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

As food companies gear up for next week’s Natural Products Expo West conference, some of their conversation has moved from how many samples to bring to potential health and safety risks from the fast moving virus, COVID-19, also known as the Coronavirus.

Coconut Bliss launches new, more affordable plant-based ice cream; FDA commissioner says agency can’t stop CBD products, and more in this week’s Checkout.

Fifteen years after submitting a proposed rule to the Federal Register to establish principles for food standards of identity updates, the FDA is extending its comment period, noting advances in manufacturing, food technology, market trends and nutrition science since 2005. Comments will be accepted until April 21, 2020.

The past 16 months have been a period of growth for super premium ice cream Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, and now the brand wants to fuel the fire. The company announced today the close of $18.7 million in funding, with the goal of increasing efficiencies and reclaiming its innovative heritage.

Premium pickle brand Grillo’s is entering the dip and beverage sets with a line of cold-pressed pickle vinegar drinks and new line of salsas launching next week at Natural Products Expo West 2020. Grillo’s founder Travis Grillo said the expansion into beverage is part of a larger effort to build a cross-category platform brand.

Courtney Gillespie is the president and COO of Life’s Grape, an upstart brand that features a unique grape variety, Selma Pete, as the star ingredient of its vine-dried fruit snacks. The company aims to bring millennials into the category by refreshing the classic raisin with quality grapes, unique processing and fun packaging.

Food industry members want identifying upcycled products to be easier, starting with creating a clear definition and labeling standard for ‘upcycled food’ — an early goal for the recently-launched industry organization Upcycled Food Association (UFA).

Ellenos, a fast-growing premium yogurt brand, announced today an $18 million investment by Equilibra Partners Management, the family office of KIND founder Daniel Lubetzky. The capital will be used to help the brand scale nationwide.

We spoke with Marco Canora and Andrew Garner, the founder and CEO, respectively, of pioneering bone broth company Brodo about communicating its value proposition to consumers, how Canora attempts to use his influence as an award-winning chef as to support better-for-you brands and why he believes the steepest part of the learning curve in CPG is also its most frustrating.

Investment firms and large food producers are seeing promise in better-for-you brands — and putting their dollars behind them. In recent deals, Verlinvest and JamJar invest in chocolate brand Tony’s Chocolonely, Cedar’s Foods acquires overnight oats brand brekki, Hodo closes a Series B investment from Renewal Funds and more.

Rounding out the annual CAGNY conference in Boca Raton, Florida this week, leading CPG companies reviewed 2019 results and future plans to power protein cravings through snacks and more meatless innovations.

A new generation of innovative start-ups are attempting to change the category’s trajectory with versatile, premium products that appeal to young consumers who grew up alongside the third-wave coffee movement.

Four events over six days. Last December was packed with business discussions and networking across the beverage, food, beer and cannabis industries. Now it’s time to revisit those insights and dive deeper. The complete agenda of presentations from BevNET Live, NOSH Live, Brewbound Live and Cannabis Forum are now available to watch online, including main stage and educational presentations, Livestream Studio interviews and breakout session discussions.

Anouck Gotlib, CEO of European-inspired snack brand Belgian Boys, spoke about how her background in fashion influenced the brand’s identity, the key to successful relationships with retail buyers, how Costco has become a critical partner for incubating new products, best practices for effective merchandising and how the company landed a deal with JetBlue.