< PreviousDiageo North America to open new manufacturing and warehousing facility in Alabama Drinks company Diageo North America has revealed plans to open a new manufacturing and warehousing facility in Montgomery, Alabama. The 360,000 square foot facility will have a multi-million case annual production capacity for Diageo’s leading beverage alcohol brands. This site will enhance the company’s North America supply chain operations and support future growth for the company’s export business. The new facility, which will be referred to as ‘Diageo Montgomery,’ will provide a new point of operations closer to the company’s beverage distributors in the southern region. The site’s strategic location is expected to reduce required road travel, significantly helping to further mitigate carbon emissions associated with logistics operations. The new facility will also employ state-of-the-art technology for more efficient water and energy usage across the site. Marsha McIntosh, President of North America Supply at Diageo, said: “The new facility will not only bring our business closer to our customers and distributors in the south, but also enable our broader supply network to operate more efficiently and sustainably.” 10 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net on line Arla proposes £90m investment for Lockerbie site and closure at Settle Arla Foods has proposed to invest nearly £90m into its Lockerbie site in Scotland, to support the farmer owned cooperative’s future growth ambitions. As one of the biggest food companies in the UK, Arla has ambitions to continue its growth to support UK manufacturing and the future of British dairy. Alongside the £300m site investments announced in 2024, which included £34m investment into Lockerbie’s cheddar production, the food manufacturer has announced a proposal to further increase the investment in Lockerbie to enable it to future proof its UK production. The dairy cooperative is proposing to create a Centre of Excellence for the production of UHT and Lactofree milk at Lockerbie, which could create new roles in the local area. As a result Arla is proposing to close its Settle site. Part of the proposal could also impact some colleagues based at Arla’s Stourton Dairy, however the business does not envisage any redundancies for Stourton Dairy employees. Nestlé expands U.S. manufacturing network Nestlé USA has opened its new beverage factory and distribution center in Glendale, Arizona. The new facility will produce creamers for several of Nestlé’s go-to brands, including Coffee mate, natural bliss and Starbucks, and has the ability to extend to additional beverages in the future. Today, people enjoy coffee and creamer beyond their morning routines, embracing more drinking occasions throughout the day. Additionally, consumers whiten more than 70% of their cups of coffee, with this number expected to increase as younger generations drink more. Nestlé is poised to capitalize on this opportunity, and with an investment of over $675 million in the Glendale facility, Nestlé is growing its manufacturing network to deliver for these consumers. The new location marks Nestlé USA’s 20th food and beverage factory and is the latest in its more than $3 billion investment to enhance its manufacturing capabilities across the U.S. over the past several years. Ingredion invests $100m in Indianapolis plant to enable texture solutions growth Ingredion, a global provider of ingredient solutions for food, beverage and industrial applications, is to invest more than $100m to increase efficiency, modernize equipment and install an energy cogeneration system at its Indianapolis facility. This project will expand Ingredion’s capabilities for delivering texture innovations to growing end markets while bolstering the economic viability and sustainability of the Indianapolis plant. Furthermore, by upgrading its energy infrastructure, Ingredion will improve operational efficiency and reliability while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. “As Ingredion has driven volume growth for texture solutions over the past several quarters, these investments will expand our capacity and support future customer growth,” said Valdirene Evans, senior vice president and president, global texture solutions at Ingredion. “Additionally, these investments will enable the Indianapolis plant to continue to lead in supplying the highest quality and most innovative specialty starch- based texturizers for global customers.” The project is expected to be completed in the second half of 2026. © stock.adobe.com/beats_ © Nestlé USA NEW AIR HEATER SERIES LHS 210 / 410 COMPACT & POWERFUL © Arla Foods © DiageoDole continues to shake-up the salad space with four flavor- forward new salad kits The innovation team at Dole Fresh Vegetables continues to shake-up the packaged salad kit segment with four bold new DOLE Salad Kit varieties debuting at the Southeast Produce Council (SEPC) Southern Exposure Show. The one new DOLE Chopped Kit and three DOLE Premium Kits - showcasing smash burger, apple harvest, cool melon and strawberry poppyseed flavors - are the direct result of expanded research by Dole into the latest taste trends ranging from fruits, herbs and spices to low-sugar, smoke and char preferences. They also directly leverage 12-month shopper grocery sales and preferences. “Dole is using every R&D tool at its disposal - from new consumer insights and culinary partnerships to focus groups involving not just salad loyalists but the growing number of Millennial and Gen Z salad users - to continually evolve the packaged salad experience,” said David Austin, Dole Fresh Vegetable’s VP of product innovation. The four new kits bring the total number of DOLE Salads offerings to 73, including 30 separate salad kit SKUs. World of Sweets launch innovative marshmallow treat Confectionery distributor World of Sweets has revealed their latest product launch from the Sweet Vibes. Last year, the confectionery experts revealed their latest brand, Sweet Vibes, tailored towards teenagers looking for cool confectionery concepts bursting with flavour. The range is breaking away from traditional confectionery, and their latest launch is no different. All new Mallow Dunkz are marshmallows, dunked in chocolate and coated in a crispy candy shell for extra crunch. The chocolatey mallows are available in strawberry or vanilla flavours. Sweet Vibes’ bags are bright, bold and playful with eye- catching packaging and unique flavour combinations and textures. Retailers are being encouraged to stock the range as a great way to maximise sales for teenage customers, who are always looking for something new and interesting. on the shelf Food & Drink International 11 www.fdiforum.net Vadasz launches Kimchi Shot Vadasz, the chilled pickles and kimchi brand, is adding to its line-up of gut health options with the launch of its naturally fermented and live cultured Kimchi Shot. The first-to-market innovation combines the distinctive flavours and gut-health and immunity benefits of kimchi into a convenient, on-the-go drink format. The Vadasz Kimchi Shot, 60ml (RRP £2) is available from Ocado. The shot contains Kimchi-derived probiotics and fibre, which help to maintain a healthy digestive system. Made from 100% plant-based ingredients, it is crafted with naturally fermented, live-cultured traditional kimchi brine, featuring ingredients such as Chinese leaf, carrot, spring onion, Korean chilli flakes (Gochugaru), fresh ginger, garlic and sea salt. It can be enjoyed as a morning health boost, a healthier lunchtime alternative to juice, or a refreshing pick-me-up after a gym session or run. Unlike most shots on the market, the Vadasz Kimchi Shot is completely natural, with no artificial ingredients or added sugar. It also has a unique savoury umami flavour, compared to the sweet shots that dominate supermarket shelves. Golden Acre Foods supports nostalgic ‘Billy Bear’ brand’s kids snack NPD Golden Acre Foods is partnering with German cooked meat company The Feldhues Group to support the rollout of its new Billy Bear children’s meat snacks. Billy Bear, the £10-million-plus sliced kids’ character cooked meats brand which has been a lunchbox favourite for nearly four decades, has extended its range to include a new bear- shaped chicken snack which will bring even more fun to packed lunches, picnics and snack time. High meat content snacks are increasing in demand, with the meat snacking market currently growing at 8.5% year on year. Rebecca Cutter, head of marketing for Golden Acre Foods, said: “Recently, there has been a movement towards convenient, high protein snacks and these new Billy Bear chicken bites tap into this trend, offering an opportunity to gain penetration among younger families who are looking for healthier snacking choices to offer their children. “The fact they contain 30 per cent vegetables is an additional selling point for parents with young families.” Tel: +44 (0)1707 331111 info@welwyntoolgroup.co.uk www.welwyntoolgroup.com EASY CONNECTION HOT AIR RECYCLING ECONOMICALCOMPATIBLE NOZZLES HIGH AIR VOLUME OVERHEATING PROTECTION12 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT © stock.adobe.com/JJ Gouin Betting on Brazil Food & Drink International 13 www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT A mongst the global leaders in agricultural trade and renowned for its production of soybeans, coffee, sugar, and beef, Brazil, while facing controversies, continues to secure access to new markets and expand the country’s agri- food exports. Now the second largest exporter of agriculture and agri-food products, Brazilian agribusiness exports totalled USD 164.4 billion in 2024, as noted in government figures — the second-highest value on record. Though the country witnessed a drop in sales for soybeans and cereals, following a smaller harvest and lower international prices, this was offset by increased exports of products including meat (up 11.4%) and coffee (up 52.6%). Other segments, for example juices, cocoa products, and horticultural products, also saw significant growth. Additionally, numerous products reached record exports in 2024. Products with the highest growth included sugar, coffee, pork, beef, poultry, and orange juice, while non-traditional exports for Brazil also grew, with notable expansions for lemons and limes, chocolate, ginger, and onions. The figures come as the Brazilian government highlights its strategies to diversify both exported items and market destinations, with record numbers of new and expanded trade agreements, as well as intensified promotional efforts abroad. Where China has maintained its position as the primary destination for Brazilian agribusiness exports, totalling USD 49.7 billion, followed by the European Union (USD 23.2 billion) and the United States (USD 12.1 billion), export markets such as Africa (up 24.4%) and the Middle East (up 20.4%) have also gained momentum. According to Luís Rua, Secretary of Trade and International Relations: “The sector maintained its leadership, accounting for half of Brazil’s total exports. This achievement reflects the commitment of both the government and the private sector to deeper global integration through product and market diversification.” With an optimistic outlook for the year ahead, Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture Carlos Fávaro added: “With record harvests projected across multiple agribusiness sectors, combined with continued efforts to expand market access and significantly strengthen trade promotion—led in partnership with ApexBrasil and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs—Brazil is poised to set new records in both export volume and value next year.” The Brazilian government’s commitment to diversifying its agribusiness export portfolio and strengthening relationships with global partners has continued in 2025, having secured access to over 30 new markets as February drew to a close. This ranged from frozen beef exports to Bhutan to sesame seeds to South Korea. Meanwhile officials have embarked on multiple trade missions, visiting Germany, the UK, Japan, Vietnam, and the UAE. It follows progress on a landmark trade deal between the EU and Mercosur, a critiqued trade bloc involving the Latin American countries Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. However, key A crucial partner in global supply chains, Brazil continues to expand the visibility of its agri-food products whilst contending with and cleaning up its environmental reputation. 14 Á14 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT countries like France have expressed opposition to the agreement, casting doubt on its ratification, with concerns over competition from cheap Brazilian beef that is produced to environmental and food safety standards lower than those of Europe’s. Indeed, the Irish Farmers’ Association’s (IFA) president Francie Gorman last year stated that the EU should immediately halt imports of beef from Brazil after the publication of a report by the European Commission’s Directorate-General (DG) for Health and Safety on Brazilian quality control systems for beef exported to the EU. The report revealed Brazil’s problems meeting European food safety standards, particularly surrounding the tracking of banned hormones and as a result the reliability of Brazil’s self-regulation. IFA President Francie Gorman said: “It is bad enough that the EU is willing to do a trade deal with a country that has much lower environmental, animal health, welfare and traceability standards but now we find out that the EU itself can’t even trust the arrangement’s they have in place to certify beef as hormone free to comply with existing EU Health certification requirements.” Brazil’s environmental reputation has long been poor across headlines, whether regarding the Amazon and Cerrado’s deforestation, pesticide and hormone use, climate change hitting the agriculture industry or the sector’s major carbon footprint. In a positive step, a drop in the Amazon’s annual deforestation has been noted for 2024, and has been falling since 2022, a factor that could help heal Brazil’s damaged reputation and increase demand for sustainably produced products from the country, while Brazil has made commitments to eliminating illegal deforestation. However, reports continue to showcase the scale of the © stock.adobe.com/AlfRibeiroFood & Drink International 15 www.fdiforum.net IMPORT AND EXPORT problem. International NGO Global Witness has recently shared an investigation on destruction in Mato Grosso, which straddles both Amazon and Cerrado biomes, with Brazil’s three largest meatpackers being found to have considerable illegal deforestation in their supply chains from ranches here — something which the companies dispute. Global trade, however, is set to soon get stricter rules over deforestation, with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) to come into play at the end of the year, prohibiting imports associated with deforestation. Covering commodities including cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, soy and wood, along with specific products derived from these, businesses will need to prove their supply chains do not contribute to deforestation. Products will need to be deforestation-free, meaning they cannot contain, be fed with or made using commodities produced on land that has been converted from forest to agriculture since 31 December 2020. With this regulation and other environmental policies tied to trade, Brazil, as a key EU supplier, could face compliance challenges even as domestic deforestation rates decrease, harming exports. A letter sent to the European Commission indicated the rules could affect almost one third of Brazil’s exports to the EU. With arguments that it is the demand for Brazil’s products overseas that is encouraging further deforestation, a shift in sentiment in nations across the world toward sustainable production in the wake of the climate crisis and its impact on production means the opportunity for change is now. Steps forward are being taken by Brazil, such as through, amongst other programmes, its National Program for the Conversion of Degraded Pastures into Sustainable Agricultural and Forestry Production Systems, which aims to convert up to 40 million hectares of low- productivity pastures into agricultural areas over ten years. This could effectively double Brazil’s food production area without deforestation or encroachment on native vegetation. Last year Japan became the first country to contribute to the programme, signing an agreement for Financial Cooperation and Technical Cooperation for Brazil’s pasture recovery initiative. While looking to improve its environmental reputation, Brazil continues to expand the global visibility of its food industry, securing new market destinations and diversifying exports as a crucial component in supply chains. © stock.adobe.com/AlfRibeiro16 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net SOFTWARE SPOTLIGHT © stock.adobe.com/ImageFlow The software revolution The landscape of technology has changed forever, but the big question is “how involved” food and drink companies should get with AI. Food & Drink International 17 www.fdiforum.net SOFTWARE SPOTLIGHT A rtificial intelligence is here to stay, no matter how concerned (rightfully so in some cases) consumer and business groups are about it. Brands across the world are already using AI to collate consumer feedback, deal with customer service, and even to design and create new recipes for use as products in the food and drink industry. The ability for AI to not only do the work a human can, but do it thousands of times faster, is what makes it invaluable. Implementation of AI can be expensive, but the expense pales in comparison to the sheer number of human operators who would be needed. That said, many companies are keeping AI firmly away from the food itself. They will use AI to design new recipes but not involve it in the manufacturing process, either for fear of souring consumer opinion or for fear of costly mistakes. However, AI in manufacturing is perhaps the prime place for a software upheaval. Limited AI can be shackled to a single machine in a process line, such as a mixer or separator, and left to calibrate its own systems to the requirements of any given product. With many factories now pulling double-duty by manufacturing multiple products, the ability to shift production from 18 Á18 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net SOFTWARE SPOTLIGHT one food item to another could save millions over a year. Automation is by no means new in the food sector, but AI has the potential to change the game when it comes to switching automated systems, and in monitoring the efficiency of an automation process. When initial concerns over price arise, AI might be able to reduce labour costs – but that may not be the here and now. Currently, AI is still at a point where it can make mistakes, and those mistakes could be costly. The more limited an AI is, such as being shackled to a single machine and given a single job, the less room there is for error, but we’re still in the stage where direct human oversight is required. Though there are definite cost savings down the line when adopting a fully automated production process, the initial investment can be a difficult hurdle for smaller producers. Therefore, a semi-automated process might be a better option, and, in the short term, human labour may prove more cost effective. But there are other options available, such as buying used and refurbished machinery. The things that manufacturers should bear in mind here is to source from a reputable supplier as they will be safety checked, quality assured and will likely have reviews from past customers that can be factored into purchasing decisions. The machines themselves will have been rigorously tested and be up to modern operational standards. As these can be easily integrated into existing lines, it’s not uncommon for manufacturers to have newer machines running alongside refurbished ones. Digital disruption can also be found where hardware is concerned. The Internet of Things (IoT) continues to collate physical objects together in an interconnected network. IoT can lead to efficiency, logistics and food safety gains for manufacturers, as well as reducing waste and boosting supply chain © stock.adobe.com/SyukraFood & Drink International 19 www.fdiforum.net SOFTWARE SPOTLIGHT transparency. Though there’s the initial cost to consider, manufacturers often wrongly think these solutions are difficult and disruptive to install. In fact, many smart technologies can be easily integrated thanks to their plug and play nature. One of the most disruptive technologies to hit the food sector within the last decade is blockchain – a technology simply defined as a decentralised, distributed, and public digital ledger used to record transactions and supply chain information in a safe, secure and traceable way. Its backers claim that blockchain could be a way of ensuring transparency of transaction, gathering more accurate data and eliminating the need for intermediaries. However, the technology still suffers from an overall lack of trust, both inside and out of the food industry, and a lack of experience. Yet, with widespread deployment, its argued that blockchain could result in reduced prices for consumers and fairer returns for farmers. © stock.adobe.com/IntaniaNext >