• Kroger-owned Home Chef, which describes itself as "the largest meal kit company serving customers online and in-stores," said that it has expanded "its menu offerings to provide home cooks with more choices. Just in time for the cold weather, Heat & Eat Soups and Sicilian-Style Pizzas are now available at approximately 2,000 Kroger grocery stores in the U.S."
Soup options include Broccoli Cheddar, Creamy Tomato, Chicken Noodle, Loaded Potato, Thai Style Chicken Coconut Curry, Chicken Wild Rice and Beef Chili with Beans … Home Chef’s Heat & Eat Pizzas are 10” and start at $5.99. Simply preheat your oven and bake for 15 minutes to have fresh, hot pizza. Options include Four Cheese Pepperoni, Pork Sausage Alfredo, and Margherita."
• United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) announced yesterday that "it has reached new long-term labor agreements with drivers at its Hudson Valley distribution center in Montgomery, New York and front-line workers in California at its distribution centers in Commerce, Stockton and Santa Fe Springs … The new contracts include compromises and language updates that provide UNFI important operating flexibility to better serve its customers while providing its valued associates highly competitive wages, strong benefits and industry-leading safety and risk management support amidst the COVID-19 pandemic."
• The Los Angeles Times reports that McDonald's and Beyond Meat have teamed up for the "creation of plant-based patties for the fast-food giant’s new line of substitute meat products.
"The companies co-created the plant-based patty, which will be available as part of the new McPlant platform, Beyond Meat said. The company didn’t say whether the collaboration was ongoing or offer financial details of any partnership. McDonald’s declined to confirm the Beyond Meat news or comment on its suppliers."
• From Bloomberg:
"Petco Animal Supplies Inc., the San Diego-based retail chain, said it has confidentially filed for a initial public offering.
"The company didn’t provide further details of its listing plans in a statement, except to say the IPO would be held after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission completes a review. It said it hasn’t determined the number of shares to be offered or the price range.
"Petco’s owners, CVC Capital Partners and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, had been exploring an IPO that would value the company at $6 billion, including debt."
