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

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.

Mighty Spark feels there’s an untapped opportunity in lean protein, and now with the backing of Swander Pace Capital and a new CEO, it has the means to light the fire.

In the latest distribution news, Know Brainer’s Max Mallow line expands at Walmart, Undercover Snacks adds 5,000 stores and Blake’s Seed Based rolls out in 500 Kroger locations.

In this week’s Checkout, Beyond Meat launches Beyond Chicken Tenders in foodservice; Thrive Market reportedly considers an IPO; and Acosta releases a report on post-pandemic health and wellness trends.

After finding success with its low-sugar cereal and sandwich cookies, keto-friendly brand Catalina Crunch is expanding into new snacking occasions with the launch of its new Crunch Mix line. The brand has also rolled out a packaging refresh intended to create a more unified and recognizable brand identity as it makes a larger push into retail and expands into different aisles of the store.