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

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.

Last week, Whole Foods Market held its 3rd quarter earnings call, and with it laid out a slew of new information as to how brands will be able to potentially work with the retailer going forward. A common theme throughout the call was shifting from regional efforts to more global, streamlined processes. While the company said some of the options are still in the testing (or even conceptual phase) it seems the future holds some changes.

There’s something bubbling up in grocery store aisles. Fermented foods are growing — both in popularity with the American consumer as well as in the variety of products offered. At this year’s IFT Show, Innova Research detailed why this trend is on the rise and at the summer Fancy Food Show, Project NOSH spoke with some of the brands in the category.

Plant-based food and beverage private equity firm Powerplant Ventures today announced the closing of a $42 million fund. The fund is led by Mark Rampolla, founder of ZICO Coconut Water, Kevin Boylan and T.K. Pillan, co-founders of the Veggie Grill restaurant chain, and Dan Beldy, former Managing Director of Steamboat Ventures (the venture capital division of Disney).

As the summer comes to a close, several producers of sweets or snackshave seen recent wins in retail, adding hundreds of new accounts. The additions come after the busy summer trade show season.

In April of this year, search engine Google released a report on food trends that claimed pasta was making a “comeback.” This week it seems that the tech giant was right in its prediction: two better-for-you brands moved their companies in a new direction by offering their consumers ready-to-eat meals centered around noodles.

“We The People of the American Pasta Sauce Company, in order to form a more perfect Plate…” So begins the “constitution” of The American Pasta Sauce Company, a new endeavor from Neal McTighe, the founder and owner of artisanal pasta sauce brand Nello’s.

Thirteen years ago Sarah Michelle Gellar was attacking supernatural villains as the star of the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Now, with no less enthusiasm, she and her business partners Galit Laibow and Gia Russo are facing a new set of adversaries: Duncan Hines and Betty Crocker. The three entrepreneurs, who are longtime friends, are taking Foodstirs, their baking mix and kit brand, into retail.

After over twenty years in business, Kodiak Cakes has accepted the company’s first official investment from Sunrise Strategic Partners. The brand has seen rapid growth for its line of high-protein “Power Cakes.”