Carol Ortenberg

Cece’s Veggie Co. announced today an investment in the company by Walter Robb, the former co-CEO of Whole Foods Market. Exact terms of Robb’s investment were not disclosed, but founder Mason Arnold told NOSH it was a “meaningful” amount.

In a new report Nielsen researchers found that not only are millennials shopping differently for fast-moving consumer goods and using technology in new ways to inform those purchasing decisions, but also care more about integrated corporate social responsibility initiatives and health claims.

The new venture, known as Nursery, will serve as an incubator for emerging brands. Founder Adam Melonas told brands he is planning to shift away from a shared kitchen model to one where Nursery will also take an equity stake in the brands using the space.

Vietnamese-inspired coffee brand Copper Cow Coffee today announced the close of a $2 million round of funding today. The round was led by Silverton Partners, which contributed half of the capital, with CRCM Ventures, Montage Ventures and Social Starts also taking part.

Four months after selling a majority stake to San Francisco Equity Partners (SFEP), frozen food brand Brazi Bites announced today it has brought on Michael Guanella, the former President of nut butter brand Justin’s, as CEO.

As plant-based meat brand Beyond Meat prepares for a planned $100 million initial public offering, the company’s announcement of intent with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission yields some interesting food for thought. NOSH took a deep dive into the hundreds of pages of filings to pull out some of the salient points for brands to note, admire and potentially add to their own playbooks.

Despite having enjoyed rapid growth while under the auspices of CPG giant Campbell’s, breakfast brand The Soulfull Project announced this week that it would spin-off as a unique entity. The shift in ownership comes as Campbell’s refocuses on its core businesses.

Ingredient company Perfect Day believes that doing good and making money don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Now with the launch of its first product, Perfect Day plans to show how this model is possible. The company, which produces animal-free dairy products, announced last week a partnership with global ingredient firm ADM that aims to demonstrate the market potential of its technology through the launch of a milk-free whey protein.

To give consumers a boost in their kitchens, food brand BOU announced today the close of a $4 million dollar round of funding. An undisclosed family office invested $1.5 million, according to Jakobi, who also took part in the round himself.

Sometimes to see growth you need to add a little fertilizer. That’s the concept PepsiCo hopes to offer brands with the Nutrition Greenhouse. The soda and snack giant’s food and beverage accelerator yesterday announced the nine brands to join the program’s inaugural North American class. Each company will be given a $20,000 “no strings attached” grant and challenged to “demonstrate collaboration and measurable progress” in an “entrepreneurial fashion.”