News & Analysis on Food & Beverage Development & Technology
The fundraise highlights growing momentum behind functional foods targeting cognitive health, longevity and stress resilience and underscores what it takes to win over investors in the current economy
Animal-free dairy startup is reversing the traditional biotech model, prioritizing scalability and cost from the outset as the category resets
Between shifting consumer demand and economic instability, small businesses can still compete as long as adaptability remains part of their core infrastructure
From fermentation infrastructure to GRAS validation, universities are bridging gaps between research, regulation and commercialization
As consumer concern over ultra‑processed foods accelerates, startups are turning to emerging non‑UPF certifications to build trust with shoppers and retailers
A year after flames gutted his Haight Street candy shop, founder Max Kolegue rebuilt the business through Amazon sales – and a viral boom in Swedish gummies
Future Food-Tech San Francisco
Scale-up infrastructure is broken and it won’t fix itself
Future Food-Tech San Francisco
What separates startups that move forward from the ones that stall?
Future Food-Tech San Francisco
A case for rethinking how the food system invests, scales and strengthens its most essential ingredients
From packaging breakthroughs and GLP-1-friendly formulations to regenerative claims and sensory-driven products, brands are balancing health, sustainability and indulgence in a rapidly evolving market
Industry experts cite massive CapEx, supply bottlenecks and regulatory complexity as key barriers
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
Future Food Tech San Francisco
Industry leaders at Future Food Tech said AI tools are helping product developers, yet rigorous ingredient science continues to set the pace for better-for-you foods and beverages
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
The expectations, red flags and structural hurdles shaping food‑tech fundraising in 2026
Future Food-Tech San Francisco
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
Future Food-Tech San Francisco
Award-winning biotech Michroma is using fungi-based fermentation to tackle the cost, supply and performance challenges holding back natural colors
From GLP-1 drugs and AI to fast-shifting shopper preferences, founders and experts urge snack brands to double down on focus, purpose and agility
Capital is returning to CPG, but on new terms: smarter growth, stronger fundamentals
The global market for functional ‘chill out’ beverages is growing by more than 8% annually, driven by adaptogen-fueled brands like Recess, Hiyo, Brēz and Trip
It’s a family affair for Nak Chews and Ava’s Pet Palace. Though their clean-label pet treats are developed on opposite sides of the globe, the two independent pet food companies share a common non-negotiable for today’s pet parents: no mystery chemicals...
The grocer’s UK small-format rollout, together with its US LEAP accelerator and UK Brand Pitch Day events, is creating new opportunities for emerging brands
North American and European markets are experiencing the fastest growth in seaweed snacks
Smucker is retooling its $1B Uncrustables line for ready-to-eat convenience while battling knockoffs in the frozen PB&J arms race
Food-tech solutions for a more sustainable and secure food system
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
A global regulatory snapshot of cultivated meat, explaining who is moving first, why approvals vary by country and what comes next for the category
CEO calls the move a ‘surgical investment’ as the company integrates Siete Foods, Poppi and its expanded Celsius partnership while preparing relaunches of Gatorade and Quaker Oats
In 2026, longevity – not hype – is the real differentiator
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
Mayonnaise giants are squaring off against better-for-you upstarts like Graza and Chosen Foods in the race to reinvent a creamy classic
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
Top VCs share what gets CPG brands funded
Startup Spotlight
Early-stage founders share how they’re reinventing indulgent foods while navigating one of the toughest fundraising environments in recent years
Mars, Ferrara ride TikTok-fueled demand while Sow Good restructures to survive
For startup Loonen, water isn’t just water - it’s spring-sourced and filtered with an emphasis on minimizing plastic across the supply chain
Startup Spotlight
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
This year’s wave of tools – from trend‑spotting engines to autonomous R&D agents – turned AI into everyday infrastructure for food and beverage
Barry Callebaut partners with NotCo AI and Planet A Foods to tackle soaring cocoa prices and regulatory hurdles, leveraging digital formulation tools to future‑proof chocolate
CoDeveloper platform mines 85 years of research to help food scientists formulate and reverse-engineer products
From Finland to Italy, Peru to the UK, four start-ups are on a mission to transform the sugar reduction landscape
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
The farmer-focused vinegar-based sparkling tonic launches in 2026 at Sprouts Farmers Market
Backed by the minds behind Ilegal Mezcal, Cómo No’s zero-sugar sparkling waters are formulated for cocktails or a sober night out
Pickles are big business and experiencing rapid growth through savvy startups and private-label expansion
Service-for-equity model gives founders access to marketing, branding, PR and retail expertise without upfront capital
FedUp Foods and FrshBev exemplify contract manufacturing’s role in functional beverage development
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Seasoned deal advisors share the emerging trends shaping valuations, investor expectations, and what founders must do now to stay competitive
Startup Spotlight
From Greek yogurt crust to store shelves, Yough! is navigating the hurdles of scaling a healthier frozen pizza
Startup Spotlight
By putting consumer enjoyment ahead of its sustainability mission, the fizzy electrolyte tablet brand has ushered in an era of daily hydration and in doing so doubled its velocity, expanded distribution and outpaced legacy competitors in natural grocery...
Targeting the growing demand for functional products designed by and for women, the startup blends clinical science, tradition and taste to normalize self-care during menstruation