Food Industry News, Insights, and Education for the CPG Community

The cultivated meat and seafood space continued to cash large checks and garner new investor support in 2022. However, as regulatory powers in the U.S. pushed the industry closer to commercialization, discussions surrounding future challenges to scale, like price parity and consumer adoption, continue to generate uncertain expectations for growth.

The Coca-Cola Company has licensed its Simply and Minute Maid brands to distribute fresh grapes and citrus fruit marking the first time the beverage maker has partnered with a fresh produce company.

In this week’s notable new products roundup, Blackbird Pizza teams up with plant-based protein maker Daring Foods, Lavazza launches a “new” coffee blend sourced from Mars and Icelandic Provisions expands its portfolio of skyr with four new fruity flavors.

A Dozen Cousins has announced The Birthing People Foundation, the non-profit arm of Kindred Space LA, as the recipient of its 2023 Social Impact Grant as the brand works to shed light on the issue of Black maternal health.

On this week’s show, the team chats about recent news from the FTC regarding functional food claims. Later, we host a 4/20-themed talk about the impact hemp-derived THC has had on the CPG industry and how this unregulated space has contributed to consumer awareness of cannabinoids.

U.K.-based Marlow Foods, owner of legacy plant-based meat alternative brand Quorn, announced this week the launch of a new division to begin selling its flagship mycoprotein ingredient to other food and beverage companies.

Gourmend Foods is suing the USDA and FDA over the use of proven, low-FODMAP labeling claims on beef bone broth packages saying “the government does not get to decide which facts consumers are allowed to learn.”

Over the last three years, Simpli has established ingredient partnerships with Whole Foods, sweetgreen and Daily Harvest, among many other natural products players. But now, the company is taking significant strides toward establishing its own brand in the natural food space.

Winter hibernation may be over, but New York-based startup Folk Revival is taking a cue from the squirrels with its line of hot cereal cups featuring a healthy serving of acorn. Founded in 2021 by CEO David Cantor, Folk Revival is a line of grain-free hot cereal cups made with hemp, nuts, coconut and, its hero ingredient, acorns.

With snacks trending upward and vertically-integrated supply chains becoming increasingly appealing to large corporations amid continued market volatility, The Hershey Company is doubling down on both.

Plant-based frozen novelty brand GoodPop announced it will expand the reach to Walmart stores in the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, Southeast and Southwest regions this month.

In this week’s roundup: Bel Group partners with food tech company Climax Foods; Farm.One reopens doors with a new investor, Fresh Thyme launches ecommerce platform and more.

In this week’s notable new products roundup, HelloFresh teams up with Marvel to create hero-inspired meal kits, Banza expands its mac & cheese offerings and Siggi’s celebrates summer early with the rerelease of its seasonal Guava flavor.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has warned around 670 companies to stop making unsubstantiated product claims or face the prospect of steep civil penalties.