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

Delta Airlines revamps in-flight offerings with a greater focus on supporting purpose-driven and diverse businesses. Plant-based products also heat up with strategic partnerships of vegan proteins in restaurants nationwide as well as a “Stranger Things” collaboration for Gopuff and matcha drinks for Joe and the Juice.

This week’s new product launches saw a cereal brand collaborating with Emma Chamberlain’s popular coffee company, new noodle shape creations and the salsa category heating up with the launch of ‘Pickle’ de Gallo.

In this week’s Checkout: The Bel Group and Superbrewed team up on biomass fermented proteins; a new report from Boston Consulting Group emphasizes the positives of alt-protein investments; Siete Foods opens round two of its Juntos Fund; and Smithfield settles another price-fixing lawsuit.

After hiding in plain sight for years, could low-acid coffee be having something of a moment? While it may represent just a fraction of the larger coffee market, the low-acid segment has become a small but steady profit generator for a handful of rising brands looking to separate themselves from the pack, whether as a central element or as a complementary piece.

Check out this gallery for nine notable new food CPG refreshes from brands like Pastene, Nancy’s Probiotic Foods and Break Coffee Roasters. The refreshes range from updated packaging to reformulated products to name changes.

Ben & Jerry’s filed an injunction in U.S. District Court in Manhattan yesterday, aiming to block Unilever’s sale of its Israeli business to its licensee American Quality Products Ltd, claiming the sale violates “the Essential Integrity of the Brand.”

The Very Good Food Company (VGFC) has announced Parimal Rana, previously VP of operations, as its new CEO effective immediately, a move that brings stability to the c-suite after a series of executive changes that saw the plant-based food company’s founders, president/CFO and interim CEO all depart in rapid succession.

In the latest episode of Elevator Talk, we feature leaders from FFUPs, Absurd Snacks, Milksta, The Farmer Foodie, Revival Food Co. Watch founders and CEOs introduce their brands and provide a recap of recent news and updates. This week’s special co-host is Julianne Hummelberg, a vice president with PowerPlant Partners, who shared her thoughts, questions and feedback with the participants.

This special edition of Taste Radio highlights actionable insights and advice from interviews with six founders, creators and leaders who joined us on the show during the first half of 2022. Our guests include Todd Carmichael, Co-Founder, La Colombe & Loftiwater; Zoe Feldman, GM of Consumer, Momofuku; Adam Bremen, Founder, Keto Krisp; Annie Ryu, Founder/CEO, Jack & Annie’s; Sandro Roco, Founder & CEO, Sanzo; and Kat Cole, President & COO, Athletic Greens.

On the heels of raising $25 million last October, plant-based and cultivated meat company New Age Meats has rebranded to New Age Eats, a move it says reflects its expanded focus as a CPG company rather than just a food tech company.

New York-based Chocolate Works opens its distribution network by acquiring ethically-sourced, Portland, Oregon chocolate maker Moonstruck for an undisclosed amount.

From Christmas in July-themed iced tea to sweet & spicy peanuts and fruit-based vinegars, this week’s new food innovations cover a wide range of categories. Check out this gallery for notable new items, including a line of premium cooking and pairing sauces that feature vine-ripened New Jersey tomatoes from Colicchio and new frozen pizza options from Healthy Choice.

Despite a $1.3 million in recent donations, cellular agriculture non-profit New Harvest is cutting back on staff as it reevaluates its fundraising strategy and how it finances research in cultured meat.

In this week’s Checkout: NotCo secures AI patents to develop emotion evoking plant-based flavors; Daily Harvest served with class action suit for alt-protein crumble illnesses; and Hormel invests in regenerative agriculture and renewable energy projects.