Merger in the packaging market: Anton Debatin and Riba found Deriba Group
Two well-established companies in the packaging industry join forces: packaging manufacturers Anton Debatin GmbH and Riba GmbH have founded the Deriba Group GmbH.
The companies Anton Debatin and Riba are equal partners of the Deriba Group. The group also integrates Debatin SARL (Hoenheim/France), pfc premium film company GmbH (Hamburg), HVB Hoch-Vakuum-Beschichtungs GmbH (Berlin) and Berec GmbH (Werneuchen/Germany).
Each individual enterprise is an expert in its sector. The newly founded group will coordinate all business activities, including unified marketing operations for the extensive product and service range. It will also increase the transfer of know-how throughout the product development process. The companies will benefit from economies of scale within procurement, a general process optimisation and synergetic effects within logistics as well as from the access to a new group of customers possessing a high purchasing volume.
The Deriba Group assumes a leading role within the European market for flexible packaging. In sum the companies achieve a sales volume of more than EUR 100 m employing over 400 employees. The new group will make its first public appearance at FachPack (Nuremberg, 25 to 27 September 2018, hall 7, stand 618).
ADM introduce new specialty tapioca starches
ADM has introduced a new line of specialty tapioca starches and tapioca maltodextrin ingredients in partnership with Vedan International.
“Over the past few years, we have been focused on expanding the range of our starch-based ingredient options – especially those that are plant-based – to provide cleaner label options and solutions for customers,” said Kris DiTommaso, vice president, ADM’s starch business. “Tapioca’s neutral taste profile allows it to be used in a wide range of applications, and we are pleased to now add tapioca-based modified starches and maltodextrins to our growing starch ingredient portfolio.”
Mars calls for greater research into cocoa diseases
Mars Inc says greater collaboration is needed to tackle the range of pests and diseases that affect cocoa cultivation.
Participating in the International Congress of Plant Pathology (ICPP) 2018, Jean-Philippe Marelli, Integrated Pest Management Director at Mars/USDA Cocoa Laboratory, and Dr David Guest, a member of Mars’ Research Advisory Board, spoke during a panel discussion “Chocolate under threat from old and new cacao diseases”. The session brought together the world’s top cocoa pathogen experts to discuss cocoa diseases and address ways to tackle these complex pathogens.
Jean-Philippe Marelli said: “Cocoa is a unique crop that has a diverse range of complicated pathogens and pests, all with complex life cycles. Cocoa pathogens – especially species such as Frosty Pod and Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus – need more research. This is why we are at the ICPP, to drive collaboration and share our expertise in science and technology, so that we can help cocoa farmers around the world.”
During the panel, Mars touched on projects it is leading with international research partners, to investigate lesser-known pathogens, so farmers can grow more disease-resistant crops. One example is its work with the US Department of Agriculture and the University of California to sequence the genomes of major cocoa pathogens. All research output from this project will be available in the public domain to enable the development of diagnostics tools. Mars researchers have also turned to epidemiology to help farmers in Latin America predict future pathogen outbreaks, by using data to develop disease models for Witches Broom and Frosty Pod.
IRI confectionery monitor: mild revenues boost in the first half of 2018
Positive development in May and June led German retailers to finish the first half of 2018 with a mild increase in confectionery revenues.
The salty snacks category grew significantly in the springtime and completed the first half of the year with a major increase in revenues of 7.1% up to € 1.582 bn. Sales quantity grew by 4.1% up to 200,314 tonnes. Chocolate products (without season) gained at least some ground in May and June, but revenues in the first half-year still remained below the previous year’s level at € 2.576 bn, down by 0.4%. Sales volume was down even further by 1.1% (257,628 t). Bars (revenues + 6.2%; sales volume + 4.2%) were unable to fully compensate the losses particularly among chocolate tablets (- 3.4%; - 2.4%) and pralines (- 3.9%; - 6.1%).
Suppliers of sweet baked goods and cakes saw quantities fall over the same period for the previous year (- 3.2%; 216,647 t) more significantly than in value (- 1.8%; € 1.121 bn). Losses among sugar confectionery in sales volume (- 5.0%; 176,868 t) and revenue (- 4.1%; € 966.7 m) were even heavier. The chewing gum segment also suffered losses, achieving only € 245 m for a revenue decline of 3.1% with a fall in sales volume of 4.5% down to 170.2 million pieces.
Treofan: European business sold to Jindal Films
M&C S.P.A., owner of Treofan Holdings GmbH, has sold its controlling stake in Treofan Europe to Jindal Films, an Indian film and label manufacturer. The transaction is expected to be closed before the end of the first quarter of 2019.
Jindal Films is a global leader in the development and manufacture of speciality biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) films and has affiliated production plants in India, Europe and in the United States. The company and its affiliates have sales offices to support customer needs in countries around the world, including North and South America, Europe and Asia, with a global headcount of approximately 3,000.
Pack Expo International: bringing innovations to life
From 14 to 17 October 2018, at trade fair Pack Expo International and co-located Healthcare Packaging Expo in Chicago, about 2,500 leading industry suppliers will show their new developments to around 50,000 packaging professionals.
“As consumer demands for convenience, flexibility and personalisation grow, the packaging industry continues to design solutions to meet these expectations,” says Laura Thompson, Senior Director of Expositions, PMMI. “Pack Expo International and Healthcare Packaging Expo bring these innovations to life and provide an opportunity to see new developments in action.”
In addition to exploring state-of-the-art packaging technologies, equipment and materials, top consumer packaged goods companies from around the world come to the fair to exchange ideas with peers and build professional relationships. Beyond the technologies exhibited on the show floor, attendees will find tremendous educational opportunities at the Innovation Stage, where suppliers present free 30-minute seminars on breakthrough technologies throughout the three days. Coming off its strong debut at Pack Expo East 2018, The Forum at Pack Expo is a new show feature providing attendees an interactive learning experience. The Forum will feature sessions on the latest industry trends followed by small group discussions and Q&A sessions.
Ramon Laguarta elected CEO of PepsiCo
PepsiCo, Inc. announced that its Board of Directors has unanimously elected Ramon Laguarta, 54, to succeed Indra K. Nooyi, 62, as Chief Executive Officer.
Laguarta was also elected to the company's Board of Directors, effective October 3rd. He will become the sixth CEO in PepsiCo's 53-year history. All have been appointed from within the organization.
Laguarta has held a number of executive and general management roles in his 22 years at PepsiCo. Since September 2017, Laguarta has served as President of PepsiCo, overseeing global operations, corporate strategy, public policy and government affairs. Previously, Laguarta served as Chief Executive Officer, Europe Sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to that, he served as President, PepsiCo Eastern Europe region.
Nielsen confectionery monitor: stabile revenues in the first half of 2018
German retailers registered a slight increase in confectionery sales of 0.3% up to € 6.789 bn in the first half of 2018.
According to the figures recently cited by Nielsen’s confectionery monitor, sales volume sank up to calendar week 26 by 1.0% down to 827,685 tonnes (basis: food retailers + drug stores + impulse channels + gas station shops + department stores). Year-round product revenues remained around the level of the same period for the previous year (sales volume - 1.6%), while seasonal article quantity grew significantly stronger (+ 9.1%) than in value (+ 3.0%).
Salty snacks continue to serve as the guarantor of growth. In the first half of the year sales in this segment were up by 5.0% to € 1.511 bn. Revenues in the strongest sub-segment premium nuts rose again significantly (+ 6.7%), while potato crisps, despite being a preferred snack highlight during the Football World Cup tournament, only exceeded last year’s level by 0.4%. Excellent growth rates were achieved by snack specialities (+ 6.6%), crackers (+ 41.0%) and tortillas (+ 12.4%).Biscuit International acquires Spanish sweet biscuits producer Arluy
Biscuit International, one of Europe’s players in the private label sweet biscuit market, has acquired Arluy, the fifth largest producer and distributor of sweet biscuits in Spain.
Biscuit International currently owns Poult in France, Banketgroep in the Netherlands, A&W Feinbackwaren (A&W) in Germany and NFF in the UK. The acquisition of Arluy is a new step in Biscuit International’s development strategy which consists of expanding its product offering and geographical footprint both through external and organic growth. The announcement follows the acquisitions of A&W Feinbackwaren in Germany and NFF in the UK.
With this new operation, Biscuit International reinforces its position as a significant player in the European private label sweet biscuit market and establishes a stable position in Spain. Following this transaction, Biscuit International’s sales will represent more than 10% of the European private label sweet biscuit market, and Spain will become the group’s fourth largest market after France, the Netherlands and Germany.
DouxMatok and Südzucker commercialize “breakthrough” sugar reduction technology
European sugar producer Südzucker and DouxMatok, a developer of targeted flavour delivery technology, have announced a partnership to commercialize DouxMatok’s “breakthrough” sugar reduction solution across Europe to support the food industry’s efforts to reduce sugar content.
DouxMatok and Südzucker recently executed a memorandum of understanding, setting up the production, joint marketing and sales of DouxMatok sugar to customers in Europe. The partnership is designed to help food companies address the growing desire for balanced nutrition from consumers and ongoing regulatory pressure to reduce sugar content in food, while still offering a solution that is non-compromising on taste. The companies are currently focusing on process technology for scaling up the production and expect to offer it to European food brands for use in a large variety of categories, including chocolate, spreads, snack bars, biscuits, baked goods and candies.
The patented sugar delivery technology takes advantage of loading sugar molecules on a mineral carrier, resulting in a more efficient delivery and enhanced sweetness perception, according to DouxMatok. The company’s ability to achieve desired sweetness level while reducing sugar content by up to 40 % has been tested and validated by third-party panels as well as major food companies.
