The Coca-Cola Co. and Monster Beverage Corp. have entered into definitive agreements for a long-term strategic partnership that is expected to accelerate growth for both companies in the fast-growing, global energy drink category. The deal involves the companies “swapping,” or transferring, some brands. The companies say the new, innovative partnership leverages the respective strengths of […]
Category: Suppliers
Posted in, National, Suppliers
Cutrale, Safra Groups Propose To Acquire Chiquita For $625M In Cash
The Cutrale Group, an agribusiness and juice company, and investment firm Safra Group have proposed to acquire 100 percent of the outstanding stock of Chiquita Brands Inc. for $13 per share, or approximately $625 million, in cash. This proposal represents a premium of 29 percent to Chiquita’s closing share price of $10.06 as of Aug. […]
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‘Gluten-Free’ Labeling Rule Now In Effect
In August 2013, the Food and Drug Administration issued a final rule that defined what characteristics a food has to have to bear a label that proclaims it “gluten free.” The rule also holds foods labeled “without gluten,” “free of gluten” and “no gluten” to the same standard. Manufacturers had one year to bring their […]
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Pilgrim’s Pride To Acquire Tyson’s Mexican Poultry Biz For $400M
Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase the totality of the poultry businesses of Tyson Foods Inc. in Mexico for $400 million. Pilgrim’s Pride is majority owned by JBS USA Holdings Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of JBS S.A. The transaction will be paid for in cash, pending regulatory approvals. Pilgrim’s […]
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Hormel Foods Buying Maker Of Muscle Milk
Hormel Foods Corp. plans to acquire CytoSport, one of the largest sports nutrition companies in the U.S. and the maker of Muscle Milk. As a leading provider of premium protein products in the sports nutrition category, CytoSport says its brands align with Hormel Foods’ focus on protein while further diversifying Hormel’s portfolio and broadening the […]
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Jolly Time Pop Corn Celebrating 100th Birthday In October
Jolly Time Pop Corn turns 100 years old this October and is celebrating its birthday with fun initiatives, including a grassroots community awards program called Kernels of Kindness and a consumer giveaway of Jolly Time Pop Corn birthday bowls. Jolly Time was founded by Cloid Smith in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1914. Smith and his […]
Posted in, Southwest, Suppliers
Hormel Foods Donates Product For Tornado Relief Efforts In Little Rock
Hormel Foods Corp. has donated a semi-trailer load of product to assist with tornado relief efforts in Little Rock, Ark. The donation of Hormel Compleats microwave meals, Skippy Natural dark chocolate peanut butter spread and Hormel 2Good smoothies will go to the Arkansas Rice Depot in Little Rock. “Our thoughts and prayers are with all […]
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Mars Buying Chunk Of P&G’s Pet Food Business For $2.9B
Mars Inc. plans to buy the Iams, Eukanuba and Natura brands in major markets from The Procter & Gamble Co. (P&G) for $2.9 billion in cash. This, Mars says, is a significant strategic move for Mars Petcare to complement its large and growing global Petcare business. The companies expect to complete the transaction in the […]
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Traditional Baking Promotes Tuthill To Assistant GM
Traditional Baking Inc. has appointed David Tuthill to assistant GM. Traditional Baking is a contract bakery producing two million cookies daily at its 60,000-s.f. SQF-certified facility in Bloomington, Calif. It also operates a 100,000-s.f. facility of warehousing and distribution space in Redlands, Calif. Tuthill has worked for Traditional Baking for the past three years as […]
Posted in, Midwest, Suppliers
Annie’s Completes Acquisition Of Snack Manufacturing Plant In Joplin, Mo.
Annie’s, a leading natural and organic food company, has completed the acquisition of Safeway’s snack manufacturing plant in Joplin, Mo., which has been Annie’s primary manufacturer of cookie and cracker products since the inception of its snacks business in 2002. Annie’s Baking, a subsidiary of Annie’s, acquired the plant for $6.0 million, plus the actual […]
Posted in, Midwest, Suppliers
Mars Chocolate Opens Production Facility In Topeka
Mars Chocolate North America officially opened the doors of a new, state-of-the-art facility in Topeka, Kan., on Thursday. The approximately 500,000-s.f. facility—the first new Mars Chocolate North America site built in the last 35 years—will help sustainably produce M&M’S and Snickers. “This new $270 million facility, which will bring 200 new jobs to Topeka, is […]
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Keurig Partners With Peet’s Coffee & Tea
Keurig Green Mountain Inc. and Peet’s Coffee & Tea have entered a multi-year manufacturing and distribution agreement for Peet’s-branded packs for the Keurig brewing system. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The companies plan to launch a selection of Keurig licensed Peet’s coffee and tea varieties in K-Cup packs for Keurig brewers produced […]
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Report: Food Avoiders Driving Increased Introduction Of ‘Free From’ Products
There is a growing trend among American consumers, as well as in global markets, toward the avoidance of a host of specific food ingredients and components. Though shunning specific foods or ingredients is not a new phenomenon, today food avoidance has become a way of life for tens of millions of American consumers of all ages […]
Posted in, Southeast, Suppliers
Buy Alabama’s Best Campaign Under Way For 2014
The Alabama Grocers Association, the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries and the Alabama Food Manufacturers and Producers Association recently kicked off their 2014 Buy Alabama’s Best Campaign. In attendance at the kickoff, in addition to members of the Alabama legislature, were Dianne Bentley, first lady of Alabama, Daniel Autry, chief of staff and chief […]
Posted in, Midwest, Suppliers
Ohio’s Velvet Ice Cream Turns 100 This Year
Ohio ice cream manufacturer Velvet Ice Cream will celebrate its 100th birthday on May 1. Velvet started hand crafting ice cream in Utica, Ohio, in 1914. It will mark the milestone birthday with a series of announcements, specials, events and activities, beginning with the May 1 opening of Velvet’s Ye Olde Mill to the public for […]
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American Frozen Food Institute Elects New Board Leadership
The American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) has elected three officers and nine members to the AFFI board of directors. The elections took place at the AFFI annual meeting and keynote breakfast Monday, held in conjunction with the 2014 AFFI Frozen Food Convention in San Diego, Calif. The newly-elected AFFI officers are: Dave Yanda of Lakeside […]
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Jack’s Link’s To Buy Unilever Meat Snack Business
Jack Link’s plans to purchase Unilever’s meat snacks business, primarily sold under the BiFi brand (Germany, Benelux, Austria and Switzerland) and the Peperami brand (U.K. and Ireland). The sale is expected to close by the end of March. Terms of the deal, announced Friday, were not disclosed. The transaction, subject to customary closing conditions, also […]
Posted in, Suppliers, West
GoGo squeeZ Plans $85M Manufacturing Facility In Idaho
Materne North America—the makers of GoGo squeeZ Applesauce On the Go—plans to make an $85 million investment in a new food processing facility that will create a minimum of 230 new jobs in Idaho’s Treasure Valley. The new state-of-the-art facility—the company’s second U.S. location—will be housed at a site formerly owned by Micron Technology Inc., at […]
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Mondelez International To Invest $130M In U.S. Biscuit Manufacturing Network
Mondelez International plans to invest more than $130 million in new biscuit manufacturing technology and capabilities in its current U.S. network. The investment will focus on bakeries in Fair Lawn, N.J., and Richmond, Va., supporting priority cookie and cracker brands and product platforms. To enable this investment, the company says it will consolidate its current […]
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Anheuser-Busch Acquiring Blue Point Brewing Co.
Anheuser-Busch has agreed to purchase Blue Point Brewing Co., one of the nation’s top craft brewers with more than 40 beers and sales concentrated along the East Coast, in a move that will bring additional resources to Blue Point’s operations, allowing it to meet growing consumer demand for its award-winning brands. Terms of the agreement […]