The latest news, trends, analysis, interviews and podcasts from the global food and beverage industry

Salty snacks company Benestar Brands has announced its acquisition of pork rind producer 4505 Meats. Headquartered in San Francisco, 4505 Meats offers keto-friendly and paleo-certified meat snacks that it says are made with humanely raised meats. The company’s range includes pork rinds and sausage sticks. A portfolio company of Highlander Partners, Benestar Brands has operations across the US and Mexico. The company’s roster of brands includes: Mac's, Pörq, Turkey Creek, Pretzilla, Chicas and Cazo de Oro. Jeff Hull, president and CEO of Highlander Partners, said: “When we created Benestar, we established an active M&A platform in the salty snack space targeting brands with exceptional growth prospects, unique products and strong brand equity. 4505 fits these criteria perfectly and we are thrilled to welcome 4505 into Benestar.” 4505 CEO Erik Havlick, who will continue to lead the company, added: “Teaming up with Benestar Brands and Highlander Partners represents an exciting new chapter for 4505 Meats, and is perfectly timed at an inflection point for our brand”. “We believe that joining Benestar Brands will enable 4505 to accelerate even faster as a leader in premium snacks.”