Cal-Maine Acquires Van's Pancakes and Waffles Brand from Sara Lee Frozen Bakery

Cal-Maine Foods has announced the acquisition of Van's Foods brand from Sara Lee Frozen Bakery LLC.

Van's produces pancakes and waffles, and is an established brand in the frozen breakfast category through broad retail distribution and products tailored to diverse dietary needs. 

The deal is expected to increase Cal-Maine Foods' prepared foods annual sales by approximately 10% and volume by about 6% on a pro forma basis, Cal-Maine Foods said.

Sherman Miller, CEO of Cal-Maine Foods

Rail Merger Would be Costly for Farmers

The proposed merger of the Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern railways would leave farmers with fewer transportation options and vulnerable to shipping cost increases at a time when balance sheets have been squeezed to the breaking point by rapidly rising input costs. Transportation, marketing and storage expenses are projected to rise to a record $14 billion in 2026. American Farm Bureau Federation economists analyzed the UP-NS merger in the latest Market Intel.

“The risk of the UP–NS merger is clear,” the Market Intel states. “It would leave farmers more dependent...

Cal-Maine Foods Announces Acquisition of Creighton Brothers LLC

Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ: CALM), the largest egg company in the United States and a leading player in the egg-based food industry, today announced the acquisition of the shell egg, egg products, and prepared foods assets of Creighton Brothers LLC, including Crystal Lake LLC, for a total purchase price of approximately $128.5 million, subject to customary post-closing adjustments. Cal-Maine Foods is funding the acquisition with available cash on hand.

Established in 1925, Creighton Brothers produces, grades, and packages high-quality conventional and specialty shell eggs for...

Hormel Foods to Divest Whole-Bird Turkey Business to LSI

Hormel Foods has announced it will sell its whole-bird turkey business to Life-Science Innovations (LSI). The transaction is expected to close by the end of the second quarter of Hormel’s fiscal year 2026.

The sale includes the Melrose, Minnesota, whole-bird production facility, Swanville feed mill, and associated transportation assets. Hormel will retain ownership of the JENNIE-O® brand and its broader product lineup. LSI will assume supply contracts with turkey growers and provide co-manufacturing services to Hormel through fiscal 2026.

Bachoco Completes Acquisition of Mexico’s RYC Alimentos 

Mexico’s Industrias Bachoco has completed the acquisition of privately held meat processor RYC Alimentos, expanding its footprint in value-added protein products, said the company. 

The deal gives Bachoco ownership of two processing plants in Puebla and around 21 retail outlets across Puebla, Oaxaca, Veracruz and Tlaxcala. Financial terms were not disclosed. 

Founded in 1983, RYC produces and sells beef, pork and chicken products and generates annual net sales of approximately $150 million. The company employs more than 900 people. Bachoco said the transaction was completed...

Winn-Dixie Sets the Pace for Innovation in Grocery Retail

On Wednesday, Southeastern Grocers officially became The Winn-Dixie Company, unifying its stores under a single name. This transformation includes refreshing and modernizing the Winn-Dixie brand to better connect with shoppers.

Anthony Hucker, Chairman and CEO of The Winn-Dixie Company, stated, “This is a defining moment—more than a name change, it proudly declares who we are and where we’re headed. Winn-Dixie has been part of feeding families and enriching communities for generations. Becoming The Winn-Dixie Company brings a deeply...

Morliny Foods' Acquisition of the Wolf Group

Morliny Foods Holding Limited (UK) today announced the acquisition of Wolf Group, a leading German producer of premium sausages, convenience, and ready meals. This strategic transaction marks a significant step in Morliny Foods' European expansion, strengthening its position in one of the continent's largest consumer markets for packaged meats and convenience products. The acquisition aligned with Morliny Foods' strategy to grow in value-added packaged meat categories across Europe.

The transaction also opens opportunities for enhanced access to German distribution channels for Morliny Foods' portfolio products, serving as a solid foundation for sustainable growth in the German and wider European markets...

ADM and Alltech to Create North American Animal Feed Joint Venture

ADM and Alltech announced on Wednesday a definitive agreement to form a North American animal feed joint venture. the joint venture brings together 44 feed mills across the US and Canada.

As part of the arrangement, Alltech will contribute its US-based Hubbard Feeds and Canada-based Masterfeeds businesses (18 mills in the US and 15 in Canada) while ADM will add its 11 US feed mills. Alltech will hold a majority stake in the venture, which will be governed by a board...

PODCAST: Agri-Food for Thought Ep. 33 - M&A in the Global Agri-Food Industry, August 2025

Expana presents Agri-Food for Thought, the podcast series for agriculture and food professionals. Today, we bring you up to speed with merger & acquisition activity in the global agrifood landscape that occurred in August 2025 as part of the monthly M&A focus series.

M&A activity has somewhat slowed down this summer. Beyond the obvious seasonal  business activity slowdown due to summer holidays, let’s not forget impacts of the ongoing tariffs situation, global trade deals and disputes, and overall market uncertainty.

Case Farms Completes Acquisition of Foster Farms’ Farmerville, Louisiana Operations

Case Farms and Foster Farms have completed an agreement transferring ownership of Foster Farms’ Farmerville, Louisiana complex to Case Farms.

The transaction includes the fresh chicken, prepared foods, and protein conversion facilities in Farmerville, as well as a feed mill in Arcadia, Louisiana, and a hatchery in Athens, Louisiana.

“We are proud to welcome the well-respected Foster Farms team members and growers to the Case Farms family,” said Tom Shelton, Case Farms Founder and Chairman.

Mike Popowycz, Vice Chairman and CEO of Case Farms, noted

European Processor Dawn Meats to Acquire New Zealand Sheep Meat Exporter Alliance

Ireland-based processor Dawn Meats, specialized in red meat, has agreed to acquire 65% of Alliance Group for $250 million.

Alliance is one of the largest exporters of New Zealand sheep meat, but it also exports beef, venison, and others to around 65 countries, DC Advisory, the company advising the acquisition, said. Currently, Dawn Meats exports to around 50 countries, with a turnover of €3 billion, the company said.

The acquisition fits within the company’s growth plans. “A key part of Dawn’s strategic growth plan...

PODCAST: Agri-Food for Thought Ep. 32 - M&A in the Global Agri-Food Industry, July 2025 Overview

Expana presents Agri-Food for Thought, the podcast series for agriculture and food professionals.Today, we bring you up to speed with merger & acquisition activity in the global agrifood landscape that occurred in July 2025 as part of the monthly M&A focus series.

July 2025 M&A activity somewhat slowed down compared to previous months. The ongoing tariffs situation, the global focus on trade deals, other trade disputes, and market uncertainty, have a role to play here

Kraft Heinz to Sell Italian Infant and Specialty Food Brands to NewPrinces

Kraft Heinz has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its infant and specialty food business in Italy to NewPrinces S.p.A., one of the country's leading food and beverage companies. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory review and approval, is expected to close by the end of 2025.

Under the terms of the agreement, NewPrinces will acquire several of Kraft Heinz’s legacy Italian brands, including infant food labels Plasmon, Nipiol, and Dieterba, as well as specialty food brands Aproten and Biaglut. 

PODCAST: Agri-Food for Thought Ep. 30 - M&A in the Global Agri-Food Industry, June 2025 Overview

Expana presents Agri-Food for Thought, the podcast series for agriculture and food professionals.

Today, we bring you up to speed with merger & acquisition activity in the global agrifood landscape that occurred in June 2025 as part of the monthly M&A focus series.

June 2025 M&A activity picked up marginally compared to previous months. The ongoing tariffs situation, looming deadlines, other trade disputes, and market uncertainty, have a role to play here. 

Canada: Gay Lea Foods Sells Grober Nutrition to CG Wellington

Gay Lea Foods, a Canadian dairy cooperative, has reached an agreement to sell its Cambridge, Ontario-based animal nutrition division, Grober Nutrition, to CG Wellington Inc., a Canadian family-owned private investment firm specializing in agriculture.

Under the terms of the agreement, Grober Nutrition will continue to operate from its existing Cambridge, Ontario location. All current employees will remain in their roles. Grober Nutrition specializes in milk replacer products used in dairy nutrition. In 2019, Grober Nutrition sold its US subsidiary to Denkavit.

General Mills Backs Organic Push in Fresh Pet Food, But M&A Still on Table

As General Mills continues to expand its pet food footprint, the company is leaning heavily on organic growth, particularly in the fast-growing fresh pet food category, while still keeping mergers and acquisitions (M&A) as an option.

During an earnings call on June 25, Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Harmening emphasized that General Mills’ approach to category expansion is a deliberate balance between building from within and acquiring where necessary.

Harmening argued that General Mills believes it has the right investment profile

Cal-Maine Foods Closes Acquisition of Echo Lake Foods

Cal-Maine Foods announced today the closing of its acquisition of Echo Lake Foods.

In April, it disclosed it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Echo Lake Foods in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $258 million.

At the time, Cal-Maine CEO Sherman Miller said the acquisition would help diversify the company’s product mix, especially in light of ongoing egg shortages related to avian influenza. The deal also strengthens Cal-Maine’s position in the growing market for value-added...

PODCAST: Agri-Food for Thought Ep. 29 - M&A in the Global Agri-Food Industry, May 2025 Overview

Expana presents Agri-Food for Thought, the podcast series for agriculture and food professionals.

Today, we bring you up to speed with merger & acquisition activity in the global agrifood landscape that occurred in May 2025 as part of the monthly M&A focus series.

May 2025 was generally quieter in terms of M&A compared to previous months. There are many factors influencing this but the ongoing tariffs situation, trade disputes, and market uncertainty, likely playe a role here.