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
The ABCs of Expo West
If you want to speak Expo fluently, first you’ve got to learn the alphabet. Fortunately, we’ve compiled this handy set of definitions for you, down to the letter.
How to Stay Healthy, Safe and Sane At Expo West
A number of possible medical conditions may befall an attendee, from indigestion to trampling injuries to a raging hangover.
Surviving (And Thriving) at Expo West: An Investor’s Perspective
How can a brand stand out among thousands of others exhibiting at the show? Spoiler: It’s not another branded tote bag or t-shirt.
No Booth? No Problem: Backpacking at Expo West
Exhibiting at Expo West can be prohibitively expensive for an emerging brand with a limited budget. Here’s what to do instead.
Mason Dixie Taking Bigger Bite Out of Breakfast
Building on its success in the breakfast sandwich category, Mason Dixie Foods is expanding its range of frozen heat-and-eat offerings with new elevated takes on traditional fast-food options rolling out this week at Whole Foods Market stores.
Better Sour Hits the Bullseye
Globally-inspired gummy candy brand Better Sour has expanded to more than 1,500 doors nationwide, including nearly 500 Target stores.
‘Challenge Accepted’: Zesty Z Pivots From Popcorn to Pita Chips
After a challenging couple of years, family-owned Mediterranean foods brand Zesty Z is aiming to start a new chapter for its business with this week’s launch of a line of twice-baked pita chips.
Snack Startup S’NOODS Explores the Possibilities of Pasta
A snack brand featured on a Netflix cooking competition is hitting retail shelves this week. “Snack vs. Chef” winner Lauryn Bodden launched S’NOODS, a brand of crunchy, noodle-inspired snacks with global flavors. The products are gluten-free and air-popped or baked. The base is made with a proprietary blend of rice, potato, tapioca and chickpea flours,… Read more »
Is This $9 Toaster Pastry a Pop-Tarts Killer?
Flings, a Montreal startup’s modern twist on a billion-dollar brand, is rolling out to Target stores nationwide.
Fancy Food Show: Better-for-you Brittle, Snack Puffs, Global Flavors and Powdered Formats
From cauliflower-packed puffs to dehydrated fruit-based brittles to freeze-dried salsas, emerging brands are experimenting with ingredients and processing technologies to develop healthier and more sustainable spins on snacks and staples.