Nosh Staff

Plant-based jelly snack purveyor Oddball is rolling out its Grape, Mango and Double Berry flavors to more than 1,100 Target stores nationwide. The retailer will carry the snacks in 4-packs with a SRP of $4.99.

In this week’s notable new products roundup, Barebells takes inspiration from a lunchbox staple for its newest protein bar flavor, Ritz taps into the sweet-and-salty trend, and ActivatedYou unveils a mushroom-infused instant coffee.

At Nosh Live 2025, Lauren Castro, lead director of healthy consumables and grocery at CVS Health, discussed how the retailer identifies new products, evaluates which brands are ready to launch and scale in its nationwide footprint, and supports young companies as they enter a channel that looks a little different than traditional grocery.

From multimillion-dollar valuations to sudden shutdowns, the stories that resonated most with Nosh readers this year reveal just how dynamic the packaged food landscape has become. Our coverage spanned dramatic downfalls, blockbuster acquisitions, and legal battles that left founders, lenders and consumers in limbo. Here’s a look back at the 10 stories that captured the most attention.

This week on the podcast, Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporters Brad Avery and Lukas Southard reflect on the top stories of the year, including the rising influence of the Make America Healthy Again movement on the food and beverage industry, the biggest merger moments, and notable highlights of hemp’s uncertain future.

Collaborations have become an essential growth lever for emerging brands this year, but planning and execution make or break whether they have a tangible impact.

At Nosh Live 2025, Brian Bernstein of Rich Products Ventures and Axel Malbrain of FF2032 – both backed by large, established food companies – outlined how their funds operate with a financial-return-first mindset, despite common assumptions about corporate venture capital.

At Nosh Live, incoming Justin’s CEO Peter Burns discussed the brand’s future growth plans, which include rebuilding the entrepreneurial culture, bringing back key team members and focusing on product innovation

This week on the podcast, Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporter Brad Avery discuss a spate of funding news for a hot sauce brand, a hummus startup and a functional beverage company. The hosts also chat about what an executive order to reschedule cannabis could mean for the hemp drink market.

“Hot Ones” wouldn’t be where it is today without Heatonist, the boutique, Brooklyn-based hot sauce retailer responsible for stocking the now-hit YouTube show’s lineup since nearly its inception.