June 20, 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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Glanbia's SlimFast initial bids due end of June.

• Ireland-based Glanbia is seeking initial bids on its dietary supplements maker SlimFast by the end of June, according to two sources familiar with the situation.

Source: Mergermarket

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Trillium Foods announces official launch with Bain Capital backing to build North American platform.

• Trillium Foods, a premier liquid food and beverage company focused on manufacturing and innovation, today announced its official launch.

Source: Mergermarket

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Once Upon a Farm files confidentially for US IPO – report.

• Once Upon a Farm has confidentially filed for an IPO in New York, a Newswire reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.

Source: Mergermarket

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Kilcoy files for US IPO.

• Kilcoy Global Foods, an Australian meat processor, has filed for an IPO in the US, according to an SEC filing.

Source: Mergermarket

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Mission Produce 13D filer Globalharvest reports stake of 6.27%.

• Mission Produce investor Globalharvest Holdings Venture has filed a 13D reporting a stake of 6.27%.

Source: Mergermarket

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HC Private Investments acquires Snackwerks and Specialty Bakers.

• HC Private Investments (“HCPI”), a Chicago-based family office, today announced the formation of Artisan Bakery (the “Company”), a premium baked goods and snack manufacturer, through the acquisitions of Snackwerks and Specialty Bakers.

Source: Mergermarket

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Unilever weighs potential sale of healthy snack brand Graze – report.

• Unilever is considering offloading its healthy snack label Graze, Financial Times reported, citing sources. The company's new CEO Fernando Fernandez is focusing on shifting the company’s mix more towards personal care and beauty, moving away from food products, the report said. 

Source: Mergermarket

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Arkay Beverages seeks to raise USD 150m at USD 1.5bn valuation.

• Arkay Beverages, the global pioneer in alcohol-free spirits, is officially opening its latest investment round, seeking to raise $150 million USD at a $1.5 billion valuation.

Source: Mergermarket

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AG Pollen buys Gunter Honey.

• Generational Group, a leading mergers and acquisitions advisory firm for privately held businesses, is pleased to announce the sale of Gunter Honey, Inc. to AG Pollen. The acquisition closed May 30, 2025.

Source: Mergermarket

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General Mills to remove artificial colors from US cereals and foods.

• General Mills will eliminate artificial colors from U.S. retail products by end of 2027 and from school foods by summer 2026, impacting 15% of its retail portfolio.
• The move follows Kraft Heinz’s similar pledge and aligns with a voluntary FDA push to phase out six synthetic dyes.
• Previous reformulations, like 2016’s natural-color Trix, faced consumer backlash, highlighting challenges in maintaining color vibrancy, sourcing, and shelf life.

Source: Food Dive

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Certified Angus Beef celebrates record-setting spring.

• Certified Angus Beef reported record spring sales, including 116.8M lbs sold in March and an all-time high for April, driven by strong carcass quality and demand for premium beef.
• Despite a 3.5% decline in fed cattle harvest, brand-certified carcasses rose 1% YoY, with CAB Prime carcasses up 8% and USDA Prime outpacing Select for nine consecutive weeks.
• Consumers continue to prioritize quality over price in beef purchases, reinforcing CAB’s focus on premium product offerings as grilling season fuels further demand.

Source: Meat + Poultry

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Chiquita launches ‘Likely the Best Snack Ever’ campaign.

• Chiquita launched its “Likely the Best Snack Ever” campaign to reposition bananas as a top-tier, mess-free snack ideal for busy, health-conscious consumers.
• The campaign spans digital, social, and in-store activations, featuring playful content like “Banana Man” videos, ASMR clips, and limited-edition sticker messaging.
• With 94% of Gen Z and Millennials snacking daily, Chiquita is targeting modern snack trends with product-centric storytelling, emphasizing portability, simplicity, and natural benefits.

Source: Produce Bluebook

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Kraft Heinz to remove artificial colors in US products by end of 2027.

• Kraft Heinz will remove artificial colors from all U.S. products by the end of 2027, with 90% of its portfolio already dye-free by net sales.
• The company plans to replace non-essential dyes with natural alternatives or new color innovations and will no longer use synthetic dyes in new products.
• The move aligns with mounting FDA and consumer pressure, though industry players caution that supply and technical hurdles may make the timeline difficult to meet.

Source: Food Dive

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China approves more pork, poultry plants for export.

• China’s customs authority approved 101 additional U.S. pork and poultry plants for export, effective June 12, offering short-term gains for U.S. meat exporters.
• Despite new approvals, U.S. pork still faces a 57% tariff and beef a 32% tariff, with most U.S. beef exports blocked due to expired plant registra.tions.
• USMEF warns that without resolution before the 90-day U.S.-China trade negotiation window closes in mid-August, tariff escalation risks could further disrupt export volumes.

Source: Meat + Poultry

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Campbell’s turns to suppliers to help ease tariff costs.

• Campbell’s is working with suppliers like La Regina di San Marzano to offset tariff costs tied to imported Rao’s products, alongside efforts like cost optimization and selective pricing.
• The company expects tariff-related headwinds of $0.03–$0.05 per share to its FY25 adjusted EPS, driven by EU and Canada levies and metal import duties.
• Ongoing trade uncertainty, including potential retaliatory tariffs and steel/aluminum costs, makes forecasting future financial impacts difficult.

Source: Food Dive

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Standard Meat Co. taps Cargill leader for newly created position.

• Standard Meat Co. appointed former Cargill executive Bill Chandler as Director of Supply Chain, a new role consolidating procurement, logistics, warehousing, and third-party storage leadership.
• Chandler brings 30 years of experience and previously led protein trade sales for Cargill, managing 300+ staff across North America.
• His focus will include strategic collaboration with internal teams and customers, mentoring young talent, and driving operational efficiency in SMC’s demand-driven model.

Source: Meat + Poultry

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Why Corn Nuts is a ‘diamond-in-the-rough’ for Hormel Foods.

• Hormel has revitalized Corn Nuts since acquiring it in 2021, expanding distribution beyond c-stores and adding innovative flavors like Mexican Street Corn and Kickin’ Dill.
• Viewed as a “diamond in the rough,” the brand is now seeing strong momentum across household penetration, sales, volume, and distribution.
• Hormel is testing new product formats like Corn Nuts Partially Popped, aiming to evolve the 89-year-old brand into a broader snacking platform.

Source: Food Dive

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Nestlé’s coffee brand surpasses regenerative agriculture goal for 2025.

• Nescafé surpassed its 2025 target by sourcing 32% of its coffee from farmers using regenerative agriculture, ahead of its 20% goal.
• The “Nescafé Plan 2030” has helped farmers cut emissions by 20–40% per kilogram of unroasted beans through practices like optimized fertilization, cover cropping, and land restoration.
• Nestlé aims to source 50% of Nescafé’s coffee from regenerative agriculture as climate risks threaten global coffee-growing regions and drive urgency for sustainable methods.

Source: Food Dive

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Danone spends $65M to increase coffee and creamer production.

• Danone invested $65M to expand its Jacksonville, FL plant and build a new distribution center, supporting growth for its International Delight and STōK Cold Brew brands.
• The upgraded facility uses new bottle-molding tech that improves sustainability and reduces bottle loss by 30%, while creating ~200 jobs in the region.
• Cold brew demand is surging, with the U.S. market projected to grow from ~$500M in 2022 to $3.1B by 2030, prompting Danone to increase capacity and innovate with seasonal and energy drink formats.

Source: Food Dive

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Former Pilgrim’s VP joins Simmons Foods.

• Simmons Foods appointed Marcia Reeves as SVP of Technical Services, succeeding longtime executive Craig Bacon, who will retire in 2026 after a phased transition.
• Reeves brings deep expertise from her recent role as VP of R&D, Innovation, and Regulatory at Pilgrim’s, with a background spanning product development, packaging, and compliance.
• Leadership praised her industry reputation, technical strength, and cultural alignment, signaling continued innovation and growth at Simmons post-transition.

Source: Meat + Poultry

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Chicken alfredo pasta products recalled due to association with deadly Listeria outbreak.

• FreshRealm voluntarily recalled chicken fettuccine alfredo products sold at Kroger and Walmart due to a Listeria outbreak linked to 17 illnesses, 3 deaths, and 1 fetal loss.
• The affected products were produced before June 17 at facilities in California, Georgia, and Indiana, with specific “best by” dates and USDA inspection codes.
• FSIS traced the outbreak to FreshRealm through patient purchase records and routine product testing; investigations into the contamination source are ongoing.

Source: Meat + Poultry

JUST FOR FUN

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Soccer star David Beckham launches honey-based fruit snacks brand – Food Dive

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