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

All-star speakers present actionable advice, partnerships are made for future growth, and everyone discovers what’s next.

The acquisition pushes Aspire into a new growth phase: It now needs to scurry to build out a bigger cricket farming facility to meet the demands of all current customers along with the new brand.

The brand expects to be in roughly 8,000 grocery doors by summer 2018, and is also rapidly growing its product offerings thanks to consumer input.

The popularity of craft is changing the game for more than just brewers. To build on that excitement, some food and beverage brands are partnering with and taking notes from beer leaders on everything from innovations and packaging to distribution and marketing strategies. The result: booming business brewed for all industries involved.

The future of food may not be that far off. Here is the latest in natural food news this week.

Daphne Oz believes that healthy eating should never mean sacrificing flavor. Hear why in our interview with the Emmy award-winning TV host, social media maven and chief innovation officer of Pure Spoon. Plus, original takes on meat and meatless brands in the latest edition of Elevator Talk. This episode is presented by RISE Brewing Co.

During this year’s Natural Products Expo West, the NOSH team sought out five natural food founders, from newcomers to seasoned vets, to get the low-down on the best — and worst — advice they have ever received.

Farmwise LLC, the makers of Veggie Fries, Veggie Tots and Veggie Rings, announced Tuesday night that it closed a $4.5 million financing round led by Cleveland Avenue LLC, the venture capital firm founded by Don Thompson.

The value-added seafood company announced last week it had raised $1.3 million from newly established equity firm Arbel Growth Partners, run by Carl Lee, the former president and CEO of Snyder’s Lance, Inc.

Thrive Market co-founder Nick Green: “if we make healthy living affordable for everyone, there’s tens of billions of dollars [worth of] business to be built”; an Elevator Talk double-header with upstart brands Hubble and WholeMe. This episode is presented by RISE Brewing Co.

Retailers, Category Innovators, Branding Experts and fast-growing brands: that’s right, we’re announcing a new slate of high-level speakers for NOSH Live, the conference that focuses on the path to growth for entrepreneurial food brands. NOSH Live takes place on June 4 and 5 in Manhattan at the Metropolitan West, 639 W. 46 St., New York, NY.

During the webinar, “How America Eats: State of the Snack Food Industry,” consumer research group IRI evaluated the latest growth opportunities in snacking and forecasted trends to come in 2018.

The Austin-based fermented vegetable maker announced last week that it will now be known as Barrel Creek Provisions and will sport a new look.

Some of CPG’s biggest players are embracing change. Here is the latest in natural food news this week.