The International Dairy Deli Bakery Association released its latest COVID-19 Impact report. The report reflects how the current pandemic is impacting the bakery, dairy, deli meat, deli, cheese, and deli prepared sectors.

BlueNalu, a food technology company developing cell-based seafood products, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Pulmuone Co. Ltd., a leader in healthy lifestyle and environmentally-friendly food products headquartered in South Korea. Pulmuone also participated in BlueNalu’s A round of financing, which was announced earlier this year.

Ingredion Incorporated, a global provider of ingredient solutions, announced the completion of its rice manufacturing expansion in Banglen, Thailand. The expansion is part of the company’s ongoing investment strategy to support customers globally through the growth of its speciality food ingredients business.

The acquisition, led by Sonoma Brands managing director Kevin Murphy, follows Sonoma Brands’ acquisition of KRAVE from The Hershey Company in June 2020, thus joining two chef-crafted, premium jerky brands to create a powerhouse portfolio of brands within the meat snacking space. 

Ingredion Incorporated, a global provider of ingredient solutions, announced that Jeremy Xu has been named senior vice president, and chief innovation officer, effective October 1.

In April, during the height of the shelter-at-home orders, 37% of consumers told NPD they wanted to make sure they had sufficient snack foods on hand. They were well-stocked on salty snacks and frozen sweets more than other items.

Pioneering animal-free dairy maker, Perfect Day, announced the expansion of its Series C to $300 million through a new tranche led by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments). This follows an initial $140 million C round shared late last year, which was met with excitement and additional inbound interest after production breakthroughs in the company's proprietary flora-made dairy proteins. 

ABITEC Corporation, an ABF Ingredients company, announced that it has acquired Larodan AB, a manufacturer and international marketer of state of the art, high-purity research grade lipids. This strategic acquisition will expand ABITEC’s functional lipid product offerings and scientific capabilities to better serve the pharmaceutical, nutritional and industrial market sectors.

Omya has rebuilt and expanded its calcium carbonate production plant in Orgon, France, creating a substantially higher capacity for its functionalized calcium carbonate product platform, a new packaging line and an on-site warehouse. The modern facility produces the company’s mineral grades for food, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmetic applications in accordance with the most stringent sustainability and quality standards.

IFF Health has received Non-GMO Project Verified certification for its Go-Less® Men, an extract, for healthy bladder function in men. The activity of this plant-based ingredient is supported by clinical trials.