FoodBev Media’s Gwen Jones rounds up this week’s food and beverage news, including:
Diageo CEO Sir Ivan Menezes has passed away aged 63 following a brief illness.
British-American national Menezes, who was born in the Indian city of Pune, joined Diageo after its formation through the merger of Guinness and Grand Metropolitan in 1997.
Menezes was appointed to Diageo’s board as an executive director in 2012 and served as CEO from July 2013. In March, the company announced Menezes’ plans to retire on 30 June 2023.
The announcement comes after the spirit giant said on Monday that CEO-designate Debra Crew would immediately assume the position of chief executive on an interim basis as Menezes was under medical treatment for conditions including a stomach ulcer.
All of us in the FoodBev team offer our deepest sympathies and condolences to Ivan’s family and colleagues, following the shock of this sad news.
Vertical farming company AeroFarms has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware, US, as it seeks legal protection to restructure its finances and operations.
Following “careful consideration” by its board, the company has also filed several “first-day” motions with the bankruptcy court, requesting customary relief in order to transition into Chapter 11, ensuring minimal disruption to the company’s core business operations.
The company listed $50 million to $100 million of liabilities in a petition filed in Delaware.
The Irish government’s Department of Agriculture has announced plans to cull 200,000 cows at a cost of €600 million over the next three years in order to meet carbon targets.
The Department stated that the report, as seen by Farming Independent, was a “modelling document” and “not final policy”.
Irish politician Peadar Tóibín highlighted figures in parliament that showed a high number of cattle could be “culled” by 2025, posing an “incredible threat to the farming sector at a cost of about €600 million” to taxpayers.
Puratos has acquired Canadian chocolate producer Foley’s in a move that will see the business offer its largest chocolate portfolio yet.
The deal will increase Belgium-headquartered Puratos’ chocolate market share and manufacturing capabilities in North America.
Puratos provides ingredients for bakers, patissiers and chocolatiers, serving food companies in over 100 countries around the world. The acquisition is described as a key strategic step for the company as it continues its growth, based on “the pillars of health and well-being, sustainability and innovation”.
General Mills is bringing Häagen-Dazs into the yogurt aisle with the debut of Häagen-Dazs Cultured Crème.
Cultured Crème is available in six flavours: vanilla bean, strawberry, coffee, lemon, blueberry and black cherry.
The offerings feature ingredients such as bourbon vanilla beans sourced from Madagascar, handpicked strawberries, Colombian cold brew coffee, lemon pulp and zest, and whole wild blueberries.
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