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

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner Scott Gottlieb resigned today, effective next month. According to The Washington Post, the move was unexpected. Gottlieb was reportedly well-liked in the government, but told officials he wanted to spend more time with his family.

If you’ve got a big megaphone, why not use it to inspire change? That’s what John Foraker and Jennifer Garner — co-founders of baby and toddler food brand Once Upon a Farm — plan to do. The company announced today a new line of Once Upon a Farm (OUAF) baby food purees that meet the guidelines for the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

Dubbed the “Costco for millennials,” online retailer Boxed has made waves since its debut in 2013. In this episode, co-founder/CEO Chieh Huang spoke about the rapid growth of the company, how it curates its product assortment and why user experience has been central to its success.

RightRice has a new partner in its mission to to revolutionize an age-old center store category. The brand, which offers consumers a substitute for rice, today announced a $5.5 million investment led by Strand Equity, as well as some high profile social “capital.”

Chicago Bar Company, makers of RXBAR, announced today it will rebrand as Insurgent Brands, expand its product mix under the RX brand and launch a new “contrarian” sub brand. All of which will move forward under new leadership. Co-founder Peter Rahal told NOSH that the new product follows the RX strategy. “I’ve always taken a contrarian point of view to everyone else. RX was very contrarian. It didn’t fit with anyone else.”

Moringa-based food and beverage brand Kuli Kuli announced yesterday it has raised $5 million in a Series B round co-led by product development company Griffith Foods and previous investor eighteen94 capital, the venture capital arm of the Kellogg Company.

Beanfields has had a busy two years. In that time, the vegan chip company was acquired by PowerPlant Ventures and a coalition of investors in April 2017, rebranded, and seen CPG veteran Mark Rampolla both become CEO and then subsequently step down in place of Arnulfo Ventura in July 2018. Now, after a period of strong growth, the brand is announcing the close of its series B round of funding.

Maria Garcia Brennan and Pete Brennan are the co-founders of Soñar Foods, a company that’s developed a line of grain-free tortilla chips. The company utilizes organic ingredients like garbanzo beans and chia seeds to create a nutritional snack packed with plant-based protein and fiber.

Having already backed brands making everything from pancakes to popcorn, Boulder Food Group (BFG) is ready to deepen its roots investing in the next generation of emerging consumer brands. The investment group announced today the close of its second fund.

Although plant-based products may be on an upswing, there’s still room for dairy. To support its growth, today cultured dairy brand Good Culture announced the close of an $8 million investment round. Previous investors CAVU Venture Partners and 301 Inc, the venture arm of General Mills’ led the round with Almanac Insights also taking part.

Having conquered rice and pizza, cauliflower is coming for the snack aisle. Vegetable-based snack brand Real From the Ground Up (RFFTGU) announced today that it will expand beyond its current lineup of pretzels and cheese crackers, adding eight new products to fill other snacking occasions and reach new demographics.

After having to make the hard choice to discontinue its Drinkable Veggies beverage line last year, today Bonafide Provisions announced the launch of a line of Keto Broth Cups, which are frozen, heat-and-drink cups of bone broth and MCT oil. The cups come as the company also unveils a new rebrand.

In this episode, we spoke with Michele Simon, the founder and executive director of the Plant Based Food Association, about the changing landscape for plant-based foods.

With much more to discuss and an overwhelming positive response, BevNET and NOSH proudly present The Cannabis Forum for Food and Beverage Summer 2019, a one-day event in New York. It will be hosted on Friday, June 14th at CNVS, following NOSH Live and BevNET Live.