Food Industry News, Insights, and Education for the CPG Community

Despite eye-catching packaging and a solid slate of initial flavors, Takeaways can’t quite distinguish itself within a crowded market for protein-enhanced snacks.

It’s a hard lesson for CPG brands: the capital required for growth is rarely silent, and it often disagrees. As emerging food companies raise money and grow, the founder’s job changes. Decisions once made alone are suddenly subject to new expectations and new forms of accountability. Investors and directors enter the conversation with their own experience, priorities and fiduciary responsibilities – and they won’t always agree with the founder about what comes next.

The combination of crisp wafer, smooth pistachio cream, chocolate, and pistachio pieces delivers excellent contrast in both flavor and texture.

A nearly decade-long lawsuit accusing Hain Celestial of misleading investors about its sales practices is moving closer to resolution, with shareholders asking a federal judge to approve a $35 million settlement.

The hummus category is crowded, yet restaurant-rooted CPG newcomer Zahav Foods is already working up the ranks.

This week, we’re setting sail with Voyage Foods, getting the latest on the Non-UPF Verified program, and checking out some Cup Noodles caskets for size. Hey, what more could you ask for?

Craft snack bar and dried nuts, fruits and seeds seller South 40 Snacks has raised nearly $6 million from a group of undisclosed investors, according to a Form D filed with the SEC on August 10.

After eight years in business, Lauren Chew’s vegan, gluten-free superfood cookie brand Love + Chew is still going. But as consumer interests shift from health-forward to clean label, permissible indulgence, she has begun building a second cookie brand to meet those demands.

In this week’s new products roundup, Ferrero brings Wonka back to the confectionery set with four limited-edition treats, Cup Noodles gets into the Halloween spirit with color-changing Vampire Noodles and ALOHA puts a protein-forward spin on the Dubai chocolate trend with a Chocolate Pistachio bar.

Clean label, fresh food brand Soupergirl is gearing up to meet soup season demands with an expansion to Costco stores across the country in addition to Giant and Shoprite stores this fall.

Every year, BevNET CPG Media recognizes the brands, people and products that stood out across beverage, packaged food, beer and spirits. That might be a brand that redefined its category, a leader whose work moved the industry forward, or a marketing campaign that built real momentum.

A pair of major plant-based ingredient manufacturers are recalibrating their respective growth strategies this week, but not in the same direction. First, declines in plant-based product sales has led Canadian manufacturer Maple Leaf Foods to close two of its U.S. plant protein production facilities, consolidating all of its production into a single site in Indianapolis, Ind.

After six years building around distinctive flavor combinations in sparkling beverages, Moshi founder Alton But is ready to see where else that playbook can take the brand.

This week, the podcast takes the temperature of the shot category, celebrity chefs impact on meal kits and C4’s beer-flavored energy drink.