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In this video we sit down with TikTok Shop’s head of food and beverage Cameron Gould-Saltman to learn the ins and outs of selling and fulfilling orders on the platform, gain an understanding of the evolving commission structure and hear firsthand how brands have positioned themselves to capture core target audiences.

The frozen entrees category is seeing a slowdown in dollar and unit sales with frozen meals seeing a larger decline while frozen pasta remains flat.

In this week’s notable new products roundup, SNAX-Sational takes inspiration from a classic lunchbox staple to create its newest popcorn flavor, Nourish unveils what it claims to be the first instant chia protein pudding, and Munk Pack introduces a new Probiotic Protein line.

Conventional chocolate leads the category with 174% YoY growth in conversations mentioning it. Functional chocolate conversations spark ideas for innovation with 105% YoY growth and a high sentiment score of 95. Meanwhile, sugar candy is growing 64% YoY, driven by seasonal peaks, nostalgia, and niche flavors.

Despite posting better-than-expected Q2 results, Cheerios and Betty Crocker maker General Mills announced yesterday that it has lowered its profit outlook for fiscal 2025 as it implements short-term promotions to attract budget-conscious consumers.

The CPG Week podcast jumps into the latest M&A news with the failure of the Kroger-Albertsons merger, a denied proposal by Mondelēz to acquire Hershey and Lamb Weston acquisition rumors.

Cameron Smith jumped back into the CPG game this month, supported by a handful of his Kodiak colleagues, with the launch of protein pretzel brand Kindling Snacks.

For a vast number of chocolate makers, this year has been anything but sweet. Amidst surging cocoa prices – which are still on a wild roller coaster ride – conglomerates like The Hershey Company and Mondelēz International have resorted to passing price hikes on to consumers to reduce the impact on their balance sheets, while investors have expressed increased interest in high-tech startups producing alt-cocoa products with methods like fermentation and plant cell culture.

The chocolate sector is closing out a year plagued by adverse weather conditions and supply chain woes in West Africa on an increasingly bitter note.

Get ready for our December Community Calls! This month, dive into key regulatory issues affecting CPG and unique paths to funding. Our December calls are free and open to the public—just register in advance and mark your calendar.