The investments are part of General Mills’ commitment to standing for good and promoting racial and gender equity in representation through economic opportunity for minority and female food entrepreneurs.

LesserEvil, the better-for-you snack brand on a mission to make healthy, organic, less-processed, and sustainable snacks more accessible to everyone, announced that it has acquired a majority stake in Portland, Maine-based R.E.D.D. Bar. 

Nutiva, the pioneer of organic plant-based culinary products, and sister brand Coconut Secret, the leading brand of Coconut Aminos, are excited to announce the appointment of CPG industry veteran, Michael Lynch, as chief executive officer. 

ADM, a global leader in nutrition, announced that it will invest approximately $300 million to significantly expand its Decatur, Ill., alternative protein production, as the company continues to add capacity to meet strong demand growth. ADM will further enhance its alternative protein capabilities by opening a new, state-of-the-art Protein Innovation Center, also in Decatur. 

Layn Natural Ingredients, one of the world’s largest innovators and manufacturers of natural botanical extract ingredients and solutions serving the biggest brands in food, beverage, flavor, nutraceutical, personal care, animals and pets, launched a free online botanical library and search tool to enable businesses to explore and learn about key botanical extract ingredients and solutions and easily map them to targeted applications and desired functions.

The Ship-to-Home segment experienced the largest sales contraction, plummeting over 30% in March compared to a year ago, from $2.1 billion to $1.4 billion. The decline was driven by a 13% reduction in the number of orders placed by Monthly Active Users combined with a 23% drop in the average order value.

Bartek Ingredients commenced construction of a state-of-the-art, vertically integrated facility that will become the world’s largest malic and food-grade fumaric acid production plant. 

Since moving into its headquarters in 2014, Imbibe has added on several new capabilities to its portfolio. This includes its latest efforts to serve the frozen dessert market, the no and low alcohol and segments, and other sweet food categories that can benefit from sweetness modification, maskers, and other taste modulation tools.

The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) announced its annual event will return both in-person and online with a new and improved lineup of content and programming. IFT FIRST: Annual Event & Expo, whose updated brand is an acronym for Food Improved by Research, Science and Technology, will take place July 10-13 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

Ardent Mills, a premier flour-milling and ingredient company, announced the opening of its brand-new state-of-the-art Port Redwing Mill in Gibsonton, Fla. The mill builds upon Ardent Mills' strategic growth plan by strengthening supply chain agility, increasing efficiency and product consistency, and expanding the ability to meet customer needs.