News

From national distribution to failed innovation to keto-driven disruption, it’s all in a decade’s work for Buddha Brands’ co-founders Chris Magnone and Mark Cigos, who we profile in this episode of Taste Radio. We also sat down with Jen Ballen and Joe Magliano, the co-founders of Otherworld Foods, an upstart brand that aligns locally sourced and upcycled ingredients with nostalgia-inspired products.

Following its sale and spin-off from Simply Good Foods last year, protein bar brand SimplyProtein is gearing up for its next growth phase, starting with a rebrand that the company says will set the stage for category expansions and omnichannel growth nationwide.

Private label products are “nipping at the heels” of name brands according to a new report from consumer market research firm the Hartman Group examining the key drivers behind consumers’ purchasing decisions. The report notes that although demand for private label brands typically increases during periods of economic downturn, current growth is also being driven by generational differences in why consumers make a purchase and how they interpret the meaning of a brand.

In this week’s Checkout: 4×4 Capital acquires The Bountiful Company’s former sports and active nutrition unit; Ashton Kutcher’s Sound Ventures partners with MeaTech; Nestlé tests “Vrimp” in Europe; and SnackMagic launches “Cardboard Vending Machines.”

Savencia Fromage & Dairy’s U.S. expansion plans have begun to take shape with yesterday’s announcement that the French dairy provider has acquired dip producer Hope Foods.

Online grocery platform Instacart announced yesterday it has acquired software company Foodstorm, which powers a catering order management system for grocery retailers. The move expands Instacart’s enterprise technology services while allowing its retail partners to grow ecommerce sales of their prepared food offerings.

After years of effort by activists including multiple legislative attempts, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 45 into law yesterday, creating a regulatory framework to immediately allow for the legal sale of CBD-infused products.

In this People Moves: Bob’s Red Mill moves Trey Winthrop into the role of CEO, Mindy Grossman steps down from WW International, Kodiak adds new CMO position for Cory Bayers, Maxine’s Heavenly expands team with two new hires and more.

Mediterranean food company Afia this week announced its expansion into Sprouts Farmers Market nationwide and Publix in the Southeast. The launch brings the brand’s footprint to 1,775 stores nationwide, doubling its store count at the start of this year.

Animal-free protein maker Clara Foods announced yesterday it has rebranded, changing its name to The EVERY Company. The new brand identity, CEO and founder Arturo Elizondo said, will better convey the food tech company’s mission of providing sustainable animal-free proteins to “every human, everywhere.”