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

A year after raising money from VC firm Sunrise Strategic, Cali’flour foods has changed up its senior staff and acquired its copacker. The moves, Sunrise founder Steve Hughes said, are in response to both the COVID-19 pandemic and to better prepare the brand for expansion.

Danone North America announced today its partnership with Brightseed, a biosciences company which maps plant nutrients using artificial intelligence technology, to identify previously unknown nutritional benefits from plant-based ingredients used in Danone products.

Six food brands were selected from a field of 12 for Thursday’s final round of NOSH’s Pitch Slam 8 presented by 301 Inc., the first edition of the pitch competition to be conducted virtually.

With more than 30 sessions over two days, BevNET and NOSH’s Virtually Live event will take over your computer on June 23 and 24 — and serve as a learning and insights platform for much longer. We’ve posted our extensive agenda today! Here are some highlights from the main stage and breakout sessions.

Keto and Co found a dedicated consumer base online, but now the brand sees promise in reaching more consumers who are less strictly adherents of the ketogenic diet but for whom its attributes — low carbohydrates and low sugar — are also appealing. To do that, the brand will add over 3,000 new doors in the coming months.

CrossFit saw several of its food and beverage brand partners end their affiliation with the fitness brand over the last 24 hours in response to a tweet by founder and CEO Greg Glassman about racism and public health.

Since its launch in 2018, Massachusetts-based brand One Mighty Mill has aimed to “revitalize local food systems” with products made using locally sourced, fresh-milled wheat, starting with bagels and tortillas. Now, the brand is focused on sustainably scaling its wheat supply chain and expanding distribution beyond New England as it goes deeper on its snack offerings, launching two new pretzel flavors and a hummus and pretzel snack pack at Whole Foods.

After weeks of speculation, Utz Quality Foods LLC announced this morning a new partnership with Collier Creek Holdings to combine and go public as a snack food platform under the name Utz Brands. To achieve its goal of becoming the fastest growing pure-play branded snack platform of scale in the U.S,” Utz is planning a variety of operational, marketing and distribution upgrades.

The Sugar Association wants the FDA to issue stricter labeling guidance on alternative sweeteners in order “to stop misleading claims about added sugars content.” But industry stakeholders argue that product labels are transparent enough, and consumers aren’t confused or concerned.

Serial entrepreneur Ashley Rogers spoke how she has applied lessons from her first two businesses to the development of her current brand, Spudsy.

Next week NOSH’s Pitch Slam 8 will transform, evolving into two days of virtual business pitches from some of the country’s most promising natural food brands. The semifinalists have been chosen, as well as the expert judges who will be providing feedback and ultimately choosing the winner. Let’s meet the players.

Global chia producer Benexia believes there are many food and drink applications that it can fuel. The company is using its proprietary chia ingredients to expand its CPG brand, Seeds of Wellness, with the launch of chia pastas, plant-based milk, and a chia-derived oil.

In its Q3 earnings presentation yesterday, the Campbell’s Soup Company reported that organic net sales increased 17% year-over-year to $2.2 billion over the quarter. Looking ahead, CEO Mark Clouse outlined four trends expected to stick: “quick scratch cooking,” accelerated use of click-and-collect and home delivery, center store’s increased relevance and value.

Though the current market has been thoroughly disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving uncertainty about how consumer behavior will shift long term, a new report by market research firm IRI showed that last year was marked by numerous “blockbuster” food and beverage launches as both conglomerates and smaller companies introduced new products that quickly surpassed $100 million in sales.