Zanders Paper increases production
Zanders Paper already had a joint stand with Lessebo Paper, a Swedish paper mill that also belongs to the JOOL group, at Luxury Packaging 2019 trade fair in London. The two paper producers will present themselves together as well at Labelexpo (24 to 27 September, Brussels, stand 4C 32) to share existing business contacts and to move into new markets.
Due to the stronger financial position, Zanders Paper will accelerate the development of Zanbarrier, a range of oil and grease resistant papers for food packaging, focussing on the fluorocarbon-free Zanbarrier NGR (Natural Grease Resistant). The progression of the high-speed inkjet paper Zanjet, which is currently available coated in gloss and silk, is also being driven forward: trials with grades for completely new applications are already in progress. At the same time, the order situation is strong for the traditional brands Chromolux, Zanlabel, Zanpack, Silver Digital, RX Nature and Zankraft.
Fairtrade Minimum Price to rise 20 % in October
Fairtrade will be raising its Minimum Price and price premium for cocoa with effect from 1 October 2019.
As part of the solution to what it described as “the huge power imbalances in the cocoa supply chain,” the Fairtrade Minimum Price will increase by 20 % for conventional cocoa from 1 October 2019 and by an unspecified, larger amount for organic.
At the same time, the Fairtrade Premium will also rise by 20 %. Growers decide for themselves how to spend the Premium – for example by building community facilities or investing in their farms to improve productivity or diversify crops.
Danish sugar processor Nordic Sugar, a member of Germany’s Nordzucker Group, has begun the harvest and processing of sugar beets, referred to as its “beet campaign,” at its Polish plant.
After rapid sowing at the beginning of April, sugar beet crops had good initial growth conditions in almost all regions, notes Nordic Sugar. However, as in the previous year, precipitation was low during the summer period in certain regions during the growing season. Large parts of the growing regions in Germany and Poland were particularly affected by the lack of rain. By contrast, sugar beet cultivation in Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Slovakia were said to have performed well.
This year, Nordzucker will be focusing on the processing of organic beets into organic sugar. Towards this target, Nordzucker signed additional contracts with growers in Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Lithuania last year.
World Cocoa Foundation arranges “Partnership Meeting 2019” in Berlin
This year, the annual “Partnership Meeting” of the World Cocoa Foundation will take place in Berlin/Germany. The 2019 topic is “Drivers of Change”.
Sustainability experts, cocoa and chocolate company representatives, government officials, and more will share inspiring ideas, reflect on pressing issues, present case studies, and discuss expertise related to each driver of change. All Partnership Meeting participants will be able to interact and network with speakers and partners, and be empowered to drive positive change in the cocoa supply chain.
Orchard Valley Foods acquires Confection by Design
British ingredients specialist Orchard Valley Foods has completed the acquisition of Confection by Design Limited (CBD), based in Harrogate/UK.
Orchard Valley Foods have a longstanding relationship with CBD being a major customer of their products and acting as an exclusive distributor to selected markets. The acquisition shall anchor Orchard Valley Foods’ position as a global supplier of confectionery based inclusions and decorations.
At the same time, Orchard Valley Foods will formally be merging the recently acquired business of County Confectionery Limited into the group. Giving a joint management structure and sharing technical and product development resources.
www.orchard-valley.co.uk www.confectionbydesign.co.uk www.countys.co.uk
AAK: acquisition of Soya International gives major foothold in speciality lecithin
Swedish vegetable oils and fats producer AAK is set to become one of the world’s leading suppliers of speciality lecithin after acquiring a majority stake in UK-based Soya International.
The business will trade under the new name AAK Soya International Ltd. AAK Soya International supplies a comprehensive range of products, including non-GMO liquid lecithins, non-GMO powdered lecithins, organic lecithins and speciality lecithin solutions developed for chocolate, confectionery, bakery, dairy and infant nutrition applications.
Following the acquisition, there will be no change to current lecithin supply arrangements for existing customers. However, the new set-up provides significant business opportunities for new and existing customers. AAK Soya International’s products are already available in more than 40 countries, and the company’s reach will now extend further thanks to AAK’s global sales network. For AAK’s customers, meanwhile, the acquisition provides an opportunity to simplify operations by sourcing speciality lecithin ingredients alongside oils & fats from one trusted supplier.
Better-for-you bakery: AAK presents multi-functional fat and oil solutions
Swedish vegetable oils and fats producer AAK has created several concepts to showcase the company’s fat and oil solutions that help bakers create indulgent and better-for-you non-dairy plant-based products consumers will embrace.
AAK is presenting its expanded portfolio of formulation solutions at the 2019 International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE 2019) in Las Vegas/USA. All bakery items on show at IBIE feature one or more of the company’s latest multi-functional fat solutions that are non-hydrogenated and low in saturated fat.
Anuga 2019: Bösch Boden Spies invites tradeshow visitors to test new ingredients
At Anuga trade fair in Cologne/Germany (5 to 9 October 2019), ingredient specialist Bösch Boden Spies will, for the first time in the company’s history, use crowd testing to give trade fair visitors a say in the addition of two potential new products to its range.
The crowd testing focuses on two new products with special functionalities: haskap and sea buckthorn. The Japanese haskap berry is particularly rich in antioxidants and is traded as a new superfood. Sea buckthorn, also called “lemon of the north”, not only contains a lot of vitamin C but also vitamin B12, which is especially valuable for vegetarians and vegans.
Bösch Boden Spies will be presenting the two ingredients in two specially created “Future Product Zones” at its two exhibition stands in Hall 8.1, B021 (haskap as frozen berries and in cocktails) and in Hall 10.2, A080 (sea buckthorn as dried berries, pure and chocolate coated). Interested trade fair visitors are invited to sample the products and rate the ingredients’ taste and functional properties as well as their market relevance based on guiding questions. Depending on the testers’ feedback, the company will later decide whether to add the two products to its portfolio.
Orkla continues acquisition trail with purchase of Dutch bakery ingredient manufacturer
Through its wholly-owned subsidiary Sonneveld Group BV, Orkla Food Ingredients has signed and completed an agreement to purchase Dutch bakery ingredient manufacturer Vamo (Vamo produkten voor de Bakkerij BV).
Vamo manufactures specialized concentrates and ingredient mixes for sale to manufacturers of artisanal and industrial bakery products. The company, which was established in 1963, also holds a leading position in Benelux in special ingredients for corn-based products, a segment that has seen good growth in Europe for several years. In 2018, it had a turnover of EUR 12.4 m.
Orkla is strongly positioned as a supplier of bakery ingredients and ice cream accessories in the Nordic region and selected countries in Europe. In the Netherlands, Orkla has built up a solid position through its subsidiaries Sonneveld, NIC, Broer and Laan.
“Vamo is a well-run company with a good customer base and a product portfolio that is a good fit with Sonneveld,” says Peter Verhagen, CEO of Sonneveld. “The acquisition of Vamo will complement Sonneveld’s position as a supplier of ingredients and accessories to the bakery market”.
Clean label chocolate: Barry Callebaut unveils alkalization-free cocoa powder
Barry Callebaut’s premium cocoa brand, Bensdorp, is launching Natural Dark, a cocoa powder that uses new technology to create a deeper colour and flavour without an alkalization process.
Previously, dark cocoa powder was achieved through alkalization, a process also known as “Dutching,” which lowers the acidity of the product. Although it is a standardized process that has existed for hundreds of years, there is a growing group of consumers who seek to avoid any food that has undergone what they perceive as a chemical process.
Due to US regulations, labels show the ingredient as “cocoa processed with alkali,” while in Europe, a percentage of above 7 % will show as an E-number on the label. This is unattractive for a specific group of consumers. These consumers who are interested in natural products and who want to avoid the word “alkali” or e-numbers on the label are who the company is aiming at.
