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For a vast number of chocolate makers, this year has been anything but sweet. Amidst surging cocoa prices – which are still on a wild roller coaster ride – conglomerates like The Hershey Company and Mondelēz International have resorted to passing price hikes on to consumers to reduce the impact on their balance sheets, while investors have expressed increased interest in high-tech startups producing alt-cocoa products with methods like fermentation and plant cell culture.

Also in this issue: Albertsons Argues For Merger in Ore. Court; Stuffed Puffs to Close Pa. Facility; New School Closes On $6M Investment; Ardent Mills Grows Colorado Facility; and Whole Foods Announces Latest LEAP Cohort.

Also in this issue: A ‘Friendly Proposal’ to 7-Eleven; Flowers Foods’ Q2 Growth; SkinnyDipped Gets Salty; and What We’re Reading.

Also in this issue: Paqui Sued Over One Chip Challenge⏸, Kroger/Albertsons Request FTC Delay, Stop & Shop to Close 32 Stores, Blender Bites Gets Hospitable, and Bonumose to Scale Up Tagatose.

How did seed oils become the dietary demon du jour? And is a seeming rush to reformulate among a handful of brands justified?

Recent trendlines suggest that today’s consumers aren’t as much interested in living long, as much as they are in living well.

The novelty of a “bleeds-like-meat” burger seems to have worn off for consumers, investors and the industry alike. As CPGs at-large turn to formulate with simpler and shorter ingredient decks, the meat alternative category is following along.

There are plenty of emerging dynamics currently reshaping the grocery business… and those dynamics are also changing the ways brands bring products to market.

Also in this issue: Ore-Ida’s Tot-Protecting Pants; Pilgrim’s New Look; FDA Issues Warning To Dollar Tree; CPI: Food Prices Rise; and Once Upon A Farm Partners with Angel City Football Club.

Also in this issue: Meati Faces Setback In IP Suit; Actress Busy Phillips Invests in BEHAVE; Albertsons To Take Wonder Out of TV Ads; Kikkoman Brings Japan To Wisconsin; and Two-Year-Long Amy’s Kitchen Boycott Ends.