Brooks Johnson
Business Reporter
Food and manufacturingRaised in Fargo and educated at the University of Montana, Johnson worked at newspapers in Idaho, Washington and Duluth before joining the Minnesota Star Tribune at its relaunched Duluth bureau in 2019. He lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and their young sons.
Latest from Brooks Johnson
Dairy Queen sets bold target: $10 billion in sales by 2030
The Bloomington-based company, a Berkshire Hathaway holding, stands apart from its fast food competitors like McDonald’s, KFC and Wendy’s that are seeing declines in traffic because of higher prices and economic uncertainty.
May 12, 2025
A Minnesota eye on extravagant Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting in Omaha
Renowned investor Warren Buffett surprised a crowd of thousands Saturday with his plans to retire at the end of the year. The company is behind Twin Cities-based businesses like DQ and HomeServices of America.
May 5, 2025
Midwest favorite Jack Link’s has made beef jerky the family business
The reigning meat snacks leader, founded in Wisconsin, took some uncomfortable risks in its 40-year history.
April 30, 2025
Nonprofit BioMADE picks Maple Grove for its $132M flagship plant
The pilot facility, which the state of Minnesota and U.S. Department of Defense helped pay for, is meant to kick-start the national bio-economy.
April 29, 2025
3M on track to quit making PFAS this year, but it could take longer to shake completely
PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” are deeply embedded in supply chains and critical for circuit boards, batteries and gaskets.
April 28, 2025
Why are there two seafood plants in the small Minnesota town of Motley?
Morey’s and Trident trace their history to a broken-down truck and a crate of corn.
April 25, 2025
‘Show up’ and ‘pay it forward’: How Minnesota food companies can help startups thrive
Allison Hohn, the executive director of Naturally Minnesota, wants to see local success breed success like it does in medtech.
April 24, 2025
General Mills tried natural-colored Trix. Cereal buyers wanted artificial dyes back.
The FDA announced this week it wants artificial colors out of food, like it or not, a stance U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has championed.
April 23, 2025
3M on track to quit making PFAS this year, but it could take longer to shake completely
PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” are deeply embedded in supply chains and critical for circuit boards, batteries and gaskets.
April 28, 2025
Why are there two seafood plants in the small Minnesota town of Motley?
Morey’s and Trident trace their history to a broken-down truck and a crate of corn.
April 25, 2025
‘Show up’ and ‘pay it forward’: How Minnesota food companies can help startups thrive
Allison Hohn, the executive director of Naturally Minnesota, wants to see local success breed success like it does in medtech.
April 24, 2025
General Mills tried natural-colored Trix. Cereal buyers wanted artificial dyes back.
The FDA announced this week it wants artificial colors out of food, like it or not, a stance U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has championed.
April 23, 2025