Campbell Soup’s $2.7B purchase of Sovos delayed after FTC seeks more information

The soup and snacks manufacturer said the acquisition of the Rao’s pasta sauce owner would likely close in mid-2024 instead of this year.

By Christopher Doering • Oct. 24, 2023

The quiet dealmaker: How Post Holdings’ CEO went from selling men’s clothing to closing billion-dollar deals

Rob Vitale’s penchant for M&A and reputation as a strategic thinker has proven to be a shrewd fit for a 128-year-old business once looking to define its future. Nearly a decade in, he’s not done yet.

By Christopher Doering , Shaun Lucas • Oct. 23, 2023

Explore the 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

Inside Post Holdings’ transformation from cereal slinger to a diversified CPG giant

The company's unconventional approach has created a nearly $6 billion operation that has a competitive presence in peanut butter, eggs and pet food.

By Christopher Doering , Jasmine Ye Han • Oct. 23, 2023

How General Mills refreshed its fruit snack brands to fend off disruptors

Splashier assets and branding experiments seek to help products like Gushers stand out in the social media age, execs said at Advertising Week.

By Peter Adams • Oct. 20, 2023

Ferrara to purchase candy maker Jelly Belly for undisclosed amount

The deal would combine the jelly bean manufacturer with Ferrara’s portfolio of sweets such as Laffy Taffy, Red Hots and Brach’s.

By Christopher Doering • Oct. 19, 2023

Tyson Foods partners with insect protein startup to develop ingredient facility

The meat giant will work with Protix to construct a facility dedicated to insect protein items in the U.S., for use in pet food, aquaculture and livestock production.

By Chris Casey • Oct. 18, 2023

JM Smucker selling 4 condiment brands to TreeHouse Foods for $20M

Both CPGs have had a busy year buying and selling assets to focus their portfolios and gain scale in faster-growing categories.

By Christopher Doering • Oct. 18, 2023

Turkey prices could fall as Thanksgiving nears, but bird flu reemergence threatens flocks

Consumers will likely see lower prices for the holiday staple compared to last fall, according to a report, but the unpredictable avian flu remains a threat.

By Chris Casey • Oct. 11, 2023

Utz to close Pennsylvania factory

The closure is part of broader cost cutting moves across the snack maker’s network, which includes the sale of four sites.

By Joelle Anselmo • Oct. 11, 2023

Guardians of the franchise: Safeguarding success in the competitive landscape

Since launching a new product offers only one chance at success, optimizing it to its fullest potential becomes crucial.

By Katie Fellows • Oct. 11, 2023

Smithfield to close North Carolina pork processing plant

The company said the move would help increase efficiency as the meat industry grapples with tightening margins. 

By Sarah Zimmerman • Oct. 10, 2023

Cereal giant Post Holdings moves deeper into pet food with $235M acquisition

The purchase of Perfection Pet Foods gives the CPG giant, which entered the animal category for the first time in April, exposure to private-label and co-manufactured products.

By Christopher Doering • Oct. 10, 2023

Coca-Cola to sharply cut distribution of Aha sparkling water as sales decline

The company told Food Dive it sees growth potential in the category with its premium brand Topo Chico.

By Chris Casey • Oct. 9, 2023

Nestlé nutritional insight could soon benefit its iconic food brands

A top executive overseeing its vitamins, minerals and supplements segment said there are opportunities to “complement” other parts of the CPG giant’s $103 billion global business.

By Christopher Doering • Oct. 5, 2023

Molson Coors looks to premium alcohol in pursuit of aggressive sales growth

The beverage giant, which has expanded its portfolio to include whiskey and ready-to-drink tea, is aiming to get one third of its revenue from upscale offerings.

By Chris Casey • Oct. 4, 2023

Tyson lays off poultry workers in North Carolina

The meat giant is cutting jobs as the industry navigates through a backdrop of volatile prices, inflation and waning demand from high interest rates.

By Nathan Owens • Oct. 4, 2023

WK Kellogg Co CEO says new company sees ‘future beyond cereal’

The newly spun off business, which includes Froot Loops and Rice Krispies, plans to expand into other categories, but will first focus on beefing up its cereal operations.

By Chris Casey • Oct. 4, 2023

Kellogg embarks on new future, finalizing split into two businesses

Sixteen months after the separation was announced, the snacking and North American cereal businesses — Kellanova and WK Kellogg Co — are trading separately on the New York Stock Exchange.

By Chris Casey • Oct. 2, 2023

GPC secures another speciality flour milling facility in an effort to expand plant-based reach

To cater to sustainability-conscious consumers, the company will initially use the facility as an extension to its soy and chickpea milling operations in Grinnell, Iowa.

By Elizabeth Flood • Sept. 28, 2023

From a small Chicago storefront to a CPG contender, a Q&A with Wow Bao’s CEO

Geoff Alexander, a restaurant industry veteran, started as a fry cook at his local university watering hole and now is a bao CPG giant. He spoke to Food Dive about his nontraditional path.

By Judy McGuire • Sept. 28, 2023

JM Smucker to sell Sahale Snacks to Brownie Brittle owner for $34M

The deal with Second Nature Brands comes just two weeks after the jam and peanut butter company announced plans to buy Twinkies manufacturer Hostess Brands for $5.6 billion.

By Christopher Doering • Sept. 28, 2023

Talking hot honey, scale and how to create a buzz with Mike Kurtz, founder of Mike’s Hot Honey

The sweet-heat trend has been around for ages. But this unique product, at first paired with pizza, developed a brand new food category and helped create the swicy category.

By Judy McGuire • Sept. 27, 2023

From a high school project to taking on Dippin’ Dots: How Mini Melts is heating up ice cream

Sales are growing 35% annually and within striking distance of $100 million in the next 18 months as the brand enters new stores and regions, its CEO said in an interview.

By Christopher Doering • Sept. 25, 2023

Meati Foods reduces staff by 10% as it focuses on profitability

The fermented meat company said the layoffs were not a result of the demand it has seen for its products.

By Elizabeth Flood • Sept. 22, 2023

Slumping demand forces 2 California plant-based startups to close

Hooray Foods and Nowadays join a growing list of companies in the category that have gone out of business or scaled back their growth plans.

By Elizabeth Flood • Sept. 21, 2023