Image Credit: Upside Foods

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

And this week, we are excited to announce launch of our new podcast in partnership with AgFunder: New Food Order, a nuanced investigation into the business of tackling our climate and social crises through food and agriculture. Read all about why we launched the podcast and check out our first two episodes:

#1: Introducing: New Food Order
#2: Is the world better with your business in it? With Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever

And be sure to subscribe and share!

In other news, Upside Foods has just received approval from the  U.S> Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to sell lab grown chicken. This first approval of its kind is a major win for the cultivated meat industry and could pave the way for other companies to follow suite.

The outcome of the midterm elections will determine what gets included in the farm bill and the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act as well as whether the Biden administration will be able to move forward many of the anti-hunger initiatives unveiled at the White House Conference in September.

Industry leaders have come together to form the Fungi Protein Association (FPA), which will advocate for fungi as a sustainable protein in public policy, conduct consumer research and more.

Our newsletter takes a lot of time and resources to produce. Make a one time or monthly contribution to help us keep it going. Whether it’s $5 or $500, every bit helps and shows us that you value our work. 

1. Upside Foods Gets FDA Greenlight For Cultivated Chicken – Food Dive

This is the first regulatory approval for any cultivated meat in the U.S.The “no questions” letter from the FDA indicates regulators have found nothing unsafe about the cultured chicken the company makes. Upside Foods now awaits approval from the USDA in order to serve its chicken products to consumers.

2. All-Star List of Global Industry Leaders Unite to Form Fungi Protein Association – Vegconomist

The FPA will represent the interests of its member companies, including advocating for fungi as a sustainable protein in public policy, conducting consumer research and more.

3. How the Midterm Elections Will Impact Food and Agriculture – Civil Eats

Who wins in this election will impact key federal legislation including the farm bill and the Child Nutrition Reauthorization.

4. Farmland Values Hit Record Highs, Pricing Out Farmers – New York Times

Small farmers are now going up against deep-pocketed investors, including private equity firms and real estate developers.

5. With New Federal Funding, Has Agroforestry’s Moment Arrived? – Civil Eats

USDA’s new Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities funding program will invest up to $2.8b in 70 projects, including $60m to advance agroforestry.

6. Animal Agriculture Is Dangerous Work. The People Who Do It Have Few Protections. – Civil Eats

Federal OSHA protections don’t apply to 96% of the animal agriculture operations that hire workers in America. When people die on the job, the federal agency doesn’t respond 85% of the time.

7. How to Reduce the Climate Impact of Food: Increase Quality of Life – Sylvanaqua

Chris Newman argues that plant-based diets and grass fed cattle will not save us from climate crisis. The most practical things we can do to improve our personal and planetary health are planning meals, cooking at home and affording good food – all of which are actively contested by our economic culture.

8. New Zealand: A New AI Tool Says It Can Generate Vegan Content Such As Blog Posts and Recipes in Seconds – Green Queen

VEG3 has announced the release of what they describe as the “world’s first artificial intelligence marketing assistant for vegans.”

9. Colorado’s Vote May Boost the Gray Market for Magic Mushrooms – Bloomberg

Colorado’s legalization of magic mushrooms last week was just one of three ballot box initiatives that shifted the US toward wider use of psychoactive drugs — but it could be the one with the most impact.

10. How José Andrés’s World Central Kitchen Went to War – WSJ

After 12 years in operation, the humanitarian organization knows how to mobilize quickly and adapt to all kinds of disasters. But the war in Ukraine presented a new set of challenges.

11. Amazon Is Said to Plan to Lay Off Thousands of Employees – New York Times

The job cuts of approximately 10k, which would start as soon as this week, would focus on the company’s devices organization, retail division and human resources.

The post Lab-Grown Meat Gets FDA Approval, Industry Leaders Form Fungi Protein Association + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Source: What Now Los Angeles

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

Amazon has opened its first brick-and-mortar grocery store called Fresh in Woodland Hills, California. The supermarket combines elements of micro-fulfillment, contactless features, a curated assortment of premium and conventional products, and highly personalized service into one store.

As Covid-19 upends the industrial meat supply chain, the industry is estimated to face losses of more than $20b in 2020. Meanwhile, demand for vegan meat has soared, with sales up by 264% in the 9weeks ended May 2. Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat were slammed in an open letter from Lightlife Foods this week, positioning itself as a “real food company,” with products “developed in a kitchen, not a lab.”

Last but not least, wildfires across Northern California continue to devastate farms, with little containment in sight.

We need your support as well. Producing our newsletter takes a lot of time and resources, and we need to change our business model to keep it going. To date, we’ve funded our work through our events, sponsorships and consulting, which are all on hold due to the pandemic. If you find our newsletter to be a valuable resource, we hope you will consider making a one time or monthly contribution, so we can keep the newsletter going and free for those who can not afford a subscription fee. Whether it’s $5 or $500 every bit helps and shows us that you value our work. Not able to contribute right now? You can help by sharing our newsletter with friends and colleagues. 

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

1. Inside Amazon’s New Fresh Grocery Banner – Progressive Grocer

Amazon has opened its first stand-alone supermarket banner in Woodland Hills, California, called Fresh.

2. Our Meatless Future: How The $2.7T Global Meat Market Gets Disrupted – CB Insights

As Covid-19 spreads across the globe, the meat supply chain is estimated to face losses of more than $20b in 2020. Meanwhile, demand for vegan meat soared, with sales up by 264% in the 9weeks ended May 2.

3. Wildfires Across Northern California Devastate Farmers and Farmland – Civil Eats

Dozens of lightning-sparked wildfires have hit some of the Bay Area’s most beloved farming communities, destroying farm structures and razing crops, with little containment in sight.

4. Impossible Foods Hits Back at ‘Disingenuous, Desperate Disinformation Campaign’ As Lightlife Attacks ‘Hyperprocessed’ Ingredients – Food Navigator

In an open letter, Lightlife Foods has attempted to distinguish itself from ‘food tech’ rivals in the plant-based meat arena by positioning itself as a “real food company,” with products “developed in a kitchen, not a lab.”

5. Amazon Go’s Cashierless Tech May Come to Whole Foods As Soon As Next Year – The Verge

Amazon may start implementing the tech in Whole Foods sometime during the second quarter of 2021.

6. Behind the Cancellation of James Beard Awards, Worries About Chefs’ Behavior and No Black Winners – New York Times

The decision to put the honors, the Oscars of American restaurants, on hiatus came amid concerns about a lack of diversity and allegations against some nominees.

7. Craft Spirits Revenue Plunges $700M As Pandemic Curtails On-Premise Operations – Food Dive

Craft distillers lost 41% of their sales due to the pandemic. In addition, 4.6m people that make up nearly 31% of the industry’s employee base have been furloughed.

8. How the UK Restarted Its Restaurant Industry: Paying Half the Bill – New York Times

For the month of August, the government has been paying for a 50% discount on all meals eaten in restaurants, pubs or cafes, up to $13 per person. In the first three weeks, 64m meals cost the government $441m.

9. Heat, Smoke and Covid Are Battering the Workers Who Feed America – New York Times

Climate change is piling on to the hazards already faced by California farm laborers, some of the country’s poorest, most neglected workers.

10. DoorDash Is Planning a Traditional IPO in Fourth Quarter – Bloomberg

The company is taking steps to go public in November or December.

11. Drizly Raises $50M As E-Commerce Alcohol Delivery Surges – Food Dive

Avenir led the round. The alcohol delivery platform said it has grown more than 350% compared to 2019. Funding will be used for both Drizly and Lantern, its cannabis commerce platform.

12. Asian E-Grocer Weee Charts Ongoing Expansion with $35M in Funding – Grocery Dive

The round was led by DST Global, bringing total amount raised to $100m. Funding will be used to support the grocer’s ongoing expansion efforts and recruitment process as it continues to grow.

13. Vegan Leather Industry Will be Worth $89.6B by 2025 – Vegconomist

Soaring demand for vegan leather includes mounting concerns over the impact of traditional leather on the environment and ascending demand for animal-free products. The Asia Pacific is projected to continue leading the market demand.

14. Food & Ag Anti-Racism Resources + Black Food & Farm Businesses to Support

Check out our list of resources to learn about systemic racism in the food and agriculture industries. We also highlight Black food and farm businesses and organizations to support.

Our newsletter is the absolute easiest way to stay on top of the emerging sector, so sign up for it today and never miss the latest food tech and innovation news and trends, Already signed up? Share the love with your friends and colleagues!

The post Amazon Opens First Physical Grocery Store, $20B in Losses Expected for Meat Industry in 2020 + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Source: Chobani

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

Plant-based dairy has made headlines this week. Chobani, America’s top seller of yogurt, is debuting a product line dedicated to oats. Ellen Degeneres and Portia de Rossi have invested an undisclosed sum to Miyoko’s as the brand prepares to release new vegan cheeses and butters.

In retail news, Kroger has partnered with Berlin-based startup, Infarm, to launch in-store farms at its Seattle locations. It plans to roll out 13 more by March of next year. Meanwhile, Amazon has announced plans to open cashierless grocery stores next year.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

1. Amazon Is Planning to Open Cashierless Supermarkets Next Year – Bloomberg

Amazon is preparing to open Amazon Go supermarkets and popup stores, an expansion of the company’s cashierless ambitions that includes the possibility of licensing the technology to other retailers.

2. Chobani’s Empire Was Built on Greek Yogurt. Here’s Why Its Next Move Is Oat Milks – Fast Company

The top seller of yogurt in America is plowing into plant-based foods. Fast Company has an exclusive look at the germination of the Chobani Oat line, launching in January.

3. Kroger Brings Farming to Its Stores in Push to Get Greener (and Sell More Kale) – Bloomberg

Kroger’s deal with German startup Infarm includes two Seattle-area stores with plans for 13 more to come online by March of next year. While this is Infarm’s first stateside venture, it has more than 500 farms at more than 25 retailers internationally.

4. Ellen Degeneres and Portia De Rossi Invest in Vegan Brand Miyoko’s – VegNews

The couple’s investment will help support the brand as it prepares to release new vegan cheeses and butters. Financial terms were undisclosed. Miyoko’s also said it would partner with California farmers who want to transition from milking cows to growing crops for creating vegan alternatives to milk, cheese and yogurt.

5. How Serious a Threat is Amazon’s New Grocery Store? – Grocer Dive

With new details emerging about Amazon’s confirmed launch of a brick-and-mortar grocery in a Los Angeles suburb, experts weigh in on how the forthcoming chain might unsettle established retailers.

6. Oceans Can Feed the World with Better Management and Policies – Food Dive

Better management could lead the ocean to provide six times more food than it does today and furnish two-thirds of the animal protein required to feed the global population of 2050.

7. Bumble Bee Is In Talks to File for Bankruptcy and Sell Itself – Los Angeles Times

Two years after Bumble Bee Foods pleaded guilty to price-fixing, the canned tuna producer is in talks with seafood industry peer FCF Fishery to buy it during a bankruptcy reorganization.

8. A Futuristic Farming Startup Raised $260M from Jeff Bezos and SoftBank on the Promise of Upending Agriculture. Insiders Are Raising Questions – Business Insider

Seven former employees told Business Insider that Plenty’s leadership repeatedly touted expectations for the company that did not materialize during their time at Plenty. Four of the people said they felt unsafe at work on more than one occasion.

9. Remrise Raises $8.2M to Deliver Tailored, Plant-Based Sleep Solutions – TechCrunch

Investment was led by Founders Fund. The startup aims to move users off medicated sleep aids, using a combination of traditional herbal supplements and improvements to sleep hygiene.

10. Former Casper Execs Are Building a Direct-to-Consumer Dog Food Startup Called Jinx – TechCrunch

The startup has raised $5.6m from investors including Alexis Ohanian of Initialized Capital, Will Smith, Nas, Brand Foundry, and others. It plans to start selling its first products in January.

11. Your Gut Is Directly Connected to Your Brain, by a Newly Discovered Neuron Circuit – Science Mag

A new study reveals the gut has a more direct connection to the brain through a neural circuit that allows it to transmit signals in mere seconds. The findings could lead to new treatments for obesity, eating disorders, depression and autism.

12. 2018 U.S. Food & Beverage Startup Investment Report

Over $1.45B was invested across 247 deals in 2018, according to the research in our second annual investment report produced in partnership with Ryan Willams.  Check out the report for a deep dive into the investor and investment trends. We also share a complete list of deals and acquisitions.

Our newsletter is the absolute easiest way to stay on top of the emerging sector, so sign up for it today and never miss the latest food tech and innovation news and trends, Already signed up? Share the love with your friends and colleagues!

The post Amazon to Launch Cashierless Supermarkets, Chobani Bets Big on Oats, Kroger Launches In-Store Infarm + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Source: Kellogg

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

Big meat continues to place its bets on plant-based proteins with news this week of Kellogg launching a plant-based bleeding burger under its Morningstar line and Hormel launching plant-based ground beef. Tyson has invested an undisclosed sum into plant-based shrimp maker New Wave Foods. Cargill has poured $75 million into North America’s largest pea protein maker and Beyond Meat Supplier, Puris.

The leading US cultured meat companies –  JUST, Memphis Meats, Finless Foods, BlueNalu, and Fork and Goode – have joined to form the Alliance for Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Innovation.

In retail news, Bellwether Coffee has raised $40 million to meet global demand for its electric coffee roasters. Meanwhile, Amazon is testing a fingerprint checkout technology called “Orville” that aims to roll out in Whole Foods early next year.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

1. Kellogg Plans Bleeding Burger as It Catches Up on Faux Meat – Bloomberg

Early next year, Kellogg’s Morningstar Farms will begin selling the “Incogmeato” burger: a plant-based, refrigerated patty made with non-GMO soy that is designed to mimic meat’s look and flavor.

2. Tyson Foods Invests in Plant-Based Shrimp Company – CNBC

After selling its stake in Beyond Meat in the spring, Tyson Foods’ next bet is on plant-based shellfish. Tyson Ventures is investing an undisclosed sum in New Wave Foods.

3. Hormel Grows into Plant-Based Meat with Its New Happy Little Plants Brand – Food Dive

Hormel Foods is launching a non-GMO meat substitute made with soy protein that can be used in any recipe calling for ground meat under its new Happy Little Plants brand.

4. Cargill Makes Additional $75M Investment into Beyond Meat Supplier Puris – The Spoon

The new investment will allow Puris to more than double its pea protein production.

5. The Leading US Cell-Based Meat Startups Just Forged an Alliance – Quartz

JUST, Memphis Meats, Finless Foods, BlueNalu, and Fork and Goode have joined to form the Alliance for Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Innovation. The group will lobby on behalf of cell-based meat interests and drive efforts to educate the public.

6. Bellwether Coffee Raises $40M for Eco-Friendly Roasters – VentureBeat

DBL Partners and Lyndon and Peter Rive led the round. The funds will accelerate the company’s efforts to boost incomes for coffee farmers, eliminate roast processes harmful to the planet and meet global demand for its electric roaster.

9. Canada: Terramera Raises $45M Series B on Mission to Reduce Chemical Use in Ag by 80% – AgFunder 

Ospraie Ag Science and S2G Ventures led the round. Funding will go towards advancing Actigate, its targeted crop protection technology.

8. DoorDash Picks Australia for Its First Move Outside North America – CNN

The six-year-old startup added its first city outside North America on Wednesday, launching in Melbourne and announcing plans to grow its business in Australia over the next year.

9. With Regenerative Agriculture Booming, the Question of Pesticide Use Looms Large – Civil Eats

Regenerative practitioners say that healthy soil eventually leads to reducing synthetic chemicals. But some advocates say those chemicals have damaging effects and should be addressed.

10. Bioenergy DevCo Captures $106M to Digest Waste in a City Near You – AgFunder

Newlight Partners led the round. In addition to fueling the completion of its first US facility in Maryland, the new capital will be used to help expand into other metropolitan areas.

11. Cooks Venture Raises $12M to Promote Sustainable Agriculture – VentureBeat

Following on the heels of a partnership with FreshDirect, the round was led by Amerra Capital Management. The funds will lay the foundation for expanded processing capabilities and collaborative work with scientists to improve industry practices.

12. Yes, Give Your Fingerprints to Amazon for a Slightly Quicker Checkout at Whole Foods – Eater

The tech and retail giant is currently testing a system called “Orville” that allows Amazon Prime users to scan their hands to ring up a purchase. It’s currently being tested at its New York Office.

13. How the Trump Administration Limited the Scope of the USDA’s 2020 Dietary Guidelines – The Washington Post

The 80 topics that will be addressed exclude the health effects of consuming red and processed meat, ultraprocessed foods and sodium.

14. Regenerative AgTech Meetup

Join us at Regenerative AgTech on September 19th to learn about the state of regenerative agriculture and how technology is helping farmers regenerate their soils. RSVP here.

15. 2018 U.S. Food & Beverage Startup Investment Report

Over $1.45B was invested across 247 deals in 2018, according to the research in our second annual investment report produced in partnership with Ryan Willams.  Check out the report for a deep dive into the investor and investment trends. We also share a complete list of deals and acquisitions.

16. Women, Women of Color & Gender Non-Conforming Innovator Database

We created this open-source list to increase representation, support and investment in women, women of color & gender-nonconforming innovators in food. Join the list & help us spread the word using #womxninfood

Our newsletter is the absolute easiest way to stay on top of the emerging sector, so sign up for it today and never miss the latest food tech and innovation news and trends, Already signed up? Share the love with your friends and colleagues!

The post Kellogg Launches Bleeding Vegan Burger, Hormel Launches Plant-Based Ground Beef + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Image source: CNBC

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

Shortly after Beyond Meat’s stunning IPO, Impossible Foods took the stage with a $300 million investment from investors including celebrities and athletes, bringing it to a new valuation of $2 billion. The plant-based meat maker also announced its launch of the Impossible Sausage atop Little Ceasars’ Pizza.

New reports have revealed that US organic sales rang up a record $52.5 billion in 2018, and that upcycled food waste is worth up to $46.7 billion.

More wins have been made for the war against single-use plastic with news that Whole Foods is banning all plastic straws from its 500 stores. In addition, the Loop initiative by Terracycle has arrived in the US, bringing on Kroger and Walgreens as partners.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

_______________

1. Impossible Foods Dishes Up Its First Meatless Sausage Atop Little Caesars’ Pizza – Fortune

For the first time since introducing its meatless burger in 2016, Impossible Foods is launching a new product: The Impossible Sausage. It is making its debut as a topping on Little Caesars’ $12 Impossible Supreme Pizza.

2. US Organic Sales Ring Up Record $52.5B in 2018 – Natural Products Insider

Transparent and sustainable products from companies that embrace social activism, sales of organic food and non-food products shattered records and moved into mainstream markets in 2018, ringing up more than $50b in US sales.

3. UK: Amazon Leads $574M Investment for Food Delivery Company Deliveroo – CNBC

The food delivery app has raised up to $1.53b to date. The new investment would offer restaurants new opportunities to grow and expand their businesses.

4. From Trash to Treasure: Upcycled Food Waste Is Worth $46.7B – Food Dive

The beverage industry in both North America and Europe are poised to see the most lucrative growth from new diversion techniques and interest in rejected fruits. Bakery is the second ripest segment.

5. Ford Tests Delivery Robots That Could One Day Replace Human Workers – Forbes

Ford is teaming up with Agility Robotics to explore a brand-new frontier in the world of autonomy with Digit, a lightweight robot capable of lifting up to 40 pounds and folding itself up to fit in the back of a self-driving vehicle.

6. China’s Luckin Coffee Raises Up to $651M in Upsized US IPO – TechCrunch

Despite concern at its high losses and little chance of near-term profitability, Luckin seems to have been greeted positively by investors.

7. KIND Announces Move into Frozen Foods – NOSH

The brand is launching Frozen Creamy Almond Bars exclusively at Wal-Mart. It does not contain artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols or genetically engineered ingredients.

8. Whole Foods Will Ban Plastic Straws & Offer Smaller Produce Bags – CNN

The retailer will stop offering plastic straws across all 500 stores in the US, UK and Canada. It will instead offer paper straws beginning in July.

9. As Meal Kit Melee Stretches on, Sun Basket Whips Up $30M Series E – TechCrunch

The round, led by PivotNorth Capital, brings the company’s total raised to $125m. Its latest infusion of capital will be used to expand their offerings to include personalized breakfast, lunch and dinner.

10. Meal Kit Maker Purple Carrot Sold to Japanese E-Grocer – Grocery Dive

The plant-based meal kit maker was acquired by Oisix ra daichi last month. The deal includes an upfront payment of $12.8m, and a potential for an additional $17m by 2021 if unspecified earnings goals are met.

11. DoorDash Takes Aim at Nearly $13B Valuation in New Funding Round – Wall Street Journal

The company’s ability to fundraise at a higher price signals investors’ confidence, despite Uber’s poor reception on Wall Street.

12. Clinc Raises $52M Series B As It Marches Toward IPO – TechCrunch

The company behind the conversational AI platform netted cash from Insight Partners, DFJ Growth, Drive Capital, Hyde Park Venture Partners and others. Clinc plans to reach 140 employees by the end of 2019.

13. Instawork Raises $18M to Match Hospitality Workers with Employers – VentureBeat

Spark Capital, GV and Burst Capital led the round. The new funding will enable it to roll out in Phoenix, Las Vegas and Chicago this year.

14. Agrilyst Raises $8M Series A, Rebrands to Artemis, Sets Sights on Enterprise-Level Indoor Farms – AgFunder

Agrilyst – which has re-branded to Artemis – has closed Series A funding co-led by Astanor Ventures and Talis Capital. The round will be focused on helping the startup secure its foothold among large-scale growers.

15. Citrus Farmers Facing Deadly Bacteria Turn to Antibiotics, Alarming Health Officials – New York Times

In its decision to approve two drugs for orange and grapefruit trees, the EPA largely ignored objections from the CDC and the FDA, which fear that expanding their use in cash crops could fuel antibiotic resistance in humans.

16. Reusable Packages Are Coming to Walgreens and Kroger – CNN

The retailers have joined the Loop platform, a service that gives shoppers the opportunity to buy products in reusable packaging. It’s launching as a pilot program in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Washington, DC.

17. Women, Women of Color & Gender Non-Conforming Innovator Database

We created this open-source list to increase representation, support and investment in women, women of color & gender-nonconforming innovators in food. Join the list & help us spread the word using #womxninfood

Our newsletter is the absolute easiest way to stay on top of the emerging sector, so sign up for it today and never miss the latest food tech and innovation news and trends, Already signed up? Share the love with your friends and colleagues!

The post Impossible Foods Launches Sausage, US Organic Sales Reach $52.5B in 2018 + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Image Source: Amazon

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

Amazon’s physical retail strategy shifted in a major way this week when the retail giant announced that it will be launching a new grocery format, separate from Whole Foods, and shutting down its 87 pop-up locations. In the UK, Marks & Spencer closed a $944 million partnership with Ocado to propel its online food delivery capabilities.

In CPG news, Chilean startup NotCo closed a $30 million round from the Jeff Bezos Fund in order to expand its vegan mayos into the U.S. and Mexico. Once Upon a Farm has launched a line of baby purees that are WIC-approved in West Virginia and Florida. Clif Bar released a statement challenging KIND bar to follow its lead in transitioning to organic ingredients.

And finally, Corelle Brands has merged with Instant Brands to form a combined entity worth more than $2 billion.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

_______________

1. Introducing Biodiversity: The Intersection of Taste & Sustainability

We interviewed 45+ CEOs, execs, farmers and investors about the role biodiversity plays in our food industry.

2. Amazon to Launch New Grocery-Store Business – Wall Street Journal

Amazon is planning to open dozens of grocery stores in several major US cities separate from Whole Foods, with its first outlet planned to open in Los Angeles at the end of next year. The company is also exploring the idea of purchasing regional grocery stores.

3. Chile: Vegan Startup Secures $30M from Jeff Bezos Fund – LiveKindly

NotCo has secured funding from the Craftory, a new fund co-founded by Elio Leoni Sceti and Bezos Expeditions. It plans to use funding to develop more products and expand its distribution to Mexico and the US later this year.

4. UK: Marks & Spencer Makes Deal with Ocado for Online Food Delivery – Forbes

The UK retailer will create a joint venture with Ocado Group. Through the $944m deal, Marks & Spencer will own 50% of the online delivery company.

5. Owners of Instant Pot, Corelle to Merge – Wall Street Journal

Instant Brands is merging with Corelle Brands for an undisclosed sum. The combined companies would be valued at more than $2b.

6. Garner, Foraker Launch Baby Food for Supplemental Nutrition Program – Nosh

The company has launched a line of baby food purees that meet the guidelines for the WIC in West Virginia and Florida, which has the potential to help 125k children.

7. An Open Invitation to KIND Bar from Clif Bar – Clif Bar

The company is challenging KIND bar to join it in using organic ingredients, offering its expertise.

8. Amazon to Shut All US Pop-Up Stores as It Rethinks Physical Retail Strategy – Wall Street Journal

The retail giant plans to close 87 pop-up locations, ending a year-long experiment, by April.

9. India: Zomato to Sell UAE Food Delivery Business for $172M – New York Times

Zomato will continue to run the business on its own platform.

10. UK: Samsung Fast-Tracks Entry into Food Tech with Acquisition of Whisk – The Spoon

The deal brings Whisk into the fold via Samsung Next, the company’s software and services innovation hub. Financial terms were not disclosed. Whisk powers commerce from within the recipes of publishers.

11. General Mills Has a Plan to Regenerate 1M Acres of Farmland – Fast Company

One of the largest food companies in the US is calling for farming practices that keep carbon trapped in the earth and create healthy, rich soil.

12. Tyson Bets on Omnivores with New Alternative Protein Business – Bloomberg

The company plans to accelerate and develop its own alternative-protein business line. Every kind of protein is on the table, from legumes and peas to mushrooms and insects.

13. Why Mondelēz, the Snacking Giant Behind Oreo and Wheat Thins, Is Taking on Gut Health – Forbes

The world’s largest snacking company has purchased a minority stake in Uplift Food, a startup that sells a powdered daily fiber supplement infused with prebiotics and probiotics, for an undisclosed sum.

14. Women, Women of Color & Gender Non-Conforming Innovator Database

We created this open-source list to increase representation, support and investment in women, women of color & gender-nonconforming innovators in food. Join the list & help us spread the word using #womxninfood

Our newsletter is the absolute easiest way to stay on top of the emerging sector, so sign up for it today and never miss the latest food tech and innovation news and trends, Already signed up? Share the love with your friends and colleagues!

The post Amazon Launches New Grocery Format, NotCo Raises $30M from Jeff Bezos Fund + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Image source: Bloomberg | Photographer: Al Drago

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

As part of biodiversity month here at Food+Tech Connect, we’ve launched an editorial series featuring interviews with over 45 CEOs, execs, farmers and investors. Join us on Tuesday, February 19th to hear from CEOs and COOs of Row 7, Alpha Food Labs, Kuli Kuli and Tender Greens as they take a deep dive into their supply chains and business strategies.

There is a lot happening on the retail front. Autonomous delivery startup Nuro has closed a $940 million round led by Softbank to scale up its fleet of self-driving bots. Whole Foods has just raised its prices on hundreds of items due to inflation. Other retailers are beginning to follow suit.

Postmates has officially filed for IPO, following Uber’s footsteps. In response, DoorDash is arming itself with more funding, with aims to raise $500 million to reach $6 billion in valuation.

And finally, the long-awaited policy proposal for the Green New Deal from Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and Ed Markey has finally surfaced—and it aims to turn US agriculture into a positive force for climate change and social justice.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

_______________

1. Introducing Biodiversity: The Intersection of Taste & Sustainability

We interviewed 45+ CEOs, execs, farmers and investors about the role biodiversity plays in our food industry. Read this week’s published responses from Arabella Advisors, MAD, Sweetgreen, Believe in Bambara and GODAN.

2. Food Biodiversity: Where Flavor & Sustainability Meet

Join us to hear how game-changing startups are creating a more biodiverse food system at our February Food+Tech Meetup. CEOs and COOs from Row 7, Alpha Food Labs, Kuli Kuli and Tender Greens will do a deep dive into their business models and supply chains.

3. SoftBank’s Next Bet: $940M into Autonomous Delivery Startup Nuro – TechCrunch

The investment will be used to expand its delivery service, add new partners, hire employees and scale up its fleet of self-driving bots. The company partnered in 2018 with Kroger to pilot a delivery service in Arizona.

4. Food Delivery Pioneer Postmates Files to Go Public – Bloomberg

The company could be valued at more than $1.85b in its listing. It is working with JPMorgan and Bank of America on its IPO.

5. Amazon Slashed Prices at Whole Foods. Now They’re Climbing Back Up. – Wall Street Journal

Whole Foods raised prices from 10 cents to several dollars as suppliers have boosted their prices in the face of growing costs. Retailers across the spectrum are starting to pass along similar price increases in response to the growing signs of inflation.

6. What the New Green Deal Means for the Food on Your Plate – Civil Eats

The long-awaited policy proposal from Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and Ed Markey has finally surfaced—and it aims to turn US agriculture into a positive force for climate change and social justice.

7. A Structural Bias Harms Women-Led Enterprises and the Agrifood Issues They Are Working to Solve. We Want to Know What That Costs Us. – New Food Economy

The New Food Economy, AgFunder and Karen Karp & Partners investigate the funding gaps for women founders across the food and agriculture sectors.

8. Delivery Startup DoorDash Reaches for Over $6B Valuation in New Funding – Wall Street Journal

The company is arming itself with more private capital as rivals Uber and Postmates are planning IPOs.

9. Thiel-Backed Breakout Ventures Invests in Phylagen $14M Series A with Cultivian, AgFunder for Microbe-Based Traceability – AgFunder

Funding will be used to expand Phylagen’s microbial forensics service and to grow its microbiome database.

10. Cork-Born Startup Raises Further $34M to Bring Cow-Free Milk to Market – Irish Times

The round was led by Horizons Ventures, Temasek Holdings and ADM Capital. The company uses bioengineered yeast to produce real milk protein. It aims to go to market within a few years.

11. Honest Company Co-Founder Christopher Gavigan Has a New, Newly Funded, CBD Startup Called Prima – TechCrunch

Lerer Hippeau led the $3.3m seed round, with participation from Greycroft and others. The company plans to sell cosmetic and edible products directly through its education-driven website. Ingestible products include soft gel and powder blends for immunity, sleep and energy.

12. Plummeting Insect Numbers ‘Threaten Collapse of Nature’ – The Guardian

More than 40% of insect species are declining and a third are endangered. At this rate, insects could vanish within a century.

13. This Startup Is Trader Joe’s Meets Costco, with a Splash of Brandless – Fast Company

A $59 yearly membership on Public Goods gets you access to clean personal care products, ethically sourced household goods and organic food items at drastically low prices.

14. Women, Women of Color & Gender Non-Conforming Innovator Database

We created this open-source list to increase representation, support and investment in women, women of color & gender-nonconforming innovators in food. Join the list & help us spread the word using #womxninfood

Our newsletter is the absolute easiest way to stay on top of the emerging sector, so sign up for it today and never miss the latest food tech and innovation news and trends, Already signed up? Share the love with your friends and colleagues!

The post Postmates Files for IPO, What the Green New Deal Means for Food, + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Source: The Verge

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

Today, the five-year partnership between Whole Foods and Instacart officially ended. The first group of 1,415 Instacart workers will be pulled out of 76 Whole Foods locations in February.

Plant-based and cultured meat startups are neck and neck with the latest steak-making technology. JUST is working on an affordable Wagyu beef, and Aleph Farms has developed the first steak grown in a lab.

In other news, two-year-old agtech startup Bowery Farming has closed a $90 million round led by Google Ventures to expand its farms in the United States and internationally. Congress voted to pass the U.S. Farm Bill, officially legalizing hemp. Farmers and food makers are now preparing to meet a growing industry that is said to hit $22 billion by 2022.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

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1. Amazon Has Officially Killed the Whole Foods-Instacart Partnership – Recode

Instacart will begin pulling the first group of workers out of Whole Foods locations in February.

2. Uber CEO and Alphabet Invest in Urban Farming Startup – Bloomberg

Bowery Farming has raised $90m to open new farms in the US and internationally. The round was led by Google Ventures with participation from Temasek, Uber’s CEO, Almanac Insights, First Round Capital, GGV Capital and General Catalyst.

3. Farm Bill to Help Hemp Grow into a Multibillion-Dollar Industry – The Fern

Farmers and food makers will soon be able to legally grow, process and ship hemp across state lines and meet demand for a soaring market in products made with CBD. The industry could hit $22b by 2022.

4. Farm Bill Headed to Trump after Landslide house Approval – Politico

The compromise bill was stripped of every controversial House GOP proposal on SNAP.

5. Waitr Acquires Bite Squad for $321M, Expanding Footprint to 500 Cities, 22 States – The Advocate

The deal is its third and largest acquisition since being founded, and the first since it began trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange.

6. Constellation Pours $100M into Female-Led Alcohol Brands – Food Dive

As of now, the beverage and tobacco manufacturing industry is composed of about 80% male executives. Its first investments were made to Austin Cocktails and Vivify Beverages.

7. Nutella Maker Ferrero in Race to Buy Campbell’s International Business – Reuters

The Italian group is working on a possible deal, which could amount to more than $2b.

8. The Growth of AI and the U.S. Food System

A new report called Refresh: Food and Tech, from Soil to Supper, highlights more than 20 digital platforms and artificial intelligence algorithms being adopted across the U.S. food supply chain by farmers, distributors, grocers, retailers, and consumers.

9. Whole Foods Ranked Worst on Cancer-Linked Package Chemicals – Bloomberg

In response, the company has removed all coated paper products in question and has started a search for new biodegradable packaging.

10. Online Liquor Store Drizly Just Landed $34.5M in Fresh Funding – TechCrunch

Polaris Partners led the investment. The company now works with 1k liquor stores across the US and Canada.

11. Zymergen Raises $400M Series C in Largest Ever Upstream AgriFood Tech Deal in US – AgFunder

Funding was led by SoftBank Vision Fund. The startup engineers microbes to replace environmentally-damaging inputs and harmful additives. It plans to invest in enhancing its platform to double capacity.

12. The Meat Growing in This San Francisco Lab Will Soon Be Available at Restaurants – Fast Company

JUST is now producing real meat grown in bioreactors. Next up is affordable Wagyu beef.

13. From Grass-Fed to Lab-Grown: How Meat Is Evolving – Wall Street Journal

Israeli-based Aleph Farms has created the world’s first steak grown in a lab. We get a taste.

14. Farm Bill Includes $125M for Food Waste Reduction – Food Dive

The USDA will develop strategies for implementing municipal compost plans and food waste reduction plans in 10 states through 2023. It will also establish a food lost and waste reduction liaison.

15. Amazon Targets Airports for Checkout-Free Store Expansion – Reuters

The retailer is evaluating top US airports for new locations.

16. Trump Administration Rolls Back Obama-Era Rules for School Lunches – New York Times

The Department of Agriculture announced its plans to lower nutritional standards for grains, flavored milks and sodium in school cafeterias.

17. Women, Women of Color & Gender Non-Conforming Innovator Database

We created this open-source list to increase representation, support and investment in women, women of color & gender-nonconforming innovators in food. Join the list & help us spread the word using #womxninfood

18. Join the Alpha Food Labs Community

We’re rethinking the way food is made, starting with community. The Alpha Community. Join us to help develop, test, and get early access to food designed for your tastes and values.

Our newsletter is the absolute easiest way to stay on top of the emerging sector, so sign up for it today and never miss the latest food tech and innovation news and trends, Already signed up? Share the love with your friends and colleagues!

The post Amazon Ends Whole Foods-Instacart Partnership, JUST to Bring Cultured Wagyu to Japan + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Source: The Kroger Co.

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

A new report called Refresh: Food and Tech, from Soil to Supper, highlights more than 20 digital platforms and artificial intelligence algorithms being adopted across the U.S. food supply chain by farmers, distributors, grocers, retailers, and consumers.

Campbell’s has completed the sale of Bolthouse Farms, continuing its retreat from the fresh food industry. CBD companies are gearing up for the official legalization of hemp in the 2018 Farm Bill. Boston-based Chew Innovation acquired Pilotworks and is relaunching as Nursery in its Brooklyn space this week.

And finally, Kroger recently added produce and meal kits to Walgreens stores near the grocer’s Cincinnati headquarters.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

_______________

1. The Growth of AI and the U.S. Food System

A new report called Refresh: Food and Tech, from Soil to Supper, highlights more than 20 digital platforms and artificial intelligence algorithms being adopted across the U.S. food supply chain by farmers, distributors, grocers, retailers, and consumers.

2. Campbell Launches Sale of Bolthouse Farms Business – CNBC

Campbell Soup will send out the financial books for carrot and smoothie company Bolthouse Farms to potential buyers Monday. Prospective buyers are looking to see if expertise in fresh food can help them turn Bolthouse around.

3. Kroger to Sell Groceries in Walgreens Stores – Wall Street Journal

The 4k-square-foot Kroger Express sections will open by early next year in 13 Walgreens stores near the grocer’s Cincinnati headquarters.

4. Can We Grow More Food on Less Land? We’ll Have To, a New Study Finds – New York Times

To make meaningful progress on climate change, cows and wheat fields will have to become radically more efficient.

5. France: Agricool Raises Another $28M to Grow Fruits in Containers – TechCrunch

Bpifrance, Danone Manifesto Ventures, Marbeuf Capital, Solomon Hykes and other business angels participated. The company is working on containers to grow fruits and vegetables in urban areas, starting with strawberries.

6. Meal Kit Sales Will Slow in the Coming Years – Grocery Dive

The meal kit industry will continue to expand through 2023 but growth will slowly decline. In-store and non-subscription online order meal kits will be preferred, going from being a premium product to a convenience item.

7. CBD Companies Prepare for Hemp Legalization in Farm Bill – Forbes

Despite the delay in this year’s farm bill, one thing is clear: hemp and hemp-derived CBD is likely to become federally legal in the US.

8. Pilotworks’ NY Space Re-born as Nursery, Invites Former Tenants Back – The Spoon

The team at Chew announced today that is is opening a new food and beverage incubator called Nursery in the former Pilotworks Brooklyn location.

9. Israeli Food Tech Firm InnovoPro Raises $4.25M for Chickpea Protein Innovation – Food Ingredients First

Migros and Erel Margalit of Jerusalem Venture Partners led the round. InnovoPro will use the new capital to scale its production, support sales and expand into strategic global markets.

10. Kroger to Sell Groceries in Walgreens Stores – Wall Street Journal

The 4k-square-foot Kroger Express sections will open by early next year in 13 Walgreens stores near the grocer’s Cincinnati headquarters.

11. Sweetgreen Is Opening Up Order-Ahead Locations Inside WeWork – TechCrunch

Sweetgreen is expanding on a pilot program with WeWork that provides free delivery to WeWork members.

12. Amazon Tests Its Cashierless Technology for Bigger Stores – Wall Street Journal

The online giant is attempting to overcome challenges caused by retail spaces with higher ceilings and more products.

13. Women, Women of Color & Gender Non-Conforming Innovator Database

We created this open-source list to increase representation, support and investment in women, women of color & gender-nonconforming innovators in food. Join the list & help us spread the word using #womxninfood

14. Join the Alpha Food Labs Community

We’re rethinking the way food is made, starting with community. The Alpha Community. Join us to help develop, test, and get early access to food designed for your tastes and values.

Our newsletter is the absolute easiest way to stay on top of the emerging sector, so sign up for it today and never miss the latest food tech and innovation news and trends, Already signed up? Share the love with your friends and colleagues!

The post Chew Relaunches Pilotworks as Nursery, Kroger to Sell Groceries in Walgreens + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Source: Fast Company

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has announced plans to rapidly expand Amazon Go stores, opening up to 3,000 locations by 2021. The company is experimenting with the convenient store format that aims to meat the demand of the mealtime rush.

Food delivery service Postmates has closed a $300 million round led by Tiger Global to advance its technology and explore robots and automation.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

Are you a female or gender non-conforming innovator? Add your name to the list: http://bit.ly/womxninfood

_______________

1. Join the Alpha Food Labs Community

We’re rethinking the way food is made, starting with community. The Alpha Community. Join us to help develop, test, and get early access to food designed for your tastes and values.

2. Women Innovating Food

Join us for a discussion on the unique ways women are transforming our food system with Elly Truesdell of Canopy Foods, Valerie Christy of Almanac Insights, Jessamyn Rodriguez of Hot Bread Kitchen and Kimberly Chou of Equity at the Table & Food Book Fair. We’ll also have food and drinks from women-owned businesses.

3. Amazon Will Consider Opening Up to 3K Cashierless Stores by 2021 – Bloomberg

Jeff Bezos sees eliminating meal-time logjams in busy cities as the best way for Amazon to reinvent the brick-and-mortar shopping experience, where most spending still occurs.

4. Tiger Global Leads $300M Investment in Postmates Delivery – Bloomberg

The investment values Postmates at about $1.2b. With the new funding, Postmates plans to advance the technology its restaurant merchants use at point-of-sale. It is also researching ways to use automation and robots to make cheaper and faster deliveries.

5. Indigo Raises $250M, Launches Marketplace to Help Farmers Get Paid for Quality Grain – TechCrunch

Existing investors Baillie Gifford, the Alaska Permanent Fund, the Investment Corporation of Dubai and Flagship Pioneering participated in the round. Using Indigo Marketplace, buyers can purchase grain directly from farmers.

6. Coca-Cola Is Eyeing the Cannabis Market – Bloomberg

Coca-Cola says it’s monitoring the nascent industry and is interested in drinks infused with CBD. The soft drinks maker is in talks with Canadian marijuana producer Aurora Canabis to develop the beverages.

7. Walmart to Acquire Mexico & Chile-Focused Grocery Delivery Service Cornershop For $225M – TechCrunch

Cornershop is a startup that runs marketplaces, through an app, for on-demand delivery from supermarkets, pharmacies and other food retailers in Mexico and Chile. It recently raised $21m in a Series B funding round in 2017.

8. India: Walmart Got Flipkart but Amazon Now Has More – Quartz

Amazon has acquired a stake in food and grocery retail chain More. The deal is estimated at $582m.

9. Milk & Eggs Raises $6M Seed Funding for ‘Made-to-Order’ Online Farmers Market – AgFunder

Morningside Venture Capital led the funding, which will be used to fund its growth and improve on customer experience.

10. $3M Grant Program Plants Seed Money to Grow More Meat without Animals – Forbes

The Good Food Institute announced a grant program for universities and startups working on plant-based and cultured meat research with the goal of creating new technologies and ingredients used by all.

12. Treez Raises $11.5M Series A for Cannabis Point of Sale Software – AgFunder

The round was led by Intrinsic Capital Partners. It will be used to expand its team, explore and invest in beneficial partnerships as well as to bring more creative retail management solutions to the industry.

13. Aldi Is Rolling Out Grocery Delivery Across the US in a Direct Assault Against Walmart, Amazon and Kroger – Business Insider

Aldi is expanding grocery delivery nationwide through a partnership with Instacart. It is also launching a test of curbside pickup.

14. India: Ola Enters a Third International Market with a Bigger War Chest – Quartz

Just a month after its last funding round, Ola has raised $50m from Sailing Capital and the China-Eurasian Economic Cooperation Fund. The company will now enter its third foreign market—New Zealand.

15. UK: Vegan Meal Delivery Startup Allplants Is Served £7.5M Series A Funding – TechCrunch

The round is led by VC firm Octopus Ventures. It will use the investment to develop a broader range of ready-to-eat food, accelerate the growth of its community, further grow its team and expand the capacity of its production kitchen.

16. JUST Gears Up for Late 2018 Cell-Based Meat Launch, but Says More Meaningful Quantities Are 2-3 Years Out – Food Navigator

The ‘KFC-style’ ground chicken product will be tested at a restaurant outside of the US to test consumer reactions.

17. Amazon Launches Storefronts to Give 20K Small Businesses a Bigger Spotlight – TechCrunch

The portal celebrates mom-and-pop shops and other smaller merchants that sell through the platform.

Our newsletter is the absolute easiest way to stay on top of the emerging sector, so sign up for it today and never miss the latest food tech and innovation news and trends, Already signed up? Share the love with your friends and colleagues!

The post Amazon to Open 3K Go Stores by 2021, Postmates Closes $300M Round + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Source: DNA India

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

After 12 years of leading PepsiCo towards healthier brand strategy, CEO Indra Nooyi is stepping down from her role and being replaced by President Ramon Laguarta.

Albertsons has joined forces with Greycroft to launch a $50 million VC fund for grocery tech startups. As the demand for healthier and fresher food intersects with the desire of busy consumers for portion-sized grab-and-go items, the store perimeter is increasingly where it’s at for health-conscious snackers.

And finally, SoftBank has plans to pour $750 million into Zume, the maker of robot pizzas.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

_______________

1. PepsiCo’s Nooyi to Exit, Thinning the Ranks of US Female CEOs – Bloomberg

President Ramon Laguarta will take over the role in October, but Nooyi will remain as PepsiCo’s chairwoman until early 2019.

2. Albertsons and Greycroft Form Venture Fund for Grocery Tech Startups – The Spoon

The partnership has formed a $50m fund to invest in emerging companies and technologies in the grocery sector.

3. SoftBank in Talks to Invest Up to $750M in Zume, the Startup That Sells Robot-Made Pizza – Bloomberg

Zume owns a patent for delivery trucks capable of cooking food while it’s en route to customers. The investment shows SoftBank’s Vision Fund’s broader ambitions to attach itself to the food delivery businesses.

4. Fresh Snacking Makes the Perimeter Even More Central to Grocery Store Success – New Hope Network

As the demand for healthier and fresher food intersects with the desire of busy consumers for portion-sized grab-and-go items, the store perimeter is increasingly where it’s at for health-conscious snackers.

5. Flagship’s Latest Venture Inari Raises $40m Series B to “Transform Plant Breeding” – AgFunder

Inari has raised $40m in Series B funding from Acre Venture Partners and Alexandria Venture Investments. The company will use this funding to accelerate the business and add to its team of more than 80 scientists, statisticians, engineers and advisors.

6. Walmart and JD.com Invest $500M in a Chinese Online Delivery Company – CNBC

JD Daojia delivers goods from local supermarkets and other partners via a location-based smartphone app and has about 20m monthly active users.

7. Albertsons and Rite Aid Cancel Merger Amid Shareholder Opposition – Food Dive

Shareholders were set to vote on the acquisition today, but the deal was called off due to mounting opposition. For Albertsons, this marks yet another failed attempt at becoming a publicly traded company.

8. Alibaba Merging China Food Delivery Units to Counter Tencent-Backed Meituan – Reuters

The Alibaba units to be merged include food delivery platform Ele.me and food and lifestyle services firm Koubei. Alibaba is looking to raise between $3b and $5b for the combined entity.

9. Robot Coffee Chain Cafe X Is Almost Done Raising $12M – Crunchbase

Recent regulatory filings suggest that Cafe X is slurping down up to $12m in a Seed-1 led by Jason Calacanis and Craft Ventures.

10. Starbucks Drops Major Hint at Plans to Accept Bitcoin – TechCrunch

ICE officially announced the creation of Bakkt to help trade and convert the best known cryptocurrency to government-backed legal tender. Starbucks referred to itself as the flagship retailer involved in the project.

11. Good Catch Reels in Investment – Project Nosh

The plant-based seafood company announced the close of an $8.7m series A led by New Crop Capital with participation from PHW Group, Thrive Market and Fresh Direct. It plans to enter the retail market in the last quarter of 2018.

12. UK: RootWave Raises $2.5M for Herbicide Alternative – AgFunder

The company has raised $1m in seed funding from angel investors and The Yield Lab, as well as a $1.5m grant from the EU’s Horizons 2020 initiative. It is planning to launch next year by integrating its technology into automated weeders attached to tractors.

13. AgFunder Invests in Foodtech Startup Chinova Bioworks’ $2M Round With DSM, Rhapsody – AgFunder

Chinova Bioworks creates a customizable natural preservative using chitosan extracted from mushrooms. Funding will be used to scale production and build its team.

14. Focus Brands to Buy Jamba Juice for $200M – Nation’s Restaurant News

Atlanta-based Focus Brands is the parent company to Carvel, Moe’s Southwest Grill, McAlister’s Deli, Auntie Anne’s, Cinnabon and Schlotzsky’s. Jamba Juice has more than 800 locations worldwide.

Our newsletter is the absolute easiest way to stay on top of the emerging sector, so sign up for it today and never miss the latest food tech and innovation news and trends, Already signed up? Share the love with your friends and colleagues!

The post PepsiCo’s Indra Nooyi Resigns, Albertsons & Greycroft Launch $50M VC Fund, Zume to Raise $750M + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Source: Forbes

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

CPG companies are on the move. Califia Farms is expanding its plant-based empire with a $50 million investment. Nature’s Path has officially left the Organic Trade Association, concerned by support of the GMO labeling law and hydroponics. Dirty Lemon has hopped on the CBD train. Nestle is in talks to acquire Canadian pet food maker Champion Petfood for more than $2 billion.

At Whole Foods, hundreds of layoffs have upset workers and led to calls for unionization. Under Amazon, Whole Foods has also drawn ire from its suppliers, especially small artisans that are hit especially hard by the higher fees and Prime discounts. Amazon has super-sized its second grab-and-go grocery store in Seattle, which is set to be 70% larger at 3,000 square feet.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

_______________

1. Califia Farms Raises $50M+ to Expand Its Plant-Based Empire – Food Navigator

Ambrosia Investments, Sun Pacific and Stripes Group led the investment. The capital will be used to expand its manufacturing facility and further develop go-to-market capabilities for commercializing recent launches.

2. Nature’s Path Foods Leaves the Organic Trade Association – Baking Business

The move follows the company voicing concerns that the OTA has shifted its commitment away from organic products due to a misrepresentation of organic food companies, its support of a GMO labeling law and of hydroponics being allowed to fall under the organic certification label.

3. Dirty Lemon Just Hopped on the CBD Train with Its Latest Tropical-Inspired Elixir – Well + Good

The elixir—which is fit to tackle anxiety, diffuse stress, decrease muscle and joint pain, calm acne and improve sleep quality—includes 20mg of full-spectrum cannabidiol. Dirty Lemon aims to launch a new flavor every month.

4. Nestlé in Talks to Buy Pet Food Maker for $2B – Wall Street Journal

Nestlé SA is angling to take control of Canada’s Champion Petfood as it seeks out higher-growth businesses to help offset its struggling packaged foods operations.

5. Dean Foods Acquires Majority Share of Good Karma – Project Nosh

Dean Foods, one of the largest dairy companies in the US, has increasingly looked to diversify its portfolio beyond cow’s milk products and position itself further into the natural food space. Financial terms were not disclosed.

6. Singapore: Warburg Pincus-Backed Trax Raises $125M Pre-IPO Funding – Bloomberg

Funding was led by Boyu Capital. The IPO could take place in the next 18 to 24 months and the company is already in talks with both the Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange. Trax is a startup serving the retail industry valued at $1b.

7. New Era at Amazon’s Whole Foods Grates on Some Suppliers, Employees – Wall Street Journal

Suppliers fight fees, while workers push to unionize a year after the merger.

8. DroneDeploy Raises $25M to Help Drone Operators Capture and Analyze Aerial Data – VentureBeat

Funding was led by the Invenergy Future Fund, with participation from Scale Venture Partners, Uncork Capital, Emergence Capital, AngelPad and AirTree. The company plans to invest heavily in AI.

9. Kimbal Musk Backs a Restaurant Chain That Charges Lower Prices in Poor Neighborhoods – CNBC

Investors including Kimbal Musk, Acumen, Maria Shriver, TOMS Social Enterprise fund and Chipotle are pouring $5.3m into Everytable, a health-minded fast casual restaurant. Its newly raised funds should help it grow in and beyond Los Angeles.

10. Target, Walmart Automate More Store Tasks – Wall Street Journal

Target is installing cash-counting machines, and Walmart is adding shelf-scanning robots. Both chains seek to free staff to help shoppers.

11. US Senate Votes to Legalize Hemp After Decades-Long Ban Under Marijuana Prohibition – Forbes

Senators overwhelmingly approved legislation to legalize marijuana’s non-psychoactive cannabis cousin, hemp.

12. Email Reveals Who’s Really Paying for Amazon Prime’s New Discount at Whole Foods: Vendors – New Food Economy

Any 10% discount on sale items offered to Prime customers will mandatorily be charged back to the vendor. This charge makes the hit that vendors already take on sale items even bigger.

13. Grocery Giants Tesco, Carrefour Team Up Amid Amazon Threat – Wall Street Journal

Two of the world’s largest grocers will jointly source certain products at lower prices, raise quality and broaden their product offerings. The 3-year agreement will give the pair more scale in negotiations with global suppliers.

14. Amazon Will Supersize Its Second Grab-and-Go Grocery in Seattle – Fortune

The new location will be 3,000 square feet, a 70% increase in size from the first store. The larger footprint may prevent the lines outside the checkout-free store.

Our newsletter is the absolute easiest way to stay on top of the emerging sector, so sign up for it today and never miss the latest food tech and innovation news and trends, Already signed up? Share the love with your friends and colleagues!

The post Nature’s Path Foods Leaves the Organic Trade Association, Dirty Lemon Launches CBD Drink + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Source: Kroger

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

The year’s largest global food M&A deal was made by Conagra’s $10.9 billion acquisition of Pinnacle Foods. The combined companies now make up the fifth-largest packaged foods giant in the US. In other CPG news, Vita Coco acquired Runa for an undisclosed sum. The FDA has approved CBD-based drug Epidiolex, opening the floodgates for big pharma companies to enter the cannabis space.

Kroger has partnered with autonomous car company Nuro to test driverless cars for grocery delivery. Amazon has acquired PillPack for just under $1 billion in its first foray into healthcare.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

_______________

1. Kroger to Bring Driverless Cars to Grocery Delivery – CNBC

America’s largest grocery chain is partnering with autonomous car company Nuro to introduce driverless cars to its grocery delivery. The partnership comes as grocery players continue to tackle the expensive challenge of last mile delivery.

2. FDA Approves Cannabis-Based Drug for Epilepsy – NBC News

Epidiolex is made using cannabidiol, known as CBD, but doesn’t contain THC. It will be used to treat rare and severe forms of epilepsy.

3. Vita Coco Owner All Market Inc. Acquires Energy Drink Brand Runa – FoodBev

Both Vita Coco and Runa will exist as independent companies under AMI after the acquisition is complete. Financial terms were not disclosed.

4. Behind Conagra’s $10.9B Deal for Pinnacle Foods: Why the Frozen Food Aisle Is Suddenly So Hot – Forbes

The year’s largest global food M&A deal gives renewed hope to both the frozen food aisle and the major packaged foods companies upended by upstart brands. The acquisition will make the combined company the fifth-largest packaged foods giant in the US.

4. FDA Approves Cannabis-Based Drug for Epilepsy – NBC News

Epidiolex is made using cannabidiol, known as CBD, but doesn’t contain THC. It will be used to treat rare and severe forms of epilepsy.

5. Amazon Buys PillPack, an Online Pharmacy, for Just Under $1B – TechCrunch

The move signals how heated the e-health market is becoming, and how Amazon views it as a key frontier in its bid to be the go-to place for anything a consumer might want or need in the area of healthcare.

6. Senate Passes Farm Bill with Incentives for Farmers to Build Soil Health, Sequester Carbon – AgFunder

These provisions include funding for a new USDA pilot project that will incentivize farmers, through payments, to adopt agricultural practices aimed at improving soil health and sequestering organic soil carbon.

7. BrightFarms Raises $55M in New Funding Round – Wall Street Journal

The Series D round is led by Cox Enterprises Inc, with participation from Catalyst Investors, WP Global Partners and NGEN Partners. The farm plans to expand a greenhouse network that grows produce close to metropolitan areas, reducing shipping costs.

8. Cannabis-Infused Beverages Emerge as Potential Beer Industry Disruptor – Brewbound

Lagunitas Brewing Company, which has a history with marijuana and is now wholly owned by Heineken International, announced the launch of two psychedelic sparkling water products.

9. Ceres Imaging Gets $25M to Intelligently Scan Crops from Above – TechCrunch

The round was led by Insight Venture Partners with participation from Romulus Capital.  The company will continue to expand their efforts.

10. China-US Trade Tariffs May Cut US Farm Exports by 40% – Bloomberg

US soybean, cotton, beef and cereal shipments to China may each drop by 50% in value. The price of imported soybeans may rise 5.9% and imported cotton prices may increase 7.5%.

11. China’s Meituan Dianping Files for Hong Kong IPO; Seeks Over $4B – Reuters

The online food delivery platform is aiming for a $60b valuation with the IPO, which is likely to list in October.

12. Zomato in Talks to Raise $400M in Fresh Funding at $2B Valuation – Deal Street Asia

Funding will largely come from existing investors Ant Financial and Temasek as well as Alibaba Group. The development comes as competitor Swiggy on Thursday announced closing $210m, the largest by a foodtech startup.

13. Amazon Will Finish Its Nationwide Rollout of Prime Member Discounts for Whole Foods This Week – TechCrunch

By the middle of this week, all Amazon Prime members will have access to discounts at Whole Foods Market stores across the US — finishing a nationwide rollout that’s part of the retailer’s master plan to dominate physical and virtual commerce in America.

14. Walmart-Led Blockchain Effort Seeks Farm-to-Grocery-Aisle View of Food Supply Chain – Wall Street Journal

Ten of the world’s biggest companies are building a blockchain to remake how the industry tracks food worldwide. The so-called Food Trust aims to improve recalls and reduce the time consumers are at risk of illness.

15. Canada: TouchBistro Finalizes $72M Series D Round – TechVibes

The round was led by OMERS Ventures and JPMorgan Chase. The startup will use funds to develop the next iteration of its operating system as well as new kinds of payment solutions.

16. Trump Wants to Move Food Stamps to a New Agency. That Could Make the Program Easier to Overhaul – The Washington Post

Thursday’s proposal would move the $70b SNAP program out of the Department of Agriculture and into a rebranded Department of Health and Human Services.

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The post Kroger Brings Driverless Cars to Grocery, FDA Approves Cannabis-Based Epilepsy Drug + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Image source: NBC News

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

Last week, Anthony Bourdain took his life. Anthony, thank you. For your insatiable curiosity. For taking us around the world with you to learn about culture, food, and humanity. For showing us how beautiful and delicious diversity is. For challenging us to buck norms and to think bigger. For shining a light on the untold stories of those who grow and cook our food. We will miss you. RIP.

An extensive investigation by the Associated Press found that New York-based seafood distributor, Sea to Table has been marketing seafood as “local“ and “wild caught“ when some of its seafood was actually farmed or illegally caught out-of-season.

In other news, specialty foods sales surged to $140.3 billion in 2017. The category is growing faster than all food sold at retail.

Retailers continue to pair up with tech giants. This week, Google announced its foray into grocery e-commerce through its partnership with Carrefour in France. Microsoft is now working on cashier-less checkout technology in an aim against Amazon Go.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

_______________

1. Anthony Bourdain, Renegade Chef Who Reported From the World’s Tables, Is Dead at 61 – New York Times

Mr. Bourdain, who began his career as a chef, redefined the staid genres of food writing and food-tourism shows.

2. Fish Billed As Local Isn’t Always Local – AP News

Sea to Table’s yellowfin tuna has been linked to migrant fishermen in foreign waters who describe labor abuses, poaching and the slaughter of sharks, whales and dolphins. The distributor has been offering species in other parts of the country that were illegal to catch, out of season and farmed.

3. Letter From Our Founder On Recent Press Story – Sea to Table

The idea that we could be associated with an organization that engages in poor labor practices is outright horrifying to us. We would never knowingly purchase fish that doesn’t conform to our exacting standards, and are addressing these claims quickly and with a strong commitment to integrity and transparency.

4. Specialty Foods Sales Surge to Record $140.3B in 2017 – Food Dive

Specialty food sales rose 11% between 2015 and 2017. The category is growing faster than all food sold at retail, jumping 12.9% compared to 1.4%.

5. Self-Driving Robot Delivery Startup Starship Technologies Raises $25M – TechCrunch

Funding included Matrix Partners, Morpheus Ventures, Airbnb co-founder Nathan Blecharczyk, Skype founding engineer Jaan Tallinn and others. Starship plans on deploying robots in neighborhoods, corporate and university campuses in both the US and Europe.

6. Microsoft Takes Aim at Amazon with Push for Checkout-Free Retail – Reuters

Microsoft is developing systems that track what shoppers add to their carts. It has shown sample technology to retailers from around the world and has had talks with Walmart about a potential collaboration.

7. Chef’d Is Bringing Its Meal Kits to Walgreens, Duane Read – CNBC

Chef’d will bring its meal kits to 30 Walgreens and Duane Reade stores in the New York area as part of a partnership with Smithfield Foods. This is one of the first instances of a meal kit company partnering with a drugstore chain.

8. Google Enters Deal With Carrefour to Sell Food Online in France – Bloomberg

Alphabet Inc’s Google entered a deal with Carrefour to sell groceries online in France through its platforms including Home, Assistant and the Google shopping destination in France.

9. Ford’s ‘Self-Driving’ Vans Are Now Delivering Food in Miami – The Verge

Ford has retrofitted a fleet of its Transit vans with touchpad-accessible lockers, from which Postmates customers with the right access code can retrieve their food. The pilot is underway with over 70 businesses participating.

10. Deliveroo Fattens Its Market Presence by Opening to Restaurants That Do Deliveries – TechCrunch

Next month, the company will launch a new service called Marketplace+ in seven of its markets, onboarding restaurants that do their own food deliveries to its platform and offering them the ability to tap into Deliveroo’s network of riders.

11. Sfoglini Completes $2.5M Financing Round Led by Almanac Insights to Fuel Its Organic Pasta Empire – Food Navigator

The partnership with David Barber’s investment fund will enable the company to scale from a small Brooklyn startup to a large-scale production facility.

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The post Remembering Anthony Bourdain, Sea to Table Accused of Mislabeling Fish + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Source: Go Dairy Free

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

The farm bill became a bargaining chip in the heated intraparty battle over immigration on the House floor Friday. A revote is set to occur on June 22nd.  The USDA revealed prototypes for GMO labels, which appear more like propaganda for the industry.

In CPG news, Rebbl has raised $20 million to expand into big box retailers. Campbell’s CEO Denise Morrison suddenly stepped down after her bet on fresher foods failed to revive sales.

Meal kits are moving in-store–Blue Apron is rolling out a national series of pop-up events, and Kroger is buying Home Chef for up to $700 million.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

_______________

1. House Farm Bill Collapses Amid Republican Disarray – New York Times

A rebellion from conservative lawmakers sank a vast farm policy bill on the House floor Friday amid a fight over how to proceed on immigration.

2. USDA Unveils Prototypes for GMO Food Labels, and They’re…Confusing – NPR

The labels use the letters BE, for bioengineered, not GMO, which critics say could baffle consumers. One design features a smiling sun that a skeptic calls propaganda for the industry.

3. Herb-Infused Coconut Milk Rebbl Raises $20M from Cavu Venture Partners – CNBC

The company will use new funds for marketing, innovation and moving into more convenient retailers including Safeway and Stop N Shop. The new investment values it at close to $100m.

4. Campbell CEO Departs After Bet on Fresh Food Falls Short – Wall Street Journal

Denise Morrison stepped down on Friday, and the company said it might sell some brands, after a bet on fresher foods under her leadership failed to revive sales.

5. Amazon Go — a Cashierless Version of 7-Eleven — Is Expanding to San Francisco and Chicago– Recode

Recode previously reported that the company planned to open up to six new locations this year.

6. Blue Apron Goes All-Out on Brick and Mortar – Retail Leader

A week after announcing it would sell its meal kits at Costco, the company isrolling out a national series of pop-up events intended to bring communities across the country together in celebration of home cooking.

7. UK: Whisk, the Smart Food Platform That Makes Recipes Shoppable, Acquires Competitor Avocando – TechCrunch

Whisk is acquiring the tech, customer base, integrations and team for an undisclosed sum. The UK startup has a B2B data platform to power food apps.

8. PayPal Just Dropped $2.2 Billion to Compete With Square in Restaurants and Cafes – Skift Table

PayPal is buying Swedish small-business platform iZettle for $2.2b to expand in Europe and Latin America and increase its presence in brick and mortar stores.

9. Kroger to Buy Home Chef in Latest Move to Get Meal Kits in Grocery Stores – CNBC

The initial price is $200m and could go up to $700m over the next five years in exchange for Home Chef meeting certain milestones, including significant growth of in-store and online meal kit sales.

10. Crowd Cow, Offering Ranch to Table Meats, Picks Up $8M from Madrona, Ashton Kutcher – TechCrunch

Crowd Cow plans to use the funding to continue expansion into different proteins and new markets, as well as opening new distribution centers to speed up delivery to customers.

11. Deliveroo Announces £5M ‘Innovation Fund’ to Support UK Restaurants – CateringToday

The company aims to bring in new menus and measures that will be more compatible with the delivery app. It is also looking into ways to fund more ‘dark kitchens’ that allow chefs and restaurants to cook meals for delivery only.

12. High Brew Coffee Closes ‘ Non-Traditional’ $20M Funding Round – Food Navigator

The investment was led by Charles Street Partners and will go towards digital advertizing and furthering its Amazon partnership.

13. EAT Club Acquires Healthy Food Startup Farm Hill – TechCrunch

The corporate lunch service with a customer base that includes Flipboard, Mastercard and TaskRabbit has acquired Farm Hill, a lunch box delivery service, to solidify and expand its presence in the Bay Area. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

14. Denmark: Connecterra Raises €4.2M Series A for AI-powered Dairy Tech – AgFunder

The round was led by Sistema VC with new investment from AgFunder, 7 Percent Ventures, Acequia Capital, and industry veteran Henk Bles. Connecterra will use the funding to further develop its technology, expand into new markets and grow its team.

15. France: Algaia Raises €4M to Expand Algae Product Portfolio and Extraction Technology – AgFunder

Maabarot Products invested the additional equity capital to support Algaia’s expansion of its production facility and innovation center. The company manufactures algae-based products for agriculture feed, personal care and nutraceutical industries.

16. The Impossible Burger Is Officially Certified Kosher – Grub Street

Jewish people who keep kosher can finally sink their teeth into “bleeding” plant burgers.

17. Plastic Straws Might Soon Be Banned in New York City – Grub Street

A new bill even proposes $100 fines for violators.

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The post House Farm Bill Collapses, Blue Apron Goes Brick-and-Mortar, Rebbl Raises $200M + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.