Food Industry News, Insights, and Education for the CPG Community

Guillermo’s – the fresh salsa startup launched by late-night television personality Guillermo Rodriguez – appears to be yet another celebrity-backed packaged food brand. The founding team of industry innovators behind the venture insists that it’s not.

Caulipower is launching its first-ever single-serve options in the frozen aisle. The product expansion comes on the heels of the brand’s acquisition by Paine Schwartz Partners-owned Urban Farmer, a manufacturer of branded and private label specialty dough products.

In an act of confectionery consolidation, candy apple maker Tastee Apple Inc. has acquired cotton-candy brand Art of Sucre, bringing a “social-first” next-gen brand under the stewardship of a legacy sweets manufacturer.

Former Walmart executive Greg Foran was named CEO of The Kroger Co. and joined its board of directors. He succeeds Ron Sargent, who took over on an interim basis after Rodney McMullen’s departure last March.

As CEO of Bel North America, McGuinness is set to oversee the company’s business across the U.S. and Canada, which includes three offices and five manufacturing facilities in the two countries.

New Primal is expecting significant growth in 2026 after co-investing in production and a solid foothold in poultry meat sticks.

SIMPLi rolled out its largest new product launch to-date, spanning 10 products across three categories and bringing the supply chain-oriented company’s mission to 13 countries total.

This week, we’re investigating the significant tranche of M&A deals that defined the month of January, revealing who just bought squeezy sauce sensation Bachan’s, and making some ill-fated Game Day bets. Hey, what more could you ask for?

From celebrity cameos to cause-driven messaging, brands across categories are using the Big Game to spotlight new products and creative strategies.

David Protein was handed an early victory this week in the antitrust lawsuit accusing it of creating an “artificial monopoly” for its alternative fat ingredient EPG after a New York federal court dismissed the case brought by competing food manufacturers.

Publicly traded TRUBAR was acquired by an affiliate of privately held, Turkey-based snack company ETi Gida for $173 million in cash.

In this week’s new products roundup, A-Sha seeks to transport consumers to Bikini Bottom with SpongeBob SquarePants-inspired ramen noodle cups, Fly By Jing introduces its “Hot Pot Bomb,” and Ghost bulks up classic childhood cereals with 17 grams of protein.

Once Upon A Farm is officially on the public markets. On Thursday, the baby and kid food brand announced it had raised nearly $198 million from selling about 11 million shares of common stock.

Following months of conversations with the board about its next phase of growth, Michael Adair, the founder of Red’s All Natural, described handing off the reins of his frozen foods company in January to an experienced operator as a “natural evolution.”