M&A

Two leaders in the grass fed meat industry, Teton Waters Ranch and SunFed Ranch, are joining forces to make one of the largest platforms for pastured beef called Grass Fed Foods hoping to capitalize on regenerative agriculture’s demand and move into mainstream channels.

B&G Foods is “actively seeking” a buyer for snack brand Back to Nature, stating on this week’s third quarter earnings report that while the brand was performing well enough, the divestment is part of a larger initiative to refocus B&G’s core portfolio and reduce debt.

Albertsons is working to overturn a temporary restraining order (TRO) “as quickly as possible,” in order to unshackle its ability to divvy up $4 million in special cash dividend payments to shareholders, previously set to be paid on Monday, November 7.

A group of state attorneys general (AG) are challenging the impending, initial transaction outlined in the Kroger/Albertsons merger agreement – a dividend cash payment totaling nearly $4 billion.

One week after Kroger’s proposed $24.6 billion deal to merge with Albertsons, opposition is growing amid antitrust concerns from stakeholders and government officials.

Plant-based superfood brand Your Super announced on Monday it has been acquired by The Healing Company, a new wellness-oriented platform. The announcement marks its first brand acquisition since launching earlier this year.

In this week’s roundup: Brazi Bites launches an accelerator programs for Latino business owners, PepsiCo and ADM team up on a new regenerative agriculture initiative, Kroger consolidates its low-price private label lines and Barkley acquires Smiths Agency.

Wicked Kitchen announced today that it has acquired the North American rights to Good Catch, a line of plant-based seafood entrees and appetizers. Following the sale, Good Catch’s parent company, Gathered Foods, will shift its focus solely on B2B operations with services including product formulation and co-packing.

Less than four years after acquiring the brand, Lancaster Colony Corporation plans to divest from the frozen food maker Bantam Bagels later this summer.

Specialty food and home goods producer Stonewall Kitchen has once again traded owners, with private equity firm TA Associate announcing on Monday it has taken a majority stake in the company “alongside the company’s management team.” Concurrently, former investor Audax announced that it had exited the business.