Marketing

This month, Evolve, Cytosport’s plant-based protein platform brand, will debut a new brand identity and reformulated products across its range, beginning with its core shake line. With dairy-based Muscle Milk experiencing double-digit sales declines, according to Nielsen data, Evolve is positioned to be Pepsi’s primary growth driver in plant-based protein, a space that includes players like OWYN, Koia, Orgain and Aloha.

Pretzel makers since the 1700s, the Spannuth family launched commercial bakery Unique Pretzel Bakery in 1921 and its store brand in 1964. The company is now rebranding to Unique Snacks, hoping to build out a larger salty snacks platform.

Nature’s Fynd thinks the plant-based market is ripe for disruption — and that the answer lies inside a volcano. Previously known as Sustainable Bioproducts, the company recently rebranded as Nature’s Fynd to turn its fermented protein — found in Yellowstone National Park’s ancient ‘supervolcano’ — into everyday plant-based food and drink products.

While the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 continues to rise worldwide, the food and beverage industry has been forced to swiftly adjust to the crisis. Just as consumers have changed their shopping habits by racing to grocery stores to stock up before indefinite periods of self-quarantine, many brands and entrepreneurs have fast begun tailoring their messaging to comment on the virus. Others are seizing the moment to promote products with immunity boosting properties, through social media posts, press releases and eblasts.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Ancient Harvest bordered on the revolutionary for its use of quinoa. But much changed and not only was quinoa no longer the exotic grain it once was but the pasta and grain categories shifted too, with gluten-free callouts no longer rare. But 2020 will kick off a “new era” for the brand, CEO John Becker believes, starting with a relaunch of the line, a reformulation of products and the acquisition of the Pamela’s line of gluten-free baked goods, pastas and mixes.

CPG sales and marketing agency Acosta filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Wilmington, Delaware yesterday to reduce its $3 billion debt burden.

Gluten-free breakfast brand Love Grown wants to wake up the tired cereal aisle. The brand, which first launched its better-for-you take on the breakfast staple in 2008, sees a bright future fueled by beans and other novel, nutritionally-dense bases and is launching new packaging — a key move as it prepares to expand into Walmart early next year.

As part of a sprawling branding update, PeaTos this week debuted new packaging, a bolder design and new Crunchy Rings as it prepares to expand its distribution in the coming months.

Biscuits are well-loved — and not only in the South. Ayeshah Abuelhiga, founder and CEO of frozen better-for-you biscuit company Mason Dixie Biscuits, is globalizing the gospel of better biscuits, most recently doubling the brand’s reach into 4,200 stores throughout the U.S.

Former Shark Tank winner Pipsnacks is growing its family of heirloom corn snacks, launching new cheese balls and corn chip dippers into retail this month. The Brooklyn-born company is also rebranding its image, pivoting away from its artisanal roots as it seeks to expand.