1318 ET - Hershey's move to acquire the LesserEvil popcorn brand for around $750 million, as reported by WSJ, reinforces the M&A approach for healthier options within the food and beverage industry. LesserEvil makes a range of snacks that are made out of what the company calls better-for-you ingredients. Just a few weeks ago, PepsiCo acquired probiotic soda brand Poppi for nearly $2 billion in a move aimed at tackling weakening sales of traditional sugary drinks. This space was expected by M&A bankers to be one of the busiest in the consumer and retail industry this year. The Hershey/LesserEvil deal could be proof of that. Hershey rises 1%. (sabela.ojea@wsj.com; @sabelaojeaguix)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
April 03, 2025 13:18 ET (17:18 GMT)
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