Caulipower has joined forces with Pizza Hut, landing its gluten-free cauliflower crust in 250 restaurants for a limited test, deepening the brand’s foodservice presence. The “CauliCrust” is currently available at participating locations across Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Indiana.
The Los Angeles-based brand, which also produces frozen cauliflower crust pizza, pizza snacks, cauliflower crust and chicken tenders for retail, began building a foodservice business during its second year of operation. Today, Caulipower is available in approximately 5,000 restaurant locations, including Marco’s Pizza and 800 Degrees Woodfired Kitchen, among others.
“For [us], foodservice is centered around providing a solution that checks a number of boxes for our customers. We’re an innovative, modern solution that is lighter, veggie-forward, delicious and also happens to be gluten-free,” CEO Tyler Ricks, who took the helm in May 2024, told Nosh via email.
He continued, “It is pivotal to create formats that work within the established restaurant systems, from pack sizes to cook methods – if it’s hard to use, they won’t prioritize the offering. This differs from retail where the goal is to anticipate what the consumer wants and make sure it is on the shelf for them.”
For Caulipower, the collaboration with Pizza Hut helps further its mission of making healthier choices accessible to all. For its restaurant partners, adding the cauliflower-based crust to menus helps them modernize their offerings.
On the retail side, Caulipower’s strategy is to “reach more consumers and show them they don’t need to compromise taste for better health,” according to Ricks. The brand is available in about 17,000 stores nationwide – including Walmart, Whole Foods Market, Wegmans and Publix – but it still has “relatively low” household penetration and “a fair amount” of distribution whitespace.
“We’re a modern brand that is very on-trend, but there are still so many households that have not tried Caulipower. They’ve either had bad experiences with other gluten-free products or can’t imagine that a pizza crust with cauliflower as the first ingredient tastes good,” said Ricks. “Our priority is to reach them, surprise and delight them with the Caulipower experience that has made us the No. 1 BFY pizza.”
Other distribution updates:
IQBAR is now available at Costco stores nationwide. The club store will stock the brand’s Peanut Butter Chip, Chocolate Sea Salt and Almond Butter Chip protein bars in an 18-count variety pack.
Urban Remedy expanded its partnership with Whole Foods Market nationwide. The ready-to-eat meals, snacks and cold-pressed juices launched in 27 Texas stores last week, bringing its total Whole Foods footprint to over 400 locations.
Kindling Snacks, the protein pretzel brand created by Kodiak Cakes co-founder Cameron Smith, will roll out to 30 Sprouts locations in Arizona, all Market District stores and over 100 H-E-B locations.
Better-for-you pasta sauce brand Eat Happy Kitchen is now appearing on the shelves of 479 Kroger Family stores nationwide.
Del Real Foods is expanding its presence at Target with broader distribution of its Carnitas and Barbacoa and the debut of its Chicken Fajitas.
Plant protein snack maker Biena has landed its new Edamame products in Kroger.
After proving the concept in 1,000 select stores, Actual Veggies’ Super Fries are hitting the shelves of 130 Super Target stores, over 2,000 Kroger stores and Whole Foods Market locations across the Southwest and Midwest.
Zahav Restaurant Recipe Hummus has debuted in the refrigerated section of 485 Target stores across 20 states along the East Coast.
Norr Organic has landed its Icelandic-style yogurt in all 70 Fresh Thyme Market stores across the Midwest.
South 40 Snacks has gone international, with its nut bars now available at Starbucks in Madrid.
Bio.me, a fiber-focused gut health brand, has made its brick-and-mortar debut at Sprouts Farmers Market nationwide.
