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

This week, we’re taking a look at a newly formed chocolate conglomerate cocoa foundation, reheating a bagel for breakfast, and getting absolutely blasted on a margarita booze cruise. Hey, what more could you ask for?

Legacy German chocolate producer Ritter Sport Group has named its American division leader Ralf Hilpuesch as CEO of Chocolove, the premium Colorado-based chocolate brand it acquired in November, taking over for outgoing founder and CEO Timothy Moley.

Target announced today that it will only sell cereals made without certified synthetic colors beginning in May. The retailer said it has worked closely with both national brand and its owned brand partners to reformulate products.

The Boston-based premium cookie maker is expanding into new foodservice channels with 1 oz. and 0.67 oz. trial packs designed for corporate cafes, hotels, universities and airlines.

In this week’s new product roundup, The Laughing Cow taps into the pickle flavor craze, Natty Ice Cream bulks up its portfolio, and Like Air partners with Freestyle Snacks on co-branded puffcorn.

Spare Food Co. is evolving its portfolio with two new blended meat products using its original upcycled Starter ingredient.

Tem Toa is a new Thai-inspired frozen food brand launched by Deep Indian Kitchen and marks the creation of its new brand platform, Deep Brands.

This week on the podcast, Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporter Lukas Southard discuss Kim Kardashian’s new energy beverage venture, Hippeas’ once-in-a-decade brand refresh, a class action complaint against functional iced tea brand Halfday Tonics, and new funding and distribution gains for Seth Goldman’s Just Ice Tea.

With a new, limited-edition collection of “Flavor Swap” snacks debuting first on TikTok Shop, PepsiCo is testing whether content creator-led hype can serve as a viable go-to-market strategy.

Granola is growing up, and there’s an emerging, vertically-integrated platform putting production muscle behind the typically small-batch treasure.

Hippeas unveiled the most dramatic packaging redesign, which communicates the brand’s attributes to consumers more efficiently.

Packaged food conglomerates detailed innovation plans for the coming year during the Consumer Analyst Group of New York conference last week, and many of the new products previewed tap into today’s leading trends.

Row 7 Seed Company is taking its disruptive approach in produce to the canned vegetable aisle with Row 7 Tinned Vegetables, a new line of shelf-stable, seasoned offerings in innovative packaging.

Midwest natural retailer Fresh Thyme Market today announced the relaunch of its Own Brands private label lineup with new “trend-forward products” and updated packaging.