Monica Watrous

Jing Gao, founder and CEO of Fly By Jing, said she will continue to source and produce the brand’s chili crisps and sauces in China – in spite of the staggering new taxes imposed on them.

Across the packaged food industry, operators are scrambling to reshore supply chains amid sweeping tariffs. New York-based Burlap & Barrel sources spices directly from smallholder farmers in several dozen nations, paying multiples over commodity prices for Vietnamese cinnamon, Zanzibar black peppercorns and Hungarian paprika.

Robert Broome created chilled oat bar brand Mooski three years ago as a fresh take on granola bars using a formulation inspired by his family’s muesli recipe. He didn’t realize then that he had developed the perfect product for skiers and snowboarders, an avid community of consumers seeking slope-worthy snacks that don’t harden in frigid temperatures.

The latest launch from specialty olive oil brand Graza is a single-origin, high-heat cooking oil that co-founder and CEO Andrew Benin described as a “game-changer.” The new varietal debuts this week at Whole Foods Market stores nationwide in spray bottle and squeeze bottle formats. A two-liter jug will be available online in the coming weeks.

Less than six months since its debut, the gold-wrapped, high-protein David bar is rolling out a new recipe featuring artificial sweeteners and flavors. The brand’s co-founders, Peter Rahal and Zach Ranen, claim the new formula improves the taste, texture and shelf life and cited studies showing the safety of ingredients now used in the bars.

The year is barely underway, and already several significant deals struck in the packaged food sector provide reason for optimism after a tough period on the financing front. While some industry watchers anticipate the pace of transactions to accelerate, others expect strategic acquirers and investors to remain prudent and disciplined. “We see investors are being… Read more »

Will the rising adoption of weight loss drugs dent snack sales on Super Bowl Sunday? According to survey data, chances are slim. Retail insights firm Upside polled Americans and found that people with weight loss goals are still likely to indulge on game day as much as – if not more than – anyone else.

After 28 years on grocery store shelves, and ahead of expanding its product line later this year, BELA this week unveiled its first-ever brand refresh along with a revamped website that enables consumers to order directly from the company.

Frozen sandwich maker Chubby Snacks appears to be ceasing operations after four years in business, following financial and legal challenges. In a December 10 email viewed by Nosh, Chubby Snacks notified its suppliers of the decision to wind down, citing a spate of challenges including “increased competition, rising overhead costs, limited capital and inflationary pressures.”

As we review our notes from the final Winter Fancy Food Show in Las Vegas earlier this week, the presence of premium pantry staples, new positions for konjac jelly brands and a rising tide around the use of A2 dairy caught our attention. Here’s all of the notes from our reporter’s notebooks, which also includes a new spin on frozen fruit and love for lentils across new formats.