Nestlé announced it has acquired Freshly, one of the leading fresh-prepared meal delivery services in the U.S. The deal values Freshly at $950 million, with potential earnouts up to $550 million contingent to the successful growth of the business. This transaction was signed and closed on October 30, 2020. Founded in 2015, Freshly delivers a menu of fresh, chef-cooked meals to customers across the country, breaking down the barriers to healthy eating by delivering nutrition and convenience at scale.

Introducing new Unlocked by Coffee Mate: a first-of-its-kind line of coffee-flavored coffee creamers. Available in Classic Colombian and Italian Espresso varieties, Unlocked will be sold in grocery stores and mass retailers nationwide beginning in January 2021. 

Congratulations to the five refrigerated and/or frozen food companies that topped our eighth annual, 2020 Best New Retail Products Contest. We had one of our highest vote totals ever (61,243), and an exciting flurry of activity the final three days which re-configured the order of winners.

New data from research firm IRI (Information Resources Inc.) and BCG (Boston Consulting Group) shows frozen and refrigerated food sales spiking 78.8% and 57.8%, respectively, compared to a year ago, and attributed to COVID-19-related stockpiling by consumers beginning on March 1. The numbers are through the week ending March 15.