Irish dairy cooperative Ornua said it completed the acquisition of U.S. cheese ingredients business Whitehall Specialties Inc., Whitehall, Wis., for an undisclosed sum from Mason Wells, a private equity firm based in Milwaukee. 

Danone Institute North America, a not-for-profit established by White Plains, N.Y.- and Broomfield, Colo.-based Danone North America, announced the five winning teams of the "One Planet. One Health" Initiative — a grant program that promotes resilient and sustainable local food systems.

California Dairies Inc. (CDI), Visalia, Calif., said Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross and other state and local officials joined the cooperative on Sept. 29 for a groundbreaking ceremony in Kern County, Calif., at the future site of CDI’s new ultra-high temperature and extended shelf-life milk processing facility.

Prairie Farms Dairy Inc., Edwardsville, Ill., said Mullins has decided to step down as CEO/executive vice president to assume a new role as senior executive officer. 

The Kraft Heinz Co., headquartered in Pittsburgh and Chicago, said it entered into an agreement to acquire Companhia Hemmer Indústria e Comércio (Hemmer), a Brazilian company focused on condiments and sauces.

For the second consecutive year, Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA), Tillamook, Ore., announced its All For Farmers initiative to help support farmers facing financial hardship across the country. 

If sales data are any indication, more consumers are saying goodbye to coffee filters, tea bags and the long wait to brew. According to data from Chicago-based market research firm IRI, dollar sales within the shelf-stable ready-to-drink (RTD) tea and coffee category shot up 9.5% during the 52 weeks ending Aug. 8, 2021, to $7,647.5 million. Unit sales increased 3.0% to 3,044.1 million.  

This fall, Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), along with 13 of its regional farmer-owned milk brands, said it is helping to fuel school athletic programs with the launch of its first-ever Fuel Their Drive promotion.

Idaho Milk Products said it was awarded a $97,000 cash incentive from Idaho Power for its efforts in reducing energy consumption.