plan to purchase a new van, which is essential for keeping up with the growing demand at our five centres, along with putting the funds towards top-up items that haven’t been donated in sufficient quantities to keep up with demand.” “Every penny or food donation we receive is a massive help in enabling us to carry on not only feeding people in crisis, but working with other charities and organisations to assist clients to access the wider forms of help they need in order to find a way out of the poverty trap.” #Almondbutter #PipampNut

Beyond Meat has signed a deal which will see the company begin the production of its plant-based meat products in the Chinese market. The company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Beyond Meat Food, has signed an agreement with Jiaxing Economic & Technological Development Zone (JXEDZ) to design and develop manufacturing facilities in the region. The deal includes a 'state-of-the-art' production facility – which will be located near the business hub of Shanghai – to manufacture plant-based meat products including beef, pork and chicken under the Beyond Meat brand in China. Beyond Meat says it will be the first multinational company focused solely on plant-based meat production to bring its own major production facility into China. The agreement builds on Beyond Meat's existing deals within the China market – such as its partnerships with fast-food restaurant operator Yum China and Starbucks – as the company claims the country will be one of its most important markets in the world. "China is one of the world's largest markets for animal-based meat products, and potentially for plant-based meat," said Ethan Brown, CEO and founder of Beyond Meat. He added: "We are delighted and confident that after several months of productive and collaborative discussions, we will partner with the JXEDZ to develop two production facilities, including one of the world's largest and technologically advanced plant-based meat factories.” Candy Chan, general manager for Beyond Meat in China, added: "With its expertise in the food industry, proximity to Shanghai, and excellent logistics and people capabilities, the JXEDZ will be the perfect partner and location for our ambitious plans for the China market." Trial production is expected to begin within months, with full scale production in early 2021.

Vegan confectionery firm LoveRaw has launched what it claims is the world’s first vegan hazelnut cream filled wafer bar in the UK. LoveRaw’s Cre&m Filled Wafer Bars are coated in a layer of the brand’s proprietary M:lk chocolate and features two individually wrapped wafers per pack. The new product joins the brand’s 100% vegan line up of milk chocolate bars and chocolate butter cups. Its entire portfolio contains no artificial ingredients, no palm oil and no dairy. “As with all new product launches, we did have to jump through some hoops – the biggest being that the Cre&m Filled Wafer Bar had to taste like “chocolate chocolate” and not compromise on flavour,” said Manav Thapar, managing director of LoveRaw. LoveRaw’s vegan wafer bar marks the first product to be launched on its online store. According to the brand, a shift in consumer behaviour amid Covid-19 led to the creation of a new ecommerce strategy in addition to its retail presence. Rimi Thapar, co-founder and CEO of LoveRaw, added: “As a result of the lockdown restrictions, we have seen a huge shift in consumer shopping habits, with more people buying online than ever before. For this reason, we wanted to ensure our products are fully accessible to our customers through the launch of our own online store and have received an excellent response with direct sales up almost 800% YOY. “We are, therefore, incredibly excited about the launch of our own vegan take on a classic chocolate treat and look forward to bringing it to market via our online store and through new and existing retail partnerships.” The wafers are sealed in LoveRaw’s rebranded packaging, following a “seven-figure investment” from Blue Horizon Ventures. LoveRaw’s new Cre&m Filled Wafer Bars are available to purchase online for an RRP of £1.69, with plans to be stocked in Holland & Barrett and Waitrose later this year. #Loveraw #UK #vegan

UK-based Pip & Nut has released its limited edition Gingerbread Almond Butter (RRP £3.95), in support of the food brand's local Hackney Foodbank charity. With an on-pack 25p donation for every jar sold, the product will roll-out nationwide this month in Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Ocado and Whole Foods. The festive flavour features a "blend of smooth almond butter with warming ginger and cinnamon spices". Pip Murray, founder at Pip & Nut, said: “We’re really proud of our new Gingerbread Almond Butter not only because it offers a delicious, versatile and fun seasonal flavour profile but because it provides us with another opportunity to support Hackney Foodbank at this time of significant need." "The charity has seen up to triple the demand for food parcels during the Covid crisis and there’s no sign of this easing up in the next few months. We are thrilled to have the ongoing support of our retail partners to help us to do this and are excited to see the limited edition roll-out into stores this month,” she continued. Melanie Rochford, business & development director at Hackney Foodbank, also added: "With the money we receive from Pip & Nut through this initiative we plan to purchase a new van, which is essential for keeping up with the growing demand at our five centres, along with putting the funds towards top-up items that haven't been donated in sufficient quantities to keep up with demand." "Every penny or food donation we receive is a massive help in enabling us to carry on not only feeding people in crisis, but working with other charities and organisations to assist clients to access the wider forms of help they need in order to find a way out of the poverty trap."

Vegan confectionery firm LoveRaw has launched what it claims is the world’s first vegan hazelnut cream filled wafer bar in the UK. LoveRaw’s Cre&m Filled Wafer Bars are coated in a layer of the brand’s proprietary M:lk chocolate and features two individually wrapped wafers per pack. The new product joins the brand’s 100% vegan line up of milk chocolate bars and chocolate butter cups. Its entire portfolio contains no artificial ingredients, no palm oil and no dairy. “As with all new product launches, we did have to jump through some hoops – the biggest being that the Cre&m Filled Wafer Bar had to taste like “chocolate chocolate” and not compromise on flavour,” said Manav Thapar, managing director of LoveRaw. LoveRaw’s vegan wafer bar marks the first product to be launched on its online store. According to the brand, a shift in consumer behaviour amid Covid-19 led to the creation of a new ecommerce strategy in addition to its retail presence. Rimi Thapar, co-founder and CEO of LoveRaw, added: “As a result of the lockdown restrictions, we have seen a huge shift in consumer shopping habits, with more people buying online than ever before. For this reason, we wanted to ensure our products are fully accessible to our customers through the launch of our own online store and have received an excellent response with direct sales up almost 800% YOY. “We are, therefore, incredibly excited about the launch of our own vegan take on a classic chocolate treat and look forward to bringing it to market via our online store and through new and existing retail partnerships.” The wafers are sealed in LoveRaw's rebranded packaging, following a “seven-figure investment” from Blue Horizon Ventures. LoveRaw’s new Cre&m Filled Wafer Bars are available to purchase online for an RRP of £1.69, with plans to be stocked in Holland & Barrett and Waitrose later this year.

Hormel Foods-owned Justin’s has entered into the refrigerated bar category with the launch of a new range of Almond Butter Protein Bars in the US. Available in three varieties – Almond Butter, Honey Almond Butter and Dark Chocolate Chip Almond Butter – the brand claims that the bars have 40% less sugar than leading refrigerated bars. Each bar contains 10g of plant-based protein and is gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free and Non-GMO Project Verified. The Almond Butter variety is made with organic maple syrup, while the Dark Chocolate Chip and Honey varieties are made with organic honey. The new protein range expands Justin’s snacking portfolio that includes organic nut butters, nut butter cups and nut-butter covered nuts. “I’m excited to raise the bar on protein and share my latest take on plant-based snacking with our Refrigerated Almond Butter Protein Bars,” said Justin Gold, founder of Justin’s. He added: “We’ve heard from our fans that they wanted us to make a plant-based protein bar, and we can’t wait to hear about all the adventures they’ll fuel with our new bars.” Justin’s Almond Butter Protein Bars will be available to purchase at Whole Foods and Target stores nationwide beginning this month. #US #Justins #Nutbutter #plantbased #HormelFoods