News

On Monday, we’re presenting a special panel for entrepreneurial food and beverage companies on the stresses and solutions affecting the relationship between brands and their co-packers during the ongoing COVID-19 Crisis.

From baking mixes and frozen treats to pizza and plant-based pasta, March’s new product releases will offer consumers plenty of variety. Check out the gallery for the month’s notable releases, including new flavors from Veggiecraft Farms and Whisps alongside launches from Coolhaus and KIND in honor of Women’s History Month.

Typically, food and beverage represents only around 3.2% of total U.S. online sales. But through a combination of factors, the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, has accelerated the shift to web-based shopping.

The fifth round of food and beverage brands includes Poppilu, Vital Farms, Genius Juice and Cocoa Metro. We also have a special co-host this week, Dr. Sebastian Dreher, the Managing Director of Döhler Ventures, who will weighing in on the brands from an investor’s perspective and provide feedback.

Over the past two weeks, a series of emergency acts have increased the availability of loans to small business owners during the coronavirus crisis. But some growing food and beverage companies are concerned that they will be left out of a new set of loans designed to lessen the impact of the coronavirus crisis because they are backed by investment funds.

In a conversation with BevNET managing editor Martin Caballero, veteran natural CPG consultant Bob Burke, principal at Natural Products Consulting LLC, offered his insights and perspectives on how brands can manage their teams, relationships and finances to both survive this trying period and to thrive at its conclusion.

As COVID-19 rapidly transforms consumer behavior, data firms are closely monitoring patterns — and looking to past economic debacles to help predict an uncertain journey ahead.

In a webinar hosted by Rabobank yesterday, analysts at the multinational banking and financial services company offered an overview of the macro impacts of COVID-19 on the food and beverage industry.

As many foodservice operations cease or dramatically reduce their footprint, food products originally produced and packaged for restaurants, hotels, schools and other establishments are being rerouted to retailers and wholesalers. The FDA and USDA are aiming to expedite the labeling process for these products with new guidance published this week.

While many established companies are bearing up under the storm thus far, small entrepreneurial brands, from early stage startups to regional players, who often have less distribution to start, are feeling the pain from retail disruptions. However, amidst lost supermarket sales or cancelled expansion plans, online is providing a possible bright spot for these brands.