Finances and Deals

  • Ortega brand refresh
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    Courtesy of Ortega
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    B&G Foods CEO to step down after 5 years

    The Ortega owner has not yet disclosed who will replace Casey Keller, but said the individual is in a senior leadership position at another public company.  

    By • Aug. 6, 2026
  • McCormick spices are displayed
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    The biggest food M&A deals of 2026 so far

    Companies focused on clean-label ingredients and high-protein made up the bulk of acquisition activity as big brands strategically capitalize on new trends.

    By • Aug. 5, 2026
  • Mergers and acquisitions Explore the Trendline➔
    Trendline

    Mergers and acquisitions

    Declining sales and slowing consumption have more companies divesting brands, opening the door for smaller players and private equity firms to expand their portfolios.  

    By Food Dive staff
  • Sargento headquarters
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    Courtesy of Sargento Foods
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    Sargento buys dips and spreads maker La Terra Fina

    The deal brings the cheesemaker into the deli section and reflects its ambitions to grow in snacks and mealtime occasions.

    By • Aug. 3, 2026
  • A bag of Jelly Belly candy on a pink background surrounding by whole fruit.
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    Courtesy of Jelly Belly
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    ‘Bean Appétit’: How Jelly Belly is positioning itself as a luxury candy

    Ferrara is framing the jelly bean as an alternative to high-end chocolate, which has become a thriving category as consumers flock to premium offerings.

    By • July 29, 2026
  • Cans of Hormel chili
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    Christopher Doering/Food Dive
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    Spam maker Hormel Foods elevates insider to CEO

    CPG veteran John Ghingo will assume the top role on Oct. 26, telling Food Dive he has plans to “accelerate” investments in critical areas such as data and artificial intelligence.

    By • July 28, 2026
  • An Old Forester sign hangs above a distillery.
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    Stock via Getty Images
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    Brown-Forman rejects Sazerac takeover bid

    The Jack Daniel's owner said the proposal wasn’t “actionable” months after declining a separate offer from Pernod Ricard.

    By • July 27, 2026
  • Bottles of S. Pellegrino are lined up on display.
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    Mark Sagliocco/Getty Images for NYCWFF via Getty Images
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    Nestlé to sell half of waters business in $3.4B deal

    The transaction creates a newly independent company called Peranel, which will house brands such as S.Pellegrino and Source Perrier.

    By • July 24, 2026
  • McCormick spices are displayed
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    McCormick outlines operating structure ahead of Unilever combination

    The spice giant disclosed its new executive team after its $44 billion acquisition made some investors "squeamish," according to one analyst.

    By • July 23, 2026
  • Specialty natural ingredients
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    Courtesy of SuanNutra
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    IFF sells natural ingredients business

    Nutraceutical firm SuanNutra is acquiring the fragrance and flavor giant’s range of natural colors and functional ingredients.

    By • July 22, 2026
  • Bags of Utz potato chips at a Washington, D.C., store
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    Christopher Doering/Food Dive
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    Snacks maker Utz Brands sold for $2.9B in go-private deal

    Germany-based Intersnack will purchase the chip maker for $14.25 a share, with the transaction expected to close in the fourth quarter.

    By • July 21, 2026
  • Kraft Heinz and Disney partnership
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    Courtesy of Kraft Heinz
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    Kraft Heinz, Disney enter long-term strategic marketing partnership

    The partnership spans marketing campaigns, digital content and other branded opportunities across Disney’s media outlets, cruise line, parks and events.

    By Chris Kelly • July 21, 2026
  • A Spangler Candy Company display at a trade show
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    Christopher Doering/Food Dive
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    How Dum Dums owner Spangler created a candy empire built on nostalgia

    The sweets maker has carved out an enviable niche in the $55 billion candy space with a unique collection of brands with storied histories, such as Sweethearts and Bit-O-Honey.

    By • July 20, 2026
  • Every's OvoPro
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    Courtesy of Every
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    ADM to scale egg proteins with precision fermentation

    The ingredients giant is collaborating with startup Every’s OvoPro to give food companies innovative new protein options.

    By • July 16, 2026
  • Slim Jim meat sticks at at Washington, DC. grocery store.
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    Christopher Doering/Food Dive
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    Conagra’s new CEO ready to take ‘bold actions’ to turn around food giant

    John Brase, who recently joined from J.M. Smucker, told Food Dive he is “not happy” with the Slim Jim maker's performance and that divestitures of brands could be on the table.

    By • July 15, 2026
  • croissants using savor's carbon-based butter
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    Courtesy of Savor
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    Bakery ingredients supplier AAK to scale Savor’s carbon-based fats

    The companies entered a two-year agreement to jointly develop sustainable solutions for bakery and dairy alternative markets.

    By • July 13, 2026
  • Premier Protein products are pictured on a kitchen counter.
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    Courtesy of BellRing Brands
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    Premier Protein maker taps salty snack leader as CEO

    Bellring Brands named Michael Axelrod to lead the company as it looks to maintain its top spot amid increased protein shake competition.

    By • July 13, 2026
  • Doritos F1
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    Courtesy of Doritos
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    How Doritos gets global, year-round scale with Formula 1 partnership

    Kyle Gore, vice president of global marketing for Doritos, compares the brand’s efforts to what’s required for the Super Bowl — but on a much larger scale.

    By Chris Kelly • July 9, 2026
  • Packages of Turtles candy
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    Permission granted by pladis
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    110-year-old Turtles candy is ready to ‘break out of its shell’

    The caramel nut cluster brand is boosting innovation and marketing to reach a new generation of consumers inundated with choice in the $55 billion confectionery space. 

    By • July 9, 2026
  • hormel skippy spam
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Hormel winning big as protein craze shows ‘resilience’

    The Spam and Planters maker has posted organic sales growth for six consecutive quarters, bucking a downturn across the broader food space.

    By • July 7, 2026
  • A close up of Italian gelato
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    Emanuela Zampa via Getty Images
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    CVC Capital builds out ingredients portfolio with Irca acquisition

    The deal for the Italian dessert ingredients supplier comes about a month after the private equity firm purchased IFF's ingredients business for $4.3 billion.

    By • June 30, 2026
  • A phone with Tik Tok Shop pulled up.
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    Photo illustration by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    How TikTok Shop is changing innovation for food and beverage brands

    Big companies, including PepsiCo and Mars, are using the app’s e-commerce feature to drive sales and inform new products, according to the platform’s head of food.

    By Michael Brady • June 29, 2026
  • A box of Hershey bars sits in a store.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    Better together: Hershey’s combined sweets and snacks business pays off for retailers, consumers

    The merging of the company’s sweet, salty and protein brands under one umbrella called “One Hershey” allows the Reese’s maker to boost sales and help stores plan for big events.

    By • June 18, 2026
  • An purple autonomous truck with the Gatik logo on the trailer drives by a PepsiCo facility.
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    Retrieved from PepsiCo on June 09, 2026
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    PepsiCo expanding autonomous truck use in its supply chain

    The multiyear deal with Gatik will help the food and beverage giant increase capacity in "hard to staff" areas of its transportation network.

    By Alejandra Carranza • June 15, 2026
  • Package of Tillamook Country Smoker meat sticks
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    Courtesy of Second Nature Brands
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    Brownie Brittle owner buys meat snack maker Tillamook Country Smoker

    The acquisition by Second Nature gives it a presence in the fast-growing protein snacks space, which had been missing from its portfolio.

    By • June 8, 2026
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    Dan Kitwood via Getty Images
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    Ingredion strikes deal to buy Tate & Lyle for $3.6B

    The combined company will generate nearly $10 billion in annual revenue and have a broad portfolio to address more consumer needs such as clean label and lower sugar.

    By • June 8, 2026