Scaling precision fermentation: Why capital and collaboration remain the biggest hurdles
Industry experts cite massive CapEx, supply bottlenecks and regulatory complexity as key barriers
Investing & fundraising
Fermentation growth collides with manufacturing shortage – iFAB aims to fix it
As Europe and Asia outpace the US in precision fermentation investment, an Illinois-based consortium backed by ADM and a $51 million federal grant aims to catch up
From 67 no’s to nationwide: How Magic Mind built its functional shot business
Positioned to upgrade coffee, Magic Mind rapidly is scaling its nootropic shot after turning early rejections into nationwide retail traction
Future Food-Tech San Francisco
6 tips to raise capital in 2026 for food-tech
The expectations, red flags and structural hurdles shaping food‑tech fundraising in 2026
Future Food-Tech San Francisco
Collaboration, not capital, is driving the next wave of food innovation
Industry leaders at Future Food-Tech San Francisco say lower investment levels are giving rise to an era of deeper cooperation among stakeholders focused on creating healthier products
3 takeaways on capital fundraising from JPalmer Collective
Capital is returning to CPG, but on new terms: smarter growth, stronger fundamentals
Women's History Month
Women are growing food & beverage by reshaping the industry to be more equitable
In honor of Women’s History Month, we explore how women founders are leveraging networks, funding strategies, and resilience to build thriving businesses
Buffett bets on Kraft Heinz as shock split suspended
Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway signals support for Kraft Heinz, following separation update
Private equity doubles down on private label with launch of Keep It Real Foods
CIC Partners-backed manufacturing platform launch follows sales of TreeHouse Foods and Great Kitchens
Cow‑free dairy finds its stride as Those Vegan Cowboys break crowdfunding records
Those Vegan Cowboys’ record raise shows that precision fermentation dairy has legs – and is ready to run
Archer accelerates meat snack growth with $100M from JPMorgan Chase
Backed by a new manufacturing plant and rapid sales growth, the brand behind the “Stick to Real” campaign positions for $500M in sales as it scales meat stick production
Kraft Heinz details $600M investment plan to reignite US growth, scale global ‘blueprints’
Kraft Heinz outlined a $600 million investment plan across pricing, R&D, marketing and sales to revive US market share, accelerate innovation and scale successful models from Canada, Europe and emerging markets.
Food-tech solutions for a more sustainable and secure food system
Letter from the editor: Food-tech tackles today’s threats, but creates new challenges
From AI-powered grocery pricing and agentic commerce to predictive supply chains, cultivated meat regulation and alternative protein funding, technology is helping CPGs manage disruption while reshaping the industry’s risk landscape
Food-Tech Solutions For A More Sustainable And Secure Food System
Alternative protein funding diverges as investors prioritize scale and bankability
Investors favor scalable operations and bankable contracts as funding tightens across fermentation, cultivated and plant-based proteins
Food-Tech Solutions For A More Sustainable And Secure Food System
Hershey deploys AI decision-making to solve supply chain disruptions before they happen
The chocolate giant’s AI partner, Aera Technology, has also implemented its decision intelligence tools at food and beverage manufacturers like Mars, Kraft Heinz and Unilever
Cottage cheese disruptor Good Culture lands $55M investment underscoring shift to healthier dairy
The new investment, coming on the heels of L Catterton’s majority stake, signals growing private-equity appetite for clean-label, better-for-you dairy
UK private equity firm buys largest US private-label manufacturer for $2.9B – could it spark a wave of M&A?
Following its purchase of TreeHouse Foods’ meal-prep business for $950M in 2022, Investindustrial returns to purchase the rest
What does Hain Celestial’s sale of its North American snack business signal for the category?
After years of acquisitions and declining sales, the health-focused food company is narrowing its portfolio and using the proceeds to shore up its balance sheet
Trends vs fads: What’s shaping CPG in 2026?
In 2026, longevity – not hype – is the real differentiator
Soup-to-Nuts Podcast
What will it take to rebuild plant-based and cultivated meat?
As protein demand rises and consumers grow choosier, Good Food Institute Founder Bruce Friedrich outlines how plant-based and cultivated meat can move beyond hype and become investable, scalable industries
Mondelēz’s CoLab Tech accelerator shines light on the biggest stress points facing the global snack system
As the company reopens applications for its R&D-led accelerator, the focus areas highlight mounting pressure around climate resilience, packaging constraints and shifting consumer expectations
Kraft Heinz rocked as Buffett eyes full stake sell‑off
Berkshire Hathaway’s move to exit sends shockwaves through industry - what does it mean for the future of Big Food?
Delayed gratification: Will Once Upon A Farm IPO bring investors back to the CPG sector?
As dealmaking slows and capital shifts to AI, the premium children’s food company is testing whether investors still have room for growth-stage CPG by touting its diverse portfolio, household penetration and steady year-over-year growth
What CPG investors want now: Growth, proof points and founders who won’t quit
Top VCs share what gets CPG brands funded
Startup Spotlight
How early-stage food and beverage brands are navigating tight capital in 2026
Early-stage founders share how they’re reinventing indulgent foods while navigating one of the toughest fundraising environments in recent years
Freeze-dried candy craze grows – but not everyone’s winning
Mars, Ferrara ride TikTok-fueled demand while Sow Good restructures to survive
$500m for cottage cheese? What Good Culture’s deal means for F&B investors
Good Culture’s multi-million dollar backing highlights why cottage cheese may be investors’ next big bet
Cellular agriculture funding hits reset and investors want proof, not promises
Capital hasn’t disappeared from cellular agriculture - but investors now want proof the market is ready
Cellular ag moves beyond the startup phase
Government support rises even as startups reset
Startup Spotlight
Whole-cut technology emerges as plant-based meat’s next proving ground
Backed by a $1 million investment from Global Brain, Baltimore-based startup Offbeast is scaling a proprietary fiber assembly process to tackle texture, one of the category’s toughest challenges
Cautious optimism: Will the CPG food industry return to growth in 2026?
Steady wages, tax refunds and undervalued assets set the stage for targeted growth and strategic deals
Next steps for Mars’ $20m climate-smart rice initiative
Mars Food & Nutrition invested $20 million to help rice farmers adopt climate-smart practices that reduce water usage and greenhouse gas emissions while protecting yields
Coca-Cola eyes return of bolt-on deals, but is there a viable pipeline?
CEO James Quincey says bolt-on M&A will become a ‘bigger feature’ for Coca-Cola and the larger industry, but the timing hinges on innovation cycles and the beverage giant’s prolonged IRS dispute
Candy Kittens owner in talks to buy Unilever snack brand Graze
Unilever is set to offload Graze for a fraction of its 2019 purchase price. Can Katjes revive the struggling snack brand?
Hershey’s salty strategy
The confectionery giant’s latest move – snapping up LesserEvil – pulls it deeper into the everyday snacking landscape it’s been circling for years
The top 100 hottest global F&B start-ups
Exclusive data analysis carried out by FutureBridge on behalf of Food Manufacture has identified the top 100 hottest food and drink start-ups worldwide.
Pucker mania is spicing up snack shelves … and powering pickle sales
Pickles are big business and experiencing rapid growth through savvy startups and private-label expansion
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
What will the M&A landscape look like in 2026 for CPGs?
Seasoned deal advisors share the emerging trends shaping valuations, investor expectations, and what founders must do now to stay competitive
Startup Spotlight
Yough! scales gut-friendly frozen pizza with clean ingredients and specialty retail strategy
From Greek yogurt crust to store shelves, Yough! is navigating the hurdles of scaling a healthier frozen pizza
Fruitist continues expanding packaged fresh fruit business with $150 million capital raise
The fresh fruit producer plans to invest in fruit genetics and AI to boost its positioning in the healthy snacking segment
The Every Company closed $55 million in Series D to make alt proteins ‘accessible to everyone’
The producer of animal-free egg whites and egg white proteins plans to scale to the mass market, starting with Walmart
Justin Gold’s second act: Back at Justin’s after Hormel sell-off
Nut butter pioneer hopes to recapture the entrepreneurial spark that made his snack company a category trailblazer
Hormel sells Justin’s brand to private equity firm
Founder Justin Gold and former CEO Peter Burns return to lead next phase of growth
Acme Smoked Fish champions sustainability and climate action across the seafood supply chain
From traceable sourcing to employee engagement, Acme’s Citizens of Seafood initiative and Climate Awards demonstrate how seafood companies can align business success with environmental responsibility
Bettani Farms bets on its star ingredient to scale allergen- and animal-free cheese
The company’s proprietary ingredient Caseed mimics dairy casein without the allergenic effects of dairy, nuts and soy for B2B partners
Powdered beverage brand TRUWILD’s growing pains and path forward
Rapid growth and supply chain hurdles prompt the outdoor-focused brand to consider new strategies and possibly investors
Tech startup raises $3.8m to modernize the food supply chain with agentic AI
By layering an “AI watchtower” over existing enterprise resource planning systems, startup Burnt claims to automate tedious order management in seconds without forcing distributors to change how they work
Chickapea raises CAD$4.25M, appoints AGT Foods CEO to board of directors
The Canadian organic dried pasta company is scaling rapidly in Canada and the US
‘Craft flour’ mill teams with local tribe to revolutionize food system and restore the health of planet and people
Founded on regenerative farming and community collaboration, Skagit Valley-based Cairnspring Mills is scaling its “craft flour revolution” with a new Blue Mountain facility, investor enthusiasm and strong demand from bakers and foodservice operators
Mars-Kellanova Deal: Commission restarts the clock
The EU has resumed its investigation into Mars’ $35.9bn merger with Kellanova, following a stop in July