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

While the natural products industry has been advocating for better-for-you, more nutrient-dense food and beverages since its inception, the federal government’s recent spotlight on longstanding issues has brought complexity and confusion to how these challenges came to be and how they can be reasonably and effectively addressed by industry.

FreshDirect is going IRL. The Tristate-focused online grocer is opening its first brick-and-mortar store in Southampton, N.Y., this weekend, called FreshDirect on Main.

In this week’s new products roundup, British-born cookie dough brand Doughlicious goes mini, CLIF Builders builds up its collection of protein bars, and Dolly Parton expands her retail food line collaboration with Conagra Brands.

The Make American Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission’s highly-anticipated report outlined the prevalence of ultraprocessed foods (UPFs), food dyes and environmental toxins such as PFAS, microplastics and pesticides, among other factors, as the root causes of rising chronic illness in children.

Michigan-based manufacturer Birmingham Chocolate announced it has acquired one of its customers – sugar-free, dark chocolate brand Macalat.

Longtime CPG investor Emil Capital Partners is now ECP Growth, as the private equity firm used the $100 million closing of its Fund IV yesterday to reveal its new name and strategy.

Food coloring, flavoring and extract producer Sensient published a notice warning the industry that current regulatory pressure to phase out synthetic food colors could result in supply shortages.

Fermented foods slinger Cleveland Kitchen has raised $2.9 million in equity funding, according to a filing last week with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The brand is on track to hit $52 million this year, supported by new distribution and investments in marketing and operations.

The CPG Week podcast dives into Chobani’s acquisition of Daily Harvest, Kettle & Fire’s new manufacturing plant and the surge of protein beverages.

Incredifulls (f.k.a. The Pizza Cupcake) has landed its first breakfast item, Egg & Cheese Breakfast Cups, in Target stores nationwide. The launch marks the official rollout of the brand’s broader-reaching new moniker.

Direct-to-consumer snack company Nuts.com is debuting its first-ever retail-ready brand, Pop & Sol. Initial offerings include four sweet nut and fruit blends launching at select ShopRite and The Fresh Market stores and four savory mixes exclusively on Target shelves.

Protein needs no introduction to any food category, and particularly not pasta. The protein-enriched pasta market has now converted a legacy, premium player to pump yellow peas into its tradition-entrenched production process.

Sweets & Snacks Expo 2025 featured 250,000 sq. ft. of clusters, nibbles, kernels and morsels debuting from more than 1,000 exhibiting companies. Here’s a look at some of the hottest new snacks we spotted on the show floor.

Frozen Chinese street food brand MìLà is platforming with noodle kits as it shifts its focus from DTC to a retail-first strategy.