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

Sustainability-marketed consumer products continue to gain momentum, slightly outpacing the growth of overall CPG in 2020, according to a new report from research firm IRI and NYU’s Stern Center for Sustainable Business.

Whole Foods Market co-founder and CEO John Mackey today announced in an open letter addressed to “fellow team members” his intentions to retire next September after 44 years at the natural retailer.

Plastic-free gum maker Simply Gum has gained new shelf space at Walmart, debuting with a new product, Sugar-Free Peppermint Gum, in 500 of the retailer’s stores across the country. The first sugar-free offering for Simply Gum, the gum will be sold in three-packs for $6.46.

Snack maker Barnana’s latest upcycled product furthers the company’s commitment to regenerative agriculture, while its recent acquisition of farming and supply partner Agroapoyo has solidified its ability to execute that mission as it looks toward future growth and expansion.

Digital media company Barstool Sports is capitalizing on its founder Dave Portnoy’s longstanding YouTube series, One Bite Pizza Reviews, with the launch of One Bite Pizza.

In recent years, premium honey makers have moved the natural sweetener from a largely commoditized category to a set filled with notable branded lines that inject some variety — from flower-infused to hot and spicy — into a space known for largely homogeneous flavors. As the set picks up momentum, honey brands are gaining investor interest, while adjacent categories are eyeing the space as a new opportunity for expansion.

Looking to meet rising consumer demand for higher fiber, higher protein options in place of carbohydrates staples, Barilla has expanded its legume-based pasta line with the addition of another single-ingredient cut: chickpea spaghetti.

Cole Pearsall, the co-founder of experimental food and beverage platform Acid League, spoke about how the diverse experience of the brand’s founding team spurred its development, why trust was the key factor in winning over Whole Foods, the use of product as a form of marketing and how the company aligns its retail and ecommerce strategies.

After two years of testing its reusable packaging platform through an ecommerce pilot program, Loop is using its findings to take the company to its next stage, rolling out in retailers worldwide as part of its mission to “eliminate the idea of waste.”

Better-for-you pudding producer Noops announced last week it closed an additional $2 million in funding earlier this month led by Lerer Hippeau. Along with the investment, the company also announced that former CEO of The Fresh Market Larry Appeal and CEO of Hungryroot Benjamin McKean will join Noops’ advisory board.

In this week’s Checkout, Ripple CEO Laura Flanagan discusses the company’s latest funding round and previews its new soft serve line; Tofurky and Triton Algae Innovations partner to make algae-based meat products; Banza unveils new partnerships; the strike at Mondelez’s Nabisco manufacturing and distribution facilities comes to an end; and General Mills reports its fiscal 2022 Q1 results.

We’re highlighting innovative meat snack brands — both animal and plant-based — during the Product Showcase portion of this month’s Category Close-Up, examining the trends, news and evolving product strategies that are currently shaping this evolving category. This video features CHOMPS, Stryve Foods, Pan’s Mushroom Jerky, New Primal, Chudabeef and Pearson Ranch Jerky.

In a flip on the classic saying, ingredients maker SIMPLi is thinking locally and acting globally. The Baltimore-based company, backed by new funding, is aiming to sustainably and ethically streamline supply chains for grains, beans, oils and spices to ultimately benefit farmers, consumers and the environment.

To continue on its quest to re-envision classic food and beverages as better-for-you offerings, holding company and investor HumanCo announced yesterday it had raised $35 million in funding. Alongside the raise, the group also announced it had acquired frozen pizza and bread producer, Against the Grain.