Brad Avery

As the market for plant-based seafood outpaces the overall meat alternatives category, The Plant Based Seafood Co. – maker of Mind Blown – is setting sail for national expansion this year with new innovation and a focus on foodservice.

Wonderlab, the maker of plant-based gelato brand Doozy Pots, is shutting down after rising costs of goods and category challenges proved insurmountable.

ConAgra Brands says its strategy towards improving margins is working as the company raised full year 2023 guidance in its Q3 earnings report this morning. The Chicago-based conglomerate updated its organic net sales guidance for the fiscal year from 7% to 7.5% and adjusted operating margin from 15.5% to 15.6%.

The Oregon-based startup, named for the Eliot neighborhood in Portland, announced on its website this month that it made its last production run in January and would continue to sell through its remaining inventory online and in store as it winds operations down.

When Scott and Lori Levine began making homemade protein balls as a healthy snack, they didn’t think they would turn the product into a nationwide brand. But now, with nearly 95 stores across seven states, New York-based startup Scott’s Protein Balls is looking to quickly grow its name and footprint.

Facing a net loss of $15.6 million in Q4 2022 – up 126% year-over-year – plant-based food and powdered drink brand Laird Superfood said it is emphasizing turnaround efforts in the new year during an earnings call this week.

As more Americans continue to work from home and look to cut extraneous expenses — say, a stop at the juice bar on the way to the gym — lockdown-era habits have entrenched themselves into consumer routines. In turn, many frozen fruit producers have embraced smoothie kits, with some innovative brands managing to outpace the category and maintain strong growth despite the headwinds facing the CPG industry today.

Last week, plant-based ramen startup immi announced it raised $10 million in a Series A round led by Touch Capital and featuring a slate of celebrity investors such as tennis pro Naomi Osaka and R&B singer Usher. Now, the company is looking to quadruple its retail footprint this year and bring manufacturing up to pace as demand rises.

After bringing in $31 million in financing over the past year, Chinese food brand Xiao Chi Jie (XCJ) is preparing for its retail debut, beginning with a new name: MiLa.

When plant-based nutrition brand Soylent began in 2013, it adopted a tech-influenced approach, dubbing its products Soylent 1.1, Soylent 2.0, and so on. Now, after its acquisition by CPG portfolio company Starco Brands earlier this week, the food and beverage maker is in stable release.