Adrianne DeLuca

The Food Labeling Modernization Act of 2021 was reintroduced to Congress last month and proposed sweeping changes to how nutritional information is displayed on food labels. Among the most significant would be a list of demands for the FDA including issuing guidance on a standardized symbol for calorie information on the front-of-pack and definitions for common terms such as “natural,” “healthy,” “artificial” and “synthetic.”

After a year of pandemic-induced pantry loading, the fresh food market saw sales increase more than 10% while the frozen food category grew 21% over the same period, according to the third edition of Deloitte’s annual Future of Fresh series. The data suggests the previously negative stigma toward frozen food may be thawing, which may come at a good time as industry experts are wary as to whether the supply chain for fresh food can sustain this increase in demand.

Snack maker Barnana’s latest upcycled product furthers the company’s commitment to regenerative agriculture, while its recent acquisition of farming and supply partner Agroapoyo has solidified its ability to execute that mission as it looks toward future growth and expansion.

Looking to meet rising consumer demand for higher fiber, higher protein options in place of carbohydrates staples, Barilla has expanded its legume-based pasta line with the addition of another single-ingredient cut: chickpea spaghetti.

Better-for-you pudding producer Noops announced last week it closed an additional $2 million in funding earlier this month led by Lerer Hippeau. Along with the investment, the company also announced that former CEO of The Fresh Market Larry Appeal and CEO of Hungryroot Benjamin McKean will join Noops’ advisory board.

Better-for-you chocolate maker Bon AppéSweet announced today it will unveil a new look and an expansion to its line of plant-based, date sweetened chocolate bars at this years’ Natural Products Expo East in Philadelphia. The Virginia-based brand said it will officially begin to roll out its bars in brighter and more colorful packaging to retailers this October.

In this week’s distribution roundup: Plant-based meat alternative brand Barvecue expands to Sprouts, Whoa Dough launches a Festival Foods, Ella’s Flats enter South Florida Publix, Rowdy Bar Expands to Whole Foods and SIMULATE introduces NUGGS to Stop & Shop.

U.K.-based food company Nurture Brands LLC, introduced organic plant-based Coconut Bytes to the U.S. market this week under its Myracle Kitchen banner. As the sister brand to the U.K.’s Rebel Kitchen, Myracle Kitchen debuted stateside in June with a line of organic plant-based Barista Mylks, which Myracle Kitchen’s General Manager Graeme Puffett said was the first step in the company’s strategic growth plan in the U.S.

In this week’s distribution roundup: Banza Pizza debuts at retailers nationwide, OmniFoods launches at Sprouts and Whole Foods, AYO Foods and The Real Good Food Company expand their reach at Kroger and more.

Husband-and-wife duo Kaitlyn Brown and Daniel Fernandes believe the benefits of a cup of coffee go deeper than its caffeine-kick. In 2019 the pair founded Savorista, a brand dedicated to producing premium, naturally decaffeinated coffee, which now spans a product range that includes packaged coffee and single-serve individual pourover kits.