The company behind Arctic Gardens, Graves and Bonduelle canned and frozen vegetables in Canada is set to add the Del Monte brand to its roster. Conagra Brands, which makes and sells Del Monte processed fruits and vegetables in the Canadian market, announced Tuesday it will sell that business to France’s Bonduelle Group for $43 million. […] Read more
Conagra to shed Canadian processed vegetable, fruit business
U.S. top court lets Conagra cooking oil class action proceed
Washington | Reuters — The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to hear a bid by Conagra Brands to escape a class-action lawsuit accusing it of falsely labeling its cooking oil as 100 per cent natural even though it had genetically modified ingredients. Conagra had asked to the justices to hear its appeal of a […] Read more
Conagra to sell Wesson oil brand to Smucker
Reuters — Packaged food maker Conagra Brands said on Tuesday it would sell its Wesson cooking oil brand to Folgers coffee maker J.M. Smucker Co. for about US$285 million. Conagra will continue to manufacture products sold under the Wesson brand for up to one year following the close, after which Wesson will be merged into […] Read more
Ontario tomato farmers to get less on higher yields
The agreement between Ontario growers and tomato processors for the 2017 growing season is expected to drop the price tomato farmers are paid as their yields increase. The agreement, announced last week, maintains the contracted tonnage of 2016 and follows the five-year pricing agreement set by growers and processors last year. Final prices, however, aren’t […] Read more
Maple Leaf to buy U.S. veggie dog, burger maker
Canadian meat packer Maple Leaf Foods is buying space on the non-meat side of the deli section with a deal for U.S. processor Lightlife Foods. Toronto-based Maple Leaf announced Tuesday it would pay US$140 million for Lightlife, which makes vegetarian burgers, hot dogs, sausage, deli cuts, jerky and other meatless protein products at Turners Falls, […] Read more
Explosion leaves U.S. ready-made whipped cream in short supply
New York | Reuters — American sweet tooths may suffer this holiday season as a ready-made whipped cream shortage could leave such favorites as apple pie or a mug of hot chocolate without a little extra on top. The creamy dessert topping is in short supply after an August explosion at an Airgas Inc. facility […] Read more
Slumping U.S. meat prices help feed appetite for jerky
Chicago | Reuters — With prices for U.S. livestock on the decline due to larger cattle and hog herds, meat processors are jumping on the jerky bandwagon. In recent years, dried-meat snacks have gained popularity as Americans embrace diets packed with protein and less sugar and fat. Jerky has overcome its image as a highly […] Read more
ConAgra, Kellogg, Mars to label for GMOs in U.S.
Reuters — ConAgra Foods has joined other food giants in plans to use labels that disclose the presence of genetically modified organisms or GMOs in its food throughout the U.S. ConAgra and other food companies such as Campbell Soup and General Mills have decided to use such labels nationwide, finding it to be the easiest way […] Read more
ConAgra to spin off Lamb Weston potato unit, rebrand
Reuters — ConAgra Foods said it will spin off its Lamb Weston frozen potato products business into a separate public company, the latest in a series of changes announced by the maker of Chef Boyardee pasta and Slim Jim jerky at a time when consumers are shifting to less-processed foods. Lamb Weston will hold ConAgra’s […] Read more
Ardent to buy major Ontario soft wheat mill
The owner of Canada’s Robin Hood flour mills is poised to buy the biggest soft wheat milling operation in the country. Ardent Mills, the joint North American flour venture of agrifood giants Cargill, CHS Inc. and ConAgra, announced Thursday it will buy the former Kraft Milling operation in Mississauga, Ont. from Mondelez Canada for an […] Read more
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