Prior to his employment with Hormel Foods, Finnestad worked as the corporate chef for Michigan-based Cherry Republic, Inc.

Utz® Quality Foods, Inc. celebrates the attainment of its integration milestones related to its 2015 purchase of Condor Snack Company of Denver, CO and Keystone Pretzel Bakery of Lititz, PA.

AAK, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high value-adding specialty vegetable fats and oils, announced additional new hires to its AAK USA team. Anker Fog joins AAK as Business Development and Marketing Analyst, Jesse Alexander as Account Manager, and Jennifer Alli as Senior Account Manager.

The Board of Directors of the Specialty Food Association announced that it has named Phillip M. Kafarakis as President of the not-for-profit trade association.

TerraVia Holdings, Inc., a next generation food, nutrition and specialty ingredients company and pioneer in algae innovation, announced that Apu Mody, former President of Mars Food America, has been appointed CEO and a member of the Board of Directors, effective on or about August 22.

The facility is scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2017

Three of the categories – lemonades, teas, and enhanced waters – will launch within 90 days. The others will follow in early 2017.

Cott Corporation announced its results for the second quarter ended July 2, 2016, and also announced that it has entered into a definitive stock purchase agreement to acquire S&D Coffee, Inc. ("S&D"), a premium coffee roaster and provider of customized coffee, tea, and extract solutions to the foodservice, convenience, gas, hospitality and office segments in the United States. The purchase price is approximately $355 million, on a debt and cash free basis, and represents a high 6X post synergy adjusted EBITDA multiple.

During the anniversary breakfast, the Puratos team accepted the award from Carmine Piantedosi (Owner, 4th generation) and Kumar Ponnamalam (Manager of Production), in front of guests and other vendors.

The global producer, marketer and provider of technology-driven natural ingredients, ingredient systems and integrated solutions for the food and beverage industry has acquired Teawolf, a manufacturer of botanical extracts and natural ingredients in the USA.