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Looking to meet rising consumer demand for higher fiber, higher protein options in place of carbohydrates staples, Barilla has expanded its legume-based pasta line with the addition of another single-ingredient cut: chickpea spaghetti.

After two years of testing its reusable packaging platform through an ecommerce pilot program, Loop is using its findings to take the company to its next stage, rolling out in retailers worldwide as part of its mission to “eliminate the idea of waste.”

Better-for-you pudding producer Noops announced last week it closed an additional $2 million in funding earlier this month led by Lerer Hippeau. Along with the investment, the company also announced that former CEO of The Fresh Market Larry Appeal and CEO of Hungryroot Benjamin McKean will join Noops’ advisory board.

In this week’s Checkout, Ripple CEO Laura Flanagan discusses the company’s latest funding round and previews its new soft serve line; Tofurky and Triton Algae Innovations partner to make algae-based meat products; Banza unveils new partnerships; the strike at Mondelez’s Nabisco manufacturing and distribution facilities comes to an end; and General Mills reports its fiscal 2022 Q1 results.

We’re highlighting innovative meat snack brands — both animal and plant-based — during the Product Showcase portion of this month’s Category Close-Up, examining the trends, news and evolving product strategies that are currently shaping this evolving category. This video features CHOMPS, Stryve Foods, Pan’s Mushroom Jerky, New Primal, Chudabeef and Pearson Ranch Jerky.

In a flip on the classic saying, ingredients maker SIMPLi is thinking locally and acting globally. The Baltimore-based company, backed by new funding, is aiming to sustainably and ethically streamline supply chains for grains, beans, oils and spices to ultimately benefit farmers, consumers and the environment.

To continue on its quest to re-envision classic food and beverages as better-for-you offerings, holding company and investor HumanCo announced yesterday it had raised $35 million in funding. Alongside the raise, the group also announced it had acquired frozen pizza and bread producer, Against the Grain.

In this month’s Category Closeup Meat Snacks: Expert Analysis, we’ll have two interviews with industry leaders who both had large roles in the category’s development. Over the course of the discussion, we’ll explore the tactics and trends our experts believe successful meat snack brands must embrace and hear about what they believe are the opportunities for growth and innovation.

In this week’s distribution roundup, single-serve pour over coffee brand Kuju, French-inspired snack and brioche maker Bakerly and plant-based food brand PLANTSTRONG hit shelves at Whole Foods Market, while plant-based condiment maker Only Plant Based makes its U.S. debut.

The Specialty Food Association (SFA) announced today that its Winter Fancy Food Show will be relocating from San Francisco to Las Vegas in 2022. The annual event, previously set to be held at San Francisco’s Moscone Center, will now be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center on February 6-8.