Food

The most successful new products include Hormel party trays, Hormel Natural Choice deli meats, Hormel Compleats microwave meals and Jennie-O Turkey Store oven ready items and turkey burgers.

With more than 13,000 employees around the world, a need arose for the company to profoundly evolve the way Barilla people communicate, collaborate and interact.

The transaction creates one of the largest packaged food companies in North America, with sales of approximately $18 billion annually. It will also position ConAgra Foods as the largest private label packaged food business in North America, with combined private label sales of approximately $4.5 billion.

Current Nestl Waters North America Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer, Kim Jeffery, plans to step down after 20 years, and 34 years with the company, to assume a non-executive Chairman position.

The move may incite a bidding war with Bayer, which offered approximately $1.2 billion in October to acquire the leading provider of branded vitamins, nutrition supplements and nutrition bars in the United States and elsewhere.

Hostess Brands, Inc. has been forced by a Bakers Union strike to shut down all operations and sell all company assets. But with high brand recognition, it's expected that other companies may be interested in keeping products, like Twinkies and Ding Dongs, alive.

Three big areas are allowing the consumer goods manufacturer to better know their shopper and consumer. Are you on top of these trends?

CGT Editor Alliston Ackerman gives you a sneak peek into the trends and topics discussed in this month's issue.