Headlines

Plant-based meat maker No Evil Foods introduced a new look, updated its packaging and entered the alt-beef category this week with the launch of a line of vegan beef strips called “Best Life.” These changes arrive after a year of financial challenges for the North Carolina-based company.

Despite launching during the COVID-19 pandemic, plant-based protein brand Next Gen Foods isn’t slowing down. The Singapore-based company announced today it has raised $100 million, in part to finance the launch of its plant-based chicken brand TiNDLE into the U.S.

Plant-based products brand KOS announced today it has closed a $12 million Series A financing round led by food and beverage industry veterans Clayton Christopher and Brian Goldberg. The two investors are now playing active roles in guiding the brand’s strategy, KOS co-CEO Allan Stevens said in a phone call. Christopher, a co-founder of CAVU… Read more »

This week we’re joined by Kat Cole, the president and COO of rapidly growing wellness brand Athletic Greens, who spoke about how she’s applying her extensive experience in branding, leadership and community building to the recently minted unicorn company, which last month raised $115 million at a valuation of over $1 billion.

In this distribution roundup: GummiShot enters brick-and-mortar retail with new partnerships; ZEGO rolls out specialty oat line nationwide; Chia Smash expands to Sprouts; Harmless Harvest reaches Canada and Rowdy Bar launches two flavors at Meijer.

In the context of modern CPG, a better-for-you snack can be anything – from a function-enhanced bar to a low-sugar sweet or crunchy vegetable chip alternative. As the category itself seems to be expanding exponentially, the role snacks play in consumers’ lives has also evolved.

Maybe they aren’t sports bras or vitamins, but food and beverage brands are establishing a presence among the country’s fastest-growing direct-to-consumer companies. Fly By Jing, Tea Drops and Golden Ratio were among the CPG names to feature in the top 25 fastest-rising D2C brands in Q4 2021, according to new research by Similarweb.

According to Freestyle Snacks, 82% of consumers cannot name a single brand of olives. The Atlanta-based company, which launched last month, is hoping to change that, starting with a line of products they say can transform the martini staple into a healthy snack option via innovative packaging and bold branding.

In this week’s Checkout: Vital Proteins founder steps out of CEO role as former CRO takes the lead, IRI finds snack sales spike leading up to the Super Bowl, Sunbasket adds Fresh & Ready bowls to menu offerings and PepsiCo reports Q4 earnings.

With over 1,000 brands exhibiting at this year’s Winter Fancy Foods show, there was a wide range of new products on display from plant-based protein alternatives to better-for-you indulgent treats. As we reported earlier this week, many exhibitors were eager to discuss the unique and often environmentally-conscious supply networks that helped create these new innovations.