Meagan McGinnes

Terms of the deal were not disclosed but an April 2016 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission indicated the company had closed roughly $850,000 of a $1.5 million round. The Portland, Maine-based brand previously raised $1 million in Spring 2016.

Colorado-based Empact Bar was created six months ago by two married former lawyers turned fitness video and healthy snack creators, Melonie and Zeke DeRose. The women-focused and mission-driven protein bar company wants to not only fuel women throughout their day with nutrient-dense food, but also to empower women.

Dean Foods, Tyson Inc., Snyder’s Lance Inc. and Natural Grocers all held quarterly earnings calls last week. Though the companies span categories, their leaders’ sentiments were surprisingly similar in the way they set up their roadmaps for 2017.

Natural products retailer Whole Foods Market held its 2017 second quarter earnings call on Thursday. We reached out to a longtime Whole Foods buyer and CPG advisor, Tim Sperry, to help sort through some of the news coming out of Austin as part of the BevNET Podcast.

Over the past two weeks, food and other sensitive topics ranging from politics to body image have intersected in national headlines. This week’s Press Clips showcases how history, competition and political agendas are shaping the economic climate for both brands and retailers.

Award-winning author and MomTalk Radio host Maria Bailey knows just how much moms can impact a brand’s success or failure. In honor of Mother’s Day, we asked Bailey the differences between the demographics of moms, why food brands and retailers should pay attention to each group’s purchasing habits, and how industry players can better reach and resonate with them in the future.

The San Francisco-based startup’s apparent turmoil has been splashed across headlines over the past year after both a run-in with the FDA about the product’s marketing and a buyback investigation by the SEC. But this week Hampton Creek is making headlines again amid reported funding struggles and layoffs.

After successfully launching both a hot sauce and a gourmet pasta sauce line, award-winning food entrepreneur Dave Hirschkop is launching Dave’s Naturals with a line of no-cook overnight oats.

In this week’s earning calls, Terravia Inc., B&G Foods, Sprouts Farmers Market, The Kellogg Company and Mondelez International talked Q1 sales and how they are employing new strategic initiatives to better work toward their 2017 goals.

Tyson, Pinnacle, Conagra, Kettle Cuisine, General Mills and Impossible Foods have all seen executive level leadership changes in the past month. Here’s a list of who is in, the experience they bring, and how they are expected to help these companies stay the course of their newly outlined missions.