Core Viewpoint - A new company, Jiaozuo Beimao Food Co., Ltd., has been established with a registered capital of 200,000 RMB, focusing on various food-related sales and services [1] Company Overview - The legal representative of the company is Ren Qiulan [1] - The registered capital of the company is 200,000 RMB [1] Business Scope - The company is involved in licensed projects such as food sales, which require approval from relevant authorities before operations can commence [1] - General projects include: - Internet sales of pre-packaged food - Wholesale of pet food and supplies - Sales of agricultural and sideline products - Retail of various consumer goods including clothing, cosmetics, and household appliances [1] - The company also engages in the wholesale of fresh meat, fruits, and vegetables, as well as the sale of disinfectants (excluding hazardous chemicals) [1]

Core Insights - The launch of the Supporting Trusted Engagement and Partnership (STEP) up for Agriculture initiative aims to enhance the capacity and sustainability of farmer-facing support organizations across North America, involving major companies like PepsiCo and Unilever [1][5][12] - The initiative focuses on promoting regenerative agriculture practices to improve soil health, reduce emissions, and enhance biodiversity, with PepsiCo targeting the adoption of these practices across 10 million acres by 2030 [2][5][6] Group 1: Initiative Overview - STEP up for Agriculture is a collaboration among leading retail and food companies to scale regenerative agriculture through locally tailored support systems [5][8] - The initiative aims to strengthen farmer-facing organizations by providing tools, training, and funding to accelerate the adoption of sustainable practices [5][12] - A pilot program is already underway in Spain, marking a global push towards regenerative agriculture [5][11] Group 2: Goals and Commitments - PepsiCo sources approximately 50 key agricultural crops from over 60 countries and aims to drive regenerative agriculture practices across 10 million acres by 2030 [2][5] - Unilever is committed to implementing regenerative agriculture principles across 1 million hectares globally by 2030 [6][12] - The initiative seeks to create a shared ecosystem of support that empowers farmers and drives lasting change at scale [8][12] Group 3: Importance of Local Support - The success of regenerative agriculture relies on trusted relationships and local expertise, with farmer-led support groups being critical for adoption [3][4] - The initiative emphasizes the need for an ecosystem of learning, where experienced farmers mentor others to adopt new conservation practices [7][9] - By investing in local organizations, the initiative aims to unlock scale and foster innovation throughout the supply chain [4][5] Group 4: Future Plans - Over the next two years, STEP up for Agriculture will facilitate peer learning, host workshops, and develop shared tools to scale impact [10][11] - The initiative will establish measurement, reporting, and verification systems to track sustainable progress against goals [11][12] - The partnership model includes contributions from corporate, philanthropic, and farmer-facing support organizations to enhance advisory capacity [12][14]

Core Viewpoint - Lifeway Foods experienced a significant decline of 25% in premarket trading following Danone SA's decision to withdraw its acquisition offer for the company [2]. Group 1 - Danone SA announced on Wednesday that it would no longer pursue the acquisition of Lifeway Foods [2].

Core Insights - Edible Garden AG Incorporated has expanded its market presence in the Midwest by partnering with Angelo Caputo's Fresh Markets, a family-owned grocery chain with 10 locations in Illinois, to offer its USDA Organic products [1][3] - The partnership includes the introduction of Edible Garden's fresh potted herbs, hydro basil, wheatgrass, and pickles, supported by innovative display systems designed to enhance product freshness and customer experience [1][3] Company Overview - Edible Garden is a leader in controlled environment agriculture (CEA), focusing on locally grown, organic, and sustainable produce through its Zero-Waste Inspired® farming model [4] - The company operates over 5,000 retail locations across the U.S., Caribbean, and South America, utilizing advanced safety protocols and sustainable packaging [4] - Edible Garden's facilities include state-of-the-art greenhouses and processing plants located in Michigan, Iowa, and New Jersey, along with a network of contract growers to ensure product freshness [4] Product and Technology - The company utilizes proprietary GreenThumb 2.0 software to optimize growing conditions and reduce food miles, along with patented self-watering displays to extend plant shelf life [5] - Edible Garden also holds patents in advanced aquaculture technologies, enhancing its product offerings in sustainable farming [5] Market Position and Recognition - Edible Garden has been recognized as a FoodTech 500 firm and is a member of Walmart's Project Gigaton sustainability initiative, highlighting its commitment to sustainability and innovation in the food industry [6]

Core Viewpoint - Elliott Investment Management, managing $4 billion in PepsiCo, seeks significant changes to enhance the company's performance despite recognizing it as a strong consumer franchise [1][4][5]. Group 1: Elliott's Goals and Recommendations - Elliott aims to help PepsiCo sharpen focus, drive innovation, and unlock value from its leading brands and scale [4][5]. - The investor believes PepsiCo is at a "critical inflection point" and describes it as a "dramatic under-performer" in North America [7][8]. - Recommendations include reviewing the North American food and drinks business structure, refranchising the drinks bottling network, and streamlining the beverage portfolio [6][9][25]. Group 2: Financial Performance and Market Context - In 2024, PepsiCo reported net revenue of $91.85 billion, a 0.4% increase year-over-year, with operating profit growing 7.5% to $12.89 billion [13]. - However, the company faced challenges, including a 0.3% decline in first-half net revenue and a 35.4% drop in operating profit [16]. - PepsiCo's share price has fallen over 5% this year, contrasting with Coca-Cola's nearly 8% increase [16]. Group 3: Portfolio Optimization and Strategic Moves - Elliott emphasizes the need for PepsiCo to optimize its portfolio by offloading non-core and underperforming assets, similar to strategies employed by Coca-Cola and Unilever [21][24]. - The investor praised PepsiCo's recent sale of Rockstar brand rights as a positive step towards simplifying its portfolio [24]. - There is speculation about the future of Quaker within PepsiCo's portfolio, with suggestions that it may lack strategic interest without Tropicana [22][23]. Group 4: Management and Investor Sentiment - PepsiCo's management has acknowledged Elliott's input, stating they value constructive dialogue to enhance long-term shareholder value [12][18]. - Investor sentiment appears mixed, with some skepticism regarding the feasibility of Elliott's proposals, particularly around refranchising [30]. - Analysts suggest that Elliott's involvement may create urgency for management to improve performance and address operational challenges [29].

Group 1 - Heartland Food Products is acquiring SlimFast from Glanbia to enhance its portfolio in the better-for-you offerings segment [3][4] - The acquisition aligns with consumer trends focused on weight loss and reduced sugar intake [3][4] - SlimFast has experienced a significant decline in sales since 2022, partly due to competition from GLP-1 drugs that suppress appetite [4][6] Group 2 - SlimFast, established in 1977, offers a range of diet shakes, bars, meals, snacks, and other supplement foods [6] - Glanbia purchased SlimFast for $350 million in 2018 but has since faced challenges in the diet category, leading to a non-cash impairment charge of $91.4 million in February [6]

Core Insights - Starbucks stock has decreased by approximately 15% over the last year, with historical data suggesting potential for further declines, as the company has previously suffered greater losses than the overall market during downturns [1][2][3] Revenue Growth - Starbucks achieved an average revenue growth of around 4.7% over the last three years, with a slight increase of 0.6% in the past year, raising sales from $36 billion to $37 billion [3] - Recent quarterly revenue rose 3.8% year-over-year, reaching $9.5 billion compared to $9.1 billion during the same period last year [3] - However, same-store sales experienced a global decline of 2% in the most recent quarter, with North America seeing a 3% drop in transaction volumes [4] Margin Compression - Operating income for the last year was $3.8 billion, resulting in a margin of 10.5%, while net income was approximately $2.6 billion, leading to a slim margin of 7.2% [5] - Operating margins in North America have fallen from above 20% to closer to 13%, influenced by rising labor costs, increased coffee bean prices, and the "Back to Starbucks" reinvestment strategy requiring over $3 billion in spending [7] Valuation Concerns - Starbucks stock is currently priced near $83, with projections indicating a potential drop to $40, representing a 50% decline if revenue growth stagnates and margins remain compressed [2][8] - EPS is projected to decline from $3.31 in FY 2024 to $2.20 in FY 2025, before partially recovering to $2.71 in FY 2026, indicating weaker profitability compared to previous years [8] - The stock trades at high multiples of 37x forward earnings for FY 2025 and 30x for FY 2026, significantly higher than peers like Coca-Cola and McDonald's [9] Long-term Outlook - Despite current challenges, Starbucks maintains long-term recovery potential due to its global scale, premium brand, and effective loyalty program, which provide pricing power and international growth opportunities [10]

Core Insights - The new CEO of Nestlé, Philipp Navratil, acknowledged the company's challenges and promised to present a plan to revive its performance soon [1][2] - Nestlé's share price has dropped over 40% since its peak in 2022, attributed to falling volumes, high costs, and management missteps [2] - The company is undergoing leadership changes, with Chairman Paul Bulcke retiring early and being replaced by Pablo Isla, who brings an outsider's perspective [4][8] Leadership and Governance - The recent management changes highlight weaknesses in Nestlé's governance and succession planning, with a revolving door of CEOs leading to strategic drift [6] - The new management team, consisting of Navratil and Isla, has complementary backgrounds that may facilitate necessary changes [8][9] - Investors are calling for urgent strategic decisions and a review of long-term growth prospects, alongside a reduction of the company's significant debt [9] Financial Performance - Nestlé's sales growth has slumped to the lowest levels in decades, with underperforming units such as bottled water and vitamins [6] - The company faced a 1.9 billion-franc writedown on its peanut allergy treatment business, Palforzia, in 2023, and has been scrutinized for illegal treatments of its Perrier water [10] - The company's debt has increased due to acquisitions, share buybacks, and dividend payments, leading to underperformance in its stock [11] Market Context - Nestlé's stock is now valued similarly to Unilever, having previously traded at a premium until late 2022 [11] - The company has been impacted by broader economic challenges, including inflation and a shift in consumer preferences towards private label brands [17] - The crisis at Nestlé reflects a broader decline in Switzerland's corporate reputation, following issues with other major companies like Credit Suisse [12][11]

The world's top chocolatier Barry Callebaut must reduce its debt and is working to achieve this, CEO Peter Feld was quoted as saying in an interview published on Thursday. ...

Denver, CO, Sept. 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Inspired Functional Brands, Inc. (IFB), a formulator, developer and marketer of innovative functional foods and beverages located in Greenwood Village, Colorado, announced today that its Wild Calf® brand Caffé Latte had been awarded the Retailer’s Choice Award at the recent Newtopia Now 2025 event in Denver. Sponsored by SPINS, the Retailer Choice award recognizes the most innovative new CPG product as determined by the 1,500 retail buyers who attended this yea ...