Investment

In this week’s roundup: Hershey invests in social, environmental supply chain programs in the Ivory Coast; Burcon makes a bid for Merit Functional Foods; Citibank issues new ESG warnings for beef, soy producers; and layoffs reach Tyson and Utz.

Amy’s Kitchen is promoting longtime company executive Paul Schiefer to President, one of several personnel changes announced by the organic and natural food maker today.

Happy Moose Juice has acquired Growers’ Refrigeration in a deal that both solved its own refrigerated storage issues and those of cold-chain CPG brands in the region where capacity has historically been hard to find.

Opposition surrounding the proposed merger between Kroger and Albertsons continues to mount, as the leading grocery giants are fighting legal action from their own customers.

Italian food importer, distributor and producer Colavita has acquired California-based O Olive Oil & Vinegar for $6.23 million, giving Colavita another foothold in the domestic olive oil and wine vinegar category.

Blue Apron expands its Heat & Eat meals partnership with DoorDash into 11 new locations, Foxtrot Market names its new CEO and Indian foods chef Maya Kaimal has released her third cookbook.

The NOSH team gets fooled by fake CPG products, discusses the FDA’s recent announcements concerning “healthy” food labeling and Grass Fed Foods CEO Jeff Tripician talks to Lukas about merging small businesses better compete with conventional producers.

Investment firm Monogram Capital has sold meat snack producer Western Smokehouse to AUA Equity Partners, a deal that Monogram co-founder and partner Jared Stein proves out the firm’s thesis of heavily investing in supply chain-oriented companies.

Seal The Seasons is one of the most recent brands to make staff cuts. As it implements additional cost cutting measures, the company expects these actions to bring the business to profitability this quarter.

Greek biscuit maker Olyra Foods closed a $4 million Series A funding round in late February to help the brand grow its marketing team and continue to expand its retail presence in the breakfast category.