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

This year will go down in the history books as one marked by an unprecedented federal focus on the food industry, sparking strategic overhauls of, and a bit of panic within, Big Food operations; a flurry of state-level action against a plethora of synthetic ingredients; and the adoption of some new acronyms – UPFs and MAHA, just to name a few.

“Hot Ones” wouldn’t be where it is today without Heatonist, the boutique, Brooklyn-based hot sauce retailer responsible for stocking the now-hit YouTube show’s lineup since nearly its inception.

Backed by a new investment partner, Laird Superfood has big plans for expansion. The Colorado-based brand is working with Nexus Capital to build a superfood platform.

The uncertainty surrounding the future cannabis regulations could impact the amount of hemp farmers plant in the coming year.

At Nosh Live 2025, SPINS senior director of brand strategy Kelli Howard aptly dubbed this the “Say/Do” dynamic, which separates the trends that consumers claim they’re paying attention to and the spending trends that is actually visible in retail sales data.

Roughly seven months after its primary lender pulled two-thirds of the company’s available cash, mycelium-based alt-meat producer Meati has reportedly powered down its Thornton, Colo., plant.

Fiber and protein may be familiar nutrients, but their role in food and beverage is undergoing a quiet transformation. Spate reveals how these “always-on” macros are not only growing at massive scale, but evolving in meaning.

Former NFL player Jason Kelce has invested in New Jersey-based hot sauce brand Hank Sauce, to help expand distribution and build awareness.

Laird Superfood is powering up its food and beverage platform with plans to acquire all outstanding equity of Navitas LLC in an all-cash transaction valued at $38.5 million.

While inflationary pressures have affected how consumers shop to make the most of their budgets – from retail channel to pack size to brand – confectionery industry dollar sales are still growing as shoppers seek to “enhance special moments.”

Brightfield Group uncovers how everyday categories – bars, chips, and grab-and-go snacks – have become ground zero for rising consumer anxiety around ultra-processing, “forever chemicals,” and hidden health tradeoffs.

This week, we’re diving in ever deeper into Nosh Live 2025 debriefs, turning the White House a little green, and getting in on the jacked Santa training schedule. Hey, what more could you ask for?

Weak consumer sentiment, negative weather impacts and retailer inventory timing shifts dragged on Conagra Brands’ net sales in Q2. Still, executives struck an upbeat tone during prepared remarks ahead of the company’s quarterly earnings call today and reaffirmed previous targets for full-year organic net sales and adjusted earnings.

Content is king, but making it resonate with the right audience is a hurdle many brands fail to clear. When it comes to something so personal and unifying like food, modern consumers want to support brands that speak directly to their needs.