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

This year’s Forbes list of the top wealthiest self-made women featured four founders, leaders and executives behind some of CPG’s most notable brands. Released this week, the full list includes 100 of the top female entrepreneurs and executives, two-thirds of which either founded or cofounded their company and 26 who have served as CEOs.

This week we’re joined by Benjamin Chesler, the co-founder of Imperfect Foods, a pioneering online grocery service that specializes in selling produce and surplus food that would otherwise be discarded. Chesler discussed Imperfect’s roots and mission to reduce food waste on a massive scale and the process for incorporating branded items into its product selection.

With a slew of new product lines over the past few years, That’s It is working to prove that it’s more than just a fruit-based bar brand. As part of its goal to create a plant-based snacking platform across several categories, the brand this month debuted a new energy bar line called Keto Kick, which it hopes will further expand its reach to new consumers.

As part of our Supercharge virtual events series, BevNET and NOSH are going inside the hype to try to help brands understand the methodologies of scale and growth, particularly in the evolving omnichannel environment. On September 9th we’ll explore the costs of growth — both from a cash and staffing standpoint, as well as ways that brands can know they’re ready to begin investing in that growth.

In this week’s Checkout, Tyson Foods mandates vaccines for all U.S.-based employees; Kroger partners with Kitchen United; Danone and Brightseed expand their partnership and Modern Meat launches in the U.S.

In quarterly earnings calls this week, Post Holdings talks cereal sales and its plan to distribute a portion of its interest in BellRing Brands; Beyond Meat sees a sales bump as foodservice rebounds; and B&G Foods sees a decline in sales while the spices and seasonings segment grows.

In a recap of this week’s quarterly earnings calls, Kellogg’s net sales increase as on-the-go snacks rebound; Blue Apron reports customer loss and average revenue increases; and Kraft Heinz talks “manageable” inflations costs and innovation strategy.

Meat snack brand 4505 Meats has made the jump from salty snacks to meat sticks with the launch of Butcher’s Snacks. The company believes the new line can add incremental sales and increase its D2C business.

Plant-based cheese and butter maker Miyoko’s Creamery today announced the closing of a $52 million funding round which the company plans to use to grow distribution and launch new dairy-free cheese innovations.

CPG-focused investment group Sunrise Strategic announced late last week that it would bring aboard more food and beverage veterans, notably ex-ONE Brands CEO Peter Burns, to help the firm diversify its capabilities. The news comes as the firm also announced it has raised more capital from its financial partner, Trilantic North America.

July saw a range of notable collaborations and partnerships from brands such as Kraft and Van Leeuwen, and AYO Foods and Top Chef competitor Eric Adjepong. Food companies also introduced a variety of new functional offerings ranging from latte blends to adaptogenic trail mixes from Toodaloo. Check out the gallery for the latest new releases, brand debuts, and limited-edition items including a retro rebrand from Cheerios.

his week, we’re joined by Charles Coristine, president and CEO of LesserEvil, who spoke about the better-for-you snack brand’s turnaround from industry outcast to a vertically integrated platform that emphasizes gross margin and innovation.

With humble beginnings as a maker of “hippie health food,” gluten-free and vegan cookie brand Emmy’s Organics is now a step closer to its goal of becoming a “legacy brand.” The brand has been acquired by Grupo Bimbo, the Mexico-based baked goods giant announced last week, and will join its Bimbo Bakeries USA (BBU) portfolio alongside brands such as Entenmann’s, Thomas, Sara Lee and Arnold.

D2C condiment brand Fly By Jing announced late last week that it had raised $5 million from investment firm Prelude Growth Partners. Over the next few months the company will debut in Sprouts stores nationwide along with launches in some regions of Target, Whole Foods Market and Costco.