Beth Kaiserman

CPG sales and marketing agency Acosta filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Wilmington, Delaware yesterday to reduce its $3 billion debt burden.

In a conversation with NOSH, Stuart Reid, executive director of nonprofit Food Co-op Initiative (FCI), explained how co-ops can help brands connect genuinely with a different — and often more dedicated — type of shopper as well as where the opportunity is for brands to grow within the channel.

The FDA yesterday issued 15 warning letters to CBD companies and updated its advice for consumers to follow while regulations are developed. Citing numerous safety concerns and a lack of scientific information, FDA said it cannot recognize CBD as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use in human or animal food.

Vegan man sues Burger King, Target’s Good & Gather forges ahead, FDA allows ‘ruby chocolate,’ and more in this week’s Checkout.

While fresh produce is often seen as a stalwart of a better-for-you lifestyle — and driver of perimeter growth in stores — fresh food overall isn’t being picked as much as retailers and manufacturers would like. In a study released last week, consulting firm Deloitte surveyed 153 fresh food manufacturers and retailers and 2,000 consumers to understand why fresh is lagging — and the challenges ahead.

Gluten-free breakfast brand Love Grown wants to wake up the tired cereal aisle. The brand, which first launched its better-for-you take on the breakfast staple in 2008, sees a bright future fueled by beans and other novel, nutritionally-dense bases and is launching new packaging — a key move as it prepares to expand into Walmart early next year.

Albertsons moves Plated to private label, Honest Tea co-founder to focus on Beyond Meat, Mondelez studies snacking and more in this week’s Checkout.

IQ Bar is allocating some of its brainpower to the retail shelf. Though the Boston-based brand has so far garnered half its business from e-commerce, it recently entered 1,000 Kroger stores, increasing its retail footprint to about 6,000 doors.

Pickle producers want people to peek past picnics, parties and paper plates. To freshen up the pickle set and appeal to busy consumers, companies are creating snack-size pickles in convenient packs, expanding usage occasions for the savory, low-calorie snack.

Plant-based labeling lawsuit dropped, Kroger rebrands, Tofurky Christmas sweaters and more in this week’s Checkout.