SUPPLIER NEWS & INNOVATIONS M&A
IMCD acquires Matrix Ingredients operations in Singapore and Malaysia NETHERLANDS – IMCD, a leading distributor of speciality chemicals and food ingredients, has acquired the food distribution business of Matrix Ingredients in Singapore and Malaysia, for an undisclosed sum. Following the transaction, Maxim Ingredients International Pte. Ltd. and Matrix Ingredients Sdn. Bhd. will be integrated into IMCD’s existing organisation. Established in 2002, Matrix Ingredients provides ingredients, technical services and formulation advice in the
savoury and processed meat segment in both Singapore and Malaysia markets. IMCD said that the services offered by Matrix Ingredients form a valuable addition to its food and ingredients portfolio aiming to strengthen IMCD’s savoury & processed meat segment. “With Matrix Ingredients’ leadership position in the Singapore and Malaysian market, IMCD establishes a solid position in the fast-growing savoury and processed meat segment,” said Haiko Zuidhoff, Vice President, Asia Pacific. “Together we are well positioned to deliver
accelerated growth in the APAC region to our suppliers,” Haiko added. The acquisition builds on IMCD’s expansion strategy across various Asian markets marked by a foray of acquisitions in the recent past. The company recently bought India based Monachem Additives - which supplies and sells a comprehensive range of specialty chemicals products, in particular for the plastics industry - to support the company’s expansion in the market.
INNOVATIONS
Kerry Group launches ‘Radicle’ plant-based food solutions IRELAND – Kerry Taste & Nutrition has
launched the ‘Radicle by Kerry’ range of taste, nutrition and functional solutions as the company seeks to offer customers an integrated solution of plant based foods. The Radicle by Kerry solutions can be paired with plant-based proteins and dairy alternatives, which Kerry says provides the broadest portfolio of plant-based food solutions in the market and aims to position the group as category leaders. The range have been initially launched in the Europe and North America and the company plans to roll-out the products globally in the coming months. The solutions will address both meat alternatives and dairy alternatives, currently the biggest
and fastest growing categories in the vegan industry. As the global plant-based food market value is estimated to clock approximately US$23.4 billion by 2026, Kerry is capitalizing on this by presenting better plant-based foods with authentic tastes and cleaner labels. “There is no doubt that there continues to be a mainstream consumer shift towards a flexitarian diet,” Malcolm Sheil, president and CEO, of Kerry Europe & Russia said during the launch. “Consumer preferences, from restaurants to retail, have never seen such dynamic change, but for the food industry these developments are as challenging as they are exciting. “Radicle by Kerry brings together our dairy and meat
heritage and our technology, processing and applications expertise, with over 20 years of experience in the plant-based food space. In terms of dairy-free ice-cream and non-dairy cheese, the food solutions will optimise taste, texture, nutrition and functionality. With regards to plant-based protein such as burgers and sausages, the solutions create plant-based meat alternative products with taste, texture, functionality and nutrition. The company said that it is looking forward to innovating with customers across the foodservice and retail channels to create new and exciting dishes for the growing flexitarian consumer group.
INVESTMENTS
Tetra’s DeLaval new signs agreement to boost dairy industry in China CHINA – DeLaval, a subsidiary of Tetra
Laval which supplies equipment to the dairy industry, has signed a new agreement with China Agricultural University to further improve efficiency in the dairy industry in China. The new agreement builds on 30 years of cooperation between the two countries, Sweden and China, through the SinoSwedish Dairy Cooperation programme. Pressured by the shortage for raw milk as well as the rising demand for dairy products, this new agreement will enhance the sustainable and profitable future of the dairy industry in both countries. The new Sino-Swedish Dairy Cooperation Quality FOODBUSINESSAFRICA.COM
and Efficiency Project, running from 20202024, will operate under the agricultural cooperation MOU signed between China and Sweden in 2012. The project seeks to further rejuvenate the dairy industry and improve the quality of domestic dairy products, as defined by the goal to increase the yield per cow. It combines theory with practice, consisting of four modules: theoretical training, dairy field, case teaching and overseas training. The programme covers dairy farm management, dairy breeding, nutrition, animal health, as well as environmental aspects. According to a Daily China report, the
demand for dairy products in the Asian country is rising and expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 1.5% through 2023, driving demand for raw milk with annual growth of nearly 5%. However, China’s dairy industry is facing a critical imbalance between supply and demand for raw milk as domestic cow stocks and raw milk production are decreasing significantly. In 2018, the average yield per cow in China was 7.4 tonnes. The new project marks yet another landmark towards enabling China meet its dairy requirements. In accordance with China’s plans for the dairy industry, the project will help achieve a change to 9 tonnes by 2025. OCTOBER 2019 | FOOD BUSINESS AFRICA
61