5@5: Rhythm Superfoods gets second serving of General Mills capital | Branding produce with less waste

General Mills turns to kale chips to boost growth

301 Inc., the venture arm of General Mills, has doubled down on Rhythm Superfoods, leading the company's $6 million Series D financing round. It first invested in the veggie snack maker, which says it surpassed $10 million in sales last year, in January of 2016. Rhythm has used investment dollars to increase its production capacity, expand distribution, add equipment and develop a series of new products. Read more at Bloomberg...

Swedish supermarkets replace sticky labels with laser marking

With waste reduction in mind, a Dutch supplier of fruits and vegetables is trying a new technique for putting its brand on produce. Instead of a sticker, Nature & More is using laser technology to mark the skin of avocados and sweet potatoes with its brand. The technique uses light to remove pigment from the skin of produce and doesn't affect quality or shelf life, the company says. Its retail partner, ICA, is preparing to expand the test onto other products like watermelons that pose challenges for getting labels to stick. Read more at The Guardian...

Whole Foods closing 3 regional kitchens, trimming 500 jobs

As part of its efforts to streamline operations, the Austin-based grocer will close its last three regional kitchens in Massachusetts, Maryland and Georgia. Read more at My Statesman...

Research: Less than half of Americans think they eat right

Despite a widespread growing interest in healthy foods, less than half of American consumers say they pay attention to serving sizes, and only 16 percent say they trust the health claims on products. Read more at QSR...

SFEP secures Red Monkey Foods, as deals for seasonings pick up

San Francisco Equity Partners has purchased a majority stake in Missouri-based organic spice manufacturer Red Monkey Foods. Read more at The Middle Market...