Brad Avery

Kroger will purchase fellow grocery retailer Albertsons in a $24.6 billion deal that has left members of the industry wondering about the long term ramifications for brands and shoppers.

After closing the book on his last food and beverage venture Smári Organics, Smári Ásmundsson’s new brand has the Icelandic-born, California-based entrepreneur thinking Bygg. Ásmundsson announced on LinkedIn this month his latest venture, Bygg Foods, which will create foods and beverages made using upcycled barley grain, beginning with a plant-based milk set to launch in… Read more »

As inflation puts more pressure on consumers’ wallets, shoppers increasingly shied away from new trends and returned to more affordable and reliable habits in Q2 2022, according to a report by research platform evergi. Although Americans continue to be interested in athleticism, dieting and health, the overall wellness market has shrunk amid economic uncertainty, according… Read more »

Flash-frozen coffee producer Cometeer is making its brick-and-mortar retail debut this month in all seven Erewhon locations in Southern California. As part of the rollout, the company is also debuting three new 4-pack varieties, available exclusively in Erewhon stores, which will retail for $10.99 each. What is Cometeer? Founded in 2015 by CEO Matt Roberts… Read more »

Club CPG, a digital company focused on bringing web3 strategies to the consumer sector, is looking to more closely mentor a new generation of tech-minded startups with its two latest projects: The Pop Incubator and Builder’s Club. The new programs are a part of Club CPG’s latest extension, Pop, a token-gated web3 community accessible exclusively… Read more »

Last week, low-alc aperitif brand Haus announced that it would shut down after a funding round fell through, leaving the company without the necessary cash on hand to continue operating. But rather than filing for federal Chapter 7 or Chapter 11 bankruptcy protections, the California-based brand instead looked to a different type of common law… Read more »

CPG brands are broadly split on whether the ongoing supply chain disruptions have fueled or hindered innovation, according to a new report by supplier management company TraceGains. Around 35% of companies reported that they experienced a slight, moderate or significant decrease in product innovation since June 2020, while 36% said market conditions have led to… Read more »

  Despite some relief for consumers in other economic sectors, food and beverage prices continued to increase in July, up 1.2% month-over-month, according to a new inflation report by market research firm IRI. Even as the price of other household necessities like gasoline have begun to fall, grocery prices remain elevated – up 14.4% year-over-year… Read more »

Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) is the target of a class action antitrust lawsuit filed last week, alleging the largest national dairy cooperative has acted or has tried to act as a monopsony by constraining the Northeast raw milk market. The complaint, filed on July 29 in the U.S. District Court in Vermont, claims DFA… Read more »

While some ecommerce platforms may be navigating a downturn as many consumers return to brick-and-mortar retail, startups Parade and CPGD are looking to the metaverse to make the online shopping experience more fun and personal with their latest platform: The MetaMarket. Launched earlier this year, the MetaMarket calls itself “the first-ever farmers’ market in the… Read more »