AquiSense Technologies, a provider of UV-C LED water disinfection systems, has announced the launch of PearlAqua Deca 30C. PearlAqua Deca 30C offers treatment for both larger and smaller point-of-use applications. The solution is suitable for commercial and industrial water treatment, food and beverage processing and residential use, as well as soda machines, among other uses. The PearlAqua Deca 30C applies UV-C LED technology to achieve more than 99.99% reduction of pathogens at four gpm (15 lpm). It includes automatic on-and-off switching or external triggering, configurable alarm outputs and dynamic power control, “which reduces overall energy consumption and extends lamp replacement intervals,” said the company. Oliver Lawal, AquiSense’s president and CEO, said: “We’re thrilled to introduce the latest PearlAqua product to the market. This not only fills a gap in our lower flow rate product range but, more importantly, demonstrates our next-generation PearlAqua design platform. We’re using a newer generation of UV-C LED devices, more advanced electronics, integrated UV Intensity Sensor and increased assembly automation.” #AquiSenseTechnolgies

Foodservice and facility provider Aramark has launched what it claims to be the “first” AI-powered ‘Quick Eats’ store in Scotland. ‘Quick Eats’ is an ambient intelligence-driven, no-wait, checkout-free retail store offering foods, beverages and essentials. The store is based at financial advice company Aegon’s offices in Edinburgh and will serve its 1,300 staff members. By using Aramark’s WorkXgo app, customers can walk in and walk out without having to wait in lines or go through a cashier. The launch of ‘Quick Eats’ in Edinburgh was confirmed in an Aramark LinkedIn post: The store features overhead cameras and intelligent shelf sensors that combine detection, visual cognition and secure payment integration while safeguarding privacy. Helen Milligan-Smith, MD at Aramark UK, said: “The launch of ‘Quick Eats’ in Scotland marks an important milestone on our journey to become the most innovative leader in the hospitality industry. By deploying the most cutting-edge and sophisticated technology in the market, we aim to make the customer journey as seamless and efficient as possible.” The ‘Quick Eats’ store forms part of ‘Aramark Connected’ that applies tech-enabled innovation for frictionless consumer experiences. Globally, this is the third Aramark ‘Quick Eats’ store deploying the technology, following the opening of two stores in Germany and Chile. #Aramark #Scotland #UK

Food tech scale-up Deliverect has acquired Dubai-based mobile ordering and marketing solutions provider for hospitality brands, ChatFood. The acquisition is designed to provide the restaurant industry with a solution to enable profitable growth and experiences, including social, dine-in QR and direct channel ordering, as well as online food delivery. Together, the companies will serve more than 43,000 restaurants and foodservice businesses globally, powering over 300 million orders in 42 markets. ChatFood operates in the Gulf region with more than 3,000 foodservice locations relying on its technology. Its co-founders will remain with Deliverect to lead further growth and expansion. Zhong Xu, CEO and co-founder of Deliverect, said: “We are thrilled to welcome ChatFood to the Deliverect team. With ChatFood, we now provide a 360-degree solution inspired by the challenges our customers face, supporting them both with in-restaurant dining and online food delivery. This milestone is significant for our company because each day we strive to simplify the lives of restaurant owners and help them thrive in the digital age.” The acquisition will enable Deliverect to offer customers a one-stop digital platform that eliminates complexity and drives value for in-restaurant dining and online delivery experiences. Ben Mouflard, CEO and co-founder of ChatFood, added: “We’ve had an opportunity to observe Deliverect’s values and dedication to their customers through our existing integration and long-standing partnership. We recognised that their approach aligned with our own. We are so excited by this next chapter in our journey and bringing our solutions to restaurants around the world.” According to ChatFood, its solutions have resulted in 35% higher average spending from customers, tripled the amount of tips and increased labour efficiency by 25%. New solutions resulting from the acquisition include ‘Deliverect Social Media Ordering,’ where restaurants’ customers can order from their social media accounts and tap into restaurants’ social channels. Another solution is ‘Deliverect Order & Pay,’ where restaurants can digitise their dine-in experience with custom QR codes for menus, ordering, bill management and payment, helping staff focus on creating the best dining experience and rewarding customers for their visits. Deliverect’s ‘Social Media Ordering’ and ‘Order & Pay’ will be available globally on a rolling basis over the coming months. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. #ChatFood #Deliverect #Dubai

Miko Coffee has announced the acquisition of German coffee service company Procon. Based in Magdeburg, Germany, Procon has been a distributor of Miko “for a long time”. Procon’s customers can borrow or rent small and medium-sized coffee and vending machines for office workplaces. Founded in 1801, Miko is a Belgium-based coffee distributor. It produces and sells roasted coffee beans, ground coffee, coffee pods, coffee machines and other coffee-related products to local businesses and individuals. Frans Van Tilborg, CEO of Miko Group, said: “Miko already has a fully-fledged subsidiary in Germany with Miko Kaffee, which is located in Nuremberg. With the acquisition of Procon, we are today taking a first step in the further expansion of our territorial presence in Germany. This fits into our strategy of building further on the rollout of an international coffee service organization through external growth.” Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. #Miko #Procon

Scottish coffee roaster Matthew Algie has unveiled a multi-million-pound investment at its Glasgow production headquarters. The investment – which is being supported by Scotland’s national economic development agency, Scottish Enterprise – will allow the business to roast more than 2,500 tonnes of coffee each year for its customers, creating 38 new jobs. As part of the investment project, the coffee roaster will introduce a new green bean handling and blending system, upgraded automation, new conveying systems and state-of-the-art packaging lines. In addition to the operational investments, Matthew Algie said that the funds will also be used to support its new sustainability strategy, which “will see the entire business become net zero by 2035 with its entire business operations, including supply chain, hitting the target by 2040”. According to the company, “a new green storage area will enable hessian sacks to be replaced with larger one-tonne transportation bags that will deliver a 90% manual-handling reduction, as well as increased coffee container capacity”. Matthew Algie added that shipping coffee in bulk containers from coffee-producing countries to UK ports “will increase capacity by 11%, and onward delivery to the Glasgow site will see a 25% capacity increase,” reducing costs and carbon emissions. Paul Chadderton, MD of Matthew Algie, said: “This recent round of investment builds additional capacity and will future-proof the business to offer even more products to its customers…These improvements will help supercharge our efforts to reach net zero, as, by 2035, our operations in the UK and Ireland will be carbon neutral or better, with our entire value supply chain net zero by 2040. He continued: “This is a hugely exciting time for our business and particularly our Glasgow roastery as we look to continue on our growth trajectory whilst being the leading supplier of sustainable, high-quality beverages in the UK and Ireland.” Rhona Allison, MD of business growth at Scottish Enterprise, added: “This innovative project will enhance the company’s productivity and manufacturing capability whilst also reducing its carbon emissions, delivering 38 new jobs and safeguarding many existing roles in the process”. The project is expected to be completed this autumn. #MatthewAlgie #Scotland

The Vollrath Company has introduced the SerVue, a touchless, refrigerated, self-serve salad bar. SerVue uses sensors to automatically dispense the desired amount of food from canisters, which replaces the open-air design of a traditional salad bar. The SerVue is equipped with intelligent sensors located at the bottom of each canister, which are capable of detecting the presence of a bowl or plate and then dispensing the appropriate ingredients automatically. According to the company, “this functionality can be dialled in to provide the precise amount of each ingredient, allowing more oversight of controlled portions and food costs”. SerVue features double glass doors that house eight transparent ingredient canisters. With its refrigeration system, the unit maintains a better temperature than a typical drop-in or serving line, ensuring the freshness of the stored products. Ingredients are self-contained and protected within SerVue’s respective canisters, safeguarding them against germs and other contaminants. Brian Hedlund, senior vice president of foodservice for Vollrath, commented: “SerVue features an elevated refrigeration area that provides a beautiful visual showcase of ingredients. It gives customers a completely new, exciting and safe way to serve themselves at a salad bar and makes checking and refilling ingredients a breeze for the operator.” #TheVollrathCompany

Fisher & Paykel has announced the introduction of its new cooling appliance, the Integrated Triple Zone Refrigerator. The Integrated Triple Zone Refrigerator expands on Fisher & Paykel’s existing refrigeration technology by incorporating three distinct cooling zones, providing optimal temperature control and flexibility. The technology is available in both refrigerator and freezer models, as well as stainless steel and integrated panel designs. The machine utilises three evaporators to independently control three separate storage areas, ensuring “exceptional temperature control,” said the company. Users are able to customise each zone according to the specific ingredients, providing an ideal storage environment with optimal temperature and humidity settings. With the ability to select from three refrigeration modes, including chill, fridge and pantry, users have control over their food preservation. Additionally, the Triple Zone Freezer modes offer extra flexibility and storage options, including freezer, soft freeze and chill. The refrigerator’s variable temperature zones are said to help reduce food waste by extending the overall shelf life. Fisher & Paykel said: “Chill mode can extend the shelf life of red meat nearly three times longer than regular refrigerator settings while pantry mode provides a cool, dark place for foods that perish quickly at room temperature but are too sensitive for standard refrigeration temperatures, such as nuts and avocados”. Users can control preset temperature modes with the brand’s high-resolution LCD touchscreen or through the SmartHQ Application, which will recommend ideal temperature settings. With a choice of up to nine different configurations, the triple zone cooling technology helps reduce energy consumption by creating tailored environments for the food care system rather than keeping all food types in the coolest setting. Jennifer Bradley, VP of product management at Fisher & Paykel USA, said: “At Fisher & Paykel, we’ve been mastering the art of temperature for decades. With the launch of our Triple Zone cooling technology, the brand continues to set industry standards across innovative food care and preservation to reduce waste, save resources and ensure perfect results. This exciting introduction is poised to have a significant impact on how people care for a variety of foods, tailoring cooling solutions to their precise needs and preferences.” #FisherampPaykel

Victoria Arduino, a coffee machine manufacturer owned by Simonelli Group, has expanded its E1 Prima range with the launch of E1 Prima Pro. E1 Prima Pro features a new 2.1″ touchscreen display that was designed to provide extraction information, as well as to be easy to read and to enhance speed in controlling and customising each step and setting. From mode selection to recipe creation, temperature settings and energy-saving preferences, the company says that “everything is readily visible and is adaptable for clarity and dynamic use”. Notably, during the extraction phase, each chosen variable is precisely specified to ensure real-time control by the professional user. The E1 Prima Pro incorporates Victoria Arduino’s T3 Genius technology, allowing for temparature control of the steam boiler for maximum cup precision. T3 Genius technology ensures faster heating of the group compared to machines in the same category, with an increase in precision and reactivity. It also doubles the steam pressure and halves the quantity of water to produce a consistent milk foam. In addition, the E1 Prima Pro features Pure Brew Technology, a three-phase coffee extraction method without the pressure of a traditional espresso machine. In June, Victoria Arduino launched E1 Prima EXP espresso machine. #SimonelliGroup #VictoriaArduino

Glacier Fresh, a manufacturer of water filtration solutions, has introduced two soda makers to its portfolio: Sparkin Cold and Sodaology. The Sparkin Cold soda maker is said to be the first soda maker capable of generating cold soda. The machine delivers a “refreshing sensation” of chilled sparkling water with a simple touch of a button, achieving the perfect balance of carbonation and coolness. It also serves as a water cooler dispenser, providing options for sparkling and chilled water to cater to individual preferences. In addition, the Sparkin Cold machine also features a comprehensive safety protection system that includes a carbonation degree alarm and an automatic pressure relief design. Meanwhile, the Sodaology soda maker introduces a carbonation method that infuses CO₂ from the bottom, leading to increased dissolution and larger bubbles. According to Glacier, the unit elevates the drinking experience by enriching the “flavour and effervescence” of carbonated beverages. Furthermore, Sodaology’s wide-mouth bottles enable effortless carbonation of various drinks, including those containing solid ingredients like fruit slices. Designed with a detachable structure, Sodaology ensures effortless cleaning and maintenance. #GlacierFresh #Sodamaker

Fast food chain Subway has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Roark Capital, a private equity firm boasting $37 billion in managed assets. Some sources have revealed that the deal amounted to a substantial $9.55 billion in total value. This transaction signifies a huge milestone in Subway’s progression and evolution. It brings together the global footprint and brand strength of the chain, with Roark’s proficiency in restaurant operations and franchise frameworks. Roark’s primary focus is on investments within consumer and business service sectors, particularly in franchises and franchise-like models. “This transaction reflects Subway’s long-term growth potential, and the substantial value of our brand and our franchisees around the world,” said John Chidsey, CEO of Subway. “Subway has a bright future with Roark, and we are committed to continuing to focus on a win-win-win approach for our franchisees, our guests and our employees.” This acquisition follows Subway’s recent declaration of achieving its tenth consecutive quarter of favourable same-store sales. The chain says it will continue to implement its strategy, prioritising sales expansion, improving menu offerings, modernising its eateries, enhancing the overall guest experience and furthering its global reach. Subway has enlisted J.P. Morgan as its financial advisor, while Sullivan & Cromwell LLP is providing legal counsel. Timing is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. #Subway

Canadian flavoured coffee brand Zavida Coffee Roasters has launched two new flavoured single-serve 44-count variety packs. The pods are compatible with all Keurig machines and are available for purchase at Walmart locations across Canada. The Discovery Variety Pack includes six different coffees – three of Zavida’s classic roasts; Breakfast Blend Light Roast, 100% Colombian Medium Roast, and French Roast; along with three of its “most popular” flavoured coffees; Hazelnut Vanilla, Canadian Maple, and French Vanilla. Meanwhile, the Flavour Explosion Variety Pack features nine of Zavida’s flavoured coffees: Hazelnut Vanilla, Canadian Maple, French Vanilla, Cinnamon Bun, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Crème Brûlée, Apple Pie, Pumpkin Spice, and Pecan Pie. Darlyn Reyes, marketing director at Zavida Coffee Roasters, said: “We believe that coffee should be more than just a morning ritual; it should be an experience. With our new Variety Packs, we aim to shake up how Canadians enjoy coffee., Coffee should be fun, so join us and explore the endless possibilities that our coffees offer – hot or cold.” #Canada #ZavidaCoffeeRoasters

Britvic Ireland has announced a €6 million investment in its Ballygowan facility in Newcastle West, County Limerick, to increase production capacity by 20%. The investment aims to meet the growing consumer demand for Ballygowan mineral water. It is also expected to create 28 new manufacturing jobs. In addition to the new roles, the investment will provide additional bottling capacity for the equivalent of 50 million fully recycled and recyclable 500ml bottles of Ballygowan, enhancing the site’s production capability and sustainability credentials. According to Ballygowan, sales of its products have undergone strong double-digit volume growth in recent years compared to pre-Covid levels. Kevin Donnelly, managing director at Britvic Ireland, said: “We are incredibly proud of this latest milestone in Ballygowan’s journey as Ireland’s most loved and leading bottled water brand, and the benefits this investment will return for Britvic Ireland and the wider community in Newcastle West”. Newcastle West is the home of Ballygowan mineral water, which has been produced and bottled at source since 1984. Britvic Ireland have been a local employer in Newcastle West since 2007. The facility currently employs 55 people in addition to the newly announced roles. Ballygowan bottles are made from 100% recycled and recyclable plastic (rPET) following a €2 million investment in the Newcastle West facility in 2021. #Ballygowan #Britvic #Ireland