Acquisitions, new launches, new partnerships, awards, new initiatives and more.

Sunsweet Growers, headquartered in Yuba City, CA, announced a collaboration with Ayala’s Herbal Water, headquartered in Narberth, PA, involving an equity investment as well as partnership in the marketing, sale and distribution of Herbal Water.

Indianapolis, IN-based Endangered Species Chocolate has named Hannah Wilkins as its Time for Hope Essay contest winner. Wilkins’ winning essay was selected from over 250 applicants to receive the grand prize $5,000 donation to the non-profit of her choice. Wilkins’ and all finalists’ essays can be accessed at www.itstimeforhope.com.

Phoenix, OR-based Rising Sun Farms’ Chile Lime Cheese DipnSpread was awarded the top prize for new products at the National Grocers Association (NGA) Convention held February 9–12 in Las Vegas, NV.

Ice cream-maker Ben & Jerry’s Homemade, Inc. announced it will use only Fair Trade Certified ingredients across its entire global flavor portfolio by the end of 2013.

San Francisco, CA-based Diamond Foods, Inc. stated it has entered into an agreement to acquire Kettle Foods, Inc., Salem, OR, makers of organic and all-natural potato chips, from London-based private equity group Lion Capital LLP for $615 million in cash.

SK Food International, a privately owned corporation located in Fargo, ND, wishes to clear any confusion regarding association with the former SK Foods, Inc., a separate corporation previously headquartered in Monterey, CA. This comes in light of recent additional legal issues involving SK Foods, Inc.

Ayer, MA-based Vitasoy USA, Inc. has re-launched its Web site, www.nasoya.com, which features an extensive recipe library.

Lovin Oven, LLC, of Irwindale, CA., has taken the precautionary measure of voluntarily recalling certain Health Valley Organic Peanut Crunch, Dutch Apple and Wildberry Chewy Granola Bars because of Salmonella contamination. No illnesses have been reported.

Published in WholeFoods Magazine, April 2010