Headlines

Better-for-you meat snack maker Western Smokehouse Partners acquired Texas-based hand-crafted jerky and meat products producer Junior’s Smokehouse this week.

The Nosh team reviews Mid-Day Squares’ new non-chocolate innovation and Long Weekend’s premium freeze-dried soups.

This week on the podcast, Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporter Lukas Southard tackle the recent controversy surrounding cage-free egg producer Vital Farms, the latest updates affecting the hemp beverage industry, and a beverage maker’s strategic expansion into functional gummy supplements. The hosts also highlight several recent funding announcements.

Everything has protein in it these days, and while some of the new “innovations” may be a grab for relevance, some categories are benefiting from consumers’ heightened interest in clean label, muscle-bulking iterations of regular old pantry staples.

Painterland Sisters is partnering with USA Curling’s Women’s Team ahead of the Winter Olympics; plus, more marketing moves from Once Upon A Farm, Babybel, HelloFresh and Organicville.

Amazon will close all of its Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh brick-and-mortar stores to focus on expanding its same-day grocery delivery services and Whole Foods Market footprint.

Pizza sauce producer Violet Foods LLC has acquired the Muir Glen organic tomato products brand from General Mills, the company announced today. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Odeko announced today it has acquired Washington, D.C.-based specialty food and beverage distributor District Distribution as it works to build an anchor in the Mid-Atlantic region to access local products and vendors.

Grüns founder Chad Janis has announced the launch of Ü Snacks, a broader platform that encompasses additional functional gummy brands including Nütrops, Immün, Jüced and “the many additional innovations coming.”

New year, new trends. Based on ever-evolving consumer demand, retailers and manufacturers alike – including Kroger and Conagra Brands – are predicting the largest drivers of consumer food and beverage spending in 2026.