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

Facing persistent manufacturing challenges, food science company Antithesis Foods has announced it is sunsetting its snack line Grabanzos and launching a new savory crisp brand called Protos this week.

Rollin Greens announced this week it is discontinuing its flagship line of Millet Tots, a better-for-you take on tater tots, in order to shift focus towards offering plant-based meat alternatives.

Snack brand Opopop launched with a “flavor wrapping” technology that it said would shake up microwave popcorn. Now the brand is eschewing that concept in order to launch a lower priced offering, debuting next week a line of “Peel and Pour” single-serve popcorn cups.

Stryve Begins 2022 Expansion with Costco, 7-Eleven Meat snacks brand Stryve Foods is set to add thousands of new doors to its nationwide footprint this year, including chains like Costco and 7-Eleven, bringing the brand’s total distribution to over 30,000 retail locations in the U.S. According to the company, Stryve Biltong and Vacadillos products are… Read more »

In 2018, fermented dairy brand Lifeway announced the beginning of “Lifeway 2.0,” a strategic revitalization plan to invigorate growth and expand. Now, speaking today at the 2022 ICR Conference, CEO Julie Smolyansky said the goals of the plan have been achieved and the company is now beginning a new phase: “Lifeway 3.0.”

FoxTrot thinks convenience stores and corner markets need a makeover, and now it’s got more cash to make that a reality. The retailer announced today that it has raised $100M to help expand into new markets and to invest into its ecommerce business.

Food technology company Botaniline announced it has signed an agreement with National Food Group (NFG), a wholesale foodservice manufacturer and distributor, to begin distributing its better-for-you and additive-free processed meat products to retail and foodservice locations this month.

Jack & Annie’s founder/CEO Annie Ryu spoke about her initial vision to support farming communities in India by incentivizing production of jackfruit, how she began building the company while still an undergraduate student at Harvard, how Jack & Annie’s is positioned within a competitive set for plant-based meat and what she’s learned about entrepreneurship and the value of persistence.

Foodservice-focused Enlightened Hospitality Investments (EHI) announced today that it has closed its second fund at $332 million.

Imperfect Foods Brings On Dan Park as CEO Online grocery shopping platform Imperfect Foods announced this month it has named Dan Park as CEO. Park, who began in the role on January 3, comes to the company from a four-year tenure as CEO at BuildDirect Technologies, a Canadian ecommerce platform specializing in building materials. During… Read more »

Pretzel and popcorn brand Quinn announced today that founder and CEO Kristy Lewis has stepped down from her current role and will transition to a new role as Chief Visionary Officer and chairwoman of the board at the company. She will be succeeded by Mike Keown, who most recently was the CEO of sports nutrition brand Honey Stinger.

In this week’s checkout: the Biden-Harris Administration announces its Meat and Poultry Supply Chain Action Plan, Whole Foods launches the Resolutions Renovator competition and Conagra looks to Gen Z and Millennials for future innovations.

The ice cream category may already be crowded, but two New England-based ice cream innovators believe there’s still white space in retail for a value-oriented, plant-based offering. Sweet Tree Creamery, once a food-service only partnership between the FoMu brand of plant-based ice cream and co-packer, New England Ice Cream (NEIC), is now launching in stores.

While new plant-based alternatives continue to enter the market, food makers are expanding their reach beyond retail and driving product discovery through partnerships ranging from traditional fast food restaurants to fast casual dining locations.