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

In this reviews roundup, we take a bite out of Smash Foods’ healthier twist on toaster pastries, Fancypants’ crispy cookies, and Eclipse Foods’ non-dairy milk alternative.

This week, the podcast team discusses big moves by protein bar startup David, plus industry reactions to the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission’s recent report on ultraprocessed foods, fermented foods maker Cleveland Kitchen’s recent capital raise, and a former slugger’s new spirits venture.

Peter Rahal’s new protein bar brand David has closed a $75 million Series A round and taken a step towards vertical integration with the acquisition of Epogee, one of its ingredient suppliers. The new tranche of funding was led by Greenoaks, with participation from Valor Equity Partners.

1UP Candy took to Sweets & Snacks Expo 2025 to showcase its latest non-chocolate creation – Crunchy Sour Strips – amidst accelerated brick-and-mortar distribution growth.

Instacart has named Chris Rogers as CEO, effective August 15, assuming the position from outgoing chief executive Fidji Simo. Rogers joined Instacart in 2019 and has served as its chief business officer since 2022.

Sunnie is rolling out an updated look in preparation for expanding its retail footprint and launching another sweet addition to its portfolio this summer.

After last week’s Make America Health Again Commission released its inaugural report outlining the factors it believes contribute to rising chronic disease among children, the industry’s response has been a mixed bag. We sat down with Jeff Grogg, managing director at JPG Resources, who has worked in food and beverage formulation for over 25 years, to discuss his take on how these findings were presented and where, as an industry, we go from here.

In a push to help pay off long-term debt, B&G Foods is selling two of its tomato products brands – Don Pepino and Sclafani – to Violet Foods LLC, a newly formed portfolio company.

Swiss food group FoodYoung Labs has acquired California-based food tech company MeliBio, seeking to expand its plant-based honey technology. The transaction includes MeliBio’s consumer brand, Mellody, and its “Generation 1” technology, along with related IP.

Uncertainty and pessimism are rising major among U.S. retailers as labor challenges and inflation have dampened future outlook, according to a report by Progressive Grocer last week.

Regionally-sourced frozen fruit producer Seal The Seasons is off to a hot start ahead of summer with three key team members promoted across the organization alongside a new strategic partnership with its longtime packaging supplier, Canada-based Farnell Packaging.

While the natural products industry has been advocating for better-for-you, more nutrient-dense food and beverages since its inception, the federal government’s recent spotlight on longstanding issues has brought complexity and confusion to how these challenges came to be and how they can be reasonably and effectively addressed by industry.

FreshDirect is going IRL. The Tristate-focused online grocer is opening its first brick-and-mortar store in Southampton, N.Y., this weekend, called FreshDirect on Main.

In this week’s new products roundup, British-born cookie dough brand Doughlicious goes mini, CLIF Builders builds up its collection of protein bars, and Dolly Parton expands her retail food line collaboration with Conagra Brands.