DHL Supply Chain appoints new chief commercial officer for EMEA region

Bonn, Germany: DHL Supply Chain has appointed Andries Retief as chief commercial officer for the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, and Africa). He took up his role on 1 September.

Retief will focus on customer-centric supply chain strategies, developing 23 key markets and strengthening services for small and medium-sized enterprises

Retief joined DHL Supply Chain in 2009 and served in various leadership positions across finance, transport, operations, and country management in Africa, Europe, and Asia. Most recently, he led DHL Supply Chain in Southeast Asia, where he spearheaded the company’s accelerated growth initiatives in multiple countries.

“With the growth opportunities here, from multi-sector industries, strategic locations to rapid urbanization and increasing consumer demand, our customers rely on our solutions to simplify and scale their contract logistics operations,” said Retief.

An immediate key focus will be on the peak season, one of the biggest annual challenges for the logistics industry.

“We anticipate the peak period starting earlier this year where our e-commerce & omni-channel, returns operations including aftermarket business, serve in full gear.

“The primary focus will be ensuring scalable capacity for our customers through our network of warehouses, transportation, and value-added services to quickly accommodate fluctuating volumes. Our goal is to collaborate closely with our customers to develop sustainable supply chain strategies, through our Lead Logistics Partner offering, that allow businesses to confidently navigate the surge in demand during one of the most demanding times of the year.”



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SC Ventures hires Siddiqi to roll out SME e-commerce platform in Middle East

Our privacy commitments

This Privacy Policy outlines the information we may collect about you in relation to your use of our websites, events, related publications and services (“personal data”) and how we may use that personal data. It also outlines the methods by which we and our service providers may (subject to necessary consents) monitor your online behaviour to deliver customised advertisements, marketing materials and other tailored services. This Privacy Policy also tells you how you can verify the accuracy of your personal data and how you can request that we delete or update it.

This Privacy Policy applies to all websites operated by Exporta Publishing & Events Ltd (as indicated on the relevant website).

This privacy statement does not cover the activities of third parties, and you should consult those third-party sites’ privacy policies for information on how your data is used by them.

Any questions regarding this Policy and our privacy practices should be sent by e-mail to privacy@gtreview.com or by writing to Data Protection Officer at, Exporta Publishing & Events Ltd, 4 Hillgate Place, London, SW12 9ER, United Kingdom. Alternatively, you can telephone our London headquarters at +44 (0) 20 8673 9666.

Who are we?

Established in 2002 and with offices in London and Singapore, Exporta Publishing & Events Ltd is the world’s leading trade and trade finance media company, offering information, news, events and services for companies and individuals involved in global trade.

Our principal business activities are:

  • Business-to-Business financial publishing. We provide a range of products and services focused on international commodities, export, supply chain and trade finance markets including magazines, newsletters, electronic information and data
  • Organisers of seminars, conferences, training courses and exhibitions for the finance industry

Exporta Publishing & Events Ltd is a company registered in the United Kingdom with company number 4407327 | VAT Registration: 799 1585 59

Data Protection Policy

This Data Protection Policy explains when and why we collect personal information about people who visit our website, how we use it, the conditions under which we may disclose it to others and how we keep it secure.

Why do we collect information from you?

Our primary goal in collecting personal data from you is to give you an enjoyable customised experience whilst allowing us to provide services and features that will meet your needs.

We collect certain personal data from you, which you give to us when using our Site and/or registering or subscribing for our products and services. However, we also give you the option to access our Sites’ home pages without subscribing or registering or disclosing your personal data.

We also collect certain personal data from other group companies to whom you have given information through their websites (including, by way of example, Exporta Publishing & Events Ltd and subsidiaries, in accordance with the purposes listed below). Should we discover that any such personal data has been delivered to any of the Sites, we will remove that information as soon as possible.

Why this policy exists

This Data Protection Policy ensures Exporta Publishing & Events Ltd:

  • Complies with data protection law and follow good practice
  • Protects the rights of staff, customers and partners
  • Is open about how it stores and processes individuals’ data
  • pretexts itself from the risk of a data breach

We may change this Policy from time to time so please check this page occasionally to ensure that you’re happy with any changes. By using our website, you’re agreeing to be bound by this Policy.

Data protection law

The Data Protection Act 1998 described how organisations – including Exporta Publishing & Events Ltd – must collect, handle and store personal information. These rules apply regardless of whether data is stored electronically, on paper or on other materials. To comply with the law, personal information collected must be stored safely, not disclosed unlawfully and used fairly.

The Data Protection Act is underpinned by eight important principles. These say that personal data must:

  • Be processed fairly and lawfully
  • Be obtained only for specific, lawful purposes
  • Be adequate, relevant and not excessive
  • Be accurate and kept up to date
  • Not be held for any longer than necessary
  • Processed in accordance with the rights of data subjects
  • Be protected in appropriate ways
  • Not be transferred outside the European Economic Area (EEA), unless that country of territory also ensures an adequate level of protection

How do we collect information from you?

We obtain information about you when you use our website, for example, when you contact us about products and services, when you register for an event, register to receive eNewsletters, subscribe or register for a trial to our GTR magazine/website.

 Types of Personal Data Held and its Use

1.      Customer Services and Administration

On some Sites, Exporta Publishing & Events Ltd collects personal data such as your name, job title, department, company, e-mail, phone, work and/or home address, in order to register you for access to certain content, subscriptions and events. In addition, we may also store information including IP address and page analytics, including information regarding what pages are accessed, by whom and when.

This information is used to administer and deliver to you the products and/or services you have requested, to operate our Sites efficiently and improve our service to you, and to retain records of our business transactions and communications. By using the Sites and submitting personal information through the registration process you are agreeing that we may collect, hold, process and use your information (including personal information) for the purpose of providing you with the Site services and developing our business, which shall include (without limitation) the purposes described in the below paragraphs.

2.      Monitoring use of our Sites

Where, as part of our Site services, we enable you to post information or materials on our Site, we may access and monitor any information which you upload or input, including in any password-protected sections. Subject to any necessary consents, we also monitor and/or record the different Sites you visit and actions taken on those Sites, e.g. content viewed or searched for. If you are a registered user (e.g. a subscriber or taking a trial), when you log on, this places a cookie on your machine. This enables your access to content and services that

are not publicly available. Once you are logged on, the actions you take – for example, viewing an article – will be recorded (subject to any necessary consents). We may use technology or a service provider to do this for us. This information may be used for one or more of the following purposes:

  • to fulfil our obligations to you;
  • to improve the efficiency, quality and design of our Sites and services;
  • to see which articles, features and services are most read and used
  • to track compliance with our terms and conditions of use, e.g. to ensure that you are acting within the scope of your user licence;
  • for marketing purposes (subject to your rights to opt-in and opt-out of receiving certain marketing communications) – see paragraph 3 below;
  • for advertising purposes, although the information used for these purposes does not identify you personally. Please see paragraph 5 below for more details;
  • to protect or comply with our legal rights and obligations; and
  • to enable our journalists to contact and interact with you online in connection with any content you may post to our Sites.

Please see paragraph 5 below for more information on cookies and similar technologies and a link to a page where you can turn them on or off.

3.      Marketing

Some of your personal data collected under paragraphs 1 and 2 above may be used by us to contact you by e-mail, telephone and/or post for sending information or promotional material on our products and/or services and/or those of our other group companies.
We give you the opportunity to opt-out of receiving marketing communications. Further detail can be found on the applicable Site and in the footer of each marketing communication sent by us, our group companies or service providers. See also “Consents and opt-outs” section below.
We will not share your information with third parties for marketing purposes.

4.      Profiling

We may analyse your personal information to create a profile of your interests and preferences so that we can contact you with information relevant to you.

5.      Cookies and similar technologies

All our Sites use cookies and similar technical tools to collect information about your access to the Site and the services we provide.

What is a cookie?

When you enter some sites, your computer will be issued with a cookie. Cookies are text files that identify your computer to servers. Cookies in themselves do not identify the individual user, just the computer used.

Many sites do this whenever a user visits their site in order to track traffic flows, recording those areas of the site that have been visited by the computer in question, and for how long.

Users have the opportunity to set their computers to accept all cookies, to notify them when a cookie is issued, or not to receive cookies at any time. Selecting not to receive means that certain personalised services Exporta Publishing & Events Ltd offers cannot then be provided to that user.

 

Why do we use cookies?

  1. Log In – Where we provide log in mechanisms for site users a cookie is created at login and for the duration of the session. Each cookie contains a unique reference number only (no personal information) which is used to confirm you are authorised.
  2. Analytics – To allow us to keep track of traffic to our website we use cookies. The cookies simply tell us if you have previously visited our website so we can get more accurate figures for New vs Returning visitors.

Find and control your cookies

All of the major browser providers offer advice on setting up and using the privacy and security functions for their products. If you require technical advice or support for a specific browser/version please contact the provider or visit their website for further details:
www.microsoft.com / www.mozilla.com / www.apple.com
/ www.opera.com / www.aol.com / www.netscape.com
/ www.flock.com / www.google.com.

We may use cookies to:

  • remember that you have used the Site before; this means we can identify the number of unique visitors we receive to different parts of the Site. This allows us to make sure we have enough capacity for the number of users that we get and make sure that the Site runs fast enough
  • remember your login session so you can move from one page to another within the Site;
  • store your preferences or your user name and password so that you do not need to input these details every time you visit the Site;
  • customise elements of the layout and/or content of the pages of Site for you;
  • record activity on our Sites so that we understand how you use our Sites enabling us to better tailor our content, services and marketing to your needs;
  • collect statistical information about how you use the Site so that we can improve the Site; and
  • gather information about the pages on the Site that you visit, and other information about other websites that you visit, so as to place you in a “market segment”. This information is only collected by reference to the IP address that you are using, but does include information about the county and city you are in, together with the name of your internet service provider.

Most web browsers automatically accept cookies but, if you prefer, you can change your browser to prevent that, or to notify you each time a cookie is set. You can also learn more about cookies in general by visiting www.allaboutcookies.org which includes additional useful information on cookies and how to block cookies using different types of browser. Please note however, that by blocking, deleting or turning off cookies used on the Site you may not be able to take full advantage of the Site.

6.      E-mail tracking

E-mail tracking is a method for monitoring the e-mail delivery to those subscribers who have opted-in to receive marketing e-mails from GTR, including GTR Africa, GTR Asia, GTR Americas, GTR Europe, GTR Mena, GTR eNews, Third party e-mails and GTR Ventures.

Why do we track e-mails?


So that we can better understand our users’ needs, we track responses, subscription behaviour and engagement to our e-mails – for example, to see which links are the most popular in newsletters. They enable us to understand the consumers journey through metrics including open rate, click-through rate, bounces and unsubscribes. Any other purposes for which Exporta Publishing & Events Ltd wishes to use your personal data will be notified to you and your personal data will not be used for any such purpose without obtaining your prior consent.

How do you track GTR eNewsletters?

To do this, we use pixel GIFs, also known as “pixel tags” – these are small image files that are placed within the body of our e-mail messages. When that image is downloaded from our web servers, the e-mail is recorded as being opened. By using some form of digitally time-stamped record to reveal the exact time and date that an e-mail was received or opened, as well the IP address of the recipient.

7.      Consents and opt-outs

You can give your consent to opt-out of all or any particular uses of your data as indicated above by:

  • Indicating at the point on the relevant Site where personal data is collected
  • Informing us by e-mail, post or phone
  • Updating your preferences on the applicable Site or eNewsletter (unsubscribe and preference options are available in the footer of each eNewsletter)

To turn cookies and similar technologies on and off, see the information in paragraph 5 above.
Any questions regarding consents and opt-outs should be sent by e-mail to privacy@gtreview.com or by writing to Data Protection Officer at, Exporta Publishing & Events Ltd, 4 Hillgate Place, London, SW12 9ER, United Kingdom. Alternatively, you can telephone our London headquarters at +44 (0) 20 8673 9666.

8.      Disclosures

Information collected at one Site may be shared between Exporta Publishing & Events Ltd and other group companies for the purposes listed above.

We may transfer, sell or assign any of the information described in this policy to third parties as a result of a sale, merger, consolidation, change of control, transfer of assets or reorganisation of our business.

9.      Public forums, message boards and blogs

Some of our Sites may have a message board, blogs or other facilities for user generated content available and users can participate in these facilities. Any information that is disclosed in these areas becomes public information and you should always be careful when deciding to disclose your personal information.

10.  Data outside the EEA

Services on the Internet are accessible globally so collection and transmission of personal data is not always limited to one country. Exporta Publishing & Events Ltd may transfer your personal data, for the above-listed purposes to other third parties, which may be located outside the European Economic Area and/or with a different level of personal data protection. However, when conducting transfers, we take all necessary steps to ensure that your data is treated reasonably, securely and in accordance with this Privacy Statement.

Who has access to your information?

Confidentiality and Security of Your Personal Data

We are committed to keeping the data you provide us secure and will take reasonable precautions to protect your personal data from loss, misuse or alteration.

However, the transmission of information via the internet is not completely secure. Although we will do our best to protect your personal data, we cannot guarantee the security of your data transmitted to our Site; any transmission is at your own risk. Once we have received your information, we will use strict procedures and security features described above to try to prevent unauthorised access.

We have implemented information security policies, rules and technical measures to protect the personal data that we have under our control from:

  • unauthorised access
  • improper use or disclosure
  • unauthorised modification
  • unlawful destruction or accidental loss

All our employees, contractors and data processors (i.e. those who process your personal data on our behalf, for the purposes listed above), who have access to, and are associated with the processing of your personal data, are obliged to keep the information confidential and not use it for any other purpose than to carry out the services they are performing for us.

Responsibilities

Everyone who works for or with Exporta Publishing & Events Ltd has some responsibility for ensuring data is collected, stored and handled appropriately. Each team handling personal data must ensure that it is handled and processed in line with this policy and data protection principles. However, the following people have key areas of responsibility.
The board of directors is ultimately responsible for ensuring that Exporta Publishing & Events Ltd meets its legal obligations.

Name of Data Controller

The Data Controller is Exporta Publishing & Events Ltd. Exporta Publishing & Events Ltd is subject to the UK Data Protection Act 1998 and is registered in the UK with the Information Commissioner`s Office.

How to access, update and erase your personal information

If you wish to know whether we are keeping personal data about you, or if you have an enquiry about our privacy policy or your personal data held by us, in relation to any of the Sites, you can contact the Data Protection Officer via:

  • By writing to this address: Data Protection Officer, Exporta Publishing & Events Ltd, 4 Hillgate Place, London, SW12 9ER, UK
  • Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8673 9666
  • E-mail: privacy@gtreview.com

Upon request, we will provide you with a readable copy of the personal data which we keep about you. We may require proof of your identity and may charge a small fee (not exceeding the statutory maximum fee that can be charged) to cover administration and postage.

Exporta Publishing & Events Ltd allows you to challenge the data that we hold about you and, where appropriate in accordance with applicable laws, you may have your personal information:

  • erased
  • rectified or amended
  • completed

Disclosing data for other reasons

In certain circumstances, the Data Protection Act allows personal data to be disclosed to law enforcement agencies without the consent of the data subject. Under these circumstances, Exporta Publishing & Events Ltd, will disclose requested data. However, the Data Controller will ensure the request is legitimate, seeking assistance from the board and from the company’s legal advisors where necessary.

Changes to this Privacy Statement

We will occasionally update this Privacy Statement to reflect new legislation or industry practice, group company changes and customer feedback. We encourage you to review this Privacy Statement periodically to be informed of how we are protecting your personal data.

Providing information

Exporta Publishing & Events Ltd aims to ensure that individuals are aware that their data is being processed, and that they understand.

  • How the data is being used
  • How to exercise their rights

To this end, the company has a privacy statement, setting out how data relating to individuals is used by the company. This is available on request and available on the company’s website.

Review of this policy

We keep this Policy under regular review. This Privacy Statement was last updated in April 2018.



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Camposol anticipates early volumes for the 2024-25 blueberry season

As the southern hemisphere prepares for its main blueberry season, industry forecasts predict higher volumes compared to the 2023-24 season. However, supplies from Peru are expected to experience delays, with peak arrivals expected around November.

Despite this, Camposol is positioned to be one of the few suppliers that will deliver significant volumes in the early stages of the season.

The company is optimistic about matching last season’s strong performance, with expectations of higher overall volumes and availability extending into February.

Along with offering early volumes in the 2024/25 season, the company said it remains firmly committed to superior quality and sustainability, responding to the growing global demand for responsibly grown fresh produce.

In addition to its established presence in Northern Europe, Camposol is expanding its reach into Southern and Eastern European markets, where growing blueberry consumption is increasing customer interest.

This strategic expansion is aligned with the company’s long-term goal of diversifying its market presence and strengthening its leading position in the global fruit sector.

“We are confident in our ability to deliver on our commitments not only in volume but also in the superior quality that defines Camposol. Our strategic focus and our commitment to innovation allow us to maintain our leadership in the sector. Looking ahead, we are excited about exploring new markets and building lasting relationships with customers seeking premium blueberries with an emphasis on sustainability and responsible production practices,” commented Ricardo Naranjo, Camposol’s interim CEO.

Varietal development program

Camposol’s proprietary variety development program reached its eighth year and began the process of varietal replacement. The company plans to replace almost 50% of all its blueberry fields in the coming years, significantly increasing production capacity to meet growing demand.

Over the next 12 months, with around 200 hectares of new varieties scheduled to be planted, production is expected to start in 2025.


Related article: The uncertainty of the Southern Hemisphere’s blueberry season

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Posted on Categories Fruits

From food waste to fish to leafy greens

A Jade Perch and aquaponics trial with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), has validated Australian sustainability innovator Food Recycle’s technologies to turn commercial food waste into animal feed. Food Recycle, which is currently crowdfunding via Swarmer to commercialize its circular economy technology and scale up in Australia and New Zealand, says the evidence-based research done by the CSIRO is invaluable in delivering optimum results.

“Food Recycle’s patented process delivers on sustainability, circular economy, and food security outcomes for the global community, so it’s vital that our processes are scientifically validated to achieve the outcomes they are designed for,” says Food Recycle CEO, Norm Boyle.

The trial follows similarly rigorous trials with layer hens, prawns, and barramundi, conducted by CSIRO, Western Sydney University (WSU), and University of New England (UNE), all of which saw favorable results using a food waste diet from Food Recycle’s systems.

“The Swarmer campaign is a unique opportunity for the public to be a part of this sustainability journey and invest in shares in Food Recycle, starting from $250,” says Boyle.

Aquaponics trial
The Jade Perch aquaponics trial was conducted at the CSIRO’s research facility at Bribie Island, Queensland, and led by Dr Ha Truong, CSIRO’s Agriculture and Food Business Researcher. In the trial, Jade Perch was fed a food waste diet, then fish waste was recycled, and the nutrients were used for growing leafy greens.

“We wanted to determine if using more sustainable and local ingredients would be beneficial for the growth of the fish and plants,” said Dr Truong.

“The results of the trial confirmed the technical viability, and showed that upcycling waste produced high-quality foods for the future,” she added.

Click here for the video

A truly circular solution
For every 100kg of food the world produces, 30kg is wasted, according to multiple sources, including the Australian Government’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water. Food Recycle’s mission is to eliminate this food waste problem with circular solutions that also help with food security.

“If the 30kg of wasted food goes through a Food Recycle facility, it can produce 15kg of aquaculture feed. When given to Jade Perch, this creates 10kg of fish, and through aquaponics, it also creates 80kg of leafy greens,” says Boyle.

“This Aussie fish can be farmed around the world. Instead of 30kg of food waste going to landfill, 10kg of fish and 80kg of leafy greens goes back to supermarket shelves – that’s what Food Recycle is all about,” he adds.

For more information:
www.foodrecycle.com



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The RTD coffee market is changing: What roasters need to know

The ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee segment is flourishing. Projected to be valued at US $43.8 billion by 2028, growth is outpacing that of the global coffee industry. More and more roasters have started to capitalise on this booming market and create their own canned and bottled coffee products to offer more choice than ever before.

Convenience was the initial driving force behind RTD coffee’s explosive popularity. While it continues to fuel market growth, consumer demand has evolved over the last few years in the wake of inflation and wider changes in the coffee market. Quality, price, and different sensory experiences are now equally important purchasing factors. If roasters want to keep up in the RTD sector, they need to stay ahead of the curve.

Ancis Romanovskis, CEO of Rocket Bean Roastery, and Jordi Mestre, founder and co-owner of Nomad Coffee, provide their insight on what roasters must know about changing trends in the RTD market.

You may also like our article on why coffee shops should pay attention to cold brew safety.

The evolution of RTD coffee

Despite its sudden surge in popularity in recent years, RTD coffee has been around for some time. In the 1960s, canned coffee vending machines were common in Japan. Three decades later, off the back of the chain’s wildly successful blended Frappuccino, Starbucks partnered with Pepsi to launch an RTD version in US grocery stores. 

The drink was an instant hit, so other beverage companies soon followed suit. In Europe, illycaffé partnered with Coca-Cola to debut the “iIlly Issimo” range in 2007. Food company Mars released two Galaxy-branded coffee drinks five years later in the UK, and Jimmy’s Iced Coffee RTD beverages also launched in the UK the same year.

It would take a few more years, however, before specialty coffee embraced RTD. A pivotal moment came when US roaster La Colombe released its “Draft Latte” in March 2016. Within 18 months of the launch, the Draft Latte comprised more than 1% of the total US RTD coffee market share – making it the fastest-growing RTD coffee drink in the country.

Innovation was key to this success. La Colombe partnered with a local Philadelphia business to create the “Innovalve”, which injects nitrous oxide directly into each latte can to produce a foamy, smooth texture.

Since then, many specialty roasters have developed their own RTD beverages to sell in coffee shops and grocery retailers. Product diversification and innovation continue to lead market growth, with flavoured drinks, plant milks, and functional ingredients receiving plenty of interest from consumers.

Market growth is dependent on region

RTD coffee is clearly popular, but the level of market growth varies across different regions. The Asia-Pacific RTD coffee market was valued at US $14.75 billion in 2019, which comprised more than half of RTD coffee’s total global market value that year. Total US retail sales for coffee and RTD coffee, meanwhile, are estimated to reach US $19.7 billion in 2024, according to data analyst firm Mintel.

Jordi Mestre is the founder and co-owner of Nomad Coffee in Barcelona, Spain.

“There are very few options for RTD coffee in Spain,” he explains. This inevitably presents roasters with an opportunity to capitalise on a lucrative market, especially as convenience and quality become increasingly important to consumers.

“We launched a redesigned recipe for our Iced Coffee and Iced Latte drinks, which we adjusted last year to offer a high-quality, easy-drinking RTD coffee option,” he adds.

Ancis Romanovskis is the CEO of Rocket Bean Roastery in Riga, Latvia.

“Baltic grocery stores don’t offer a vast selection of RTD coffee, but options have been available for some time,” he explains. “However, specialty coffee remains a rare find in this region.”

Ancis tells me that in 2019, Rocket Bean partnered with cold coffee solutions company Hardtank to create its own range of high-quality RTD products. “Year after year, demand for specialty RTD coffee continues to grow, and we aim to meet it,” he adds.

Consumer preferences are always evolving

Once believed to be a “summer” drink, cold and RTD coffee is now a year-round beverage.

“As we’re in the Nordic region of Europe, our warm climate is fleeting,” Ancis tells me. “Despite this, sales of RTD coffee remain strong throughout the year, demonstrating continued demand even outside of summer.”

As key RTD coffee markets mature, consumer demand has shifted. Quality has always been a priority, but following record rates of inflation and rising food and energy costs over the last two years, coffee drinkers are more price-conscious than ever before.

Offering affordable, accessible, yet premium RTD coffee options helps roasters stay competitive, especially among Gen Z consumers who have the highest spending power in the coffee industry. This demographic also lives increasingly on-the-go lifestyles, so convenience is one of the biggest drivers of their coffee purchasing decisions.

Health is also a major influencing factor on consumer behaviour. According to a 2024 McKinsey study, 56% of Gen Z consumers in the US say their fitness is a “very high priority”, compared to 40% of US consumers overall

This interest extends to the RTD coffee market. The National Coffee Association’s latest National Coffee Data Trends report states that 21% of surveyed coffee drinkers believe cold brew coffee is healthier than other types of coffee.

“With our RTD products, our focus has been on catering to a diverse range of customers and their specific needs,” Ancis says. “Most of our products are sugar-free and oat milk-based.”

As consumers want more customisable, functional, and environmentally-sustainable products, roasters have launched dairy-free RTD options which have captured a large share of the market.

How roasters can find success in the RTD segment

One of the most effective ways for roasters and coffee shops to tap into the burgeoning RTD market is to make their own cold brew or coffee concentrates in-house. Traditionally, this meant steeping ground coffee in water for up to 24 hours.

Not only is this practice time and labour-intensive, it can also create the same flavour profile no matter which coffee is used. To offer new and exciting sensory experiences, manufacturers have developed new machines that extract concentrates in a much shorter time frame

Ancis recalls how Rocket Bean spent years testing various cold brew systems to refine its RTD products.

“From 2013 to 2015, we experimented with cold brew drips,” he says. “But in 2019, we were introduced to Hardtank, and were quickly impressed by the quality and cleanliness of the flavour profiles it produces.”

New cold brew and concentrate systems have revolutionised how coffee shops and roasters create RTD drinks. Innovative vacuum and vibration technology increases extraction efficiency, which massively reduces total brew time and changes the overall sensory experience.

“Coffee tastes sweeter and lighter, so it’s easier to drink,” Jordi says. “Traditional cold brew is more syrupy and heavy.”

He explains that the countertop Baby Hardtank – which received the 2021 and 2022 SCA Best New Product award and the 2023 Coffee Innovation award – uses patented recirculation and cold extraction technology to brew up to four litres of RTD coffee in under an hour. The machine constantly recirculates the liquid to result in a cleaner-tasting flavour profile with a higher extraction yield. It can also be used to brew tea, cascara, and cocktails to offer customers a more diverse range of RTD beverages.

Leveraging new technology to maintain margins

Following the pandemic, roasters and coffee shops have grappled with rising costs and inflationary pressures. Forced closures during Covid-19 added strain to businesses, while ongoing conflict in Ukraine pushed food and energy prices to record highs

In early July 2024, arabica prices edged over a two-year high – largely the result of growing supply shortages in Vietnam and Indonesia. Robusta futures also reached record highs over the past few months, driven by rising demand, unfavourable weather conditions in Brazil and Vietnam, and conflict in the Middle East.

To manage increasingly tighter margins, roasters and cafés are looking for more ways to cut costs and improve operational efficiency. At the same time, they still need to offer their customers high-quality and differentiated products to stay competitive, including RTD coffee.

But investing in equipment upfront can be costly, so leveraging the resources and expertise of co-packing partners is a smart move. Moreover, with cold brew safety becoming an increasingly pressing concern, roasters need to make sure they meet strict health and safety standards.

Ancis explains how Rocket Bean works with Hardtank to produce larger quantities of RTD products at its private label production and packaging facility in Opole, Poland.

“We’re always looking to improve our products without compromising on quality,” Anics adds. “It was clear to us that RTD canned coffee was the best option.” 

For smaller-scale operations, coffee businesses are investing in countertop solutions that improve consistency and efficiency. Ancis says the Baby Hardtank allows users to fine tune their recipes to prepare RTD coffee in less than 45 minutes. This can help roasters and coffee shops to streamline operations, reduce labour costs, and free up time to focus on other areas of their business.

Staying ahead in the RTD coffee market

Trends in the RTD market are constantly developing and changing. By embracing new cold coffee technology, roasters can stay ahead of them to meet ever-evolving demand. 

But the need to match consumer expectations for quality and consistency will forever remain a priority. This means roasters need to keep this in mind if they want to stand out.

“You have to be critical of your RTD products,” Ancis says. “Leverage new technology like the Baby Hardtank to your advantage and source excellent coffee to achieve your desired results.”

Understanding how to tap into local and regional market preferences is essential. If RTD milk-based products are particularly popular, roasting to medium or darker profiles or using blends will result in more complementary flavour profiles. 

Customers who prefer to drink their coffee black, meanwhile, may be looking for single origin options or more interesting tasting notes. Lighter roast profiles and washed processed coffees may work better in these cases.

Moreover, as interest in exclusive varieties and experimental processing increases, using high-scoring or “funkier” coffees is an effective way for roasters to offer a unique RTD experience to their customers.

RTD coffee is only growing, with demand from younger consumers leading the way. If roasters want to find success in this market, keeping up with the latest trends and innovation is crucial.

Quality and convenience will always be important. But now more than ever, roasters and coffee shops need to provide differentiated experiences to stand out in an increasingly competitive market.

Enjoyed this? Then read our article on why long brew times are no longer the norm for cold coffee.

Photo credits: Hardtank

Perfect Daily Grind

Please note: Hardtank is a sponsor of Perfect Daily Grind.

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CMA CGM introduces port congestion surcharge in Algeria

French ocean carrier CMA CGM has announced a new port congestion surcharge (PCS) to the ports of Alger, Bejaia, Skikda and Oran in Algeria.

The Marseille-based box line will apply a surcharge of US$250 per TEU, effective from today, 2 September for all origins, except of US and Latin America countries where the surcharge will take effect on 30 September.




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AASV: Preventing pre-weaning mortality | The Pig Site

Monitoring piglet movement and colostrum intake helps reduce piglet mortality


2 September 2024


3 minute read

[Edited version of a paper presented by Cara Haden, DVM, Pipestone Veterinary Services, Minnesota, during the 2024 Annual Meeting of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians]

In 2022, the US swine industry hit a five-year pre-weaning mortality high of 14.4%. The trend of increasing pre-weaning mortality has been identified as a significant barrier to both the industry’s welfare and sustainability goals. Pre-weaning mortality is complex. There are several genetic, health, environmental, facility and management factors that impact pre-weaning mortality.

Piglet movement

Piglet movement from the dam to the foster sow is a regular production practice on many US farms. Piglets are moved for a variety of reasons, ranging from attempts to save starving piglets, to finding a teat for piglets when live born is greater than the teats available to nurse.

Within the first several days of life, piglets are establishing teat order, piglet hierarchy, and learning to understand the grunting patterns which communicate laying and nursing behaviors of their dams. As piglets are moved to new dams, hierarchy, teat order and grunting pattens need to be relearned and piglets are exposed to new environments possibly containing new pathogens. Each time piglets are moved there are health and behavioral implications.

In work done by Dr. Gustavo Pizarro at Pipestone, litters that remained intact on their own dam at initial cross fostering had statistically significant lower pre-weaning mortality compared to litters where piglets were not left on their dams.

Fully intact litters had 10.54% pre-wean mortality. Litters where piglets were removed, but not added, had 10.50% mortality. Litters with low live born where additional piglets were added averaged 10.88% mortality and litters where all piglets in the litter were placed on a new sow had a pre-weaning mortality of 12.55%.

As producers seek to reduce preweaning mortality, the behavior and health implications of pig movements should be considered.

Confirming colostrum intake

Colostrum intake is a main indicator of piglet survivability. Colostrum plays a vital role in energy, thermoregulation, immunity and immune function. Many farms utilize production practices such as drying and split suckling, which aim to increase colostrum intake.

Few farms measure successful colostrum intake in real time on the farm.

As piglets consume colostrum, their metabolic rate increases which raises and maintains body temperature. A piglet with an appropriate body temperature has likely consumed adequate colostrum. Given appropriate environmental conditions, a piglet with an inappropriate temperature may indicate inadequate colostrum intake. When piglet temperature is monitored in real time, actions can be taken to ensure colostrum intake prior to gut closure.

Early work with thermal cameras has suggested it may be a helpful tool at identifying colostrum deprived piglets when farrowing rooms are cool. Unfortunately, in hotter temperatures thermal imaging can’t distinguish between colostrum deprived piglets and those that consumed appropriate colostrum. Continued work is needed to help caregivers verify colostrum consumption.

Real time tracking

Historically, pig farms have utilized production record packets which come out weekly and contain production information from the previous week. The lag between timing of pre-weaning mortality and production record availability does not allow for timely recognition of concerns or timely intervention. However, there is now technology available that can provide real time pre-weaning mortality tracking, which allows for the immediate recognition of problems. 

Pre-weaning mortality is a barrier to improving pig welfare and sustainability of US pig farms. Accepting an ever-increasing mortality rate in piglets is not an option. All veterinarians and farmers need to evaluate the role genetics, health, environmental and facility management play on their current pre-weaning mortality. The focus should be on the evaluation of pig movements, confirmation of colostrum intake and real time tracking of pre-weaning mortality.





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Posted on Categories Meat

Lloyd’s Register acquires Ocean Technologies Group

British class society Lloyd’s Register is acquiring Ocean Technologies Group (OTG), a provider of human capital management and operational software, from European private equity firm Oakley Capital. No price has been revealed for the acquisition. 

OTG provides critical training, compliance, operational and HR software to over 1,000 shipowners and operators and over 1m seafarers around the world. LR will now be able to offer OTG’s solutions across a combined fleet of over 30,000 vessels. OTG brands include Seagull, Videotel, Marlins, Compas and Tero Marine.

LR’s OTG purchase follows the acquisitions of OneOcean in 2022 and the purchase of a 50% stake alongside the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) in ISF Watchkeeper in 2023.

LR said today its aim is to combine OTG with its fast-growing digital business, LR OneOcean, to create one of the largest software platforms in maritime and to help accelerate the digital transformation of the industry.  

Nick Brown, LR’s CEO, described the acquisition as “really transformative”. 

Completion of the acquisition is subject to obtaining customary regulatory approvals and is expected to take place in the fourth quarter of 2024. 



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Posted on Categories Seafood
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