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

The effects of COVID-19 on the many facets of the food industry was clearly a major theme throughout 2020, from the impact on food workers’ safety, supply chain disruption, cancelled trade shows and the shift to ecommerce. Despite the tepid investment landscape in the first half of the year as the industry grappled with these many changes and brands faced financial struggles, the latter portion of the year saw several notable deals and launches as the industry adjusted to the new reality the pandemic presented.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) today released its 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs). This edition of the guidelines marks the first time the USDA organized its recommendations by life stage, outlining dietary needs from birth to older adulthood, and is the first time since 1985 the USDA has included dietary guidance for infants and toddlers.

In this session from NOSH Live Winter 2020, Bob Burke recaps the changes the past year (and the Covid-19 pandemic) have brought to the natural foods industry, and advises brands what “resolutions” to set for the upcoming year.

Brands celebrated the holidays this year with a slew of seasonal plays offering consumers sweet snacks, stocking stuffers and dishes fit for holiday meals. Check out the gallery for this season’s notable festive releases, including sweet twists on salty classics from Beanfields and LesserEvil and holiday ice cream flavors from NadaMoo!, Halo Top and High Road.

For GoodFish, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, things are going swimmingly. The company announced today it had closed $4 million in funding in a round led by Siddhi Capital.

In an unprecedented step, the FDA today announced via a news alert that it had sent a warning letter to Whole Foods Market for “engaging in a pattern” of receiving and selling misbranded store brand food products that did not carry appropriate allergen warnings.

Technology has begun to catch up to plant-based dairy. As alternatives to traditional yogurt, ice cream, and cheese have entered the market en masse, variety has been restricted by manufacturing advances. But plant-based category leader Kite Hill is betting that process improvements will allow it to fully realize the benefits of a slate of new products for 2021.

An emerging new brand is flying the coop. Snackable egg concept Peckish has been acquired by Egg Innovations in an all stock deal. As part of the transaction, former Peckish owner and creator Sonoma Brands has become an equity holder in Egg Innovations, which also is the owner of the Blue Sky Family Farms line… Read more »

Just two weeks after closing on the acquisition of Atlanta’s Sweetwater Brewing Company, Canadian cannabis company Aphria has reached an agreement to merge with Tilray, forming the world’s largest cannabis company valued at $3.8 billion.

NOSH honors the companies, brands, individuals, products, ideas and trends that shaped the natural food landscape during a year of unprecedented challenges and disruption.

Greenjoy CEO and founder Jenny Cawthon announced last week that the superfood dressing and snack brand was closing. The South Carolina-based brand decided to end its eight year run following expensive operational issues at the end of last year compounded by the tepid investment landscape at the beginning of the pandemic.

Israel-based alt-dairy start-up Remilk announced yesterday it has raised $11.3 million to expand production and distribution capabilities of its animal-free proteins in preparation for commercial launch as an ingredient supplier in the U.S. and other global markets.

The NOSH Live Winter 2020 — taking place on Dec. 14-16 — features some of the leading executives and thought leaders in the industry over the three-day conference. Access the event venue.

In the latest distribution news, Outer Aisle adds 2,200 new doors, Hooray Foods debuts its plant-based bacon in Whole Foods, Ithaca Hummus brings four flavors to Sprouts nationwide and Catalina Crunch launches new flavors of its keto-friendly cereal in retail.