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

For about three years, the Los Angeles-based Uplifting Results Labs’ consumer brand Muniq has consisted of just a single product: a meal-replacement protein shake. But in a signal the company’s success and growth strategy, Muniq has launched two new products in the last month – Empowerfull Prebiotic Fiber Blend sticks and Muniq Bars – in hopes of reshaping how consumers understand the role of the gut’s microbiome and healthy eating.

There was concern among U.S. egg and poultry producers in January as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) began to report cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the eastern half of the country. In 2015, an outbreak of H1N5 strain of bird flu ravaged the industry killing about 43 million egg-laying hens and pullet chickens, according to the agency.

In this People Moves: Keely Golden joins Haven’s Kitchen as Head of Ops, Brendan Foley promoted to McCormick & Company President and COO, Lucy Brady takes over Conagra’s Grocery & Snacks segment and Sarah Lowery joins Om Mushroom Superfood.

Project Potluck, an organization focused on helping “People of Color thrive in the CPG industry,” has taken the next step in its development: becoming certified as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and bringing on Kathleen Cassanova as its executive director.

The Very Good Food Company still reported a significant drop in revenue in its 2022 Q1 earnings statement yesterday, despite net loss decreasing 37% to $13 million over the last quarter. The announcement comes as the company has continued to struggle with financial performance, seen turnover in key executive roles and needs to bring in new capital in order to survive beyond the next 30 days.

NotCo, Grillo’s and Nudge recently announced new partnerships with well-known QSR chains and sports stadiums to boost marketing and brand awareness regarding their respective products. NotCo partnered with Shake Shack to create dairy-free iterations of two popular frozen treats while Grillo’s Pickles and Nudge collaborated with MLB sports teams to bring their products to the stadium.

Following nearly two years of on-and-off experimentation and various product iterations, the chilled oat filled bar brand recently launched at a group of about 40 independent Southern California retailers. The brand aims to clean up the granola bar category with a product made from oats, dried fruits, and nut butters, covered in chocolate and sweetened with agave.

In this distribution roundup: Dress It Up dressing expands nationwide with a range of new retail partners, Nguyen Coffee goes national with Whole Foods, Moon Cheese lands with Kroger, RightRice rolls out to Kroger, and more.

Zoe Feldman, the GM of consumer for acclaimed and influential restaurant group Momofuku, spoke about the vision for the company’s brand of restaurant-grade pantry essentials, the impact of founder David Chang’s media presence on awareness and product trial, why she can’t hit the brakes on growth, and the reason she only hires “Swiss Army knives.” She also discussed the brand’s role in the evolution of the ethnic aisle and why she is focused on the fundamentals of building a good business.

Icelandic low-sugar snack and breakfast products maker Good Good has closed a $20 million Series B round led by European capital group Strategic Investment Advisors (SÍA). The new funding, announced today, arrives as the company continues to double its revenue year-over-year and the financing will help the brand in “strengthening the Good Good shareholder group… Read more »

Format innovation and better-for-you-treats were the dominant themes among this collection of recently-launched new sweets. While Clio Snacks unveiled a campfire-inspired yogurt bar, Blondery teamed up with Bushwick Kitchen to launch limited-edition, salted, cinnamon, maple blondies. Check out this roundup for the latest offerings from brands including AWAKE Chocolate, Dewey’s Bakery and Honey Mama’s.

Bragg Live Food Products is probing another flank in its ongoing attack on apple cider vinegar fueled gummy supplements, which it considers a threat to the business health of the 110-year-old brand. A few weeks after an unsuccessful regulatory battle against leading ACV gummy brand Goli, Bragg, which largely sells liquid ACV and ACV-based drinks,… Read more »

This week’s notable new products saw brands expanding their plant-based protein offerings, launching prenatal and postnatal support smoothies and introducing revamped packaging for their products. Check out this gallery for new items from Gardein and Organic Valley and refreshed packaging from Motherlove and La Victoria.

In this week’s Checkout: Gopuff launches pizza brand The Mean Tomato through Kitchens platform, Evo Foods and Gingko Bioworks Team Up on Animal-free Egg, Ben & Jerry’s announce ‘Mootopia’ pilot project, FDA looks into improving infant formula supply, and Kraft Heinz works to develop paper-based ketchup bottle.