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

After a recent investment of $2 million, Back to the Roots (which started by selling culinary mushroom growing kits, then transitioned to aquaponic kits that could grow herbs and greens) have decided to expand with herb growing kits, cereal and cereal toppings lines — all of which are designed to bring the formerly produce oriented brand into center aisles.

The just-released lineup for Project NOSH L.A. has been released and features speakers from companies including Health Warrior, Krave Jerky, Hail Merry, PopCorners, KeHE, Presence Marketing, Kroger, Thrive Market, VMG, ACG, Boulder Food Group, and more

Project NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg speaks with neat co-founder, Philip Lapp about how the product (a line of meat and egg replacements) got its start, how it differentiates itself, as well as the current state of meat replacements and how a recent Hampton Creek FDA warning letter and controversy are affecting the industry.

The KRAVE jerky deal has had spawned significant discussion in the industry. But what’s the impact? Can one deal drive the tide up to lift all boats? Was price a function of fundamentals or Hershey doing a real estate play?

Salad dressing company Tessemae’s All Natural has a little more cabbage of its own to spend now that it has received a $5 million investment from Sagamore Ventures, LLC and War Horse, LLC a pair of private equity firms owned by the brothers who built athletic clothing brand Under Armour.

On Wednesday morning, a room of food and beverage entrepreneurs gathered at WGBH Studios for FBU Boston, a one-day crash course on the food and beverage industry put on by the staff of BevNET and Project NOSH.

For those unable to attend FBU Boston, we’ll be making a FREE high-definition video stream of the event available for all to watch. The livestream will begin at 9:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Sept. 30 and will continue throughout the day.

Today, Whole Foods Markets announced that the company will be instituting a global layoff. The net reduction is expected to be approximately 1,500 jobs, which represents 1.6 percent of its workforce.

What is the future of Indian food in America’s grocery stores? Project NOSH spoke with a pair entrepreneurs (Maya Kaimal and Shiraz Noor of The Chaat Company) at Natural Products Expo East to try to figure it out.

At this year’s Natural Products Expo East an inspiring amount of new products, trends and news emerged from the show floor. In particular, what stood out was the “next generation” wave of several product types, most prominently baby food, jerky and squeeze pouches.

FBU Boston is less than one week away and limited seats remain! It’s your chance to hear advice and guidance from the founders of brands like Yasso, Pirate’s Booty, Spindrift and Mediterra.

At this year’s Natural Products Expo East many of the most important, talked about and interesting products were classic favorites, such as brownies, mayo and pasta, reinvented for the health-conscious consumer.

General Mills’ Q1 2016 earnings call featured little talk of its legacy brands. Instead the company focused on its natural- and health-focused brands, and the call revealed much about its new product innovation pipeline, a revised focus for marketing and new attention to non-traditional grocery retailers.

Attendees at FBU Boston on September 30 will benefit from the opportunity of meeting many northeast regional FBU Industry Affiliates. These local incubators, shared kitchen spaces, and organized entrepreneurial communities will be presenting and networking at the conference.