In the UK, Coca-Cola Enterprises partners with ECO Plastics to establish a £15m PET bottle recycling facility in Lincolnshire, boosting annual production of recycled plastic in the UK from 35,000 to 75,000 tonnes.
US organic beverage manufacturer Honest Tea announces plans to launch a new drink brewed from cocoa beans called CocoaNova.
Coffee chain Starbucks announces the global roll out of a new line of handcrafted beverage and food products as well as a new in-store look to emphasise the company’s new logo.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission blocks Japan’s Asahi Breweries’ planned A$364m acquisition of Australian soft drinks company P&N Beverages over duopoly concerns.
SodaStream International partners with Bio-Tec Environmental to roll out Bio Bottle biodegradable packaging for the SodaStream flavour bottles, designed to compost in landfill in 5 years.
In the US, PepsiCo’s Tropicana Products division announces it is to raise the price of some of its juice products by 4-8% due to higher costs resulting from cold weather impacting Florida citrus crops.
Chile’s antitrust office (FNE) opposes the planned joint venture between Nestlé and Fonterra-owned dairy company Soprole, with a final decision to be taken by the local antitrust court (TDLC).
UK drinks firm Nichols reports a 16% rise in FY 2010 group sales to £83.9m, with pre-tax profit climbing 23% to £15.1m, boosted by a 17% increase in UK soft drink sales.
Jamba, the parent company of Jamba Juice, records a FY 2010 net loss of US$16.7m, as revenue falls 12.9% to US$262.7m.
Britvic considers expanding its soft drinks worldwide through franchisees, following pilots in Australia and the US.
PepsiCo introduces bottles made entirely from plant material including corn husks, and plans to reuse waste plant matter in its supply chain to help reduce costs.
In the UK, Innocent Drinks unveils a new marketing campaign, including a television advert, which targets mothers and aims to boost sales of its Smoothies for Kids and Fruit Tubes products.
Peruvian beverage company Ajegroup is to build Brazil’s largest PET bottle blowing plant in Queimados, Rio de Janeiro with a production capacity of up to 72,000 units per hour.
In the UK, alcoholic drinks producers including Diageo and Carlsberg, pledge to support the new government public health Responsibility Deal.
In the US, Coke’s Simply Orange has improved its performance through presentation in clear plastic carafes despite selling at a premium. Now Tropicana is following suit.
PepsiCo enters into a 50-50 joint venture with Israeli food and beverage maker Strauss Group to produce and sell fresh dips and spreads in key markets outside of North America.
In Brazil, Nestlé plans to build a CHF83m dairy plant in Três Rios to produce UHT and ready-to-drink milk and soy-based milk products under the Ninho and Molico brands.
Danone Waters of America unveils the revamped 1.5 litre Evian bottle, which is made of up to 50% recycled PET and is also 100% recyclable.
Anheuser-Busch InBev reports a 6% reduction in water usage in its global brewing operations in 2010 to 4.04 hectolitres of water per hectolitre of beer produced.
According to reports, US food group General Mills is to acquire private equity group PAI Partners’ 50% stake in French dairy company Yoplait.
Microsoft Corporation Chairman Bill Gates acquires a 14.7% stake in Mexico’s FEMSA for an undisclosed sum.
Scandinavian dairy cooperative Arla Foods and DMK, the future merger of Nordmilch and Humana, enter into a 50-50 joint venture in whey processing, to be named ArNoCo.
Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company announces Dimitris Lois will succeed Doros Constantinou, Chief Executive Officer, following his retirement in Q3 2011.
PepsiCo Foundation pledges US$1.5m towards Japanese disaster relief following the earthquake and tsunami.
China Huiyuan Juice Group sees FY 2010 sales revenue increase 30.9% to RMB 3.71bn, with sales of fruit juice products up 26.4% to RMB 3.4bn.
French dairy firm Lactalis acquires a 15.3% stake in Italian dairy firm Parmalat, taking its overall share to 29%.
In the UK, Tesco launches a new 21-strong range of yogurts under the Yoo brand name, which will be priced around 20% less than mainstream brands.
