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

KeHE Distributors last week unveiled its management succession plan, in which current CEO and 15-year company veteran Brandon Barnholt will transition to executive chairman of the board, effective April 1, with current board member Deb Conklin taking over the top executive role.

This week, a cross-section of public and private companies from across industries is meeting in Orlando, Florida for the 25th edition of the annual ICR conference. The invitation-only event featured a full-slate of daily presentations from publicly traded companies on its opening day today.

Less than two years after the baking mix brand was sold to Sovos Brands, Birch Benders announced today it has been acquired by baking platform Hometown Food Company.

JPG Resources has acquired RodeoCPG’s Brooklyn-based R&D team allowing JPG to better serve brands in the Big Apple, while Rodeo pivots toward becoming a targeted, tech-forward sales management platform.

Both organic and conventional chocolate makers came under fire when a Consumer Reports study found potentially hazardous levels of lead and cadmium in 28 dark chocolate products. The issue became more complex when Trader Joe’s and Hershey’s, were served with class action lawsuits.

In this week’s roundup of notable new products, Tom’s Perfect 10 releases a dessert-inspired granola, Sambazon unveils shaker bottle-friendly smoothie cubes and Chobani expands its yogurt lineup with zero sugar offerings.

Grillo’s is taking Wahlburgers to court over pickles, a data company unveils its cattle carbon credits at the CES Convention, Jenny Craig launches a ready-made, meal delivery platform and precision fermentation company Liberation Labs closes seed funding round.

Private equity firm Butterfly is expanding its “seed to fork” strategy with its acquisition of vertically integrated dairy ingredient maker Milk Specialities Global.

The pop-up grocery store concept will open its first permanent brick and mortar location at 205 Bleecker Street in New York City this winter.

The NOSH team looks back on the big stories of 2022 and how macro trends over the past year may provide insight as to what to expect in 2023 and talks to Coefficient Capital investor Natalie Borowski and Editor-in-Chief of The New Consumer Dan Frommer about the most recent release of their ongoing Consumer Trends report.

Conagra Brands posted single-digit sales growth in its Q2 FY2023 earnings report Thursday morning, leading the company to raise its guidance for earnings per share and sales for the second half of the year.

Oatly is making moves toward its transition to an asset-light, supply chain strategy after inking a $72 million deal with Toronto-based co-packer Ya YA foods on Tuesday.

New York City-based edible and bakeable cookie dough brand DŌ announced yesterday that it has been acquired by Neil Hershman, the owner and CEO of self-serve frozen yogurt franchise 16 Handles.

A new generation of coffee alternative brands are pitching themselves as the solution to coffee’s sustainability problems. Food tech operations say their processes and products use less land, less water and have a lower carbon footprint but still produces a cup that looks, smells and tastes like the real thing.