Labelling, coding and traceability Environmental spotlight Food science Future proofing Future proofing INTERNATIONALGetting Xmas ready Only 12 weeks ‘til Xmas, so get in touch today! with Expert Partner in Hygienic Solutions +44 (0)1603 788 833 mail@teknomek.co.uk teknomek.co.uk The very best in risk-managed hygienic furniture and equipmentContents October 2023 This magazine is now fully recyclable. By recycling magazines, you can help reduce waste and add to the 5.5 million tonnes of paper already recycled by the UK paper industry each year. Before you recycle your magazine, please ensure you remove all plastic wrapping, free gifts and samples. FoodandDrinkInternational @fdiforumwww.fdiforum.net company/fdiforum News 4 • General news • On line - production news • On the shelf - new products and initiatives Import and export10 Continuing to deal with the fallout of Brexit, hope remains for a brighter future for UK food exports. Environmental spotlight14 In recent years, food business has been under intense pressure to decrease its carbon and plastic footprints, produce climate-neutral foods and support biodiversity. Food and Drink International explores. Logistics18 The food industry’s supply chains continue to grow in complexity. If just a single link falters, the entire chain is jeopardised. Labelling, coding and traceability 22 In an era where consumer safety and trust are paramount, the significance of traceable labels and coding in the food industry cannot be overstated. These digital breadcrumbs safeguard reputation, protect public health, and streamline operations. Control and automation26 Process control and monitoring, in any manufacture or production setting, can be one of the trickiest things to get right for a business model. But in the food and drink industry, you’re weighed down by the added pressure of knowing how essential control is to delivering safe and high-quality products. Group Editor: Steve Fisher (s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk) Editor: Michael Fisher (m.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk) Editor’s PA: Angela Sharman (a.sharman@blmgroup.co.uk) Journalist: Tess Egginton (t.egginton@blmgroup.co.uk) Sales Director: Teri Cooper (t.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk) Sales: Vicky Hunt (v.hunt@blmgroup.co.uk) Tel: +44 (0) 1472 310302 Accounts & Subscriptions: John Downes (j.downes@blmgroup.co.uk) Design & Production: Gary Jorgensen, Mark Casson (studio@blmgroup.co.uk) Editorial: Tel: +44 (0) 1472 310305, Email: fdi@blmgroup.co.uk Part of the Business Link Magazine Group: Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby, N E Lincs DN31 2QE England All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, photocopied, recorded or otherwise without express permission of the copyright holder, for which application should be addressed first to the publisher. While every reasonable care is taken, neither the publisher nor its participating agents accept liability for loss or damage to prints, colour transparencies, negatives or other material of whatever nature submitted to this publication. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of those held by the publisher. Main: stock.adobe.com/shustrilka • Top: stock.adobe.com/_KUBE_ • Middle: stock.adobe.com/Gorodenkoff • Bottom: stock.adobe.co m/rufar Mixing and blending30 Mixing and blending are responsible for everything from texturizing and emulsification to incorporating powders, flakes and pellets into food products. Yet selecting the right option is paramount for process optimisation. Fruit and vegetables34 In recent years, the fruit and vegetable industry has witnessed decent growth, marked by a surge in fruit production that nearly doubled in value since 2010. Food science38 Proper hygiene, handling and storage go a long way when upholding food safety. But for the gaps in our knowledge, investigations are being made into more effectively harnessing microbiology. FI Europe43 Food Ingredients Europe is taking place on the 28-30th November in Frankfurt, Germany, and will bring over 25,000 attendees to visit 1,200 exhibitors coming from over 135 countries. Events46 Your chance to keep abreast of forthcoming exhibitions and food fairs from around the world. Classified 49 Food and Drink Diary 50HEINEKEN acquires stake in Ellie Goulding’s ready-to-drink brand HEINEKEN UK has acquired a significant minority stake in SERVED, the ready-to-drink brand, co-owned by Ellie Goulding, for an undisclosed sum. SERVED was created by brothers Dean and Ryan Ginsberg, and Ellie Goulding in 2020, and has since become one of the fastest growing ‘ready to drink’ (RTD) brands in the UK. The SERVED range includes ready-to- drink cocktails and hard seltzers, made using natural and sustainably sourced ingredients, ‘wonky’ fruit, and premium spirits. The strategic partnership will see HEINEKEN support the brand into its next stage alongside the opportunity to take a leadership position in the wider UK RTD market. The founders will continue to build the brand independently as they further establish its premium and relatively ‘better-for- you’ positioning. The UK RTD category has grown 47.5% in five years and was worth £866m in 2022. The ready-to-drink cocktail category grew by an astonishing 24% last year, as consumers look to enjoy high-quality cocktails in a convenient and sustainable format, a trend that is set to continue. 4 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net news Seafood industry boosted by research into freeze/thaw process Two Lincolnshire-based organisations have joined forces to identify a fresh and sustainable approach to the freeze/thaw process of seafood produce, which could transform the global seafood industry. The University of Lincoln, UK, has partnered with New England Seafood International (NESI), through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP). Designed to link forward-thinking businesses with the expertise of academics, KTPs provide schemes to help organisations innovate and grow. This KTP project will research and develop a brand-new fish thawing process, combining ecological, environmental and sustainable business outputs. The UK seafood industry relies on a large quantity of frozen and raw ingredients as part of the food manufacturing process. Currently, seafood thawing remains an under- researched area of the food chain, bringing many costly processes relating to timescales, cost efficiencies and retention of produce quality. In addition to identifying new and sustainable practice in the seafood industry, the initiative will also aim to tackle the skills shortage gap. The project will be based at NESI’s North East Lincolnshire facility in Grimsby, and the team at NESI will have access to a team of the University’s industry experts at the National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM), who will assist on the project and impart their knowledge and expertise. The KTP will use a blended approach across manufacturing and scientific disciplines, in which they will challenge established industry practise, advancing the understanding of the freeze/thaw process and creating opportunity for wider industry adoption. Martin Davies, group operations improvement manager at NESI, said: “New England Seafood are delighted to have the opportunity to work alongside the University of Lincoln to improve one of the most complex and critical manufacturing process steps.” Sainsbury’s switches from use-by to best-before date on milk range to reduce food waste Sainsbury’s will be swapping use-by dates for best-before dates across its own-brand milk range, making it the biggest UK retailer to make this change. The move will affect 44 products in total, including all fresh and organic milk sold across England, Scotland, and Wales, and will apply to over 730 million pints of milk sold by Sainsbury’s every year. Research from WRAP has shown that milk is the third most wasted food in the UK, with over 490 million pints thrown away each year, often because the milk has passed its use-by date. Sainsbury’s switch to best-before dates aims to prevent customers from pouring away pints that are still safe to consume, giving them more time to use up their milk at home. The new labelling will start to roll out in the new year, with the change set to be complete by the end of February 2024. Nestlé to acquire majority stake in Brazilian premium chocolate company Nestlé is set to acquire a majority stake in Grupo CRM, a premium chocolate player in Brazil. Grupo CRM operates a successful direct-to-consumer model, with more than 1,000 chocolate boutiques under the Kopenhagen and Brasil Cacau brands and a strong, growing online presence. The transaction is expected to close in 2024, subject to customary regulatory approvals. Renata Moraes Vichi will continue to lead the Grupo CRM operations as CEO and will remain a minority shareholder. She has been with the company for 25 years and has built up and significantly expanded Grupo CRM. Laurent Freixe, CEO Zone Latin America at Nestlé, said: “This acquisition further broadens and strengthens our confectionery presence in Brazil, enabling us to enter the high-end segment. Kopenhagen and Brasil Cacau offer premium chocolates that are highly appreciated by Brazilian consumers. We are pleased that Renata Vichi will continue to lead the company with her deep knowledge and passion for the chocolate business, people and brands. Together, we will explore opportunities to further enhance the company’s unique premium chocolate experience.” © stock.adobe.com/ singidavar © stock.adobe.com/ arinahabich © stock.adobe.com/ alter_photoNestlé, Cargill and CCm Technologies launch collaborative pilot to turn cocoa shells into low carbon fertiliser Nestlé UK & Ireland and Cargill have launched a regenerative agriculture initiative, a UK supply chain trial, to assess whether cocoa shells from a confectionery site in York could be used to create a low carbon fertiliser. This two-year trial is designed to evaluate the fertiliser’s performance on crop production, soil health and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction. If successful, up to 7,000 tonnes of low carbon fertiliser could be produced and offered to farmers in Nestlé’s UK wheat supply chain. This amount of fertiliser equates to around 25% of Nestlé UK’s total fertiliser use for wheat. The production and use of conventional fertiliser accounts for approximately 5% of global GHG emissions, and more than half of the carbon footprint of wheat grown in the UK is related to fertiliser use. The cocoa shells are supplied by Cargill, which processes the cocoa at the York facility to become key ingredients in iconic products like KitKat and Aero. A trial volume of cocoa shell has been processed and pelletised by Swindon-based CCm Technologies. Food & Drink International 5 www.fdiforum.net news Kliro Capital Partners invests in Solo Coffee Kliro Capital Partners has made a minority investment in Solo Coffee Limited. Solo Coffee is a ready-to-drink coffee company that supplies many of the UK’s major hospitality groups, selling in over 2,000 outlets across the UK, as well as being available on Amazon and Ocado. After years of working in speciality coffee, founders Theo Garcia and Alex Foss Sims decided to apply their expertise to create a finished product which would be readily available to all lovers of good coffee. Solo Coffee Concentrate is barista quality, ready-to-serve, espresso strength coffee which can be used for all coffee serves. This ready-to-drink coffee is most frequently used as a base for Espresso Martinis, Iced Lattes, and Cold Brew Coffee drinks enabling customers such as bars, restaurants and hotels to consistently offer coffee-based cocktails of the highest quality on a cost-effective basis. Funds raised by Solo Coffee will be used to support the company’s entry and expansion into the USA’s hospitality industry. Lactalis Canada invests in new distribution centre Lactalis Canada – behind brands such as Cracker Barrel, Black Diamond, Balderson, Astro and Lactantia and a subsidiary of France-based Lactalis Group – is entering into a long-term lease for a new distribution centre located in Oshawa, Ontario, principally for its cheese and tablespreads supply chain network. Set to open in Q4 2024, the agreement was facilitated by CBRE Limited and the distribution centre will be developed, built, and leased by Broccolini with construction beginning immediately. The design of the facility was supported by GKC Architecture and Design. The 379,000 square foot centre will consolidate multiple shipping locations used to service the cheese and tablespreads category – including the internally-operated Belleville, Ontario distribution centre – into a central, modern facility to enable the company’s long- term growth, increase capacity and efficiency while enhancing service to the company’s customers. “Lactalis Canada’s new facility in Oshawa will become the largest distribution centre, from a capacity standpoint, for Lactalis Group globally,” said Mark Taylor, president & CEO, Lactalis Canada. Save Energy with Hot Air Recycling: CHINOOK Hot air recirculation with high pressure Leister’s new CHINOOK side channel blower is the perfect complement to the LHS 210 or LHS 410 series air heaters, saving users both energy and costs. Named after the warm fall Chinook winds which can produce a remarkable temperature increase, this innovative blower has been designed to feed process air at inlet temperatures of up to 350°C (662°F) back into industrial processes at high pressure. Working in nearly all hot air processes that allow for hot air recirculation, and in which energy recovery is reasonable and possible, the CHINOOK blower can help to save up to 50% energy and costs and reduce CO ₂ footprint. The Leister CHINOOK high-pressure blower is highly durable and designed to perform reliably for a long time despite high thermal loads, thanks to its compact insulation, solid construction, and high-quality components. The low maintenance CHINOOK boasts of being the quietest Leister side channel blower with a 58 dB(A) operating sound level. Capable of delivering air flow (20°C) of 1,640 l/min at 50Hz with a static pressure of 14.6kPa, the CHINOOK delivers optimum and effortless performance in ambient temperatures up to 60°C and is also the first Leister air blower to operate at both 230V & 400V (50Hz) or 275V & 480V (60Hz) from a single unit. The CHINOOK can also be combined with a frequency controller to clock the Hertz as low as 20Hz and up to 60Hz to match the requirements of the heat process. Developed by Leister, the CHINOOK side channel blower is supplied to the UK by Welwyn Tool Group. Welwyn supply the full range of Leister plastic welding and industrial process heat equipment and offers highly competent technical support by dedicated engineers. For further information, please contact Welwyn Tool Group on 0800 856 0057, email them on info@welwyntoolgroup.com, or visit www.welwyntoolgroup.com © stock.adobe.com/ Tamer © stock.adobe.com/ Romolo Tavani Lactalis Canada distribution centre, Oshawa Jobs secured as bakery rescued from administration in prepack deal Jacksons the Bakers Ltd, a family-run bakery based in Derbyshire, UK, has successfully emerged from administration through a prepack deal, ensuring the preservation of over 50 jobs within the company. The business had faced challenging trading conditions which led to administrators being appointed in September. Established in 1944 by Cyril Jackson, who sold war-rationed bread, the award-winning bakery has been part of the local community for over seven decades. Ryan Holdsworth and Danielle Shore from Leonard Curtis were appointed as the joint administrators, overseeing the transition and the subsequent prepack deal. In a joint statement, Ryan Holdsworth and Danielle Shore stated: “We are pleased to have completed this transaction which will enable the continuing operation of the company’s bakery business and, importantly, safeguards over 50 jobs.” The administrators were supported by Tom Paton, Curtis Blackham and Rachel Piper of Irwin Mitchell’s Restructuring and Insolvency Team. 6 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net news Separation into two companies approved by Kellogg’s Kellogg Company’s Board of Directors has formally approved its separation into two independent, publicly traded companies, Kellanova and WK Kellogg Co. “After more than a year of comprehensive planning and execution, we are more confident than ever that the separation will produce two stronger companies and create substantial value for shareowners,” stated Steve Cahillane, Kellogg Company’s chairman and Chief Executive Officer. It is said Kellanova will feature a growth-oriented portfolio that is weighted toward snacks and emerging markets, and will be led by highly differentiated brands with considerable opportunity for expansion. It is projected to generate net sales of approximately $13.4- $13.6 billion and adjusted-basis EBITDA of approximately $2.25-$2.3 billion in 2024. Building on a foundation of iconic brands and a leading share position in North American cereal, WK Kellogg Co will focus and integrate its commercial strategy and execution, while modernizing its supply chain, all of which it expects will result in improved competitiveness, profitability, and cash flow. WK Kellogg Co projects net sales of approximately $2.7 billion and adjusted-basis EBITDA of approximately $255-$265 million in 2024. © stock.adobe.com/ hedgehog94 © stock.adobe.com/ Studio Porto SabbiaFood & Drink International 7 www.fdiforum.net Investment in gut-friendly bread tops £4m after latest UK government grant Having already re-engineered ultra- processed bread to make it actively healthy, SUPERLOAF inventor Melissa Sharp and co-founder Leo Campbell have been awarded £450,000 by Innovate UK (the UK’s national innovation agency) to apply the same approach to formulating other ultra- processed foods (UPFs) such as breakfast cereals, pasta, ready meals, yoghurts and pastries. SUPERLOAF has uniquely shown that carb-based UPFs can be re- engineered to become a vehicle for positive nutrition, ‘food as medicine’ – combining the economic and format advantages of being produced at scale, while being packed with better nutrition, principally via selected prebiotic plant fibres, bioactive plant compounds and targeted fermentation. Now, in a resounding endorsement of their 6 years’ research and development to date, Innovate UK has awarded Modern Baker, parent company of SUPERLOAF, with its 6th successive grant, bringing total investment support to £4m. The grant has been awarded as part of the Better Food for All: Innovation for improved nutrition funding competition, and will be invested in applying Modern Baker’s breakthrough Alt-Nutrition ingredient more widely. International Beverage snaps up New Zealand’s Cardrona Distillery Global drinks business International Beverage has acquired Cardrona Distillery, one of New Zealand’s pioneering premium spirits producers. The acquisition includes the Cardrona Distillery and visitor centre near Wanaka in New Zealand’s Crown Range Mountains; plus Cardrona’s portfolio of super-premium brands including Cardrona single malt whisky, The Reid Vodka, The Source Gin and the Rose Rabbit liqueurs. Following the company’s recent acquisition of the Larsen Cognac business, this deal will give International Beverage a foothold in the dynamic New World spirits category, to complement its established and highly successful Scotch whisky and spirits brands which include Old Pulteney, Speyburn and Caorunn Gin. Desiree Reid, who founded Cardrona Distillery in 2015, will remain as Managing Director. International Beverage will focus on investment in the purpose-built distillery site and maximising the potential of Cardrona’s brands in the core New Zealand, UK and USA markets. They will also deploy International Beverage’s global network to build select new routes to market. news © stock.adobe.com/ Africa StudioBritvic Ireland makes € 6m investment in Ballygowan facility to increase production by over 20% Britvic Ireland has announced an investment of € 6 million in its Ballygowan facility in Newcastle West, Co. Limerick, to grow the site’s production capacity by over 20% in order to meet growing consumer demand for Ballygowan mineral water, and the creation of 28 new jobs. In addition to the new manufacturing roles, the investment will provide additional bottling capacity for the equivalent of 50 million fully recycled and recyclable 500ml bottles of Ballygowan, enhance production capability, and underpin the strong sustainability credentials of the site. Welcoming the announcement, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney TD, said: “I’d like to congratulate Britvic Ireland on their announcement of a € 6 million investment at their facility in Newcastle West, Co. Limerick which will support the growth, expansion, and sustainability credentials of one of Ireland’s best-known water brands, Ballygowan.” Radnor Hills acquires Highland Spring Group’s Welsh production site Soft drinks maker Radnor Hills has acquired Highland Spring Group’s Welsh production site. The deal will protect jobs at the site located in Blaen Twyni, Swansea, and support the ongoing strategic growth of the Radnor Hills business. The acquisition also includes a 40-acre water source in the heart of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. The site has serviced major supermarkets in the UK with still, sparkling and flavoured natural source water drinks for several years. Established in 1990, independent and family-owned, Radnor Hills has a turnover of £64.4 million and produces over 400 million drinks every year. Its brands include a full range of Radnor Hills spring water, Heartsease Farm, Radnor Splash, and their market-leading range of school-approved children’s drinks, Radnor Fizz. A key business priority for Radnor Hills has been to find an expansion opportunity in Wales that mirrors its other manufacturing base in Knighton, Powys. 8 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net on line TreeHouse Foods to sell manufacturing facility and snack bars business for $63m TreeHouse Foods has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Lakeville, MN manufacturing facility and snack bars business to John B. Sanfilippo & Son, for approximately $63 million in cash. “The sale of our Lakeville facility and snack bars business is another example of our strategy in action to be a focused private label leader in high-growth and high-margin categories,” said Steve Oakland, chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and president of TreeHouse Foods. “Importantly, we believe the business and its talented colleagues will be well positioned under John B. Sanfilippo & Son’s ownership. We remain focused on deploying our capital in a manner that supports our long- term growth targets and enhances value creation for our shareholders.” The Lakeville, MN manufacturing facility has been part of the TreeHouse Foods network since its acquisition of the Private Brands business in 2016. The facility produces a range of private label snack bar products including fruit and grain, chewy, crunchy and protein bars. © stock.adobe.com/fotopic HEINEKEN Mexico investing € 430m to build state-of-the-art brewery in Yucatán HEINEKEN Mexico plans to invest € 430 million in the establishment of a groundbreaking new brewery in Yucatán, with the ambition to expand sustainable brewing practices and foster community growth. This announcement was made in the presence of Raquel Buenrostro, Secretary of Economy of Mexico and Mauricio Vila Dosal, Constitutional Governor of Yucatán, alongside Guillaume Duverdier, Managing Director of HEINEKEN Mexico. Construction will take place in the Kanasín municipality, marking the company’s inaugural brewery in the southeast region. To be equipped with state-of-the-art technology, the new brewery is an important addition to HEINEKEN Mexico’s operations, aiming to address the growing demand in the southeast while capitalising on the region’s robust road, rail, and port connectivity. © stock.adobe.com/ SFIO CRACHO © stock.adobe.com/ dubravina Key Technology Introduces All-New COMPASS® Optical Sorters Key Technology, a member of the Duravant family of operating companies, introduces the all-new COMPASS® family of food optical sorters. Powered by next-generation inspection technology as well as a new sort engine and ergonomic user interface, COMPASS is the easiest to use optical sorter on the market, achieving consistently accurate foreign material (FM) and product defect removal and simplifying system operation, sanitation and maintenance. COMPASS helps processors automate and improve quality management of their food products, while maximizing yield and increasing profitability. “Optical sorting technology has developed significantly over the last decade. Until now, more advanced sorting capabilities meant a system that was also more complex to operate and costly to maintain. COMPASS is the first sorter that breaks that paradigm – it offers consistently high sort accuracy, a compelling ROI and significantly simpler and more intuitive operation than any other food sorting system,” said Jack Lee, Duravant Group President - Food Sorting and Handling Solutions. “Available alongside our industry-leading VERYX® and ADR food inspection systems, COMPASS expands our product portfolio and ability to help each customer find the solution that is truly best for their needs.” For more information, visit www.key.net. Bring the steakhouse experience home with this new plant-based burger offering With traditional meat consumers making up almost half of new plant-based protein buyers, MorningStar Farms’ latest innovation is sure to satisfy taste buds all around. Thick cut and juicy, with beefy flavor and a texture similar to real meat, the MorningStar Farms Steakhouse Style Burger is a premium plant-based option that nails its namesake with elevated taste. Dress it with grilled or sauteed mushrooms and onions for a signature meal or go the experimental route and incorporate your go-to toppings of choice. Preparation for this patty is simple and takes under five minutes – heat it up in the skillet or oven for classic results, or pop it on the grill, in the air fryer or microwave for something more crisp, quick, or smoky. The MorningStar Farms Steakhouse Style Burger contains 42% less fat than a cooked ground beef patty, 21g protein per serving and is a good source of fiber. It is also 100% plant protein, PBFA certified and fully vegan, joining the brand’s wide roster of plant-based offerings. on the shelf Oppo Dipped is in town This autumn it’s time to switch up your fruit game with Oppo Brothers’ latest innovation – Oppo Dipped. Oppo Dipped uses only the finest fresh fruit picked at the peak of their ripeness and frozen directly at the source, then combines this with luxurious thick chocolate (either in Belgian milk chocolate or white chocolate). Oppo Dipped comes in three flavours to cater for fruit lovers everywhere: Strawberries & Raspberries in Belgian milk chocolate (150g, RRP £5.00), Banana & Caramel in Belgian milk chocolate (150g, RRP £5.00), Pineapple & Coconut in white chocolate (150g, RRP £5.00). These bite-sized treats start at just 59 calories per portion so make a delicious snack any time of day – a perfect solution to satisfy the growing trend of healthier snacking. Oppo Dipped are best enjoyed 10 minutes after removing from the freezer to allow the fruit to soften a little. This unique experience of sweet and juicy semi-frozen fruit and thick chocolate delivers a decadent and moreish flavour explosion quite unlike anything you’ll have tried before. Food & Drink International 9 www.fdiforum.net Clearly Drinks announces new partnership with Huel as it diversifies product portfolio Soft drinks manufacturer, Clearly Drinks Limited, has announced a new partnership with complete nutrition brand, Huel, as it continues to expand its offering into new growing drinks categories. Clearly Drinks Limited and Huel have teamed up to create two new SKUs for the health food and drink market, launching a sparkling drink with 26 vitamins & minerals that offers up to 154 added health benefits including vitamin C, D and Iron, allowing Clearly Drinks to diversify further into the functional drinks category as consumer behaviours continue to change and more shoppers look for food and drink that not only tastes good but will do them some good. The new partnership comes as Clearly Drinks Limited announces that it has successfully rolled out 85 new SKUs across its contract pack portfolio over the last 12 months, something that is a testament to the dynamic and agile workforce at the Southwick manufacturing site, allowing the team to meet the briefs and timeframes of new clients and national brands effectively, with new drinks out to market in as quickly as 6 weeks. Ballantine’s launches limited- edition AC/DC bottle as part of brand new collection Ballantine’s, the world’s second largest Scotch whisky, has introduced its new True Music Icons Collection, a tribute to the world’s finest music artists, including legendary rock band, AC/DC. Ballantine’s rich heritage and history within music through its True Music platform has positioned it as perfectly placed for celebrating timeless music artists and bands. With AC/DC’s unwavering commitment to staying true to their roots aligning with Ballantine’s ethos of celebrating self-expression, it was a natural fit for the Scotch whisky to pay tribute to this iconic band in its 50th anniversary year. The True Music Icons Collection honours artists and bands that have not only contributed to music culture, but have helped define it. AC/DC, known for their ground-breaking sound and electrifying performances, have released an impressive 17 albums, earning them the love of millions of fans across the world. The Ballantine’s True Music Icons AC/DC collectible bottle showcases the band’s highly recognisable Thunderbolt in vibrant neon red, creating a “powered-up” design that captures the essence of their iconic music and reflects their distinctive logo that is recognised around the world. © Diageo Captain Morgan enters alcohol free market with launch of Captain Morgan Spiced Gold 0.0% Captain Morgan is unveiling Captain Morgan Spiced Gold 0.0%, an alcohol-free alternative to the iconic Original Spiced Gold, offering a deliciously spiced flavour profile. Following the successful launch of Guinness 0.0%, Tanqueray 0.0% and Gordons 0.0% over the past few years, Captain Morgan Spiced Gold 0.0% brings further choice to the market as the latest brand, and first dark spirit, to join Diageo’s alcohol-free portfolio. With 49.6 per cent of those between legal drinking age and 24 in GB looking to moderate their alcohol consumption, the launch of Captain Morgan Spiced Gold 0.0% provides Diageo with an alcohol-free spirit able to tap into lighter, upbeat, drinking occasions favoured by this demographic. Captain Morgan Original Spiced Gold 0.0% gives those looking to moderate a deliciously spiced flavour profile, tapping into the increasing popularity of rum, with Captain Morgan seeing global organic net sales growth of 2% in Diageo’s F23 Preliminary Results. © Kellogg CompanyNext >