Carol Ortenberg

Condiment, sauce and oil producer Chosen Foods announced yesterday that Butterfly Equity had acquired the majority of the company. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Chobani is breaking free of the cold case: the company has quietly launched a line of enhanced peanut butter in partnership with nonprofit Edesia, a former Chobani incubator participant. The butters, which debuted last year in limited release, now sport refreshed packaging designed to stand out on store shelves.

Voyage Foods wants to make sure consumers’ favorite foods are around for the next generation. Ironically, the path to ensuring this continuity means eschewing their core ingredients entirely. The company announced this week it would launch a cacao-free chocolate, peanut-free peanut butter and coffee-free RTD coffee — all made using patented technology and easily accessible ingredients.

As questions over safety and buyer attendance continue to linger less than a month before the event begins, media platform and event producer New Hope hosted a virtual Q&A session today to address concerns regarding its upcoming Natural Products Expo East trade show. With the event scheduled to be held in Philadelphia from September 22-25,… Read more »

Moving from youngsters to yogurt, Once Upon a Farm co-founder and president Ari Raz announced today he has joined Coconut Cult as the company’s new CEO. Alongside this news, the brand also revealed it would discontinue its line of probiotic gelato.

During last month’s Category Close-Up: Product Showcase, the NOSH team interviewed executives and brand leaders from condiment companies, discussing individual company strategy and how changes within the category affect new product development and marketing. In this special bonus segment, you’ll hear from five more brands about the market dynamics that are currently shaping the category.

Last Friday, food company Sovos Brands filed for an IPO, listing the size of the offering as $100 million, subject to adjustment. The Colorado-based company acquired, owns and operates the Rao’s, Birch Benders, Noosa and Michael Angelo brands. According to a filing with the SEC, the majority of Sovos’ sales were from the Rao’s line of products.

On this month’s Market Share we’ll hear from Russell Diez-Canseco, the CEO and president of Vital Farms, about the why the egg and butter producer’s decided to go public last year and how the choice allowed the brand to focus more on its mission.

Salty Snack brand Beanfields debuted this week a new line of “rings,” its second SKU to go after the puffs subcategory. The company is now in a position where it can look to enter new channels, invest more heavily in marketing and push the brand’s perception, according to CEO Arnulfo Ventura, with plans to hit a $20 million run rate next year.

Last week plant-based producers Quorn and Planterra Foods announced the opening of new R&D facilities to help accelerate their respective innovation pipelines. For both companies, establishing new U.S.-based headquarters labs and testing facilities not only speaks to the importance of the North American market, but also how heavily plant-based CPG companies rely on innovation in order to gain share.