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

PepsiCo is leaning into protein, alternative oils and ingredient reformulation across its snack portfolio, unveiling new Doritos, Lay’s and PopCorners products at the 2026 NACS Show in Las Vegas this week.

In the past four years, the snack business has been wracked by price increases, private label growth, changing consumer perceptions of both value and health, as well as plenty of new brands.

This week, podcast co-hosts Brad Avery and Lukas Southard dive into the relaxation beverage category, a developing rift between MAHA advocates and the White House, more lawsuits over sweeteners and RIND Snacks’ pivot deeper into co-packing.

Both varieties deliver the crunchy texture consumers expect from chili crisp, adding another dimension beyond the olive oil and seasonings and making the products feel more substantial than a conventional infused oil.

New candy brand GLiTCH is betting that the best way to sell functional candy is to stop leading with its functionality. Instead, founder Cameron Gawley wants GLiTCH to win on the same attributes that have long driven conventional candy.

Rip Van has appointed former Hershey’s president Todd Tillemans as its new CEO, as Catalina Crunch upgrades its C-suite leadership.

After years building in foodservice, Bare Bean is taking its ready-to-eat, vacuum sealed bean business to the consumer level.

The deal makes MadeGood’s parent company Riverside Natural Foods a unicorn, meaning a private company that has achieved a valuation of $1 billion or more, according to Bloomberg.

Clio Snacks announced today it has been acquired by Stride Consumer Partners.

Nosh Live returns December 3–4, 2026, to the Marriott Marina del Rey, bringing together founders, buyers, investors, and operators from across the packaged food industry for two days of expert-led panels, 1:1 meetings, and product discovery.

The grown-up cheese stick line comes in Cheddar Gouda and Truffle Reserve flavors, offering 7 grams of protein and 1 gram of carbs per 1 oz. stick.

Rind Snacks has closed its online store and narrowed the brand’s portfolio focus to Apple Chips, to simplify operations and put more resources toward manufacturing, said Matt Weiss, founder of Rind and chief growth officer at Keep It REAL Foods.

Celebrity-backed baby and kids nutrition brand Once Upon a Farm is pushing deeper into functional nutrition with the launch of organic electrolyte pouches, its latest effort to extend the brand beyond babies and toddlers and capture more occasions as kids grow. The Launch: The newly public company has rolled out Organic Electrolyte Blends, a refrigerated… Read more »

This week, we’re pondering if Graza is up for grabs, marveling at Magic Spoon’s refreshed branding, and getting buzzy with a Red Bull advent calendar. Hey, what more could you ask for?