Top Feature

While hummus is an inherent part of the brand’s identity, Ithaca Hummus founder and CEO Chris Kirby doesn’t believe its first line extension – Fire Roasted Salsa – will be the source of too much consumer confusion.

Cell-cultivated protein companies appear to be locked in a race to build commercial-scale production plants, even as the industry awaits full regulatory approval from both the FDA and the USDA, reflecting the long and complex road towards widespread commercialization and price-parity with conventional meat and seafood.

Last week Turtle Island Foods, which makes Tofurky and Moocho, was acquired by a subsidiary of multibillion dollar company Morinaga Milk Industry Co. With a purchase price of over $50M, the deal came as CEO Jaime Athos said the company was “facing a lot of challenges.”

Sports nutrition company Skratch Labs opened a new cafe in its hometown of Boulder, Colorado last month with the aim of extending its brand identity beyond the CPG industry.

BevNET and NOSH presents: Community Call, a recurring series of open meetings dedicated to pressing topics impacting food and beverage businesses. Topics on the docket include: learning the formula for a successful Expo West exhibit; how to successfully pitch media for coverage; and how to follow up post trade show to get business done.

Less than a year after it bought out its former investment partner, the company is rapidly scaling operations, introducing fresh innovation and entering new channels as it projects to grow sales 5x this year.

In this week’s new products gallery, Brightland teams up with White Buffalo Land Trust, Hearthy Foods expands its wellness product lineup and Brooklyn Delhi incorporates the notorious ghost pepper into its latest hot sauce.

In this week’s roundup: PE firm Kainos Capital closes $1B fund; Nestle, Wholesome Crave and UMass Dining launch plant-based meal program; ADM faces labor union charges and Motif Foodworks expands by offering out bioprocessing capabilities.

Morinaga Nutritional Foods, a subsidiary of Morinaga Milk Industry Co, has acquired Turtle Island Foods, the producer of Tofurky and alt-dairy line Moocho, putting the Japanese-owned company in control of one of the leading plant-based meat brands in the category.

The NOSH team discuss cereal and the wave of successful Asian-American Pacific Island CPG food products. Later, a panel of experts talk about some of the big conversations happening throughout the cell-cultivated protein industry.