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

After enjoying a 40% year-over-year sales increase this year, natural snack maker Bobo’s is looking to meet rising demand for its oat-based bars, bites and toaster pastries with a new facility in Loveland, Colorado that is set to triple its production capacity.

Award-winning television host, chef and writer Andrew Zimmern joined us for an expansive conversation about his new TV series “Family Dinner,” why he has an affinity for certain CPG brands, his belief that believes elitism is hampering solutions to issues of food accessibility and affordability and his position that GMOs – applied within reason – continue to play an important role in the food system.

Experts from wholesale distribution company KeHe believe flavors such as hibiscus and yuzu, new food technologies and brands that also serve social causes to be the most important themes among food and beverage categories, driving innovation in the new year.

The J.M. Smucker Co. announced the results of its Q2 2021 earnings this week, highlighting a 1% increase ($16.0 million) in overall net sales and strong, positive momentum behind its food, coffee and pet product brands led the company to raise its full-year guidance for 2022.

Frozen plant-based meal delivery company Mosaic Foods yesterday announced it has raised $6 million in a seed round to support a planned retail launch as well as the growth of its direct-to-consumer business.

It’s time to reveal the players in the 11th installment of NOSH’s Pitch Slam, the leading business pitch competition for the food industry. Presented by 301INC, the venture capital arm of General Mills, the competition features 11 of the hottest startups in packaged food, all creating innovative products spanning a wide range of categories including confection, prepared meals, international, snacking and functional foods.

As a kickoff to NOSH Live Winter 2021, we welcome food startups attending NOSH Live to enjoy a quick dive into many of the most important tactical considerations that face CPG entrepreneurs with the release of the NOSH Live Winter 2021 Boot Camp Education Series.

Day two of NOSH Live will be just as ripe for networking opportunities and business lessons as day one promises to be. From industry leaders to retailers and emerging brands, attendees can expect to hear from the best and brightest of the natural products community at NOSH Live, held Dec. 2 and 3 at the Loews Beach Hotel in Santa Monica, Calif.

After a challenging year that has seen the company grapple with supply chain issues and a manufacturing change, sorbet maker SorBabes is ready for a fresh start with a new focus on frozen novelties. To support this new direction, the company has also debuted rebranded packaging and a social media campaign emphasizing the importance of indulgence.

Plant-based meat maker Impossible Foods announced today that it closed a $500 million funding round, bringing the company’s total capital raised to over $2 billion since it was founded in 2011. The round was led by Mirae Asset Global Investments, which also led the company’s $500 million round which closed in March 2020, in addition to participation by existing investors.

NOSH Live is in just over a week and we’ve released our full agenda. Over two days in Santa Monica, attendees will hear from inspiring entrepreneurs, cutting edge brands shaking up the industry, the new retail guard and established experts in a whirlwind of content.

Collaborative community organization Naturally Los Angeles formally launched last week with the goal of increasing access to education, resources and capital for natural product companies based in Los Angeles in order to promote sustainable business practices and conscious growth.

For many consumers, the onset of autumn means one thing — pumpkin spice-flavored sweets and snacks. Brands put their own twists on the fall favorite flavor this season, with new limited edition launches from coffee and cereal to protein bars and peanut butter. Check out the gallery for this fall’s seasonal releases, including sweet potato granola from Jamie’s Farm and a charitable launch from Once Upon a Farm.

In this week’s Checkout: Sundial Foods Closes $4 Million Seed Round, Stryve Reports Third Quarter Earnings and Jameela Jamil Joins Oathaus as Investor and Social Impact Advisor.