Adrianne DeLuca

In this week’s Checkout: Daily Harvest fights for farmers with new partnership and campaign, Kroger publishes its predictions for the Top 10 food trends of 2022, Upward Farms to construct “World’s Largest” growing facility in Pennsylvania and Above Food and Umiami partner to develop whole cut plant-based meats.

The network will source fonio, among other “underutilized orphan grains,” from over 30,000 smallholder farms throughout West Africa with the end goal of creating sustainable market demand beyond the brand’s own use of this “miracle grain.”

In this foodservice distribution roundup: Field Roast expands partnership with Wienerschnitzel, Numi Organic Tea now brewing at WeWork, Dippin’ Dots serves up an IncrEDIBLE Eats Spoon, Blimpie goes plant-based with new gardein menu item, Pokeworks pilots OmniPork Luncheon offering and Planet Smoothie teams up with Vital Proteins.

In this week’s Checkout: Kroger expands autonomous grocery delivery partnership with Nuro, Atlast Foods introduces MyBacon with ​​Whitecrest Mushrooms and the Upcycled Certified verification garners ‘Higher Than Expected’ food waste prevention results.

Facing persistent manufacturing challenges, food science company Antithesis Foods has announced it is sunsetting its snack line Grabanzos and launching a new savory crisp brand called Protos this week.

Food technology company Botaniline announced it has signed an agreement with National Food Group (NFG), a wholesale foodservice manufacturer and distributor, to begin distributing its better-for-you and additive-free processed meat products to retail and foodservice locations this month.

In this week’s checkout: the Biden-Harris Administration announces its Meat and Poultry Supply Chain Action Plan, Whole Foods launches the Resolutions Renovator competition and Conagra looks to Gen Z and Millennials for future innovations.

While new plant-based alternatives continue to enter the market, food makers are expanding their reach beyond retail and driving product discovery through partnerships ranging from traditional fast food restaurants to fast casual dining locations.

Plant-based meat makers The Better Meat Co. and Meati Foods (formally Emergy Inc.) are set to face off in court, with the two companies suing each other last month in the U.S. District Court of Eastern California over allegations of stealing confidential trade secrets and “tortious interference.”

Through a variety of finished CPG products, foodservice and brand partnerships, and investments OmniFoods seeks to engage both existing plant-based consumers and those who still view vegetable-based meat replacements as “a novel idea.”