Top Feature

In this week’s Checkout, Kroger reports Q2 results, OSHA fines Smithfield for COVID-19-related issues and hemp advocacy and natural product associations support new CBD supplement bill.

While it’s fairly common for startup food brands to face challenges in their first few years, there aren’t too many that are thought of as nice-to-haves. Still, Joel Warady believes that things could be a lot worse as he moves into the president’s role at keto-friendly snack brand Catalina Crunch.

Last month Melissa Facchina, founder and CEO of outsourced operations firm Siddhi Ops, and the Finn Family, the backers of Martstar investments, announced the close of their first fund under the newly formed firm Siddhi Capital. Facchina will also partner with the father and son duo of Brian Finn (the former CEO of Credit Suisse USA) and Steven Finn on a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC.

It’s the summer of special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs). Also known as blank check companies, SPACs have increasingly become appealing for the ability to quickly create category leaders and getting capital infusions into brands that need them. The past week has seen two such investment vehicles from industry experts.

In its fourth quarter earnings presentation yesterday, Campbell’s Soup Company reported that its net sales increased 18% to $2.1 billion over the quarter as consumers continued to partake in “quick scratch cooking” while also stocking up on snacks.

In this week’s Checkout, Climax Foods raises a $7.5 million seed round to study plant-based alternatives, Giant Eagle debuts cashierless tech and Target adds 600 ‘premium’ products to Good and Gather.

In this complicated back-to-school environment, snack brands that relied on their allergy-friendly ‘school safe’ appeal are striving to now find a place in consumers’ homes, focusing less on the lunchbox and instead trying to capitalize on the uptick in cooking at home.

The second part of our monthly new products gallery takes a look at the new snacks, sides and meals that hit shelves in August. Brands turned to comfort foods and flavors last month, with cheesy snack and meal offerings from 8Myles, Feel Good Foods and Good Health and two new varieties of refried beans from A Dozen Cousins. Check out the gallery for more of the month’s notable releases, including the latest from RXBAR and LesserEvil.

Plant-based food and beverage maker Califia Farms announced yesterday that it has named CPG industry veteran Dave Ritterbush as CEO. Ritterbush said the brand will continue to look beyond beverage as the platform expands.

The first half of the August New Product Gallery highlights new breakfast and baking products along with sweet treats that hit shelves this month. Check out the gallery to learn more about this month’s new products, including Smart Sweets’ new sour offering, a plant butter line from Upfield and breakfast offerings from Sambazon and Vital Farms.