Europe Snacks set for new PE ownership as One Rock finalises acquisition
The own-label crisps manufacturer is close to changing hands after its current private equity owner kicked off a sale process earlier this year
Britvic and Müller launch exclusive products through Iceland’s new incubator
Both were among the companies to pitch innovation ideas as part of Iceland’s newly launched accelerator Brands on Ice
Macallan Food Group launches with maiden deals in Scottish meat industry
Macallan Food Group – headed up by Bill Hazeldean and Stewart McLelland – has taken a controlling interest in Scottish meat supplier Malcom Allan and haggis and black pudding manufacturer Macsween of Edinburgh
Faace founder Jasmine Wicks-Stephens puts skincare challenger up for sale
Skincare challenger brand Faace is seeking a new owner to take the business to the next level
Kerrygold owner Ornua hires ex-Nestlé exec Cesar França to run Global Foods division
Brazilian França will be responsible for driving the ’continued success and ambitious growth plans’ of Kerrygold, Ornua said
Valeo Foods doubles down in maple syrup with acquisition of Appalaches Nature
Valeo Foods Group has consolidated its position in the natural sweeteners category with the acquisition of Canadian maple syrup supplier Appalaches Nature
Refresco snaps up Frías Nutrición to expand plant-based capabilities
Bottling giant Refresco has agreed to acquire Spanish plant-based drinks maker Frías Nutrición
City snapshot: Gusbourne up for sale as Lord Ashcroft considers options
Gusbourne is the latest English winemaker to be put up for sale, revealing this morning that Lord Ashcroft is open to selling his majority shareholding. Plus, Ocado announces “significant development” of its partnership with North American grocer Kroger
Amazon facing £2.7bn threat over marketplace class action claim
The legal challenge comes with the Groceries Code Adjudicator Mark White considering launching an investigation into Amazon over its treatment of suppliers
Big meat and dairy firms accused of ‘derailing’ climate action
Some of the world’s largest food businesses have been accused of adopting the same tactics as big oil and tobacco companies on climate action
Pets Choice expands premium range with acquisition of plant-based petcare brand Hownd
Hownd offers a range of plant-based wet and dry dogfood, wellness treats and cruelty-free certified petcare products, such as shampoo and ear cleaner
CapVest closing in on Butcher’s Pet Care buyout
The Grocer has learned that CapVest is the last remaining party in the long-running auction being conducted for the petfood maker by investment bank Houlihan Lokey
Müller ditches Barista Milk variant following sluggish sales
The milk was launched a year ago in response to calls to ’make it easier to make delicious frothy coffees at home’
GrowUp Farms bags £38m investment to meet demand for vertically farmed salads
The cash will help GrowUp expand capacity at its vertical farm in Kent, support the Unbeleafable and Fresh Leaf Co brands, and drive R&D at the Leaf Lab site in Cambridge
Regal Foods expands desserts offering with Love Cheesecakes deal
Regal Food Products has bolstered its chilled desserts offering with the acquisition of artisan cheesecake maker Love Cheesecakes
Better Nature appoints co-CEOs to lead next stage of growth
Tempeh startup Better Nature has changed its management structure with co-founder Elin Roberts stepping up as co-CEO
Botivo raises £900k to scale 0% botanical drink
Non-alcoholic aperitivo startup Botivo has closed a six-figure funding round to support UK and international expansion
Future of Hollybush butter brand secured after sale to Gower View Foods
The sale follows the announcement its owner Evan Rees (Butter) Ltd is to close
Aldi ‘copycat’ kefir is actually a Biotiful collaborative effort
The striking resemblance between the new product and Biotiful’s led some to assume Aldi had simply copied the dairy supplier’s branding
Coffee prices to soar to new heights, Lavazza warns
Coffee prices are on course to rise further from current record highs as poor harvests, supply chain disruptions and new EU deforestation regulations continue to hammer roasters, Italian group Lavazza warned
Waitrose ‘in talks’ with British Corner Shop to potentially rekindle relationship
Waitrose was BCS’s main retail partner before the online grocer joined forces with M&S in 2021
French baker secures UK presence with takeover at Village Bakery
M&S bread supplier Village Bakery has been acquired by French family bakery group Menissez
JimJams raises £300k to target expansion in foodservice and out-of-home
Chocolate spreads challenger JimJams has secured six-figure backing to support the next stage of growth as it expands its reach into the foodservice channel
Arla launches fresh dairy and plant-based barista milk lines
Both products have been developed with expert baristas to drive a younger shopper to the fresh fixture
Unitas introduces hot sampling stations for suppliers at major event
The Meet the Members event, held annually, connects foodservice suppliers with Unitas wholesale members across the UK
Boundless bags £1.5m investment to cement position in gut health snacking
Cathy Moseley founded the business in 2017, launching a range of ‘activated’ crisps, nuts and seeds aimed at improving gut health
Election 2024: Minette Batters appointed a life peer as Labour romps to victory
Batters will sit as a non-party political, cross-bench peer once sworn in at the House of Lords
UK tea brands urge removal of Kenya factory director in sexual harassment scandal
John Chebochok was accused of exploiting workers in the BBC programme Sex for Work: The True Cost of Our Tea
Aldi cuts chicken stocking densities in latest supermarket animal welfare move
The retailer will complete the switch to the 30kg/sq m stocking density by October
Village Bakery set for imminent sale
A buyout at premium own-label bread maker Village Bakery is nearing a conclusion, with a European trade player set to announce a deal within days, The Grocer has learned
Big Drop readies £450k crowdfunding round to fuel licence brewing model
Alcohol-free brewer Big Drop is getting ready to return to the crowd to support plans for further on-trade listings and to expand its licence brewing model internationally
The Cheeky Panda plans for growth as it achieves profitability
Eco toilet paper challenger The Cheeky Panda has bounced back into the black and is in a “terrific position for growth” in 2024
M&S cuts chicken stocking densities in latest animal welfare commitment
The move takes the retailer closer to meeting the full requirements of the industry-wide Better Chicken Commitment
Luna Daily secures funding from Unilever Ventures
The feminine hygiene brand has secured backing from Unilever’s venture capital arm to support an expansion of its product range
Haribo boosts sales 24% as it wins record market share
Haribo has sweetened its top line as continued demand for its products pushed market share to a new record
Waitrose beef supplier Dovecote Park enjoys strong growth in latest accounts
The North Yorkshire-based supplier saw profits almost double last year, while turnover rose by just under 15%
Arla announces plans to close historic Melton Mowbray stilton creamery
The dairy giant said the site, also known as Tuxford & Tebbutt, had suffered from a decline in specialty cheese sales
Confex welcomes new member Rowan International
Rowan International is the eighth member to join the buying group in 2024
This valuation plummets and founders take cash off the table
The £20m Series C round valued This at just £50m, a significant fall from a £150m valuation during the Series B fundraising in 2022, The Grocer has learned
JamJar enters soft drinks for first time since Innocent days in £4m Xoxo investment round
The fmcg investment firm set up by the founders of Innocent have made their first venture into soft drinks, backing gut health soda startup Xoxo
The fmcg suppliers going the extra mile for their employees
This year’s Grocer Gold Awards highlighted the lengths retailers and suppliers are going to recruit, retain and support staff. Our two-part series starts with suppliers
PayPal, Uber Eats and Allwyn among new Grocer Gold Awards sponsors
The finalists for The Grocer Gold Awards 2024 have been announced. Now meet the sponsors
opinion
Why own label is set to dominate NPD and how brands should respond
Supermarket brands aren’t just cheaper – they are becoming more innovative and exciting for consumers too, says Daniel Quinn, head of innovation at The Forge
Giving chickens more space is only half the job. We need breed change
The BCC demands the use of healthier, more robust, slower-growing breeds for good reason, says The Humane League UK’s MD Sean Gifford
How manufacturers can plan for unpredictable UK weather
Retailers and manufacturers can’t control the weather but they can plan for it, says Alex Lawrence, senior strategic insight director at Circana