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

If you couldn’t make the trip to Santa Monica, we don’t want you to feel left out. We’re bringing NOSH Live to you through a free livestream today and tomorrow, thanks to the support of Mondelez SnackFutures and Factory LLC.

We’re now in the thick of the busy holiday shopping season and plenty of new products are hitting brick-and-mortar store shelves as well as online retailers, from wellness offerings to on-the-go meals and snacks. Check out the gallery to see some of the month’s notable new products, including coffee launches from ThinkNOO and illy, plant-based meals from Gabriella’s Kitchen and seasonal offerings from Siete and Supernatural.

Today PepsiCo announced its intent to acquire better-for-you snack producer BFY Brands — the maker of PopCorners snacks and co-packer of some PepsiCo snacks. Upon closing, BFY will roll into PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay North America division.

CPG sales and marketing agency Acosta filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Wilmington, Delaware yesterday to reduce its $3 billion debt burden.

The Cannabis Forum, presented by BevNET and NOSH on December 6 at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, has added one more special discussion to help cannabis entrepreneurs understand the fundraising environment for their brands.

Following day one, NOSH Live attendees will take a short stroll down Ocean Ave. to their next destination: The Official NOSH Live After Party, powered by ForceBrands. After a busy day of lively conversations, tasty sampling, and on-stage learning, we’ll fuel the fun with some healthy bites from True Food Kitchen, located at 395 Santa Monica Place, Suite 172. With two hours to unwind, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., attendees can have casual conversations and cement your burgeoning friendships.

We’re excited to pull back the curtain on the finalists that will take the stage at the NOSH Live Winter 2019 Pitch Slam, presented by 301 Inc. As the stars of NOSH Live next week, the chosen finalists will benefit from expert feedback from the judges and industry exposure amongst attendees and livestream viewers, which include retailers, investors, distributors and fellow brands.

In a conversation with NOSH, Stuart Reid, executive director of nonprofit Food Co-op Initiative (FCI), explained how co-ops can help brands connect genuinely with a different — and often more dedicated — type of shopper as well as where the opportunity is for brands to grow within the channel.

The FDA yesterday issued 15 warning letters to CBD companies and updated its advice for consumers to follow while regulations are developed. Citing numerous safety concerns and a lack of scientific information, FDA said it cannot recognize CBD as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use in human or animal food.

Joel Warady, the General Manager and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of Enjoy Life Foods, spoke about the genesis and evolution of the allergen-friendly snack brand, explained why the company embraces a “think digital, act analog” business strategy and why standards matter at every stage of growth.

The NOSH Live Boot Camp is an intensive half-day educational session for early-stage food entrepreneurs and industry newcomers taking place on Tuesday, December 3rd, the afternoon prior to the main NOSH Live Winter 2019 event.

Hatching a new brand can take time. Such was the case for emerging brand Egglife, which entered stores this month after a three-year path to market. Backed by the family behind the country’s second largest egg producer, the company hopes to disrupt a tired category — wraps — and “snackify” the humble egg.

The entrepreneur’s life is complicated. We’ve decided to keep things consistent, so we’re adding a tough choice for you: two more NOSH Live Breakout Sessions to choose from on the afternoon of Wednesday, December 4th. The second set of breakout panels will share insights and implications when working with functional foods, and strategies and best practices for building a Board of Directors.

As health and wellness continue to be top of mind for a wide range of consumers, brands have a unique opportunity to engage shoppers searching for products that better their lives and attach them to a community. Next month at NOSH Live, a special panel featuring a better-for-you food brand founder, a purpose-driven investor and the head of a wellness-focused media platform will combine forces to talk about how natural food brands can engage these healthy consumers.