Innovation

In this episode of CPG Week, Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporter Brad Avery dig into Kraft Heinz’s separation plans and PepsiCo’s increased investment in Celsius Holdings. The hosts also chat about Pepsi’s warning letter from an activist investor and Huel’s ready-to-drink foray into the red-hot greens category.

In this episode of CPG Week, Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporter Lukas Southard discuss Keurig Dr Pepper’s post-acquisition plans for the JDE Peet’s business, new funding for yogurt maker Painterland Sisters and alt-protein producer The Better Meat Company, and the decision behind Spindrift’s exit from the beverage alcohol category.

In this reviews roundup, we nosh on New Primal’s Rotisserie Chicken Seasoned meat sticks, AL’s Real Goods Chewy Cookies and NOVOS Longevity Nutrition Bars.

Brands exhibiting at Newtopia Now, held Aug. 21 to 22 in Denver, are embracing gut health across various product claims from “low-FODMAP” to “high-fiber” to “heartburn-friendly,” and in a broad range of product applications. “Gut-healthy” chili crisp, anyone?

It seems that mushrooms are in everything these days, from coffee to chocolate bars. But after years of innovation and expansion, are consumers any closer to truly embracing functional shrooms as their snack of choice?

No bones about it – bone broth has been gaining steam for about a decade now, championed as a natural source of collagen, amino acids and minerals. Although bone broth has evolved into a well-established category on its own, several exhibiting brands at Newtopia Now this week in Denver are moving beyond the bottle – or jar or carton – to bring bone broth’s benefits to snacks and other applications.

The frozen meal maker is introducing its “most ambitious brand refresh” in its 15-year history, according to founder and CEO Adnan Durrani, as it aims to align with today’s consumer trends, including the growing anti-seed oil sentiment and an insatiable appetite for protein.

A new wave of better-for-you ice cream is filling up the frozen aisle, aligning with trends to high-protein and clean-label formulations.

Premier Protein’s stronger-than-expected ecommerce performance helped drive growth at BellRing Brands in Q2, as net sales increased 6% to over $540 million, according to an earnings statement from the company released Tuesday morning.

Schuman Cheese and GOOD PLANeT Foods have entered into a joint venture, GPV Foods, to scale their respective plant-based cheese businesses.