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Investment firms and large food producers are seeing promise in better-for-you brands — and putting their dollars behind them. In recent deals, Verlinvest and JamJar invest in chocolate brand Tony’s Chocolonely, Cedar’s Foods acquires overnight oats brand brekki, Hodo closes a Series B investment from Renewal Funds and more.

Rounding out the annual CAGNY conference in Boca Raton, Florida this week, leading CPG companies reviewed 2019 results and future plans to power protein cravings through snacks and more meatless innovations.

A new generation of innovative start-ups are attempting to change the category’s trajectory with versatile, premium products that appeal to young consumers who grew up alongside the third-wave coffee movement.

Four events over six days. Last December was packed with business discussions and networking across the beverage, food, beer and cannabis industries. Now it’s time to revisit those insights and dive deeper. The complete agenda of presentations from BevNET Live, NOSH Live, Brewbound Live and Cannabis Forum are now available to watch online, including main stage and educational presentations, Livestream Studio interviews and breakout session discussions.

Frozen food brand Farmwise is selling to one of its top competitors. The Massachusetts-based company announced yesterday that it has been purchased by B&G Foods — who also owns the Green Giant line of vegetable-based products. In recent years the brand has faced competition from larger players (such as Green Giant), co-founder Dave Peters told NOSH.

At the annual Consumer Analyst Group of New York (CAGNY) conference this week, leading CPG companies discussed their 2019 results — and plans and strategies for the future. For many, those plans include meeting consumer demand for wellness-oriented products with more offerings, especially in snacking and alternative protein.

In the latest distribution news, four new products from Pitaya and cereal from Catalina Crunch hit shelves at Whole Foods Market, ParmCrisps goes club-sized at Costco and BFree’s wraps launch at Walmart.

As senior director at design and innovation firm IDEO, Meija Jacobs understands how brands work visually. But the journey toward building a brand, she said, begins with comprehending human needs — and by using the “superpower” of empathy to build products that matter. During a presentation at NOSH Live Winter 2019 in Santa Monica, Jacobs explained how IDEO uses design thinking to create “supercharged” brands.

Having built a significant portfolio of meat-alternative offerings, Tofurky is now looking to tackle the dairy set, announcing today that sub-brand Moocho will be spun off into a more clearly independent line. To further build out Moocho’s presence on shelf, the company will also launch new dairy-free cheese shreds and dairy-free cream cheese spreads under the brand.

Beyond THC and CBD, some studies suggest that other cannabinoids — such as CBG (cannabigerol) and CBN (cannabinol) — offer a range of other functional benefits, including antibacterial and antispasmodic effects.