June 6, 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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Post Holdings enters definitive agreement to acquire 8th Avenue Food & Provisions for USD 880m.

• Post Holdings, Inc., a consumer-packaged goods holding company, announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 8th Avenue Food & Provisions, Inc. Post will extinguish the outstanding net debt of 8th Avenue and acquire all equity interests for a net payment of approximately $880 million. 8th Avenue's categories include branded and private label dry pasta and private label nut butters, granola, and fruit & nut.

Source: Food Dive

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Swander Pace Capital acquires Maple Donuts.

• Swander Pace Capital, a private equity firm focused on investing in defensive consumer staples across the food & beverage and health & wellness categories, announced that it has acquired Maple Donuts Inc., a Pennsylvania-based manufacturer of high-quality frozen bakery products.

Source: Mergermarket

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Global Market Foods (Peak Rock Capital) acquires Asli Fine Foods.

• Global Market Foods, an importer and distributor of global specialty brands, announced the acquisition of Asli Fine Foods. Asli Fine Foods is an importer and distributor specializing in South Asian and African products. 

Source: Mergermarket

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Sartori Cheese acquires Rumiano Cheese Company.

• Sartori Cheese, a fourth-generation family-owned company renowned for its award-winning artisan cheese, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Rumiano Cheese, a leader in organic cheese and butter known for its commitment to quality and sustainability.

Source: Mergermarket

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FoodYoung Labs acquires MeliBio.

• Swiss food company FoodYoung Labs has acquired California-based bee-free-honey maker MeliBio for an undisclosed price.

Source: Mergermarket

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Cargill acquires full ownership of Australian beef business.

• Cargill Inc., confirmed on June 5 its plan to purchase 100% of the share capital of Australian beef processor Teys Investments Ply Ltd. The Teys Family, who started the business in 1946, decided it was the appropriate time to sell the business to Cargill, a partner shareholder during the last 14 years.

Source: Meat + Poultry

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Cal-Maine completes Echo Lake Foods acquisition.

• Cal-Maine Foods Inc. has completed its acquisition of breakfast foods maker Echo Lake Foods Inc. in a cash transaction for approximately $258 million.

Source: Meat + Poultry

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Pickle Juice secures strategic growth investment from Azalea Capital.

• Pickle Juice, a Mesquite, Texas-based ready-to-drink sports drink maker, has received a strategic growth investment from private equity firm Azalea Capital.

Source: Mergermarket

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Savory Fund acquires Bonrue Bakery.

• Savory Fund, a private equity firm renowned for accelerating category-defining restaurant brands like Swig, Mo’ Bettahs, and South Block, announced its acquisition of Bonrue Bakery, a high-demand, European-style patisserie celebrated for its artisanal pastries, savory lunch offerings, house-roasted coffee, and lightning-fast service.

Source: Mergermarket

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Sunny Sky Products preps for sale.

• Sunny Sky Products, a producer of beverage solutions, is gearing up to explore a sale this year, three sources familiar with the situation said. 

Source: Mergermarket

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Next in Natural, KarpReilly acquire Rowdy Mermaid.

• Rowdy Mermaid, the innovative maker of organic Kombucha and Good Mood Soda, is excited to announce its acquisition by Next in Natural, in partnership with strategic investors KarpReilly and Sapient Stews Founder, Luke Comer. 

Source: Mergermarket

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InvestBev makes six-figure investment in Lucky Energy Drinks.

• InvestBev, the largest private equity firm focused on the adult beverage industry and CPG, today announced a six-figure investment in Lucky Energy Drinks, a premium performance energy beverage brand redefining the wellness and energy drink space.

Source: Mergermarket

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May's Top 10 stories.

• JBS will invest $135M in a new Iowa sausage plant, aiming to launch in late 2026 with 250 employees.
• Over 15,000 USDA employees have resigned since the Trump era; staffing challenges persist.
• Tyson's Donnie King shared poultry and beef strategy updates at BMO’s Farm to Market Conference.

Source: Meat + Poultry

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World Pork Expo Report: NPPC celebrates wins, warns of trade and regulatory battles.

• At the 2025 World Pork Expo, NPPC highlighted wins in the House reconciliation bill—securing all its tax, health, and export priorities—but stressed urgency for passing a full farm bill by July 4.
• Regulatory and activist pressure continues to mount at the state level, particularly around sow housing, with Oklahoma preparing for a potential Prop 12-style ballot initiative.
• On trade, NPPC is pushing for market access to Vietnam to diversify away from China, where offals dominate exports; 25% of U.S. pork is exported, totaling $8.6B in 2024.

Source: Meat + Poultry

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Snack foods would need warning labels under Texas bill.

• A Texas bill would mandate warning labels on snack foods containing dyes or additives banned in countries like the EU, UK, and Canada, effective for products labeled after Jan. 1, 2027.
• Violations could incur fines up to $50,000/day; enforcement would be handled by the Texas attorney general, with no private right of action for consumers.
• Critics, including the Consumer Brands Association, warn the bill could lead to costly, confusing state-by-state packaging rules and increased consumer prices.

Source: Food Dive

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Kraft Heinz explains importance of competing for value with customers.

• Kraft Heinz is leaning into value-driven innovation—like a $2 family-sized Mac & Cheese—as high interest rates, stagnant wages, and inflation weigh on U.S. consumers across income levels.
• CEO Carlos Abrams-Rivera emphasized product quality upgrades and rapid reformulations (e.g., “cheesier” Kraft Mac) as key to competing on value without mimicking private label.
• Despite cutting its 2025 outlook, Kraft Heinz is increasing investment in product improvements and marketing, aiming to “go on offense” and better communicate brand advantages.

Source: Meat + Poultry

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How inflation and tariffs are impacting innovation at Hershey.

• Hershey is prioritizing "fewer, bigger, better" innovations, including filled bars and limited-time offerings like Reese’s PB&J, while improving packaging to boost shelf appeal and value.
• Stand-up pouches and combined salty-sweet store displays have lifted sales—up 34% for candy and 38% for snacks—demonstrating the power of cross-merchandising.
• In response to inflation and tariff risks, Hershey is focusing on U.S. manufacturing, alternate sourcing, and retail partnerships to ensure product availability and pricing agility.

Source: Food Dive

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Candy makers worry timeline to remove artificial dyes too ‘aggressive’.

• Candy makers including Ferrara and Bazooka worry the FDA’s voluntary 2026 timeline to remove artificial dyes is too aggressive due to supply, regulatory, and consumer challenges.
• Companies are evaluating reformulation impacts on cost, shelf life, color vibrancy, and consumer acceptance, with some citing past failures like Trix’s 2016 natural color shift.
• While some like Hershey and Kellanova are already testing or transitioning to natural colors, industry leaders call for clearer FDA guidance and a more realistic timeline.

Source: Food Dive

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Cash-strapped consumers push at-home cooking to highest level since 2020: Campbell’s.

• Inflation is driving a surge in at-home cooking, lifting Campbell’s meals and beverages segment by 15% in Q3, helped by strong soup sales and the Rao’s acquisition.
• Snacking, particularly crackers and chips like Goldfish, declined 8% as consumers become more selective; Campbell’s is working to revive the category.
• Tariffs on key imports like tinplate steel and canola oil may impact earnings by 3–5 cents per share; Campbell’s is exploring sourcing alternatives and selective pricing actions.

Source: Food Dive

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Oregon State provides update on meat processing training efforts.

• Oregon State University’s Extension Service is leading a USDA-backed initiative to expand the meat processing workforce, using a $650K grant to support training through its Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network (NMPAN).
• Blue Mountain Community College launched a 12-week Master Butcher Certification Program in March 2025, selecting 15 participants, including members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
• Graduates will be funneled into a regional apprenticeship program developed by the Northwest Meat Processors Association to build skills, improve wages, and support entrepreneurship in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.

Source: Meat + Poultry

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Natural flavor producer accelerates expansion amid race to remove artificial dyes.

• Custom Flavors is doubling production capacity with a new 53,000 sq. ft. facility in North Carolina to meet rising demand for natural alternatives to artificial dyes.
• The move comes amid FDA guidance urging food makers to phase out synthetic dyes by 2027, creating growth opportunities for suppliers like Custom Flavors.
• The company, which specializes in natural flavors for bakery, beverage, and nutrition sectors, aims to better serve customers on the East Coast and Midwest.

Source: Food Dive

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Plenty emerges from chapter 11, plans strawberry expansion.

• Plenty Unlimited has successfully emerged from Chapter 11 and will now focus its vertical farming efforts on strawberries, restarting expansion at its Richmond facility.
• Exit financing was secured from One Madison and SoftBank Vision Fund 2, supporting construction and operations to scale premium strawberry production.
• The reorganization included settling creditor claims, streamlining operations, and positioning Plenty to license its proprietary indoor farming technology more broadly.

Source: Produce Bluebook

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Nestlé brings rare spark to $54B frozen pizza space with wood-fired DiGiorno.

• Nestlé launched DiGiorno Wood Fired Style Crust Pizza, its first major frozen pizza innovation in a decade, targeting consumers seeking premium, restaurant-style experiences at home.
• The $333M wood-fired pizza segment has grown 56% over three years; Nestlé aims to reclaim market share from Red Baron with a $6.49 price point and artisan offerings.
• Despite past pricing challenges, Nestlé still holds 30% of the frozen pizza market and is betting on innovation to reignite growth in the $54B U.S. pizza category.

Source: Food Dive

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Mondelēz invests in compostable packaging, regenerative agriculture.

• Mondelēz is backing startups like Pack2Earth and eAgronom through its Sustainable Futures arm to accelerate compostable packaging and regenerative farming solutions.
• While peers like General Mills and PepsiCo scale back climate goals, Mondelēz remains active but has also adjusted strategies, including exiting the U.S. Plastics Pact.
• The company reported a 12% emissions reduction since 2018 but acknowledged difficulties in replacing virgin plastic due to sourcing and technical barriers.

Source: Food Dive

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Meat snacks recalled due to misbranding, undeclared allergens.

• Springville Meat & Storage Co. recalled 15,388 lbs of meat snacks—including beef, elk, venison, and buffalo jerky—due to misbranding and undeclared anchovies, a known allergen.
• The issue was identified by FSIS inspectors after discovering the use of a new Worcestershire sauce containing anchovies not listed on product labels.
• No reported illnesses; affected products (marked "EST. 20528") were produced between May 30, 2023, and May 30, 2025, and distributed nationally.

Source: Meat + Poultry

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Johnsonville quickly closes Illinois meat facility.

• Johnsonville is closing its Momence, Illinois meat processing facility, laying off 274 workers; affected employees will receive 60 days of pay and benefits.
• The decision is part of a broader operational optimization plan, with production shifting to facilities in Sheboygan Falls and Watertown, Wisconsin, and one in Kansas, creating about 100 new jobs.
• The Momence plant, operating since 1962 and part of Johnsonville since 1995, will be demolished by year-end 2025.

Source: Meat + Poultry

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OSHA issues fines for Tyson plant in Nebraska.

• OSHA fined Tyson Fresh Meats nearly $28,000 after a fatal accident in January at its Dakota City, Nebraska facility involving a worker crushed by machinery.
• The incident occurred when a crane’s electronic sensor activated while the worker was underneath a machine; OSHA cited a lack of proper energy control training.
• Three violations were initially issued, though one was later dropped; the case highlights ongoing safety concerns at meat processing facilities.

Source: Meat + Poultry

JUST FOR FUN

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Leftovers: Oreo releases a Selena Gomez cookie | Snack Factory heads to the campfire – Food Dive

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