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
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.
Blue Apron Revamps: Less ‘Rigid,’ More Customization And Pre-Made Meals
Nearly two years after its $130 million acquisition by Wonder Group, Blue Apron has unveiled “a major evolution” that includes a new identity, expanded product lineup and subscription-free shopping options.
Daring Foods Acquired by v2food With Ajinomoto Investment
Plant-based poultry producer Daring Foods has been acquired by Australian alt-protein company v2food, with backing by Ajinomoto Co, Inc. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Jeff Gendelman, CEO of Daring Foods, told Nosh the partnership will leverage the scale and frozen food expertise of Ajinomoto and the proprietary protein technology of v2food, bringing the brand into new protein formats and meal occasions across retail and foodservice channels.
Amylu Foods Cooks Up Growth With New Investment
Amylu Foods has secured an investment from TowerBrook Capital Partners and Prelude Growth Partners that will support continued retail expansion.
Smucker, Chubby Snacks Settle Trademark Suit
The J.M. Smucker Company has settled its lawsuit accusing now-defunct frozen sandwich startup Chubby Snacks of false advertising, trademark violations and disparagement in “years of advertising designed to tarnish the name and reputation” of Smucker’s competing Uncrustables brand.
Warburg Pincus Acquires Natural Flavors Supplier FlavorSum
Private equity firm Warburg Pincus today announced it has agreed to acquire FlavorSum, a supplier of natural flavors and extracts, from global investment firm The Riverside Company. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Have We Reached Peak Protein Pasta? More Brands Muscle Into Category
Another day, another high-protein pasta. Egglife Foods today announced the launch of Power Pasta, a refrigerated fresh pasta formulated with eggs and no flour.
Hero Steps Into the Bagel Void – And Enters Pasta Category
The meltdown of beleaguered bagel slinger BetterBrand provided an opportunity for Hero Labs to replace its reduced-carb rival on shelves nationwide at Whole Foods Market this past spring.
Caffeine Fix: Awake Chocolate Raises CAD $8M
Awake Chocolate has raised CAD $8 million (approximately $5.84 million USD) in funding, including CAD $5 million from Btomorrow Ventures, the corporate venturing arm of British American Tobacco, and CAD $3 million from BDC Capital. The investment brings the brand’s total funding to CAD $15.5 million since its inception in 2012.
Little Sesame Raises $8.5M Series A To Scale Hummus Production
Hummus maker Little Sesame has closed a $8.5 million Series A funding round led by InvestEco Capital with participation from Watchfire Ventures, Santatera Capital, Beliade Consumer Partners, and other prominent individual industry investors.