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

In this week’s Checkout, Weee! acquires online Asian food delivery company RICEPO; Oatly debuts an upcycled merch line and announces a new research and innovation center in Sweden; JUST Egg’s key ingredient secures regulatory approval in the EU; and Nestlé reports its third quarter results.

Plant-based wellness brand Kencko has expanded its product portfolio to give consumers a fruit and vegetable-packed “dessert moment,” introducing a line of gumdrops available in four flavors: Berrylicious, Passionista, Gingerella and Bananarama.

Plant-based meat maker Abbot’s Butcher yesterday announced it had closed a $7 million funding round that the California-based company will use to support growth in foodservice and retail along with new product development. Melitas Ventures led the round, with actors Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson and wife Laura Harrelson also participating alongside existing investors Unovis and SOSV.

E-commerce convenience delivery platform Gopuff launched in New York City this week, with the promise of delivery to New Yorkers in 30 minutes.

During the Product Showcase portion of this month’s Category Close-Up, we’re talking with innovative baking brands about the news, trends and product strategies that are currently shaping this evolving category. This video features Miss Jones Baking Co., Supernatural, Meli’s Cookies, King Arthur Baking, Renewal Mill and Hearthy Foods.

Amazon has welcomed more than 100,000 brands to its U.S. store so far this year, and the company has introduced a suite of new services and user tools aimed at helping those brands gain customers and increase profits.

Just weeks after announcing a $350M funding round, animal-free dairy company Perfect Day debuted a new Climate Hero Super Cake Mix mix under its Brave Robot brand. Meanwhile, the company has also brought on August Vega, the former CEO and founder of non-dairy milk brand MALK, as its director of brand for Brave Robot’s parent company, The Urgent Company.

Coffee company Cometeer wants to make specialty coffee more accessible. To support this goal, the company announced yesterday the close of an additional $35 million in funding for its frozen coffee line.

In this month’s Category Closeup Baking: Expert Analysis, we’ll speak with industry leaders to explore the tactics and trends our experts believe successful baking brands must embrace and hear about what they believe are the opportunities for growth and innovation.

In this week’s distribution roundup, Copper Cow launches at Whole Foods nationwide; TRUFF pasta sauces hit shelves at Target; Greenleaf Foods’ Lightlife and Field Roast expand their retail footprints; and ChocXO grows at Wegmans and Vons.

Sustainability-focused food trends such as ultra-urban farming and regeneratively-grown grains were among the top picks in this year’s edition of Whole Foods’s Top 10 Food Trends list, released yesterday. For the first time, in conjunction with the announcement, the retailer is offering a 10-item sample box highlighting a product from each trend.

After securing investment from The Hershey Company in February, rare sugar producer Bonumose last week announced plans to open a new facility in Virginia in order to build on its partnership with the confectionery giant to develop zero and reduced sugar offerings.

NuttZo founder/CEO Danielle LiVolsi recalled the creative ways that she won over the nut butter and snack brand’s first retail buyers, why she adheres to the Nordstrom model of customer service and why she has consistently turned down outside investment. We also sat down with Kun Yang, the co-founder/CEO of cactus water brand Pricklee, who discussed the impact of localized social marketing.

During an exclusive session that covers everything from the founding to the final sale, NOSH Live attendees will get to relive the key decisions and strategies of a brand that grew the right way: Lily’s Sweets. During the event, taking place on Dec. 2 and 3 in Santa Monica, Calif., two separate panels will tell the Lily’s Sweets story.