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

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.

To give consumers a boost in their kitchens, food brand BOU announced today the close of a $4 million dollar round of funding. An undisclosed family office invested $1.5 million, according to Jakobi, who also took part in the round himself.

Sometimes to see growth you need to add a little fertilizer. That’s the concept PepsiCo hopes to offer brands with the Nutrition Greenhouse. The soda and snack giant’s food and beverage accelerator yesterday announced the nine brands to join the program’s inaugural North American class. Each company will be given a $20,000 “no strings attached” grant and challenged to “demonstrate collaboration and measurable progress” in an “entrepreneurial fashion.”

Early-stage food entrepreneurs and industry newcomers attending NOSH Live Winter 2018 will get a jump start on the main conference with our introductory NOSH Boot Camp educational session on Wednesday, November 28th.

Daily Harvest is breaking out of the cup. Last week the brand launched a new product line that strays from its core cup packaging and subscription model for the first time. The brand also opens a new interactive retail space this week. Founder and CEO Rachel Drori told NOSH that the new products were “co-created” with the brand’s customers.

This week a retailer decided to make it a little harder to get your sugar fix, while another may have had an interesting connection to the midterm elections. And in product news, Beyond Meat may see new competition in retail.