Innovation at the hands of forward-thinking entrepreneurs will be key to creating a more sustainable food system and healthier population, Whole Foods Market CEO John Mackey told attendees of an online discussion about the new documentary, 'They...
With today’s launch of a trio of toddler purees with bone broth, emerging children’s food brand Serenity Kids not only expands its reach beyond baby food pouches, but its founders say they hope to further boost the brand’s already fast-rising position...
TRUFF, a truffle-infused hot sauce brand founded through an Instagram account, is shaking up the category with products that blend 'streetwear swagger' with a punch of bold flavor.
While many Americans embraced the creativity of cooking at home as a welcome distraction during the early days of the pandemic, six months of prepping multiple meals a day, seven days a week is taking a toll – prompting some consumers to look for more...
School closures – and tentative re-openings – have compounded stress levels for families, while COVID-19-induced economic anxiety is also straining household budgets. So how can food and beverage brands come up with enticing – but affordable – recipes,...
Even though seafood alternatives account for only a small fraction of the current total plant-based protein market, it is primed for fast-paced growth and holds the most promise for capturing market share from its animal-based conventional counterpart,...
The authors of a 2019 report from RethinkX predicting that the US dairy and cattle industry would collapse by 2030 as microscopic microbial protein factories disrupt the food system as we know it were dismissed by some as living in a ‘vegan fantasyland.'...
With last week’s launch of the community building and mentoring organization Project Potluck, three food and beverage industry executives hope to improve access and diversity in the CPG industry by tackling fundraising limitations, networking gaps and...
Cultured meat company Mosa Meat has closed a $55m (€47m) Series B funding round. FoodNavigator asks the start-up’s Head of Operations, Sarah Lucas, exactly how it plans to use the money.
With most retail chains now stocking a wide selection of plant-based burgers, sausages, and grounds, retailers and investors are looking for areas of untapped opportunity in the plant-based meat space, says Berkeley-based startup Renegade Food, which...
Daring Foods – a startup seeking to punch above its weight in the plant-based chicken category via a lower calorie product with a shorter, cleaner, ingredients list and bold branding – has closed an $8m Series A funding round led by VC firm Maveron, taking...
To create a “perfect food system” that can feed more people with fewer resources in the next 50 years, the food industry needs to turn 180-degrees away from long-considered “best practices,” including focusing on high yield crops, concentrating production...
At six months into the pandemic, we are well-past the frantic pantry stocking days that left many store shelves bare, and yet, the broad product selection available in stores before the coronavirus outbreak has not returned – prompting questions about...
Strong Roots – the fastest growing frozen food brand in the UK, founded in 2015 – is entering 2,000+ Walmart stores in the US as part of its mission to “fix the freezer aisle,” says founder Samuel Dennigan.
Israeli fermentation-based technology firm Phytolon has secured $4.1m in funding from Millennium Food-Tech, EIT Food, Consensus Business Group (CBG), The Trendlines Group, Yossi Ackerman (former President and CEO of Elbit Systems), and the Israel Innovation...
While hiring an experienced executive can help scaling companies avoid common pitfalls, a master career coach with Shields Meneley Partners warns that they aren’t a panacea, and founders should be prepared for ongoing and significant challenges – especially...
Lavva – best-known for its pili nut and plaintain-fueled plant-based yogurts – has moved into the plant-based milk category with a higher-fat product made with three ingredients: organic coconut water, filtered water, and pili nuts; with no added sugar,...
CHOMPS – known for its brightly-colored meat sticks and miniature CHOMPLINGS products – is seeking to capture a 'significant share' of the meat snacks category by focusing on the "metrics that really matter," says co-founder and CEO...
Once considered a top priority for a food or beverage brand’s success, ‘winning at shelf’ is now only “somewhat important” as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic reshapes how consumers plan and shop for groceries and how manufacturers and retailers engage...
Solar Foods is preparing to build its first commercialisation factory for climate-friendly novel protein Solein, having closed a Series A financing round worth €18.5m.
Making the next-generation of plant-based foods might not be rocket science, but it will take a hefty dose of data science, predicts the astrophysicist behind Climax Foods, a Berkeley-based startup on a mission to reverse engineer animal foods and re-build...
As demand for more meat-like plant-based products grows, Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods continues to expand beyond the vegetable-forward frozen foods it is best-known for with the launch of the Perfect Turk’y Burger, while still holding the line on its...
Plant-based protein specialist PURIS – a key supplier of pea protein to Beyond Meat - is rolling out a series of new products this year including a pea syrup that can serve as an alternative to corn-, brown rice- or tapioca syrup; and sweet lupin flour,...
Entering a new region, retailer or category is a high-risk, high-reward proposition that requires more than a stable supply chain, solid delivery strategy and significant market potential – a lesson that the CEO of the food delivery service Hungry Harvest...
Pea-fueled snack brand PeaTos – which has already had one run-in with Frito-Lay's lawyers over its branding strategy – is taking on Chester the Cheetah once again with a series of “intentionally provocative” billboards and digital ads.
Impossible Foods has raised $200m in a Series G funding round led by new investor Coatue, with participation from existing investors including Mirae Asset Global Investments and Temasek as well as new investor XN. The move brings its total funding since...
All entrepreneurs are destined to fail, but that doesn’t mean they also must lose, according to the CEO of the startup ingredient company Rambuhealth, who explained that companies can overcome almost any obstacle as long as leaders are creative, decisive...
Keto-friendly cereals and snacks startup Catalina Snacks has hired industry veteran Joel Warady as president as it ramps up its omnichannel business and gears up to launch a new product line in 2021.
Sapsucker, an organic carbonated maple water brand based in Canada, is planning a 2021 launch into the US market where COO Ryan Klein believes there is a significant opportunity to build the tree water category.
Partake Foods, an emerging allergen-friendly cookie brand, has grown its retail presence from 350 stores to over 3,000 in less than one year including recent national distribution in Target and a vision to create a platform brand that spans across multiple...
As the initial chaos of the early days of the pandemic and pantry loading settle into a more predictable flow, entrepreneurs may be tempted to pause and catch their breath, but according to the CEO of the emerging e-commerce retailer Living Food Co.,...
The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s recent recommendations that children under 2 years avoid all added sugar to ensure they consume the nutrients they need without excessive caloric intake may not go far enough to drive a significant change in...
Alternative retail – restaurants and cafes to rock climbing gyms and spas – is a channel that should not be overlooked for emerging food and beverage brands looking to establish their retail footing, says Ben Zifkin, CEO of Hubba, a b2b e-commerce platform...
San Leandro-based Artemys Foods – one of the latest startups to emerge from stealth mode in the nascent cell-cultured (a.k.a cell-based, cultivated) meat arena – aims to launch its first prototype, a hybrid burger combining cell-based meat and fat with...
The Better Meat Co - a Sacramento-based startup supplying plant-based proteins that “blend seamlessly into ground meat products” at inclusion rates of 30-50% to create a new wave of ‘hybrid’ products - has closed an $8.1m seed round, bringing its total...
Geltor - a startup producing collagen proteins via microbial fermentation (without animals) – has closed a $91.3m Series B round led by CPT Capital with significant commitment from WTT Investment Ltd, and says it plans to launch its first ingestible products...
As Americans continue to stay at home during the coronavirus pandemic, they increasingly are living vicariously through social media influencers, many of whom have yet to raise their advertising rates to reflect their higher engagement – making them a...
By using wireless sensors to detect subtle changes in the quality of stored crops, the CEO of California-based startup Centaur Analytics says food and beverage companies will be better able to ensure supply chain continuity in the face of “unique or random...
From plant-based queso to kolanut-fueled energy drinks and spreadable 'granola butter,' check out 17 emerging brands who took part in the first pitch event from Startup CPG, a new organization that promotes and supports startups founded by Daniel...
Foods and beverages sweetened with miraculin, brazzein and curculin - proteins found in exotic fruits that can be produced far more efficiently via microbial fermentation - could hit the US market in less than two years, offering formulators intriguing...
As with other aspects of American culture, racism has both deep and multiple roots in the food system, which CPG companies must address holistically, ranging from how they source materials and services to their hiring practices, marketing strategies and...
The second consumer product featuring Perfect Day’s dairy proteins (produced by microbes) has launched in the US, under the brand name Brave Robot, which is pioneering a new ‘animal free dairy’ category delivering the taste and performance of real dairy,...
The food and beverage industry has been a tale of two cities since the coronavirus pandemic was declared with some companies seeing surging sales reinforced by fresh rounds of high-dollar investments and other businesses grinding to a halt with both revenue...
Baze, a personalized nutrition startup which provides customers with tailored supplements based on its at-home blood diagnostic test, has broadened its service to include food and meal recommendations addressing the “root cause” of nutrient deficiencies,...
After KRAVE Jerky inspired entrepreneurs to flood the meat snack segment with innovative and premium products in a bid to replicate its breakout success, the company’s founder and recently renewed owner appears ready to roll-up the most promising new...
Perfect Day, a startup producing milk proteins via microbial fermentation (minus the cows), has expanded its Series C round from a previously-announced $140m, up to $300m through a new tranche led by CPP Investments and bolstered by long-time supporters...
Founders who wear multiple hats during the lean early years of a startup may struggle to pass responsibilities to others as their companies grow, but, according to the founder of Sweet Loren’s, to fully maximize companies’ potential entrepreneurs need...
Rabobank is updating its FoodBytes! platform with a redesign of its pitch competitions and its corporate innovation program (formerly known as the TERRA accelerator) in a bid to foster year-round engagement with its network of food and ag startups, investors,...
