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

Impossible Foods today announced that it has officially begun production of its plant-based patties in its new 68,000 square-foot Oakland, California-based facility. The company said the plant, which was announced earlier this year, will give the brand the ability to scale and eventually expand into retail.

From an online snack box market’s move into physical stores, to a GMO-free cookie brand launching in club, here’s the latest in packaged food distribution news.

Masienda Bodega launches this month in 200 stores including several Whole Foods Market regions as well as in independent retailers. The growth is being fueled by a recently closed $1.35 million round of capital from a star-studded team of investors including James Beard Award winning chef (and CPG entrepreneur himself) Rick Bayless, Rick Schnieders, former Sysco CEO, and Village Capital.

This week’s episode of Taste Radio features an in-depth interview with veteran CPG executive Joth Ricci who discusses when to say “no,” premiumization of categories, and why Portland has emerged as an CPG incubation hub.

Hot off of a $25 million investment from Smithfield Foods, this week meal kit marketplace Chef’d announced a partnership with West Coast retailer Gelson’s to bring 12 of the company’s ready to cook meals into stores.

To help their brands navigate retail’s changing landscape, several food companies are looking to new team members to the lead the way. Here’s some of the newest additions to several food and retail teams.

Digital printing company ePac Holdings announced last week that it will open its second flexible packaging plant this fall in Boulder, Colorado. For the company the intent is clear: to expand within one of the country’s thriving natural food hotbeds.

Using next-generation proprietary technology based on DNA sequencing and data management, California-based Clear Labs is seeking to modernize food safety, efficiency and authenticity throughout the industry — and it’s a system that investors are embracing, too.

Yesterday, Fenwick Brands, a CPG investor and operator, announced the closing of a round of investment in HannahMax Cookie Chips. Previous investor Alliance Consumer Growth also took part in the round; the dollar amount of the round was not disclosed.

In 2014 entrepreneur David Istier founded Energy Fruits, a shelf-stable natural fruit and vegetable pouch. Three years later, the company has rebranded and more than doubled its distribution while focusing more directly on prebiotic-based gut health.

It seems that summer vacation doesn’t apply to the CPG industry, which has seen a flood of capital raises and acquisitions. Here’s a look at some the deals of the past few weeks.

In episode 72 of Taste Radio, we feature a conversation with Poorvi Patodia, who is the founder and CEO of Biena, a fast-growing maker of roasted chickpea snacks. She discussed why Biena attempts to operate more like a tech firm than a food company, as well as her decision to launch a co-branded line of snacks with Weight Watchers.

Last week, produce-centric brand Veggie Noodle Co. announced a minority investment from Encore Consumer Capital. Today, the Austin, Texas-based company released more details surrounding the deal, which was revealed to be a $14 million investment closed in May.

After months of predicting what’s to come for Whole Foods Market, today e-commerce giant and acquirer, Amazon, gave its first look into the natural retailer’s evolution with a list of strategic changes to be rolled out across all Whole Foods stores starting next week.