Nosh Staff

Boulder Food Group, a venture capital firm that recently launched a $100 million fund, is looking to invest in early-stage and innovative food and beverage brands. So how do you get their attention?

Michael Pan is the founder of Panco Foods, the maker of Pan’s Mushroom Jerky. The plant-based snack is based on a family recipe from Malaysia that utilizes umami shiitake mushrooms to create a meat alternative.

Justin’s founder Justin Gold spoke about his decision to stay with the brand following its $286 million acquisition by Hormel Foods. Along with a discussion on how a new take on a familiar snack and a key hire were game-changers for the brand, Gold also explained his belief that making a lot of money and having a mission to change the world are not mutually exclusive.

Plant-based meat alternatives have remained a strong trend in 2019 as brands continue to innovate with products ranging from meatless chicken nuggets and coconut bacon to fish-free seafood and deli slices. Take a look at some of the new products featured at Expo West.

From cashews to almonds to pili nuts, brands are going nuts for nut-based snacks. While several brands are integrating nuts into sweet snacks like brittle and spreads, others are going savory to create plant-based cheese alternatives. Take a look at some of the latest nut innovations showcased at Natural Products Expo West 2019 in Anaheim, California.

Ashley Albert is the co-founder of The Matzo Project, a company that’s bringing artisanship and personality to a traditional Jewish food. Through humorous branding and fun flavors, the company is reaching beyond the Jewish consumer base and tapping into a wider audience.

Maria Garcia Brennan and Pete Brennan are the co-founders of Soñar Foods, a company that’s developed a line of grain-free tortilla chips. The company utilizes organic ingredients like garbanzo beans and chia seeds to create a nutritional snack packed with plant-based protein and fiber.

In this episode, we spoke with Michele Simon, the founder and executive director of the Plant Based Food Association, about the changing landscape for plant-based foods.

Jasmine Singh is the co-founder of Nomad Eats, a company that is focused on creating plant-based whole food products that taste like “liquid gold”. The brand has developed vegan nacho and mac and cheese sauces aimed to change consumers’ minds about how healthy vegan products taste.

After spending $500 million to acquire a majority stake in Blue Bottle Coffee, it might be surprising to hear that Nestlé is content to let the premium roaster and retailer “just be.” Blue Bottle CEO Bryan Meehan spoke about the company’s relationship with Nestlé, its purposeful innovation strategy and efforts to enhance consumers’ experience with coffee. Also in this episode: an interview with former N’Sync star Lance Bass, who recently launched a cocktail mixer brand.