Private label dollar volume in the mass retail channel surged +41% over the last five years, compared to a gain of only +7.4% for national brands, according to analysis from Nielsen, New York.

Wells Enterprises, Inc., Le Mars, Iowa, acquired Fieldbrook Foods, Dunkirk, N.Y., from Arbor Investments, Chicago, effective April 15.

Flagship Premium Food Group, Meridian, Ohio, opened a regional office in downtown San Francisco.

Urban Farmer announced plans to expand its manufacturing headquarters property in Manteno, Ill.

Daymon, Stamford, Conn., released the latest edition of its “Private Brand Intelligence Report,” which delivers an inside look into the emerging trends and strategies of private brand programs.

Cooper Farms, Oakwood, Ohio, opened a new biosecurity truck wash location in Ashley, Ind., to assist in maintaining the highest health standards for the company’s hogs.

Wind Point Partners, Chicago, and portfolio company Stir Foods, an Orange, Calif.-based custom manufacturer of soups, sauces, dressings and fresh salsas for retail, industrial and foodservice customers, acquired Van Law Food Products, a contract manufacturer and private label manufacturer of custom sauces, dressings and beverage products for consumer packaged goods, retail and foodservice customers.

Piggly Wiggly turned to West Essex Graphics (WEG), Fairfield, N.J., to initiate an accelerated rebrand of more than 1,400 individual SKUs of private label products.

Despite the U.S. economy growing at a 3.5% annual growth rate in the third quarter, 49% of consumers are making sacrifices to make ends meet, according to survey results released by IRI, Chicago.

Chicago-based Label Insight introduced Explore Plus for Category Management, which enables Label Insight's high-order attribute data, images and unmasked information on private brand products to be combined with market measurement tools to deliver insights on specific product attributes.