SunOpta shares soar on shareholder's suggestion to sell

A strategic buyer or investment firm could use steep cost-cutting to make the Canadian company a more viable and profitable competitor in the natural and organic space.

By Carolyn Heneghan • June 1, 2016

Mondelez to shift marketing tactics, expand in-house content creation

The Oreo-maker is expanding its mobile app efforts and the production of branded and unbranded content through partnerships with BuzzFeed and Fox.

By Carolyn Heneghan • May 31, 2016

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

Charles M. Harper, former ConAgra CEO and transformation leader, dies at 88

Harper's health complications led to the development of the Healthy Choice line, which was key to the company's turnaround decades ago.

By Carolyn Heneghan • May 31, 2016

Nestle persists in health science category with $111M milk allergy testing deal

It's pivoting to health products while leveraging food and beverage R&D and marketing expertise.

By Carolyn Heneghan • May 31, 2016

Snyder's-Lance CFO to step down after a decade overseeing major changes

Rick Puckett oversaw the merger that formed Snyder's-Lance and major acquisitions since, including Diamond Foods earlier this year.

By Carolyn Heneghan • May 27, 2016

Report: Small, mid-sized CPG companies snagged $18B market share since 2011

Industry leaders identified by this report have a common portfolio strategy.

By Carolyn Heneghan • May 27, 2016

After bankruptcy, Hostess thriving with revamped products, supply chain overhaul, social media plan

The company listened to consumers and made select better-for-you ingredients changes, while keeping indulgence at the forefront.

By Carolyn Heneghan • May 26, 2016

3 food and beverage CEOs make Inc.'s 30 Under 30 list

From humble beginnings and a desire to solve an issue, companies grew into million-dollar enterprises.

By Carolyn Heneghan • May 26, 2016

Nestle names $2.5B in savings through cost-cutting efforts, exploring online expansion

These cost-cutting efforts are crucial to shareholders who may be nervous about the company consistently missing growth targets.

By Carolyn Heneghan • May 26, 2016

Hormel promotes chief accounting officer James Sheehan to CFO

Strategic acquisitions and portfolio-wide ingredients changes require significant investments — meaning a strong fiscal-minded leader at the helm.

By Carolyn Heneghan • May 26, 2016

TreeHouse Foods shuttering two ConAgra plants amid post-acquisition frenzy

Cutting costs is just as important for private labels as it is for branded products, especially when one of private labels' main appeals is competitively low prices. 

By Carolyn Heneghan • May 25, 2016

Execs of private equity investor-owned companies face unique challenges

The demands of private equity firms are high, particularly around areas of personal accountability, scrutiny, and accelerated decision.

By Carolyn Heneghan • May 25, 2016

Experts say competition behind Smucker's lower coffee prices

Other companies may decide to follow suit in order to remain competitive.

By Carolyn Heneghan • May 25, 2016

Bloomberg: Hampton Creek seeking $200M investment for massive expansion

Part of those plans include a 95,000-square-foot R&D facility that will employ robotics and artificial intelligence to discover and develop new plant-based protein products.

By Carolyn Heneghan • May 25, 2016

Study: 23% of consumers more likely to trust Nestle following salt reduction announcement

But you can't please everyone: About 5% said they were more likely to distrust Nestle because of the announcement.

By Carolyn Heneghan • May 24, 2016

ConAgra getting leaner; to divest Spicetec to Givaudan for $340M

With this move, ConAgra demonstrates its intent to focus on core products.

By Carolyn Heneghan • May 23, 2016

A Balancing Act: 5 food and beverage categories losing market share — an analyst perspective

From soda and cereal to frozen concentrates, these segments offer manufacturers valuable lessons in resilience.

By Carolyn Heneghan • May 23, 2016

Kraft Heinz plant expansions offer glimpse into future portfolio

These also let hungry manufacturers know which other brands may be up for acquisitions, should Kraft Heinz divest.

By Carolyn Heneghan • May 23, 2016

Dannon's nutrition commitments signal food and beverage manufacturer opportunities

... But it's another instance where industry-funded nutrition research could be heavily scrutinized.

By Carolyn Heneghan • May 23, 2016

Nima closes $9.2M funding round for portable gluten sensor

It plans to expand detection capabilities to also include peanuts and milk.

By Carolyn Heneghan • May 22, 2016

Campbell earnings report disappoints CEO, seeking new strategies

Being a leader in industry transparency is key for Campbell, as other strategies have not yet delivered the desired results.

By Carolyn Heneghan • May 20, 2016

301 Inc., CAVU back Kite Hill's latest $18M funding round

301 Inc. and CAVU Venture Partners also joined together in an investment in cottage cheese startup Good Culture earlier this year.

By Carolyn Heneghan • May 20, 2016

Fortune: The 4 most important private food companies

Companies like Mars and Cargill innovate and foster industry change on a large scale.

By Carolyn Heneghan • May 19, 2016

US charges former Dean Foods chairman with insider trading

Thomas C. Davis resigned from his post at Dean Foods just before the company's earnings report last August.

By David Oliver • May 19, 2016

Mondelez CEO to laid-off employees: Company needs to 'remain competitive' in global context

Rosenfeld addressed the deputy director for the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations after he held up photos of his daughters and asked how to explain Mondelez's decision to them.

By Carolyn Heneghan • May 19, 2016