Top 10: Dollar General reveals executive moves, KFC sees strong demand for plant-based options

Dollar General’s promotion of two executives sat atop this week’s most read stories list among SmartBrief’s food and beverage readers. Jeffery Owen has become the company’s chief operating officer, and Steven Sunderland is stepping into the position of executive vice president of store operations. Also popular in the food retail realm was news of an undisclosed new Whole Foods concept coming to Virginia, as well as H-E-B’s expansion into West Texas planned for 2020.

Restaurant readers were interested in news that Landry’s bid $37 million to acquire Restaurants Unlimited, which filed for bankruptcy protection in July. News that KFC’s test of Beyond Fried Chicken in Atlanta created strong demand also proved popular among readers.

On the CPG side, news of Chobani’s appointment of Peter McGuinness as president of the company garnered clicks, as did news that Nestle is releasing new KitKat and Yorkie bars in the UK and Ireland that will contain 30% less sugar plus additional fiber and protein. News that Tyson Foods has acquired 40% of Brazil-based poultry company Grupo Vibra also made waves.

Check out the complete list of stories:

1. Dollar General reveals executive shakeup 

2. Landry’s bids $37M to buy Restaurants Unlimited

3. New Whole Foods concept coming to Va. shopping center 

4. Peter McGuinness named president of Chobani 

5. GMA estimates 98% of CPG will use clearer labels to cut food waste 

6. Tyson Foods buys stake in Brazilian poultry producer 

7. KFC sees strong demand for Beyond Fried Chicken in Atlanta test 

8. Nestle’s new KitKat, Yorkie bars to contain less sugar 

9. Campbell Soup sees snacks grow 3% in Q4 

10. H-E-B’s move into West Texas planned for 2020 

Related stories:

• What are the top trends in snacks and sweets?

• Why suppliers, grocers are going all in for National Family Meals Month

• Oat milk’s popularity expands to the ice cream case
   

Interested in aligning your brand alongside the hot topics of the year? Check out what SmartBrief’s Food & Travel editors have identified as trending content topics for 2019 (download).

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