staff image

Brooks Johnson

Business Reporter
Food and manufacturing
Raised 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.

Contact

EMAIL
brooks.johnson@startribune.com
PHONE
612-673-4229
LINKEDIN
readbrooks

Latest from Brooks Johnson

MN Fortune 500

3M preaches AI, automation, cost-savings, innovation and more at investor meetup

The Maplewood-based company wants to launch 1,000 new products in the next three years and automate some factory work that could eventually reduce head count by 700 people.
February 26, 2025
3M's Maplewood campus
MN Fortune 500

3M, facing delivery issues, hires Honeywell supply chain boss

“Our on-time-in-full performance out of the factories has not been that great,” CEO Bill Brown said last month.
February 25, 2025
Agriculture

Minnesota farmers, officials worry over signaled shift in federal bird flu protocols

The changes could mean a vaccine and a decrease in the number of birds culled.
February 21, 2025
Business

This Minnesota food company is part of rising profit-sharing trend with $27M payout over past five years

KLN Family Brands, which makes pet food and candy, has given out profit-sharing checks for 25 years.
February 21, 2025
Naomi Hoffeeck and Denice Roberts boxed up packages of Wiley Wallaby Licorice from a conveyor at Kenny's Candy Wednesday morning. ] ANTHONY SOUFFLE • anthony.souffle@startribune.com Ken Nelson, founder of the Kenny's Candy Company, gave tour Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020 of the town of Perham, Minn. where they make candy, potato chips and dog food, and their main problem is finding a place to put all the people who have jobs there.
Agriculture

Cocoa prices are up, chocolate consumption is down for America’s favorite confection

Minnetonka-based agribusiness Cargill expects Americans to buy 75 million pounds of chocolate for Valentine’s Day.
February 14, 2025
MN Fortune 500

Slew of Minnesota companies beyond Target go mute on DEI

With President Donald Trump’s executive orders, some, like 3M, are taking diversity, equity and inclusion off their websites.
February 13, 2025
MN Fortune 500

General Mills’ first Super Bowl ad in 10 years features Minnesota brand Totino’s pizza rolls

Comedians and “Detroiters” stars Tim Robinson and Sam Richardson bid farewell to the alien Chazmo in a homage to E.T.
February 5, 2025
Economy

How Trump tariffs could affect Minnesota consumers and companies

The tariffs against Canada and Mexico have been postponed a month, but a 10% import tax on China is still on for Tuesday.
February 4, 2025
Gas was $2.39 at the BP gas station ay 46th Street at Lyndale in South Minneapolis. ] GLEN STUBBE * gstubbe@startribune.com Friday September 4, 2015 Pre-Labor Day gas prices in the U.S. are the lowest in 11 years, and under $2 per gallon in many states, though Minnesota's average is nearly 40 cents higher. Just one station, in Brainerd, was selling at $1.99. Checking on whether that is a promotion. Costco and Sams Clubs, usually the low price leaders, were 15 cents more. With some motorists' tho
Agriculture

Cocoa prices are up, chocolate consumption is down for America’s favorite confection

Minnetonka-based agribusiness Cargill expects Americans to buy 75 million pounds of chocolate for Valentine’s Day.
February 14, 2025
MN Fortune 500

Slew of Minnesota companies beyond Target go mute on DEI

With President Donald Trump’s executive orders, some, like 3M, are taking diversity, equity and inclusion off their websites.
February 13, 2025
MN Fortune 500

General Mills’ first Super Bowl ad in 10 years features Minnesota brand Totino’s pizza rolls

Comedians and “Detroiters” stars Tim Robinson and Sam Richardson bid farewell to the alien Chazmo in a homage to E.T.
February 5, 2025
Economy

How Trump tariffs could affect Minnesota consumers and companies

The tariffs against Canada and Mexico have been postponed a month, but a 10% import tax on China is still on for Tuesday.
February 4, 2025
Gas was $2.39 at the BP gas station ay 46th Street at Lyndale in South Minneapolis. ] GLEN STUBBE * gstubbe@startribune.com Friday September 4, 2015 Pre-Labor Day gas prices in the U.S. are the lowest in 11 years, and under $2 per gallon in many states, though Minnesota's average is nearly 40 cents higher. Just one station, in Brainerd, was selling at $1.99. Checking on whether that is a promotion. Costco and Sams Clubs, usually the low price leaders, were 15 cents more. With some motorists' tho
Back to Top