Lukas Southard
Posts by Lukas Southard
Hershey: Cocoa Pricing Dominates Q2 Earnings, Outlook
The Hershey Company reported Q2 net sales growth, while net income and adjusted EPS both declined amid a “volatile” cocoa pricing market.
Righteous Felon Rides Meat Stick ‘Rocket Ship’ To New Heights
Known for its craft beef jerky, Righteous Felon has spent the last few years reallocating resources toward its meat stick offerings, with sales rapidly growing as a result.
Longevity Supplement Brand Launches Into Bar Category
Longevity supplement maker NOVOS Labs has launched into the bar category with its first food product aimed at combating aging.
Spreading Roots: How BranchOut Food Recovered From Adversity Post-IPO
BranchOut Food endured unexpected challenges to its manufacturing structure soon after the company went public, altering the timeline and trajectory of its business strategy over the last two years.
Win-Win Raises $4M, Scaling Cocoa-Free Biz
Cocoa-free chocolate maker Win-Win (formerly WNWN Food Labs) announced a new $4 million Series A round led by the Oetker Collection and FoodLabs.
Report: Tariffs, Food Safety Fuel Brand Operator Anxiety
Food brand operators are sweating more than the summer heat these days. From tariffs to regulatory moves impacting sourcing and food safety, Dataessential One’s Midyear Trend Report illustrates some of the most pressing topics companies are tracking and adapting to in the first half of the year.
Simply Good Foods: Protein Portfolio ‘On The Forefront Of Generational Shift’
In its Q3 earnings, The Simply Good Foods Company reported the strength of its protein-forward portfolio, driven by the Quest and OWYN brands, despite the continued revitalization of Atkins.
Meaty Deal: Monogram Reacquires Meat Snack Co-packer
Less than two years after selling a majority stake of meat snack maker Western Smokehouse to AUA Private Equity Partners, Monogram Capital has reacquired the co-packing business.
Scaling Smarter: Behind IQBAR’s Ecomm-To-Retail Strategy
IQBAR has intentionally carved out space in categories that don’t cannibalize each other as it has expanded from ecommerce into over 12,000 retail doors.
Above Average: Joe Tea Expands Into Hydration, Cans, Snacks
Joe Tea is expanding globally while building on its core base of iced teas, lemonades and chips to bring innovation to snacking and beverages.



