News

In this highlight episode culled from interviews with six of the leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs who joined us on the podcast during the second half of 2019, we examine the role that relationships play in the development of great businesses.

In a presentation at NOSH Live Winter 2019, Jessica Lukas, research firm BDS Analytics’ SVP of commercial development, addressed the state of cannabis, “a major disruptor across the CPG industry, across every consumer product category,” she said, with edibles playing a major role.

2019 saw brands take a step beyond better-for-you, seeking to infuse healthy products with additional (functional) benefits. The year also featured acquisitions, investments and product launches as brands both large and small try to better align themselves with an increasingly engaged consumer base.

From plant-based innovation to increased focus on mission and sustainability, in 2020 brands will have to stay on their toes to power consumer appetites. Here are five natural food trends experts say brands should consider in 2020.

In the latest distribution news, Costco adds Beyond Burger and Atlantic Natural, Walmart takes on Keen One and Everipe and Veggies Made Great expands its offerings at four retailers.

Dinesh Tadepalli is the co-founder of Planeteer, a company that is helping to solve the plastic pollution problem by replacing plastic cutlery with edible cutlery. The brand’s first products are non-gmo, all natural spoons that stay firm for 25 minutes in hot soups and 45 minutes in ice cream.

In this presentation at NOSH Live Winter 2019, Junea Rocha, Brazi Bites’ co-founder and CMO, described the company’s five year-long “epic grind” — which eventually led to an appearance on Shark Tank and a big boost for the brand.

Chickpea brand Hippeas has always wanted to move beyond its initial line of puffs and become a “lifestyle” platform brand. Now the brand is taking its first steps in that direction; last week it launched a line of chickpea-based tortilla chips nationwide in retailer Whole Foods Market.

Kroger tests new plant-based meat section, federal bill funds CBD research and regulation and more in this week’s Checkout.

This week, members of the BevNET and NOSH editorial teams joined us for a discussion of some of the major news stories, trends and innovation from 2019. Among the topics of conversation were developments in the burgeoning cannabis CPG segment, explosive growth in the oat milk and sparkling water categories and the evolution of frozen food and plant-based meats.