During their latest earnings call, executives from Ohio based grocery retailer Kroger reaffirmed their belief that the current consumption trends they have been experiencing will continue for the remainder of this year. During the first half of the year, sales reached $72 billion which is up from $65 billion the prior year. Kroger CEO William McMullen said “Customers across the country are still staying home; and cooking at home that is now part of their new routine.” Read More

The SEC recently decided to broaden their definition of who is considered an “Accredited Investor,” or someone who is allowed to buy or invest in unregistered or private funds. Prior to the new ruling, individuals either had to have a net worth of $1 million or have an annual income over $200,000 (Individual). The new law expands access to those who have entry level stock broker licenses or are “knowledgeable employees” of non-public firms. Read More

The Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index is a leading economic indicator for a nine-state region stretching from Minnesota to Arkansas. The Index is primarily focused on the manufacturing sector and is based on surveys of purchasing managers. In a recent Star Tribune article, Kavita Kumar details the July report that finally saw Minnesota return to growth. Read More

As the eat at home trend has continued into the summer, food manufacturers that primarily supply grocery stores are still struggling to keep up with the increased demand. In a recent article in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, Mark Reilly writes that General Mills is seeking to form new partnerships with contract manufacturers to help produce their products. Read More

Due to increased demand for technology, the software M&A market has remained strong in spite of the current pandemic. Eden Prairie based HelpSystems is a private equity backed Software Company that focuses on the automation and security of critical IT processes. The Company has been in growth mode during 2020... Read More

In a recent New York Times Article, Sapna Maheshwari dives into Lululemon’s decision to make its first acquisition by purchasing the at-home fitness company, Mirror for $500 million. Read More

In a recent article published in The Fabricator, Tim Heston discusses how important mergers and acquisitions have been for continued growth and stability in the metal manufacturing industry. Read More

As states continue to loosen restrictions and more construction sites are reopening, the need for technological advancement in the Construction industry is becoming clear. In a recent blog from PitchBook, Priyamvada Mathur details how construction companies are finally starting to listen to the technology firms in their industry who have been actively promoting their products for years. These products include things like 3D scanning and remote inspection. Read More

A new index that tracks the share of American made manufacturing goods consumed in the U.S. market, showed that for the first time since 2009, the United States saw an increase in reshoring. Read More

Big data and analytics firm, IRI, recently released their annual “New Product Pacesetters” report which provides details on the largest food and nonfood CPG product launches from the last year. The 2019 report showed the return of the “blockbuster product launch,” as 10 products on the list surpassed the $100 million dollar sales mark, six of which were food and beverage products. Read More