Packaging

In this roundup: KIND is cleared in ‘All-Natural” class action suit, Kashi sued for misleading consumers with pear-filled, strawberry-flavored bars, Kellogg’s served for not putting enough whole grains in crackers and Sabra sued to remove its Kosher mark.

Meat companies are making blended meat and vegetable burgers and sausages catering to the flexitarian lifestyle but the success of the niche category depends a lot on how brands strategize their marketing to health and sustainability-minded consumers.

Plant-based food and beverage maker Laird Superfood introduced a new format to its portfolio with the goal of giving consumers a plastic-free approach to single-serve functional coffee. Today, the company announced the launch of Bright Cups, a proprietary Keurig-compatible pod format made from BPI-certified compostable materials and filled with Laird’s Focus Mushroom Coffee.

Earlier this week NOSH Live Summer 2019 kicked off in NYC with a “boot camp” for food businesses. Attendees absorbed tips and strategies from a team of business experts, ranging from navigating e-commerce and branding to understanding how to build teams.

For a natural remedy meant to ease anxiety, the CBD market has become a place of confusion — not calm. On Friday, the FDA held its first hearing on cannabis products, including CBD food and drink products.

For the first time small companies with revenues under $1 billion make up more than half of IRI’s New Product Pacesetters report, which was released yesterday. The research firm’s 23rd annual Pacesetters report lists 2018’s most successful new food and beverage product launches in both major retail and convenience stores, as well as non-food by multi-outlet dollar sales.

During its recent 2019 annual shareowners’ meeting and its 2019 first quarter earnings call, Kellogg, the largest cereal company in the U.S., shared details of its financial performance following a challenging year for the category.

Meat snack producer Stryve doesn’t just want to be the country’s leading biltong brand; it wants to be the manufacturer of choice for the growing category. The company last week announced the close of a $16.5 million round of funding to not only grow its own brand but to grow its manufacturing facilities as well.

Your packaging needs to tell a story ‘beyond the box’ — and you’d better tell the consumer how to recycle that box as well. Those are key findings from research firm Mintel, which just released its 2019 Global Packaging Trends report.

After over a decade and a half in business, 34 Degrees is exploring changes to packaging and branding in order to position itself in the sweet center of the snacking movement.