The collapse of Chef'd illustrates meal kits' challenges

Slowing sales growth could put pressure on weaker companies that remain to improve their businesses, find a buyer or be forced to close.

By Christopher Doering • July 19, 2018

Lay's debuts 8 regionally-inspired flavors for 'Tastes of America' tour

A food festival tour with influencer Hannah Hart supports the launch.

By Erica Sweeney • July 18, 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

FreshDirect prepares to battle Amazon and Walmart with new fulfillment center

The e-grocer’s state-of-the-art facility will help it roll out new products and fill orders more efficiently.

By Jeff Wells • July 18, 2018

Meijer to light up stores — and its bottom line — with switch to LEDs

The Michigan-based retailer says the move will reduce its annual lighting energy usage by 50%.

By Patti Zarling • July 18, 2018

How Coke amplifies in-stadium experiences through digital tech

The beverage giant engages sports fans by working with partner MVP Interactive on activations that leverage AR/VR, facial recognition and more.

By Peter Adams • July 18, 2018

Chef'd gets chopped: Meal kit company shuts down

The maker of preportioned foods failed to secure more cash after initially raising tens of millions in funding from investors, including Campbell Soup and Smithfield Foods.

By Christopher Doering • July 18, 2018

Walmart is listening: Retailer gets patent for in-store audio monitoring

The company intends to use the technology to monitor employee performance, but the sensor system — which would analyze conversations between customers and employees — could raise privacy concerns.

By Dan O'Shea • July 17, 2018

Merck's venture capital arm invests $8.8M in Mosa Meat

The Dutch startup said it plans to build a pilot production facility and have its lab-grown beef products on the market by 2021.

By Cathy Siegner • July 17, 2018

Albertsons' e-commerce sales surge as Rite Aid merger looms

The grocer lowered its net losses during Q1 2018 while same-store sales were positive, but below full-year guidance.

By Jeff Wells • July 17, 2018

As consumers move online, food and beverage makers struggle to adapt

With 20% of all grocery sales expected to come from the web by 2022, CPG companies are scrambling to build an effective sales infrastructure for e-commerce.

By Christopher Doering • July 17, 2018

B&G Foods buys McCann's Irish Oatmeal from TreeHouse Foods for $32M

Sales from the breakfast brand were about $13 million in 2017, according to the private-label manufacturer, which got the steel-cut hot cereal brand in a larger acquisition in 2010.

By Megan Poinski • July 17, 2018

Whole Foods traffic spiked 18.6% on Independence Day

The increase compared to last year's holiday underscores the success of recent promotions and portends big sales for Prime Day.

By Krishna Thakker • July 16, 2018

Can innovation and divestment shake up General Mills' flat sales?

Product launches slated for next year include honey crunch breakfast cereal made from Kernza, Nature Valley granola bites and a Pillsbury stuffed meatball and pepperoni sandwich.

By Cathy Siegner • July 16, 2018

Tech companies are catching up to Amazon Go

Israel-based startup Trigo Vision has received $7 million in funding to develop technology that's more robust than Amazon Go's cashier-free solution.

By Alicia Kelso • July 13, 2018

Will consumers sour on 'nature-identical' sweeteners from a lab?

Companies are developing potentially lucrative sugar alternatives away from their natural setting, but it's not clear whether consumers will embrace them.

By Cathy Siegner • July 13, 2018

Postmates raises last-mile stakes by adding 100 more cities

The delivery startup is scrambling to scale and reach profitability in a fiercely competitive market.

By Daphne Howland • July 13, 2018

Campbell Soup beefs up e-commerce focus with new CMO of meals and beverages

Diego Palmieri, a veteran of SC Johnson, will be responsible for all aspects of marketing and consumer connection in the U.S. for the company.

By Erica Sweeney • July 13, 2018

Dang Foods rolls out high-fat, low-carb FATBAR

The company, which is best known for onion and coconut chips, will launch the product on Amazon in September and in Whole Foods in early 2019.

By Patti Zarling • July 13, 2018

Danone, Mars, Nestlé and Unilever launch sustainable food policy alliance

The four Big Food companies said the partnership will initially focus on improving nutrition labeling and reducing carbon emissions. 

By Cathy Siegner • July 13, 2018

ColorKitchen debuts natural food colors for use in baking

The Oregon company claims its powdered substitutes stay bright, are shelf-stable and don't impart any flavors or odors to baked goods.

By Cathy Siegner • July 12, 2018

Dean Foods to close two plants, lay off 207 employees

Job losses are scheduled to begin in September. They are being blamed in part on Walmart's new milk processing facility, which opened in June in Indiana.

By Cathy Siegner • July 12, 2018

E-grocer GrubMarket nets $32M to expand delivery

Between 60% and 70% of the West Coast company's direct-from-the-farm business is in B2B sourcing, but future plans include expanding consumer delivery and an IPO.

By Krishna Thakker • July 12, 2018

Walmart expands c-store concept to third location

The retail giant says its goal is to make shopping easier with fuel centers located in the parking lots of its massive supercenters. 

By Daphne Howland • July 12, 2018

Fiji Water to end distribution partnership with Keurig Dr Pepper

Analysts speculate that Fiji's departure from the newly merged company could be followed by the loss of other brands, including BodyArmor, with Coca-Cola a potential buyer.

By Cathy Siegner • July 12, 2018

BJ's Wholesale accepts PayPal in latest digital move

The retailer is aggressively expanding online and mobile capabilities following its IPO, adding new digital payment options to streamline transactions. 

By Dan O'Shea • July 11, 2018