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

Just two years after deciding to start a bone broth company, Bru Broth founders Soo-Ah Landa and Mary Butler have entered into an agreement with Coke-backed beverage incubator L.A. Libations to help them expand. As part of the deal, L.A. Libations will purchase equity in the fledgling bone broth company.

Israel’s largest food manufacturer is aiming for success in the U.S. via the dairy case. While 90-year-old dairy company Tnuva has imported its products to the U.S. for years, they have served predominantly as niche brands in kosher retailers. This month, however, Tnuva is launching Muuna, a brand with mainstream aspirations in the suddenly-heating-up cottage cheese market.

With this year’s Natural Products Expo East less than a month away, brands have started to announce what they’ll be featuring on the show floor. While some trends (low fat) have started to fade away, and others (ketogenic foods) are just starting to rise, a few (protein, paleo and comfort foods) are clearly here to stay — at least a bit longer.

Over the past year and a half, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream has struggled with the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in its production facility. Despite taking extensive precautions, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warning letter released today indicates that eradication efforts have failed.

In 2002 Phil Anson founded what would become EVOL Foods and quickly turned it into a leading multi-category frozen foods brand. In 2013 Anson sold the brand to Boulder Brands, which in turn was acquired by Pinnacle Foods in 2015. Anson remained with Boulder Brands until this summer. Just a few weeks into his “retirement” from the brand, Anson spoke to Project NOSH about his time with the company and what’s next for his career.

The past year has been busy for contract manufacturer Ideal Snacks and PopCorners producer Medora Snacks. In July 2015, the two brands, were acquired by global private equity firm Permira and consolidated under the moniker Better For You (BFY) Brands. Now the company, under CEO Paul Nardone, is unveiling a new, global, consumer-facing identity. The brand, Our Little Rebellion, will house five year-old PopCorners (a line of popped corn chips) along with two other brands.

This week Project NOSH takes a dive into data, looking at new research conducted by Nielsen, Harris Poll and FONA International to examine the sales potential of pulse-based products, indulgent treats and the yogurt category.

As competition ratchets up for many of the the niche brands founded in the early wave of natural products, the choice today is either innovate or become irrelevant. Such is the case with snack brand Two Moms in the Raw, which after 10 years is relaunching as Soul Sprout. It’s not just a new name, however: the brand also has new leadership team, new formulation and new goal of appealing to a more mainstream consumer.

Errol Schweizer continues to fill out his post-Whole Foods resume, joining another pair of former executives with the chain to work with natural products veteran Eric Schnell’s new consulting conclave, Beyond Brands. The consulting group will also add brothers Chad Sarno and Derek Sarno, who held lead roles on the culinary side of the retailer (Chad as Healthy Eating Coordinator and Derek as Senior Global Executive Chef).

Last week natural products distributor United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) announced the acquisition of Gourmet Guru, a natural and organic food distributor and merchandiser serving the Northeast. Project NOSH spoke with Gourmet Guru CEO Jeff Lichtenstein about the sale, why it was the right time, and what the future looks like

While healthy options are certainly rising in popularity, deciphering what’s actually “better-for-you” and how to go about that still confuses consumers. This week’s Press Clips examines some of the strategies producers are taking to help consumers — as well as adjusting their products to better fit their needs.

Over the past year, Ips Chips (a line of protein enhanced salty snacks) has undergone a transformation as it becomes Ips Snacks. With a new CEO, team, packaging, formulation and product line, the brand has big plans for the rest of 2016 and 2017.

While National S’Mores Day isn’t until tomorrow, the beloved dessert added some sweet new ingredients with the launch of SmashMallow snackable marshmallows today. A product of Sonoma Brands, the incubator and investment group from KRAVE founder Jon Sebastiani, the line of seven flavor “smash-ups” will exclusively launch in Sprouts and online direct to consumer.

Zico founder Mark Rampolla will step into an interim CEO role at plant-based snack food company Hail Merry, a brand where Rampolla is an investor. In emails today to friends and colleagues, Sarah Chapin, the current CEO of the brand, announced that she will be stepping down. The full transfer is expected to take place by the time the company’s third quarter ends, on Sept. 30th.