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

General Mills reported “outstanding performance” in its Q4 earnings report today, with net sales increasing 21% to $5 billion as consumer spending focused on food staples. CEO Jeff Harmening noted that during “a year of significant challenge and change in the world,” the company exceeded its key financial goals.

Summer has arrived and with it has come a selection of new convenient snack options, from fruit jerky to nut butter bites, along with new plant-based meal options such as a flavored rice alternative line from Banza and a new plant-based Upton’s hot dog for summer grilling. Check out the gallery for June’s notable new products, including new cereal varieties from Magic Spoon and Kashi and Pride Month releases from Coolhaus and Bobo’s.

The fifteenth round of Elevator Talk Livestream features leaders from Safe + Fair, BRITE Bites, Black Rifle Coffee, Minna and JAJA. This week’s special co-host is Kari Pedriana, Co-Founder & CEO of Green Spoon, who will share her thoughts, questions and feedback with the participants.

Americans are eating a lot of snacks, and Sesajal S.A. de C.V. wants a bite. The ingredient processor and owner of condiment brand Chosen Foods announced last week the closing of a minority investment in produce-focused snack brand Rhythm Superfoods.

As food producers report increased sales, Conagra reported today that it will expand its manufacturing capacity to meet the demand as many consumers likely continue cooking at home. The move comes as the global company continues to invest in updating its heritage brands for today’s consumer.

We are taking a short one-week hiatus from our regular Office Hours schedule this week to bring you a special encore presentation from BevNET & NOSH Virtually Live Summer 2020, featuring a panel discussion with Greg Fleishman, CEO and co-Founder of cooking and lifestyle brand Foodstirs; Maya French, co-founder of plant-based beverage brand Koia; and Raquel Tavares, founder and CEO of ghee butter brand 4th & Heart about brand building during a time of crisis.

The small but mighty chia seed has increasingly moved beyond beverages, bars and the bulk bin toward savory snacks and breakfast food as consumers seek added function from everyday foods. But after a temporary boom in attention during the middle of the last decade, under brands like Health Warrior, the Chia Company, and Mamma Chia, the ingredient still hasn’t fully reached the masses.

In this week’s Checkout, Unilever announced it’s stopping Facebook and Twitter ads, The Forest Farmers acquired Parker’s Real Maple, and McCormick reviewed its Q2 sales as at-home cooking surges.

This edition of Taste Radio Insider features highlights from interviews with six entrepreneurs and experts who joined us during the first half of 2020, including TRUFF hot sauce founders Nick Guillen and Nick Ajluni; Anouck Gotlib, CEO of Belgian Boys; Nona Lim, founder/CEO of Nona Lim; GT’s Living Foods founder/CEO GT Dave; Ashley Thompson, co-founder/CEO of MUSH; and Lee Robinson, director of dairy and beverage for Whole Foods Market.

In a webinar last week, health and wellness market insights firm Social Nature outlined how better-for-you CPG companies are adapting to changing shopper behavior as consumers’ focus shifts toward health and wellness products and e-commerce.

Nutrition retailer GNC filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection today, and will shutter 800 to 1,200 stores nationwide.

BevNET and NOSH Virtually Live Summer 2020 continues for its second day with over 1,000 food and beverage professionals in attendance. While the majority of the discussions are exclusively available to attendees, the final main stage presentation featuring Tom Colicchio is free for everyone to watch at 3:20pm ET. Set a reminder to tune in.

In a letter to President Trump last Tuesday, a group of seven hemp organizations asked the administration to work with Congress to regulate CBD, noting that the lack of progress from the FDA is hindering a young market.

BevNET and NOSH Virtually Live begins with a look at the food and beverage business from the perspective of Black entrepreneurs and employees. The forty-minute conversation is available for all industry members to watch, listen and learn.