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

The frozen smoothie category has evolved since pandemic lockdowns with consumers demanding more convenience and functionality blended together and packaged at a price accessible to mass channel shoppers.

In this distribution roundup: Laoban doubles its door count as it expands beyond the natural channel, Belgian Boys extends into grab-and-go with Walmart exclusive, La Brea takes on Target and more.

The founding duo behind RXBAR is taking aim at the candy category with a new brand curiously called Hormbles Chormbles. Set to launch early next year, the chocolate products are high in protein (using whey protein isolate) and low in calories and sugar, said Jared Smith, co-founder of the Chicago-based startup.

The CPG Week podcast team talks about Peter Rahal’s newest protein bar release, the co-branded Lunchly product from PRIME and Feastables, and how these two products relate to consumers’ differentiated value demands from ingredients and nutrition.

The latest episode of Elevator Talk features leaders from One Trick Pony, Nomad Snacks, Rooted Fare and Superfood Sprinkle. Watch founders and CEOs introduce their brands and provide a recap of recent news and updates. Our special co-host is Mia Medina, the founder and CEO of Gather Brands, who shared her thoughts, questions and feedback with the participants.

Fly By Jing (FBJ) is trying its hand at a meal time product once again with today’s launch of Sichuan Noodles in Chili Crisp and Sweet & Spicy varieties.

Danone SA is making a move to acquire leading kefir manufacturer Lifeway Foods, offering $283 million, or $25 per share, for the publicly traded company, according to a Schedule 13D form filed yesterday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

For years, leaders of the biggest packaged food manufacturers have been studying – and, in some cases, acquiring – emerging brands to gain insights on how to “innovate like a startup” with a focus on speed, agility and disruption. We spoke to industry experts about what Big CPG can teach brands at the entrepreneurial level, from product development strategies to mindset.

Months after leading Sovos Brands through its $2.7 billion acquisition by the Campbell Soup Company, Chris Hall has joined better-for-you mac and cheese brand Goodles as CFO.

Ever since the pandemic, consumers have been increasingly demanding transparency in food supply chains with health, safety and sustainability becoming top drivers of those requests. Here’s how brands are meeting those emerging needs.

After launching into grain-free granola, Three Wishes is entering a new category with chewy granola bars as it eyes opportunity in snacks and expanding its reach in mass and conventional channels.

As he prepares to hand over control of his protein snacks brand to a new licensee, IWON Organics founder and CEO Mark Samuel is taking on a new full time role at food and beverage growth equity firm Siddhi Capital. Samuel announced the move to Siddhi on LinkedIn this week, where he will work to support the growth of the firm’s portfolio brands.

In this week’s new products roundup, Stouffer’s and Rice-A-Roni enter the shelf-stable mac and cheese category, Ithaca unveils its latest hummus flavor and Graza teams up with RIND Snacks to create “Grazola.”

After weathering countless economic headwinds over the past five years, grocery retailers are again facing pressures to capture a greater share of consumers’ wallets. Here’s how they are approaching the task.