Posted inBakery News, National, News

BGL Sells Specialty Bakers Brand To HC Private Investments

Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) has sold Specialty Bakers, a provider of branded and private label baked goods for the in-store bakery section and a portfolio company of Stonebridge Partners, to HC Private Investments. HC Private Investments will combine Specialty Bakers and Snackwerks together to create Artisan Bakery. Founded in 1901 and based in Marysville, […]

Posted inCenter Store, National, News, Packaging News

Seed Oil Free Certified Products See Triple-Digit Growth

Seed Oil Free Certified, the world’s first certification for products made without seed oils, has entered a strategic data partnership with SPINS, a provider of data and analytics for the wellness-focused CPG industry. This collaboration provides the first empirical look into an emerging consumer preference: the growing demand for products made without industrial seed oils. […]

Posted inProduce News, National, News

GrubMarket Acquires Coast Citrus Distributors

GrubMarket, an AI-powered technology and digital transformation company in the food supply chain, has acquired Coast Citrus Distributors. GrubMarket‘s largest acquisition to date, the move enhances the company’s national produce distribution capabilities, particularly for high-demand tropical fruits and specialty root vegetables. Founded in 1950 by Roberto Alvarez, Coast Citrus Distributors has a 75-year legacy of […]

Posted inAssociation News, National, News, Specialty

Specialty Food Association Names Fancy Food Rising Stars

The Specialty Food Association has selected the inaugural roster of its Fancy Food Rising Stars program for buyers and investors. Recognizing emerging leaders in the specialty food industry age 35 and younger, the Rising Star initiative sought nominations from across the buying and business-financing communities, with SFA making the final selections. They receive complimentary badges […]

Posted inPrivate Label Brands, National, News

Study: Consumers Purchase Private Label Products Without Knowing

First Insight has released findings from its latest study, “The Quiet Takeover of Private Label,” revealing that the traditional distinctions between private and national brands have become so subtle that most consumers can’t tell the difference. Nearly three-quarters (71 percent) of consumers surveyed believed they could recognize a private label when making a purchase, yet […]

Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, National, News

FMI, NGA Support EBT Act To Prohibit SNAP Processing Fees

The grocery industry, primarily the National Grocers Association (NGA) and FMI – The Food Industry Association, is again sharing its support for the Ensuring Fee-Free Benefit Transactions (EBT) Act. Bipartisan legislation led by Congresswoman Shontel Brown (D-OH) and Congressman Tony Wied (R-WI), the act would prohibit processing fees on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) electronic […]

Posted inIndependent Store News, Corporate Store News, National, News

Study Explores How Consumers Navigate Economic Uncertainty, Tariff Concerns

The new “State of the Shopper” survey from Acosta Group offers a nuanced view of today’s consumers, revealing how they’re navigating economic uncertainty and tariff concerns with resilience and adaptability. Key trends are highlighted for brands and retailers based on insights from the study, conducted with Acosta Group’s proprietary U.S. shopper community. “The latest findings underscore […]