Top Feature

The baby food world is about to experience a huge growth spurt. Today former Annie’s Homegrown CEO John Foraker and actress Jennifer Garner announced they are joining baby food brand Once Upon a Farm as co-founders and investors. Foraker will also assume the role of CEO and Garner will act as Chief Brand Officer.

In recent studies, research firm Nielsen looked at lunchtime and snacking trends to find what shoppers are purchasing for their family’s lunchboxes and why. Nielsen found that along with healthier options, products with natural and organic claims are posting double digit growth.

Impossible Foods today announced that it has officially begun production of its plant-based patties in its new 68,000 square-foot Oakland, California-based facility. The company said the plant, which was announced earlier this year, will give the brand the ability to scale and eventually expand into retail.

From an online snack box market’s move into physical stores, to a GMO-free cookie brand launching in club, here’s the latest in packaged food distribution news.

Masienda Bodega launches this month in 200 stores including several Whole Foods Market regions as well as in independent retailers. The growth is being fueled by a recently closed $1.35 million round of capital from a star-studded team of investors including James Beard Award winning chef (and CPG entrepreneur himself) Rick Bayless, Rick Schnieders, former Sysco CEO, and Village Capital.

Hot off of a $25 million investment from Smithfield Foods, this week meal kit marketplace Chef’d announced a partnership with West Coast retailer Gelson’s to bring 12 of the company’s ready to cook meals into stores.

Digital printing company ePac Holdings announced last week that it will open its second flexible packaging plant this fall in Boulder, Colorado. For the company the intent is clear: to expand within one of the country’s thriving natural food hotbeds.

Using next-generation proprietary technology based on DNA sequencing and data management, California-based Clear Labs is seeking to modernize food safety, efficiency and authenticity throughout the industry — and it’s a system that investors are embracing, too.

Yesterday, Fenwick Brands, a CPG investor and operator, announced the closing of a round of investment in HannahMax Cookie Chips. Previous investor Alliance Consumer Growth also took part in the round; the dollar amount of the round was not disclosed.

In 2014 entrepreneur David Istier founded Energy Fruits, a shelf-stable natural fruit and vegetable pouch. Three years later, the company has rebranded and more than doubled its distribution while focusing more directly on prebiotic-based gut health.