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

Michigan-based wholesale distributor National Food Group (NFG) first brought better-for-you foods to school cafeterias in 1990. But kids and parents wanted its convenient, healthy snacks outside the cafeteria; thus the company launched ZeeZees, a CPG brand that sold online in 2017 and entered brick and mortar retail last year, where it plans to double its presence this year.

Melissa Hartwig Urban, co-founder/CEO of Whole30, explained why she describes the lifestyle program as an “experiment” and why she is staunchly opposed to the idea of moderation.

At the 2019 NACS show in Atlanta, Larry Levin, EVP of market and shopper intelligence at research firm IRI, outlined convenience store trends from the past year and how better-for-you brands can further fuel consumers’ on-the-go snacking needs.

Over the past year, the food and beverage space has witnessed a “green rush” of CBD startups entering the market in a race to capitalize on the trend. With no shortage of competition, Seattle-based Docklight Brands is also hoping to get on board the cannabis wave with 13 brands of its own.

This year’s NACS trade show featured a wide range of innovation in fruit, vegetable and protein-powered snacks — including new single-serve sizes ripe for c-store placement. In this gallery, we highlight a handful of new products from the show that forecast a future of wellness-minded on-the-go snacking.

Chris Kirby, founder/president of Ithaca Craft Hummus, spoke about how he identified white space in the hummus category and what he learned during four years of operating his own production facility. He also urged entrepreneurs to be thoughtful about their retail relationships and deliberate about expenses, and discussed why he hires people that are highly self-sufficient.

At the Cannabis Forum, Presented by BevNET and NOSH, industry trailblazers will bring entrepreneurs into the new industry they are creating and explain the intersection of cannabis with food and beverage brands.

This year’s annual National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) trade show featured a variety of protein plays — from zero-sugar jerky to new bean and lentil snacks. In this gallery, we feature some of the newest protein plays spotted on the show floor.

In this video from the 2019 NACS show in Atlanta last week, NOSH Senior Reporter Beth Kaiserman talked with Jaxie Alt, CMO of Stryve Biltong, about educating consumers, innovations in the jerky space and how Stryve’s colorful rebranding can capture protein-hungry consumers.

Eat Nice Foods co-founder Paul Cantagallo aims to take animals out of the food system by creating plant-based replacements for traditional pastas and meals. The mission-driven company has launched with two flavors of vegan ravioli with future plans to enter new categories.

Leading food and beverage fund VMG is moving from investor to operator with the launch of a new corporate entity that will acquire, run, and create snack brands. Velocity Snack Brands (VSB) kicks off today with the acquisition of salty snack brand Popchips; the company will be led by Amit Pandhi, the former CEO of frozen treat brand Arctic Zero.

Hoping to sell your scrappy entrepreneurial brand to one of the food giants? This December at NOSH Live Winter 2019 the leaders of a pair of just-sold brands, One Bar and Perfect Snacks, will talk through the path to their exits alongside the investment banker who brought them there.

Sometimes the sweetest way forward is with a big change. Frozen Greek yogurt brand Yasso announced that it will relocate its headquarters to Boulder, Colorado, led by new CEO Craig Shiesley, a 25-year CPG industry veteran.

Ocean Spray may be almost 90 years old, but the cranberry cooperative is determined to act like a younger startup. Last week the company announced a new model for innovation, known as the Lighthouse Incubator, which will focus on rapid innovation and bring the company into new categories beyond beverage.