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

Allegations of sexual harassment at recently-concluded Natural Products Expo West are rocking social media and causing the show’s administrators to take stock of the behavior of guests on the floor and at ancillary events.

After three days spent exploring the cavernous halls of the Anaheim Convention Center and meeting with hundreds of exhibitors at Natural Products Expo West 2022, Taste Radio hosts Ray Latif and John Craven have compiled a list of their picks for the best new product introductions from the annual event.

Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz is returning to the company on an interim basis, following the resignation of chief executive Kevin Johnson, effective April 4. Schultz, will also rejoin the company’s board of directors as it searches for a permanent replacement, according to media reports this morning.

Dairy brand Chobani has seen several executives depart over the last week, including president and COO Peter McGuinness, amid reports the company is delaying its planned IPO.

Snacks were not in short supply at this year’s Expo West. Among the crackers, crisps and chips were plenty of newer formats, like cooked snackable veggies, with exhibitors displaying a clear focus on short, clean ingredient labels. Here are a few of the notable new products we saw on the show floor.

Oatly took a broadsheet broadside yesterday, with the Wall Street Journal reporting on the ways that problems around the company’s attempts to scale over the past two years are affecting the faith of the markets. The story came as the stock price for the oat milk pioneer continued their steep descent Monday, bottoming at less… Read more »

To wrap up the daily dispatches from Natural Products Expo West 2022 in Anaheim, California, BevNET managing editor Martin Caballero and NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg discuss their observations from the trade show’s third day.

At this year’s Expo West, meal solution companies showcased new ways to capture global flavors and cater to convenience while still tapping into the trend of at-home cooking. Here are some of the notable meal starters and solutions we saw in Anaheim.

As Natural Products Expo West 2022 moves past the halfway point, BevNET and NOSH editor-in-chief Jeff Klineman and BevNET reporter Brad Avery offer their takeaways from day two of the trade show in this video, including a significant new executive hire at Kitu Life Super Coffee, the influx of better-for-you and functional soda products, mushrooms… Read more »

In our second notebook from Natural Products Expo West 2022 this week: LesserEvil acquires R.E.D.D. bar; Climate-friendly crackers carve out space in snacks; global flavors find new formats and formulations; and celebrating Steltenpohl, Roell, new awards debut around Expo.

In our first video dispatch from Natural Products Expo West 2022 in Anaheim, California, BevNET managing editor Martin Caballero and NOSH reporter Adrianne DeLuca discuss their observations and takeaways from the trade show’s opening day, including developments in snacks, an evolution in natural energy drinks, and how packaging innovations are reflecting an increased focus on sustainability and environmental impact.

In our first notebook from Natural Products Expo West 2022 this week: the first look offers better-for-you takes on indulgent treats; following Perfect Keto acquisition, Superfat expands assortment; Plant-based proteins looks to fill ready-to-eat gap; Attendees enjoy fading COVID regulation and more.

Holding company HumanCo is making some bold moves with its ice cream brand Coconut Bliss, adding grass-fed dairy pints to the formerly vegan brand and rebranding the company to Cosmic Bliss — the second major packaging change since the company was acquired in July 2020.

Children’s fresh food brand Once Upon a Farm (OUAF) announced today it has raised an additional $52 million in funding. In an exclusive interview with NOSH, CEO John Foraker said that the capital should carry the brand through to profitability, and allow it to aggressively pursue innovation and customer acquisition.