Trading Partners

Houchens Industries, Inc. said it has closed on its acquisition of Tampico Beverages, Inc., in a bid to continue to diversify and strengthen its portfolio.

Hormel Foods Corp. broke ground last week on a new production facility in Dubuque, Iowa. The manufacturer will operate Progressive Packaging, LLC as a wholly owned subsidiary. The total cost of the project is projected to be $89 million.

Twenty-five Cargill meat locations and complexes have achieved the ISO 14001 environmental certification, the company said.

Another lawsuit has been filed against The Kroger Co. in connection with an E. coli outbreak last month in Michigan and Ohio that was linked to the chain’s ground beef.

The retail trade group testified before Congress that although the rebate checks had a positive effect on spending, the economy could use more of the same.

Molpus, who headed the trade organization from 1990 until 2006, will take the helm again in early September.

The Hartman Group shows troubling indcators for category

Food Lion said it has analyzed 28,000 products through the program that applies health ratings to food items.