News & Analysis on Food & Beverage Development & Technology
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
Nut butter pioneer hopes to recapture the entrepreneurial spark that made his snack company a category trailblazer
From bread lines to snack plants, manufacturers are turning to artificial intelligence to predict breakdowns and keep production running at full speed
Founder Justin Gold and former CEO Peter Burns return to lead next phase of growth
Startup Spotlight
While a national buy from Whole Foods is the dream for many startups, often a ‘no for now’ will bide time and resources to land on more shelves in the future
The new ingredient is positioned as an ‘insurance policy’ against cocoa supply chain volatility and says the bio-identical ingredient could stabilize supply as climate change strains traditional crops
A Wisconsin entrepreneur launched a new business during the pandemic to keep herself afloat – now it supports independent foodmakers
Rapid growth and supply chain hurdles prompt the outdoor-focused brand to consider new strategies and possibly investors
Startup Spotlight
By sticking to herbs, spices, juices and natural sweeteners like honey, maple and date syrup, Fresh Fizz’s ingredient list is informing every aspect of its business strategy
RoseBud Ice Cream started out as a cannabis company, but now it caters to messy kids
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
Healthy snacking trends
Within the saturated functional beverage market, Släcka is betting on cravings instead of energy to stand out
Shinkei Systems, launched in 2021, is growing rapidly with a new headquarters in metro Los Angeles
The right mindset affects an emerging brand’s ability to make its first million dollars in sales or reach its $100m milestone, according to a study of 90,000 brands
From a founder’s kitchen experiment to retail expansion, Day Out reflects the growing demand for nutrient-dense, convenient and clean-ingredient snacks
Data from Conagra and Circana shows how shifting tastes, wellness demands and convenience are rewriting the playbook for snack makers worldwide
Squid jerky startup targets the clean-label snack market
Startup Spotlight
ReadyBar’s founder warns CPG startups against trying to be everything to everyone. His lesson: focus on a niche, like first responders, to build real traction
Startup Spotlight
Salad Sprinkles’ gluten-free, rice-flour topping has gone from TikTok virality to retail shelves, backed by a lean startup strategy and plans for retail expansion
The new accelerator empowers early-stage seafood innovators to develop and launch value-added products that meet growing consumer demand for sustainable, traceable West Coast seafood
Startup Spotlight
The Indonesia-based brand uses retailer partnerships to introduce US consumers to tempeh chips - turning a low-cost trial tactic into a long-term strategy for awareness and growth
IFT FIRST 2025
Dietary fiber, like carob, is gaining traction as a star macronutrient in food and beverage formulations as consumer interest in metabolic health, gut support and clean-label products accelerates
Summer Fancy Food Show
The startup is taking a measured approach with its globally inspired Umami Everything sauce, soft launching in select markets to ensure production keeps pace with growing demand
Startup Spotlight
Startup Fudi Protein’s lean team of two is bringing an alfalfa-based egg white alternative to market fast thanks to strategic collaboration with time tested-experts, open-minded farmers and well-connected investors
Founder Chris LaCorata shares how Graasí evolved from a community revitalization effort into an organic barley-based wellness drink built for today’s health-conscious consumer
Summer Fancy Food Show
Specialty sauce brands are no longer simply pushing Scoville levels – they are telling sourcing stories, building in-house capacity and tuning into regional palates to shake up sleepier aspects of the category
Startup Spotlight
‘The biggest aha moment that I’ve had in my business. If you are holding on to it, it can’t grow. You have to let it go, to let it grow. And that means hiring people,’ Founder Auria Abraham shares in this Startup Spotlight