Food Industry News, Insights, and Education for the CPG Community

Consumers are starting to get fed up with being told what they need, rather than offered what they want, according to Tastewise’s 2027 Food and Beverage Forecast. The annual webinar claimed that the “Health Promise” made by food and beverage brands is fading from relevance and in some cases is becoming a turnoff.

This week, the podcast covers Beyond’s expansion into new protein formats, a whey supply shortage, Battle Bars’ rebrand, and a legal dispute between Big Food and Big Sugar.

This December 3+4 in Los Angeles, Nosh Live LA brings together founders, buyers, investors, operators, and industry partners from across packaged food. A founder may be weighing a retail expansion. A buyer may question the assortment fit. An investor may challenge the economics. An operator may have already worked through the same execution problem. Nosh Live creates the opportunity to bring those decisions into conversations with people who can challenge the thinking, surface blind spots, and help sharpen the next move.

The Chicago-based protein bar brand’s comprehensive brand refresh includes redesigned packaging and reformulated bars that cut each serving from 220-240 calories down to 190, while also upping the protein content from 17 grams to 20 grams and increasing fiber to 7 grams per bar.

The Hain Celestial Group is exiting the global market as the New Jersey-based conglomerate announced today it is selling its international business to private equity firm Aurelius for approximately $323 million.

Petit Pot has spent more than a decade introducing U.S. consumers to French-inspired desserts. Now, the roughly $25 million brand is preparing to take that proposition to a much wider audience.

With 15 grams of protein and 5 grams of collagen per 3-count package, this snackable line promotes its low sugar and “fluffy” texture as selling points.

Children’s meal and snack platform Cerebelly announced today it has made its first acquisition, buying up freeze-dried kids snack brand Fresh Bellies.

A veteran CPG operator and Michelin star chef have teamed up to reinvigorate the shelf-stable meal kits space with Riff, a shelf-stable meal kit line launching at Target stores nationwide.

Flavor company Watkins has entered a definitive agreement to acquire Sauer Brands’ spice business, including the recently-purchased Kernel Season’s and Spicer Hunter brands, along with Sauer’s own branded spices and seasonings, the companies announced today. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Prest is rethinking the refrigerated hummus category with a shelf-stable powdered mix that consumers prepare at home with water and olive oil, plus optional tahini.

Glenn Food Co. is meeting pent-up demand to grow its seafood seasoning brand Merman’s Revenge with a national distribution deal at Walmart.

Allergen-free cookie company Partake announced one of its most impactful partnerships to-date as it partners with Girl Scouts of the USA to supply a new cookie product, Sparkables, that supports the brand’s mission for inclusive eating.

This week, we’re taking chili crisp to Italy thanks to Carbone, checking out Chameleon’s rebrand, and getting dolled up for a night on the town with a Cadbury diamond clutch. Hey, what more could you ask for?