Carol Ortenberg

Now half a year into its new leadership, Bobo’s Oat Bars is making changes, trying to bring the fresh aura of the perimeter into the decidedly center store-bound nutrition bar category. A packaging redesign and strategy to pitch Bobo’s homemade feel as part of a “freshly baked” subcategory of the bar set are central elements of the idea.

Starting a company is a bit like having a child. Months of gestation, a lot of painful tooth-gnashing to get it out into the world, and then nights of sleeplessness hoping you’re doing everything right. Milkmakers and Anchor Bar Two (two brands that are still in their youth, and coincidentally catering largely to the mommy market) recently announced that they’ve moved on to the next phase of their development via acquisition.

Companies around the country are looking to pulses, spice, and shorter ingredient lists in a quest to reach the natural shopper. But what about the brands that have been doing as much from the start? For whom this is not trendy, but part of their DNA? Bueno Foods — which is now celebrating its 65th anniversary — is one such brand.

Small food brands will get product development capabilities overseen by big-brand experts with the opening of Snackwerks, a new facility being opened up by JPG Resources.

The summer heat may be fading, but retailers are still hot for unique, natural products. The past few months have seen several notable additions by forward thinking retailers including Target, Safeway and Costco.

This week, baking mix and cracker brand Simple Mills launched two organic frostings, made with monk fruit, palm oil and coconut oil. The new line was given a sneak peak at the Summer Fancy Foods Show this past July, but is making its official debut in time for fall.

Natural products retailer Whole Foods Market has reached into the ranks of mainstream consumer, drug, and coffee in adding three key hires to its executive team.

August was a busy time for companies adding key new hires, as Boulder Brands, Free2b Foods, Acosta and General Mills all announced changes to their leadership teams.

Today 4th & Heart, a producer of grass-fed, spreadable clarified butters, announced the closing of a Series A funding round totaling $1 million. The round was completed through website CircleUp, a crowdfunding platform for consumer brands to raise money from accredited investors.