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In April during our Category Close-Up: Product Showcase we examined the trends and news — as well as evolving product strategies — that are currently shaping the confection category. In this special bonus segment, you’ll hear from three more brands, all producing chocolate treats, about the market dynamics that are currently shaping the category.

With a sudden pandemic-driven shift in consumer shopping habits leading to declining category sales, natural gum and mint maker Simply Gum saw last year as the perfect time to begin testing the extensibility of its brand through expansion into new categories and use occasions. With Smoothie Bites, a candy offering, the brand hopes to begin to establish itself as a confection platform.

Pour-over kit maker Copper Cow announced yesterday that it had closed an additional $8.5 million in funding. The capital will go towards helping the brand launch new online exclusive products, expand its presence in brick and mortar retailers and continue to build out a sustainable supply chain in Vietnam.

Plant-based food company Laird Superfood announced today it has acquired Bend, Oregon-based snack brand Picky Bars in a $12 million cash and stock deal. The transaction, which closed May 3, is the company’s first acquisition after its IPO last fall. The deal expands the company’s reach into new snacking categories while offering opportunities for growth into new retail channels.

This month’s Office Hours assembled leaders from three leading incubation programs to get strategic advice for brands on overcoming the kinds of obstacles they face as they grow, and ways that they can pivot safely when they’re met with unexpected challenges.

In addition to sweet treats, April’s new product launches offered consumers plenty of savory options from new plant-based meat alternatives from Sweet Earth to BBQ innovations from Pit Boss Grills and Haven’s Kitchen. View the gallery for the most notable new releases including dairy free cheese alternatives from Boursin and Grounded Foods Co. and spicy snacks from Blue Diamond and Country Archer Provisions.

In April, brands rolled out plenty of sweet and indulgent innovations, from oat milk-based treats from Chloe’s and My/Mochi to low-sugar snacks from DouxMatok and The Cookie Department. Check out the gallery for April’s notable product launches, including new bars from CORE and Obvi and dairy-free baking mixes from Bushwick Kitchen and Blue Diamond.

Last month during our Category Close-Up: Product Showcase we explored innovation and growth strategies for a group of rising noodle brands. In this special bonus segment, you’ll hear from three more brands.

In this week’s Checkout, Mondelēz talks M&A strategy and Hu acquisition during Q1 earnings call; President Biden signs FASTER Act into law, making sesame the 9th major food allergen; and Kraft Heinz and Hershey discuss post-pandemic shopping behaviors.

Late last week Boston-based pickle brand Grillo’s revealed it had been sold to family-owned bakery business King’s Hawaiian earlier this year. While pickles and bread are often sandwiched together, the brand will largely be speeding ahead on its own, according to Grillo’s executives.