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

With Taste Radio’s industry meetup in Austin just two weeks away, we’re excited to announce two featured interviews taking place at the event. Presented by Super Coffee and hosted at the company’s headquarters, the gathering will highlight conversations between Taste Radio host Ray Latif and Super Coffee co-founders Jimmy, Jake, and Jordan DeCicco, and Anna-Lena Kamenetzky, the founder and CEO of Touch Capital.

Amid what has been dubbed the “Utah Cookie Wars,” specialty cookie brand Crumbl has experienced growth in its direct-to-consumer sales. According to data from media company 2pm, Crumbl ranked 19 out of 700 DTC companies with an estimated revenue of $125,560,000 the week of August 29.

Upcycled CPG companies are innovating supply chains and scaling production in order to bring costs down so the niche sustainability trend can become more widely adopted and reach a larger market.

David Greenfeld, the founder and CEO of better-for-you frozen novelty and candy brand Dream Pops, spoke about the duality of marketing indulgent food made with healthier ingredients, leveraging the brand’s flagship popsicles as a springboard into shelf-stable products, why every CPG company needs to also be a “content company,” and why consistency is the most important aspect of Dream Pops’ social media strategy.

As inflation puts more pressure on consumers’ wallets, shoppers increasingly shied away from new trends and returned to more affordable and reliable habits in Q2 2022, according to a report by research platform evergi. Although Americans continue to be interested in athleticism, dieting and health, the overall wellness market has shrunk amid economic uncertainty, according… Read more »

Flash-frozen coffee producer Cometeer is making its brick-and-mortar retail debut this month in all seven Erewhon locations in Southern California. As part of the rollout, the company is also debuting three new 4-pack varieties, available exclusively in Erewhon stores, which will retail for $10.99 each. What is Cometeer? Founded in 2015 by CEO Matt Roberts… Read more »

Nestlé has introduced a new online platform, the Youth Entrepreneurship Program (YEP), designed to give young entrepreneurs access to education and career development opportunities, with the broader goal of generating ideas to benefit the global food system.

2022 appears to be the moment for regenerative agriculture with brands often leading the charge, but numerous third-party organizations have recently emerged. Here’s what you need to know about what these certifications mean, how to get them, and how much it is going to cost.

Club CPG, a digital company focused on bringing web3 strategies to the consumer sector, is looking to more closely mentor a new generation of tech-minded startups with its two latest projects: The Pop Incubator and Builder’s Club. The new programs are a part of Club CPG’s latest extension, Pop, a token-gated web3 community accessible exclusively… Read more »

This week’s roundup of notable new products saw brands launching heat-and-eat meals inspired by global flavors, creating better-for-you, vegan versions of classic candy bars and crafting a spicy sauce with “one of the most sustainable foods on the planet.”

In this week’s Checkout: NPD finds inflation pushes consumers to bargain grocery shop and visit restaurants less; Creatd Ventures completes acquisition of breakfast brand Brave; Justin’s continues to support the bees; and Luke Bryan makes popcorn to support the future of the agricultural industry.

In their ongoing efforts to win the hearts and minds of U.S. consumers, emerging plant-based meat giants are looking to make their case at the drive-through. But have these moves accomplished their purpose and contributed to ongoing success?

Pangea Natural Foods has launched a pilot partnership with H Mart stores in Texas as part of a larger goal of expanding its plant-based patty business internationally.

Two months after downgrading its full-year guidance due to “unprecedented volatility” and “numerous challenges,” Hain Celestial announced today that net sales for the full Fiscal Year 2022 dropped 4% year-over-year to $1.89 billion.