Nature's Bakery opens new Salt Lake City facility, boosts capacity

Magnolia Table is moving from restaurants into retail with a new frozen baked goods collection supported by Springdale Ventures. The launch marks the brand’s first packaged-food offering and is backed by investment from Springdale Ventures, signaling financial support for the expansion. The line translates the restaurant’s bakery offerings into frozen format for at-home convenience and reflects a broader trend of restaurant brands entering the CPG frozen aisle. https://lnkd.in/gegYQaPc 🥐🧊🛒 #CPG #FrozenFoods #RetailFood #FoodIndustry #VentureCapital #RestaurantBrands

Lamb Weston Holdings Inc. announced it has opened its new, 430,000-plus-sq.-ft. production facility in Argentina that will help it serve customer needs in the growing Latin America market. The facility, which is located in Mar del Plata, province of Buenos Aires, has the capacity to process 200 million pounds of potatoes per year into more than 100 varieties of frozen potato products, the company said. The plant’s grand opening closes a multi-year project designed to give Lamb Weston better access to Latin America. It is expected that about 80% of product will be exported to Brazil and other Latin America markets. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gxmfQCqg #FoodProcessing #FoodMfg #FoodIndustry #FoodAndBev #PotatoProducts #LatinAmerica

Two major food industry deals this week highlight how companies are sharpening their focus and expanding their value chains. Fresh Del Monte Produce announced it will divest its Mann's Fresh Vegetables (Mann Packing Co., Inc.) business to Church Brothers Farms, enabling Church Brothers to strengthen its retail vegetable offerings while Fresh Del Monte zeroes in on high-growth fruit and fresh-cut categories. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gv7Ssf5D Meanwhile, PNC Brands Group acquired a majority stake in Ice Cream Factory, the Lebanon, Mo.-based ice cream maker known for its handcrafted products and co-manufacturing services. The move expands PNC’s vertically integrated platform and is expected to create new growth and efficiency opportunities. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gUr6pEnD #FoodManufacturing #FoodProcessing #MergersAndAcquisitions #FoodIndustry #BusinessStrategy #OperationsManagement #SupplyChain #PlantBased #DairyProcessing #FrozenFoods #AgriBusiness

The not-so-secret ingredient behind Chicago’s food and beverage companies? Hyperlocal sourcing. Offering proximity to agricultural partners and an array of food producers, the city is home to a supply chain that’s larger and more concentrated than in comparable metro areas, according to a report from World Business Chicago. Take Middle Brow. Local sourcing has long been a calling card for the Logan Square brewpub. One example: A majority of its pizza toppings are sourced from farmers and neighbors from the metro area and nearby states. Yes, there are sustainability benefits—but it also means fresher flavor profiles. “One of the benefits is the quality. These farmers care immensely about what they do,” said Pete Ternes, co-founder of Middle Brow. “We sometimes work with them—requesting particular species or seeds—and you just can’t get that when you’re sourcing stuff on the broader commercial market.” Chicago’s food and beverage scene is thriving—and local partnerships are a big reason why. Have you seen similar sourcing trends? Comment below or feel free to reach out! http://go.53.com/6043AsSw7 #53Better #FoodAndBeverage #Chicago #Agriculture #CommercialBanking

🏙️ The Convenience Revolution Accelerates! Whole Foods Market´s expansion of its Daily Shop concept beyond NYC is more than a footprint story, it signals a strategic recalibration of premium retail for proximity-driven consumption. 🛒 Smaller formats are no longer “limited versions” of the parent brand. They are precision tools that merge accessibility, brand equity, and localized relevance, meeting consumers where they actually live, commute, and make spontaneous purchase decisions. 💡 What stands out is how this format bridges Whole Foods Market´s premium DNA with the agility of urban convenience. It reflects a broader truth: the next wave of grocery growth will come from compact, experience-rich, data-informed models that thrive in dense, high-frequency environments. 👉 How do you see proximity retail evolving as consumer expectations for immediacy, sustainability, and quality converge?

🍝 Margin improves but losses widen as Pasta Evangelists opens more sites Pasta Evangelists grew turnover 3% to £33.2m in 2024, with gross margin rising to 59.5% thanks to efficiencies at its London production unit. Losses widened, however, with a pre-tax loss of £16.4m reflecting higher distribution and admin costs as the brand invested in expansion. The fresh pasta specialist, majority-owned by Barilla Group, is opening a new site in New Oxford Street today, followed by Queensway and Chelsea in the Autumn. Read more on #MCA 👉 https://lnkd.in/evgKzNjN #restaurants #hospitality #finance #PastaEvangelists #pasta #casualdining

#️⃣ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞: 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐚𝐠𝐲𝐮 𝐁𝐞𝐞𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 (𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧) | MarketIntelReports The Global Wagyu Beef Market stood at approximately USD 1.2 Billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.5% from 2024–2032, reaching a value of USD 1.9 Billion by the end of the forecast period. 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 @ https://lnkd.in/dJKnki6a Renowned for its exceptional marbling, tenderness, and flavor, Wagyu beef is carving a strong position in the #PremiumMeat and #LuxuryFood segments worldwide. Rising consumer spending on high-quality protein sources and fine-dining experiences is fueling this market growth. ✨ 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬: 🔹 Growing Affluent Consumer Base: Increased demand for #HighEndProtein and gourmet offerings. 🔹 Expansion of Specialty Restaurants: Surge in high-end steakhouses and premium dining experiences showcasing #WagyuBeef. 🔹 E-commerce Growth: Online platforms making #LuxuryFood more accessible to global consumers. 📊 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 👉 https://lnkd.in/dXavkDBf 🚀 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡: 🔹 Sustainable and ethical farming practices appealing to #EcoConscious buyers. 🔹 Rising exports from Japan and other Wagyu-producing countries boosting #GlobalFoodTrade. 🔹 Innovative packaging and cold-chain logistics supporting premium #MeatIndustry growth. 🏢 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬: Australian Agricultural Company (AACo) | Blackmore Wagyu | Mishima Reserve | Imperial Wagyu Beef | Starzen Co Ltd | Lone Mountain Wagyu | wagyu campany | Jack's Creek | The Wagyu Shop | Itoham Foods Inc. | Snake River Farms | Crowd Cow | Holy Grail Steak Co | Lone Mountain Wagyu | 44 Farms | Pat LaFrieda Wholesale Meat Purveyors | D'Artagnan | Allen Brothers 1893 | Porter Road Butcher | Creekstone Farms Premium Beef | Kansas City Steak Company | Omaha Steaks

#️⃣ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞: 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐚𝐠𝐲𝐮 𝐁𝐞𝐞𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 (𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧) | MarketIntelReports The Global Wagyu Beef Market stood at approximately USD 1.2 Billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.5% from 2024–2032, reaching a value of USD 1.9 Billion by the end of the forecast period. 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 @ https://lnkd.in/dJKnki6a Renowned for its exceptional marbling, tenderness, and flavor, Wagyu beef is carving a strong position in the #PremiumMeat and #LuxuryFood segments worldwide. Rising consumer spending on high-quality protein sources and fine-dining experiences is fueling this market growth. ✨ 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬: 🔹 Growing Affluent Consumer Base: Increased demand for #HighEndProtein and gourmet offerings. 🔹 Expansion of Specialty Restaurants: Surge in high-end steakhouses and premium dining experiences showcasing #WagyuBeef. 🔹 E-commerce Growth: Online platforms making #LuxuryFood more accessible to global consumers. 📊 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 👉 https://lnkd.in/dXavkDBf 🚀 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡: 🔹 Sustainable and ethical farming practices appealing to #EcoConscious buyers. 🔹 Rising exports from Japan and other Wagyu-producing countries boosting #GlobalFoodTrade. 🔹 Innovative packaging and cold-chain logistics supporting premium #MeatIndustry growth. 🏢 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬: Australian Agricultural Company (AACo) | Blackmore Wagyu | Mishima Reserve | Imperial Wagyu Beef | Starzen Co Ltd | Lone Mountain Wagyu | wagyu campany | Jack's Creek | The Wagyu Shop | Itoham Foods Inc. | Snake River Farms | Crowd Cow | Holy Grail Steak Co | Lone Mountain Wagyu | 44 Farms | Pat LaFrieda Wholesale Meat Purveyors | D'Artagnan | Allen Brothers 1893 | Porter Road Butcher | Creekstone Farms Premium Beef | Kansas City Steak Company | Omaha Steaks

When two companies share the value of using business for good, that’s a recipe for a sweet partnership. 🍫🌴 The premier French chocolate maker and Certified B Corp VALRHONA works with suppliers that support fairness and sustainability in cacao. A few years ago, they found a mission-aligned partner in us — today, Valrhona buys the entire cacao harvest from Silk Grass Farms’ Xibun River Estates to produce the world’s finest dark chocolates and pastries. This summer, the Valrhona team brought a group of chefs from France and Germany to experience the journey from pod to pastry. We gave them a tour of the Silk Grass Farms fields and processing facilities — and they gave our team a workshop in pastry-making! In this Q&A, Valrhona sourcer Stéphane Sabourin and Silk Grass Farms co-founder Mandy [Amanda] Cabot share how a values-driven partnership translates into quality, traceability, and long-term supply resilience. Read the conversation: https://lnkd.in/gcj2tWNq #SilkGrassFarms #Valrhona #BCorp #BelizeCacao #ResponsibleSourcing #SingleOrigin #CraftChocolate #SupplyChain

Seattle ranked #4 among U.S. foodie cities, just behind Miami, Portland, and San Francisco, according to a new WalletHub study. Seattle scored 3rd in diversity, accessibility, and quality, but ranked 166th in affordability. Portland topped for breweries; Miami led overall. Read more at https://lnkd.in/e-_3p7TQ #Seattle #Foodie #WalletHub