Utz CEO Howard Friedman to depart following take-private; John Lindeman offered post-closing CEO Role

In Q3 2026, Hormel agreed to buy Brakebush for $1.055B, JBS proposed taking full ownership of Pilgrim’s Pride, and Intersnack acquired Utz for $2.9B. Hain Celestial and Keurig Dr Pepper sold assets to reduce debt. Kroger agreed to buy Giant Eagle for $1.65B.

Tyson Foods is closing two beef facilities, cutting 3,200 jobs, and faces a WARN Act investigation. The company expects a $500-$600M operating loss in fiscal 2026 due to cattle shortages. European buyers spent nearly $6B on U.S. food brands in H1 2026, with tariffs driving demand for domestic production. The FDA proposed mandatory GRAS notifications, requiring 180 hours of compliance work per filing, with a comment deadline of December 9, 2026.

Utz Brands reported Q2 FY2026 net sales of $371.8M, up 1.4% year on year, driven by a 3.3% rise in its core Branded Salty Snacks segment. Price realization rose 3.6% while volume fell 2.2%. GAAP net loss was $16.0M; adjusted net profit was $27.1M. Adjusted EBITDA increased 14.4% to $55.7M. Utz agreed to go private via Intersnack, expected to close in Q4 2026.

Utz Brands, Inc. (UTZ) filed an SEC Form 8-K — Results of Operations and Financial Condition. Utz Brands Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results Company Recently Announced Agreement to Take Utz Private Hanover, PA – August 5, 2026 – Utz Brands, Inc. (NYSE: UTZ) (“Utz” or the “Company”), a leading U.S. manufacturer of branded Salty Snacks and a small-cap growth and value Stapl

Utz Brands reported 2Q 2026 net sales of $371.8 million, up 1.4% year over year, with branded salty snack organic net sales up 3.3%. Adjusted net income rose 14.8% to $27.1 million, while EBITDA fell 55.5% to $17.4 million. On July 20, Utz agreed to be taken private by Intersnack, with the deal expected to close in Q4.

Utz Brands Inc. reported a fiscal 2026 first-quarter net loss of $2.4 million, versus $5.7 million net income a year earlier. Adjusted net earnings were $21.3 million (15¢/share). Net sales rose 2.6% to $361.3 million, with branded salty snacks up 5%. Utz kept its full-year outlook for adjusted EPS decline of 3% to 6%.