Orrville, OH — The J.M. Smucker Co. is launching Hostess brand Mystery Flavor Twinkies in collaboration with content creator, Taylor Calmus, known as Dude Dad on social media. The product will be available exclusively at Walmart through October. Consumers can... The post Hostess Partners With Dude Dad To Launch First-Ever Mystery Flavor Twinkies appeared first on NCA ..read more

Buffalo, NY — Rich’s Megatrends: 2024 Food Trends You Need to Know is a new digital on-demand course from Rich Products Corp. The course examines disruptive macro trends across the food landscape to help industry professionals respond to a rapidly... The post Rich Products Launches On-Demand ‘MegaTrends’ Course appeared first on NCA ..read more

Purchase, NY — PepsiCo, Inc. has selected eight finalists to participate in the second year of its Greenhouse Accelerator Program: Juntos Crecemos (Together We Grow) Edition. This year’s program focuses on elevating high-potential consumer packaged food and beverage brands and... The post PepsiCo Selects Eight Food, Beverage Start-Ups For Greenhouse Accelerator Program appeared first on NCA ..read more

Washington — Data released by the U.S. Census Bureau shows modest retail sales gains in June despite an uneven pace of spending in recent months, notes National Retail Federation Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz. “The path of household spending remains difficult... The post Census Retail Sales Data For June Shows Modest Gains appeared first on NCA ..read more

Baltimore, MD — Goetze’s Candy Co., Inc. has partnered with the Guinness Open Gate Brewery to create a 4.5 percent ABV cream ale brewed with the same vanilla in the company’s iconic Goetze’s signature recipe. The result is a toasty,... The post Goetze’s Candy Partners With Guinness Open Gate Brewery On Caramel Creams Ale appeared first on NCA ..read more

Chicago — Consumers are more aware than ever before of how food affects their health and wellness. However, new research from Innova Market Insights states that among U.S. consumers only 19 percent acknowledge they consume ultra-processed foods daily. Consumers do... The post U.S. Consumers Hugely Underestimate Consumption Of Ultra-Processed Foods appeared first on NCA ..read more

Ocala, FL — William “Bill” Hoffman, Sr., 78, passed away on July 13, in Ocala, FL, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Hoffman was a 33-year candy industry veteran and the owner of Great Southern Marketing, a candy brokerage in Atlanta. Prior to founding Great Southern, he spent 16 years at Charms Co. as divisional sales manager and convenience store sales manager. He was an avid sports enthusiast and multi-talented athlete. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed time with his family, and friends. He leaves behind his son William “Billy” Hoffman, Jr., as well as his wife of 24 years, Diane Quin ..read more

Addressing consumer concerns about the environment is growing in importance. Cargill, Inc.’s Julie Robey looks at the ways stakeholders across the supply chain are responding. Washington — Over the past decade, as the effects of climate change have become more apparent, expectations for food sustainability have multiplied. Consumers, investors, and regulators all want greater insight into how food is grown, while the increasing intensity and occurrence of weather extremes illuminates the vulnerabilities of some supply chains.  The food and agriculture industry finds itself at a crossroads ..read more

Philadelphia — Five Below, Inc. has appointed Kenneth Bull interim president and CEO, effective immediately following the departure of Joel Anderson. At the same time, Thomas Vellios, co-founder, non-executive chairman and former CEO, is assuming the role of executive chairman on an interim basis while the board conducts a search for a permanent CEO. “I have tremendous confidence in Ken and the senior leadership team who will continue to execute on our growth strategy. Ken has been an integral part of the Five Below team for nearly two decades, including leading the company for 11 years as CFO ..read more

Jacksonville, FL — Acosta Group has completed its acquisition of Crossmark, including its headquarter sales agency and retail solutions businesses, and Product Connections, a specialized marketing services business, from WIS International. The agreement to acquire these agencies was announced in May. “We are thrilled to welcome Crossmark and Product Connections to our industry-leading collective,” says Brian Wynne, president and CEO of Acosta Group, who continues in this role for the organization. “This acquisition strengthens our talent and expands our solutions, further enhancing our ability ..read more