Distribution

As consumers increasingly lean into food-away-from-home occasions and plant based producers look for ways to differentiate and diversify their businesses, foodservice has emerged as an essential channel.

Boston-based Jaju Pierogi has slowly built a “grassroots” brand and in the process learned the ups-and-downs of getting bigger and carving out a niche in the frozen dumpling category.

CPG industry veteran Craig Dubitsky launched today a new coffee brand called happy products that seeks to pair a philanthropic mission and unique business structure with the clout of a recognizable face to compete in the $17 billion coffee category.

In distribution news, Maazah brings its Afghan dizzling sauces to Target, Funky Mello finds its way to Whole Foods Market locations in the Southwest and Supergut dips its toe in retail at Sprouts and Erewhon.

Cereal and snack maker Catalina Crunch is looking to a future beyond the keto-friendly category by appointing a seasoned CPG executive as CEO last week and shifting its positioning from diabetic and weight-conscious consumers to the fitness-focused community.

IQBAR is rolling out new packaging across all three product lines next week that will bring simplified nutrition claims and see the adoption of a new tagline: “For Smart Mouths.”

New York-based startup FFUPs is looking to bring its “bombastic branding” to a wider audience – by getting smaller. The flavored corn puff maker is downsizing its flagship 4 oz. product to a 1 oz. single-serve bag.

Rainforest Distribution Corp. has acquired New England natural and specialty foods distributor Associated Buyers, the companies announced this week. According to a press release, the companies will take roughly two months to transition the Associated Buyers’ network into the Rainforest system.

For over 10 years, Feel Good Foods has steadily grown its gluten-free frozen snack brand but has now for the first time revamped its packaging while also launching several new products to bring it to a broader swathe of retailers and consumers.

Blackbird Foods is utilizing its foundation in foodservice and a self-manufacturing production model to build a frozen vegan food brand that aims to “displace conventional animal products.”