Following the violent attacks on the U.S. Capitol last week, and heeding customers’ increased calls for accountability, food companies, suppliers and retailers alike are adjusting or suspending political donations.

The company that owns Mauna Loa feels there’s power in the “mighty mac.” With a goal to transform the Hawaiian macadamia nut line from occasional treat to nutritional powerhouse, the brand’s leadership team has embarked on an ambitious plan, launching a new look, marketing campaign and innovation strategy earlier this month. The change follows yesterday’s sale of parent company Hawaiian Host Group to a consortium of private investors.

High Road ice cream founder Keith Schroeder said his company has acquired the organic ice cream brand’s name and other assets; the brand deal follows a November purchase of the company’s Wisconsin manufacturing plant.

Allergen-friendly snack brand Partake Foods today announced it had raised $4.8 million from investors including Marcy Venture Partners, FF2032 (the investment arm of Lotus Bakeries), CircleUp Growth Partners, and others. The investment comes after the brand announced earlier this week that it would expand beyond the cookie category, launching an all-purpose baking mix.

Today snacking and confection powerhouse Mondelēz International announced it was acquiring Hu Master Holdings, the parent company of Hu Products. In 2019 Mondelēz took a minority stake in the company, which included a right of first refusal to acquire the company in an eventual sale. Hu will operate as a separate business, continuing to produce all products at current manufacturing facilities.

In this session from NOSH Live Winter 2020, Bob Burke recaps the changes the past year (and the Covid-19 pandemic) have brought to the natural foods industry, and advises brands what “resolutions” to set for the upcoming year.

For GoodFish, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, things are going swimmingly. The company announced today it had closed $4 million in funding in a round led by Siddhi Capital.

In an unprecedented step, the FDA today announced via a news alert that it had sent a warning letter to Whole Foods Market for “engaging in a pattern” of receiving and selling misbranded store brand food products that did not carry appropriate allergen warnings.

Technology has begun to catch up to plant-based dairy. As alternatives to traditional yogurt, ice cream, and cheese have entered the market en masse, variety has been restricted by manufacturing advances. But plant-based category leader Kite Hill is betting that process improvements will allow it to fully realize the benefits of a slate of new products for 2021.

An emerging new brand is flying the coop. Snackable egg concept Peckish has been acquired by Egg Innovations in an all stock deal. As part of the transaction, former Peckish owner and creator Sonoma Brands has become an equity holder in Egg Innovations, which also is the owner of the Blue Sky Family Farms line… Read more »