Convenience Retailer Show Daily • October 4, 2023

RETAILERConvenience

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Family-owned and operated East Tennessee convenience store chain, Weigel’s, will now include Swaggerty’s Farm sausage on its breakfast menu Swaggerty’s Farm, the fastest-growing sausage company in the country, will be used in Weigel’s exclusive, fan-favorite, Stuffed Biscuit – in addition to an array of other breakfast sandwich options Customers can enjoy these breakfast items with Swaggerty’s Farm sausage at Wiegel’s convenience store locations throughout the greater East Tennessee region

Weigel’s will now serve Swaggerty’s Farm sausage in several breakfast items at the majority of its convenience store locations

Also, a family-owned and operated East Tennessee company, Swaggerty’s Farm has been committed to quality and excellence since 1930 Centered around a family recipe using a unique blend of spices and a tried-and-true process, Swaggerty’s Farm consistently delivers superior flavor, texture and taste to all of its sausage products

“Combining the history and tradition of two remarkable East Tennessee businesses seems like a natural fit,” says Swaggerty’s

The J M Smucker Co announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Hostess Brands, Inc for $34 25 per share in a cash and stock transaction, representing a total enterprise value of approximately $5 6 billion, which includes approximately $900 million of net debt This represents an adjusted EBITDA multiple of approximately 17 2 times based on the company’s estimate of Hostess Brands f

of $100 million The acquisition expands the company’s offering of beloved brands in growing categories and accelerates its focus on convenient consumer occasions

The transaction includes the Hostess Brands sweet baked goods brands (Hostess Donettes®, Twinkies®, CupCakes, DingDongs®, Zingers®, CoffeeCakes, HoHos®, Mini Muffins and Fruit Pies) and the Voortman cookie brand, along with manufacturing facilities in Emporia, Kansas; Burlington, Ontario; Chicago, Illinois; Columbus, Georgia; Indianapolis, Indiana and Arkadelphia, Arkansas (which is cur-

how RETAILERConvenience

Fiorucci Delivers True Taste of Italy

BOOTH #C8643

Fiorucci is the brand of specialty meats that delivers the true taste of Italy For over 170 years, it has used old-world recipes to produce a full line of authentic Italian deli meats, using only hand-trimmed cuts of premium pork and the finest ingredients, then slowly aging them to perfection Fiorucci’s portfolio includes a variety of presliced and bulk meats including prosciutto, pancetta, salami, pepperoni, sopressata, jamón serrano, capicollo, mortadella, chorizo and other specialties, including its best-selling Paninos, Appetaggios and Festalinos lines

With a focus on tradition, Fiorucci has been bolstering its product portfolio to include a wide range of classic charcuterie and exciting, new, innovative offerings that are currently in the market. Consumers are clamori n g f o r b o t h c o n v e nience and quality, and F i o r u c c i ’ s n e w p r o ducts deliver on both –c o m b i n i n g p r e m i u m , authentic flavors with

Swaggerty’s Farm Sausage Added to Weigel’s Breakfast Menu

Family-owned and operated East Tennessee convenience store chain, Weigel’s, will now include Swaggerty’s Farm sausage on its breakfast menu Swaggerty’s Farm, the fastest-growing sausage company in the country, will be used in Weigel’s exclusive, fan-favorite, Stuffed Biscuit – in addition to an array of other breakfast sandwich options Customers can enjoy these breakfast items with Swaggerty’s Farm sausage at Wiegel’s convenience store locations throughout the greater East Tennessee region

Weigel’s will now serve Swaggerty’s Farm sausage in several breakfast items at the majority of its convenience store locations

Also, a family-owned and operated East Tennessee company, Swaggerty’s Farm has been committed to quality and excellence since 1930 Centered around a family recipe using a unique blend of spices and a tried-and-true process, Swaggerty’s Farm consistently delivers superior flavor, texture and taste to all of its sausage products

“Combining the history and tradition of two remarkable East Tennessee businesses seems like a natural fit,” says Swaggerty’s

New Clamshell Packaging Option Now Available for Crazy Monkey Baking’s Granola Bites

Building on the success of its popular Granola Bites – the perfect combination of granola and cookie – Crazy Monkey Baking is now offering clamshell packaging According to Matt Figley, Vice President of Sales, “It’s a great packaging alternative for stores that want to place our Granola Bites in their bakery, deli or fresh sections Nine delicious everyday and f o u r s e a s o n a l f l a v o r s a r e available both in the Crazy Monkey Brand and private label offerings We’re even developing custom flavors f o r s o m e r e t a i l e r s ” C r a z y Monkey Granola Bites cont a i n 1 6 g r a m s o f w h o l e grains per 30-gram serving a n d u n l i k e l o o s e g r a n o l a , these bite-sized pieces are great for in-the-car or onthe-go snacks as well as breakfasts and desserts.

Crazy Monkey Baking is based in Ashland, Ohio, and brings a wide range of snacks to retailers across the United States.

The J. M. Smucker Co. to Acquire Hostess Brands to Accelerate Focus on Convenient Consumer Occasions

The J M Smucker Co announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Hostess Brands, Inc for $34 25 per share in a cash and stock transaction, representing a total enterprise value of approximately $5 6 billion, which includes approximately $900 million of net debt This represents an adjusted EBITDA multiple of approximately 17 2 times based on the company’s estimate of Hostess Brands f

million The acquisition expands the company’s offering of beloved brands in growing categories and accelerates its focus on convenient consumer occasions

The transaction includes the Hostess Brands sweet baked goods brands (Hostess Donettes®, Twinkies®, CupCakes, DingDongs®, Zingers®, CoffeeCakes, HoHos®, Mini Muffins and Fruit Pies) and the Voortman cookie brand, along with manufacturing facilities in Emporia, Kansas; Burlington, Ontario; Chicago, Illinois; Columbus, Georgia; Indianapolis, Indiana and Arkadelphia, Arkansas (which

BOOTH #C7169

Darrell Lea Launches New Holiday Candy Line Ahead of 2023 Holiday Season

Darrell Lea, the renowned candy company known for its use of quality ingredients and sustainably sourced cocoa, is launching three festive new products ahead of the 2023 holiday season.

High-quality ingredients are one of the top drivers for what consumers want in their candy, and, according to the National Confectioners Association, over 90% of U.S. consumers say that chocolate and candy make winter holidays much sweeter. Darrell Lea combines these two truths in its products.

The launch comes shortly after the company expanded its U.S. offering to include its top-selling Australian produ c t s , t h e h i g h - i n c l u s i o n c h o c o l a t e tablets, sours and chocolate panning. The three new products include:

• D a r r e l l L e a C h r i s t m a s C r u n c h y

Chocolate Balls

• Darrell Lea Christmas Licorice in Strawberry and Apple flavors

• Famous Darrell Lea Rocklea Road Milk Chocolate slab

Darrell Lea uses better-quality chocolate that supports the cocoa-growing community at the same time The comp a n y p a r t n e r s w i t h C o c o a H o r i z o n s Foundation to source its cocoa from e c o n o m i c a l l y , s o c i a l l y a n d e n v i r o nmentally sustainable sources Many of its products use natural colors and flavors, no preservatives or high-fructose corn syrup, and Non-GMO ingredients (many certified Non-GMO Project)

Additionally, when customers voiced that ethically sourced ingredients matter, Darrell Lea removed palm oil and its derivatives from all Darrell Lea products to help decrease the demand

for palm oil, which has caused rainforests in Southeast Asia to be cleared out for new palm oil plantations The

Urban Accents

BBQ-Glazed Wing Party Starter Seasoning Blend

company replaced palm oil with sunflower oil; one of the best choices from an environmental, health-related and manufacturing perspective. Removing palm oil is just one of the many steps the company has taken to create candy that is better for customers, consumers and the environment.

Darrell Lea has been inventing, reinventing, challenging and discovering for almost a century and is committed to continuing to make life’s moments b e t t e r w i t h n e w c o n f e c t i o n e r y t h a t consumers will love this holiday season and beyond

For more information, go to www darrell lea com or stop by booth #C8963

Kraft Heinz to Reduce Use of Virgin Plastic by 20% by 2030

T h e K r a f t H e i n z C o m p a n y p l a n s t o reduce the use of virgin plastic in its global packaging portfolio by 20% by 2030 – a critical step in decreasing its use of fossil fuels and finding more sustainable product packaging options

This change is estimated to reduce the u s e o f a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 0 0 m i l l i o n pounds of virgin plastic, the equivalent of nearly five Eiffel Towers in weight

This goal builds on the existing investments the company has made across its portfolio to reduce plastic use and meet its broader packaging goals, including aiming to make 100% recyclable, reusable or compostable packaging by 2025, and aiming to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, while halving emissions by 2030

“To achieve our ESG goals, including to reach net-zero GHG emissions, we can’t continue to do things as we have in the

past,” said Rashida La Lande, Executive Vice President, Global General Counsel and Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer. “We are investing in innovative technologies and partnerships that are critical to helping us redesign packaging, eliminate unnecessary plastic, increase our use of recycled content, and influence the adoption of reuse models

This is one more way we’re renovating our product portfolio to not only offer more sustainable options, but to deliver on our consumer expectations ”

Kraft Heinz is building on the existing work with the United States, Canada and United Kingdom Plastic Pacts to increase the use of recycled content in its packaging The company targets replacing 15% of its U S PET rigid plastic packaging portfolio with post-consumer recycled content by 2025

Kraft Real Mayo and Miracle Whip

sauces since 1996, Urban Accents is today a bold and spicy member of Stonewall Kitchen’s exceptional Family of Brands The latest creation, the BBQGlazed Wing Party Starter Seasoning Blend, amps up everyone’s favorite app for a product that will be a winner at gameday gatherings and cookout celebrations

Smoky meets sweet in every delicious bite thanks to an ideal combination of brown sugar and spices like paprika and black pepper Designed to be baked for a mess-free cooking experience, this easy-to-use mix gets tossed with wings before going in the oven to caramelize Your customers will love

plan to transition packaging to 100% recycled content in the United States beginning in 2024 in an effort to eliminate approximately 14 million pounds of virgin plastic.

Heinz moved to 30% recycled content in most of its bottles in Brazil, the United Kingdom and Europe.

Heinz partnered with specialists in the United Kingdom to create recyclable Heinz Beans Snap Pots from soft plastics that were returned to Tesco by consumers. The recyclable pots are foodsafe and made with 39% recycled plastic

Kraft Heinz is identifying packaging solutions that use less plastic, such

Shake ‘N Bake removed its plastic “shaker” bag from its signature packaging last year to help eliminate 900,000 p o u n d s o f p l a s t i c w a s t e a n n u a l l y Effective across its full product portfol i o , t h i s w a s t h e b r a n d ’ s f i r s t s t e p toward a more sustainable future and an easy way for consumers to make a difference

serving this dish alongside crudités and their favorite creamy dips

Gluten free and crafted in small batches, each tent seasons 1 5 pounds of chicken There will be no arguing over drums and flats as they’re both irresistible with this blend!

For more information, go to stonewall kitchen com

H e i n z l a u n c h e d a n e c o - f r i e n d l y multipack paperboard sleeve to replace p l a s t i c s h r i n k w r a p i n t h e U n i t e d Kingdom, eliminating more than 1 million pounds of plastic in 2022.

Kraft Heinz is also exploring the use of alternative materials like fiberbased packaging with the hope that these cutting-edge innovations could be used for other packaging formats in years to come.

H e i n z a n n o u n c e d a p i l o t w i t h Pulpex in 2022 to develop a paperbased, renewable and recyclable bottle made from 100% sustainably sourced wood pulp for Heinz Tomato Ketchup –a first in the sauce category The company is testing the prototype to assess performance before bringing the bottle to the market

Nabob coffee in Canada replaced its non-recyclable flexible plastic coffee bags with recyclable canisters made from 80% paper fiber from renewable resources this year This change is estimated to eliminate approximately 2 5 million plastic bags annually

ReposiTrak Recall Management Speeds Process

Accurately

R e p o s i T r a k , o p e r a t i n g t h e w o r l d ’ s largest food supply chain network of n e a r l y 3 0 , 0 0 0 r e t a i l e r s , w h o l e s a l e r s a n d s u p p l i e r s , h a s l a u n c h e d i t s

ReposiTrak Recall Management solut i o n L e v e r a g i n g i n f r a s t r u c t u r e b u i l t over its 20-year history and adding to its portfolio of solutions that safeguard consumers and protect brand reputations, ReposiTrak is now equipped to enable the swift and precise execution of the recall process

B e c a u s e t h e R e p o s i T r a k R e c a l l

on-the-go functionality

O r i g i n a l l y i n t r o d u c e d i n 2 0 1 1 , Fiorucci Paninos created a whole new s p e c i a l t y s n a c k i n g c a t e g o r y E v e r y

Panino is hand-rolled with dry-cured meats, such as prosciutto, pepperoni, hard salami and genoa salami Each Panino is filled with delicious, rBST-free cheese to provide a protein and calcium rich treat Fiorucci Paninos meet the need for convenient, on-the-go, low-

Management solution is built upon the company’s supply chain platform, it is capable of maintaining virtual inventor i e s a s w e l l a s t r a c k i n g i n v e n t o r i e s , returns, shrink and more to provide a more accurate view of the location and status of the product that is being recalled The functionality of the recall solution is made possible by advancem e n t s t o t h e R e p o s i T r a k p l a t f o r m developed for its recently launched ReposiTrak Traceability Network solution

carb, keto-friendly snacking, perfect for lunches, workouts, late-night cravings and more Fiorucci also offers 100% natural Paninos that contain no artificial flavors, colors, ingredients or preservatives and are free of added nitrates and nitrites, made from pork never administered antibiotics or hormones

As pioneers in the Italian snacking category, Fiorucci is introducing a new line of Stickados™ beginning in 2023 Stickados are single-serve, all-natural protein sticks made with uncured sala-

T h e R e p o s i T r a k T r a c e a b i l i t y Network was built specifically to meet and exceed FDA’s updated food traceability regulation (FSMA 204) without the need for new hardware, software or e v e n l a b e l i n g s t e p s B a c k e d b y t h e

N a t i o n a l G r o c e r s A s s o c i a t i o n a s t h e industry choice for low-cost, easy-toadopt food traceability, the solution is used by more than eight percent of retail grocery stores, 1,100 suppliers a n d 2 0 d i s t r i b u t i o n c e n t e r s i n t h e United States R e p o s i T r a k ’ s m a i n s t a y s o l u t i o n s are used by more than 110,000 individual supplier facilities throughout the world to maintain financial, legal and regulatory documentation, implement

mi, pepperoni and salami with prosciutto for a quick, convenient, shelf-stable offering in an easy-open package

C o n s u m e r s l o o k i n g f o r l a r g e r , charcuterie-focused pack sizes can try Fiorucci’s full line of 100% natural charcuterie slices in 6-ounce packs, offered in a variety of flavors These premium meats are shelf-stable, dry-cured and aged with no antibiotics or hormones

They are essential to an instant charcuterie board, free from artificial flavors, c o l o r s , i n g r e d i e n t s , p r e s e r v a t i v e s ,

s c a n - b a s e d t r a d i n g a n d t o m a n a g e other supply chain challenges such as forecasting and ordering and out-ofstocks

T h e R e p o s i T r a k R e c a l l M a n a g e m e n t s o l u t i o n p r o v i d e s r e a l visibility to inventory levels and locat i o n s f r o m d i s t r i b u t i o n c e n t e r s t o stores Product is automatically tracked at the lot-level, which allows the rapid trace-back of a product through a simple search

Other features include: validation o f r e c a l l r e q u e s t s , n o t i f i c a t i o n s a n d a l e r t s r e l a t e d t o t h e r e c a l l p r o c e s s , r e t r i e v a l o f i n v e n t o r y i n f o r m a t i o n , recall status indications and notifications and summary reports

nitrates and nitrites

For more information, visit www fiorucci f o o d s c o m , e m a i l c f a m a r k e t i n g @ campofriofg com, 804 520 7775 or stop by booth #C8643

Crazy Monkey Baking (Cont’d. from p. 1)

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t w w w . c r a z y m o n k e y b a k i n g . c o m , e m a i l m f i g l e y @ p r i m a r y c o l o r s c o r p . c o m , c a l l 419.903.0403, ext. 1213 or stop by booth #C7169.

F a r m D i r e c t o r o f B u s i n e s s

Development, Michael Schwind “Both companies remain family-owned and operated and keep quality as a No 1 priority I’m very excited to watch this partnership develop ” A f a m i l i a r b r a n d i n t h e r e g i o n , m a n y E a s t T e n n e s s e a n s a r e a c c u stomed to Swaggerty’s Farm premium

sausage products And for more than 90 years, Weigel’s has been a beloved, family-owned brand with a dedicated, community following – growing from a family dairy farm to the 75 convenience store chain it is today With bright, spacious stores, state-of-the-art conveni e n c e r e t a i l i n g , c o m p e t i t i v e p r i c i n g , quality fuel and best-in-class customer service – Weigel’s stores are a trusted stop for many along any commute

About Swaggerty’s Farm S i n c e 1 9 3 0 , t h e S w a g g e r t y F a m i l y h a s b e e n m a k i n g s u p e r i o r s a u s a g e , m a d e f r o m f r e s h p o r k a n d a u n i q u e b l e n d o f s p i c e s T o d a y , S w a g g e r t y S a u s a g e

C o m p a n y , I n c i s a m o d e r n U S D Ai n s p e c t e d f a c i l i t y l o c a t e d i n t h e s a m e s m a l l v a l l e y o f E a s t T e n n e s s e e F o c u s e d o n q u a l i t y a n d g r o w t h , S w a g g e r t y ’ s F a r m p r o d u c t s a r e n o w a v a i l a b l e i n o v e r 1 3 , 0 0 0 r e t a i l e r s ,

w h o l e s a l e d i s t r i b u t o r s a n d f o o d s e rv i c e e s t a b l i s h m e n t s t h r o u g h o u t t h e n a t i o n W i t h t h e f o u r t h g e n e r a t i o n a t t h e c o m p a n y t o d a y , S w a g g e r t y ’ s F a r m p r e m i u m s a u s a g e p r o d u c t s s t a n d t h e t e s t o f t i m e a n d r e m a i n w h a t i s q u i t e p o s s i b l y t h e b e s t - t a s t i n g s a u s a g e i n A m e r i c a

For more information, visit www weigels com or www swaggertys com

A d d i t i o n a l l y , a p p r o x i m a t e l y 3 , 0 0 0 employees will join the company in conjunction with the transaction

Compelling Strategic Rationale

Benefits of the transaction include the following:

• E x p a n d i n g F a m i l y o f B r a n d s

Consumers Love: The acquisition adds Hostess Brands iconic snacks and innovation in the sweet baked goods category to the company’s current offering of beloved brands in the attractive categories of coffee, peanut butter, frozen handheld, fruit spreads, dog snacks and cat food categories

• A c c e l e r a t i n g t h e C o m p a n y ’ s C o n v e n i e n t O c c a s i o n S t r a t e g y : T h e acquisition positions the Company to d e l i v e r o n c o n s u m e r n e e d s a c r o s s o c c a s i o n s w i t h g r e a t e r c o n v e n i e n c e and selection Further, the company a n d H o s t e s s B r a n d s c o m p l e m e n t a r y capabilities will drive further growth and innovation

• S t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e C o m p a n y ’ s

strong financial profile with a combinat i o n o f s c a l e a n d p r o f i t a b i l i t y t h a t increases the company’s confidence in d e l i v e r i n g o n i t s l o n g - t e r m g r o w t h goals and increasing shareholder value

Executive Comments

“We are excited to announce the acquisition of Hostess Brands, which represents a compelling expansion of our family of brands and a unique opportunity to accelerate our focus on delighting consumers with convenient solutions across different meal and snacki n g o c c a s i o n s , ” s a i d M a r k S m u c k e r , Chair of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

“ W i t h t h i s a c q u i s i t i o n , w e a r e adding an iconic sweet snacking platform; enhancing our ability to deliver brands consumers love and convenient solutions they desire; and leveraging the attributes Hostess Brands offers, including its strong convenience store d i s t r i b u t i o n a n d l e a d i n g i n n o v a t i o n pipeline, combined with our strong commercial organization and consistent retail execution across channels to drive continued growth Our organiza-

tion is well positioned to deliver on the great potential our expanded family of brands offers, as has been reflected by our history of growth through acquisition and the successful integration of new categories to our business We look forward to this exciting new chapter for The J M Smucker Co ”

Andy Callahan, President and Chief

E x e c u t i v e O f f i c e r o f H o s t e s s B r a n d s commented, “I am extremely proud of the entire Hostess Brands team for the legacy they created in building a premier snacking company and driving i n d u s t r y l e a d i n g r e t u r n s f o r o u r i n v e s t o r s T o d a y r e p r e s e n t s a n o t h e r exciting chapter for Hostess Brands as w e c o m b i n e o u r i c o n i c s n a c k i n g brands with The J M Smucker Co ’s family of beloved brands We believe this is the right partnership to accelera t e g r o w t h a n d c r e a t e m e a n i n g f u l value for consumers, customers and s h a r e h o l d e r s O u r c o m p a n i e s s h a r e highly complementary go-to market strategies, and we are very similar in our core business principles and operations Above all else, Hostess Brands and The J M Smucker Co share a deep

commitment to inspiring moments of joy and satisfaction through our products, and we look forward to continuing to do so as part of The J M Smucker Co family ”

Financial Highlights

The acquisition strengthens the company’s financial profile and provides shareholders significant value by accele r a t i n g g r o w t h i n c o n v e n i e n t c o nsumer occasions Financial highlights of the transaction include:

• Net sales contribution of approximately $1 5 billion, with an estimated m i d - s i n g l e d i g i t p e r c e n t a g e a n n u a l growth rate

• Annual run-rate cost synergies of approximately $100 million achieved within the first two years of ownership

• A d j u s t e d e a r n i n g s p e r s h a r e expected to be accretive in the first fiscal year

• Strong cash flow of combined business enables rapid deleveraging, while continuing to reinvest in the business

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , g o t o investors jmsmucker com

Fiorucci (Cont’d from p 1)

Swaggerty’s (Cont’d from p 1)

J M Smucker (Cont’d from p 1)