Baking & Snack - June 2019 - 18

PepsiCo UK launches taste
guarantee promotion

Bühler opens CUBIC
innovation campus
After 20 months of construction, Bühler Group, Uzwil, Switzerland,
opened its CUBIC innovation campus.
"We are with this driving forward our strategy of innovation,
training, and development," said Stefan Scheiber, CEO of Bühler
Group. "Together with our customers, partners from industry and
science, academia, and start-ups, we are using the CUBIC to conduct research into new and sustainable solutions that we can apply
to successful business ventures. And, we are taking a step forward
here in providing modern training and development."
The three-story CUBIC is designed to accommodate up to 300
people and was built to be a model of sustainability and innovation. The building uses 15% less energy than comparable structures
of its size. Its smart electrochromic glass facade enables Bühler to
slash energy consumption for heating and air-conditioning by as
much as 50%. Building sensors measure carbon dioxide levels, air
humidity, temperature and flow of people to continuously finetune the functionality and energy consumption of the CUBIC.
The new innovation campus enables Bühler to develop solutions
together with customers, start-ups and the industry.

Nestle USA to exit pizza
DSD network
Nestle USA, Rosslyn, VA, plans to exit its company-owned frozen
direct-store delivery (DSD) network for pizza and transition to the
warehouse model it uses for frozen meals and snacks businesses.
The transition is expected to be completed in 2020.
The company said the move will result in the closing of eight
company-owned frozen distribution centers and frozen inventory
transfer points. Nestle's frozen pizza brands include California
Pizza Kitchen, DiGiorno, Jack's and Tombstone.
18 Baking & Snack June 2019 / www.bakingandsnack.com

To help retailers drive sales and encourage consumers to make
healthier snack purchases, PepsiCo UK, Reading, UK, launched a
taste guarantee promotion through the end of the year for three of
its brands. The company's "Taste Us. Love Us." campaign covers
reduced fat, whole grain and corn products from Walkers Oven
Baked, Sunbites and Snack-A-Jacks Crispies ranges.
While many shoppers recognize the benefits of eating healthier
snacks, some are reluctant to try products that may cost more or
contain unfamiliar ingredients. Under this new offer, UK consumers
unsatisfied with their purchase can receive a refund by submitting a
photo of their receipt through the website www.tasteusloveus.com.
"We know that shoppers' No. 1 concern when choosing smarter snacks is the perceived taste, but as soon as people taste our
products, the repeat purchase rate is phenomenal," said Michal
Iwasyszyn, marketing manager for the Better For You portfolio at
PepsiCo UK. "For example, the repeat purchase rate for Sunbites
is an impressive 54%. To call attention to the offer, all the snacks'
packages will include a callout stating, "Great taste guaranteed, or
your money back." In addition, the campaign will be supported by
television and digital ads, social media influencers and sampling.

Mondelez, Bimbo keeping
an eye on CBD
While a number of start-ups already sell cannabidiol (CBD)-infused
foods despite a lack of federal regulation, major companies have been
reluctant players at this point. Executives with Mondelez International,
Deerfield, IL, and Grupo Bimbo, Mexico City, expressed a "never say
never" attitude regarding the potential launch of CBD-infused snacks
while cautioning that any potential product launches are still unlikely
in the near term. Dirk Van de Put, CEO of Mondelez International,
said the company has "been exploring" the CBD craze.
"Our view on it is that we have a number of family brands, Oreo
would be an example, so we feel a little bit hesitant about doing anything with CBD in family brands," Mr. Van de Put said. Although
Mondelez is looking at CBD, the company is watching for clarity from FDA and wants to move into this segment in the right
way. Meanwhile, Fred Penny, president of Bimbo Bakeries USA,
Horsham, PA, acknowledged in a May conference call with analysts
that there is definitely "a lot of noise" around the potential to add
CBD to snacks.
Mr. Penny said that while "seemingly everybody is selling CBD
somewhere," Bimbo has no plans to put it in any of its products. "I
guess having said that, never say never, but it's certainly not on our
radar screen in the near term," he said.
- Eric Schroeder, Milling & Baking News

http://www.tasteusloveus.com http://www.bakingandsnack.com

Baking & Snack - June 2019

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