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Armed with $4.5 million in new funding and a CPG veteran at the helm, a new player in the fast-growing plant-based meat category is looking to shake up the burger and nugget-centric segment with a fresh format that it hopes will convert consumers from chicken to “CHKN.”

Chobani is breaking free of the cold case: the company has quietly launched a line of enhanced peanut butter in partnership with nonprofit Edesia, a former Chobani incubator participant. The butters, which debuted last year in limited release, now sport refreshed packaging designed to stand out on store shelves.

Since its launch almost a decade ago, ReGrained has struggled to find a solution that can make a dent in the billions of pounds of spent grain left over from the beer brewing process. For years, that has meant attempting to reduce this food waste, both through its own CPG product lines and as an ingredient supplier. But after seeing mixed results from its bifurcated business model, ReGrained is pivoting away from “resource intensive” CPG products in favor of focusing on ingredients.

After last year’s reckoning on racial injustice across America prompted a look into widespread inequity within the food and beverage industry, companies appear to be making progress on their diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) goals, according to a new study by Deloitte Insights and FMI – The Food Industry Association last month.

Voyage Foods wants to make sure consumers’ favorite foods are around for the next generation. Ironically, the path to ensuring this continuity means eschewing their core ingredients entirely. The company announced this week it would launch a cacao-free chocolate, peanut-free peanut butter and coffee-free RTD coffee — all made using patented technology and easily accessible ingredients.

In this week’s Checkout, food tech company Plantible closes a $21.5 million funding round; Kevin’s Natural Foods secures investment; and The Campbell Soup Company reports its fourth quarter and fiscal 2021 earnings.

U.K.-based food company Nurture Brands LLC, introduced organic plant-based Coconut Bytes to the U.S. market this week under its Myracle Kitchen banner. As the sister brand to the U.K.’s Rebel Kitchen, Myracle Kitchen debuted stateside in June with a line of organic plant-based Barista Mylks, which Myracle Kitchen’s General Manager Graeme Puffett said was the first step in the company’s strategic growth plan in the U.S.

As questions over safety and buyer attendance continue to linger less than a month before the event begins, media platform and event producer New Hope hosted a virtual Q&A session today to address concerns regarding its upcoming Natural Products Expo East trade show. With the event scheduled to be held in Philadelphia from September 22-25,… Read more »

In this week’s distribution roundup: Banza Pizza debuts at retailers nationwide, OmniFoods launches at Sprouts and Whole Foods, AYO Foods and The Real Good Food Company expand their reach at Kroger and more.

Moving from youngsters to yogurt, Once Upon a Farm co-founder and president Ari Raz announced today he has joined Coconut Cult as the company’s new CEO. Alongside this news, the brand also revealed it would discontinue its line of probiotic gelato.