Food and Manufacturing Reporter | Food and Manufacturing

Brooks Johnson is a business reporter covering Minnesota’s food industry, 3M and manufacturing trends.

Raised in Fargo and educated at the University of Montana, Johnson worked at newspapers in Idaho, Washington and Duluth before joining the Star Tribune at its relaunched Duluth bureau in 2019. He lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and their young son and is looking for new streams to fly-fish.


Record rally for 3M shares as profits soar under new CEO

A leaner 3M has sharpened its margins as restructuring pays off.


3M's role in the golf industry goes beyond the PGA Tour's 3M Open

The title sponsor of the event in Blaine this week is deeply embedded in the sport, from sandpaper to adhesives.


Costly, hard-to-find insurance keeping THC beverages off some Minnesota menus

Minnesota's pioneering approach to on-site THC consumption means insurers don't have a baseline to write policies around and thus are hesitant to offer coverage.


Food manufacturing plant in Fridley closing, laying off 170 workers

Family-owned Rich's, based in New York, acquired the plant from TreeHouse Foods in 2020.


Cargill lays off 200 tech workers globally amid digital refocusing

The cuts come as Cargill is opening a tech-focused office hub in Atlanta that plans to hire for 400 jobs.


CHS: Global trade winds continue shifting away from American farmers and cooperatives

Inver Grove Heights-based CHS warned Wednesday that exports face "strong competition."


3M president, finance chief resigns for job at ADM

President, finance chief at 3M resigns for job at ADM


New Africa-based leader for General Mills-backed nonprofit Partners in Food Solutions

As the new CEO, Mandla Nkomo sees major opportunities to help revolutionize Africa's food industry to address the continent's ongoing urbanization.


Minnesota-based Cargill, Target partner on cotton-tracing tech

FibreTrace is working with the ag giant and retailer to help answer consumer demand for traceability in fashion and make sure cotton items aren't the product of child or forced labor around the world.


Man shot dead outside Lakeville Amazon warehouse identified

Ahmed Ibrahim Cariif, 22, of Faribault died of a gunshot wound to the chest. Authorities have a suspect in custody and are investigating what led to the altercation.