At its annual general meeting, a resolution calling on Nestle to set a target to increase the proportion of its sales from healthier products was rejected. Eleven per cent voted for the resolution while 88 per cent against it and one per cent abstained from voting. A coalition of Nestle shareholders, co-ordinated by ShareAction, an investment NGO, had filed the resolution challenging Nestle to improve its impact on people’s health. The shareholder coalition asked Nestle to implement internationally accepted standards that define healthy food rather than deviating from credible guidelines, amid ..read more

General Mills released its 2024 Global Responsibility Report, detailing progress the company made across three priority areas — Planet, People and Food — during the 2023 fiscal year. To drive collective action and continued progress toward the company’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across its value chain by 30 per cent by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050, General Mills also released its first Climate Transition Action Plan. The plan details the company’s integrated approach and evolved decarbonization strategies across four key climate levers — agriculture and ..read more

The plant-based protein industry is focused on improving the price, taste and texture of its products as it weathers a period of consumer wariness brought on by the rising cost of living. That’s according to industry experts, including Bill Greuel, CEO of Protein Industries Canada, a not-for-profit that receives funding from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada to invest in plant-based food and ingredient manufacturing. There’s a lot of work being done in Canada to improve things like the meltability of plant-based cheese and the texture of plant-based meat, said Greuel in an in ..read more

Beck’s Broth, a Kitchener-Waterloo based CPG brand providing beverages in a bone broth base, welcomes Domenique Mastronardi as its COO and partner. It also snags new listings with national retailers including Well.ca, Natura Market and Healthy Planet. The company was created by Beckie Prime, a registered holistic nutritionist. “When I first came up with the concept of pairing bone broth with my favourite drinks like coffee and hot chocolate, I couldn’t believe no one had done it yet,” said founder Beckie Prime. The bone broth company, which launched in 2021, rebranded in fall 2023, moving to a ..read more

Stampede Culinary Partners adds sous vide technology to its Stampede North facility in Cambridge, Ont. “This oven capacity will be a game changer for Stampede Culinary Partners,” said Brock Furlong, president and CEO of Stampede Culinary Partners. “Having sous vide capabilities in Canada has been critical since we expanded north of the border, and the team is thrilled to see what new opportunities arise.” The new sous vide capabilities will enable Stampede to cook all of its current sous vide offerings in Canada for the first time: beef, poultry, pork, prepared meals, gourmet pet food, alterna ..read more

Restaurants Canada’s ultimate treat for the food and beverage industry, RC Show 2024, successfully concluded on April 8 while providing the industry with a place to gather, learn, grow and network through its trade show, conferences, competitions, and events. Credit: Ojasvini Parashar This year’s ‘Level Up’ theme is aimed at supporting the industry, helping foodservice professionals, restaurants, cafes and bars discover new ways to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the industry while embracing innovation. Kelly Higginson, president and CEO of Restaurants Canada, said in a press relea ..read more

A distillery is halting production of discount four-litre vodka jugs after the Alberta minister responsible for the province’s liquor industry called out the product for not being responsibly priced. T-Rex Distillery says public response has been mixed since photos of the jugs began circulating on social media, with about half praising the jugs for “innovation and convenience.” Others expressed concern, including Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally, who says the low $49.95 price was “not very responsible” and that he was looking at intervening. The Edmonton-area distillery says the jugs are a ..read more

Aurora Importing appoints Chef Pino Di Cerbo as the company’s culinary head. Chef Pino Di Cerbo is widely recognized for his innovative approach to traditional Italian dishes, blending modern techniques with timeless flavours. “We are excited to introduce a new member to the Aurora family, Pino Di Cerbo as our head chef,” said Joe Moscato, president of Aurora Importing. “Chef Pino’s diverse culinary expertise and creativity is strongly rooted in Mediterranean cuisine, a perfect match with Aurora Importing’s authentic assortment of quality food sourced from all over the world.” Prior to joining ..read more

Canada’s food and beverage manufacturers face a mix of obstacles and optimism for profit margin improvements in the year ahead, according to the latest Food and Beverage Report by Farm Credit Canada. After hitting a record $165 billion in food and beverage manufacturing sales last year, 2024 is expected to see sales moderate in sync with slowing inflation and tighter household budgets. Despite sector-specific headwinds and changing consumer shopping habits, the overall outlook is more positive. Population growth and stabilizing input costs are two reasons for expecting margin improvement in 20 ..read more

Consumer Reports (CR) called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to remove Lunchables food kits from the National School Lunch Program. CR recently compared the nutritional profiles of two Lunchable kits served in schools and found they have even higher levels of sodium than the kits consumers can buy in the store. CR also tested 12 store-bought versions of Lunchables and similar kits and found several contained relatively high levels of lead and cadmium. All but one also tested positive for phthalates, chemicals found in plastic that have been linked to reproductive problems, diabetes, and ..read more