FoodBusinessNews

CHICAGO — Cooped up inside during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, people may long to create a restaurant experience at home. They might buy upscale items, like gourmet coffee paired with a sweet baked food, for such an occasion, said Joan Driggs, vice president, thought leadership, for Information Resources, Inc., in......

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLA. — SunflowerFamily USA has unveiled a new Organic Sunflower Protein Crisps breakfast cereal. The high-protein plant-based cereal contains up to 14 grams of plant protein per serving, is soy free, grain free, dairy free, gluten free and allergen free. “Our customers were asking for an organic,......

KANSAS CITY — Rates to move freight by truck have risen amid a surge in demand to move larger amounts of certain food staples and medical relief supplies quickly due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Restrictions on travel have both helped and hindered those efforts, while logistics play a key......

CHICAGO – A global pandemic is likely not the best time for a startup to introduce a product. The foodservice sector is in disarray and retail buyers are adjusting to new consumer shopping patterns. Buyers do not have the time to get new products on shelf. It is recommended entrepreneurs......

MINNEAPOLIS — Cargill has decided to forgo the release of its third-quarter financial results, making it one of the first major US companies to make such a decision as the nation battles the growing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Cargill is a privately held company and therefore is not subject to the......

WASHINGTON — The US Department of Agriculture announced several actions effective April 2 to boost the US sugar supply, including the transfer of domestic sugar marketing allocations, the reassignment of unused domestic allocations to imports, and the increase of raw and refined sugar tariff-rate quotas for the current marketing year,......

BEVERLY, MASS. — Julia Decruz has been named director of R&D/applications at Prova Inc. She brings more than two decades of R&D experience to her new role. She most recently was director of R&D, organic and conventional chilled products, at Bolthouse Farms, Inc. She worked on major beverage development projects......

KANSAS CITY — Reflecting the worsening of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and prospects for restrictions on travel and business/social gatherings extending ever deeper into the year, the 2020 Sosland Publishing Co. Purchasing Seminar has been canceled. The event, attended annually by about 800 purchasing executives and suppliers, was scheduled for......

EAGLE, IDAHO — With operations in China and throughout Asia, Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. is relying on its experience in those markets to discern how the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) into Europe and North America may affect demand for its potato-based products. The company is evaluating customer and consumer......

CINCINNATI — Same-store sales at Kroger supermarkets surged 30% in March as many shoppers stockpiled supplies to hunker down at home and stem the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). The demand was broad-based across grocery and fresh departments, both in physical retail stores and digital channels, according to The Kroger......

KALAMAZOO, MICH. — National Flavors Co. has hired Brian Briggs as its new chief executive officer. Mr. Briggs will succeed Dan Hinkle, who will join the board of directors. Mr. Briggs brings more than 25 years of experience to the flavor producing company, most recently as president of TIC Gums,......

FRESNO, CALIF. — The whole-fruit snack brand Sun-Maid Growers of California has revamped its packaging and logo across all products. The new packaging includes a new font and graphics highlighting product differentiation. In addition, the revamped design will include accentuated callouts, including “0g of added sugar” and “made with whole......

KANSAS CITY — The first blow for many food entrepreneurs was dealt in early March, when the coronavirus’s emergence stateside led to the cancellation of Natural Products Expo West, a so-called Super Bowl for the natural and specialty foods industry. Among the 3,600 expected exhibitors, many startups had invested thousands......

WASHINGTON – The Food and Drug Administration is temporarily relaxing its menu labeling regulations as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak spreading across the United States. As many foodservice outlets transition from in-store dining to takeout, the agency said it is offering flexibility. “Because calorie information is required to......

PHILADELPHIA — Edward O. Irion has been named president and chief executive officer of Philadelphia Macaroni Co., Inc., a producer of dry and frozen pasta for the industrial, private label, retail and foodservice markets. He succeeds Luke Marano Jr., who has been named executive chairman. Mr. Irion joins Philadelphia Macaroni......

WASHINGTON — The National Grain and Feed Association and more than 60 other national agricultural groups have urged each state to increase truck weight limits on highways within their jurisdiction to a “minimum harmonized weight” of 88,000 lbs. “Increased truck weights improve the food and agriculture industry’s efficiency and capacity......

WASHINGTON — The National Agricultural Statistics Service of the US Department of Agriculture on March 31, in its annual Prospective Plantings report, indicated farmers intend to increase plantings of corn and soybeans this spring compared with a year ago. In the case of corn, farmers intend to plant the largest......

CHICAGO — Retail sales of plant-based foods in the United States reached a record $5 billion in 2019, up 11% from the prior year, according to the Plant Based Foods Association. Milk alternatives led the category with $2 billion in sales, up 5%, while ready-to-drink beverages, valued as $122 million,......

DALLAS  – Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), Kansas City, was the winning bidder to acquire most of Dean Foods’ assets as part of the milk processor’s Chapter 11 auction process. With a bid of $433 million, DFA will acquire 44 of Dean Foods’ fluid and frozen manufacturing facilities. Prairie Farms......