Préval AG, an international agri-food company headquartered in Quebec, has acquired the assets of J&G Foods, located in Sutton, Massachusetts. J&G is a custom and specialty case-ready fresh meat provider specializing in portioned organic and grass-fed beef, organic and natural chicken, natural pork and beef, and a variety of marinated and value-added meats.

Environmentally controlled facilities design-builder, Coldbox has appointed KC Williams as President of Coldbox's US operations. KC will work closely with Coldbox's executive team to respond to demand and accelerate growth in the U.S. The company is opening a U.S. office in Atlanta, Georgia.

Blender Bites has reformulated their existing Greens and Berries and Greens and Tropicals frozen smoothie pucks to become Power Berry and Green D-Tox, respectively. Launching nation-wide across Canada in October, Blender Bites’ latest SKUs will provide a one-step solution to consumers that eliminates the need for purchasing extra supplements that can drive up costs. 

Saputo has completed the acquisition of the Carolina Aseptic and Carolina Dairy businesses formerly operated by AmeriQual Group Holdings. These businesses, which join Saputo’s Dairy Division (USA) under its USA Sector, are conducted at two facilities in North Carolina and employ approximately 230 people. The purchase price of US$118 million (approximately CDN$149 million), on a cash-free and debt-free basis, was paid in cash at closing.

Lightlife is partnering with Canadian quick-serve restaurant chain Pizza Pizza, adding Lightlife's plant-based chicken items for the first time, including a Lightlife Plant-Based Chick’n Sandwich and Plant-Based Chick’n Bites.

Vejii, which owns and operates the plant-based marketplace ShopVejii.com, has launched same-day delivery across the Lower Mainland in British Columbia. B.C. residents throughout the Lower Mainland can now order all Vejii Express items, with same-day delivery. All orders placed by 10am, will be delivered by 8pm. The service area currently includes Coquitlam, Langley, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, Surrey, Abbotsford, Burnaby, Chilliwack, Delta, North Vancouver, Richmond Vancouver, and West Vancouver.

The a2 Milk Company, one of the fastest growing premium milk brands in the U.S., has just introduced a half-and-half product made with all-natural a2 Milk and cream that delivers better taste, better protein and better digestibility than its counterparts. That’s because, like all of the company’s products, the new a2 Milk Half and Half is made from cows that naturally produce only the A2 protein rather than the combination of A1 and A2 proteins contained in most dairy products.

Nature Fresh Farms has partnered with the University of Windsor in their long-haul vehicle transportation sustainability project to help achieve new advancements in energy-efficient shipping.

Greenhouse Competitions in Leamington, Ontario, made a return this year hosting its annual Greenhouse Vegetable Awards, showcasing the best greenhouse-grown produce from leading North American growers. Family-owned Nature Fresh Farms was awarded overall winner of the Hottest Tomato with their newest Umami Cherry Tomato, in addition to winning the entire Bite-Sized Tomato category with their Axiany placing third, Orange Cherry receiving second, and their Umami Cherry Tomato awarded first place.

 The Very Good Food Company announced a partnership with Copper Branch, the world’s largest 100% plant-based quick service restaurant chain with 40 locations across North America. Starting this summer, Copper Branch will make products from Very Good’s signature plant-based protein brand, The Very Good Butchers, available to customers, initially in branded freezers in select Canada locations.