Diageo to pay up to $610M to buy Ryan Reynolds-backed Aviation Gin

The purchase of the fast-growing brand gives the liquor maker a bigger stake in premium alcohol and adds to its portfolio of brands with celebrity connections.

By Christopher Doering • Aug. 17, 2020

From visibility software to pallet picks: How Tillamook planned inventory as demand soared

The demand planning team credits software for its ability to adjust operations during the pandemic. Now the challenge is long range inventory planning, particularly for cheeses that require two years to age.

By Shefali Kapadia • Aug. 14, 2020

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

Kraft Heinz fills out US leadership team with 3 new executives

The hires, including a newly created chief growth officer position, bring outside talent to the company as the latest step in its turnaround plan.

By Jessi Devenyns • Aug. 14, 2020

Impossible Foods closes $200M funding round

The plant-based giant has now raised a total of $1.5 billion since its founding in 2011, with $700 million of that in the last six months.

By Megan Poinski • Aug. 14, 2020

Leftovers: Fat Tire toasts the environment; Flora spreads into the United States

New Belgium Brewing's beverage was certified as the nation's first nationally distributed carbon neutral beer last week, and Vive adds some spritz to fall with Pumpkin Spice Hard Seltzer.

By Food Dive staff • Aug. 14, 2020

Making food in a COVID world: A day in the life of a Kraft Heinz plant manager in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin

The coronavirus has drastically changed manufacturing. Beth Mielke shares a typical day in this new normal at her factory that makes Philadelphia Cream Cheese.

By Beth Mielke • Aug. 13, 2020

How Gathered Foods got its new factory running during a pandemic

Designing and building the 42,500-square-foot plant that has been making Good Catch plant-based seafood since May was enough of a challenge, founder Chris Kerr said, but coronavirus made it much more complicated.

By Megan Poinski • Aug. 13, 2020

Bayer partners to invest $30M in vertical farming venture

The upstart, called Unfold, will develop new seed varieties and give agronomic advice for vegetables grown indoors.

By Christopher Doering • Aug. 13, 2020

Smithfield Foods posts Q2 loss after spending $350M on coronavirus

After a challenging quarter, the meat processor's CEO was more optimistic about the remainder of the year with the company's performance forecast "to rebound" this fall.

By Lillianna Byington • Aug. 12, 2020

New York accuses Hillandale Farms of egg price gouging

Early in the pandemic, the state said the producer made $4 million in two months from unlawful price increases, charging up to four times the price at the beginning of the year. 

By Megan Poinski • Updated Aug. 12, 2020

Vital Farms launches its first finished consumer product

The microwaveable protein-packed Egg Bites are designed to bring convenience to the consumer who places a premium on ethical animal treatment and clean label eating, the company said.

By Megan Poinski • Aug. 12, 2020

Private equity firm Sonoma Brands remains 'active' in search for new deals

The investment firm, founded by Krave founder Jon Sebastiani, owns or has minority stakes in more than a dozen companies including Hu, Dang and Smashmallow.

By Christopher Doering • Aug. 11, 2020

4 poultry plant managers indicted after immigration raids

The charges come almost exactly one year after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided seven work sites in six cities across Mississippi, arresting roughly 680 people. 

By Lillianna Byington • Aug. 10, 2020

Beyond Meat lags conventional companies in sustainability disclosures, report says

The plant-based meat company said it has quantified the environmental benefits of its product versus conventional beef and is currently conducting a carbon-footprint assessment.

By Megan Poinski • Aug. 10, 2020

Flowers Foods prioritizing M&A, top branded products

The decision comes three weeks after the owner of Wonder Bread and Tastykake said it would cut 250 jobs, or about 2.6% of its workforce.

By Christopher Doering • Aug. 10, 2020

Hostess opens innovation lab to tap into consumer preferences

The Kansas facility employs about 20 researchers, product testers and bakers working to create new snack cakes.

By Lillianna Byington • Aug. 7, 2020

Leftovers: Trolli's crunchy gummies could make others squirm; Angostura mixes it up with cocoa

Candy maker Ferrera adds new innovation to the chewy worm-shaped sweet, while Hershey shrinks One bars.

By Food Dive staff • Aug. 7, 2020

AppHarvest raises $28M, adds Martha Stewart and Impossible Foods' CFO to board

The company is planning to open one of the world’s largest indoor farms this fall in Kentucky at 2.76 million square feet. It will initially start growing non-GMO tomatoes.

By Christopher Doering • Aug. 7, 2020

Unilever partners with microalgae ingredient startup

Algenuity will work with the CPG giant's food and refreshment division to develop uses for the protein in future plant-based offerings.

By Jessi Devenyns • Aug. 6, 2020

Michigan requires coronavirus testing for all food processing workers

The order applies to meat, poultry and egg facilities. It comes after 11 recent outbreaks in farms and food processing plants in the state. 

By Lillianna Byington • Aug. 6, 2020

Cheetos moves beyond snack aisle with mac and cheese

The offering from Frito-Lay comes in three flavors: Bold & Cheesy, Flamin' Hot and Cheesy Jalapeno.

By Christopher Doering • Aug. 6, 2020

Kraft pushes Mac & Cheese as pandemic breakfast to reach busy parents

A new ad, limited-edition packaging and sweepstakes come after Kraft found parents have served the meal in mornings more often in recent months.

By Dianna Christie • Aug. 5, 2020

Advertising for the 'reasonable consumer' in food and beverage labeling

With false advertising and labeling lawsuits here to stay, Pooja S. Nair at Ervin Cohen & Jessup said contradictions between how a product is marketed and what it is made of could prove extremely costly for a brand.

By Pooja S. Nair • Aug. 5, 2020

Good Planet adds second CEO to help grow the plant-based brand

The faux cheese maker said Bart Adlam, who has overseen Chef's Cut Jerky and Siggi's, will work alongside company founder and co-CEO David Israel.

By Jessi Devenyns • Aug. 5, 2020

How a nearly 100-year-old maker of pudding and frozen ice pops competes with Big Food

Jel Sert, a manufacturer of Royal instant mixes and Fla-Vor-Ice frozen treats, has turned to alcohol, healthier trends and licensing deals with Mars Wrigley and Coca-Cola to boost sales.

By Christopher Doering • Aug. 5, 2020