Frozen Food Europe

The magazine for the frozen food industry

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Alongside the new product, sweetFrog is offering color-changing spoons while supplies last and is running a Miraculous-themed sweepstakes aimed at increasing customer participation and repeat visits during the promotional window.
The collaboration reflects a broader trend in the quick-service dessert segment, where operators are increasingly using licensed intellectual property and limited-time offerings to differentiate themselves in a crowded frozen treat market. https://t.co/C77OcsRvGk

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“AI is fundamentally reshaping how consumers discover and purchase products, but the physical experience still matters as much as ever,” said Armand Schoonbrood, COO Mondi Group eCommerce. “Our research shows that packaging in eCommerce is a strategic driver of customer experience, operational efficiency and sustainability performance. Retailers that align these elements will be best positioned to succeed in an increasingly complex eCommerce environment.” https://t.co/70yrvxdOQH

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The new entity, based in Tashkent, will provide a range of logistics services including international road transport, domestic distribution, sea, rail and air freight, intermodal transport, warehousing and customs brokerage. The company said the operation will combine local expertise with support from the broader Röhlig global network and regional partners. https://t.co/vIrB9S1Czc

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“This edition of the Gelato Festival World Ranking has a special meaning because it comes at the conclusion of the latest Gelato Festival World Masters championship, an international journey developed over five years. It is the result of work spanning continents, cultures and thousands of tastings, allowing us to build a genuine picture of the evolution of artisanal gelato around the world. I have been involved in this project since 2013, and seeing such an international ranking today is a source of great pride.” said Adriana Tancredi, Project Manager of Gelato Festival World Masters. https://t.co/jyjvmmvo15

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According to the analysis, nearly three in four US consumers from Generation Z through Generation X remain open to plant-based foods. Health-focused consumers also spend 56% more annually on plant-based meat products than the average shopper, suggesting the category retains a core audience despite softer overall sales.
The report estimates that doubling purchase frequency among existing consumers—equivalent to eating plant-based meat roughly once a week—could generate an additional USD1bn in annual sales. https://t.co/kCdNIZzXhP

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The appointment brings back a longtime industry executive with extensive experience in restaurant operations and brand development. Most recently, Wright served as president and chief executive officer of Potbelly Corp., where he oversaw a period of expansion, including growth in the company’s footprint and development of its digital platform. https://t.co/Q8hW1dCK0B

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The exhibition comes as food manufacturers globally face mounting pressure to improve operational efficiency while maintaining product consistency and adapting to shifting consumer demand.
Urschel said the new Little Gem Aspire Dicer expands the company’s portfolio of compact processing equipment designed to combine ease of use with high-performance cutting capabilities. The company is positioning the machine toward producers seeking flexible solutions for continuous production environments. https://t.co/zOfroF4JjQ

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PLMA’s “Salute to Excellence Awards” recognized 106 private label food and nonfood products from 46 retailers across 24 countries, along with 24 private label wines. Organizers said the winning entries reflected growing consumer interest in lighter and sparkling wines, while low-alcohol varieties continued gaining traction. Alcohol-free wines, however, remained a niche category.
The exhibition occupied all halls of the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre this year and featured a record 3,350 exhibitors, underscoring continued growth in the private label sector despite broader pressures on consumer spending and retail margins.
“We had a good show, with strong visitor traffic at our booth, including many retail representatives,” an exhibitor said. https://t.co/W8GQcTdgve

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Graham Kershaw, Managing Director at Macpac, said: “Adding Sulapac Flow to our range of packaging materials reflects Macpac’s on-going commitment to helping clients meet their environmental targets and provide the required functionality and protection for their products.
“As a forward-thinking thermoformed packaging manufacturer, it is important that we review and expand our material offering in response to the changing needs of our global client base and to meet our own ambitious long-term growth strategy and sustainability goals.” https://t.co/ZPo8wtZGno

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“Our focus is on creating confidence for food operators, we make it easier for operators to deliver great food, every time,” said Sanford Gleddie, EVP, Sales, Marketing and Business Development at The Little Potato Company. “Foodservice customers operators can count on consistency with Little Potatoes; reliable quality with uniform sizing, easy prep that works for all skill levels, a versatile product that works across the entire menu and year-round supply of potatoes grown by family farms across North America.” https://t.co/vAGJeCzXeQ

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Industry forecasts for 2026 suggest restaurant chains are placing renewed emphasis on affordability and familiarity as consumers remain cautious about discretionary spending. Value-oriented menu strategies, comfort foods and globally influenced formats are expected to remain among the strongest drivers of customer traffic. https://t.co/V99zAm3ThF

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Dave Gardner said: “Following the strong response to our U.S. launch of Hane-Style Gyoza, we are expanding the line with two new offerings that deliver new eating experiences aligned with consumer preference. One brings a bolder flavor profile, and the other offers a more convenient take on a classic favorite. Together, they reflect our focus on giving consumers high-quality, quick-cooking options with authentic flavor and continuing to build the category in a thoughtful way.” https://t.co/Ir9wAloWWZ

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The company said its integrated cold-chain offering combines its Cathay Fresh and Cathay Pharma services to support shipments ranging from perishable foods to pharmaceutical products. The expansion is intended to strengthen Hong Kong’s role as an aviation and logistics hub for the Greater Bay Area and international markets.
Cathay Cargo said Hong Kong’s geographic position enables access to roughly half of the world’s population within a five-hour flight radius, a factor the company views as increasingly important for time-sensitive logistics operations. https://t.co/VgxZZGwNDq

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Abamex, which will exhibit at Booth 2818, said the equipment is intended to help manufacturers improve yields, reduce waste and streamline production processes across a range of food applications.
The lineup reflects Urschel’s broader push to offer flexible cutting, slicing, dicing and milling technologies that can be applied across multiple industries and product categories. The company said the addition of the Little Gem Aspire Dicer expands the range of patented cutting methods available to processors while maintaining a compact production footprint. https://t.co/LpX5YzcMDF

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Held in partnership with Fiera Milano and supported internationally by Koelnmesse, organizer of Anuga, the event occupied 10 exhibition halls spanning 82,000 square meters, all fully booked. Exhibition space increased 15% from the prior year, while the number of participating brands rose 20% to 5,000, roughly 30% of which came from outside Italy. The event also hosted 4,000 international buyers. https://t.co/Ze2JeWcCXU

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The technology, developed by Actemium and branded as Real-Time Coefficient of Performance, or RtCOP, runs on Rockwell Automation’s PlantPAx distributed control system. It functions as a continuous autonomous operator, analyzing compressor, condenser and evaporator configurations in real time and selecting the most energy-efficient combination based on live system data and environmental conditions. The result is a self-adjusting refrigeration setup that optimizes for efficiency rather than simply meeting cooling demand — a distinction that has historically been difficult to achieve at scale. https://t.co/lo3guopLk1

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Dinner entrees account for the largest share of the market at 38.5%, while retail supermarkets remain the dominant distribution channel, capturing 45.8% of sales. The category’s reach has nonetheless expanded well beyond traditional grocery aisles, with frozen ready meals now widely available through convenience stores and online retail platforms, deepening their presence across both household and foodservice consumption. https://t.co/jWsd1jrtMV

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Beyond ready meals, Sonoco’s broader Interpack portfolio reinforced its push toward circular material systems. The company also introduced CapOnCan, a mono-material resealable steel can designed as a lighter alternative to glass jars for categories such as family-size food packs and pet food. Sonoco said the format could reduce costs, improve supply efficiency and lower EPR fees in some markets. https://t.co/LYPO7WrnSD

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The rollout marks the first time the Nutella flavor has been adapted into a standalone ice cream product, now appearing in freezer cases at retailers across the country.
The line comes in two formats. A 14-fluid-ounce container, priced from USD4.36 depending on the retailer, offers a spoonable, multi-textured product featuring layers and swirls of Nutella throughout a creamy ice cream base — positioned by the company as suited for at-home consumption. A single-serve cone option, sold in 4-packs starting at USD5.47, pairs the hazelnut-cocoa flavor with a crispy wafer cone and is marketed as a grab-and-go treat. https://t.co/LVOuCesMSt

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Appetais Group’s “Sughetto ai Gamberi” — a ready-made shrimp sauce — was among the products that advanced through that process, earning the company a podium finish in one of the competition’s most competitive categories. For food brands seeking visibility in international markets, recognition at an event of this scale and reach carries meaningful commercial weight. https://t.co/BVCpIp6np8