Evolva launches “sugar blocker”
Swiss biotech company Evolva has launched L-arabinose, a natural “sugar blocker” used in food and beverages.
Studies show that L-arabinose (previously known as EVE-X157/Z4) as a sugar blocker can support healthy blood sugar levels and weight management. It also has potential application as a prebiotic. Made by fermentation methods, the product is fully renewable and sustainable. It has a high-purity level (more than 99 %) and no hydrochloric acid is used in the manufacturing process.
Ivory Coast faces 100,000 tonnes of cocoa stockpile
Exporters say, Ivory Coast, the world’s largest cocoa producer, faces 100,000 t of cocoa being piled-up due to the global pandemic and a drop in demand.
The exporters did not say which of their international buyers had asked to postpone shipments, but the unwanted stockpile adds to a growing store of beans at ports after chocolate makers and buyers in Europe and the United States asked that deliveries scheduled for October-December be postponed to January-March. Chocolate makers such as Mars Inc, Hershey and Barry Callebaut purchase Ivorian cocoa. The estimated 100,000 t of beans stuck at farms and cooperatives amounts to roughly one-third of Ivory Coast’s monthly output at this time of year.
Farmers are desperate for money to sustain a living and this delay is hindering their livelihoods. The guaranteed farm gate price of 1,000 CFA francs (USD 1.82) per kg is not being met. They have made sales for as little as 900 to 950 CFA francs per kg.
The date for interpack 2023 and components trade fairs is set
The next interpack trade fair will take place from 4 to 10 May 2023 at the Düsseldorf Trade Fair Centre.
components will take place in parallel with interpack. It is oriented towards the supplier sector for the packaging and processing industry. Interested parties can register for components in the same period as interpack.
The websites of the trade fairs will regularly provide information on industry trends and innovations up until the next edition of both events. The online presence of the upcoming interpack and components is also being built up and expanded.
Pladis appoints Nurtac Ziyal Afridi as CEO of Godiva Chocolatier
Pladis, the chocolate and snacks business of Turkish Yildiz Holding, has named Nurtac Ziyal Afridi CEO of Godiva Chocolatier following her two-month tenure as interim chief executive officer.
Afridi, a Godiva board member as well as Yildiz Holding’s Chief Strategy &Growth Officer, notes she will work with her teams to continue making the company’s chocolates and chocolate-inspired products accessible by extending its channels to reach new consumers and engage with loyal consumers in new ways.
The company says her appointment comes as Godiva has sought to bring its chocolate to a wider audience and adjusted its business operations in line with changes in shopper behavior. Year to date, the company maintains it has seen significant growth in its consumer base, driven largely by Godiva.com and sales through food, drug and mass channels.
Olam Cocoa: Twenty Degrees launch brings specialty cacao to craft chocolate manufacturers
The launch of Twenty Degrees, a new specialty cacao business sourcing premium quality cacao beans from around the world, is backed by Olam Cocoa, one of the world’s leading suppliers of cocoa beans and cocoa ingredients.
According to the company group, the premium chocolate market has seen significant growth in recent years as consumers become more interested in the provenance of their food and increasingly seek out high quality, artisanal products with a unique flavour and story. Twenty Degrees – named for the cacao belt which ranges twenty degrees north and south of the equator – is responding by sourcing premium quality cacao beans from ten unique regions, each hand-picked for their distinctive flavour and sensory profile.
The business will unlock opportunities for farmers by bringing single origin cacao beans to market that are either too specialist or too remote to be sold to mainstream manufacturers. From cacao grown in the highland Simbu region of Papua New Guinea, to beans farmed by the indigenous Eperara community in Ecuador’s coastal rainforest, a community only accessible by boat. A team of agronomists will work with each community to make sure the quality and flavour of its cacao meets the highest standards.
The Twenty Degrees business model is built on positive partnerships with farmers and customers. It is helping farmers to adopt sustainable farming practices and investing in the growth and security of the communities it works with. This also allows it to provide customers with new levels of transparency and traceability right back to the farm gate, so chocolate makers can know everything about the cacao beans they buy, from the farmers who grew them to the carbon footprint of the crop.
Leopold Palmer, Business Head, Twenty Degrees, said: “We’re on a mission to change the way we think about premium cacao. We’re exploring new territories and discovering fresh terroirs in established growing regions, uncovering unique cacao beans farmed to the highest quality with the greatest possible positive impact. And we’re doing this in a way that is transparent, traceable and delivers quality, consistency and taste to meet the needs of craft chocolate makers.”
Twenty Degrees will be led by an entrepreneurial new team but draw on the expertise and operational strength of Olam Cocoa, one of the industry-leading businesses under Olam Food Ingredients (OFI). Twenty Degrees benefits from Olam Cocoa’s long-standing experience in cocoa sustainability and from the insight and expertise of its dedicated flavour lab in the Netherlands, which will test the specialty cacao beans and help to bring out their unique flavour, smell and texture.
Commenting on the launch, Gerard A. Manley, CEO of Olam Cocoa concluded: “With Twenty Degrees, we are combining our knowledge of cocoa farming and our capability to source from distant and often remote communities with a greater focus on flavour differentiation. It will leverage our existing presence to drive sustainable farming practices and support livelihoods as part of Cocoa Compass, our sustainability ambition for the future of the industry. We are building on our wider Olam Food Ingredients offering to provide natural, value-added ingredients that positively impact people and the planet. With the benefit of our knowledge and scale, Twenty Degrees will create something truly unique in the specialty market.”
New corrugated waste bin for hygienic disposal of face masks
The use of face masks during the recent pandemic has justifiably grown to hundreds of millions worldwide. However, masks can easily end up littering public places or natural sites.
Futupack is a Finnish company that designs and implements sustainable packaging solutions. Jani Mäkipää, Lead Packaging Engineer at Futupack, explains: “We wanted the mask bin to be as aesthetic as possible so that it could be placed easily into any indoor environment. The mask bin is delivered flat, and can be quickly assembled. In addition, full instructions on assembly for the consumers are printed on to the bin itself. When the mask bin is full, it is easy to close the lid, and the entire bin can be safely and hygienically disposed of with the incinerated waste”.
MetsäBoard Pro WKL 160 g/m2 coated white kraftliner was used as the top liner of the mask bin. The Finnish corrugated board converter Capertum printed the e-flute corrugated board in silk screen. The bin is light and robust thanks to the fresh fibres of the white kraftliner, and its stylish, lightweight design makes it easy to place in various indoor public spaces.
Lindt & Sprüngli: sales declined, but market shares increased
Azelis and Mane establish distribution agreement for flavour solutions in Benelux
Sappi Europe implements innovative barrier paper technology
Sappi Europe SA, a division of Sappi Ltd, headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, will introduce new barrier coating technology for functional paper packaging at its speciality mill in Alfeld, Germany, strengthening its position as the leading global provider of sustainable paper packaging solutions.
Explaining the decision, Berry Wiersum, CEO Sappi Europe stated: “Expanding the use of our proprietary barrier coating technology underpins Sappi Europe’s drive to maintain our leading position in barrier coated paper as well the commitment we have with our customers in developing innovative future focused packaging solutions which contribute towards a sustainable future”
The demand for paper and paperboard packaging continues to rise dramatically as consumers become increasingly mindful of the impact their buying choices have on the environment. The call for innovative, truly sustainable solutions has never been louder. Sappi is striving to support its customers to go beyond traditional film and foil-based material solutions, growing its products ranges to meet the demands of our ever-changing world. Working directly with brand owners Sappi seeks to create future-oriented circular solutions in line with growing collective global responsibilities.
The desire to continuously evolve to meet and exceed the business needs requires ongoing investment in innovation in order to create the solutions of tomorrow. Sappi’s acquisition of Rockwell Solutions has deepened the company’s barrier paper manufacturing knowledge. Adding barrier coater capacity at Alfeld Mill further upscales our capabilities, brings this unique combination of paper, dispersion and coating technology to more customers and enables Sappi to offer customers even more competitive and attractive paper packaging solutions.
Sappi has made great strides to provide future-focused products and services – matching and exceeding the needs of consumers now and in the future – delivering recyclable packaging solutions in line with the requirements of a circular economy. Environmental accountability is at the heart of both Sappi and its customers’ needs. Through this initiative Sappi will continue to challenge the conventional packaging industry with new ideas and solutions in order to make it easier for the world and the planet to follow a circular-economy strategy. The company expects to begin commissioning the new products as from mid-2022.
Bühler expands service centre locations through acquisition of Design Corrugating
Bühler North America expands and strengthens its service network and offerings with the acquisition of Design Corrugating Companies, a leading roller mill and other equipment service company based in Taylorville, Illinois, US.
Design Corrugating is a leading provider of roller mill parts and services, including roll reconditioning, new rolls, and other equipment parts and services, with facilities in Taylorville/IL, Oakdale/CA, Wichita/KS and Chattanooga/TN. All Design Corrugating locations will become new service centre sites in the Bühler Customer Service network, and the entire Design Corrugating staff has joined the Bühler team. Existing operations will continue unchanged, utilizing the “pick-up, repair and deliver” model.
Bühler will continue to provide parts and services for all makes and models of roller mills. Future investments are planned for equipment that will allow new services to be delivered, and the full Bühler supply chain will be leveraged to improve competitiveness in terms of cost and efficiency.