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

Grillo’s Pickles founder/CEO Travis Grillo spoke about why he pursued his passion despite the naysayers and explained why he fondly recalls the days when he was struggling and broke. He also discussed the unconventional way that Grillo’s got into Whole Foods, how he considers new hires and investment and why he’s just as likely to take advice from a homeless person as he would from a billionaire.

New technology is following brick-and-mortar grocery shoppers into the store, offering ways to get them in and out faster. Will Glaser, the former co-founder and CTO at music streaming platform Pandora, started Berkeley-based Grabango in 2016 to eliminate checkout headaches.

Speaking at Cannabis Forum 2019, held on June 14 in New York City, Michael Hayford, co-founder/CEO/chairman of Cannabiniers parent company Lighthouse Strategies, shared a look at the company’s ambitious roadmap for growth.

Paleo-focused Hu Master Holdings, owner of Hu Kitchen and Products, announced today that Sir Kensington’s co-founder and former CEO Mark Ramadan has joined the snack brand as CEO. Ramadan assumes the role from former PepsiCo executive Rita Hudetz who departed the company earlier this month. Co-founders Jason Karp and Jordan Brown told NOSH Ramadan brings a skill set that will help the brand scale to its next phase of growth.

No Cow founder/CEO Daniel Katz spoke about his passion for entrepreneurship and the genesis of his plant-based protein bar brand, which he launched with no business plan or extensive market research.

Snack company Lehi Valley Trading Company’s production manager noticed the company wasn’t making any snacks tailored to Mexican tastes, a growing consumer segment. Now, Lehi is now launching Delicias Gloria (Gloria’s Delights), a new Hispanic-focused snack line.

Jessica Gebel is the founder of Fabalish, a company focused on changing the stigma around vegan food. The brand’s star ingredients are aquafaba and chickpeas. Fabalish has expanded from Tzatziki and sauces to falafel and blondies, finding innovative ways to make plant-forward products with clean and organic ingredients.

In the latest distribution news, Whole Foods adds both sweet and spicy new products with the addition of Zia Hatch Chile nationwide and additional lines of vegan cakes and muffins from Abe’s.

As cannabis entrepreneurs, Willie Mack, co-founder and president of boutique cannabis brand Think BIG, and Rashaan Everett, CEO of vertically integrated cannabis startup Good Tree Holdings, have made addressing systemic issues a fundamental part of their respective business plans.

During Tyson’s third quarter earnings call yesterday, the future of both meat and meat-free items was on the table, as the company reported strong sales in beef and pork and prepares to launch a new meatless chicken line, Raised & Rooted, into retail next month.

Speaking at Cannabis Forum 2019, held on June 14 in New York City, attorney Larry Sandell of Mei & Mark LLP discussed how emerging cannabis brands can avoid the mistakes and pitfalls involved with protecting intellectual property.

At NOSH Live Winter 2019 natural food startups will continue to push the industry forward, bringing fresh ideas to the table. Returning for its seventh edition, the NOSH Live Pitch Slam presented by 301 Inc. provides a stage for brand founders to share their story and connect with the community. A key piece of the immersive NOSH Live experience, the competition is held during the conference in Santa Monica, Calif. on December 4th and 5th.

In this video from NOSH Live Summer 2019, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams founder Jeni Britton Bauer and CEO John Lowe discuss using thoughtful communication to take their ice cream business to even sweeter heights.

Sprouts, Beyond Meat and more brands report Q2 earnings in this week’s Checkout.