Sysco will pay $3 billion in common stock and $500 million in cash for US Foods, the companies said.

Kids, almost universally, like a few things. Consistency. Familiarity. Ice cream.

Vanilla Holiday Mint Shake and Chocolate Holiday Mint Molten Cake Sundae, along with the returning Chocolate Holiday Mint Shake from 2012, are made with real Sonic ice cream.

New products are just one way that Dianne’s Fine Desserts, Newburyport, Mass., celebrated its anniversary as a new, stand-alone company.

How do you spell new product “success?” How about combining these letters: R&D, M&A and CIE.

According to the Markets and Markets report, “Global Chocolate, Cocoa Beans, Lecithin, Sugar and Vanilla Market by Market Share, Trade Prices, Geography Trend and Forecasts (2011-2016),” the global chocolate market stood at $83.2 billion in 2010 and will reach an estimated $98.3 billion by 2016.

A judge has approved the sale of a number of former Hostess brands.

Burger King is kicking off the new year with a slew of new menu items.

McCain Foods (Aust) Pty. Ltd. announced that it has signed a Share Purchase Agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of the Kitchens of Sara Lee (KOSL) frozen bakery business based in Australia and New Zealand from Hillshire Brands.

Consumers are demanding more—and less—from upscale desserts. The push for healthy indulgence, plus more discriminating consumer palates, add layer upon layer of challenges for formulators of the sweet finish.