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

As the market for plant-based seafood outpaces the overall meat alternatives category, The Plant Based Seafood Co. – maker of Mind Blown – is setting sail for national expansion this year with new innovation and a focus on foodservice.

On this week’s show Charles Coristine, president and CEO of Lesser Evil Snacks, discusses how the brand approached raising funds as the fed lifted interest rates and what areas of the business he prioritizes during economic uncertainty.

After previously investing in the cultured meat company Believer Meats, Archer Midland Daniels has entered a new partnership with the Israel-based food tech company to help develop and commercialize cell-cultured protein products.

The alt-dairy industry has staked a claim among nearly a third of American consumers and within that new wave of plant-based milks, a handful of brands are hoping to disrupt conventional thinking around how such products are packaged and sold.

Though still just a small fraction of the total plant-based meat and seafood category, plant-based seafood dollar sales increased by 15% and unit sales grew 5% in 2022, outpacing total plant-based meat sales, according to a new report by the Good Food Institute and the Plant Based Food Association.

Personalized nutritional supplement company Gainful is branching out from DTC with a national launch in Target featuring a simplified customization process to reach retail customers both online and in-store.

Italian food importer, distributor and producer Colavita has acquired California-based O Olive Oil & Vinegar for $6.23 million, giving Colavita another foothold in the domestic olive oil and wine vinegar category.

Motif Foodworks will begin selling its finished alt-meat burger products direct-to-consumer for a limited time, representing a pivot for the company’s previously stated business plan.

Over recent years, influencer-fronted brands like Chamberlain Coffee and Top of The Mornin’ Coffee, among others, have made inroads with younger coffee drinkers that may find the space intimidating or unwelcoming. New entrants continue to emerge: In November, sports podcast Pardon My Take host and Barstool Sports star Dan “Big Cat” Katz launched Stella Blue Coffee, named after his rescue dog. Three months later, TikTok star Chris Olsen introduced Flight Fuel.

PepsiCo’s first ever Greenhouse Accelerator: Juntos Crecemos Edition is intended to help drive growth for startup Hispanic-owned food and beverage businesses. This is the first time that the program has focused specifically on a social equity cause.

Wonderlab, the maker of plant-based gelato brand Doozy Pots, is shutting down after rising costs of goods and category challenges proved insurmountable.

Blue Apron expands its Heat & Eat meals partnership with DoorDash into 11 new locations, Foxtrot Market names its new CEO and Indian foods chef Maya Kaimal has released her third cookbook.

In this week’s new products roundup, Pocket’s Chocolates teams up with plushie brand Miniso, PeaTos adds a new puff product to its lineup of better-for-you snacks and Monty’s unveils a new line of alt-dairy spreads.

The NOSH team gets fooled by fake CPG products, discusses the FDA’s recent announcements concerning “healthy” food labeling and Grass Fed Foods CEO Jeff Tripician talks to Lukas about merging small businesses better compete with conventional producers.