• B&G Bids Goodbye to Another Brand
• Schuman Cheese, GOOD PLANeT Form Venture
• Utz To Close Michigan Plant
• ICYMI: The Week’s Top Stories
• Staffing Switches and Retail Rollouts

Talk about rolling in dough. 

London-based better-for-you cookie dough snack brand Doughlicious has secured $5 million in fresh funding from Rich Products Ventures and The Angel Group to begin manufacturing in the U.S. Currently, the brand’s entire product portfolio is produced at its 22,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in the U.K. 

Manufacturing in the U.S. will help the brand offset tariffs imposed by President Trump that have significantly impacted countless food and beverage brands, according to Doughlicious leadership. The company’s London factory will supply product to the U.K. and Europe, while its U.S. factory – expected to open next spring – will send product to Asia. 

“We’re not profitable because of those tariffs, and we don’t want to put that cost increase on our customers because we know that our endgame is to start manufacturing in the U.S.,” Kathryn Bricken, founder and CEO of Doughlicious, told The Times. 

Launched in the U.K. in 2017, Doughlicious crossed the pond with its Frozen Cookie Dough and Gelato Bites for a stateside debut at Whole Foods in 2023, aiming to redefine “permissible indulgence” in the frozen novelty aisle. The move – supported by a £3.5 million investment from Triple B – included 185 Whole Foods Stores across the Northeast, Southwest, Rocky Mountain and Mid-Atlantic Regions. 

• The snack brand has since expanded nationally with Whole Foods, hoping to be “as ubiquitous as leading frozen novelties.” 
• Doughlicious also has U.S. distribution partnerships with Target, Wegmans and Gopuff.

Learn more about Doughlicious’ stateside expansion on Nosh.

Another B&G Foods brand has left the stable. As it continues its portfolio restructuring strategy, the conglomerate announced the sale of Le Sueur – its brand of premium sweet peas, green beans and carrots – to McCall Farms, Inc.

B&G president and CEO Casey Keller said in a release that the sale will help to “sharpen focus on our core brands and reduce long-term debt.”

Proceeds are also expected to go to “general corporate purposes” and “the purchase of assets useful” in its business. Terms were not disclosed.

B&G has been divesting its portfolio for some time now, with Green Giant, Don Pepino and Back to Nature all among its recent departures.

Catch Up: B&G Sells Off Italian Brands as Net Sales Keep Dropping Double-Digits

Schuman Cheese and GOOD PLANeT Foods are forming joint venture GPV Foods that will bring together Schuman’s plant-based Vevan brand and GOOD PLANeT’s retail business.

• GOOD PLANeT Foods distributes a line of allergen‑free, plant‑based cheese to over 1,200 retail locations nationwide.
• Schuman operates three production facilities, including one plant dedicated solely to manufacturing plant-based dairy. 

"This venture allows us to reach more consumers, deliver superior innovation, and accelerate growth in a way that benefits the entire category," GOOD PLANeT founder and CEO David Israel said in a statement.

Utz Brands announced plans to close a manufacturing plant in Grand Rapids, Mich., as part of its ongoing supply chain transformation, affecting 75 jobs. 

• The snack maker will transition production to its seven remaining plants, beginning this month through early 2026.
• Management expects the closure will generate cost savings during the second half of the year while optimizing its geographic footprint.

While Utz has divested or closed multiple facilities in recent years, other food manufacturers are investing in expanded production capacity stateside.

Go Deeper: U.S. Food Manufacturing Is Growing, But Can It Continue?

Here’s a selection of last week’s leading headlines on Nosh.

🍇 Welch’s Names Cees Talma as CEO, Effective Immediately

Welch’s, the 156-year-old juice and jelly manufacturer, has named industry vet Cees Talma as its new CEO, replacing outgoing chief executive Trevor Bynum, effective immediately.

🛒 Chef-Led Brand Ripi Takes Aim at Frozen Pasta Disruption

Restaurant-inspired brands are reinventing the freezer aisle, and upstart stuffed pasta maker Ripi is homing in on that same chef-quality positioning.

🥜 Smucker, Chubby Snacks Settle Trademark Suit 

J.M. Smucker has settled its lawsuit accusing now-defunct frozen sandwich startup Chubby Snacks of false advertising, trademark violations and disparagement of its nearly billion-dollar Uncrustables brand.

🥩 Righteous Felon Rides Meat Stick ‘Rocket Ship’ To New Heights

Known for its craft beef jerky, Righteous Felon has spent the last few years reallocating resources toward its meat stick offerings, with sales rapidly growing as a result.

Get caught up on the week’s leading headlines from around the food industry on Nosh.

Here’s a taste of the people and products moving around the industry to start off your week.

🧀 Tropical Cheese, a producer of Hispanic dairy and meat products in the U.S., appointed former Second Nature Brands leader Vic Mehren as its new chief executive.

💪 1440 Foods, maker of Pure Protein, FitCrunch and MET-Rx brands, has tapped Joey Bergstein as its new CEO. Previously, he led BlueTriton and Sabra Dipping Company.

☀️ Nature’s Path Organic Foods has named Laura S. Chamberlain to the newly created role of chief customer officer, reflecting the company’s commitment to U.S. growth.

🍝 Yo Mama’s Foods is making its Costco debut, launching Roasted Garlic Pasta Sauce at 110 locations across the Midwest in a two-pack of 25 oz. jars.

🥣 Painterland Sisters is launching its line of organic skyr yogurt at Whole Foods Market stores nationwide. 

Insiders can catch up on the latest distribution news on Nosh.