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Direct-to-consumer frozen food brand Daily Harvest last week announced the launch of Crumbles, a line of meat alternatives that takes the brand further out of its initial product portfolio of cook-and-eat meals and smoothies.

In this distribution roundup: Dan-O’s Seasoning grows retail footprint nationwide, credits growth to its TikTok strategy; Planet Based Foods launched hemp product on Amazon; Cocomels reaches Walmart; MUSH signs on with Kroger and Every Body Eat Snack Thins now available at Whole Foods.

In 2021, the rapidly-growing plant-based food industry saw several technological advancements across the value chain, ranging from crop optimization to ingredient isolation and functionalization all the way to end product formulation and manufacturing.

This week’s notable new products saw brands launching vegetarian versions of on-the-go breakfast food, reinventing the classic PB & J sandwich and shaking up salad toppings. Check out the gallery for new items from Lightlife and Cleveland Kitchen as well as a rebrand from Harvest Snaps.

In this week’s Checkout: Neat Food Co secures investment from actor Leonardo DiCaprio as it looks to CPG extension; Mars looks to AI-technology for functional food research; ByHeart opens new infant formula facility; IFF and SimpliiGood look to make alt-salmon from spirulina; and food companies appeal to Congress to combat copycat THC products.

The government of Indonesia reverted to its original policy on Wednesday, stating it will ban all palm oil exports – including crude palm oil and palm kernel oil – effective at midnight, April 28.

Love Good Fats is expanding its brand “fundamentals” with a new convenient and indulgent snack line – Dark Chocolate Thins – which debuted at the Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA) trade show in Toronto last week. The new line is the first zero sugar product for Love Good Fats and marks a shift in the brand’s approach to its “fat is back and sugar is out” stance on snacking.

The National Advertising Review Board (NARB) has upheld a previous National Advertising Division (NAD) ruling supporting supplements brand Goli Nutrition’s right to use the term “Apple Cider Vinegar” (ACV) in the name of its gummy products, but said the company must discontinue certain claims and slogans that suggest the products have similar efficacy as liquid… Read more »

Despite record levels of inflation following two years of supply chain disruptions and market volatility caused by the war in Ukraine, Kraft Heinz CEO Miguel Patrico said the company is “well positioned for the path forward” after reporting a 6.8% increase in organic net sales in its Q1 2022 earnings report, released Wednesday morning.

Investment firm Stride Consumer Partners announced today the close of their first fund at $420 million to further invest in brands developing consumer products and services. To-date, Strive has made three investments in meat snacks producer Chomps, Canadian skin-care company Skinfix, and clothing company Truewerk.