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

Fresh meal provider FreshRealm has seen its business model evolve over its eight years in business, ranging from a direct-to-consumer meal service to retail meal kit supplier. Now, with $32 million in new funding, it’s repositioning itself once more, aiming to establish “fresh meal destinations” in retailers nationwide that offer cooking-weary consumers more options.

Fresh baby and toddler meal company Little Spoon announced today that it had raised $44 million from investors. The round was led by Valor Equity Partners, with participation from previous investor Kairos HQ.

Fungi-based meat and dairy alternative maker Nature’s Fynd today announced it has raised $350 million, marking the fermentation industry’s largest ever funding round. The Chicago-based company will use the capital to expand its production capacity and grow its product portfolio ahead of the retail debut of its dairy-free cream cheese and meat-free breakfast patties this fall.

In this week’s Checkout, Awakened Foods secures investment from Clover Vitality; Nestlé explores cultured meat technologies; and Good Catch takes on Subway with its #FishFreeForGood campaign.

Over two years after cannabis industry investment firm SOL Global took a minority stake in Jones Soda, the Seattle-based craft soda maker is finally preparing to launch infused edibles and beverages.

After seeing success in the U.K. and bringing aboard CPG veteran Pete Speranza as CEO, plant-based food brand Wicked Kitchen announced today the closing of a $14 million funding round to fuel its global expansion.

Plant-based food startup Next Gen Foods announced this week that it has raised $20 million in a seed round extension following a $10 million seed round in February. The Singapore-based company plans to use the new capital to hire over 50 employees in the San Francisco Bay Area ahead of the U.S. launch of its plant-based chicken brand, Tindle.

Having long ago expanded its product offerings beyond the purview of juice, Pressed Juicery announced today that it has rebranded, simplifying its name to Pressed.

Lapping the pantry-loading sales surge of last spring, Conagra Brands net sales took a hit in the company’s Q4 and full fiscal year 2021 earnings report this week.

Restaging its decades-old Oikos brand, dairy conglomerate Danone hopes to bring new energy to its entry in the Greek yogurt segment. To do so, the company launched new products, and has plans to roll out advertising campaigns alongside refreshed branding to draw in new shoppers.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer introduced draft legislation today that would federally decriminalize marijuana.

Episode 38 of Elevator Talk features leaders from Rowdy Bars, Brave Good Kind, Revolution Gelato, Nostalgia Coffee Roasters and Jackalope Energy. Watch founders and CEOs introduce their brands and provide a recap of recent news and updates.

Social mission is a core tenet of many food brands — but is it enough to support a company platform? For This Saves Lives, social impact has now become just one part of its recipe for success as a food brand. With an expanded suite of offerings aimed at kids and refreshed messaging focusing on nutrition, the brand is now working to raise consumer awareness about the products themselves and establish itself as a “food first” company.

This episode features an interview with Wes Henderson, the co-founder and chief innovation officer of Angel’s Envy, as well as a conversation with the founders of two innovative brands that focuses on how each landed placement in their dream retailers: Teresa Tsou, the co-founder of better-for-you snack brand Pipsnacks, and Andrew Suzuka, the founder of organic, vegetable-infused tomato sauce brand Otamot.