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

Rick Tyrrell, CEO at Natures Intent, focuses on creating high quality, dark chocolate covered, dried fruit snacks. The company is committed to responsibly partnering with its farmers, suppliers and customers.

NOSH Live is now less than 48 hours away and we’re ready to unveil the companies participating in this winter’s Sampling Experience & Expo, powered by PINATA. This delicious two-hour mini-event takes place on the first day of the NOSH Live Winter 2018 conference, Thursday, November 29th, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

Four months after selling a majority stake to San Francisco Equity Partners (SFEP), frozen food brand Brazi Bites announced today it has brought on Michael Guanella, the former President of nut butter brand Justin’s, as CEO.

In just three days the natural food industry will gather in Santa Monica, and we have a special networking party planned. The NOSH Live Afterparty Powered by ForceBrands and supported by Hu Kitchen, Snack Nation, Whipstitch Capital, Aspect Consumer Partners and Marsh & McLennan is an exclusive networking opportunity for conference attendees.

As plant-based meat brand Beyond Meat prepares for a planned $100 million initial public offering, the company’s announcement of intent with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission yields some interesting food for thought. NOSH took a deep dive into the hundreds of pages of filings to pull out some of the salient points for brands to note, admire and potentially add to their own playbooks.

How Barnana Co-Founder/CMO Nik Ingersöll makes ugly bananas look amazing; also featured: an exploration into the brain-boosting business of nootropic beverages and why CBD drink brands might find a friendly bill coming their way.

NOSH is excited to announce the finalist brands and expert judges who will take the NOSH Live stage next week during the fifth volume of the NOSH Live Pitch Slam, presented by 301 Inc. The NOSH Pitch Slam is the distinguished business pitch competition for emerging better-for-you packaged food brands.

David Wild, Vice President of Shrewd Food, is on a mission to provide a high protein alternative to classic snacks. The company’s new line of baked cheddar protein crisps boasts 14 grams of protein per single-serve snack bag, while maintaining low fat and low carbs.

Despite having enjoyed rapid growth while under the auspices of CPG giant Campbell’s, breakfast brand The Soulfull Project announced this week that it would spin-off as a unique entity. The shift in ownership comes as Campbell’s refocuses on its core businesses.

Ingredient company Perfect Day believes that doing good and making money don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Now with the launch of its first product, Perfect Day plans to show how this model is possible. The company, which produces animal-free dairy products, announced last week a partnership with global ingredient firm ADM that aims to demonstrate the market potential of its technology through the launch of a milk-free whey protein.

Consumer goods giant Unilever, CPG data analytics leaders SPINS and IRI, and new, innovative c-store The Goods Mart will take the NOSH Live Winter 2018 stage in less than two weeks. The fast approaching conference brings together the natural food community for two days to discuss the latest strategies, trends and innovations in the natural food space on November 29 and 30 in Santa Monica, Calif.

Ugly Drinks co-founders Hugh Thomas and Joe Benn discussed growth planning for both the U.S. and U.K. markets, how the perspective of Ugly as a “digital brand” has shaped its overall business strategy, and how its loyal consumers — aka the “Ugly Mob” — have enabled the company to rapidly iterate and innovate.

The 10 largest U.S. food and beverage companies need to step up efforts to improve the nutritional content and accessibility of their highest-selling products, according to the first-ever U.S. Access to Nutrition Index.

Samy Kobrosly, Co-founder and Chief Snack Bagger of Snacklins, has reimagined indulgent junk food with a line of crunchy, salty vegan chicharrones made from mushrooms, onions and yucca root. At 80 calories per bag with a low price point, the brand offers consumers a healthy and affordable vegan version of a popular meat snack.