Corona, Calif.-based Aseptic Solutions USA unveiled a new website, asepticusa.com, and mobile application, titled Aseptic Solutions Beverage Creator. The mobile app invites users to design new beverages with the company’s custom beverage creator; play with multiple ingredient, flavor and packaging options; and then save or share the beverage with friends. In addition, an interactive virtual tour of Aseptic Solutions’ facility offers a behind-the-scenes look at aseptic processing, available to the public for the first time. Aseptic Solutions USA is a part of the Ingredient Technologies business unit within Glanbia Nutritionals, Evanston, Ill.

Ajinomoto North America Inc., Fort Lee, N.J., announced that its Advantame sweetener successfully completed the food additive petition process for general use in foods and beverages according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards.

Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo Inc. extended its sweetener agreement with San Diego-based Senomyx Inc. to August 2016, giving the consumer packaged goods company exclusive worldwide rights to the Senomyx sweet flavor ingredients developed under the collaboration for use in non-alcohol beverages.

James Finlay International Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of London-based James Finlay Ltd., has acquired 100 percent of the share capital of Autocrat LLC, Lincoln, R.I., for an undisclosed amount.

Eagan, Minn.-based Biothera, manufacturer of the immune health ingredient Wellmune WGP, selected Naturalendo Tech Co. Ltd. to be its exclusive distribution partner in South Korea, following Naturalendo’s successful effort to secure regulatory approval for Wellmune.

PureCircle, Oak Brook, Ill., announced that it has cut the carbon footprint of its products by 15 percent since last year and now is a quarter of the way to its 2020 carbon footprint intensity goal of 20 percent. In the most recent fiscal year, PureCircle sold enough stevia to enable the food and beverage industry to eliminate close to 40,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases, which is the annual equivalent of removing 7,000 cars from the road, the company says.

NutriForce Sports introduced Balanced Hydration dietary supplements made with Sustamine L-Alanyl-L-Glutamine, which is more easily absorbed by the body than complex protein molecules, making it an effective ingredient for hydration, endurance and recovery, the company says. Sustamine is manufactured by Kyowa Hakko U.S.A. Inc., New York.

Ingredion Inc., Westchester, Ill., published a new factsheet titled “Non-GMO Ingredients – Move to the forefront of the non-GMO trend with Ingredion.” The document showcases Ingredion’s portfolio of non-GMO ingredients for the food and beverage industry, including Reb A stevia, glucose, dextrose, maltodextrin, high-fructose corn syrup and polyol sweeteners; cook-up and instant starches from maize, tapioca, potato, rice and sago for texture; and fibers, minerals and whole grains for nutrition.

San Diego-based White Labs introduced its proprietary FlexCell propagation process, which uses a flexible container to propagate yeast and then packages it in the same material, thereby reducing the risk of contamination and creating yeast that has never been exposed to the environment, the company says. By growing and packaging the yeast in the same container, the process also eliminates the need to transfer the yeast to a number of containers and, ultimately, into commercial packaging. By eliminating those steps, the process conserves a considerable amount of water, cleaners, electricity and plastic, it adds.

Highlander Partners L.P., a Dallas-based investment firm, announced the sale of its portfolio company, St. Louis-based SensoryEffects, to New Hampton, N.Y.-based Balchem Corp. for $567 million, before working capital and other adjustments. SensoryEffects is a supplier of customized food and beverage ingredients and products with three business units: SensoryEffects Powder Systems, SensoryEffects Flavor Systems, and SensoryEffects Cereal Systems.

Ken McFarland was named director of operations at Steviva Brands Inc., Portland, Ore.

Ganeden Biotech, Cleveland, announced the issuance of a U.S. patent that covers the use of all Bacillus coagulans probiotic strains, including GanedenBC30, in all coffee, tea and cereal applications.

Celanese Corp., Dallas, announced that it will increase the price of potassium sorbate and sorbic acid sold globally. Nutrinova potassium sorbate will increase by as much as 6 percent, and Nutrinova sorbic acid will rise by as much as 10 percent, effective June 1, or as contracts allow. These increases are for all grades and all applications, including beverages.

Denver-based Züm XR, a manufacturer of extended-release delivery systems for beverages, signed an agreement that allows Auburn Hills, Mich.-based LXR Biotech to use Züm XR’s patented time-release caffeine beads in its energy shot. The deal will generate more than $3.1 million in revenue for Züm XR in the first three years and more than $13.9 million in five years, the company says.

Coffee Extracts & Ingredients, a division of Lincoln, R.I.-based Autocrat LLC, launched a newly formatted website, coffeeextracts.com. The website was reformatted to increase functionality with a user-friendly design that includes bold graphics and expanded areas of product information, the company says.

 Los Angeles-based Pom Wonderful hired Adam Rothenfluh as industrial sales representative for Pom’s industrial sales. Rothenfluh’s primary focus is selling POMx to the dietary supplement, food and beverage markets. In addition, he will work with the company’s Industrial Pomegranate Partnership Program to help companies interested in using the POMx ingredient develop new and innovative products.