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WNWN announces world's first consumer sale of cacao-free chocolate

The British company, which uses fermentation to turn barley and carob into the beloved confection, hopes to use its U.K. launch to highlight the ethical problems with the traditional way the candy is made.

General Mills to buy frozen pizza crust maker to boost away-from-home business

The purchase of TNT Crust for an undisclosed amount will add to the fold a fast-growing company while increasing the CPG's exposure to the popular meal offering.

Kraft Heinz to test paper-based ketchup bottle with Pulpex partnership

The company said it will assess the performance of the prototype before trying the packaging with consumers and then eventually bringing it to market.

Mondelēz to divest Trident, other gum brands in developed markets

The snacking giant said it is reshaping its portfolio with a goal of generating 90% of its revenue from chocolate and biscuits.

Updated May 10, 2022

Tyson's sales climb to $13B as meat industry profits are scrutinized

The meat and poultry giant's CEO said the financial increases are par for the course as inflation rages.

Avian influenza impacts 37.5M birds in commercial and backyard flocks

While the outbreak seems to be hitting more egg laying operations, bigger companies say they are not yet drastically affected.

TreeHouse Foods: Inflation is a boon to private label demand

The maker of store-branded products said its offerings are making inroads across multiple retail channels and among consumers in all earnings brackets. 

Kellogg aims for cereal market share recovery after strikes, supply woes

The company, which saw a 10% year-over-year decline in net cereal sales in the first quarter, said it has a plan to buoy growth in the second half of the year.

Why Kraft Heinz is making Macaroni & Cheese ice cream and Grey Poupon wine

The launches are part of an effort to build relevance for iconic brands in a way that aims to combine whimsy and consumer interest into items that attract both social media attention and sales.

Leftovers: Pure Leaf tea gets sweet on less sugar; Opopop goes global with wasabi-flavored popcorn

The Pepsi Lipton Tea partnership's Lower Sugar line slashes the sweetener while keeping the taste, while Laird Superfood upcycles coffee waste into compostable pods.

Fix these structural flaws to prevent the next global food price crisis, report advises

An overreliance on staple crops and commodity speculation are partly responsible for huge price spikes after the Ukraine invasion and earlier crises, according to IPES-Food.

Voyage Foods gets $36M investment to scale up

The California company that recreates chocolate, peanut butter and coffee on a molecular level is planning product launches later this year.

Whole Earth Brands carves out its sweet spot in alternative sweeteners

The company's portfolio of products like Wholesome and Equal are designed to give consumers more choice and position it to grab a bigger slice of the $100 billion market dominated by sugar.

Conagra names McDonald's exec to head grocery and snacks business

Lucy Brady will take over as president starting June 15 and focus on keeping the CPG's brands relevant amid evolving consumer demands and trends.

Updated May 6, 2022

What the stalled Sanderson and Wayne Farms merger says about its potential for closing

As regulators in the Biden administration scrutinize the pending $4.53 billion acquisition, experts point to obstacles that could complicate its approval.

Tate & Lyle buys chickpea ingredients company Nutriati

The acquisition comes six months after the ingredients giant agreed to distribute the upstart's offerings used in non-dairy, plant-based meat and gluten-free products.

Lost and found: Brands neglected by large CPGs thrive under new ownership

Krave jerky, Funfetti baking products and Häagen-Dazs are just a few of the lines that have flourished after being divested, with their new owners spending more on marketing, innovation and improving product quality.

Turning threats into opportunities: Can food companies successfully attack in all directions?

Whether it's sustainability, supply chain issues, inflation or the obesity crisis, CPGs must be able to tackle multiple challenges at once, writes Sean McBride of DSM Strategic Communications. 

Coca-Cola and others agree to $21M settlement for Fairlife animal abuse lawsuits

In a statement, the dairy brand with $1 billion in annual sales outlined steps its supplying farms have taken to improve the welfare of their cows.

Celebrity-created RTD cocktails hit shelves with new Thomas Ashbourne brand

The line, which features drinks designed by Sarah Jessica Parker and John Cena, among others, mixes trendy high-end spirits and entertainment icons.

Consumers likely to 'trade down' to chicken as beef prices soar: report

A recent CoBank analysis found that poultry stands to benefit from more expensive red meat, despite facing high feed costs and a bird flu outbreak.

Big brands targeted for plastic reduction and refill commitments in 2022 proxy season

Plastics remain a potent issue for shareholder advocacy this year, with CPGs such as Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Tyson facing calls to slash their use of the material in packaging.

Meatpackers push back against lawmakers' price-fixing charges

At a recent Congressional hearing this week, leaders of Tyson, JBS and Cargill argued that market forces, not consolidation, were to blame for higher meat prices.

Lavazza enters US ready-to-drink coffee market with its latest launch

The 127-year-old Italian company spent two years studying the crowded space in an effort to create an organic, low-calorie offering that was "distinctive and unique." 

Indonesia's palm oil export ban takes effect as supply pressures mount

The world's largest supplier of the popular ingredient widened its restrictions at a time when alternative sources and substitutes face their own challenges.