Erin Cabrey

Sustainability-marketed consumer products continue to gain momentum, slightly outpacing the growth of overall CPG in 2020, according to a new report from research firm IRI and NYU’s Stern Center for Sustainable Business.

Plastic-free gum maker Simply Gum has gained new shelf space at Walmart, debuting with a new product, Sugar-Free Peppermint Gum, in 500 of the retailer’s stores across the country. The first sugar-free offering for Simply Gum, the gum will be sold in three-packs for $6.46.

In recent years, premium honey makers have moved the natural sweetener from a largely commoditized category to a set filled with notable branded lines that inject some variety — from flower-infused to hot and spicy — into a space known for largely homogeneous flavors. As the set picks up momentum, honey brands are gaining investor interest, while adjacent categories are eyeing the space as a new opportunity for expansion.

After two years of testing its reusable packaging platform through an ecommerce pilot program, Loop is using its findings to take the company to its next stage, rolling out in retailers worldwide as part of its mission to “eliminate the idea of waste.”

In this week’s Checkout, Ripple CEO Laura Flanagan discusses the company’s latest funding round and previews its new soft serve line; Tofurky and Triton Algae Innovations partner to make algae-based meat products; Banza unveils new partnerships; the strike at Mondelez’s Nabisco manufacturing and distribution facilities comes to an end; and General Mills reports its fiscal 2022 Q1 results.

We’re highlighting innovative meat snack brands — both animal and plant-based — during the Product Showcase portion of this month’s Category Close-Up, examining the trends, news and evolving product strategies that are currently shaping this evolving category. This video features CHOMPS, Stryve Foods, Pan’s Mushroom Jerky, New Primal, Chudabeef and Pearson Ranch Jerky.

In a flip on the classic saying, ingredients maker SIMPLi is thinking locally and acting globally. The Baltimore-based company, backed by new funding, is aiming to sustainably and ethically streamline supply chains for grains, beans, oils and spices to ultimately benefit farmers, consumers and the environment.

In this week’s distribution roundup, single-serve pour over coffee brand Kuju, French-inspired snack and brioche maker Bakerly and plant-based food brand PLANTSTRONG hit shelves at Whole Foods Market, while plant-based condiment maker Only Plant Based makes its U.S. debut.

The Specialty Food Association (SFA) announced today that its Winter Fancy Food Show will be relocating from San Francisco to Las Vegas in 2022. The annual event, previously set to be held at San Francisco’s Moscone Center, will now be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center on February 6-8.

Plant-based food and beverage brand Ripple Foods today announced it has secured $60 million in a Series E funding round which the company plans to use to accelerate its product innovation pipeline and expand into new categories and channels.