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From sky-high valuations to abrupt shutdowns, the news that hooked Nosh readers this year demonstrated just how dynamic – and unpredictable – the packaged food landscape can be. 

As 2025 draws to a close, we’ve rounded up the top stories that captured your attention. 

5. Chasing Aimee: BetterBrand Founder Owes Lender $500K, But No One Can Find Her

BetterBrand founder Aimee Yang – and her low-carb bread company – were sued for $500,000 by a lender, but for months, no one could track her down. By late June, efforts to recover the money had escalated to public notices, leaving the company — and its customers — in limbo.

4. Chobani Acquires Daily Harvest, Aims For ‘Every Home In America’

In May, Greek yogurt heavyweight Chobani scooped up plant-based meal and smoothie brand Daily Harvest for an undisclosed price. It was Chobani’s second big deal in under two years, following its $900 million acquisition of La Colombe in 2023. 

3. Flowers Foods To Acquire Simple Mills For $795 Million

The year began with the announcement Flowers Foods, Inc. entered into an agreement to acquire Simple Mills from company management, Vestar Capital Partners and initial angel investors for $795 million in a cash transaction. 

2. Protein Bar Brand David Closes $75M Series A, Buys Ingredient Supplier

Peter Rahal’s protein bar startup David had a huge year, closing a $75 million Series A in May and snapping up Epogee, the supplier of its proprietary fat replacer. But the move quickly got complicated: rival startups filed an antitrust lawsuit, claiming the acquisition cut off their access to the key ingredient. 

What was the top Nosh story of the year? Check out the full list of 10 to find out.

The food industry experienced significant restructuring during 2025. The past year was packed with mergers, acquisitions and divestments as food companies both big and small aimed to stay competitive amid supply chain challenges, higher costs and shifting consumer preferences.

Insiders can access the full story on Nosh.

While 2025 may be coming to a close, there’s one thing some packaged food and beverage companies won’t be able to leave behind – their ongoing lawsuits. As we look back on the year, we will be keeping an eye on several of the most notable legal battles unfurling across the packaged food and beverage landscape.

Insiders can read the full breakdown on Nosh.

This year will likely go down in the history books as one marked by an unprecedented federal focus on the food industry, sparking strategic overhauls of, and a bit of panic within, Big Food operations; a flurry of state-level action against a plethora of synthetic ingredients; and the adoption of some new acronyms – UPFs and MAHA, just to name a few.

Insiders can access the full story. 

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This week on the podcast, Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporters Brad Avery and Lukas Southard reflect on the top stories of the year, including the rising influence of the Make America Healthy Again movement on the food and beverage industry, the biggest merger moments, and notable highlights of hemp’s uncertain future. 

Click here to listen to this week’s episode. Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

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