News

Processed cheese — think “pasteurized processed cheese food,” like Velveeta — is coming to the natural channel. Calling it a clean label cheese solution, Kerry is allowing customers to remove all unrecognizable ingredients from their cheese products or menu items that offer the familiar appearance (i.e. light orange), aroma and taste of processed cheese products — without the artificial ingredients and coloring. Kerry showcased the product at Natural Expo West in Anaheim, Calif., last week.

During a discussion at the 2017 Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, Calif., both longtime leaders and rising entrepreneurs spoke about how they’re positioning their companies to not only be successful financially, but also as part of a raised social consciousness.

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is looking to equivalency trade arrangements as a way to increase more organic options on shelves. During a Natural Products Expo West event last week in Anaheim, Calif. Monique Marez, the OTA’s director of international trade, said it is just a question of standards.

Darren Tristano, president of restaurant research and consulting firm Technomics, talked to NOSH during this month’s New England Foods Show in Boston, Mass. about the ways food service can be a profitable space for CPG companies and how brands can better position their products as ingredients in restaurants, be it limited service, fast-casual or full service.

Several notable natural food brands accepted investment to help secure its place in the future of the food. This month, Wild Friends, Chia Viva! and Incredible Foods announced investment from industry legends to help scale each of its own products and growth.

Modern Table is ready to take center plate with a reformulation and rebranding of their protein pastas and meal kits, as well as the launch of a new line of mac-and-cheese.

The branded frozen fish meal kit company announced Wednesday that actor and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio has joined the team as an investor and advisory board member.

Two generations of food company executives have come together in a new fund whose purpose is to help build the next set of natural food brands.

One of natural food’s newest parent-brand companies is adding to its tribe. Tribe 9 Foods announced this week that it will now house RP’s Pasta Company, Yumbutter and Ona under its company umbrella. To finance the merger, the company raised $2 million in growth capital from Natural Food Partners, LLC.

When it came time for meat snack company Wilde Brand to make the leap from its first product (a line of roasted, lean meat bars) co-founder and CEO Jason Wright wanted to take a different, crunchier path. At this year’s Expo West the brand will launch a unique chicken-based chip.