FoodBusinessNews

WASHINGTON — The Kroger Co. has announced that Frederick, Md., will be the location of its mid-Atlantic customer fulfillment centers built with its partner Ocado. The C.F.C., a highly-automated warehouse facility that heavily uses robotic technology, will serve customers across the region, including in the Baltimore, Washington and Philadelphia metropolitan......

ORRVILLE, OHIO — J.M. Smucker Co. has pledged $1 million toward the development of the I PROMISE School’s HomeTown Hall. The financial commitment is part of Smucker’s partnership with the LeBron James Family Foundation, which is focused on investing time, resources and attention in the children of Akron, Ohio, the......

ARLINGTON, VA. — The Consumer Brands Association has hired Ellen Davis as its new executive vice-president of industry engagement. Ms. Davis has worked in consumer-driven industries for decades, having previously served as senior vice-president at the National Retail Federation and as president of the NRF Foundation. Ms. Davis, who is......

CHICAGO — Beverages, snacks and plant-based foods are fueling the growth of specialty foods, a sector of the marketplace that continues to outpace the growth of conventional foods. Specialty foods are defined as foods or beverages of the highest grade, style and/or quality in their respective categories. Their specialty nature is......

ATCHISON, KAS. — MGP Ingredients, Inc. on Jan. 17 announced its financial results for the year ended Dec. 31, 2019, would fall well shy of earlier guidance. The earnings warning was issued more than a month before the company is expected to release financial results for 2019. “The shortfall versus......

LE MARS, IOWA — Halo Top is entering the keto category with its new Keto Series ice cream lineup. Made with ultra-filtered skim milk, which provides more protein and fewer calories than regular milk, the ice cream contains 5 to 10 grams of net carbs and 410 to 630 calories per......

CHICAGO — Duncan Hines has introduced a new line of snacks customized to those seeking keto-friendly treats. The Keto Friendly Cups have a suggested retail price of $2.15 and come in three distinct flavors: walnut fudge brownie, birthday cake and double chocolate cake. The keto diet has grown more popular......

SAN FRANCISCO — Among the top foods predicted to post strong growth over the next four years are cultured butter, hard seltzer, turmeric and Tajin seasoning, according to Datassential. Kombucha, matcha and ancient grains also are projected to gain continued momentum. The Chicago-based market research firm uses a suite of......

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL — Compared to a year ago, 23% more consumers in the United States are prioritizing sustainable food choices, according to a study released Jan. 22 by Tastewise, a food intelligence start-up powered by artificial intelligence (A.I.). The report analyzed more than two billion social interactions, more than......

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Robert Garcia has been promoted to vice-president of franchise operations, training and development at Bojangles’, Inc. Mr. Garcia joined the chicken and biscuit chain in 2019 from McDonald’s Corp., where he held a series of leadership positions, including vice-president of U.S. operations and vice-president, east division company......

TORONTO — Chr. Hansen improved its overall score in the Global 100 ranking of corporations based on their sustainability efforts, but in 2020 the company slipped to No. 2 from No. 1 in 2019 in the rankings put together by Corporate Knights, a Toronto-based media and investment research firm. “We......

KANSAS CITY — Sugar producers and buyers are preparing for unprecedented tight sugar supplies in 2020 amid seven-year high prices. While the mechanisms of the U.S. sugar program should help with supply going forward, logistics issues and high prices likely will linger until a new beet crop is harvested in......

DENVER — Elevating its customer focus in a rapidly changing marketplace, Ardent Mills on Jan. 22 announced that Angie Goldberg has joined the company as chief growth officer. A veteran marketing executive, Ms. Goldberg brings to the newly-created position more than 17 years of experience at high-profile grain-based foods companies.......

SINGAPORE — Olam International will reorganize its business portfolio into two new operating groups: Olam Food Ingredients and Olam Global Agri. Olam Food Ingredients will consist of the businesses for cocoa, coffee, edible nuts, spices and dairy. Olam Global Agri will consist of the businesses for grains and animal feed,......

SAN FRANCISCO — Eclipse Foods’ management team did not set out to create another plant-based dairy alternative. They set out to create a plant-based raw material that mimics the functionality of traditional cow’s milk and may be used to formulate plant-based alternatives that have the same attributes and functionality as......

CHICAGO — Conagra Brands, Inc. is aiming to convert the entirety of its plastic packaging into renewable, recyclable, or compostable packaging by 2025. The initiative is part of the company’s larger goal of operating in an environmentally conscious manner while upholding food quality and safety. Conagra’s push toward its sustainable......

SAN FRANCISCO — Eat Just, Inc. is propelling its plant-based Just Egg product into a new segment with the launch of Just Egg folded eggs. Designed to fit inside breakfast sandwiches and on toast, the vegan egg alternative is made from mung bean protein, which tastes similar to a conventional......

BERKELEY, CALIF. — Memphis Meats closed a $161 million Series B funding round, the largest to date for the cell-based meat industry. Existing investors including Tyson Foods and Cargill participated in the round, which was led by SoftBank Group, Norwest and Temasek. Memphis Meats will use the funds to build......