Sacmi acquires majority stake in Groupe Emballage Technologies
Sacmi has been working with Etpack since 2019 through its Poland-based subsidiary. The basis for this transaction - of considerable commercial and industrial value - is, then, the strong relationship between the two industrial groups and their shared strategic vision.
Sacmi Packaging & Chocolate thus expands and completes its range of secondary packaging solutions by integrating specific technologies, with the resulting expansion of the offering allowing the company to reach into additional industries and market segments. This synergy also extends to the construction and assembly of the flowpack ranges and the low- and medium-speed vertical packaging machines - designed by Sacmi and assembled in Sermatec - thus boosting the ability to respond to market dynamics.
Groupe Emballage Technologies is a renowned name in France, and Sacmi is confident that it will be a major growth driver on this market, in keeping with the goal of achieving a strong local presence via a network of production and sales facilities. Note also that this operation aligns with SACMI Packaging & Chocolate’s broader business strategy: indeed, the company is already present internationally in Poland, the DACH countries and the United States. “
GNT expands Middle East operations with new application laboratory for plant-based Exberry® colors
GNT has opened an application laboratory in Dubai to provide hands-on support for manufacturers using its plant-based EXBERRY® colors in the Middle East, North Africa, and Indian subcontinent.
The facility features state-of-the-art instrumentation and local formulation expertise, with services including color matching and stability testing. The laboratory also serves as a hub for product demonstrations, training programs, and technical consultations.
Santhosh Thankappan, Sales Director at GNT Middle East, said: “Our goal is to empower food and drink manufacturers with local access to global expertise – giving them a space for innovation where ideas, technology, and people come together. Our new Dubai laboratory was created to help our customers perfect their processes and ensure exceptional results with plant-based EXBERRY® colors.”
GNT – which also has multiple application centers in Europe, Asia, and North America – creates EXBERRY® colors from non-GMO fruit, vegetables, and plants.
They are available in a complete spectrum of shades and can be used to replace synthetic dyes in almost any type of food and drink. Santhosh Thankappan added: “The demand for natural, plant-based colors is increasing all over the world – and this region is no exception. This expansion reinforces our dedication to helping manufacturers achieve vibrant, stable shades while maintaining completely natural ingredient lists.”
Guided Tours: The programme attracts visitors for the third time
Bell sharpens its portfolio and presents new generation of high-purity esters
Bell Flavors & Fragrances EMEAI is further developing its Ingredient Specialities business unit and will operate it under the clearly defined name Aroma Chemicals in the future.
Aroma Chemicals precisely describes the role of the business unit: the development and production of chemical components for fragrances and flavours. These molecules perform essential functions in fragrance profiles and taste modulation. In doing so, they support manufacturers in developing sensorially precise and trend-oriented products. Bell's portfolio includes esters, citrus derivatives, ship bases and extracts, among others.
For customers, the realignment means: a clearly structured product world, easier orientation and faster ways to find the right solutions.
In the course of further development, Bell is also presenting new generations of high-purity esters that impress with their exceptional purity and sensory quality. These are used worldwide in confectionery and baked goods, in household and personal care products as well as in the pharmaceutical industry, for example to mask or improve flavours.
"With Aroma Chemicals, we are creating a clear structure for our molecular portfolio and consistently aligning the business unit with the requirements of the market and application," says Christin Ruckhaber, Manager Aroma Chemicals. "The new ester generations show how we are further strengthening quality, sustainability and market proximity in this segment. Our customers benefit from reliable specifications, quick orientation and a portfolio that directly addresses current requirements."
The further development of the segment is linked to a targeted focus on palm oil-free and organic alternatives as well as the expansion of regional supply chains in Europe. In this way, Bell contributes to the long-term security of supply and economic stability of its partners in the flavor and fragrance industry.
The association Flexible Packaging Europe (FPE) welcomes decision of the European Commission to defend the integrity of PPWR under the Environmental Omnibus.
FPE, the material neutral European association representing suppliers of flexible packaging materials, welcomes the European Commission’s choice not to reopen Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on Packaging and Packaging Waste (PPWR) under the Environmental Omnibus and, instead, focus on prioritizing the development of secondary legislation. FPE strongly urges the European Parliament and the Council to support the European Commission and continue protecting the integrity of such regulation.
FPE said, that the PPWR is a carefully balanced text resulting from years of technical work and political negotiation. Reopening it now would undermine legal certainty for businesses and EU competitiveness at the very moment when companies are preparing and already investing to comply with important obligations that will soon apply.
“With several requirements entering into force shortly, what the industry needs to ensure it remains competitive is policymakers focusing legal certainty on the timely adoption of fair and workable secondary legislation,” explained Karri Koskela, Chair of Flexible Packaging Europe, “In this light, we appreciate that the publication of the PPWR Commission notice and Frequently Asked Questions are seen as a priority – clarification on some provisions and definitions is urgently needed in addition to secondary legislation.”
According to FPE, flexible packaging already delivers exceptional resource efficiency, with a packaging-to-product ratio 5 to 10 times lower than alternative solutions. The IFEU scenario analysis demonstrates that switching to flexible packaging could reduce the total weight of packaging used for non-beverage FMCGs in Europe by 21 million tonnes per year. Mandatory minimisation requirements support responsible material use and reflect FPE’s long-standing commitment to resource saving and decarbonisation.
ofi reaches cocoa greenhouse gas reduction milestone
ofi (Olam Food Ingredients), a global leader in naturally good food and beverage ingredients and solutions, has reported a cocoa greenhouse gas reduction by 12% reduction per ton of output against its 2018 baseline.
It’s latest Cocoa Compass Impact Report (2024) reveals ofi has surpassed its cocoa greenhouse gas (GHG) Natural Capital Cost reduction target for 2024. It also reached its 2030 cocoa living income target, in collaboration with its customers and partners, with 155,000 farmers earning a living income, representing 45% of farmers in its global cocoa sustainability program.
“We’re continuing to invest in farm-level engagement and ingredient innovation by leveraging the scale of our integrated business model,“ said Andrew Brooks, Global Head of Cocoa Sustainability at ofi. “This enables us to de-risk supply chains, and help deliver more sustainable, high-quality cocoa ingredients and tailored food solutions to our customers that meet evolving consumer demands.“
Natural capital acknowledges the importance of nature to ofi, tracking its progress to mitigate against climate and environmental risks that could disrupt future supply. ofi’s Natural Capital progress, came from reductions in land-use change emissions, and sequestration from both cocoa and forest trees planted on farms as part of agroforestry activities. Brooks continues: “The industry, including governments and NGOs, need to rally together to rethink how we’re tackling challenges like crop disease, deforestation, particularly in West Africa. With cocoa crop reductions expected, and demand destruction already having an impact on product formulations, we need to find a collective solution that is good for cocoa farmers, good for food and beverage processors and manufacturers, and good for consumers as well”.
Pow.Bio and Bühler join forces to advance next-generation precision fermentation
Pow.Bio, provider for AI-enabled continuous fermentation technology, and Bühler Group, solution provider for food, feed, and advanced materials, are teaming up.
Unlike traditional fermentation approaches that rely on batch or fed-batch processes – stop-and-start methods that require the tank to be emptied and cleaned between runs – the companies now offer an ultra-efficient and streamlined solution. The offering brings together Pow.Bio’s proprietary continuous fermentation technology with Bühler’s 165 years of engineering, delivery, installation, and commissioning services – all supported by advanced model-driven control software. The result is a platform that allows customers to establish precision fermentation capacity faster, with predictable performance, lower unit costs, and a direct path to scale.
The platform is designed for companies commercializing fermentation-derived products that are currently produced in fed-batch systems but constrained by cost, scalability, or inconsistent output. From established ingredients such as enzymes and organic acids to categories like functional proteins, specialty lipids, and bioactive compounds, the Pow.Bio-Bühler solution offers a continuous, more efficient production pathway. By replacing traditional fed-batch processes with a continuous, model-driven system, customers can achieve significantly higher productivity, improved process consistency, and more cost-effective manufacturing through an established, low-risk pathway from lab to pilot and full industrial scale.
“Our collaboration with Bühler sets a new benchmark for biomanufacturing: not just faster, but smarter and more robust,” said Shannon Hall, CEO and co-founder of Pow.Bio. “Clients can now capitalize on proven technology and global deployment expertise to unlock commercial-scale production with lower risk and unprecedented efficiency. This partnership solidifies Pow.Bio’s position at the forefront of industrial biotechnology, enabling us to deliver enduring value for our clients and the sector as a whole.”
Capol further expands its food ingredients portfolio with plant-based specialized oils and fats
Freudenberg Italia S.a.s. di Freudenberg S.r.l. has acquired Eulip Srl (Eulip), a renowned producer of specialized plant-based oils and fats, based in Parma, Italy, effective December 1st, 2025.
Eulip is recognized for its broad product portfolio of specialized vegetable oils and fats, high levels of flexibility, and co-development approach for customized solutions. Eulip’s expertise in raw materials and ingredients as well as flexible production processes, combined with long-standing customer relationships, has made it a trusted partner for manufacturers in the food industry, particularly in the bakery, ice cream and desserts, chocolate creams, and confectionery segments. By combining Eulip’s advanced know-how in specialized vegetable oils and fats with Capol’s surface treatment formulation expertise, the integration will accelerate technological innovation and deliver high-performance customized solutions for food manufacturing and processing. Together, the companies bring decades of process expertise and deep application knowledge across key food segments, ensuring comprehensive technical support and tailored customer solutions that meet evolving industry needs.
The addition of Eulip to Capol marks a significant step in further broadening Capol’s portfolio across key food and beverage categories. Earlier this year, Capol further diversified its food ingredients portfolio by expanding into natural and nature-identical food and beverage flavors through two acquisitions. In July 2025, Capol acquired Curt Georgi, a 150-year-old, tradition-rich German flavor house renowned for its technical expertise across confectionery, dairy, and baked goods. In September 2025, Capol added Blue Pacific Flavors, a U.S.-based pioneer in natural and organic flavor systems, particularly in the beverage and emerging wellness categories. Together with Capol’s core competencies in confectionery coatings and natural food colors, customers will now benefit from a broader range of high-quality, sustainable food ingredients solutions aligned with the growing demand for specialized ingredients.
