Top Feature
Judge Rejects Whole Foods’ Claim That $15 Million Breach of Contract Suit Is Invalid
AtlantaFresh Artisan Creamery’s case against Whole Foods Market is moving forward after U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash denied Whole Foods’ motion to throw out a $15 million breach of contract lawsuit. The case alleges the natural grocery chain prematurely and ‘abruptly’ broke a seven-year distribution contract with grass-fed dairy producer AtlantaFresh Artisan Creamery and caused the business to go under.
NAD Finds Clif Bar Slogan “Unsubstantiated” in Advertising Challenge
Clif Bar & Company will cease using the slogan “The Ultimate Energy Bar” in conjunction with “an optimal blend of protein, fat and carbs” in its marketing campaigns after the National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs found the slogan constitutes an unsubstantiated claim about the superiority of Clif’s snack bars. In its final… Read more »
Beyond Meat Settles With Investors On Derivative Suit Amid Ongoing Don Lee Litigation
Beyond Meat has settled a lawsuit, filed by a group of its stockholders in March 2020 alleging the company’s senior management team, including co-founder and CEO Ethan Brown, former executive chairman Seth Goldman and former CFO Mark Nelson, “breached their fiduciary duties.” The litigation was a derivative action related to an ongoing legal dispute brought against the company by its former co-packer, Don Lee Farms.
Mikuna Foods Raises Funds With “Mission-Aligned” Investors To Boost Chocho Awareness in U.S.
Mikuna Foods is looking to introduce Americans to Ecuadorian plant-protein ingredient chocho, announcing today the closing of a $5.6 million seed funding round backed by a “mission-aligned collective of private individuals.” The California-based company plans to use the capital to scale operations, expand its supply network and drive brand awareness.
People Moves: Laird Names New COO and SVP of Sales; Coconut Secret Appoints New CEO
In this People Moves: Laird Superfood names new COO and SVP of Sales; Nutiva and Coconut Secret Brings on New CEO; Petit Pot Promotes Eric Lallart to CEO and Lonna Borden joins Monogram Capital Partners.
Yasso Expands Incubator Model with Mochi Launch
Frozen sweets brand Yasso is going deeper in the novelty set with the launch of new Greek yogurt filled mochi, the second product to be released under the company’s new “incubator” model introduced last year.
Very Good Food Company Ousts Founders, Ex-CEO Says Share Price was ‘Unsustainable’
The co-founders of plant-based food brand The Very Good Food Company were dismissed from the company last week as its board of directors seeks to reverse stock price declines.
IPES Food Study Says Fake Meat Won’t Save The Planet
The International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems released a new report last week challenging the “silver bullet” sustainability solutions often touted by leading alternative-protein companies. The comprehensive 104-page report, titled “The Politics of Protein,” aims to contextualize eight of the “most contested” and “potentially misleading” sustainability problem and solution-related claims, into the broad realm of the global food system.
Notable New Products: SweetLeaf Salted Caramel Syrup, GoodPop Chocolate Vanilla Sandwiches, and Enlightened Greek Yogurt Cheesecakes
This week’s new food launches saw brands creating better-for-you iterations of classic sweet treats. Check out this gallery for this week’s notable new items, including GoodPop Chocolate Vanilla Sandwiches, Enlightened Greek Yogurt Cheesecakes and SweetLeaf Salted Caramel Stevia Syrup.
The Checkout: IRI Merges with NPD; Rao’s Activates First Marketplace Popup
In this week’s Checkout: market research firms IRI and NPD merge, Rao’s Homemade activates its first popup marketplace in NYC, All Y’all’s Foods supports a Texas Ranch turned vegan sanctuary and Kroger Dallas launches Restaurant Supply program.