Fresh Take: Food Markets Are Far From Frozen

Markets sure aren’t freezing over.

For those closely following the CPG world, last week’s note struck a nerve! I got a lot of messages—particularly in relation to the news this week that a Kroger-backed investing vehicle is acquiring dairy-free creamer company Nutpods. I hear more deals are close, so stay tuned! And stay warm!

P.S. If your New Year reset has you interested in learning more about herbalism, you’ve found your people! Join me and a bunch of other herby experts on February 7 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT for a webinar titled “Harvesting Health: Elevating the Role of Herbal Medicine in Food Systems.” Register (for free!) here.

— Chloe Sorvino, Staff Writer

Order my book, Raw Deal: Hidden Corruption, Corporate Greed and the Fight for the Future of Meat, out now from Simon & Schuster’s Atria Books.

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What’s Fresh

Exclusive Interview: MPearlRock Acquires Non-Dairy Creamer Nutpods From VMG Partners

MPearlRock, a new investing vehicle backed by Kroger and MidOcean Partners, has acquired non-dairy creamer Nutpods from VMG Partners.

A River’s Microbiome May Protect Wild Salmon Against Malnutrition

Chinook salmon may be revealing that widespread thiamine deficiency could be quietly chiseling away at fish, bird and other wildlife populations across the northern hemisphere.

The Halal Guys Franchises Keep Expanding

Halal Guys, a fast-growing franchise specializing in gyro, beef, chicken and falafel, has struck a chord with many Americans, forming a new category: halal food.

Why Asahi Acquired A Contract Brewery

Asahi, the brewery most famous for its Super Dry beer, has acquired Octopi Brewing, a contract beverage production and co-packing company based in Waunakee, Wisconsin.

Field Notes

The winter Castelfranco salad with a creamy and tangy dressing at my favorite Los Angeles power lunch spot, Gjusta. Don’t miss the pistachio-citrus cookie.

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Chloe Sorvino leads coverage of food and agriculture as a staff writer on the enterprise team at Forbes. Her book, Raw Deal: Hidden Corruption, Corporate Greed and the Fight for the Future of Meat, published on December 6, 2022, with Simon & Schuster’s Atria Books. Her nearly nine years of reporting at Forbes has brought her to In-N-Out Burger’s secret test kitchen, drought-ridden farms in California’s Central Valley, burnt-out national forests logged by a timber billionaire, a century-old slaughterhouse in Omaha and even a chocolate croissant factory designed like a medieval castle in northern France.