October 3, 2025

Please see below for a listing of what the North Point Food & Beverage Team has been tracking this week. We hope that you find the content insightful and a nice way to summarize the most noteworthy Food & Beverage events of the week.

Have a nice weekend!

Glen Clarke

Head of Food & Beverage

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Ferrero Group completes WK Kellogg acquisition.

• The Ferrero Group announced the successful completion of its acquisition of WK Kellogg Co. WK Kellogg Co is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Ferrero.

Source: Mergermarket

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Easy Ice acquires operations of Precision Ice.

• Easy Ice is thrilled to finish the third quarter of 2025 with its latest acquisition in Little Rock, Arkansas—taking over the operations of Precision Ice Company.

Source: Mergermarket

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Lifeway Foods enters cooperation agreement with Danone – Flash Commentary.

• Lifeway Foods announced a cooperation agreement with hostile suitor and major shareholder Danone yesterday and putting the yogurt maker's ongoing family feud-spurred proxy fight on shaky ground.

Source: Mergermarket

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Investindustrial set to launch take-private bid for TreeHouse Foods – report.

• Investindustrial is on track to launch a take-private bid for Oak Brook, Illinois-based TreeHouse Foods, according to sources cited in a LinkedIn post from Paola Aurisicchio.

Source: Mergermarket

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Once Upon a Farm files for US IPO.

• Once Upon a Farm announced that it has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") relating to the proposed initial public offering of shares of its common stock.

Source: Mergermarket

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Wholesale croissant baker Café Valley raising USD 110m new private credit dough.

• Sweet baked goods manufacturer Café Valley is seeking to raise a new private credit loan to refinance debt and fund a potential acquisition, according to two sources familiar.

Source: Mergermarket

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Tapatío Hot Sauce in later stages of sale process.

• Family-owned hot sauce maker Tapatío Hot Sauce is in the later stages of a sale process, according to three sources familiar with the matter.

Source: Mergermarket

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Anthony & Sons Bakery sale process in second round.

• Anthony & Sons Bakery, a family-owned bakery products manufacturer, is in the late stages of a sale process, according to three sources familiar with the situation.

Source: Mergermarket

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So Good So You considers sale.

• Prelude Growth Partners-backed So Good So You, a Minneapolis-based cold pressed juice company, has mandated Piper Sandler to explore a sale, three sources familiar with the situation said.

Source: Mergermarket

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Tyson agrees to USD 85m settlement in US pork price-fixing suit.

• Tyson Foods has agreed to pay USD 85m to settle claims from consumer indirect purchasers in an ongoing pork antitrust case.

Source: Mergermarket

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Top 10 stories for the meat industry in September.

• Regulatory & policy focus: Triumph Foods sued California over Prop 12, while Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins outlined USDA’s 2025+ action plan, and USDA launched a first-of-its-kind rail export program with Mexico.
• Corporate moves: Tyson announced ingredient removals (HFCS, dyes), launched chicken cups, named Devin Cole COO after a leadership change, and Perdue Farms confirmed layoffs at an Indiana plant.
• M&A & expansion: American Farmers Network acquired Open Range Beef, while America’s Heartland Packing showcased its new Missouri beef processing plant.

Source: Meat + Poultry

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Global poultry proves resilient despite market disruptions.

• RaboResearch forecasts 2.85% global poultry growth in 2025, up from 2.6% in 2024, supported by affordability versus other proteins and lower feed costs due to strong global grain harvests.
• Disruptions from avian influenza (HPAI) and geopolitics have shifted trade flows, with Brazil’s temporary export restrictions boosting exporters like Thailand, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and China.
• Supply growth remains slow in Europe, Africa and Latin America due to tight parent stock, while Asia — led by China at 7% growth in H1 2025 — is experiencing rapid expansion in poultry production.

Source: Meat + Poultry

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Top food and beverage industry events in 2026.

• The 2026 food and beverage conference calendar includes major events such as Winter FancyFaire (Jan. 11–13, San Diego), Dairy Forum (Jan. 25–28, Palm Desert), and Natural Products Expo West (Mar. 3–6, Anaheim).
• Other key gatherings include Future Food-Tech (Mar. 19–20, San Francisco), the Beverage Forum (Apr. 28–29, Manhattan Beach), and the Sweets & Snacks Expo (May 19–21, Las Vegas).
• Later in the year, highlights include the Summer Fancy Food Show (Jun. 28–30, New York), IFT First (Jul. 12–15, Chicago), Newtopia Now (Aug. 19–21, Denver), and The Global Produce & Floral Show (Oct. 15–17, Orlando).

Source: Food Dive

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USDA launches first-of-its-kind program for meat, poultry exports to Mexico.

• USDA and Mexico’s SENASICA launched a first-of-its-kind rail export program that allows Mexican officials to reinspect U.S. meat and poultry at federally inspected plants, eliminating routine border checks.
• The program is voluntary for FSIS-inspected facilities and adds no new regulatory requirements for U.S. exporters.
• Mexico remains the largest U.S. meat and poultry export market, with trade surpassing $5.5 billion in 2024.

Source: Meat + Poultry

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Aldi debuts massive private label rebrand.

• Aldi is rebranding its entire private label portfolio by putting its name on every product and introducing its first-ever namesake brand, while existing lines like Clancy’s and Simply Nature will carry the endorsement “an ALDI Original.”
• The overhaul is intended to make Aldi’s private label goods more recognizable, with some products adopting popular shopper-given nicknames such as Red Bag Chicken.
• The rebrand rollout is underway and will continue for several years alongside Aldi’s aggressive expansion plan to open more than 200 new stores by the end of 2025 and its push into more modern, social media–driven marketing.

Source: Food Dive

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How Kellanova uses AI to predict creative performance and drive KPIs.

• Kellanova used AI-powered predictive impact scoring on 443 creative assets, achieving 83% accuracy in forecasting view-through rates, doubling performance, and driving an 11% ROI lift.
• The analysis identified 19 company-wide and 11 category-specific variables — such as early positive emotion, logos, text overlays, and consumption cues — now built into creative best practices across platforms.
• The company is embedding these insights into agency scorecards, media planning, and ongoing creative development to ensure data-driven consistency and improved marketing effectiveness.

Source: Food Dive

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Powerade enters hydration market with first new product in 5 years.

• Powerade is launching Power Water, its first new product in over five years, a flavored functional water with 50% more electrolytes than competitors, rolling out regionally in October 2025 and nationwide in 2026.
• The move marks Powerade’s entry into the $750M/month enhanced water market, which has grown 13% year-over-year, as Coca-Cola leverages both Powerade and BodyArmor to cover different hydration needs.
• Coca-Cola is producing and distributing Power Water through its bottler network for the first time, aiming to expand consumer reach and strengthen its position in the fast-growing functional beverage segment.

Source: Food Dive

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JM Smucker to spend over $120M on Hostess plant expansion.

• J.M. Smucker is investing $120M to expand its Hostess plant in Columbus, GA, with construction expected to finish by early 2027 and creating at least 48 new jobs.
• Since acquiring Hostess for $5.6B in 2023, the brand has faced inflation, GLP-1 headwinds, ~$2B in write-downs, and a 25% SKU reduction.
• Smucker is closing a Hostess plant in Indianapolis by early 2026 while also investing $1.1B in a new Uncrustables facility to improve supply chain efficiency.

Source: Food Dive

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General Mills doubles down on snackable content with sketch series.

• General Mills is launching a four-episode social-first sketch comedy series, “The Snacktime Sketch Show,” featuring brands like Totino’s, Gushers and Nature Valley, with parodies ranging from “Love Island” to corporate culture and AI.
• The effort, developed with Deadpan Media, is part of General Mills’ pivot toward social-first marketing to better engage Gen Z audiences and offset declines in traditional media.
• The campaign comes as General Mills faces a 3% year-over-year sales decline and looks to replicate the success of prior social pushes like the “Must Cinnadust” campaign for Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

Source: Food Dive

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Walmart to remove dozens of artificial ingredients from private label brands.

• Walmart will remove synthetic dyes and 30 other additives from its private label brands by January 2027, in what it calls one of the largest private brand reformulations in retail history.
• The retailer said 90% of its private brand products are already dye-free, and reformulated products will begin rolling out in the coming months, with full changes completed by 2027.
• The move aligns with consumer health trends and political pressure, as the Trump administration has asked the food industry to eliminate artificial colors by the end of 2026.

Source: Food Dive

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PepsiCo splashes into dirty soda with new Mountain Dew flavor.

• PepsiCo is launching Dirty Mountain Dew Cream Soda, combining citrus and cream soda flavors, with a nationwide rollout planned for early 2026.
• The move brings the fast-growing dirty soda trend — mixing soda with creamers and syrups — from restaurants and convenience stores into the ready-to-drink retail category.
• The dirty soda market is expanding at a 42% growth rate, fueled by Gen Z demand for flavor-forward, customizable, and alcohol-alternative beverages.

Source: Food Dive

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Tyson launches chicken cups.

• Tyson introduced Chicken Cups, a frozen retail line with grilled boneless bites, lightly breaded bites, popcorn chicken bites, and mini dino nuggets.
• Each 5.3 oz cup contains 30 grams of protein and can be microwaved in 90 seconds to 2 minutes for on-the-go convenience.
• The products are designed to meet rising demand for portable, protein-rich snacks that fit into busy consumer lifestyles.

Source: Meat + Poultry

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Amazon streamlines private label grocery portfolio.

• Amazon is consolidating its private label grocery lines under a new Amazon Grocery brand, replacing Amazon Fresh and Happy Belly, with most products priced at $5 or less.
• The line covers 1,000+ items including dairy, produce, meat, seafood, snacks, and pantry staples, with new packaging designed for clarity and reduced plastic use.
• The move comes as Amazon strengthens its grocery business with same-day perishable delivery expansion and tighter integration of Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh.

Source: Food Dive

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Campbell’s says tariff mitigation strategies can only go so far.

• Campbell’s expects to mitigate only about 60% of tariff costs in FY26, with more than half of its exposure tied to Section 232 duties on steel and aluminum.
• Executives said limited U.S. tinplate capacity forces reliance on imports, making full mitigation impossible and prompting selective price increases.
• The company is pursuing supplier collaborations, alternative sourcing, cost savings, and price hikes, but tariffs are still projected to add ~4% to cost of goods sold in FY26.

Source: Food Dive

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Danone to pause litigation as part of truce with Lifeway Foods.

• Danone and Lifeway Foods reached a truce that pauses ongoing litigation, with Danone agreeing to support Lifeway’s board at the 2025 and 2026 annual meetings.
• Lifeway will refresh its board by adding four new independent directors, separating the chairman and CEO roles, and seeing two long-serving directors step down.
• The agreement follows Danone’s decision to abandon its acquisition bid for Lifeway, though Danone said it continues to review its 22.7% stake in the company.

Source: Food Dive

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General Mills to close 3 Missouri plants as part of supply chain restructuring.

• General Mills will close three Missouri plants — a pizza crust facility in St. Charles and two pet food plants in Joplin acquired with Whitebridge Pet Brands — as part of a multiyear supply chain restructuring.
• The closures and related consolidation moves will result in $82M in restructuring charges, including $43M in asset write-offs and $6M in severance and other costs.
• The initiative is expected to drive $100M in savings as General Mills streamlines operations amid inflation, weaker consumer spending, and margin pressures across the food industry.

Source: Food Dive

JUST FOR FUN

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Leftovers: Nerds Gummy Clusters launches juicy new innovation | Hershey bites into KitKat Counts – Food Dive

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