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

Children’s meal and snack platform Cerebelly announced today it has made its first acquisition, buying up freeze-dried kids snack brand Fresh Bellies.

A veteran CPG operator and Michelin star chef have teamed up to reinvigorate the shelf-stable meal kits space with Riff, a shelf-stable meal kit line launching at Target stores nationwide.

Flavor company Watkins has entered a definitive agreement to acquire Sauer Brands’ spice business, including the recently-purchased Kernel Season’s and Spicer Hunter brands, along with Sauer’s own branded spices and seasonings, the companies announced today. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Prest is rethinking the refrigerated hummus category with a shelf-stable powdered mix that consumers prepare at home with water and olive oil, plus optional tahini.

Glenn Food Co. is meeting pent-up demand to grow its seafood seasoning brand Merman’s Revenge with a national distribution deal at Walmart.

Allergen-free cookie company Partake announced one of its most impactful partnerships to-date as it partners with Girl Scouts of the USA to supply a new cookie product, Sparkables, that supports the brand’s mission for inclusive eating.

This week, we’re taking chili crisp to Italy thanks to Carbone, checking out Chameleon’s rebrand, and getting dolled up for a night on the town with a Cadbury diamond clutch. Hey, what more could you ask for?

Food ingredient company Onego Bio is bringing its precision-fermented egg protein into the high-protein breakfast aisle through a new partnership with Zen Waffles.

Another cohort of CPG companies – General Mills, Kellanova, Mars, and McKee Foods, the producer of Little Debbie snacks – have sued several U.S. sugar companies, alleging they colluded to inflate the cost of refined sugar.

In this week’s new products roundup, Girl Scouts introduces its first allergy-friendly cookie in partnership with Partake, Knorr turns up the heat with Hot Ones-inspired sides, and better-for-you brands Joyride, Junkless and Häppy Candy get a head start on Halloween.

This week, the podcast tackles M&A deals from Goodles’ and Barilla to Keurig Dr Pepper and Chobani with additional insights on Nestlé’s divestments and Peter Rahal’s Medici Brands.

Inflation may be showing signs of cooling, but food and beverage consumers aren’t necessarily feeling much relief, and the gap between spending growth and actual consumption suggests brands are still navigating a highly price-sensitive environment.

As whey protein costs remain elevated, some manufacturers are considering whether alternative protein sources or other recipe variations can fill the gap.

Khloé Kardashian’s protein snack platform, Khloud, is making its first move outside the U.S., launching its flagship popcorn in Canada in White Cheddar and Sweet & Salty Kettle Corn.