Pizza Hut Canada to launch plant-based protein menu items with Beyond Meat

18 may | launch

Yum! Brands subsidiary Pizza Hut and Beyond Meat have expanded their partnership by launching new plant-based protein menu items in Canada.


The new items are the Great Beyond, Beyond Italian Sausage Alfredo Loaded Flatbread, and Beyond Creamy Alfredo. All the items feature the Beyond Italian Sausage Crumble.


Pizza Hut Canada marketing manager Devon Lawrence said: “As Canadians continue to seek convenient ways to incorporate more plant-based protein in their lives, we are excited to partner with Beyond Meat, a leader in plant-based protein, to bring consumers expanded choice across our menus.


“The new Beyond Meat menu items taste incredible and deliver on the iconic Pizza Hut flavour that our fans know and love.”


The new Beyond Meat topping is a Pizza Hut exclusive.


Customers in Mississauga, Etobicoke, Milton, Oakville, and Edmonton can now order the three new items online or through the Pizza Hut app.


Beyond Meat global strategic partnerships vice-president Hameed Jagani said: “The addition of Beyond Italian Sausage to Pizza Hut’s local menus enables consumers to continue eating the things they love, like pizza, without having to compromise on taste, health or sustainability.”


Pizza Hut and Beyond Meat have previously launched co-created menu items in the US, Belgium, Puerto Rico, and the UK.

17 may | foodservice

Burger King launches first delivery-only kitchen in UK


Fast food chain Burger King has reportedly opened its first delivery-only kitchen in London, UK.


Burger King’s entry into delivery-only kitchens comes amid an increasing demand for home deliveries, which has soared during the Covid-19 pandemic.


The hamburger chain entered the new segment by partnering with delivery kitchen business FoodStars, which is backed by former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick.


Established in Kentish Town, north London, Burger King said that its new venture has the potential to reach more than 400,000 customers in the region.


The fast-food chain said that customers can place their orders from the location through Deliveroo and Just Eat.


Customers will also be able to place their order with Uber Eats.

14 may | foodservice

McDonald’s increases wages at US company-owned restaurants


McDonald’s has decided to increase the hourly wages of more than 36,500 employees working at company-owned restaurants in the US. The hourly wage will be increased by an average of 10%.


The American fast-food company said that it has already initiated a wage increase process that will be rolled out over the next several months.


The company expects that the average hourly wage of employees working at McDonald’s-owned restaurants will be $15 per hour by 2024.


In addition to the wage increase, McDonald’s has announced a competitive benefits package for eligible employees working at company-owned restaurants.


However, the wage increase will not be available to staff members working at McDonald’s restaurants owned and operated by franchisees. Currently, McDonald’s franchises 95% of its restaurants in the US.

6 may | deals

Orkla to acquire Icelandic confectionery manufacturer Nói-Siríus


In November 2019, Orkla acquired a 20% stake in Nói Siríus, and the latest agreement is for the remaining 80% of the company.


Based in Reykjavik, Nói Siríus owns chocolate brands such as Síríus, Nóa Konfekt, Nóa Kropp, Nóa Páskaegg, and Konsum.


It also distributes international brands of chocolate, snacks, and breakfast products.


Nói Siríus has a workforce of 120 employees and is currently owned by several private investors.


Last year, the company posted a turnover of $28.5m (Ikr3.6bn), 70% of which was generated from its home market.


The financial details of the deal have not been disclosed. Completion of the transaction is subject to approval by the Icelandic competition authorities.


Upon completion of the deal, Nói Siríus will be incorporated into Orkla’s confectionery and snacks division, the head of which is Ingvill Berg.

30 april | project

GEA to build oats, rice, and soy processing plant for France’s LSDH


France’s Laiterie de Saint-Denis-de-l’Hôtel (LSDH) has selected GEA to build its new oats, rice, and soy processing plant.


The new plant is being built at the French liquid food and vegetable product manufacturer’s headquarters in Saint-Denis-de-l’Hôtel in the Centre-Val de Loire region.


It forms part of LSDH’s €300m investment programme to upgrade its production infrastructure.


Slated to start operations from mid-2022, the new plant will be equipped to produce oat, rice and soy base for beverages.

The plant will have capacity to produce 14t of soy and cereal concentrate an hour.


GEA and LSDH have finalised the concept and contract framework for the plant following series of successful trials at the test centres in Ahaus and Oelde, Germany.


The French Government earlier announced an investment programme for the regional cultivation of soy to reduce dependence on foreign import.


As part of this initiative, LSDH is working to establish the extraction facility for processing other cereal, nut and legume-based beverages.

26 april | recall

Super World Trading recalls processed catfish products in the US


US-based company Super World Trading has recalled 26,270lb of imported ready-to-eat (RTE) catfish products.


The company imported processed catfish products from the People’s Republic of China.


According to the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the People’s Republic of China is ineligible to export processed catfish products to the US.


China is eligible to export raw catfish products into the US but not processed items.


This issue was identified by FSIS during its routine surveillance of imported products.


The product being recalled is the 4.23oz (120g) plastic tray and cover packages containing ‘Golden Spoon Hot Pot Fish Chips’.


The products do not have an establishment number, nor a USDA mark of inspection.


FSIS said that the items were shipped to retail and wholesale locations across the US.


There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to product consumption.

In brief

Private equity firm Roark Capital acquires Nothing Bundt Cakes

An affiliate of private equity firm Roark Capital has acquired Nothing Bundt Cakes for an undisclosed sum.

pladis plans to shut biscuit factory

British snack foods maker pladis is planning to shut its biscuit factory in Tollcross, Glasgow, putting 468 jobs at risk. The company said that the move aims to address excess capacity across its 12 other UK sites.

Bain Capital to acquire Valeo Foods from CapVest

Bain Capital Private Equity has signed a definitive agreement with private equity firm CapVest to acquire Dublin-based Valeo Foods Group. Valeo is engaged in the production of branded and private-label food products, which includes brands such as Jacobs, Rowse, Kettle, Odlums, Barratt, and Balconi.

Oterra acquires Spanish firm Secna Natural Ingredients

Unilever to acquire US supplements brand Onnit

Unilever has agreed to purchase US food supplement brand Onnit for an undisclosed sum, to boost its health and wellness product portfolio. Based in Austin, Texas, Onnit is engaged in the production of supplements that aim to improve cognitive function, mood, relaxation, gut health, and support immunity.

22 april | project

Mondelez and OFI to create sustainable cocoa farm


Snack and confectionery manufacturer Mondelez International has partnered with Olam Food Ingredients (OFI) to develop the world’s single largest sustainable commercial cocoa farm.


Through this initiative, Mondelēzl and OFI aim to strengthen sustainable cocoa sourcing in Indonesia.


The project will make use of advanced climate-smart and plant science technology on a 2,000ha cocoa farm on Seram, the largest island in Maluku province, Indonesia.


The model tests a modernised and professional blueprint for best practice cocoa farming with optimal land usage and farming community planning, which will be explored as a potential model for replication across the region.


Indonesia is considered a key cocoa-producing country in the Asian region, but local farmers are said to have been struggling with rising temperatures, low yields, and crop disease.


By combining their expertise in cocoa-growing research and development as well as good agricultural practices, Mondelēz and OFI intend to address the issues faced by the Indonesian partner cocoa farmers.


Under the new collaboration, the two companies aim to create 700 jobs and use the 2,000ha of previously deforested brownfield land, which will be planted with cocoa and various other trees.


Additionally, 47ha of land has been identified as a high conservation value forest and is being fully protected as a vital habitat for flora and fauna.

21 april | sustainability

PepsiCo launches Positive Agriculture initiative


In brief

FrieslandCampina and Arabian Food Industries form JV

Dutch dairy cooperative FrieslandCampina and Arabian Food Industries Company (Domty) have agreed to form a joint venture (JV) to export cheese from Egypt to Africa and the Middle East.


In the proposed JV, FrieslandCampina will hold a 51% stake while the remaining 49% stake will be held by Domty.

Tyson Foods to invest $55m to expand case-ready meat production capacity

Tyson Foods has unveiled plans to expand its case-ready meat production by reopening its idle facility in Columbia, South Carolina, US.

The site will be transformed into a meat-cutting facility that will produce retail ready, portioned packages of sliced, fresh beef and pork, as well as ground beef.

South Africa's Astral Foods issues profit warning related to Covid-19

South African poultry processor Astral Foods continues to struggle with the impact from the Covid-19 pandemic and has issued a profit warning for its first-half results.

Newly-appointed Danone chairman says incoming CEO to be external candidate

In a letter to shareholders, Danone's newly-appointed chairman Gilles Schnepp said that outgoing chief executive Emmanuel Faber's replacement will be a "globally-respected CEO who is ready to take charge from day one, assess the state of the business and begin implementing initiatives very quickly".

Amyris and Minerva partner for sustainable production of animal protein

Amyris has signed a memorandum of understanding for a partnership with Brazilian beef exporter Minerva Foods to develop molecules that will support the sustainable production and distribution of animal protein.


As agreed, Minerva will fund the development and be responsible for the commercialisation of the target molecules.