Adrianne DeLuca

In this video, recorded last week at Natural Products Expo West 2022 in Anaheim, California, Kuli Kuli founder and CEO Lisa Curtis discussed how the company has tackled a range of formats while also educating consumers on the benefits of Moringa.

In this week’s Checkout: Doordash launches its new Local Goods Accelerator program, Plantish raises $12.5 million in seed funding, Sweets & Snacks Expo announces new locations and MeliBio closes $5.7 million funding round.

Alt-protein player Impossible Foods announced today that former Chobani president and COO Peter McGuinness has joined the company as its new CEO, succeeding founder Pat Brown.

Behind the excitement and energy of returning to Expo West in-person, a storm has been brewing in the red-hot plant-based meat category: after its first day exhibiting at the show, Motif Foodsworks, a spinoff of Massachusetts-based Gingko Bioworks, was served with a lawsuit claiming that the technology it had just showcased at Expo violated a patent held by one of the nascent category’s leaders, Impossible Foods.

Nutrition company EVO Hemp has partnered with 40 Acre Cooperative, a farming co-op supporting the needs of black and other socially disadvantaged farmers, to bring its network of hemp growers into the EVO brand.

Over the past two years visibility and support for mission-driven companies has been on the rise as consumer demand for purpose-forward products increases. To further support these interests, CPG companies and retailers both large and small have introduced a range of opportunities to help jumpstart emerging brands for long-term success.

In this distribution roundup: Clio Snacks rolls out to Kroger stores, adding three new SKUs; Mason Dixie brings breakfast sandwiches to Sprouts; CHKN Not Chicken expands retail reach; and more.

Better-for-you sweets and format innovation were the dominant themes among this week’s new products. While Honey Mama’s branched out of chocolate bars, Outshine looked to the shelf-stable category for its newest snack product. Check out the roundup for the latest new offerings from brands including Fly by Jing, Tea Drops and Kashi.

In this week’s Checkout: Misfits Market Expands to all lower 48 states; The United Nations commits to addressing plastic pollution with a new treaty by 2024; Flashfood closes a $12.3 million funding round and 7-Eleven adds a grab-and-go plant-based burger to its menu.

Six months after being sold to ingredient company Milk Specialties Global (MSG), Minnesota-based protein snack maker Kay’s Naturals has discontinued its branded product lines as its new owner looks to focus on expanding its extruded protein production capabilities.