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

Following the ongoing relaxation of GMO labeling laws by the USDA, a coalition of industry members led by the Center for Food Safety last week sued the agency, noting that a lack of regulation over the growing biotech industry is threatening the ability to provide transparency in food and beverage products — something consumers increasingly want.

You might recognize Tony’s Chocolonely by its quirky labels and comic font logo. Behind the Dutch brand’s playful vibe, however, is a profound mission to end the use of child labor within the cocoa industry. Ynzo van Zanten, the company’s Chief Evangelist, spoke about how Tony’s has navigated the development of a premium brand while staying focused on its overarching social mission.

In the latest distribution news, Mason Dixie Foods expands into Whole Foods nationally and enters Wegmans, RollinGreens debuts at Kroger and Walmart, and Tone It Up launches new protein bars and powders in Kroger stores.

The frozen section saw several notable new entries this month, with Fairlife’s first foray into frozen desserts and meal kit brand Purple Carrot’s new single-serve packaged meals. Check out the gallery for more of July’s notable new releases, including Tia Lupita’s new tortilla made with upcycled flour and limited edition summer flavors from ONE Brands and Perfect Snacks.

In this week’s Checkout, New Age Meats raises $2 million to develop cell-based meat, biotech company Geltor raises $91.3 million for alternative protein ingredients, and the Hartman Group studies how consumer values are evolving.

In this video interview, Emily Elyse Miller discusses the launch OffLimits, of her new quirky cereal line, including her creative process and where she feels mainstream CPG products are missing the mark. Miller also discusses what the process of raising venture funding was like for a new, entrepreneur who isn’t worried about making a product that’s “going to please everyone.”

Simon Sacal, founder and CEO of innovative food platform Solely, spoke about his background as a food entrepreneur beginning as a teenager and how his career culminated in the development of the brand

This afternoon the National Association of Convenience Stores announced that it would cancel its planned October trade show, which was to be held in Las Vegas. The event was one of the few remaining food- and beverage-heavy trade shows in 2020 that had yet to announce its cancellation.

In earnings updates this week, Kraft Heinz, Kellogg and Nestle all detailed the recent surges they’ve seen as consumer habits have drastically changed toward eating more meals (and snacks) at home.

Since launching with a humble fruit-and-nut bar in 2004, KIND has evolved into a “global health and wellness platform” offering over 80 snack varieties. Now the brand is taking a step further, betting its success in bars and granola can translate to a successful extension throughout the grocery store.

In this week’s episode, you’ll see how we evolve our exploratory designs into the moment of truth – packaging, or as we like to think of it, the brand-in-hand. This is the moment where all the parts and pieces, from strategy to communication to competing at shelf, come together into an easy and understandable form for the consumer.

On Wednesday, more than two dozen brands took to Instagram Live for a series of discussions on racial equity and the Black experience in the food and beverage sector as part of the #OnTheMenuNow Initiative. The series of video conversations paired Black founders and CEOs with white brand leaders and covered topics including job opportunities, the pandemic and systemic racism.

The Better Meat Co. wants to reduce consumption of animal products. But rather than coming at the problem with an all or nothing approach, the company instead has pinned its hopes to incremental change on the part of both large meat producers and consumers alike.

After 230 years in business, King Arthur Flour has risen to be more than a flour producer. As it grows to feed the refreshed consumer interest in baking, the company last week announced its new name, King Arthur Baking Company, an updated logo and a handful of innovations to embrace dietary trends.