Cacique LLC, a Los Angeles-based Hispanic foods company that makes authentic Mexican-style cheeses, cremas and chorizos, announced an addition to the company's ownership group as part of a round of funding that will be used to accelerate its brand’s continued rapid growth nationwide. Boston-based investment manager The Baupost Group LLC will take a minority stake in Cacique.

Demand for Hispanic foods is exploding nationwide, Cacique said, and consumers are seeking authentic ingredients and high-quality products. This investment is an important next step for the future of Cacique, and will support the company's long-term growth strategy, as well as allow the company to meet the growing demand for its products. Using the proceeds, Cacique will expand production capacity, increase research and development to drive product innovation, and continue to sustainably enhance its national presence.

Shamrock Farms said its Rockin' Protein Builder beverage will now be offered in Kroger stores nationwide. The expansion with Kroger closely follows the Phoenix-based company’s recent increased distribution in Dollar General stores nationwide in 2020.

Chobani LLC said it will cover up to six hours of time off for Chobani employees to get vaccinated — three hours for each of the two COVID-19 vaccine doses when the doses are available to its workforce. The Norwich, N.Y.-headquartered dairy processor said it is among the first food manufacturers to offer paid time off for vaccines.

N!ck's, owner of the eponymous Swedish-style light ice cream brand, announced the addition of Carlos Altschul as the company’s new CEO. Altschul will guide the company's growth in the United States as it expands its retail and e-commerce, direct-to-consumer presence in 2021 with a focus on innovation, retail distribution and operational excellence. Tony Davis, founding CEO of the El Segundo, Calif.-based company, will become president and chief operating officer and will continue to play an active and vital role in the company's daily operations and growth.

Cowgirl Creamery, Petaluma, Calif., said its Mt Tam cheese was named a 2021 winner in the cheese category at the annual Good Food Awards ceremony, which took place on Jan. 22. The category, which saw 130 submissions, awarded 17 winners across five regions, with Mt Tam receiving honors for the West region.

Lakeview Farms LLC, a Delphos, Ohio-based manufacturer and marketer of dairy and nondairy refrigerated desserts, dairy and nondairy dips, and specialty products, said its Señor Rico rice pudding and flan products are now free from artificial flavors, colors and preservatives.

The Wisconsin Dairy Products Association (WDPA) said it will again be offering the Robert L. Bradley Scholarship and the Wisconsin Dairy Products Association Scholarship. Both scholarships will be worth $2,000 each.

The two scholarships are awarded each year to two deserving college students pursuing careers in the dairy industry. The funding for these scholarships comes from the net proceeds of the World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest. The scholarships are available to any student attending a University of Wisconsin system school. The application deadline is March 30. More information can be found here.

3-A Sanitary Standards Inc. (3-A SSI) is inviting applications for the 2021 Student Participation Award, which is intended to help motivated, career-oriented students to participate in the annual education program of 3-A SSI and gain valuable insights on hygienic equipment design. The program enables dedicated students with a record of achievement to gain comprehensive first-hand knowledge about hygienic design for food processing equipment and systems. The entire program will be held in a virtual format on May 17-18, 2021.

The award details and application form can be found here. The application deadline is March 26, 2021.

Graham Packaging, a Lancaster, Pa.-based specialist in the design and manufacturing of sustainable packaging solutions, launched a new website (https://www.grahampackaging.com/) and corporate identity. The company said it is reintroducing itself to reinforce and elevate its commitment to smart, sustainable packaging.

Graceland Fruit Inc., a Frankfort, Mich.-based producer and global distributor of premium-quality dried fruit ingredients for the food industry, said it unveiled an updated brand identity and website (https://www.gracelandfruit.com). The refreshed brand and website were created to better reflect the company’s “renewed focus on the commercial food ingredient market and its heritage of delivering exceptional product and service performance that delights innovative food manufacturers and their consumers.”

Solenis, a Wilmington, Del.-headquartered manufacturer of specialty chemicals, said it signed a global partnership agreement with Diversey, a Fort Mill, S.C.-based specialist in the hygiene, cleaning and infection-prevention industry. With immediate effect, Diversey will become Solenis’ new distribution partner for its complete portfolio of water and process treatment chemicals to the food and beverage industry.

Cincinnati-based ProMach, a provider of packaging machinery solutions, said it acquired the assets of KHS Bartelt, a Sarasota, Fla.-headquartered provider of packaging systems for the food and confectionery, beverage, home and personal care, pharmaceutical, chemical and tobacco industries. The addition of Bartelt expands ProMach’s business with an additional North American base for flexible packaging solutions and further strengthens ProMach’s portfolio of pouch packaging solutions. Additionally, the acquisition includes the assets of KHS Kayat and KHS Scandia, expanding ProMach’s offerings with cartoning, shrink-wrapping, shrink-bundling, case-packing and tray-packing systems.

Endress+Hauser, a provider of measurement instrumentation, services and solutions for industrial process engineering with U.S. headquarters in Greenwood, Ind., announced that Rust Automation & Controls is now its exclusive sales representative in portions of the West region, which includes California, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming and portions of Idaho and North Dakota. Rust Automation also is now serving as Endress+Hauser’s exclusive authorized service provider for California, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming, and effective Feb. 25, for Colorado, Montana and portions of North Dakota.

Duravant LLC, a Downers Grove, Ill.-based provider of engineered equipment and automation solutions to the food processing, packaging and material handling sectors, introduced nVenia LLC, a new operating company within Duravant’s Packaging Solutions Segment. The operating company combines Arpac, Hamer-Fischbein and Ohlson into a single entity.

Saf-T-Gard International Inc. said Loren Rivkin, the fourth generation of family ownership, was promoted to president and chief operating officer of the company. Northbrook, Ill.-based Saf-T-Gard is a manufacturer, distributor, importer, exporter and global supplier of personal protective equipment and electrical safety, facility safety and first aid products.

Motion Industries Inc., a distributor of maintenance, repair and operation replacement parts and a provider of industrial technology solutions, said it is now operating under the brand name of “Motion.” The move to rebrand is intended to solidify the Birmingham, Ala.-based company’s structure and advance its position in the marketplace. The timing coincides with Motion’s 75th anniversary.