Campbell, McCormick, Ferrero Go Shopping

Calling it a reach into the "faster-growing packaged fresh category," Campbell Soup Co. announced an agreement to acquire Garden Fresh Gourmet for $231 million. Campbell said Garden Fresh Gourmet is the No. 1 branded refrigerated salsa in the U.S. and also makes hummus, dips and tortilla chips.

McCormick & Co. struck a deal June 24 to buy One World Foods Inc., seller of Stubb’s barbeque sauces, for $100 million. Sales of the Austin, Texas-based business are projected to be $30 million in 2015 and are expected to grow at a double-digit rate annually for the next several years, McCormick said.

Italy's Ferrero International has purchased rival U.K. chocolatier Thorntons in a deal worth nearly $178 million. Ferrero makes Ferrero Rocher chocolate, Nutella spread, Tic Tacs and Kinder candy. Thorntons is one of the U.K.’s last independent chocolate makers.