Livekindly Collective Expands Its Brand Portfolio With the Acquisition of Iceland Foods’ No Meat

LIVEKINDLY Collective, a collection of heritage and start-up brands, announced the acquisition of No Meat, Iceland Foods’ vegan meat alternative company.

“This acquisition is very complementary to our current portfolio further strengthening our position in the frozen sector of the fast-growing plant-based meat category", says Domenico Speciale, General Manager for LIVEKINDLY Collective in the UK. "No Meat has been such an incredible success with...

Inspire Brands Completes Acquisition of Dunkin’ Brands

Inspire Brands announced the completion of its $11.3 billion acquisition of Dunkin’ Brands Group.

With the addition of Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins, Inspire now encompasses nearly 32,000 restaurants across more than 60 countries generating $26 billion in annual system sales, making it the second-largest restaurant company in the U.S. by both system sales and locations. Inspire’s family of brands includes Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s, Rusty Taco, and SONIC Drive-In.

“We are very excited to welcome the Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins brands into the Inspire family. Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins are category leaders and two of...

FAT Brands Agrees to Combine with Fog Cutter Capital Group

FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc. (NASDAQ: FAT) (“FAT Brands” or the “Company”) announced today that it has entered into an agreement to combine with Fog Cutter Capital Group Inc. (FCCG), the Company’s controlling stockholder. The merger is intended to provide FAT Brands with increased financial flexibility and simplified corporate structure, at a time in the restaurant industry when committed capital and first mover advantage are critical to strategic acquisitions.

Andy Wiederhorn, President and CEO of FAT Brands, stated “We have taken a number of steps in 2020 to bolster our balance sheet and ensure that FAT Brands is as nimble and opportunistic as possible, especially in this environment...

Technomic's Take: 2021 Global Trends Outlook

We can only guess what’s in store for 2021 in the global restaurant space. 2020 showed us—among so many things—that what’s expected and what happens don’t always align, to say the least. That said, we think our 2020 restaurant trend forecast holds up fairly well given the reality of the marketplace affected so drastically by the pandemic. Ghost kitchens certainly moved mainstream. Vegan fare got more space to stretch and grow. Plant-based meats continued to inform product development, especially across Asia. Beverage chains certainly broke out from the crowd—again, especially in Asia. And halloumi, pinsa pizzas and sliders had strong showings on chain menus across the world. So, what’s in store for the coming year...

Uber Completes Acquisition of Postmates

Uber Technologies, Inc. announced that it has completed the acquisition of Postmates Inc. in an all-stock transaction, and that the two companies have begun the process of integrating U.S. operations.

As previously announced, the transaction brings together Uber’s global Mobility and Delivery platform with Postmates’ beloved business in the U.S. to strengthen the delivery of food, groceries, essentials, and other goods. The consumer-facing Postmates and Uber Eats apps will continue to run separately, supported by...

HelloFresh Acquires Ready-to-Eat Meal Company Factor75

US subsidiaries of HelloFresh SE, have entered into an agreement to acquire all of the outstanding equity interests of Factor75, Inc. (including its subsidiaries “Factor”). HelloFresh is the leading provider of meal kits in the world and in the US. Factor is a leading provider of fully-prepared, fresh meals that combine health, convenience and restaurant-quality taste.

The acquisition marks the next step in HelloFresh’s growth plan in the US to strengthen its leading position and to expand its total addressable market. The total purchase price for the acquisition is up to...

Sanderson Farms Issues Statement on Unsolicited Proposal 

Sanderson Farms, Inc. issued the following statement:

Sanderson Farms has not received a proposal from Tyson Foods and Durational Capital Management. The Sanderson Farms Board of Directors has unanimously rejected an unsolicited proposal from Durational Capital Management, a new shareholder, to acquire the Company for $142 per share, a price that very substantially undervalues Sanderson Farms and its future prospects and is significantly below the 52-week high share price of $179.45. After careful consideration, with the assistance of its financial and legal advisors, the Board unanimously determined that the highly conditional and opportunistic proposal is not...

Quirch Foods Completes Merger With Colorado Boxed Beef One Month After Making Initial Announcement

On September 18 Quirch Foods and Colorado Boxed Beef announced that they had agreed to merge their companies. Now, a month later, the merger is officially complete. 

“With Colorado Boxed Beef and its operating companies now part of our unique portfolio of leading protein companies, we have increased our core domestic retail business and expanded into new geographies and channels,” said Frank Grande, President and CEO of Quirch. “As a result, we are delivering a broader and more diverse product offering, including a number of...

ADP Direct Poultry Acquires Cami International

ADP Direct Poultry announced the acquisition of Cami International Poultry. Cami is a poultry slaughter and processing company located in Welland, Ontario, and employs 55 people.

"I've believed for years that vertical integration was critical to the company's long-term aspirations. Cami's business operations end where ADP's further poultry processing operations begin, so there isn't overlap between the two businesses. This acquisition gives ADP a consistent supply of poultry with the size and specification required by ADP customers, which makes Cami the perfect addition to the ADP team' said Augo Pinho, President & CEO of ADP.

Terms of the deal will remain confidential, but 100% of Cami shares were acquired, and...

FAT Brands Completes Acquisition of Johnny Rockets, Increases Securitization Facility to $80 Million

FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc. announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Johnny Rockets from an affiliate of private equity firm Sun Capital Partners, Inc. for a purchase price of approximately $25 million. The transaction was funded with proceeds from an increase in the Company’s securitization facility. With the acquisition of Johnny Rockets, FAT Brands now franchises more than 700 restaurants around the globe in more than 30 countries with annual system-wide sales exceeding $700 million...

Premium Brands Announces Acquisition of Global Gourmet Foods and Allseas Fisheries 

Premium Brands Holdings Corporation, a leading producer, marketer and distributor of branded specialty food products, announced that it has acquired Global Gourmet Foods Inc. and signed an agreement to acquire Allseas Fisheries Inc.

Global Gourmet is one of Canada’s leading providers of ready-to-eat kettle cooked food solutions, including protein-based fillings, specialty sauces, soup bases and side dishes, to retailers and restaurants in Canada and...

Fed Cattle Exchange Acquired by Central Stockyards

The Fed Cattle Exchange, the only weekly fed cattle online auction for the cattle industry, has been acquired by Central Stockyards, LLC from 5150 Productions Company, LLC.

Since 2016 the Fed Cattle Exchange has provided the cattle industry with weekly, cost-effective cattle auctions that provide a platform for price discovery through competitive bidding. The prices determined in the weekly auctions benefit...

FAT Brands Announces Planned Acquisition of Johnny Rockets

FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc. announced that it has agreed to acquire the Johnny Rockets restaurant chain from an affiliate of private equity firm Sun Capital Partners, Inc. for approximately $25 million. The deal will be funded through cash on hand and proceeds generated from the Company’s securitization facility. The purchase is expected to be completed in September 2020. With the acquisition of Johnny Rockets, FAT Brands will have more than 700 franchised and company owned restaurants around the globe with annual system-wide sales exceeding $700 million.

Johnny Rockets was founded in 1986 with its first location on the iconic Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Known for its 1950s diner style décor, the chain serves up...

7-Eleven Transforms Its U.S. Store Network Through Acquisition of Speedway

7‑Eleven announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Speedway, a leading convenience store chain, from Marathon Petroleum Corp. As part of the agreement, 7‑Eleven will acquire approximately 3,900 Speedway stores located in 35 states, for $21 billion in cash.

"This acquisition is the largest in our company's history and will allow us to continue to grow and diversify our presence in the U.S., particularly in the Midwest and East Coast," said Joe DePinto, President and Chief Executive Officer of 7‑Eleven. "By adding these quality locations to our portfolio, 7‑Eleven will have the opportunity to bring...

Uber to Acquire Postmates; Will Keep Consumer-Facing App Running Separately 

Uber announced on Tuesday that they have reached a definitive agreement to acquire Postmates for approximately $2.65 billion in an all-stock transaction. The deal, once completed, will keep the consumer-facing Postmates app running separately.

As we reported last week, Uber was said to be in talks to buy Postmates after their deal with Grubhub fell apart in June. The New York Times reported that Uber made an offer of about $2.6 billion, however, their offer came at the same time that Postmates reportedly decided to...

More Food Delivery Consolidation? Uber in Talks to Buy Postmates

Another major acquisition in the food delivery world could potentially be in the works. Uber is reportedly in talks to buy Postmates after their deal with Grubhub fell apart a few weeks ago.

While Uber and Postmates have declined to comment, The New York Times reported on Monday that Uber made an offer to acquire Postmates for about $2.6 billion. However, their offer comes at the same time that Postmates has reportedly decided to revive their plan for an initial public offering. Postmates, which is considered the fourth largest...

Lineage Logistics Announces Acquisition of Henningsen Cold Storage, Assets from Maines Paper & Food 

Lineage Logistics is expanding their reach. Just last month the refrigerated warehousing and logistics provider announced the acquisition of Henningsen Cold Storage Co., as well as assets of Maines Paper & Food Service.

In February 2019 Lineage announced the acquisition of Preferred Freezer Services, making them not only the largest refrigerated warehousing and logistics provider in North America, but globally as well. The acquisition of Henningsen Cold Storage adds 14 facilities to Lineage’s expansive U.S. network, and bolsters its leading presence in the Pacific Northwest...

Prime Pork to Merge with Hylife 

Prime Pork is excited to announce that they will continue to expand their operations with the merger of their business with Hylife. Founded by Glen Taylor in 2016 to resurrect the former PM Beef facility, Prime Pork now employs more than 650 people.

“I have been really pleased with the employees at Prime Pork. With this new partner and leadership, I am confident this agreement will be great for the community, employees and area producers.” said Glen Taylor.

“This is a unique opportunity to partner with an operation that has an established network of producers, customers, and employees,” Grant Lazaruk, President and Chief Executive Officer of HyLife, commented about the addition of over...

Yum! Brands Completes Acquisition of The Habit Restaurants

Yum! Brands, Inc. announced the completion of its acquisition of The Habit Restaurants, Inc., following the approval by The Habit Burger Grill stockholders. The transaction marks the addition of the first fast-casual concept to Yum! Brands’ portfolio of iconic global restaurant brands.

Yum! Brands acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of The Habit Burger Grill for $14 per share in cash or a total of approximately $375 million. Yum! Brands funded the transaction using cash on hand and available...

US Foods to Acquire Smart Foodservice Warehouse Stores

US Foods announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Smart Foodservice Warehouse Stores from funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management for $970 million in cash.

Smart Foodservice operates 70 small-format cash and carry stores across California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Montana that serve small and mid-sized restaurants and other food business customers with a broad assortment of products. Founded in 1955 and headquartered in the greater Portland, Oregon area, Smart Foodservice employs approximately 900 associates. Smart Foodservice had 2019 revenues of...

Hormel Foods Announces Acquisition of Sadler's Smokehouse Business

Hormel Foods Corporation announced it has reached an agreement to acquire Texas-based Sadler's Smokehouse. Sadler's Smokehouse is a family-owned business that specializes in premium and authentic pit-smoked meats for retail and foodservice customers. Hormel Foods has been a customer of Sadler's Smokehouse for over two decades.

"Sadler's Smokehouse is a great company with an impressive history, talented team and an outstanding portfolio of on-trend products that resonate with consumers, customers and operators," said Jim Snee, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer at Hormel Foods. "This is a very strategic acquisition for...

Cranswick Acquires White Rose Farms 

Cranswick plc, a leading UK food producer, announces that it has acquired the Buckle family’s pig farming and rearing operations as well as the family’s 50% share of the White Rose Farms Limited pig production joint venture set up by Cranswick and the Buckle family in 2018. The enlarged pig enterprise, to be known as White Rose Farms, specialises in the production of Red Tractor assured pigs in Yorkshire and will continue to be led by Rick Buckle.

Following the acquisition of Packington Pork in December, which specialises in British free range and outdoor pigs, today’stransaction further increases Cranswick’s self-sufficiency in UK pigs processed to over...