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

Blue Stripes, a purveyor of sustainable cacao fruit-based food and beverage products, announced today it has raised $20 million in a Series B funding round intended to help the brand advance its whole cacao process technologies, develop new products and expand distribution.

Cold Chain 3PL, an ecommerce cold goods fulfillment service, stated it is not working with BetterBrand, an assertion that runs counter to the low-carb bread company’s claims.

While COVID-19 may have pushed some businesses to the point of no return, Latin Goodness Foods, its pandemic-era pivot deeper into CPG is beginning to pay off.

In this week’s new products roundup, Chobani packs more protein into its Greek yogurt cups, Chosen Foods gives its signature avocado oil a squeeze, and Pringles rejoins the dill pickle craze.

The Jackfruit Company, which sells products under both that name and the Jack & Annie’s brand, has raised $5 million in a Series B extension, adding to the $23 million it previously raised in the funding round, co-founder and CEO Annie Ryu announced this week.

Mambo Sauce maker Capital City is celebrating its first round of investment this week after securing a First Lien Term Loan Facility from middle market investment firm Lafayette Square.

BetterBrand rode the rumor roller coaster this week, and it’s only Thursday. The company was said by some media outlets to be in the process of shutting down, but the story that has unraveled is even more complex.

On CPG Week, the podcast team talks about the PepsiCo acquisition of Siete Foods, uncertainty about the future of a low-carbohydrate baking company and some high-profile beverage industry leadership changes.

Manufacturing B2B platform Keychain recently added $2.5 million from The Hershey Company, bringing the technology company’s total investment to $20.5 million in under a year.

Next-generation pasta sauce producer Sauz announced a major expansion that will bring the brand, along with a new SKU, to all 1,825 Target stores nationwide by the end of this year.

Johnny Tran is stepping down as managing director of General Mills’ venture arm 301 INC after more than a decade with the Minneapolis-based company. Kristen Harvey will succeed him in the role.

PepsiCo announced slow food brand sales dragged down its Q3 earnings as “business disruptions” to its international business lowered the company’s organic revenue growth outlook.

Simulate, the producer of alternative protein brand NUGGS, announced it has sold to The Ahimsa Companies via a combination of cash and equity at an undisclosed valuation.

Bioactive protein lactoferrin used in supplements and infant formula is usually derived from cow’s milk but a number of precision fermentation companies are using innovative processes to create a less expensive and more sustainably sourced ingredient.