New JBS head wants a US IPO

Gilberto Tomazoni told analysts it was a priority — but the company has previously signaled intentions for a stock offering and pulled back six times.

By Cathy Siegner • Dec. 6, 2018

Will a trade truce with China be the start of pork producers' recovery?

Despite a rocky environment around negotiations between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping, additional tariffs that add up to 25% will not be implemented in 2019.

By Jessi Devenyns • Dec. 5, 2018

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

JBS expands beef recall to more than 12M pounds

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 246 people from 25 states have been infected with the outbreak salmonella strain, and 59 have been hospitalized.

By Cathy Siegner • Dec. 5, 2018

Consumer Federation of America urges regulators to take salmonella seriously

A new report calls out policymakers and politicians for failing to adequately address high rates of infections. 

By Nina Sparling • Dec. 4, 2018

Company of the Year: Nestlé

In 2018, the company sold its U.S. candy business and entered into a $7.15 billion drinks deal with Starbucks as it works to position itself for changing consumer tastes and consumption habits.

By Christopher Doering • Dec. 3, 2018

Executive of the Year: Josh Tetrick, JUST

This year, Josh Tetrick led JUST toward being the first company to get lab-grown meat to market, crossing the finish line of a race to meld science, sustainability and sustenance.

By Megan Poinski • Dec. 3, 2018

Has Sanderson Farms changed course by phasing out some antibiotics?

The Mississippi-based company, the third-largest poultry producer in the U.S., will discontinue the use of two medically important pharmaceuticals by March 1.

By Cathy Siegner • Dec. 3, 2018

Turnaround of the Year: Danone

After years of struggling with an overly broad portfolio, the French food giant's brand overhaul and deep investments in better-for-you and plant-based categories have fueled strong financial growth.

By Lillianna Byington • Dec. 3, 2018

Deal of the Year: Conagra acquires Pinnacle

The $10.9 billion purchase of Pinnacle Foods by the Chicago CPG giant brings Healthy Choice, Marie Callender's, Birds Eye and Duncan Hines under one roof.

By Christopher Doering • Dec. 3, 2018

Disruptor of the Year: Constellation Brands

The alcohol giant's $3.9 billion investment in cannabis producer Canopy Growth has sparked a wave of marijuana innovation by U.S. beer brands, and could give it a first-mover advantage in the budding category. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Dec. 3, 2018

Produce problems: Do fresh divisions drag on CPG companies?

According to the New York Post, Campbell Soup is having a hard time selling Bolthouse Farms — a report the New Jersey company strongly denies.

By Cathy Siegner • Dec. 3, 2018

Maxwell House's labor-focused campaign drives purchase intent, ad awareness, analysis finds

Since the campaign launched around Labor Day, ad awareness for the coffee brand increased from 12% to 18%, and purchase consideration increased from 17% to 22%.

By Erica Sweeney • Nov. 30, 2018

Could a new competitor hurt Nutella's sales?

Italy’s Barilla, best known for its pasta and sauces, is launching a chocolate spread next year in a direct attempt to compete with the international favorite.

By Nina Sparling • Nov. 30, 2018

Kraft Heinz buys paleo brand Primal Kitchen for $200M

Although the brand will be under the CPG giant's incubator for "disruptive" foods, the company will retain its California headquarters and continue to operate autonomously.

By Jessi Devenyns • Nov. 30, 2018

As Big Food sheds brands, smaller firms look for opportunities

Even though the average multiple for food-and-drink deals is the highest since 2007, M&A can be found if the purchaser is willing to invest the time and money to rebuild.

By Cathy Siegner • Nov. 30, 2018

Leftovers: Sour, sweet, cereal?

Sour Patch Kids is becoming a cereal, one lucky fan may be grateful for Cherry Garcia ice cream sales and Oreo launches a powdered drink mix for that just-dipped-cookies-in-it taste.

By Food Dive staff • Nov. 30, 2018

Land O'Lakes and Tate & Lyle collaborate on sustainably sourced corn

The project assists farmers with the latest technology to better target and measure how well their environmental stewardship efforts are doing on the ground.

By Cathy Siegner • Nov. 29, 2018

Brazi Bites gets new big cheese: Former Justin's president

As growth of the the Brazilian snack bread brand skyrockets, will former nut butter company president Mike Guanella be priming the company for a sale?

By Jessi Devenyns • Nov. 29, 2018

Gimmie disruption: Chobani brings fun and creativity to new kids' yogurt line

The company hopes clever names and cartoon characters will help the yogurt powerhouse energize the category for children, an area its chief marketing officer called underserved and underpenetrated.

By Christopher Doering • Nov. 29, 2018

Campbell Soup interim CEO focused on turnaround, but 'much more work lies ahead'

While the maker of namesake soups, V8 drinks and Emerald nuts has made progress implementing changes at the nearly 150-year old company, Keith McLoughlin told shareholders it's too early to declare victory.

By Christopher Doering • Nov. 29, 2018

4 benefits of food and grocery consolidation

The food and grocery industries have been active with mergers and acquisitions in the last several years. What are some of the benefits to these deals? Food Dive and Grocery Dive have taken a close look and determined four major benefits of industry consolidation.

By Food Dive and Grocery Dive staff • Nov. 28, 2018

Smucker's earnings miss expectations despite pet food sales boost

The acquisition of Ainsworth Pet Nutrition buoyed a 5% sales increase for the manufacturer of spreads and coffee, but the company lacked the revenue that would have come from its recently sold baking brands.

By Lillianna Byington • Nov. 28, 2018

'No second thoughts': Assessing the Ahold Delhaize merger two years later

The grocer says it has achieved significant cost savings and is ready to grow, but experts question whether it has done enough to differentiate itself.

By Christopher Doering • Nov. 27, 2018

Campbell Soup reaches deal with Third Point, ending proxy fight

The soup and snacks maker will add two of the hedge fund's nominees to its board and give the activist the opportunity to provide input as the CPG giant searches for a new CEO.

By Christopher Doering • Nov. 27, 2018

Oreo unwraps playable turntable that spins cookies, not vinyl

Available on Amazon, the holiday gift lets users record messages and skip a song each time a bite is taken out of the snackable disc.

By Peter Adams • Nov. 26, 2018