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

Delivery service Gopuff has fired hundreds of employees as it aims to cut costs, the company confirmed today. Former employees claimed the number was more than 1,000.

A new plant-based meat brand is trying to disprove the old adage: never trust a skinny butcher. Launched in March, new brand Skinny Butcher’s line of breaded, Crazy Crispy Chick’n tenders, breasts, nuggets and patties are designed to not only catch the eye of mainstream consumers with its “futuristic yet retro” packaging design and mascot, but also drive conventional shoppers to the crowded category as flexitarianism continue to rise.

Indoor agriculture company Gotham Greens announced earlier this week its plans to double the size of its total U.S. greenhouse capacity from 600,000 square feet to over 1.2 million square feet by the end of this year. The Brooklyn-based company, which describes itself as a “fresh-food company farming with the future in mind,” was a pioneer in what’s become known as “urban agriculture” when it launched in 2011.

The Coconut Collaborative is embracing its dark side. The European yogurt and dessert brand this month announced a relaunch as Bon Devil in the U.S.

In the case of Zero Grocery, sustainable grocery delivery does not make for a sustainable business model, according to retail analysts. This month, Zero Grocery abruptly announced on its social media platforms that it had closed up shop.

Coming on the heels of launching 15 new products into Whole Foods this winter, condiment and beverage brand Acid League announced it has closed a $6.2 million funding round aimed at supporting expansion into new product categories and reinforcing manufacturing and marketing.

Maruha Nichiro announced last week it has invested an undisclosed sum into Happi Foodi’s business with the stated aim of bringing the better-for-you, keto-focused frozen food brand into new “foreign markets.” The move represents an opportunity for the company, one of Japan’s leading frozen food distributors, to easily integrate a new brand with established tenants into its core business, said a spokesperson from its execution team.

This week, we explored the ideation, business plans and growth strategies of three innovative and on-trend brands in conversations with Susan Buckwalter, the co-founder and CEO of ginger-powered wellness brand Recoup; Dr. Juan Salinas, the founder and CEO of P-nuff Crunch, a brand of nutritious baked peanut puffs; and Michelle Razavi and Nikki Elliott, the co-founders of functional, decadent snack brand ELAVI.

“Materials science” company Pangaia is making the move from tracksuits to snacks. Last week, the cult clothing retailer announced the launch of the Super Super Bar, the first product from its food division, Pangaia Health.

In this distribution roundup: Starday rolls out its Gooey Snacks brand to Kroger nationwide; Beckon doubles its conventional channel store count through Walmart and Kroger partnerships; Future Farm named the official plant-based meat brand of The Golden State Warriors; No Evil launches new product at Sprouts; Laoban expands retail presence and more.

Nurture Brands, the London-based food and beverage portfolio company behind the plant-based Myracle Kitchen brand, announced this week that it has closed a £2.5 million (around $3.3 million) funding round that will support its North American expansion. According to general manager Adam Draper, the new funding is primarily working capital as the company seeks to… Read more »

After expanding operations to Los Angeles last month, e-commerce grocery delivery company Good Eggs has restructured its buying team, a move marked by the apparent layoffs of several buyers and the departure of longtime VP of assortment Jamie Nessel.

In this week’s Checkout: OneRare introduces a Foodverse of celebrity chefs, food brands and virtual restaurants, Conscious Foods creates gene-edited salad greens, Blue Apron adds breakfast, Instacart launches a new platform for grocery retailers and The EVERY Co. makes animal-free macrons.

In this video, shot at Expo West, BevNET and NOSH Editor-in-Chief Jeff Klineman talked with Daniella Hunter, who co-founded SANA Foods, a fast-growing brand of coconut-based tortillas that has expanded its line to include Paleo-diet friendly vegan frozen burritos, and also a set of smaller street taco-sized tortillas.