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Plant-based foods are continuing to take a bite out of the U.S. retail food market, with sales up 27% to $7 billion in 2020, nearly double the growth of the total U.S. retail food market, according to a new report from the Plant Based Food Association and the Good Food Institute.

Get ready for June. BevNET and NOSH are cooking up a virtual feast of brand-building content and suspense, including BevNET & NOSH Virtually Live, our signature New Beverage Showdown and NOSH Pitch Slam, and a Boot Camp for new brands that encompasses both Food and Beverage startups.

With the support of entrepreneur Mark Cuban, plant-based burger brand Everything Legendary is “going to be bold” in order to take a bite out of the increasingly crowded meat alternative category, according to CEO and co-founder Duane “Myko” Cheers. This month, the brand is making its retail debut, seeking to grab consumers’ attention with what it believes is a more approachable vegan meat product featuring vibrant packaging and a consumer-friendly ingredient label.

In this week’s Checkout, the FDA introduces “Closer to Zero” action plan for toxic elements in baby food; cultivated animal fat company Mission Barns raises $24 million; Impossible Foods launches its first national ad campaign; and Conagra reports its third quarter results for fiscal 2021.

Gathered Foods, maker of plant-based seafood brand Good Catch, announced yesterday it has raised $26.35 million in a funding round which the company will use to fuel new product innovation and continue its international expansion.

Target is committing over $2 billion towards supporting Black-owned businesses through the end of 2025, the retailer announced today, as part of a broader effort to use its “size, scale and resources to create opportunity” for those companies

Episode 34 of Elevator Talk features leaders from Raised Real, Blake’s Seed-Based, Obvi, Brewers Crackers, and Better Than Good Foods. Watch founders and CEOs introduce their brands and provide a recap of recent news and updates.

Former juice brand Forager Project this week announced it would launch plant-based ice cream — the next step in the company’s goal to become a plant-based “creamery.”

The latest Office Hours deals with the strategic use of fractional executives, including ways to develop trust, keep communication top-of-mind, and thoughts on the transition of roles as companies grow into larger armies.

Last week condiment and beverage brand Acid League announced it had closed $4.75 million in funding — capital the brand says will help it expand its omnichannel sales and marketing strategy as well as continue the company’s push into new categories.