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

It hasn’t always been an easy road for Hampton Creek. The Just Mayo maker made headlines for all the wrong reasons after a run-in with the FDA regarding the product’s marketing, a buyback investigation by the SEC and, most recently, reported funding struggles and layoffs. There have also been lawsuits and investigative reports to deal with, as well as personal criticisms of the company’s CEO, Josh Tetrick. Nevertheless, Tetrick told NOSH this week that the most recent changes at Hampton Creek do not signify turmoil for the San Francisco-based startup, but rather “a new chapter.”

The New Hampshire-based company’s owner, Danone, announced earlier this year its plans to sell Stonyfield, which saw 2016 sales of $370 million. The brand is proving to be a hot commodity for big food companies outside of the U.S.. This week’s headlines indicate that least two bids — one by Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial, another by Mexico’s Grupo Lala– have been placed for the organic yogurt maker.

Early-stage investor group CircleUp found that some of the industry’s biggest CPGs spend up to six times more on marketing and advertising of old products than they do on innovation of new products. This old-school way of business is now costing large companies market share.

Jeremy Isenberg, President of Chex Finer Foods, will speak at Project NOSH Live on June 12 at the Metropolitan West in New York, NY. Chex, founded in 1965, is one of the country’s few remaining large-scale independent, regional direct store delivery (DSD) providers and is instrumental in building and developing the market for specialty and natural brands including Skinny Pop, Justin’s Nut Butters, and Tate’s Cookies, to name a few.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed but an April 2016 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission indicated the company had closed roughly $850,000 of a $1.5 million round. The Portland, Maine-based brand previously raised $1 million in Spring 2016.

Colorado-based Empact Bar was created six months ago by two married former lawyers turned fitness video and healthy snack creators, Melonie and Zeke DeRose. The women-focused and mission-driven protein bar company wants to not only fuel women throughout their day with nutrient-dense food, but also to empower women.

Dean Foods, Tyson Inc., Snyder’s Lance Inc. and Natural Grocers all held quarterly earnings calls last week. Though the companies span categories, their leaders’ sentiments were surprisingly similar in the way they set up their roadmaps for 2017.

On June 11th through June 15th, BevNET Live (beverage), NOSH Live (packaged natural food), and Brewbound (beer) will pass the microphone to thought leaders and innovators from their respective industries. Speakers include founders and CEOs from CircleUp, Presence Marketing, Whole Foods, La Colombe, Halen Brands, Califia Farms, Founders Brewing, Bell’s Brewery, and more.

Natural products retailer Whole Foods Market held its 2017 second quarter earnings call on Thursday. We reached out to a longtime Whole Foods buyer and CPG advisor, Tim Sperry, to help sort through some of the news coming out of Austin as part of the BevNET Podcast.

This week natural products retailer Whole Foods Market held its 2017 second quarter earnings call. After weeks of speculation about a possible sale and pressure from activist investors, the market was eager to hear how the retailer would respond.

Over the past two weeks, food and other sensitive topics ranging from politics to body image have intersected in national headlines. This week’s Press Clips showcases how history, competition and political agendas are shaping the economic climate for both brands and retailers.

Award-winning author and MomTalk Radio host Maria Bailey knows just how much moms can impact a brand’s success or failure. In honor of Mother’s Day, we asked Bailey the differences between the demographics of moms, why food brands and retailers should pay attention to each group’s purchasing habits, and how industry players can better reach and resonate with them in the future.

The U.S. organic market is valued at $40 billion and even mainstream products like Kraft Macaroni and Cheese to Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing have embraced organic line extensions. But as consumer demand for organic products has increased, the industry has responded in turn with more products, more availability and lower prices.

Longtime bottling and sales executive Chuck Muth announced his retirement from Coke in 2016, but apparently he couldn’t retire from Seth Goldman, his former boss at Honest Tea. The visionary environmental entrepreneur and the execution-focused beverage guy are reuniting, this time around Beyond Meat, the plant-based protein brand where Goldman serves as executive chairman.