Carol Ortenberg

In this video, BevNET CEO John Craven and NOSH Editor Carol Ortenberg sat down to review notable trends and brands from this year’s Expo East, including developments in plant-based dairy items, the reframing of meal kits as “meal solutions” and advances in sustainable animal protein offerings.

At this year’s Natural Products Expo East trade show in Baltimore, Katie Paul, VP of category management and growth solutions for distributor KeHE, sat down with NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg to discuss how KeHE has evolved its internal team and processes to best meet the changing needs of its retail and supplier partners, and also shared her thoughts on popular trends such as CBD and plant-based eating.

Today cereal brand Magic Spoon announced that, five months after launch, it has closed a $5.5 million round of funding to help propel its growth. The $10 a box cereal is sold direct-to-consumer and targets the carbohydrate-avoiding consumer, often associated with the Keto or Paleo diets.

Vital Proteins is ready to go beyond beauty. The collagen-focused company announced today the launch of a line of bars, sports drinks and a liquid creamers, moves CEO and founder Kurt Seidensticker told NOSH are designed to help the brand target a wider array of shoppers and expand beyond its core wellness enthusiast.

Low-sugar, high-protein frozen phenomenon that briefly captured an outsize share of the frozen dairy aisle, Halo Top manufacturer Eden Creamery has been sold to Ice Cream manufacturer Wells Enterprises, Inc. As part of the deal Halo Top President and COO Doug Bouton will license the Halo Top brand outside of the United States and Canada as part of a new company he plans to operate after the deal closes.

As part of its shift from confection to a broader snacking platform, Hershey announced yesterday its acquisition of the low-sugar, high-protein ONE Brands portfolio. The purchase price, which was financed with cash on hand as well as short term borrowings, was $397 million.

The Simply Good Foods Company, a producer of nutritional foods and snacking products, announced yesterday it will acquire protein-centered brand Quest Nutrition for $1 billion in cash.

Smashmallow is ready to move beyond its marshmallow roots. The snack brand announced today the close of a minority round of funding by CPG venture firm, Alliance Consumer Growth (ACG), in part, to support the launch of a line of low-sugar gummies. It’s a move that Sebastiani said will allow the brand to begin to build a larger platform.

Guacamole and hummus producer Hope Foods believes American consumers are ready for a new kind of dip. The Colorado-based brand announced today the launch of a line of Cashew and Almond Dips, designed to offer shoppers creative, plant-based snacking options with clean ingredient lists.

Earlier this week, Inc. released the 2019 edition of the Inc. 5000 list — a ranking of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the U.S. This year’s list featured dozens of natural food and beverage companies, showing the industry’s increasing impact on the American economy.