Creating a buzz throughout the global food industry, the H.J. Heinz Company and Kraft Foods Group, Inc. announced a merger deal Wednesday to create The Kraft Heinz Company financed in part by American business mogul Warren Buffet, becoming the third largest food and beverage company in North America.

Bizerba, a provider of weighing, slicing and labeling technologies for the food industry, has acquired the food sector of French company Luceo SAS to allow its customers to benefit from a high degree of safety and quality control provided by the transaction.

Global food and workplace safety leader Alchemy Systems announced it has acquired the Chilton Consulting Group, a firm specializing in helping food companies navigate complex food safety standards, improve regulatory readiness, and drive frontline employee performance.

 Headquartered in London, Rexam PLC operates 55 can manufacturing plants in more than 20 countries, employing approximately 8,000 people. 

The Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint Thursday charging the proposed merger of Sysco and US Foods violates antitrust laws by significantly reducing competition nationwide.

Packaging solutions company the Ball Corporation and Rexam PLC announced Thursday the terms of an offer by Ball to acquire Rexam, a leading metal beverage can manufacturer, in a cash and stock transaction valued at $8.4 billion.

Mondelez International announced today it has acquired the snacking company Enjoy Life Foods, a leading brand in the growing “free from” segment.

The JM Smucker company announced it will acquire Big Heart Pet Brands in a transaction valued at approximately $5.8 billion as a way of positioning the company for continued growth by capturing the segment of consumers who are pet owners.

Consumer packaged goods company Post Holdings, Inc. announced this week it will acquire the privately-owned MOM Brands Company for $1.15 billion.

Pennsylvania-based chocolate giant The Hershey Company announced plans to acquire KRAVE Pure Foods, Inc., a manufacturer of KRAVE jerky, in a transaction that will allow the company to break into the growing meat snacks category.