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

A judge from Washington State has extended the temporary block on a $4 billion payout to Albertsons’ shareholders in an effort to halt the cash dividend until the grocery giant’s proposed merger with Kroger can be fully reviewed by federal regulators. Judge Ken Schubert of King County Superior Court last week extended the temporary restraining order (TRO), now effective until Nov. 17.

B&G Foods is “actively seeking” a buyer for snack brand Back to Nature, stating on this week’s third quarter earnings report that while the brand was performing well enough, the divestment is part of a larger initiative to refocus B&G’s core portfolio and reduce debt.

This week’s roundup of new products saw better-for-you iterations of classic Italian treats, chocolate products to help fight off aches and pains and new charcuterie trays for holiday entertaining.

In this week’s roundup: Kristen Bell’s bar brand This Saves Lives was acquired by Upworthy parent company; Square Roots and UNFI to co-locate facilities; FDA publishes new food traceability rule and alt-protein makers form the Fungi Protein Association.

In this episode, the hosts explained why founders regularly attend industry events are often better positioned to support their brands than those who don’t, riffed on the impact of sleek and clever packaging and marveled at a sparkling water brand’s latest LTO. This episode also features a conversation with Michael Lewis, the founder of oomph, a new brand of low-sugar, functional candy.

At NOSH Live on Dec. 1 + 2 in Santa Monica, natural and better-for-you brands, investors, retailers and suppliers will hear from some of the industry’s top executives and thought leaders. Together this slate of CPG all-stars will help our audience prepare for 2023, better understand the current financial climate, and explore new growth strategies.

After announcing a $5.7 million net loss in Q3, Laird Superfoods’ executive team laid out the company’s plans to rebound from a challenging year during its quarterly earnings call on Thursday.

After reporting “disappointing” revenues, Beyond Meat CEO Ethan Brown told analysts on the company’s third quarter earnings call that he is taking “aggressive measures” to right the ship at the plant-based meat brand.

After nearly a year on the market, Rollin n’ Bowlin officially separated its nut butter-filled date business from the brand’s brick and mortar smoothie stores last week, aiming to build the line out under its newly-established snack platform, realsy.

The team talks about chaos in the food world and NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg talks to Jason and Mia Bauer, co-founders of Crumbs Bakeshop, about relaunching the popular bakery brand and shifting it from a brick-and-mortar model to a CPG line of treats.

Dirty Hands, one of the CPG industry’s largest merchandising firms, laid off employees from across the company last week in a move to refocus its business on the natural channel.

Consumers will be looking for more nutrient dense, cognitive-supporting, shelf stable, cosmically-marketed products in the new year, according to Mintel.

From bags of Chamberlain Coffee to Feastable chocolate bars, leading social media content creators like Emma Chamberlain and Jimmy Donaldson (“MrBeast”) are piling into product launches, taking massive youth audiences and turning them into brand obsessives. The C in CPG is morphing from Consumer to Celebrity to Creative – and we’ll analyze and understand this transformation at NOSH Live Winter 2022, taking place on Dec. 1 and 2.

Flat quarterly net revenue growth and a sequential, 11.7% revenue decline year-over-year, coupled with a delay to its $57 million private placement funding from RJB Partners LLC, has caused meal delivery service Blue Apron to pull its yearly revenue guidance.