Contents
|
|
Companies, Organizations |
 |
|
In 2005, Camilla Barnard's dissatisfaction with the salt content in her breakfast cereal sparked the idea for Rude Health, a food business aimed at providing truly healthy options. Based in the south-west of England, Rude Health has evolved from a kitchen-table venture into a thriving brand with a £30 million annual turnover and some 60 products. The original mission was to make “the world’s best muesli, with 23 real ingredients.” A commitment to transparency and real ingredients in products like the "ultimate granola" and dairy-free milks has resonated with health-conscious consumers.
"Rude Health: ‘We decided our mission was to make the world’s best muesli’", Evening Standard, September 12, 2023
The Board of Directors has approved the split of Kellogg Company into Kellanova and WK Kellogg Co., to be effective October 2, 2023. Kellanova will focus on snacks and emerging markets and is expected to generate annual revenue of around $13.5 billion and with long-term annual organic sales growth of 3-5 percent. WK Kellogg will build on iconic brands and a market leading position in North American cereal. It expects annual net sales of around $2.7 billion.
"KELLOGG COMPANY BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVES SEPARATION INTO TWO COMPANIES, KELLANOVA AND WK KELLOGG CO", PRNewswire, September 11, 2023
|
|
|
Deals, M&A, JVs, Licensing |
 |
|
Aquascot, a Scotland-based seafood processor committed to sustainability, has acquired SHORE: The Scottish Seaweed Co., a seaweed snack company from the same region. The collaboration aims to accelerate growth of SHORE Seaweed and promote healthy snack alternatives. SHORE Seaweed products include seaweed chips in flavors like Sweet Sriracha, Lightly Salted, Peking Duck and Barbecue. In Australia, biotech research company Fremantle Seaweed received an AUD 4 million grant to expand its seaweed farming operations, contributing to eco-friendly solutions for greenhouse gas emissions, potentially encompassing a multisite commercial operation with a focus on various seaweed species and products. Finally, Oregon Seaweed, an aquaculture farm based in Garibaldi, Oregon, is collaborating with HAB Sauce to introduce the world's first seaweed chili crisp. Oregon Seaweed is an investment backed by private equity principal and venture capital company Katapult Ocean.
"Crunchy seaweed chip snacks taking off in Oregon, Scotland; Fremantle Seaweed seeded with AUD 4 million grant", Seafood Source, September 11, 2023
|
|
|
Legal, Legislation, Regulation, Policy |
 |
|
A federal judge allowed a consumer class action to advance against Mondelez International relating to its label for Enjoy Life lentil chips. The plaintiff alleges that the label, which mentions “high protein” and “protein packed”, is misleading. US District Judge Jeffrey White said that the “plaintiff has plausibly alleged his claim that the ‘high protein’ and ‘protein-packed’ statements on the product labels are unlawful based on the omission of the corrected amount of protein per serving.” After an earlier complaint from the same plaintiff was dismissed, this new one is omission-based and argues that the label is unlawful and deceptive because it omits “the corrected amount of protein in the nutrition facts panel.” Mondelez did, however, get one of the plaintiff’s complaints dismissed: “the court is not persuaded by plaintiff’s allegations that the statements 'better-for-you' and 'one of the best sources of plant-based protein' would mislead a reasonable consumer”.
"Class action over protein label on lentil chips advanced", Courthouse News , September 07, 2023
|
|
|
Products & Brands |
 |
|
Planet A Foods is teaming up with Peter Kölln, another German company, to launch a trio of oat muesli flavors under the Kölln brand, using Planet A’s cocoa-free chocolate alternative, ChoViva. The flavors are Crunchy Waffle, Crunchy Hazel and Crunchy Berry. ChoViva helps address some of the challenges faced in the cocoa supply chain, such as climate change and limited land availability. It uses regional oats and sunflower seeds to replace cocoa beans, reducing water use by up to 94 percent and CO2 emissions by as much as 90 percent versus conventional chocolate production. Manfred Vondran, CEO of Peter Kölln, said: “Our three new oat muesli varieties, #VeganChocstars, made with the chocolate alternative ChoViva, are a real innovation on the cereal shelf and support our goal to drive the nutritional turnaround with plant-based products.”
"ChoViva cocoa-free chocolate unveils latest oat muesli series", Confectionery Production, September 11, 2023
Maine Crisp has been rebranded to become Better With Buckwheat, as a precursor to launching its buckwheat products in more snacking categories. CEO Lewis Goldstein said: “As consumers embrace buckwheat as an ingredient that delivers taste, nutrition, and sustainability benefits, we see enormous potential to bring buckwheat to multiple snack categories”, appealing to those that want products that are gluten-free, grain-free, non-GMO or vegan. The Maine Crisp line will be retained and Better With Buckwheat is launching a new range of crackers in three flavors: Sea Salt, Everything, and Rosemary & Herb.
"Maine Crisp Rebrands as Better With Buckwheat and Bolsters Buckwheat Snack Portfolio; Karen Getz and Lewis Goldstein Share", Deli Market News , September 07, 2023
|
|
|
Trends |
 |
|
Data from GlobalData show how health and wellness is still a dominant driver for patent applications for savory snacks around the world, even though the numbers are down year-on-year. In the year to the end of June 2022, 259 bakery applications were filed. In the 12 months to end-June this year, that number had fallen to 208. In both years, health and wellness was the most common classification, with 95 and 65 filings respectively.
"Signal: Health dominates savoury-snacks patents", Just-Food, August 31, 2023
|
|
|