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

This week on the podcast, Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporter Brad Avery discuss Unilever’s acquisition of Grüns, Suja Life’s initial public offering, Ithaca Hummus’ plans for category domination, and Mark Anthony Brands’ purchase of Finnish Long Drink.

Food is driving sales growth in the convenience store channel, according to new data from the National Association of Convenience Stores.

Fresh protein bar innovator Perfect Bar has paired protein with prebiotics to create a new iteration that better meets current consumer demand. Michele’s Granola introduced its new Breakfast Nook line with four flavors designed to embrace the best of breakfast.

After more than a year marked by lower deal counts but rising enterprise value, the food and beverage M&A market is both cautious and selective, though deals may accelerate if macro conditions stabilize.

After a brush with bankruptcy and a last-ditch bet on TikTok that flipped its trajectory overnight, low-sugar gummy brand BEHAVE is rolling into nearly 2,000 Target stores this week.

Feel Good Foods is riding a major distribution wave this year, expanding to roughly 25,000 doors nationwide and launching a slate of new breakfast SKUs, further broadening the brand’s reach beyond its appetizer roots.

With new funding and a brand refresh, Rip Van is focused on expanding in grocery retail after establishing a base in club and ecommerce.

Clover Sonoma isn’t trying to chase trends or scale nationally. With a portfolio spanning seven dairy categories, it believes it has a better opportunity to meet the local community with “real dairy” at a moment when food trends are driving consumers back to the cow.

In distribution news, Smackin’ goes nationwide in Kroger, Nightingale adds on to its natural channel footprint and Hero Bread hits Target, among many others.

Fourteen years in, Ithaca Hummus is rolling out its first major brand campaign, transitioning to olive oil formulations and refreshing its packaging – all as part of a broader push toward sustained category leadership.

Gaming isn’t yet a core marketing channel for most food and beverage brands, but as time spent in games increasingly rivals time spent on social media, it’s emerging as a powerful growth engine for converting awareness into transactions.

Packaged food giant Conagra Brands announced today that it has appointed John Brase, the former COO of J.M. Smucker Co., as president and CEO, effective May 31.

Ripi has raised $2.4 million in a seed funding round led by growth equity firm Cutting Horse. Great Circle Ventures, Paperboy Ventures, SuperAngel.Fund and “a bunch of other angels” also contributed, said founder and CEO Ian Tecklin.

New edible coffee brand Moka Energy is using a proprietary process to turn whole coffee beans into a chocolate-like format.