Monica Watrous
For more than a decade, Monica Watrous has covered the latest trends, innovations and developments in the food and beverage industry and has organized and hosted multiple events featuring emerging brands and cutting-edge concepts. She is a lifelong foodie and a champion of startups and disruptors in the consumer packaged goods landscape.
Posts by Monica Watrous
Off-brand, On-trend: Retailers Plan to Invest More In Private Label
Grocery retailers are beefing up private label assortments with a focus on protein, global flavors and premium positioning, according to a new report from FMI – The Food Industry Association.
Israeli Startup Meala Unveils Egg Alternative for Cost-Saving, Clean Label Baking
Meala FoodTech today introduced a clean label, single-ingredient pea protein that replaces eggs in bakery applications, allowing manufacturers to reduce costs and simplify formulations. Groundbaker provides gelling, binding, foaming and emulsifying properties in sweet and savory baked foods.
Breaking Down Barriers: Project Potluck Announces Inaugural Grant Program
Project Potluck, a nonprofit organization advancing diversity and inclusion in the consumer products industry, has launched its inaugural grant program supported by contributions from notable individuals and businesses.
Entrepreneurial Lessons In Focus For Big Food
Over the past few weeks we’ve witnessed several prominent portfolio restructurings across the industry: Big Food is trimming the fat, and this week, one of the market’s biggest mergers in recent memory officially unraveled.
Tracking Snacking Trends: Global Flavors, Co-Branded Innovation
What’s driving growth in the $148.6 billion U.S. snacking industry? Conagra Brands partnered with market researcher Circana to put together its inaugural “Future of Snacking 2025” report. The maker of Slim Jim and Angie’s Boomchickapop highlighted five trends that are shaping snacking behaviors.
Newtopia Now: Gut Health In Focus
Brands exhibiting at Newtopia Now, held Aug. 21 to 22 in Denver, are embracing gut health across various product claims from “low-FODMAP” to “high-fiber” to “heartburn-friendly,” and in a broad range of product applications. “Gut-healthy” chili crisp, anyone?
Bone Broth A Hot Ingredient at Newtopia Now
No bones about it – bone broth has been gaining steam for about a decade now, championed as a natural source of collagen, amino acids and minerals. Although bone broth has evolved into a well-established category on its own, several exhibiting brands at Newtopia Now this week in Denver are moving beyond the bottle – or jar or carton – to bring bone broth’s benefits to snacks and other applications.
Daily Briefing (Insiders Only): Quick Bites For Newtopia Now
The second annual Newtopia Now opens its exhibit halls today in Denver. Here’s a taste of what’s in store.
Keychain Raises $30M Series B, Launches AI-Powered ERP
Artificial intelligence-powered manufacturing platform Keychain has raised $30 million in a Series B funding round led by Wellington Management and BoxGroup, alongside existing investors. To date, the startup has raised a total of $68 million just 18 months after its launch.
Saffron Road’s ‘Ambitious’ Rebrand Taps MAHA, GLP-1 Trends
The frozen meal maker is introducing its “most ambitious brand refresh” in its 15-year history, according to founder and CEO Adnan Durrani, as it aims to align with today’s consumer trends, including the growing anti-seed oil sentiment and an insatiable appetite for protein.