SAINT-BRUNO-DE-MONTARVILLE, Québec, March 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Colabor Group Inc. (TSX: GCL) (“Colabor” or the “Company”) provided today an update regarding its sale and investment solicitation process (“SISP”) conducted under the supervision of the Superior Court of Québec (Commercial Division) (the “Court”) and Raymond Chabot Inc., as Court-appointed monitor of the Company (the “Monitor”) in connection with the restructuring proceedings (the “CCAA Proceedings”) of the Company and certain of its su ...

This story was originally published on Grocery Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Grocery Dive newsletter. Club retailers’ combo of discounted prices and grocery assortments is packing a powerful one-two sales punch in their battle against traditional grocers. In recent earnings calls, club retailers outlined how their focus on value is helping them stand out to consumers. At the same time, club stores are growing their presence around the U.S., bringing new competition ...

Core Viewpoint - Investing in Dividend Kings, which are companies that have consistently raised dividends for over 50 years, is recommended as a strategy for generating dependable passive income, especially for those looking for bargains in the current market environment [1][4][6]. Group 1: Dividend Kings Overview - Dividend Kings are defined as companies that have increased their dividends for at least 50 consecutive years, showcasing their reliability and dependability for passive income investors [4][6]. - There are 55 companies classified as Dividend Kings, which do not necessarily have to be part of the S&P 500 [4]. Group 2: Investment Strategy - The article suggests that purchasing underperforming Dividend Kings may be a compelling contrarian strategy, particularly in a market perceived as overbought [2][5][7]. - Price declines in these stocks, when not accompanied by dividend cuts, result in higher entry yields, providing investors with more income while waiting for recovery [7]. Group 3: Featured Companies - **Genuine Parts (NYSE: GPC)**: Offers a 3.85% dividend yield and has raised dividends for 69 consecutive years, trading at 16 times forward earnings [10][12]. - **Hormel Foods (NYSE: HRL)**: Known for its 5.12% dividend yield and over 50 years of dividend increases, it is restructuring to improve performance [13][15]. - **Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB)**: A consumer staples leader with a 4.82% dividend yield, recently announced a $48.7 billion acquisition of Kenvue Inc. [21][23]. - **PPG Industries (NYSE: PPG)**: Completed a $2.5 billion share buyback and has a 2.76% dividend yield, operating in paints and coatings [24]. - **Target (NYSE: TGT)**: A general merchandise retailer with a 3.81% dividend yield, considered a solid buy after a rough second half of 2025 [27][30].

In the short term, the major risk to the food and drinks industry is oil and gas – prices have already spiked and are likely to remain volatile while the conflict lasts. Energy-intensive sectors such as bakery and baked goods, bread and biscuits for instance, along with chilled and frozen categories, are likely to be more exposed than others, as they were when the Russia-Ukraine crisis kicked off.If the war ends up being a protracted conflict, fertiliser stocks could be depleted, putting pressure on farmers ...

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes that meat prices in the U.S. have reached unprecedented levels, and JBS is positioned to help consumers manage these costs effectively [1]. Company Summary - JBS is recommended as a buy, indicating a positive outlook for the company's stock performance [1]. - The analysis is part of a broader coverage thesis initiated on June 23, 2024, suggesting ongoing research and interest in JBS [1]. Industry Summary - The current state of the meat industry in the U.S. is characterized by high prices, which presents both challenges and opportunities for companies like JBS [1].

Core Insights - Once Upon a Farm is launching a new lineup of organic food products aimed at children, showcasing them at Expo West from March 4 to March 6, 2026 [1][2][3] Product Offerings - The new product lineup includes refrigerated meat pouches, legume blends, smoothies with protein and probiotics, and soft & chewy bars, all designed to meet the nutritional needs of children [5][6] - Meat pouches provide at least 4g of protein from organic ingredients, featuring chicken, beef, or turkey, while legume blends include flavors like black bean and chickpea [5] - Smoothies offer 4g of protein and added probiotics, with new flavors such as Strawberry Splash and Orange Mango Twist [5] - Power Wheels bars are made with 4g of protein, whole grain oats, and real fruits and vegetables, available in Strawberry Shortcake and Blueberry Crumble flavors [5] Company Mission and Values - The company emphasizes its commitment to real ingredients, nutrition, and convenience, aiming to drive systemic change in childhood nutrition for a healthier and more equitable world [2][4] - All products are organic, non-GMO, contain no added sugar, and are free from artificial flavors and colors, ensuring nutritious options for families [2][6] Industry Engagement - Once Upon a Farm is participating in the Natural Products Expo West, where co-founder John Foraker will speak on consumer growth trends [3] - The new Legume Blend has been recognized as a finalist for the NEXTY Awards in the Natural Kids' Product category [3]

Core Insights - The UK's combined export sales of meat and dairy products exceeded £4 billion ($5.39 billion) in 2025, with significant growth in both sectors [1] - Meat export sales increased by 12% to £2 billion, while dairy exports rose nearly 17% to £2.2 billion [1] Dairy Export Performance - The UK exported 1.35 million tonnes of dairy products in 2025, marking a 9.1% increase from the previous year [2] - Export revenues from all dairy categories grew, with milk and cream exports increasing by 49,200 tonnes (6.2%) to £484 million, primarily to Ireland, China, Spain, and France [3] - Cheese and curd remained the largest export category in dairy, with sales reaching £971.2 million, a 9.4% increase from 2024, alongside a 4.4% rise in volume to 205,774 tonnes [4] Import Trends - Dairy product imports into the UK rose by 1.9% in volume to 1.27 million tonnes, driven by higher shipments of cheese, curd, and yogurt [4] - The increase in dairy imports from New Zealand, following a free-trade deal with the UK in 2023, continued with a rise of 3,500 tonnes (29.9%) [4]

Core Viewpoint - Altria offers a high yield of 6.3%, but the business faces significant challenges, making it a riskier investment compared to Hormel Foods, which has a lower yield of approximately 5% but a more stable business model [1][4][11]. Altria Overview - Altria's primary business revolves around cigarette sales, which are declining; for instance, cigarette volumes fell by 10% in 2025 [4]. - The company has managed to support revenue and earnings through price increases and stock buybacks, allowing for ongoing dividend increases, but it remains fundamentally challenged [5]. Hormel Foods Overview - Hormel Foods is a large food manufacturer focused on protein products, aligning well with current consumer trends [6]. - The company is currently facing challenges, particularly in passing rising costs onto consumers, and is refocusing on cost control and portfolio overhaul, including plans to sell its whole turkey business [7][9]. - Hormel's interim CEO, Jeff Ettinger, has implemented strategies leading to five consecutive quarters of organic sales growth, indicating positive momentum [10]. - Hormel has a 5% yield and has increased its dividend annually for over 50 years, earning the title of Dividend King, which reflects a strong commitment to returning value to investors [11].

Core Insights - Elixiir Foods has raised $9 million in seed funding to launch a ready-to-eat food platform targeting urban Indian consumers with "affordable premium" products [1][2] - The startup aims to build a tech and supply chain infrastructure to support its operations, starting with the Delhi NCR region [2][4] - The platform will offer a variety of products including fresh produce, dairy, meat, poultry, seafood, and daily essentials, with a focus on gourmet ingredients [3] Company Overview - Elixiir Foods was founded in 2026 by industry veterans Arvind Mediratta and Ambuj Narayan, who have extensive experience in the FMCG and retail sectors [4][5] - Mediratta has 34 years of experience in the industry, having held senior roles at major companies like Walmart and Procter & Gamble, while Narayan has over 25 years of experience in retail strategy [5] Market Context - The Indian urban consumer market is becoming increasingly health and brand conscious due to rising GDP, per capita income, and urbanization [6] - The foodtech sector is witnessing growth with various D2C brands and startups addressing the demand for healthier alternatives and product diversification [6][7] - Competitors in the ready-to-eat category include established names like Licious, Country Delight, and iD Fresh Food, indicating a competitive landscape [7]

Core Insights - The company reported a first-quarter net sales increase of 1.6% year over year to $335.6 million, with comparable store sales growing 1.7% and a two-year comparable growth of 10.6% [3][4][6] - The Npower rewards program has shown strong performance, with penetration rising 2 percentage points to 83%, contributing to better sales among rewards members compared to non-members [5][7] - Despite a decline in gross margin by 40 basis points to 29.5% due to higher inventory shrink, operating income increased by 9.7% to $14.6 million, and net income rose 14% to $11.3 million [10][8] Sales Performance - The company experienced its highest sales growth in meat, dairy, and produce, which are considered differentiated offerings [2] - The comparable transaction count rose by 1%, while the average transaction size increased by 0.7%, influenced by annualized product inflation of approximately 2% to 2.5% [3][4] Customer Insights - Management noted a divergence in performance between rewards members and non-members, with non-participating customers showing weaker sales growth [1][5] - There was a modest decline in transactions using SNAP EBT, which accounts for about 2% of net sales, but this was deemed immaterial to overall sales [2] Margin and Expense Management - Gross margin pressure was attributed to higher inventory shrink, with the majority of the increase linked to isolated events and cycling from unusually low shrink in the previous year [8][9] - Store expenses declined by 0.7%, and administrative expenses decreased by 5.9%, contributing to improved operating income [10] Store Growth and Future Outlook - The company plans to open six to eight new stores in fiscal 2026 and aims for 4% to 5% annual new store unit growth [14][16] - Fiscal 2026 guidance remains unchanged, with expectations for comparable sales at the low end of the range through the second quarter, improving in the second half [15][16] Product and Category Highlights - Private label products represented 9.6% of total sales, up 70 basis points from the previous year, driven by increased customer awareness and marketing efforts [11] - The supplements category, which is the highest-margin segment, experienced a slight sales decline due to zero inflation in that sector [12][13]