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
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.
Archer Adds Chicken To Protein Portfolio Amid Meat Snacks Boom
Archer Meat Snacks is branching beyond beef and turkey for the first time, betting chicken can help fuel its next phase of growth as retailers devote more space to the booming meat snacks category.
JBS USA To Close Two Beef Plants
The affected sites include a beef production plant in Souderton, Pa., that employs 1,700 workers and a value-added facility in Memphis that employs 200 workers,
Children’s Snack Brand Cadootz! Charts Retail Expansion
Just six months after its direct-to-consumer debut, children’s snack brand cadootz! is launching nationwide at Target.
Red’s All Natural Enters Frozen Snacking Category
Rolling out to Kroger stores this month, Snackers is a line of smaller-format items made with simple ingredients including antibiotic-free meat and cage-free eggs.
The Only Bean Bets on Target to Revitalize a Sleepy Snack Set
The launch marks a major milestone for the Las Vegas-based brand, which has rapidly expanded into thousands of stores across the club and grocery channels since its debut six years ago.