Weston, CT-based El’s Kitchen, manufacturer of gluten-free snacks, has just signed a lease on a 3,000-ft² facility in Stratford, CT. The company previously outsourced most production, but says that a new kitchen will allow it to bring its manufacturing, warehousing and office functions under one roof.

Superfood snack-maker Navitas Naturals of Novato, CA has acquired several buildings in a bid to expand its operations. The new Navitas Naturals campus increases available space from 13,500 to 23,000-ft2, allowing the company to double its production capacity.

Bob’s Red Mill Natural Foods, Milwaukie, OR, has announced the three finalists in its oatmeal recipe competition with a trip to Scotland on the line. For its Spar for the Spurtle 2 contest, the company asked for recipe submissions featuring its Steel Cut Oats. Laurie Figone from Petaluma, CA; Lanie Smith from Topeka, KS; and Kerri Willoughby from Whitewright, TX are the finalists.

S&P 500 stock shares of Dean Foods, Dallas, TX, spiked 34% on August 8^th, when the company announced it would put forth an IPO for 20% of its WhiteWave Foods division, which houses the Horizon Organic milk and Silk Soy brands.

Published in WholeFoods Magazine, September 2012