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

Snack brand Square Organics announcement it had closed a $500,000 convertible note opened the curtain on the first investment by retailer Thrive Market as part of their newly developed venture fund, Thrive Market Ventures (TMV).

They’ve been biding their time, but a fast-growing specialty pickle company is preparing to launch a brine-driven assault on Natural Products Expo West this week powered by a new, $4 million minority investment.

Today new snack brand Weller announced the launch of a line of hemp-extract enriched coconut bites as well as the close of a $1.25 million round of funding.

Like the food business it supports, NOSH Live — the event series powered by Project NOSH — is growing. When it is held on June 4 and 5 at the Metropolitan West in Manhattan, the NOSH Live Summer event will now sprawl across two full days worth of strategic insights, inspiration, case studies and networking. To support a bigger NOSH Live, you need a bigger lineup.

This week’s Checkout is all about brands, retailers and government raising their standards around food.

In this episode of NOSH Voices, James Richardson examines how to build a lifestyle brand and the that problem arises when entrepreneurs confuse their own lifestyles with valid proof that they have a lifestyle brand.

ProYo announced today that its high protein, low fat ice cream pint brand will now be known as Swell Ice Cream. The rebranding is an attempt to optimize the brand’s name and packaging to better connect with what CEO and founder Nathan Carey said are the core consumers of pints: women, families and “weekend warriors.”

The powerhouse snack executives behind Halen Brands are at it again with the launch of two new snack-centric brands and a line extension for plant-based protein play Only What You Need (OWYN).

Project NOSH Editor-in-Chief Jeff Klineman talks about his involvement with a local community-based food business incubator and his role mentoring a small beverage company, Boston Chai Party.

UNION is the product of Born Wild Brands, an incubation and advisory firm founded by entrepreneur and investor Zubin Mehta. Today Mehta announced the launch of this “whole earth” snack company that will have its first showing at this year’s Natural Products Expo West.

VMG has over $500M to invest — here’s how to get its attention; superfood sensation: How Kuli Kuli is driving momentum for moringa; Zico/Suja investor on the right and wrong ways to use capital; introducing jerky of the mushroom variety. This episode is presented by Attack! Marketing.

Emerging, better-for-you food brands will compete in the fourth volume of the Project NOSH Pitch Slam, taking place on the NOSH Live Summer 2018 stage in New York, NY on June 4.

A “protein bite” maker, Siren Snacks recently closed a $1 million convertible note, according to the company. The round was lead by Pear Ventures, a Palo Alto, California-based venture capital fund.

Ketogenic meal shake startup Bear Squeeze has raised $715,000 in a pre-seed round led by AccelFoods, giving the brand a financial edge as it prepares to launch via ecommerce this spring.