Hormel announced the appointments of Jeff Frank to vice president of Grocery Products, leading the strategic integration of the Planters and Corn Nuts brands into Hormel Foods. The Planters and Corn Nuts acquisition was announced on February 11, and is expected to be completed by the summer. Frank currently serves as vice president of marketing for the Foodservice business within Hormel Foods. Additionally, Annemarie Vaupel, currently director of marketing for the Foodservice division, will advance to vice president of marketing for the Foodservice division.

The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) joined groups nationwide in recognizing the tremendous efforts of grocery workers during the pandemic and beyond. Governor Tom Wolf proclaimed Monday, February 22, as Supermarket Employee Day in Pennsylvania as a way to acknowledge and thank supermarket employees for their extraordinary dedication to a job that has become more significant than ever.

Bush Refrigerated Vans has opened a new 15,000-square-foot production facility dedicated to the manufacturing and upfitting of refrigerated vans and trucks. The state-of-the-art facility, located just north of Cincinnati in Lebanon, Ohio, features a full range of machines for vehicle upfitting, including a spray system for insulation as well as dedicated areas for exterior decal application. Vans are customized to each customer’s needs and can be built to maintain refrigerated and frozen temperatures.

My/Mo Mochi Ice Cream, has rebranded the company and will now be called My/Mochi. The four-year-old brand, with roots in a 100-year old family business and mochi tradition, also introduces new packaging, a product free of corn syrup, and non-GMO ingredients.

Danone and Earth Island, maker of Follow Your Heart brands and a pioneering leader in plant-based foods, today announced that they have entered into a share purchase agreement under which Danone will acquire 100% of the shares of Earth Island. With a proven track record of growth and innovation, and a long-term commitment to nutrition, sustainability and environmental stewardship, Earth Island represents a strong cultural fit with Danone and provides Danone with a unique opportunity to strengthen its plant-based business.

Silk, America’s No. 1 plant-based beverage brand, is celebrating the release of its new high-protein beverage Silk ULTRA by giving fitness enthusiasts the chance to win the gym gear they need to keep crushing the game – from the convenience of their home. Introducing the Silk ULTRA Upgrade, which will arm athletes with hard-to-get equipment such as kettlebells, free weights, resistance bands, and an ample supply of Silk ULTRA to take them through the year. But for a chance to upgrade, they must unleash their inner beast mode by completing one of two 10-minute, high-intensity ULTRA Sweat Sessions, hosted by decorated athletes Michael Phelps and Aly Raisman.

BHI, a full-service commercial bank, announced that its Food & Beverage Group has arranged a total of $61.6 million in two new financing transactions for clients Teasdale Latin Foods and Resnick Distributors.

Morey’s Seafood International announces the departure of its President & CEO Jim Walstrom. More than 26 years ago, Morey’s brought in Walstrom--who had an established presence in the seafood industry at the time--to come work for the company.

Meat District butcher-crafted, premium meats debuts its new chef ambassadors in “The Ultimate O.G. Chef Battle” - a competition pitting Meat District’s chef ambassadors in a heated battle for the best “O.G.” recipe made with Meat District’s flagship product, The O.G. burger patties.

Nearly one year after the COVID-19 pandemic began, a new report finds frozen foods were among the fastest growing categories in the grocery store, with clear signs that Americans’ fondness for frozen will continue to grow.