Latest Stories — Food & Power

Mars-Kellanova Deal Threatens Consumers with Inflation and Fewer Choices

Candy giant Mars wants to buy Kellogg's former snacking division. Mars says this deal will improve product innovation and choices for consumers. Critics say the opposite.

Mergers & AcquisitionsClaire KellowayAugust 22, 2024mars, CPG, candy, Kellanova, mergers, Secondary Feature

FTC’s Kroger-Albertson Case Gets a Hearing, European Commission Approves Bunge-Viterra Merger Contingent on Sell-Offs

The European Commission approved Bunge’s takeover of Viterra on the condition that it sell off its Central European oilseed business. Judges begin to hear antitrust enforcers’ case against Kroger-Albertsons.

USDA Partners with Amazon to Promote Small Business Contracting

Is the world’s largest e-commerce platform connecting small businesses with the government or “small-washing” a new monopoly tollbooth?

Policy, RetailClaire KellowayJuly 26, 2024Amazon, USDA, Procurement, Secondary Feature

New Study Argues Grain Reserves Could Stabilize Food Prices

Economist Isabella Weber makes the case that public food buffer stocks could mitigate price shocks in an increasingly unstable future.

Takeaways from the National Rural Grocery Summit, USDA Proposes Another Packers and Stockyards Rule

Rural grocers share challenges and innovations at bi-annual conference, and USDA better defines “unfair practices” under the Packers and Stockyards Act.

USDA Proposes to Regulate Chicken Tournament Systems

Contract chicken farmers say that they aren’t paid based on their efforts. A new USDA rule aims to make performance-based pay more fair.

Sugar Companies Accused of Price-Fixing

The DOJ may have failed to block a major sugar merger, but documents from their trial raised red flags for sugar buyers who now accuse sugar companies of price-fixing.

Chicken Farmers’ Antitrust Suit Clears Hurdle, Plus New Data on Agribusiness Lobbying Might

New report shows special interests spent half a billion lobbying on the latest farm bill and chicken growers wage-fixing suit survives class certification.

Canada Raises Red Flags on Bunge-Viterra Merger

Canada’s Competition Bureau finds that Bunge’s takeover of Viterra would hurt some farmers and canola buyers.

As Bird Flu Hits Dairy Cows, Consolidation Amplifies Risk

Consolidated food production is more vulnerable to disruptions from diseases and plays a role in spreading them.

Dairy, Poultry & LivestockClaire KellowayApril 18, 2024Bird Flu, cattle, dairy, resiliency, Secondary Feature

Greedflation at the Supermarket is Real

The FTC published a report confirming what many suspected about the role of profiteering in driving up food prices and aggravating shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Policy, RetailClaire KellowayApril 4, 2024FTC, Inflation, grocery

Infant Formula Supply Chain Was Built to Break, FTC Report Reveals

An FTC retrospective on the 2022 infant formula crisis highlights the ways public procurement policies contribute to industry consolidation and supply chain vulnerability.