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
Hungryroot Hits $700 Million in Revenue
Online grocer Hungryroot generated net revenue in 2025 of $700 million, which was up 55% over the prior year. The privately held company also said it achieved profitability last year behind the strength of its artificial intelligence technology.
Carbone Taps President, COO To Lead Next Phase Of ‘Rapid Growth’
Carbone Fine Food has tapped Jeff Stoeckel as president and chief operating officer. He will partner with chief executive Eric Skae to expand the brand’s retail footprint, accelerate new product development and lead the business into “the next phase of its rapid growth.”
Mighty Spark Charts Mighty Expansion
Mighty Spark, a producer of chicken snack sticks, is rapidly expanding with new distribution and product launches in the year ahead.
Tyler Ricks Joins Actual Veggies Board
Tyler Ricks has joined the board of directors of Actual Veggies. Ricks is a seasoned leader with nearly three decades of general management, marketing, and sales experience in consumer products organizations including PepsiCo, Bear Naked Granola and Plum Organics.
Primal Kitchen Unveils Grass-Fed Dairy-Based Dressings
Primal Kitchen has launched its first-ever dairy-based offerings – a line of shelf-stable, creamy salad dressings made with buttermilk from grass-fed cows, Romano cheese and yogurt, plus avocado oil. The range includes Creamy Romano, Buttermilk Ranch and Tzatziki Style.
Sweet Protein Sweelin Achieves GRAS Status
Amai Proteins announced today its sweet protein sweelin received GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Purely Elizabeth Launches Beauty-Inspired Granola
Purely Elizabeth launched Purely Glow Salted Vanilla Pistachio Granola, a limited-edition granola enhanced with collagen peptides and biotin. The item was inspired by beauty routines and TikTok trends.
Jimmy Kimmel’s Sidekick Gets Serious About Salsa
Guillermo’s – the fresh salsa startup launched by late-night television personality Guillermo Rodriguez – appears to be yet another celebrity-backed packaged food brand. The founding team of industry innovators behind the venture insists that it’s not.
Caulipower Debuts Single-Serve Offerings in Frozen Aisle
Caulipower is launching its first-ever single-serve options in the frozen aisle. The product expansion comes on the heels of the brand’s acquisition by Paine Schwartz Partners-owned Urban Farmer, a manufacturer of branded and private label specialty dough products.
Ex-Walmart Leader Named CEO of Kroger
Former Walmart executive Greg Foran was named CEO of The Kroger Co. and joined its board of directors. He succeeds Ron Sargent, who took over on an interim basis after Rodney McMullen’s departure last March.