Wild Flavors GmbH completed its acquisition of Cargill’s global juice cold blends and compounds business, and announced Vince Macciocchi as the chief operating officer for the North American entity, reporting directly to Michael H. Ponder, global chief executive officer, Wild Flavors GmbH.

A new study to be released at the Society of Experimental Biology annual meeting in Salzburg, Austria, argues that caffeine can help boost older muscles and could thereby help prevent falls and injuries among the elderly.

SunOpta Inc. appointed Hendrik (Rik) Jacobs to the position of president and chief operating officer.

Asahi and Kagome discovered that tomatoes can reverse the effects of alcohol consumption.

Farley’s & Sathers Candy Company Inc. and Ferrara Pan Candy Company Inc. have completed their previously announced merger.

Australasian food and beverage company Lion has agreed to acquire Little World Beverages.

Mars Inc. announced it has become a signatory of The Leadership Compact convened by The University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership.

Tate & Lyle officially opened its new Commercial and Food Innovation Centre in the Hoffman Estates suburb of Chicago, Illinois.

FMC Corporation acquired Phytone Ltd.; terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

J&J Snack Foods Corp. has acquired the assets of Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels.

Innophos Holdings has received regulatory approval from Health Canada to sell Cal-Rise into Canadian markets for use in food products.

SensoryEffects Flavor Systems officials said the company acquired the assets of Flavors From Florida Inc.

Sara Lee Corp. has opted to name its North America company Hillshire Brands Co.

baked goods, has agreed to buy Lepage Bakeries Inc.

Grain Millers Inc. assumed ownership of ENRECO intellectual and physical property, excluding Omega Fields.

The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network appointed two new members to its board of directors: Rob Nichols, president and CEO of the Financial Services Forum; and Chuck Paterakis, vice president of transportation and logistics for H&S Bakery Inc./Northeast Foods Inc.

The Natural Products Association announced John Spitaleri Shaw will be its new executive director and CEO.

Paula Deen launched a new partnership with Nanco Group, creating Paula Deen Foods.

General Mills named David Dudick the upcoming president of the General Mills Bakeries & Foodservice business segment.

Enjoy Life Foods named Ken Harris, a board member of the company since 2008, as its new chairman of the board.

IOI Group announced Julian Veitch as its chief executive officer and Vincent Geerts as group chief financial officer.

Bell Flavors and Fragrances announced the appointment of Cynthia Lipka as senior flavorist and Grace Johnson as marketing coordinator.

The Annual Conference and Exhibition of the International Society for Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods (ISNFF) will be held in Kona, Hawaii, December 1-6, 2012. More information is available at http://isnff.org/files/Kona_-_Info_for_Exhibitors-1.pdf. 

Sargento Foods Inc. promoted Bryan Birling to senior national accounts manager in its culinary solutions division; promoted Paul Groth to senior manager and Brenda Bell to insights manager in its food ingredients division; named Tim Ross the 2011 Sales Manager of the Year in the foodservice division; and hired Jake Fuller as a sales analyst and Joy Pineres as senior manager in new business development in the consumer products division.

Brian Buck, senior vice president and general manager, Takasago International Corp. (USA) Flavor Division, announced that Takasago Flavors has appointed Dr. Ratapol Teratanavat as director of consumer insights and market research.

Blue Diamond Almonds’ ingredients business is now Blue Diamond Almonds Global Ingredients Division with a new website, www.bdingredients.com.