Lukas Southard
Posts by Lukas Southard
From Kids To Families: Sunnie Refreshes Packaging Amid Retail Expansion
Sunnie is rolling out an updated look in preparation for expanding its retail footprint and launching another sweet addition to its portfolio this summer.
Birmingham Chocolate Eyes Sugar-Free With Acquisition
Michigan-based manufacturer Birmingham Chocolate announced it has acquired one of its customers – sugar-free, dark chocolate brand Macalat.
MìLà Hits Retail ‘Inflection Point’, Expands In Frozen With Noodles
Frozen Chinese street food brand MìLà is platforming with noodle kits as it shifts its focus from DTC to a retail-first strategy.
Snack Attack: Shifting Habits, Healthier Options Fuel A $156 Billion Boom
From an expansion of mini-meal occasions to a prioritization of better-for-you options, SNAC International’s annual state of the industry report dug into the trends shaping sales growth in the snack industry.
‘Rubik’s Cube’ Innovation Addresses Vertical Farming Scalability
Opollo Farm is the first partnership project between food tech startup OnePointOne and robotic warehousing company AutoStore to automate and scale vertical farming.
Beyond: New $100M Investment Amid ‘Disappointing’ Q1
Beyond Meat reported its Q1 earnings yesterday afternoon with sales slipping 9.1% year-over-year and volume down 11.2% as the company plots a path forward with a new $100 million capital infusion.
Why B-Sides Is Uncertain About Upcycled Labeling?
Upcycled puffed snack brand B-Sides launched in January, focusing on its health claims over a marketing too closely to a sustainability message.
Basemakers Founder To Launch AI-Guided VC Fund
CPG industry veteran Max Baumann is launching a new VC firm, Back to Back VC, that will pair merchandising and strategy firm Basemakers’ data with AI technology to guide investment opportunities.
Flings Nets $2.3M Seed Round
Toaster pastry brand Flings has raised a $2.3 million seed round from angel investors as it plans to expand its retail footprint this year.
Amid Cost Crunch, CPG Founders Seek Assistance From Overseas
Outsourcing CPG industry positions can be polarizing at a time when tariffs have become a touchpoint for reshoring jobs to the U.S., but creating efficiencies in a startup business could be the difference between success and failure.



