It’s been quite the year in the food industry – what better way to close out the year than to revisit Food Dive’s most-read stories published in 2014? Check out our list below, with reminders of what happened and a current look at each story.
1. Details emerge on Albertsons-Safeway structure post-merger
Quick refresh: The Albertsons acquisition included 1,331 stores, 13 distribution centers, and 19 manufacturing plants, all owned by Safeway. Albertsons would span 14 divisions in three regions.
Update: Albertsons and Safeway are close to shedding 168 stores, pending Federal Trade Commission approval.
2. Books that food pros should read in 2015
Quick refresh: Here we have a glance at some up-and-coming food reads, including books from Jim Gaffigan, Paul Greenberg and controversial "Food Babe" Vani Hari.
Update: Well, 2015 is just around the corner, so hit up those bookstores if you’re looking to get something for that food professional in your life (or just for yourself).
3. Uncle Si’s tea for Duck Dynasty fans
Quick refresh: Duck Dynasty’s popularity led to the creation of the brand, which is based on "Uncle" Si Robinson's family recipe and developed by S&D Coffee & Tea.
Update: The product is available here.
4. General Mills removes online legal policy
Quick refresh: General Mills got rid of controversial legal terms from its website, including a claim that hitting "like" on social media meant waiving legal rights - what the company later called a mischaracterization.
Update: General Mills has seen some other legal situations this year, which we'll get back to later in this roundup.
5. Yogurt Wars: The 3 fronts in the fight for dominance
Quick refresh: We took a look at some competing interests in the yogurt industry - advertising, segmentation, and expansion.
Update: Danone doesn't look like it's selling its medical nutrition unit after all, and Chobani opened a food incubator in New York and debuted a new filtration system.
6. Report: Sysco to sell $5 billion in assets to win regulatory OK for US Foods merger
Quick refresh: Sysco is reportedly ready to wrap up its US Foods takeover, though the regulatory demands and other concerns beg the question: Was the US Foods deal worth it?
Update: This story is just about a week old, so more to come.
7. Five of the coolest urban farms in the US
Quick refresh: This piece zeroed in on the urban farming phenomenon in the U.S., a fast-growing food industry movement. It looks specifically at farms like Gotham Greens, Brooklyn Grange, and Services for the UnderServed, and more.
Update: One study says urban farming is becoming larger and more relevant. There are, however, certainly causes for concern when it comes to urban farming in underdeveloped countries.
8. Four food bloggers impacting the industry
Quick refresh: Which food bloggers have been affecting the industry? Our list highlighted Mark Bittman, Roy Choi, Martha Payne, and "Food Babe" Vani Hari.
Update: Hari has her first book coming out in February, as we mentioned previously in this post.
9. Food Trends: Get to know the millennial generation
Quick refresh: What should food companies be paying attention to regarding millennials? Three R&D pros discussed ways the generation will be at the forefront of food innovation.
Update: Millennials continue to be coveted in the industry, and Budweiser’s holiday advertising campaign is one example that further suggests this.
10. Heinz in 2014: 3 predictions for the debt-saddled ketchup king
Quick refresh: We put in our two cents about the future of Heinz, including both asset sales and purchases as well as minor defections.
Update: Cost cuts led to profits in its third quarter, as Heinz's business model now involves financial rejiggering and said cost cuts.
11. The case against all-natural
Quick refresh: This was a profile of lawsuits against food producers' "natural" claims. Brands included Kashi, Nature Valley, PopChips, Naked Juice, and Tropicana Orange Juice.
Update: General Mills settled in a lawsuit involving its Nature Valley brand last month, as noted earlier, and a judge recently dismissed a case against Dole - apparently, this particular case may have been more of a stretch.
