Adrianne DeLuca

A California district court judge ruled last week that food manufacturers cannot rely exclusively on QR codes to disclose if their products contain bioengineered ingredients.

The Plant Based Food Association has created a new nonprofit arm, dubbed the Plant Based Food Institute, to address industry-related policies and effect change along every step in the industry’s value chain.

In this week’s roundup: Brazi Bites launches an accelerator programs for Latino business owners, PepsiCo and ADM team up on a new regenerative agriculture initiative, Kroger consolidates its low-price private label lines and Barkley acquires Smiths Agency.

In the natural food world, where sustainability, sourcing practices and nutrient density have become key consumer interests, fresh seaweed is starting to surface.

Indoor farming company Gotham Greens announced today it raised $310 million to expand the reach of its “decentralized agricultural” systems nationwide and expand its array of CPG products, with new launches set for later this month.

In this week’s roundup: The Very Good Food Company announces it is exploring strategic alternatives for the business, HumanCo invests in better-for-you restaurant brand True Food Kitchen, Finn Partners acquires Rachel Kay Public Relations, The Plant Based Food Institute officially launches and Acosta finds shoppers are still split between in-store and online.

Consumers are increasingly seeking out fresh and convenient options, leading retailers to reconsider store layouts and invest in technology to improve their efficiency and omnichannel capabilities.

Chobani scuttled its public offering plans on Friday, citing “current market conditions.” The news comes over a year after it filed with the SEC and six months after announcing it would delay its public offering.

Industry experts and plant-based meat leaders agree: achieving price parity with conventional proteins will be key to its success long term. But how, and when, will it get there?

Looking to drive consumer awareness for plant-based proteins, Impossible Foods introduced a new line of ready-to-heat, single-serve frozen entrees featuring a range of its plant-based meat ingredients including pork, chicken, meatballs and beef.