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

In this week’s Checkout: The Specialty Food Association Trendspotter Panel names nine trends from Winter Fancy Food Show; Brands look to celebrity Youtube series’ for increased consumers engagement; KIND launches new nutrition-forward campaign against packaged foods, including its own snacks; and Kroger activates Loop partnership at 25 Fred Meyer’s stores.

Canadian independent grocer Organic Garage has rebranded its parent company as ORAGIN Foods, stating that the change will clarify the goal of the publicly-traded business for shareholders as it works to build out an independent, M&A-driven CPG platform alongside the expansion of its retail division in Ontario.

ThinkThin founder Lizanne Falsetto is going from protein bars to animal-free dairy protein, announcing today the launch of betterland foods, a new company developing products made with Perfect Day’s animal-free dairy proteins.

Packaging that draws consumers to a product on-shelf doesn’t always pop on screen. In today’s world of omni-channel shopping habits, where shoppers are discovering new brands in-store and online, food companies have been challenged to shift to new strategies, rethink old tactics and help their product find a new sweet spot for success.

Dairy brand Good Culture has taken another step towards its goal of becoming a cultured foods platform, announcing today the closing of a $64 million funding round that will support retail and product expansion this year.

Canadian quick-service restaurant chain Odd Burger is expanding its reach in the foodservice industry with the introduction of Preposterous Foods, a line of fast-food style plant-based proteins and dairy-free sauces.

The Kraft Heinz Company and TheNotCompany, Inc. today announced a new joint venture in order to develop and launch a new line of plant-based products. While Kraft Heinz will bring its brand portfolio and ability to bring products to market quickly, NotCo will utilize its artificial intelligence (AI) platform to help guide product decisions and development.

In this People Moves: Alt-dairy company Kite Hill names Blair Cornish as SVP of Sales, Chris Lansing steps down as Nature’s Bakery CEO, Future Meat appoints Nicole Johnson-Hoffman as CEO; Planet Based Foods names new CFO and VP of Sales; and more.

With the introduction of a jerky-like Chicken Stick product line the Wisconsin-based startup, Ovation Foods, is attempting to use its proprietary beaded “whole egg” ingredient, Eggsentials, as the foundational piece of a new CPG platform.

Post Foods has quietly launched Incredi-Bowl, a new low-sugar, grain-free, high protein cereal that the parent company is aiming to establish as the leader in the keto-friendly cereal space by replicating “the flavors and forms of your childhood favorites,” according to Incredi-Bowl senior brand manager Logan Sohn.

After a year filled with uncertainty, Nestlé reported strong organic sales growth in its full-year earnings results for 2021, particularly in its coffee, health and wellness and plant-based food segments.

In this week’s Checkout: instant coffee and tea maker Waka jumpstarts growth with pre-seed funding; California Cultured receives investment from food tech investment platform CULT Food Science Corp; Kodiak partners with Pro Athletes Joe Burrow, Travis Kelce, among others; and ice cream manufacturer recalls dozens of SKUs due to Listeria contamination.

Although the trend of low-sugar foods continues to gain momentum, that does not mean consumers are willing to forgo sweets altogether. Check out the latest from brands including Cocomels, Ruby Jewel and Highkey.

Whether it’s for the good of the planet or for a specific health benefit, consumer demand for animal-free proteins continues to increase, according to food company ADM. Here are a few updates from the alt-protein market this week.