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
Premium Hot Dog Startup Gleezy Raises $2M
Gleezy, a premium hot dog brand with roots in the golf world, has raised $2 million in seed funding as it looks to build on rapid retail and foodservice growth.
Laoban Expands Whole Foods Partnership With Exclusive Noodle Launch
The Washington, D.C.-based frozen Asian foods brand is launching Chicken Lo Mein and Beef Lo Mein exclusively at Whole Foods locations nationwide, marking its entry into the noodle category and bringing its total assortment at the natural grocer to a dozen items.
Stars + Honey Makes Retail Debut at Target Following $24M Investment
After tripling sales over the past year and securing a $24 million growth equity investment from VMG Partners, collagen protein bar brand Stars + Honey is making its brick-and-mortar debut with a nationwide rollout at Target.
Kroger Q1 Sales Rise, But CEO Foran Says ‘More Work to Do’
Kroger posted modest first-quarter sales growth and reaffirmed its full-year outlook, but CEO Greg Foran used his first earnings call since taking the helm earlier this year to signal that improving store execution and controlling costs remain top priorities.
Why Walmart Moved ALOHA From the Nutrition Aisle to Grocery
Nosh spoke with company leaders about what prompted the move, how they’ll measure success and why they believe protein bars are increasingly becoming just another grocery staple.
Top Seedz Doubles Production Capacity In Largest Expansion Yet
The Buffalo, N.Y.-based maker of organic seed-based snacks has completed the largest expansion in its history, doubling production capacity while rolling out new sustainable packaging and adding two flavors to its cracker lineup.
Blue Zones Kitchen Adds 2,000 Doors With Target, Albertsons Expansion
The additions bring Blue Zones Kitchen’s total distribution to approximately 7,000 doors nationwide, joining existing retail partners such as Whole Foods Market, Sprouts, Publix and H-E-B.
Sweet Loren’s, Kevin’s Target Breakfast Occasion With New Launches
As consumer habits evolve, packaged food brands are banking on breakfast. This week, two brands announced forays into the morning meal occasion.
Tara Bosch Kicked Sugar to a $360M Exit. Her Second Act Is a Bit Saltier
Six years after selling better-for-you candy business SmartSweets, Tara Bosch has set her sights on another snack aisle staple: potato chips.
Nestlé USA Eliminates Artificial Dyes Across Portfolio
Nestlé USA has completed the removal of artificial colors from its U.S. food and beverage portfolio, marking a significant milestone in the company’s broader effort to align with shifting consumer expectations around ingredients, transparency and nutrition.