Indoor vertical farm plans $70M facility, 120 jobs in Indiana
The company said the new location will allow it to expand its bagged salad and salad kit offerings to retailers and consumers throughout the Midwest and mid-south regions.
Food manufacturers
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1205 Distillery plans Lebanon location, increased production
The tasting room and production site near the Boone County Courthouse will become third 1205 Distillery location, joining sites in Fletcher Place and Westfield.
Rising prices threaten profit margins at food companies
As food producers raise prices, grocers and restaurants are passing the increases along to consumers for the most part, rather than have them chip away at profit margins. That strategy might not work much longer, several analysts said.
Hershey buys Dot’s and Indiana pretzel maker for $1.2B
The chocolate company said it would acquire North Dakota-based Dot’s Pretzels LLC as well as Pretzels Inc., an Indiana-based manufacturer of Dot’s Pretzels and other snacks that operates three plants.
Indianapolis chocolate business lands $5.25M in venture funding
The Indianapolis-based company behind artisanal chocolate brand SoChatti plans to use the funding to launch new products and innovations into the food-production industry. It also finalized its first industrial licensing agreement.
Supply-chain crunch creating shortages of some foods
More than a year and a half after the coronavirus pandemic upended daily life, the supply of basic goods at U.S. grocery stores and restaurants is once again falling victim to intermittent shortages and delays.
Customs dispute jeopardizes U.S. fish stick, filet supply
The dispute at the U.S.-Canada border is threatening America’s supply of Alaska pollock, a key fish used for popular products such as fish sticks. Most fast-food fish sandwiches, including the McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish, are made from pollock.
Surging fertilizer costs risk making food even pricier next year
A perfect storm of events—from extreme weather and plant shutdowns to new government sanctions—have hit the chemical fertilizer market this year, slamming farmers already buckling under the strain of rising costs to produce food.
Tyson, Perdue to pay $35M to settle with chicken farmers
Two of the industry’s biggest poultry companies have agreed to settle a lawsuit that accused them and several other firms of conspiring to dominate the industry and fix the prices paid to farmers who raise the chickens.
Food giant Tyson to require vaccination for all U.S. workers
In a memo to employees, CEO Donnie King expressed alarm over the rise of the more contagious delta variant and made clear the vaccine requirement was needed to overcome persistent hesitancy to get the shots.
Tyson Foods recalls almost 4,500 tons of chicken products
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the recall a month after two consumers reported falling ill with listeriosis. Further investigation revealed one death besides the two listeriosis cases traced to pre-cooked chicken.
Indiana ice cream plant closing, eliminating 176 jobs
The Decatur plant produces ice cream products for the Mayfield Dairy, Dean’s Country Fresh and Friendly’s brands.
World’s top meat supplier says systems returning after cyberattack closes plants
Five of JBS’ largest beef plants in the United States ceased processing because of the attack, knocking out almost one-fifth of the country’s beef production capacity.
Splenda maker sues Speedway chain over knockoff sweetener
Carmel-based Heartland Consumer Products says Speedway offers knockoff sweetener in packets that are too similar to Splenda’s packaging, which could confuse customers.
Food manufacturer plans $100M plant, 115 jobs in Indianapolis
It’s unclear what the announcement means for Greenleaf’s previously announced plans to build a $310 million plant in Shelbyville.
Meat-smoking firm Smoking Goose plans $625,000 investment to fund national expansion
The nine-year-old Indianapolis company, which already employs more than 50 workers, said it plans to add up to 25 more by the end of 2024.
Tyson suspends Iowa plant managers amid virus betting claim
Tyson Foods suspended top officials at its largest pork plant on Thursday and launched an investigation into allegations that they bet on how many workers would get infected during a widespread coronavirus outbreak.
Court orders FDA to assess environmental impact of modified salmon
The ruling centers on AquaBounty’s salmon, which are genetically modified to grow faster than normal salmon. After clearing other regulatory hurdles. AquaBounty began growing the fish in indoor tanks at an Indiana plant last year.
Americans loading up on Halloween candy—trick or treat or not
That enthusiasm is good news for candy companies, which rely on the 10-week Halloween period for nearly 14% of their annual $36 billion in U.S. sales.
Study: Craft distillers see sales evaporate amid pandemic
The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States found that nationally, craft distillers will see an estimated 41% of their sales—worth more than $700 million—evaporate because of the pandemic.