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

The Nombase Podcast is now the CPG Operator Podcast, your go-to resource for what it takes to build and grow a food or beverage brand. The new name reflects what the show has always been about: candid conversations on the day-to-day realities of starting, building and growing a brand, from formulation and pricing to landing shelf space and scaling up.

Food sales are suffering, although energy drinks and nutrition shakes are resilient, as high fuel prices “weigh on consumers” and depress convenience channel foot traffic, according to a new equity research report from investment banker Jefferies.

Sour candy has long captivated the taste buds of consumers, but with the influx of “swicy” (read: sweet and spicy) products across the packaged food industry, spicy candy is also gaining traction.

Shelf-stable meals used to be synonymous with commodity brands. But the category is modernizing with a handful of newcomers bringing bold flavors and clean label takes.

Alec’s and Purely Elizabeth’s “ice cream for breakfast” collab feels playful and indulgent while maintaining a relatively clean ingredient profile.

This week, reviewing everything that went down at NACS in Las Vegas, uncovering why RIND closed its online store, and running from our lives from a Zombie Santa Claus. Hey, what more could you ask for?

Roughly a year and a half after being acquired by Flowers Foods, better-for-you snack company Simple Mills is gearing up to make a significant c-store push — a move that was announced at the 2026 NACS Show in Las Vegas this week.

Daily Harvest is expanding its retail footprint, with Marianne’s growing in Target and Archer bringing new SKUs to the club channel.

In this week’s new products roundup, Ghirardelli makes its debut in the cookie aisle, Thomas’ and Bob Evans put a protein-packed spin on familiar favorites, and Jeni’s explores unconventional ingredients with a new acorn-inspired ice cream flavor.

PepsiCo is “acting with urgency” to improve its North America business as the division disappointed despite overall strong net revenue growth in its Q3 2026.

PepsiCo is leaning into protein, alternative oils and ingredient reformulation across its snack portfolio, unveiling new Doritos, Lay’s and PopCorners products at the 2026 NACS Show in Las Vegas this week.

In the past four years, the snack business has been wracked by price increases, private label growth, changing consumer perceptions of both value and health, as well as plenty of new brands.

This week, podcast co-hosts Brad Avery and Lukas Southard dive into the relaxation beverage category, a developing rift between MAHA advocates and the White House, more lawsuits over sweeteners and RIND Snacks’ pivot deeper into co-packing.

Both varieties deliver the crunchy texture consumers expect from chili crisp, adding another dimension beyond the olive oil and seasonings and making the products feel more substantial than a conventional infused oil.