Our best stories of 2018

From massive c-suite changes to huge deals, here are Food Dive's top stories from 2018, a quick tour of some of what made last year so exciting — and tumultuous. 

By Food Dive staff • Dec. 21, 2018

Coke leads $15M investment round in Dirty Lemon maker

Iris Nova focuses on cashierless, text-to-pay consumer goods and has grown the popularity of its brands through platforms like Instagram.

By Peter Adams • Dec. 21, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Food Dive

The food and beverage industry is changing rapidly and the actions companies take this year are likely to play a major role in defining their future. 

By Food Dive staff

PepsiCo splits leadership roles for US snacks and beverages

The company said Vivek Sankaran will become CEO of Frito-Lay North America and Kirk Tanner will lead its North America Beverages unit, replacing Al Carey, who is retiring.

By Christopher Doering • Dec. 21, 2018

Impossible Foods needs FDA approval to sell uncooked burgers in stores

The company wants to sell its plant-based burger in retail outlets next year, but the FDA said the soy leghemoglobin in the product needs approval as a color additive.

By Cathy Siegner • Dec. 21, 2018

Peet's snags majority stake in Revive kombucha

After investing $7.5 million last year, the coffee chain took a bigger bite out of the craft kombucha brewer, which has grown 168% in the past year.

By Kristine Sherred • Dec. 21, 2018

Kerry Group spices up its seasonings business with $367M in deals

The taste and nutrition company said it will acquire Ariake USA and Southeastern Mills' North American coating and seasonings operations.

By Cathy Siegner • Dec. 20, 2018

Could dates become the next trendy sweetener?

D'vash Organics markets its nectar from the fruit as a lower-calorie alternative to sugar and with about 25% less of the popular ingredient than honey. 

By Cathy Siegner • Dec. 20, 2018

Why Ingredion is investing $140M in plant-based proteins

The ingredients provider is upgrading plants in Nebraska and Saskatchewan to produce protein isolates from peas and other pulse-based flours and concentrates.

By Cathy Siegner • Dec. 20, 2018

Conagra profit plunges 41% as it begins integration of Pinnacle

The maker of Banquet and Slim Jim raised prices during the quarter for some of its legacy brands as the Chicago company faced higher transportation, input and retailer marketing costs.

By Christopher Doering • Dec. 20, 2018

Sanderson Farms sales drop 13.2% as it finishes a 'challenging year'

Roiled by problems with demand, issues with tariffs and two hurricanes, the chicken producer saw an operating income loss of $57.7 million in the most recent quarter. Net income for the year was down 78%.

By Lillianna Byington • Dec. 20, 2018

Campbell Soup names ex-Pinnacle chief Clouse to oversee its turnaround

The executive will be tasked with turning around the maker of Prego, V8 and Emerald Nuts all while battling activist investor Dan Loeb who has pushed for more aggressive changes at the company.

By Christopher Doering • Dec. 20, 2018

AB InBev and Tilray plan to launch CBD-infused drinks in Canada

Their joint venture, Fluent Beverage Company, will sell the products as early as December and come after the companies spent $100 million last year to study cannabis beverages. 

By Christopher Doering • Updated Oct. 11, 2019

General Mills net earnings drop 20%

The company missed analyst expectations this quarter, as the North America segment lagged and operating profit fell 23% compared to last year.

By Lillianna Byington • Dec. 19, 2018

Blue Apron stock drops below $1. Could an acquisition be next?

On the heels of poor earnings for the last two quarters, the meal kit pioneer is in danger of being de-listed and has lost more than 90% of its value since going public last year. 

By Jessica Dumont • Dec. 19, 2018

Conagra finds another buyer for Wesson

The sale to Richardson International for an undisclosed amount comes after the CPG company's deal with Smucker was scuttled by antitrust concerns.

By Christopher Doering • Dec. 19, 2018

Fish fraud 'rampant' in New York, AG report finds

DNA testing found widespread mislabeling of certain species including 27.6% of samples sold as wild salmon, 67% of red snapper and 87.5% of lemon sole.

By Lillianna Byington • Dec. 18, 2018

Getting the art of new product launches down to a science

Odds are stacked against new products succeeding in a shifting market, but Marsha McGraw, SVP, President U.S. Market at Catalina, says data-driven practices can help.

By Marsha McGraw • Dec. 18, 2018

It's not easy being cheesy: How the dairy industry works through an oversupply

Cold storage facilities are packed to the brim with about 1.4 billion pounds of Swiss, cheddar, American and more.

By Nina Sparling • Dec. 18, 2018

Despite its popularity, Kellogg's RXBAR sheds 40 employees

The news comes at the tail end of a strong year for the protein bar company, but a spokesperson said the layoffs are proactive as the business plans for 2019. 

By Nina Sparling • Dec. 17, 2018

Lakeview Farms snacks on hummus and salsa with latest acquisition spree

The maker of refrigerated dips, desserts, seafood salads and spreads purchased Tribe Mediterranean Foods and Simply Fresh Foods for an undisclosed amount.

By Cathy Siegner • Dec. 17, 2018

Coca-Cola invests in PET recycling company

Ioniqa Technologies is developing the tools to process otherwise hard-to-recycle plastics as the soda company wants to transition to at least 50% recycled packaging materials by 2030. 

By Nina Sparling • Dec. 14, 2018

Barry Callebaut aims for sustainability by 2025

With climate change looming as a threat to the cocoa industry, the chocolatier is making progress on four ambitious goals. 

By Jessi Devenyns • Dec. 13, 2018

Absolut pressure: Activist fund Elliott takes stake in Pernod Ricard

It said the French alcohol giant has "significant potential for improvement" after recently underperforming and losing market share. 

By Lillianna Byington • Dec. 13, 2018

Aleph Farms raises cell-grown steaks

The Israel-based startup said its new product is "delivering the full experience of meat with the appearance, shape and texture of beef cuts."

By Cathy Siegner • Dec. 13, 2018

Whole Foods stops using takeout containers with problematic chemical

A study of food packaging in five major grocery companies found more than two-thirds may have been treated with PFAS, a toxic chemical known to cause health problems.

By Kristine Sherred • Dec. 12, 2018