Big Food’s deal frenzy is just getting started

As large food companies continue to struggle with their core offerings, their M&A activity next year could make this year’s $42 billion in deals look like a drop in the bucket, analysts say. Kraft-Heinz is expected to do something big, after being rebuffed Unilever earlier this year. Nestle, which is facing activist pressure and has recently acquired supplement maker Atrium Innovations, coffee company Chameleon Cold-Brew and plant-based food maker Sweet Earth, is reportedly also looking to divest its U.S. candy business. Hain Celestial is a potential acquisition target. Read more at Bloomberg…

Portland’s Aunt Fannie’s raises another $2.375 million

The founder of Mrs. Meyer’s was one of the returning investors for Aunt Fannie’s latest round, which comes just three months after its $2.5 million seed round. Aunt Fannie’s launched five years ago with a nontoxic fruit fly trap called FlyPunch! and moved its operations from South Carolina to Portland last year. Its product line now includes a variety of household products made from non-disruptive and food-based ingredients. With the funding, the company hopes to expand its pest control line, continue to build its management team and increase its distribution. Read more at Portland Business Journal…

Packaged salad, berries top Nielsen organic categories list

The less-than-2 percent sales growth achieved by organic packaged salads this year may seem small, but it represents about $16 million worth of product, according to Nielsen’s annual list of top-selling fresh organic categories. It was the best-selling fresh organic category by a landslide, following by organic berries, which saw sales grow 23 percent this year, and apples. Read more at The Packer…

How the food industry uses cavitation, the ocean’s most powerful punch

Cavitation occurs when the pressure in a liquid drops suddenly, leaving behind a bubble of gas that heats up and quickly collapses. Certain types of shrimp produce cavitation bubbles with their claws to stun their prey. Now the food and beverage industry is using it for egg pasteurization, dairy processing and beer brewing. Read more at NPR…

Food data company lands $21 million in funding

At the crossroads of big data and big food lies Label Insight, a Chicago company with a database of more than 400,000 food products and their ingredients. The company sells that data to large retailers, CPGs and market research firms. CEO Paul Schaut says sales have been accelerated by the Amazon- Whole Foods deal and more than doubled this year. Read more at Crain’s Chicago Business…