Long gone are the days when a deal was sealed with a handshake and verbal commitment, which is why the co-founder of veggie snack startup Theo’s advises entrepreneurs to be persistent – but not annoying – about securing commitments in writing before acting.
A biotech start-up is producing iron compounds, through precision fermentation, that are more bioavailable than much naturally occurring iron in plants.
Food safety and quality are two sides of the same coin. But how is the process of making food not only safe but beneficial for the consumer being made more efficient?
When a delayed flight could have ruined her day, Bumpin Blends' founder, Lisa Mastela, used the downtime to network with fellow travelers and, in doing so, connected with representatives from toymaker Mattel that ultimately landed the smoothie brand...
Successful CPG startups not only strike the right balance between delivering on product claims and branding aesthetics — the head and heart of building a food and beverage business — but also provide consumers easy ways to learn about their brand when...
Consumer interest in products made with ingredients from regional smallholder farmers or those practicing regenerative agriculture is on the rise, but CPG companies and suppliers are struggling to meet their demand in part because most farmers are unable...
Recoup’s prebiotic sparkling beverages hit the shelves at 420 Sprouts Farmers Market stores nationwide, as the company leans into gut health and regenerative agriculture claims to deliver consumer demands for functional and environmental benefits....
Venture capitalists are focusing further down the alt-protein supply chain when investing, as startups partner up and use government grants to survive and thrive in a challenging funding environment.
Beekeeper Coffee's co-founders leveraged their extensive brand-building expertise from giants like Nike and Beats by Dre to stand out in the crowded RTD coffee market with a distinct honey-sweetened brew, emphasizing authenticity and sustainability...
Building a successful CPG business often hinges on a combination of telling investors a compelling story, conserving capital and resources, and providing true differentiation in a product category, a panel of CPG experts shared on a recent Naturally Chicago...
Babylife Organics is reducing the levels of heavy metals in baby food by carefully sourcing ingredients and committing to certified regenerative organic processes while providing caregivers an easy way to check arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury levels...
Consumers increasingly want more from their beverages – more benefits, more flavor and more fun, but they do not want more sugar nor do they want to compromise on taste, which creates a challenge for manufacturers to find the sweet spot between shoppers’...
Fast-growing pantry staples brand SIMPLi is reinvigorating sleepy center-store categories and unlocking additional distribution in thousands of regional and independent grocers nationwide after growing nearly 500% year-over-year at Whole Foods Market...
Rebellyous Foods launched its much-anticipated Mock 2 plant-based meat production system with RMS Foods following delays of its launch in Dec. 2023 after plans with an initial co-manufacturer fell through.
Coffee is not just for adults thanks to Kiid Coffee, a functional beverage mix designed to help children hit their daily recommended intake of iron, magnesium, calcium and other important nutrients, the brand's co-founder David Sanborn told FoodNavigator-USA...
NutraIngredients-USA is inviting early-stage active lifestyle brands to enter its "Start-up Stars" competition which will see three pioneering entrepreneurs gain industry notoriety at the Sports & Active Nutrition Summit 2025.
West African frozen meal and sauce brand Ayo Foods’ expanded from 200 retail doors to more than 20 retailers nationwide through a combination of cold calling and working with brokers to land shelf space.
Food and beverage CPG startups can set themselves up for long-term business success by slowly and strategically growing their retail footprint, focusing first on product-market fit, unique branding and wisely allocating marketing dollars to build loyalty...
Sprouted buckwheat food brand Lil Bucks secured $3 million in Series A funding in a round led by Proterra Investment Partners, following measures to extend its runway amid continued capital-raising challenges, company founder and CEO Emily Griffith told...
Many of food and beverage's greatest innovations are born from from start-ups. But why is innovation on a decline and what's the future of food and drink NPD?
Protein bar brand David’s founders, including RXBAR Co-founder Peter Rahal, attracted investors with their industry experience and an emphasis on protein as a science-backed, enduring macronutrient over fleeting diet trends, Rahal told FoodNavigator-USA
Big advertising budgets are not a requirement for big sales or an indicator of how successful a marketing campaign will be as illustrated by a viral video on social media by functional beverage newcomer Yesly, which generated more than 16 million views...
Children's snack brand Mission MightyMe is taking its first big step beyond ecommerce, launching in select Target stores, after raising $2.3 million earlier in the year to fuel growth and raise awareness on reducing peanut allergies by introducing...
NutriFusion’s flexibility in minimum order quantities (MOQs) of its fruit and vegetable concentrate blends to startup companies can be a significant advantage for new and smaller brands looking to enter the competitive functional beverage market.
Whipnotic is releasing two new holiday flavors of its whipped cream, as the company hits business milestones ahead of schedule with the help of its patented nozzle technology, the two co-founders shared with FoodNavigator-USA.
Biosciences company Ummino achieved self-affirmed GRAS status for the enzyme to produce its bioidentical prebiotic bioactive lactosamine composition, Hummino, as it readies for commercial expansion of this fiber normally found in human breast milk, focusing...
Passion, experience and market insights are essential to launching a business, but they are far from enough to ensure enduring success, according to long-time CPG industry expert and first-time entrepreneur Douglas Yu, who earlier this month launched...
The alternative protein industry offers immense opportunities for innovation and market expansion, but successfully navigating this complex landscape requires a balance of advanced R&D, strategic partnerships and a deep understanding of consumer...
To create a sustainable business, early-stage CPG companies must be prudent in how they spend their limited capital — being cautious on how much they pay in slotting fees — and ensure they maintain authenticity and their disruptor mentality when hitting...
Better-for-you pasta brand Goodles is moving beyond the dry-mix mac and cheese category with its deluxe line, as the brand seeks to double its revenues by innovating in the squeezable pouch segment, brand Co-founder and CEO Jen Zeszut told FoodNavigator-USA.
Complete-protein pantry staple brand EQUII expanded beyond the frozen bread category with several pasta products — featuring refreshed branding — as the company explores ways to innovate finished products and alongside other CPG companies through its...
Who says no to distribution at Whole Foods? Brightland shares its strategy behind its launch into the natural foods retailer after declining two previous offers, as the company seeks to differentiate itself from the olive oil category with a modern design...
Act Bar is on a mission to reduce food waste and nutrition insecurity with its line of snack bars, which were created with the help of ingredient and product development company Upcycled Foods, brand Founder Amelia Allen told FoodNavigator-USA.
Even though most Americans consume enough protein, they continue to want more and companies at the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City are delivering with increasing innovation and sophistication across categories and occasions, including snacks,...
Creating a successful alternative protein company is not just about developing an innovative ingredient or product, but it also is about scalability — from building the right size facility in budget to hiring the right personnel and meeting regulatory...
Strategic partnerships with restaurateurs and CPG brands in adjacent categories helped Poi Dog transform from a food service business into a up and coming packaged food brand available on retail shelves, founder Kiki Aranita told FoodNavigator-USA in...
Sprouts Farmers Market enjoyed “impressive” growth in its second quarter thanks in part to its deliberate decision to no longer cater to “coupon-clippers” in favor of health-conscious consumers who continue to spend more on groceries despite high inflation,...
The Startup Pavilion at the Institute of Food Technologists’ annual Food Improved by Research Science and Technology (IFT FIRST) in Chicago earlier this month featured cutting-edge solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing the food system,...
France-based food-tech company Marine Biologics will launch its first macroalgae-based prototype in September, leveraging its ingredient discovery platform that searches for functional properties in seaweed to create sought-after food and beverage ingredients,...
Given how little time entrepreneurs have during most pitches, intentionally ending the meeting a few minutes early may sound counterintuitive, but the founder of the bakery and packaged cookie company Sugar Bliss says this gives potential buyers or investors...
Wholesalers are an essential part of the distribution process, for many food and beverage brands. Here’s how to create and grow strong relationships with them.
With an infusion of $15.2 million in funding from the European Innovation Council announced yesterday following a recent $40 million Series A round in April, precision fermentation startup Onego Bio says it is “moving at full speed” to meet regulatory...
PepsiCo named the finalists for this year's Greenhouse Accelerator Program, featuring eight brands that create products inspired by Hispanic heritage and tap into consumer demands for better-for-you and functional foods and beverages.
Bread is back after being demonized for years as high in calories and carbs and low in nutrition, innovative bakers are bringing to market bagels, buns and brioches that are high in fiber, protein, healthy fat and, of course, flavor.
Many CPG brands eager to grow their retail footprint often rely on the expertise of brokerage firms. However, finding the right partner can be a nuanced challenge that requires founders to have a detailed growth strategy down to specific channels and...
The Startup Pavilion at the Institute of Food Technologists’ annual Food Improved by Research Science and Technology (IFT FIRST) conference in Chicago this month will feature 100 food and tech businesses ranging from pre-seed to growth stage featuring...
Netherlands-based foodtech company revyve debuts at IFT FIRST an egg-white replacement made from upcycled brewer’s yeast for use in plant-based meat that it says delivers similar texture and binding properties as conventional poultry eggs without additional...
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