Shauna Golden

For a vast number of chocolate makers, this year has been anything but sweet. Amidst surging cocoa prices – which are still on a wild roller coaster ride – conglomerates like The Hershey Company and Mondelēz International have resorted to passing price hikes on to consumers to reduce the impact on their balance sheets, while investors have expressed increased interest in high-tech startups producing alt-cocoa products with methods like fermentation and plant cell culture.

History has repeated itself as Hershey’s controlling owner yesterday rejected a preliminary takeover offer from candy and snacking rival Mondelēz International, according to a Bloomberg News report citing people familiar with the matter.The Hershey Trust – which holds approximately 80% of the voting power at the company – labeled the offer as too low.

Today we are examining how a continued shift to private label and ecommerce will shape volume and sales growth amid high food prices in 2025.

The J.M. Smucker Co. announced today it has upgraded its full-year 2025 guidance after strong sales across Uncrustables, Jif, and Café Bustelo brands offset the underperformance of Hostess in its second-quarter earnings.

Just months after the debut of its kids pouch line, MUSH is bringing its core overnight oats product into another on-the-go format: protein bars, launching exclusively at Whole Foods Market stores nationwide.

TerraMar Capital-backed Lolli & Pops announced today it has acquired fellow Denver, Colo.-based candy producer Hammond’s Candies for an undisclosed sum. According to the announcement, the transaction marks a significant milestone in Lolli & Pops’ growth strategy that has been underway since it was purchased by TerraMar in 2020.

Grocery delivery giant Instacart posted strong growth in Q3 as deepened integrations with its partner retailers “strengthened [its] entire ecosystem,” according to the company’s latest shareholder letter released yesterday.

Canadian kids refrigerated bar startup Happy Wolf is expanding its retail presence in the U.S. with a new launch in Whole Foods Market stores up and down the East Coast, the Midwest and the Southwest. The new partnership brings the brand’s total nationwide door count from 120 to 450.

The Hershey Company announced today it has acquired sour candy brand Sour Strips, expanding the snacking and confectionery giant’s growing sweets portfolio. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Hershey Company announced today it has downgraded its fiscal year 2024 guidance after high cocoa costs and increased pressure across all segments dragged down its third-quarter earnings.