Utz to close Pennsylvania factory

The closure is part of broader cost cutting moves across the snack maker’s network, which includes the sale of four sites.

By Joelle Anselmo • Oct. 11, 2023

Guardians of the franchise: Safeguarding success in the competitive landscape

Since launching a new product offers only one chance at success, optimizing it to its fullest potential becomes crucial.

By Katie Fellows • Oct. 11, 2023

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

Cereal giant Post Holdings moves deeper into pet food with $235M acquisition

The purchase of Perfection Pet Foods gives the CPG giant, which entered the animal category for the first time in April, exposure to private-label and co-manufactured products.

By Christopher Doering • Oct. 10, 2023

Coca-Cola to sharply cut distribution of Aha sparkling water as sales decline

The company told Food Dive it sees growth potential in the category with its premium brand Topo Chico.

By Chris Casey • Oct. 9, 2023

Missouri pressures Tyson to sell 2 poultry plants set for closure

The meatpacker received major backlash from local and federal officials, who said factory closures will have “devastating consequences.”

By Sarah Zimmerman • Oct. 6, 2023

Leftovers: Kraft Heinz, Milk Bar burst into bagel bombs | Skittles get miniature with Littles

The Philadelphia cream cheese brand and the bakery are debuting a red velvet treat, while Whipnotic swirls up two unique whipped cream flavors.

By Food Dive staff • Oct. 6, 2023

Top food and beverage industry events in 2024

The new year will bring a busy conference and convention season. Food Dive is highlighting 11 to watch.

By Elizabeth Flood • Oct. 6, 2023

Conagra Brands CEO sees early signs of improvement in consumer buying habits

While the Slim Jim maker forecast a more upbeat second half in its fiscal year, Sean Connolly told Wall Street analysts that a deeper recovery will take time. 

By Christopher Doering • Oct. 6, 2023

US pea protein producers undercut by cheap Chinese imports

Products made with the ingredient are growing in popularity, but domestic manufacturers are in “grave peril,” producer Puris claims.

By Elizabeth Flood • Oct. 5, 2023

Vegan: The product label which shall not be named

The term "plant-based" has become a more inclusive and approachable term when it comes to marketing vegan food. But are times changing?

By Paul Shapiro • Oct. 5, 2023

Molson Coors looks to premium alcohol in pursuit of aggressive sales growth

The beverage giant, which has expanded its portfolio to include whiskey and ready-to-drink tea, is aiming to get one third of its revenue from upscale offerings.

By Chris Casey • Oct. 4, 2023

WK Kellogg Co CEO says new company sees ‘future beyond cereal’

The newly spun off business, which includes Froot Loops and Rice Krispies, plans to expand into other categories, but will first focus on beefing up its cereal operations.

By Chris Casey • Oct. 4, 2023

Cargill’s alt-protein chief answers Food Dive’s 8 questions

Elizabeth Gutschenritter discusses the challenges that come along with a new and growing category and which fast-food spot would be part of her last meal.

By Elizabeth Flood • Oct. 3, 2023

Liquid Death hires ex-White Claw executive as its first chief commercial officer

With the water brand reportedly considering an IPO in 2024, Stephen Ballard will be responsible for growing sales by bringing the beverage into new retailers and markets.

By Christopher Doering • Oct. 3, 2023

Kellogg embarks on new future, finalizing split into two businesses

Sixteen months after the separation was announced, the snacking and North American cereal businesses — Kellanova and WK Kellogg Co — are trading separately on the New York Stock Exchange.

By Chris Casey • Oct. 2, 2023

Heinz jumps on Taylor Swift’s ‘seemingly ranch’ moment with new condiment

To capitalize on a viral moment around the singer’s visit to an NFL game, the brand and agency Rethink came up with a new sauce in less than 24 hours.

By Chris Kelly • Oct. 2, 2023

Nestlé vows to increase sales of healthier foods by 2030

The world’s largest food company said it wants to boost sales of better-for-you products by as much as $27.3 billion by the end of this decade, a 50% increase from 2022.

By Christopher Doering • Sept. 29, 2023

Leftovers: Nestlé, Kellogg make waffles and cereal drinkable | Stella Rosa’s ‘swicy’ wine brings the heat

The CPG giants aim to capture the essence of sweet morning staples with Sensations flavored milk products; plant-based brand Tindle enters breakfast with sausage.

By Food Dive staff • Sept. 29, 2023

Bayer enters the strawberry market with UK acquisition

NIAB’s strawberry breeding program allows the biotech giant to develop a wide range of genetics and crop protection products.

By Nathan Owens • Sept. 28, 2023

From a small Chicago storefront to a CPG contender, a Q&A with Wow Bao’s CEO

Geoff Alexander, a restaurant industry veteran, started as a fry cook at his local university watering hole and now is a bao CPG giant. He spoke to Food Dive about his nontraditional path.

By Judy McGuire • Sept. 28, 2023

JM Smucker to sell Sahale Snacks to Brownie Brittle owner for $34M

The deal with Second Nature Brands comes just two weeks after the jam and peanut butter company announced plans to buy Twinkies manufacturer Hostess Brands for $5.6 billion.

By Christopher Doering • Sept. 28, 2023

Talking hot honey, scale and how to create a buzz with Mike Kurtz, founder of Mike’s Hot Honey

The sweet-heat trend has been around for ages. But this unique product, at first paired with pizza, developed a brand new food category and helped create the swicy category.

By Judy McGuire • Sept. 27, 2023

Tyson, Perdue under investigation following reports of child labor at slaughterhouses

The poultry companies face a federal probe after a New York Times Magazine article detailed a 14-year-old being maimed by equipment at a Virginia plant.

By Chris Casey • Sept. 26, 2023

JBS begins work on lab-grown meat center in Brazil

The Biotech Innovation Center, slated for completion next year, builds on the meatpacker’s effort to expand its portfolio and become a force in the growing cultivated protein sector.

By Nathan Owens • Sept. 26, 2023

Coca-Cola’s Fairlife still sourcing milk from abusive farms, animal rights group claims

The beverage giant disputed the claim from Animal Recovery Mission, saying the two operations and its owner are not suppliers for the dairy product, which has more than $1 billion in annual sales.

By Christopher Doering • Sept. 26, 2023