USA: Lactalis announces $55 million investment to increase feta production
Lactalis, the French dairy giant, has announced plans to invest $55 million at a plant in Tulare (CA) to increase feta cheese production. This investment will be used to build a 38,000 sq ft production line, creating 20 full-time jobs. Commenting on the investment, Lactalis USA chief executive officer Esteve Torrens said: “We are expanding […]
Australia: Instacart and Coles to launch ‘smart trolleys’
Instacart, the US grocery technology company, and Coles, the Australian supermarket retailer, have announced a partnership to bring Caper Carts ‘smart trolleys’ to the Asia Pacific region for the first time, expanding their presence beyond North America. Caper Carts, which will launch in Australia in early 2025, are described as being equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) systems, […]
USA: Lakeview Farms to acquire Noosa yoghurt brand
Lakeview Farms, a leading manufacturer of dips, desserts, and specialty products, has announced the acquisition of the Noosa yoghurt brand from Campbell Soup. Noosa is a manufacturer of premium-positionined, “Aussie-style” cheesecake bites and yoghurt ice cream that are claimed to be known for their rich, creamy texture and unique flavours. “We are excited to welcome […]
USA: Hershey acquires Sour Strips
US confectionery firm Hershey has announced the expansion of its portfolio with the acquisition of Sour Strips, a brand of sour sweets founded in 2019. Sour Strips is claimed to make sweets with intense flavours and creative branding, and is marketed with the tagline “sour candy that doesn’t suck”. Commenting on the deal, Hershey president […]
USA: JM Smucker opens new Uncrustables manufacturing facility
JM Smucker, the diversified US food business has expanded production capacity for the Uncrustables brand with the opening of a new 900,000 sq ft manufacturing facility in McCalla (AL). Uncrustables is the company’s brand of sealed crustless sandwiches, available with fillings such as Strawberry, Grape, Chocolate Hazelnut, Raspberry and Honey. Commenting on the expansion, JM […]
USA: Molson Coors acquires majority stake in Zoa Energy
Molson Coors, the US brewer, has announced it has taken a majority stake in Zoa Energy, an energy drink brand whose co-founders include Dwayne Johnson. The deal is intended to increase distribution and awareness of the Zoa energy drink brand, as well as enabling its integration into the wider Molson Coors portfolio. The partnership first […]
USA: 1440 Foods acquires Fitcrunch
1440 Foods, a leading sports and active nutrition business, has announced the acquisition of Fitcrunch, a protein snack firm, from celebrity chef Robert Irvine, Union Capital Associates and its founders. Founded in 2012 by Bakery Barn and Robert Irvine, Fitcrunch is known for high-protein foods like bars, wafers, and powders, with its bars providing up […]
USA: Schuman Cheese acquires Trugman-Nash
Cheese processor Schuman Cheese has announced the acquisition of the Trugman-Nash business from dairy firm Allied Dairy to expand its cheese portfolio. The acquisition includes ownership of Old Croc, a US leader in Australian cheddar, and US distribution rights for Organic Herd British cheddar from the Organic Milk Suppliers Co-operative. Old Croc’s range includes cheddar […]
USA: Meiji invests $28 million to boost Hello Panda snack production
Meiji, the Japanese food and pharmaceutical firm, has announced an investment of $28 million to expand production at its Santa Ana facility, which produces Hello Panda, Yan Yan and Chocorooms biscuits. Founded in 1987, Hello Panda is known for its chocolate cream filling and the panda design on the biscuit shell. In October, Meiji America […]
USA: Valora to invest $100 million to expand pretzel production
Ditsch, a pretzel manufacturer and subsidiary of the Valora Group, has announced a $70 million investment in a new bakery in Cincinnati (OH) to triple pretzel production. Founded in Germany in 1919, Ditsch is described as a manufacturer of soft pretzels including traditional German pretzels, pretzel bites, frozen pretzels, croissants, and pizza snacks, supplying food […]