Carol Ortenberg

Last week Mondelēz International announced that it had acquired a majority ownership stake in the refrigerated snack brand. The deal’s two sides had big stakes: for Mondelēz, it’s one more step in a larger reinvention strategy. For Perfect Snacks, the co-founders told NOSH, there’s an attempt to consolidate its first mover advantage while providing the opportunity to ride out uncertainty around future growth and the ultimate trajectory of fresh snacking.

Sometimes you hit a moment where a launch aligns with changes in the public consciousness. But then the task comes to extend that moment. That’s what happened for Caulipower CEO and founder Gail Becker, who established her vegetable-forward frozen food brand in 2017.

After selling millions of cauliflower pizzas, vegetable-focused food brand Vegolutionary Foods (and its subsidiary Caulipower) is ready to enter a new freezer door. The company announced today the launch of Caulipower’s new frozen cauliflower-crusted chicken tenders to join its lines of cauliflower based frozen pizzas and tortillas. In part to help support this launch, the company closed a round of funding late last year.

Global snack company Mondelēz International announced today an agreement to acquire a majority interest in refrigerated snacking platform Perfect Snacks. In 2018 Perfect Snacks generated roughly $70 million in net revenue.

In a presentation at last week’s NOSH Live Summer 2019, Walter Robb, Former Whole Foods Market co-CEO and founder of investment firm Stonewall Robb, shared his vision for where the retail and food industry is heading — and how brands can stay ahead.

Consumers are about to have an easier way to satisfy their cravings. Baking mix maker Foodstirs is executing a comprehensive brand makeover that includes new packaging, logo, tagline and formulation, as well as the launch of a new ready-to-eat line of baked treats.

At NOSH Live last week, entrepreneurs hailing from a variety of companies and backgrounds gathered to network and learn from successful industry leaders. As part of the event’s slate of speakers, O T.J. McIntyre, currently CEO of Bobo’s Oat Bars, shared lessons from a career spent working with high growth companies.

Plant-based rice alternative RightRice is giving back as it continues to grow. Keith Belling, the CEO of the three month old company, announced this week that he has donated 1% of the company’s equity to non-profit No Kid Hungry. At the same time, the brand also announced it has expanded into Kroger.

Meal kit company Purple Carrot announced today that it will be acquired by Oisix, Japan’s largest meal kit and organic food delivery service. The deal includes an upfront payment of $12.8 million. Purple Carrot CEO Andy Levitt told NOSH that he has been working towards an exit since 2016 and is proud of the impact the company has had on helping consumers eat more plant-based meals.

Meat snack brand Chef’s Cut announced yesterday the launch of a new line of beef biltong — a thinly sliced, cured beef snack from South Africa — which new CEO Bart Adlam hopes will give the brand a versatile and on-trend option for young consumers. The new line will also sport refresh packaging for the brand and comes as the company has added a spate of new executives.