Headlines

Although federal CBD regulations remain in limbo, some retailers are pushing forward to capitalize on consumer interest in the ingredient. This month CBD retail chain American Shaman opened its first ‘store-within-a-store’ concept inside of Kansas City, Mo.-based grocery store Price Chopper.

Facing major disruptions to its traditional business model, New York-based coffee maker Wandering Bear announced yesterday the launch of a new suite of products designed to bring the formerly office-focused brand into the at-home coffee space.

After less than a year on the market, neurosurgeon co-founded brand Cerebelly has made significant strides in its goal to make its brain-boosting functional baby food accessible to kids everywhere. This month, the brand expanded to 1,500 Target locations, bringing its door count to 4,000 stores nationwide.

“New Girl” actor Max Greenfield and serial entrepreneur Mike Constantiner, co-founders of dad-centric consumer products and lifestyle company Dadz, spoke about how they’re attempting to reach a “new generation of dads,” the importance of a strong founding team and why it offers a “shortcut” to a fast start and how the brand is being communicated to the trade and consumer press.

Beloved New York City chain Levain Bakery wants to bring a little glitz to the frozen dessert category, announcing last week it would launch a line of its lauded cookies into grocery stores, the company’s first move into CPG.

Atomo Coffee, maker of “molecular coffee” made not from coffee beans but from upcycled ingredients, announced last week the close of a $9 million seed funding round. S2G Ventures, whose portfolio includes Beyond Meat and Ripple, along with AgFunder and Bessemer Venture Partners participated in the round.

Brands big and small benefit from maintaining good relationships with investment bankers, who often help them navigate important decisions when it comes to fundraising and valuation. On Thursday, September 3rd, brand leaders will have the opportunity to participate in 1-on-1 virtual meetings with investment bankers that have expertise facilitating dealmaking in the food and beverage industry.

In this week’s Checkout, Impossible Foods raises $200 million, Once Upon a Farm launches a shoe collaboration with Tom’s, and Kroger will add a third-party marketplace to its e-commerce site this fall.

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) announced yesterday that it had collected a $575,000 fine from stevia producer Pure Circle USA for importing sweetener that was made by prison labor in China. The action against the company comes after an investigation that began in 2016, when CBP received an “allegation” from a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) as to the origins of some of the company’s stevia.

On the next episode of Office Hours we’ll discuss valuation trends in the natural products industry and the overall changes in fundraising and operational strategy that can help guide brands as the capital cycle changes. This look at valuations and at the overall investment market for rising food and beverage brands will be part of a special three-part content and networking series.