March 21, 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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PepsiCo to acquire poppi for USD 1.95bn.

• PepsiCo, Inc. today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire poppi, a fast-growing prebiotic soda brand, for USD 1.95bn, including USD 300m of anticipated cash tax benefits for a net purchase price of USD 1.65bn.

Source: Mergermarket

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Miller Poultry acquires Gerber’s Poultry.

• Orland, Indiana-based Miller Poultry has acquired Kidron, Ohio-based Gerber’s Poultry.

Source: Mergermarket

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Sammontana Italia acquires La Rocca Creative Cakes.

• Sammontana Italia Group, through its newly formed entity Sammontana North America, has signed an agreement to acquire La Rocca Creative Cakes, a Canadian company founded by the Givens family, based in Toronto and operating in the retail in-store bakery channel.

Source: Mergermarket

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Unilever to sell plant-based brand The Vegetarian Butcher as it focuses its portfolio.

• Unilever is selling The Vegetarian Butcher, a plant-based offering, to Vivera for an undisclosed amount. Vivera, a plant-based food brand sold in Europe, is owned by meat processing company JBS.

Source: Food Dive

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YumEarth launches sale process with TM Capital.

• YumEarth, a sponsor-backed manufacturer of allergy-friendly and organic confectionary products, has launched a sale process, according to four sources familiar with the situation.

Source: Mergermarket

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Spice World sale process struggling.

• The sale process for Spice World, a Palladium Equity Partners-backed producer of garlic and other cooking ingredients, is stalled, according to three sources familiar with the situation.

Source: Mergermarket

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New bill looks to bring more eggs into the market.

• A bipartisan bill introduced in the House would allow the sale of breaker eggs previously discarded due to refrigeration rules, aiming to ease supply and reduce egg prices.
• The current FDA rule requires refrigeration within 36 hours of laying, which applies to both table and breaker eggs—despite the latter being pasteurized and posing minimal public health risk.
• The National Chicken Council supports the change, estimating it could make 400 million additional eggs available annually, especially impactful ahead of Easter.

Source: Meat + Poultry

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Egg wholesale prices and consumer demand drop.

• Wholesale egg prices and consumer demand are declining, according to the USDA, due to a stable supply and no major bird flu outbreaks in March—though retail prices have yet to reflect these trends.
• Egg inventory and processing volumes have increased, but demand remains soft as grocers hold back on promotions to avoid stock shortages ahead of Easter.
• Despite USDA’s $1 billion plan to combat bird flu and reduce prices, challenges remain, including delayed hiring from previous federal layoffs and uncertainty about sustained supply conditions.

Source: Food Dive

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NASS restores July cattle survey.

• USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will reinstate the July Cattle Inventory report and County Estimates for Crops and Livestock, after discontinuing them in April 2024.
• The decision follows pressure from lawmakers and industry groups like the NCBA, who emphasized the importance of these reports for operational and marketing decisions.
• The July Cattle Report is scheduled for release on July 25, and the NCBA praised the move as a cost-effective way to bring transparency to livestock markets.

Source: Meat + Poultry

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Economist looking toward impacts of tariffs.

• Economist Scott Colbert noted that while U.S. growth is slowing from post-pandemic highs, the economy is returning to “cruising speed,” with GDP projected at 2% for 2025 and no immediate signs of a recession.
• Inflation remains sticky due to government deficit spending and new tariffs on major trade partners (Mexico, Canada, China), which could delay Fed interest rate cuts and raise consumer prices.
• The Trump administration’s tariff strategy aims to leverage trade for policy goals like tighter borders and reshoring jobs, while deficit-reduction efforts like federal layoffs add further uncertainty to the economic outlook.

Source: Meat + Poultry

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Trump admin looks to allow meat processers to permanently run faster line speeds.

• The USDA plans to permanently allow pork and poultry processors to operate at faster line speeds, ending a reporting requirement on worker safety data and initiating a formal rulemaking process.
• Meat producers argue faster speeds are necessary for profitability, while critics warn of food safety risks and worker injuries, especially following a USDA study linking the industry to higher rates of musculoskeletal disorders.
• Industry groups like the National Chicken Council support the move, citing global competition and declining injury rates, while labor unions strongly oppose it, emphasizing risks to both workers and consumers.

Source: Food Dive

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Metal tariffs could upend canned food production.

• A new 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports is expected to significantly raise production costs for canned food in the U.S., potentially inflating consumer prices and impacting food security, according to the Can Manufacturers Institute.
• The U.S. can industry now operates only three domestic tin mill lines, down from twelve in 2018, leaving it unable to meet demand and vulnerable to cheaper foreign imports.
• Industry leaders are calling for exemptions and trade agreements, particularly with Canada and Mexico, to ensure a reliable and affordable metal supply and prevent further damage to domestic manufacturing.

Source: Food Dive

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Chobani makes biggest plant investment in its history by spending $500M to expand Idaho facility.

• Chobani is investing $500 million to expand its Twin Falls, Idaho plant—the largest investment in its history—adding 500,000 square feet and creating at least 160 new jobs.
• The expansion will allow the facility to boost production capacity by 50% and triple its milk consumption, supporting growing demand for its yogurt, oatmilk, and coffee creamer products.
• The move aligns with broader trends among major CPG companies investing in manufacturing infrastructure, following similar announcements by PepsiCo, Nestlé, and J.M. Smucker.

Source: Food Dive

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JBS invites Nebraska Governor to see Omaha beef plant.

• Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen toured the JBS beef plant in Omaha on National Agriculture Day, highlighting the state's record-breaking $2 billion in beef and veal exports in 2024.
• JBS Omaha employs 900 people and partners with over 850 cattle producers; its Grand Island facility supports 3,800 employees and pays $3.6 billion annually to over 675 producers.
• Governor Pillen and other state ag leaders praised the beef industry’s role in Nebraska’s economy, with JBS emphasizing its commitment to safe, high-quality food production and strong partnerships with local ranchers.

Source: Meat + Poultry

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The Weekly Sip: Jones Soda pops into zero-sugar cola | Vita Coco sweetens its coconut drinks lineup.

• Jones Soda launched a zero-sugar cola available in over 10,000 stores and plans to expand the line with Zero Root Beer and Zero Dr. Jones, tapping into the fast-growing zero-sugar beverage market.
• Vita Coco introduced its new Orange & Creme coconut milk beverage as part of its “Treats” lineup, aiming to meet demand for indulgent, nostalgic flavors with better-for-you ingredients.
• Kintsugi Sake, a new U.S.-based sake brand, is entering the premium alcohol market with American-made rice wine that combines Japanese brewing tradition with a luxury positioning, targeting culturally curious consumers.

Source: Food Dive

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Bill Gates-backed startup commercially launches butter made from carbon.

• Bill Gates-bac Savor, a startup backed by Bill Gates, has commercially launched a plant- and dairy-free butter made from captured carbon, aiming to replace animal fats and palm oil in food production.
• The company uses CO₂ and hydrogen to create fat molecules identical to those in traditional fats, with plans to partner with major CPG companies and produce at scale from its new Illinois facility.
• Savor’s fats are legally marketable in the U.S. under a self-affirmed GRAS status, though this regulatory pathway is under scrutiny as sustainability and ingredient innovation continue to reshape the industry.

Source: Food Dive

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Leftovers: Krispy Kreme sweetens doughnuts with Hershey | Siggi’s debuts yogurt pouches for adults.

• Krispy Kreme teamed up with Hershey to launch a limited-time Chocomania doughnut collection, including flavors like chocolate salted caramel cheesecake and chocolate chip cookie, in an effort to meet rising consumer demand for indulgent, complex sweets.
• Siggi’s introduced high-protein yogurt pouches for adults, featuring flavors like blueberry pomegranate and strawberry acai, targeting the snacking trend and offering convenience without sacrificing texture or nutrition.
• U.K. candy brand Percy Pig launched in the U.S. via Target, bringing its iconic grape-berry gummy treats across the pond amid a growing market for shareable, non-melting confections.

Source: Food Dive

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AI, automation enrich Kraft Heinz’s supply chain.

• Kraft Heinz is using AI, machine learning, and automation—including a proprietary control tower called “Kraft Heinz Lighthouse”—to enhance supply chain visibility, efficiency, and ingredient quality across its operations.
• The company’s AI tools have led to notable gains, such as a 12% increase in pickle production efficiency through automated cucumber inspections for its Claussen brand.
• Initiatives like PlantChat, a generative AI pilot tool, and internal AI engines for SAP and formulation optimization are part of Kraft Heinz’s broader transformation strategy, “Agile@Scale,” launched in 2022.

Source: Food Dive

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JM Smucker splits supply chain, manufacturing functions.

• J.M. Smucker Co. has separated its supply chain and manufacturing operations into two distinct units to improve oversight and execution across its portfolio.
• Bryan Hutson, current SVP of information services, will now also lead supply chain operations, while Randy Day continues overseeing manufacturing as SVP of operations.
• The move follows Smucker’s continued investment in operations, including the opening of a 900,000-square-foot Uncrustables plant in Alabama in late 2024, part of its 21-facility footprint across North America.

Source: Food Dive

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How Danone’s yogurt taps into consumer demand for ‘benefit stacking’.

• Danone is tapping into the rising trend of “benefit stacking”—combining attributes like high protein, gut health, low sugar, and longevity—in its yogurt portfolio to meet growing consumer demand for functional, nutrient-dense foods.
• The company’s brands like Oikos, Too Good & Co., and Light & Fit address these needs, with recent launches like Zero Sugar yogurt and ongoing R&D focused on nutrition for users of weight loss medications such as GLP-1s.
• Danone attributes the trend to greater health awareness, aging populations, and prevention-focused diets, and is using its nutrition science capabilities to innovate across categories including dairy, plant-based, and baby nutrition.

Source: Food Dive

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Ben & Jerry’s says CEO fired by Unilever over social activism.

• Ben & Jerry’s claims its CEO David Stever was fired by Unilever for supporting the brand’s social mission, not due to performance, alleging ongoing efforts by Unilever to suppress the brand’s activism.
• The ice cream company stated in a court filing that Unilever threatened personnel over political expression and violated an agreement outlining CEO replacement procedures.
• This dispute adds to tensions ahead of Unilever’s planned 2025 spinoff of its ice cream brands, with Ben & Jerry’s raising concerns about protecting its independent board and social mission post-separation.

Source: Food Dive

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USDA details biosecurity assessments, audits for poultry producers.

• The USDA is rolling out expanded biosecurity assessments and audits for poultry producers as part of a $1 billion initiative to combat highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
• Programs include Wildlife Biosecurity Assessments and Biosecurity Incentives-Focused Assessments, targeting facilities outside HPAI control zones, with a focus on high egg-producing states.
• USDA will cover up to 75% of high-risk biosecurity repair costs, and producers must pass audits to be eligible for restocking indemnities or moving birds into buffer zones.

Source: Meat + Poultry

JUST FOR FUN

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The Weekly Sip: Capri Sun lights up for lunar eclipse | Hostess shakes into protein drinks – Food Dive

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