Distribution: Nut-free Spreads, Vegan Chicken Expand Retail Footprint

Voyage Food Moves into Brick and Mortar and Pursues B2B Efforts

Following its $36 million raise earlier this year, food tech company Voyage Foods is bringing its peanut-free peanut butter to retailers nationwide.

The single-SKU line will launch in 390 doors including Sprouts, Fairway Market, Gourmet Garage, Mar-Val Food Stores, and Nugget Market. The product was brought into Sprouts as part of the retailer’s Forager Program, CEO Adam Maxwell said, and, if it performs well, could be rolled out chainwide in early 2023. The suggested retail price is $3.99 per 16 oz jar.

“After the overwhelmingly positive reception from our D2C launch in July, we knew that the next step was to expand into physical retail and introduce our Peanut-Free Spread to the masses,” Maxwell told NOSH.

Currently Voyage has three products: a peanut-free peanut butter, coffee-free cold brew and cocoa-free chocolate. Rather than seeking to duplicate these products on a molecular level, such as alt-dairy company Perfect Day, the company instead is using a combination of existing ingredients that it believes closely mimics the taste and texture of peanut butter.

Voyage has raised close to $42 million, including a $36M round in May supported by investors including UBS O’Connor, Level One FundHorizons Ventures, SOSV’s Indie Bio and Social Impact Capital. At the time, Maxwell said the capital would be used to support a launch into retail within the next quarter. The company hopes to expand into other retailers in early 2023 as well as explore food service partnerships with suppliers looking for allergen-friendly options.

Maxwell did not commit to a launch date for the company’s chocolate and cold brew products, stating they would be offered exclusively as an ingredient to food manufacturers “in the coming year.”

“We have a unique ability to offer [global] companies, who feed millions around the world, more environmentally-friendly, just and cost-effective alternatives to chocolate and coffee that are nearly identical in taste and nutritional value,” he told NOSH. “We aim to empower these food giants to make better food for a better world by partnering with Voyage.”

Caulipower Brings Meal Offering to Over 3,000 Doors

Vegetable-forward frozen food company Caulipower is introducing its newly launched frozen meals in retail.

Best known for its cauliflower-based frozen pizzas, Caulipower markets a range of (frozen) items including rice cups, chicken tenders/nuggets, pasta and tortillas in 30,000 retailers nationwide including Walmart, Kroger, Target, Whole Foods.

Its latest offering is a three-SKU line of frozen heat-and-eat meals in 18 oz bags, available in Cauliflower Gnocchi with Savory Pesto, Cauliflower Penne Pomodoro and Spinach Gnocchi with Tuscan-Style Marinara. Each carries a suggested retail price of $7.99 at Walmart and $9.99 to $10.99 everywhere else.

Over the last month the meals have rolled out nationwide in over 3,000 Walmart stores as well as in select Albertsons & Safeway banners, Hy-Vee, Fresh Thyme and ShopRite in early 2023.

“The multi-serve meal category has experienced significant growth as consumer demand for convenient meal solutions has skyrocketed, but the need for truly better-for-you options has left a gap in the market,” founder Gail Becker told NOSH. “Frozen meals takes us into new eating occasions – whether this is a snack for one person or a meal for a family.”

When Caulipower launched its sweet potato “toasts” in 2018, the company tried to create an overarching brand name, Vegolutionary Foods, that it felt was more flexible to support other vegetable categories. However, after finding consumer awareness was higher with the Caulipower name, it has since decided to brand all products under this banner, even if they do not contain cauliflower, such as the meals.

“[The meals] also allow us to bring in new vegetables into the mix and takes us beyond the magic of cauliflower,” Becker said. “People can now enjoy their favorite meals with a VEGolutionary spin in a matter of minutes.”

Oat Haus Enters Sprouts Farmers Market Nationwide

Granola butter maker Oat Haus announced it is available in Sprouts nationwide. The nut-free spread company used a TikTok video showing a jar of Oat Haus falling off the shelf and rolling all the way to a customer’s home – a nod to an early 2000s Chef Boyardee commercial – to launch the partnership.

Sprouts will be the first retailer to carry Oat Haus’ Cookie Dough flavor spread along with its original granola flavor. The brand makes spreads that are nut-free, gluten-free and made without other top allergens like soy, eggs, milk, tree nuts and sesame. All nine flavors come in 12 oz. jars and retail online for $12.95.

Daring Plant-Based Chicken Now Available at Bluestone Lane

Vegan chicken company Daring Foods will now be on the menu at Australian coffee roaster and cafe company Bluestone Lane in 25 locations. The two companies also announced that a chef-collaborated menu item featuring the soy protein-based chicken is in the works and will be unveiled later this year.

“We are confident that through this expansion we can show customers just how tasty plant-based swaps can be, and in turn those small changes can make a massive impact,” said Ross Mackay, Daring’s Founder and CEO.

Bluestone founder and CEO Nick Stone called the Daring partnership a “perfect fit, thanks to its clean, simple ingredient profile and process” that aligns with both company’s mission of making and serving foods that are better for people, animals and the environment.

Daring recently received the endorsement of vegan husband-wife team Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker furthering its goal of becoming a lifestyle brand for the plant-based eating community.

Skinny Butcher Offered in H-E-B

Pea-protein chicken alternative brand Skinny Butcher is now available across Texas through a partnership with San Antonio-based grocery chain H-E-B.

Announced at the beginning of the month, the retailer is offering Skinny Butcher’s Crazy Crispy Chick’n nuggets (9.5 oz) and the Crazy Crispy Chick’n breasts (8 oz.) for $5.14 each. The frozen products tout 12 to 15 grams of plant protein per serving.

“Consumers deserve easy access to their favorite foods, and as we’ve seen with the continued popularity and demand of Skinny Butcher products, we knew that we needed to find our way to H-E-B,” said Skinny Butcher CEO Dave Zilko in a statement.

Plant-Based Alpha Foods Hits Sam’s Club Shelves

Alpha Foods’ Crispy Chik’n Patties are now available in an 8-count family pack ($7.48) exclusively at all 600 Sam’s Club locations across the U.S.

The Crispy Chik’n Patties contain 10 grams of protein and 50% less fat than conventional chicken patties. The partnership with Sam’s Club adds to the non-GMO Project verified, plant-based meat company’s already 90,000 points of retail distribution and its portfolio of vegan “grab and go” products including All Day Breakfast Burritos, Breakfast Sandwiches and Chik’n Nuggets.

According to a recent Alpha Foods survey conducted in conjunction with Harris Poll, “64% of Americans are interested in trying plant-based versions of familiar favorites” affirming the brand’s hopes to be offered in more retailer locations moving forward.

“Consumers have been demanding more choice and more value when it comes to plant-based eating. We’re extremely honored that Alpha Chik’n Patties have been included in Sam’s Club’s expanding selection of plant-based products,” said Alpha co-founder and CEO Cole Orobetz.

Lebby’s Snacks Adds Distribution Throughout U.S.

Dry-roasted chickpea snack maker Lebby’s Snacks has expanded into several new distribution partnerships. The brand will soon be available in 133 Giant Food locations starting in January 2023. The company recently launched into 100 ALDI stores on the West Coast region as well as 200 Army and Air Force Exchanges in September. It also announced it was being offered in 120 Shaw’s and Star Market stores in the Northeast.

Various other retailer outlets like CVS, Schnucks, Festival Foods and Pressed Juicery already carry the chocolate-covered chickpea snacks that come in four flavors: Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, Mocha and Sesame Honey. The various flavors are sold in 1.5 oz. and 3.5 oz.-sized packages and are available online in 6-count to 12-count boxes.