News

In this week’s Checkout: Immi raises $3.8 million and announces a reformulation; PepsiCo debuts its pep+ sustainability initiative; Misfits Market secures $225 million; and CULT Food Science invests in MeliBio.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued warnings this week about the potential risks of Delta-8 — a form of the psychoactive cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

With PepsiCo’s innovation hub The Hive, the global snack and beverage brand has sowed the seeds of innovation. Now, it’s time to start harvesting. Last week, The Hive launched its second product, a line of savory dried vegetable snacks called Good Notes, on Amazon and Walmart.com

With the creation of a new growth platform called Advanced Micronutrient Food as Medicine, investment fund KEEN Growth Capital is aiming to bridge the gap between “average feel-good supplements” and pharmaceutical grade medications, the company announced this week.

KIND Snacks founder and chairman Daniel Lubetzky is looking beyond the snack aisle for his next bite. The outspoken executive and entrepreneur is aiming to take a fresh approach to Mexican food with the launch of his next venture, SOMOS. Joining him as co-founders are two former KIND executives, with Miguel Leal, former CMO at Cholula, also serving as CEO

In this week’s distribution roundup: Plant-based meat alternative brand Barvecue expands to Sprouts, Whoa Dough launches a Festival Foods, Ella’s Flats enter South Florida Publix, Rowdy Bar Expands to Whole Foods and SIMULATE introduces NUGGS to Stop & Shop.

Episode 42 of Elevator Talk features leaders from Popcorn Powder, New Wave Foods, Actual Veggies, The Baconer, and Blenders & Bowls. Watch founders and CEOs introduce their brands and provide a recap of recent news and updates. Our co-host is CPG sales and distribution coach Sandra Velasquez.

After reaching a joint agreement in 2019 between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate cell-based meat products, the agencies are now taking steps toward establishing actual labeling requirements.

When Zoe Sakoutis and Erica Huss launched their latest venture, Earth & Star, last year with a line of mushroom lattes, the intent was always to build the brand into a “mushroom platform.” Over a year later, the vision is taking shape.

Matthew Parry, founder and CEO of canister-packaged snack brand The Good Crisp, spoke about how he has carefully navigated comparisons to Pringles, how the company’s channel and merchandising strategies have evolved to reach more mainstream consumers, and how he’s balancing rapid growth with a conservative approach to hiring.