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
Lundberg Family Farms Names New CEO And Surpasses ROC Target
Lundberg Family Farms has tapped chief growth officer Suzanne Sengelmann to lead the company as its new chief executive, succeeding Craig Stevenson, who held the role for four years.
From Freezer Aisle to First Pitch: Protein Pints Joins Padres
The high-protein ice cream brand is partnering with the San Diego Padres to sell its top four flavors at concession locations inside Petco Park.
Just Date Lands PE Partner to Power Next Phase of Growth
Just Date has partnered with private equity firm Contour Ridge to accelerate expansion of its natural sweeteners.
Inside Goodles’ Mission To Bring Back Mac
Goodles is bringing incremental growth to the segment with its high-protein, high-fiber formulations, playful branding and elevated flavor profiles.
Unilever In Talks To Sell Food Business To McCormick
Such a deal would add Hellmann’s mayonnaise and Knorr stock cubes to McCormick’s broad portfolio of condiments, sauces and seasonings under the Frank’s RedHot, French’s, Old Bay, Zatarain’s, Lawry’s and Stubb’s brands.
Bar Brands Go Bite-Size
Nutrition bar makers are doubling down on bite-size formats – a shift driven in part by the rise of GLP-1 weight loss drugs and also by a broader consumer push toward portion-controlled products. Such scaled-down snacks offer greater flexibility across eating occasions, manufacturers say.
General Mills Revives La Tiara Brand
General Mills has revived the La Tiara line of thin, crispy corn taco shells and taco seasonings, bringing more than 100 jobs to the Kansas City area, where the brand originated.
Small Brands, Big Bite: Insurgent Food Companies Power Category Growth
Challenger brands have accounted for the lion’s share of packaged food category growth for the past decade-plus, and last year was no exception.
Why Bachan’s Sold to Marzetti – and What Comes Next for the Japanese BBQ Brand
After six and a half years building distribution and refining its product lineup, Japanese barbecue sauce brand Bachan’s was ready to find a strategic partner that could help it go “further faster,” said founder and CEO Justin Gill.
David Protein Sued Over Macro Claims
A class action lawsuit filed in New York federal court claims David Protein significantly understates the calories and fat content in its protein bars. David maintains the accuracy of its labeling.