UK foodservice provider Creed Foodservice has been acquired by Kitwave Wholesale Group for an undisclosed sum. Creed will operate within Kitwave's Foodservice division, which includes David Miller Frozen Foods, Total Foodservice, MJ Baker Foodservice and Westcountry Food Holdings. Founded in 1972, Creed is an independent UK foodservice wholesaler, supplying a wide range of products to caterers and chefs, including grocery, frozen, chilled, fresh produce, butchery, beverages, alcohol and non-food items. Creed said that the acquisition will increase Kitwave's Foodservice division to ten depots (16 including the on-trade business). The combined operation will serve 10,700 customers across hospitality, education, healthcare, leisure and out-of-home sectors, with annual revenues nearing £275 million. There will be no changes to Creed's operational structure. Chris Creed remains CEO, Philip de Ternant will retain his role as chairman and Miles Roberts will continue to be managing director. Chris Creed said: “We have been evaluating our plans to take our business to the next stage for some time now and are delighted to be able to share our growth plans. Our objectives have always been to keep the Creed name, remain a member of the Country Range Group, secure the right investment and strengthen our infrastructure and capacity to secure our long-term growth; and I’m pleased to say that all these goals have been achieved." “Creed’s ethos and business approach remain at the heart of our operations. Creed has thrived on family values for over 50 years and our people, culture and values remain woven into the fabric of our extended business. This move strengthens our position within the market, offering the best possible outcome for our business, people and customers.” Ben Maxted, CEO at Kitwave, added: “Creed has an exceptional heritage and is one of the UK’s leading foodservice wholesalers, so we are delighted to have reached this agreement, which will extend our Foodservice division". "Strategically, Creed will significantly expand our geographical presence, bridging our operations in the North and South and creating a fully integrated national delivery network. We are looking forward to working with Creed's dedicated and experienced team and excited to see our Foodservice division continue to go from strength to strength." #CreedFoodservice #Kitwave #UK

Cumulus Coffee Company has launched a new cold coffee machine and recyclable coffee capsules, allowing consumers to brew café-quality cold beverages at home with ease. The machine, priced at $695, allows users to make cold brew, nitro cold brew, and cold espresso in seconds, using recyclable aluminium capsules. It features premium arabica coffee sourced from Central and South America, Africa and Asia, specifically roasted for cold brewing. The coffee is available in fully recyclable aluminum capsules and includes eight varieties of light, medium, dark and decaf roasts. The nitrogen for the nitro cold brew is sourced from the air, eliminating the need for gas cartridges. Gelman said: "Cold coffee has become a core part of daily rituals, but replicating the café experience at home has always been challenging. At Cumulus, we obsess over every detail, ensuring that our cold brew, nitro cold brew and cold espresso not only meet but exceed expectations." "From sourcing the best arabica beans to designing a frictionless system, we've built Cumulus from the ground up to be the ultimate cold coffee solution, delivering a seamless, café-quality experience at home – designed for how people want to enjoy coffee today." Last year, Cumulus released its first-ever solution for making premium cold brew at home following a seed funding round that raised $20.3 million . #CumulusCoffee #US

C. Steinweg, an international logistics service provider, has announced the acquisition of 75% of the shares of Romani Spa. Romani Spa is a private company specialising in coffee storage and handling. The acquisition is said to boost Steinweg's global warehousing capacity in the soft commodities sector. The move comes as demand for coffee import handling grows at key Italian ports, Genoa and Trieste. By integrating Romani Spa’s operations, Steinweg aims to strengthen its services and improve efficiency in its global logistics network. “This acquisition marks a significant step in our strategy to expand our presence in the soft commodity market and better serve our customers,” said Andrea Bartalini CEO of C. Steinweg. “Romani Spa is a strong and reputable company in the coffee industry, and together, we will be able to create even more value for coffee importers and traders in Italy and beyond.” Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. #CSteinweg #RomaniSpa

Le Forum-EVEX is set to take place in Cannes, France, from 16 to 18 October, drawing a record attendance of approximately 450 professionals from the vending industry. More than 140 European vending machine operators and 82 supplier partners have confirmed their participation. The event will be held at the Carlton Hotel, located on the Croisette. It will feature a series of conferences and workshops organised by FCM magazine, the French Vending Association (NAVSA) and the European Vending & Coffee Service Association (EVA). Key discussion topics will include responsible vending practices, the ongoing relevance of coffee in the sector and strategies to meet consumer demand. Attendees will also have the option to select topics for three additional workshops through a pre-event survey. The event will commence with a gala dinner on the evening of 16 October to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the EVA, followed by the Annual General Assembly the next morning, which will review the association's developments over the past three decades. On 17 October, participants will attend a ‘white evening’ at a nearby villa, where the Innovation Awards 2024 will be presented. This collaboration with Le Forum aims to enhance networking opportunities and increase the reach of vending operators within the industry. #LeForumEVEX #Cannes

Culligan has expanded its portfolio with the acquisition of BE WTR, a provider of premium water solution, in the Nordic region. The move promises to provide existing BE WTR customers with access to an expanded range of products, including advanced coffee machines, high-quality coffee, various water solutions and Culligan's patented water dispensers. Mike Hecker, former owner of BE WTR in the Nordics, said: “As BE WTR accelerates its international expansion and focus on hospitality and gastronomy worldwide, we wanted to secure a strong, long term operator focused on great service in office and HoReCa, which is clearly the speciality of Culligan. I thank each of you for your loyalty and wish you a continued satisfaction together with Culligan. For clarity sake BE WTR remains an independent company based in Switzerland, not related to Culligan, and growing rapidly internationally.” Mattias Källemyr, CEO of Culligan Nordic, added: “Our goal is to make the transition as smooth as possible for you, and we will work to nurture and further develop the strong customer relationships that are already in place”. For the time being, customers can expect no significant changes in services or products. "Any improvements that are implemented will be made with your best interests in mind, and we will keep you informed of all important updates," said Culligan in a statement. Last week, BE WTR opened a fully automated circular bottling plant in Clichy , a suburb of Paris. Top image: © BE WTR #Culligan #BEWTR

According to Reuters, the AlShaya Group, a multinational retail franchise operator headquartered in Kuwait, has paused its efforts to sell a minority stake in its Starbucks franchise, which operates across the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia, due to ongoing geopolitical unrest and consumer boycotts in the region. Sources familiar with the situation revealed that these factors are complicating bidders' ability to accurately assess the business's value. AlShaya, which has been looking to offload approximately 30% of its stake in a process referred to as "Project Emerald," is not in a hurry to finalise the sale. Reuters reported that while interest has been expressed from major players, including US private equity firm Apollo Global Management and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, the sale discussions are expected to resume next year if conditions improve. The franchise operates around 2,000 outlets across 13 countries, including Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. AlShaya Group declined to provide a comment. Refreshment has also reached out to Starbucks for a statement. #AIShayaGroup #Starbucks

Nutrabolt, owner of C4 Energy, has announced a partnership with The Hershey Company to launch a range of products featuring popular Hershey flavours. The collaboration will introduce Hershey's confections into the energy drink, pre-workout and protein powder categories, with new flavours rolling out this autumn and additional products planned for 2025. The first offerings, which is available from this month, include C4 Original x Bubble Yum pre-workout and C4 Performance Energy x Jolly Rancher energy drinks, available in blue raspberry, green apple and watermelon. In October, C4 Whey Protein powders will debut in vanilla bean, Hershey's milk chocolate and Reese's peanut butter flavours. Doss Cunningham, chairman and CEO at Nutrabolt, said: "At Nutrabolt, we prioritise listening to our customers and value our strategic partnerships. For years, users have been mixing their own peanut butter and chocolate protein shakes and we've frequently heard requests for a Jolly Rancher candy-flavoured C4. After extensive testing, we're thrilled to finally bring these products to market." Andy Paladino, director of global licensing at The Hershey Licensing Company, added: "We are constantly seeking new ways to introduce our adored Hershey candy and chocolate treats in innovative formats. These new beverages and powders sweeten the performance category for athletes and fitness enthusiasts to achieve their best, and we are thrilled to partner with C4 to deliver this lineup." C4 Performance Energy drinks contain CarnoSyn Beta-Alanine, BetaPower and 200mg of caffeine to enhance performance. The C4 Original x Bubble Yum pre-workout will be a limited-edition release and includes ingredients for energy, endurance and focus, along with AI-powered peptides. #Nutrabolt #C4 #Hershey #US

The Companhia Nacional de Abastecimento (Conab) – or, in English, the National Supply Company – has published its third survey on Brazil's coffee harvest for 2024. The report reveals an estimated production of 54.79 million processed bags, representing a decline of 0.5% compared to last year's output. This assessment highlights the considerable impact of adverse weather conditions on production expectations, underscoring the challenges faced by the coffee sector this year. Conab said that the weather had an influence between its second and third surveys, despite some estimates pointing to a good production potential of the crops. Adverse weather conditions, including drought and high temperatures, have negatively impacted productivity, bringing the national average coffee productivity down to 28.8 bags per hectare, a 1.9% decline from last year. For arabica coffee, production is projected at 39.59 million bags, a 1.7% increase. Minas Gerais, Brazil's main coffee producer, is expected to yield 27.69 million bags, though this marks a 3.4% decrease due to ongoing drought conditions. In São Paulo, while weather conditions have impacted crop performance, production is still expected to increase by 8.2% compared to 2023, which could reach a production of 5.44 million bags this year. A similar pattern is seen in the arabica-producing regions of Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro and the Cerrado area of Bahia, highlighted Conab, where projected increases are lower than initially estimated. Meanwhile, conilon coffee production is forecasted to drop by 6%, totaling 15.2 million bags. Espírito Santo is projected to produce about 9.97 million bags, down 1.9%. In Rondônia and the Atlantic region of Bahia, significant declines of 16.4% and 13.3%, respectively, are expected due to reduced productivity and cultivated areas. In 2024, the area dedicated to coffee cultivation for arabica and conilon covers 2.25 million hectares, with 1.9 million hectares in production, reflecting a 1.4% increase. However, the area under formation has decreased by 4.5%, totaling 345.16 thousand hectares. Despite these challenges, coffee prices remain attractive for producers, driven by tight bean supply. Brazil's coffee exports have surged, with 32.1 million 60-kilo bags shipped from January to August 2024, marking a 40.1% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Conab said that these figures remain high, Brazil could exceed its 2020 export record of 43.9 million bags. #Brazil #coffee #market

Stash Tea is entering the latte category with its new Tea Latte Concentrates, available in three flavours: Double Spice Chai, Earl's Delight and Apple Blossom. Crafted with non-GMO ingredients, the concentrates cater to the growing trend of at-home tea consumption, allowing consumers to easily make café-style lattes at home by mixing equal parts concentrate with non-dairy or dairy milk, and enjoy hot or iced. The Double Spice Chai blends bold flavours of chai spices with cinnamon, ginger and clove for a rich, creamy latte experience. Earl's Delight provides a twist on Earl Grey with almond-like notes and bergamot, delivering a bright, full-bodied taste. Meanwhile, Apple Blossom offers a caffeine-free, herbal option with apple, chamomile and honey. Nami Yamamato, CEO of Yamamotoyama, Stash Tea's parent company, said: “At Stash Tea, we like to think of tea as a language – even if we don’t speak the same language, tea helps us express our happiness and feelings. In a similar vein, people of different generations and cultures have been drinking tea for centuries." "As consumer preferences change and the demand for wellness-forward tea-based beverages increases, we’re seeing the industry connect back to its roots of drinking tea to improve one’s health. The launch of our Tea Latte Concentrates nods to these insights and the dedication we’ve held firmly for over 50 years. We’re thrilled to bring at-home baristas a high-quality Tea Latte Concentrate that emulates a specialty beverage found at their local coffee shop or teahouse, made with natural ingredients designed to elevate their mental and physical health – all from the comfort of home.” The new range will be available at Fred Meyer and Shoprite stores, as well as through the brand's website and on Amazon. #StashTea #US

Nestlé-owned brand KitKat has expanded its portfolio with a new permanent vanilla flavour. This addition features the brand's signature crisp wafers coated in vanilla-flavoured crème. Lindsay Morrow, senior associate brand manager at KitKat, said: "As the brand known for giving fans a break, we're thrilled to deliver another exciting addition to the KitKat lineup with the release of KitKat Vanilla for fans hungry for new flavours". "With the KitKat Vanilla break giveaway, fans get the best of both worlds – the vanilla flavour they love in a familiar treat and a moment of relaxation amidst the chaos that the fall season can bring." The new flavour is currently available at nationwide US retailers in standard and king sizes. #Nestlé #KitKat #US

Co-op has announced the launch of a 24-hour online grocery delivery service in select city centre stores, responding to increasing demand from consumers for more convenient shopping options. The service, available through platforms like Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats, is set to roll out this month in Leeds, London and Manchester, with plans to expand based on local demand. New research from Co-op highlights a strong desire for late-night delivery options, with over 40% of quick commerce shoppers expressing interest in using a delivery service between 11pm and 5am. The demand is highest among Gen Z shoppers, with 52.3% of 18-24-year-olds likely to use the service. The data also shows that Londoners are the most enthusiastic, with 55.2% likely to order groceries late at night, compared to just 26.47% of shoppers in Wales. Chris Conway, Co-op ecommerce director, said: “Meeting the needs of our member-owners and customers is at the heart of our approach and is aligned to our strategy to grow our share of the quick commerce market through both our own online shop and, strategic partners.  “We focus on ease, speed and convenience from our local stores, which are well placed in the heart of communities. Societal behaviours including changing lifestyles and shift working is increasing the requirement for online groceries to be delivered quickly and conveniently at non-traditional times of the day.” In addition to the 24-hour service, Co-op has expanded online availability to over 1,600 stores during their existing opening hours, allowing more customers to shop later in the evening. This move supports Co-op’s goal of securing over one-third of the quick commerce market by focusing on ease, speed, and convenience. Conway continued: “We are committed to enhancing and developing our online offer and provide the quality and reliable service that our member-owners and customers want, whenever they choose to shop with us.” #Coop #onlinegrocery #UK

The Coca-Cola Company and Bacardi have partnered to launch Bacardí rum and Coca-Cola as a ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail. The initial rollout is set for 2025 in select European markets and Mexico, with plans for global availability. The move is part of Coca-Cola’s expansion into the growing alcohol RTD market. James Quincey, CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, said: “This new relationship with Bacardi Limited supports our strategic expansion, and we look forward to the introduction of Bacardí Mixed with Coca‑Cola next year.” Bacardi’s CEO, Mahesh Madhavan, commented: “We are excited to bring together two iconic brands so that consumers may enjoy one of the most world’s most popular cocktails – first invented generations ago with Bacardí rum and Coca‑Cola – in a high-quality, convenient format. Through this relationship, we will expand our reach and accessibility so that even more consumers of legal drinking age can enjoy this classic Bacardí rum and Coca‑Cola cocktail.” Bacardí Mixed with Coca‑Cola RTD packaging will feature both companies' logos, with a focus on promoting responsible drinking. The drink’s ABV will be around 5%, though this may vary by region. #CocaCola #Bacardi