Consumer Packaged Goods Broker News: Snacks, baking mixes drive growth of gluten-free

Hillshire, Tyson sign definitive deal | Unique Beverages purchases Activate | Snacking main source of cake, pie consumption

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July 3, 2014

News for the food, beverage and consumer packaged goods industry

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Company Watch

Hillshire, Tyson sign definitive deal
Hillshire Brands has signed an acquisition deal with Tyson Foods for roughly $7.8 billion. The deal had been tentative until Pinnacle Foods terminated its merger with Hillshire, which allowed the acquisition by Tyson to move forward. Bloomberg Businessweek (7/2), The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (7/2)

Unique Beverages purchases Activate
Unique Beverages has acquired Activate Drinks, the line of cap-dispensing beverages marketed by Rising Beverage Co. Activate co-founder Anders Eisner said "the transaction will accelerate the growth of Activate Drinks internationally." BevNet.com (7/2)

Going Global: Social Media Marketing for Small Businesses
Social media is creating new avenues for merchants to promote their companies at a low cost. However, before business owners decide which social media platforms to use for marketing, they need to know more about available options and why they should choose one social media channel over another. In this white paper review some of the most popular options. Download the free white paper now.

Trends

Snacking main source of cake, pie consumption
Retail sales of prepared cakes and pies increased 24% to $11.2 billion between 2009 and 2014 with 41% of consumers saying they ate the products as a snack, more than any other type of occasion, according to Mintel. Manufacturers need to focus on controlled portions, updated flavors and better-for-you ingredients to continue the upward trend, suggested the research company. BakingBusiness.com (7/2)

SmartBrief Originals

Read the latest food and beverage coverage by SmartBrief in SmartBrief Originals:

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Supply Chain Management

How to spot supply-chain climate risks
Many supply-chain professionals fail to identify climate risks because of the large scope of such risks. One way to spot them is to connect them to current supply-chain stressors, such as resource availability, procurement costs and delivery time, writes Ryan Schuchard, leader of BSR's climate and energy practice. Supply-chain managers can also look for risks in terms of regions, product categories or sustainability efforts. GreenBiz.com (6/25)

Advertising & Marketing

Coca-Cola, 7-Eleven partner for World Cup promo
7-Eleven has partnered with Coca-Cola for a World Cup promotion that is the store's largest ever in-store campaign. The promotion is running in 35,000 stores in 12 countries, with each country offering a unique program. U.S. consumers scan QR codes on exclusive cans of Coca-Cola to access content including a World Cup mobile game, mobile wallpapers and a link to the 7-Eleven mobile app. MobileCommerceDaily.com (7/3)

Retail Spotlight

Kroger to expand online retail platform with $280M acquisition
Kroger will acquire online vitamin retailer Vitacost.com in a deal worth $280 million. The agreement is a move by the grocer to expand its technology platform to support more online sales as it faces increased competition from e-retailers. Bloomberg Businessweek (7/2), The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (7/2)

Health & Wellness

Snacks, baking mixes drive growth of gluten-free
Growth of gluten-free snacks and baking mixes is pushing gluten-free further into the mainstream, according to Mintel. Sales of gluten-free cereal and snack bars, many containing ancient grains like quinoa, spelt or millet, rose 32% between 2010 and 2012 compared to a growth rate of 16% for non gluten-free products. In North America, new baking mix launches with gluten-free claims rose 14% between 2011 and 2013. BakeryAndSnacks.com (France) (7/1)

Editor's Note

SmartBrief will not publish Friday
In observance of Independence Day in the U.S., SmartBrief will not publish on Friday. Publication will resume Monday.