Brad Avery
Posts by Brad Avery
Alpha Foods Recalls Vegan Sandwiches, Burritos Containing Milk Protein
Alpha Foods, a maker of vegan meals and plant-based meat alternatives, has issued a voluntary recall of its Meatless Breakfast Sandwiches and frozen burritos after traces of milk were discovered in the products.
Good Karma Names Mike Murray as CEO, Funding Round to Close in ‘Near Future’
Good Karma Foods has named Mike Murray as its new CEO as the plant-based dairy alternative producer prepares to close a new financing round led by Valor Siren Ventures (VSV) and Loft Growth Partners. Murray arrives at the Boulder, Colorado-based brand from protein solutions company Teton Waters Ranch where he had served as CEO since… Read more »
Cometeer: Layoffs Hits Across Departments at Flash-Frozen Coffee Brand
Cometeer, the Massachusetts-based maker of flash-frozen coffee pods, laid off a number of employees across departments last week in a move sources described as an attempt to cut costs. The innovation-focused startup, founded in 2015 by CEO Matt Roberts and CTO Douglas Hoon, had grown to over 100 employees this year, following a $35 million… Read more »
Coke CMO Melanie Boulden Moves to Tyson Foods
Coca-Cola’s North America CMO Melanie Boulden is departing the Atlanta-based conglomerate for a new role at Tyson Foods where she will serve as EVP, Chief Growth Officer. In a press release, Tyson stated Boulden will assume the newly created role on February 6 and will report directly to president and CEO Donnie King. Boulden will… Read more »
FDA Sends Warning Letters to CBD Food and Beverage Companies
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) appears to be cracking down on CBD food and beverage brands as the federal agency sent warning letters last week to five companies selling infused products. In a statement published online yesterday, the agency said letters were sent to Mood33 manufacturer 11-11-11 Brands; candy and coffee maker Naturally… Read more »
Food and Beverage Brands Relishing Pickleball Opportunities
While it may once have been considered the domain of country clubs and retirement homes, the sport of pickleball is making a play for the mainstream. As professional pickleball leagues earn serious attention – and investment – from the sports world, food and beverage brands see it as an emerging cultural trend, and they’re looking… Read more »
Oatly to Cut Jobs, Switch to Hybrid Production Model After Q3 Report
Oatly announced it will lay off staff and transition the business to an “asset-light” hybrid production model after reporting a net loss of $107.9 million, with revenue growth falling short of analysts’ expectations, in its Q3 earnings report today.
Maple Leaf Foods Faces System Outage Following Cyberattack
Ontario-based meat and plant-based foods producer Maple Leaf Foods has suffered a system outage due to a “cybersecurity incident,” the company announced Sunday. In a press release, the company – Canada’s largest meat and poultry producer – said it “took immediate action and engaged cybersecurity and recovery experts” to restore the system, but noted it… Read more »
District of Columbia, Washington AGs Sue to Stop Albertsons Payout
Attorneys general from Washington state and the District of Columbia are seeking to temporarily block a $4 billion payout to Albertsons’ shareholders on November 7, filing lawsuits this week to put a hold on the cash dividend at least until the grocery giant’s proposed merger with Kroger can be reviewed by federal regulators. Albertsons’ shareholder… Read more »
Nestlé to Acquire Seattle’s Best Coffee Brand from Starbucks
Nestlé has reached an agreement to fully acquire Seattle’s Best Coffee, a dry coffee brand owned by Starbucks, four years after the Swiss conglomerate obtained global marketing and distribution rights to the brand. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition is expected to close by the end of the year following regulatory approval… Read more »