Top Feature
Fueling the Fire: CAVU Invests $8M in Kettle and Fire
Can bone broth be the next kombucha? Investment group CAVU Venture Partners thinks so. The fund announced today an $8 million series A investment in upstart bone broth brand, Kettle and Fire.
Taste Radio Ep. 126: How Angie’s Boomchickapop Became a $250M Brand
Angie’s Boomchickapop co-founder Angie Bastian on how function, femininity & fun helped build a $250M brand. Tom First, the co-founder of Nantucket Nectars and an operating partner at private equity firm Castanea Partners discusses business habits that have supported his career as an entrepreneur and investor.
Serventi Steps Up to Global CEO Role at Hippeas
Snack brand Hippeas today announced a changing of the guard. Founder Livio Bisterzo will move to the role of chairman while Joe Serventi, current U.S. general manager, will assume the role of global CEO.
Industry Feels Pull and Push for Alternative Meat
Dairy vs. almond milk. Rice vs. cauliflower. Beef vs. “clean” and plant-based meat. The past year has been filled with fighting between traditional food industries and the makers of their budding alternatives — and the past week was no different.
With New Offerings, Health Warrior Aims to Be “Plant-Form” Brand
Health Warrior wants to go beyond bars. The plant-based food brand announced today that it is launching new lines of protein powders and microwavable muffin cups in a quest to become a superfood-based platform brand.
The Checkout: Accelerator Famous for Reddit & Airbnb Focuses on Clean Meat
From an accelerator supporting a startup that fits its new priorities, to brands differentiating their product portfolios beyond their legacy offerings, here are some of this week’s top stories that you should know.
Ideal Oats Founder: We Aim to be Halo Top of Cereal Set
Halo Top, Quest, Kodiak Cakes. These are the CPG role models former Wild Oats category manager and Quest product developer Chris Chiarella looked to when creating Ideal Oats, a line of high-protein, low sugar oatmeal cups.
Peatos CEO: Cheetos Trademark Claim Won’t Stop Brand Success
PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division, which makes Cheetos, accused World Peas Brand’s Peatos of trademark infringement. PepsiCo alleges that Peatos’ name and paw-print logo are “confusingly similar” to Cheetos and that Peato’s slogan, “tigers live longer than cheetahs,” unfairly denigrates the Cheetos brand.
Taste Radio Ep. 125: Shake Shack’s Secret to Success is Surprisingly Simple
Shake Shack COO Zach Koff explains how the restaurant chain’s surprisingly simple business philosophy led to stunning success; Zak Normandin, CEO, Dirty Lemon takes us on a deep dive inside its innovative detox-to-your-doorstep business model.
Distribution Roundup: Rollingreens Takes Millet Tots Nationwide
From the distribution boom of a tater tot alternative company, to the strategic launch of a clean protein maker with a natural retailer, here is the latest distribution news.