Source: Nestle

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.

Nestle is gearing up for its biggest push yet into the booming vegan market: the Incredible Burger. The Swiss giant sees its vegan business reaching $1 billion within 10 years.

In restaurant news, Beyond Meat has made its biggest restaurant partnership yet, with an expansion into 1,100 Carl’s Jr. restaurants across the US. In South Korea, the Woowa Bros have landed a $320 million investment to drive expansion overseas and further develop its autonomous robots.

And finally, Amazon plans to add more Whole Foods stores to put more customers within range of its two-hour delivery service.

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. Nestle Plans Vegan Push With No-Meat Burger, Purple Walnut Milk – Bloomberg

Seeking millennial cred with alternative proteins, the Swiss giant sees its vegan business reaching $1b within 10 years.

2. Carl’s Jr. Launches Plant-Based Burger in 1.1K Restaurants – Nation’s Restaurant News

The chain is now Beyond Meat’s largest US restaurant partner.

3. Why & How Square Roots Launched Its Transparency Timeline

Inspired by the romaine lettuce recall, Square Roots offers a deep into how its making its data accessible to customers through its transparency timeline.

4. South Korean Food Delivery Startup Woowa Bros Lands $320M Investment – Reuters

Hillhouse Capital, Sequoia Capital and GIC led the investment. The capital will help drive expansion to overseas markets and the development of autonomous robots.

5. Amazon Plans to Add Whole Foods Stores – Wall Street Journal

The push would bring Whole Foods to more suburbs and put more customers within range of Amazon’s two-hour delivery service.

6. Canadian eGrocer SPUD Raises $8.2M Pre-IPO Funding for Food-X Urban Delivery – AgFunder

Financing was led by CIC Capital Ventures and joined by existing investors including Walter Capital Partners. The funds will be used to advance Food-X Urban Delivery.

7. American Chain Restaurants Had a Tough Year and 2019 Looks Worse – Bloomberg

Higher labor and food costs could weigh down profit this year. Demanding diners want delivery and customization as habits shift.

8. American Farmers Brace for More Pain As Pacific Trade Deal Kicks in without the US – CNBC

US beef and wheat exports could especially feel the pain from this deal.

9. 119 Organizations Shaking Up the Food System in 2019 – Food Tank

Watch these 119 organizations making change in the food system.

10. Consumers Buy from Companies That Take a Stand – New Hope Network

Sixty-three percent of consumers globally prefer to buy goods and services from companies that stand for a shared purpose that reflects their personal values and beliefs, and are ditching those that don’t.

11. Grocers Could Lose Up to $700B to Alternative Channels by 2026 – Grocery Dive

As many as half of conventional grocery stores could meet their demise in the coming years as the industry continues to evolve.

12. 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 Nestle’s $1B Vegan Push, Carl’s Jr. Launches Beyond Meat + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

It’s not easy being a food innovator. There’s no road map for reinventing an industry.

That’s why we’ve teamed up with ForceBrands to celebrate failure in all its glory at Fail Friday (on a Thursday). Join us to hear stories of failure and lessons learned from top food entrepreneurs.

We will also have food from emerging brands Mademeals, Partake Foods, Brooklyn Delhi, Yumi, New York Shuk, Square Roots, Sanzo, Luke’s Lobster and Raaka Chocolate as well as festive cocktails from Pomp & Whimsy.

SCHEDULE:
6:30 – 7:30: Networking, Snacks & Drinks
7:30 – 8:30: Failure Stories & Q&A
8:30 – 9:30: More Networking

SPEAKERS:
Erin Patinkin, Co-Founder, Ovenly; Executive Producer & Co-Host, Start to Sale
Erin Patinkin is the co-founder of the award-winning bakery Ovenly and executive producer & co-host of Start to Sale on Vox. She has been recognized as one of the most “badass women” in food by Zagat and Thrillist and as “one to watch” by Conde Nast, among other accolades. Erin speaks about her work at national events, and her writing has been featured in Lucky Peach, Vice, Cherry Bombe, and in her cookbook, Ovenly: Sweet & Salty Treats from New York’s Most Creative Bakery. She has appeared in on Good Morning America, The Chew, Unique Sweets, and in Eater, Bon Appetit, Inc, Food & Wine, The New York Times.

Ben Conniff, President, Luke’s Lobster
Ben Conniff is co-founder of Luke’s Lobster, a Maine-bred lobster shack with over 30 locations across 9 US cities and internationally in Japan and Taiwan. Luke’s controls their catch all the way from the docks to the plate, meticulously preparing and handling every claw, knuckle, and tail to make the world’s best-tasting lobster roll. Ben is also the author of Real Maine Food, and has written for Saveur, GQ, Tasting Table, and more. He was named to the Inc. and Zagat “30 Under 30” lists and serves as an advisor to restaurant, fishery, and agriculture businesses. He splits his time between Brooklyn, NY, and Portland, ME.

Chitra Agrawal, Founder, Brooklyn Delhi
Starting in Brooklyn, Chitra has been cooking, teaching and writing about food inspired by her family’s recipes from India for ten years. She co-founded Brooklyn Delhi with her husband Ben Garthus in 2014 to bring the flavors she was creating to a wider audience. Chitra is the author of Vibrant India: Fresh Vegetarian Recipes from Bangalore to Brooklyn (Penguin, 2017). Prior to Brooklyn Delhi, Chitra held marketing roles at American Express and DDB and completed her MBA at NYU Stern. Brooklyn Delhi’s award-winning condiments can be found in Whole Foods nationwide and in Blue Apron meal kits and have been featured by food critics at the NY Times, Saveur, Food & Wine and more.

Dr. Nicola Nice, Founder & CEO, Pomp & Whimsy
Dr. Nicola Nice is a sociology PHD, researcher and brand consultant. She launched Pomp & Whimsy to take back the role of women as cocktail innovators overlooked by history. For Victorian women, who were the chief home distillers and recipe makers at the time, the infusion of additional fruits or botanicals into gin made for a richer sipping spirit. With Pomp & Whimsy, we set out to breathe new life into this long forgotten tradition, while simultaneously updating it for a modern palate. Bringing fancy, modernity, and dare we say it, even a touch of femininity, to this stuffy, old world spirit.

PARTNERS:

ForceBrands is the leading specialized recruiting firm for the consumer products industry — we build the teams that build the brands. Our industry-specific divisions BevForce, FoodForce, BeautyForce, and HerbForce offer executive search services, board of director assembly, and a digital job board to connect directly to qualified candidates.

We are ‘people for a hire purpose’ and strive to transform the way consumer product professionals of all levels identify employment opportunities and employers are connected to world-class talent. Go HIRE with ForceBrands.

Kickstarter is a funding platform for creative projects. We are an independent, founder-controlled company of 132 people working together in an old pencil factory in New York City. Over 10 million people, from every continent on earth, have backed a Kickstarter project from films, games, and music to art, design, and technology.

The Brooklyn Brewery is made up of a rich collection of characters from all over the world. In our Williamsburg home, these characters are dedicated to brewing and selling great beer and enriching the communities we serve. Together, these Brooklyners have assembled the skills needed to transform a home brewing hobby into an independent brewery with a brand that has become an international beacon for good beer.

The post Join us at Fail Friday (on a Thursday) December 6th! appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Cheryl Clements, Founder + CEO of PieShell
For PieShell founder Cheryl Clements, food is personal. It’s about connection. Growing up, Cheryl spent summers helping her mother run a pie-making business. Aptly named “The Pie Shell,” it was headquartered where all good startups begin: the family’s basement. It was from her Mother that Cheryl learned what it takes to build a successful food operation, but more than that, she learned how communities grow around the food that people share. A few years ago, when Cheryl thought of embarking on her own food venture, she saw a crucial need for a crowdfunding platform that addresses the unique challenges of food and beverage entrepreneurs.

The post PieShell + OurHarvest Crowdfund for Businesses Impacted by Pilotworks Shutdown appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

The gender gap is pervasive across the food industry. Women make the majority of food-purchasing decisions and represent nearly half the entry-level workforce in the food industry, yet less than a fourth of executives are women and even fewer are women of color. Women are less likely to raise capital and start food companies than men. Beyond the lack of financial support is a widespread lack of recognition and respect, which at times can go so far as sexual harassment and abuse. What can be done to move forward and uplift the women who are transforming our food system?

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.

Come network with the community and enjoy food and drinks from women-owned businesses, including: Zaam Root, The White Moustache, Eat Offbeat, Mohawk Drumlin Creamery, Sun for Soul, Pilot Kombucha, NYrture, Aida and Ulli’s Oil Mill!

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

SCHEDULE:
6:30pm – 7:30pm: Networking, Snacks + Drinks
7:30pm – 9pm: Roundtable
9pm-9:30pm: Networking, Snacks + Drinks

PANELISTS:
Elly Truesdell, Chief Strategy Officer, Canopy Foods
Elly Truesdell is Chief Strategy Officer of Canopy Foods, a Food Production Studio that offers manufacturing services and creative capital to craft unforgettable foods and build defensible brands. Truesdell built her career over 9 years at Whole Foods Market. Most recently as Global Director of Local Brands, Product Innovation & Development, Elly led strategic partnerships for local purchasing programs across the company. She offers expertise in brand development, food trends and product innovation, grown from nine years of leadership in buying and marketing at Whole Foods. Elly holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Media Studies from the University of Virginia, and moved into the food industry after volunteering on an organic vegetable farm, in Sudbury, Massachusetts. She sits on the Board of Canopy Foods, as a mentor to FOOD-X and the Chobani Food Incubator and acts as advisor to Agbotic, and Wellness in the Schools.

Valerie Christy, Senior Associate, Almanac Insights
Valerie Christy is a Senior Associate at Almanac.  After initially enrolling in the Blue Hill at Stone Barns FARMS Program in 2014, she continued to manage special projects at Blue Hill, ranging from the launch of Blue Hill’s first nationally distributed CPG product to Blue Hill’s wastED pop-ups in both New York and London. Through managing Blue Hill Yogurt—a line of savory, 100% grass-fed yogurts—Valerie experienced firsthand both the opportunities and the challenges facing early-stage food and beverage companies. Valerie launched Almanac in January 2018 with David Barber.

Jessamyn Rodriguez, Founder & CEO, Hot Bread Kitchen
Jessamyn Waldman Rodriguez is an entrepreneur and leader in the social enterprise movement. Before launching Hot Bread Kitchen, Jessamyn focused on human rights, education and immigration issues in positions at NGOs, the government and the United Nations. After receiving her Master Baker Certificate from the New School and becoming the first female baker at Daniel Boulud’s eponymous restaurant, she launched Hot Bread from her home kitchen in 2007. Jessamyn has received numerous awards and accolades, including the Global Citizen Award from the Clinton Global Initiative and Crain’s New York’s “40 Under 40.” She was named a 2016 Women of Influence by NY Business Journal and one of 2015’s “Most Innovative Women in Food” by Food & Wine and Fortune magazines. Jessamyn is the author of The Hot Bread Kitchen Cookbook, published by Clarkson Potter and named Yahoo Food’s Best Cookbook of the Year in 2015.

Kimberly Chou, Co-Director, Food Book Fair; Advisory Board Member, Equity at the Table
Kimberly Chou Tsun An is a writer, curator and event producer who lives in New York. Her writing — from interviews with rapper Nicki Minaj and painter Ellsworth Kelly to literary criticism — has appeared in publications including The Wall Street Journal, Refinery29, and Art in America. She co-directs Food Book Fair, a festival that explores contemporary issues in and around food, with an emphasis on amplifying the voices of women of color and queer folks in media.

MODERATOR:
Danielle Gould, Founder & CEO, Food+Tech Connect; Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Alpha Food Labs

HOST:

Kickstarter is a funding platform for creative projects. We are an independent, founder-controlled company of 132 people working together in an old pencil factory in New York City. Over 10 million people, from every continent on earth, have backed a Kickstarter project from films, games, and music to art, design, and technology. To date, tens of thousands of creative projects — big and small — have come to life with the support of the Kickstarter community.

SPONSORS:

Like our namesake borough, the Brooklyn Brewery is made up of a rich collection of characters from all over the world. In our Williamsburg home, these characters are dedicated to brewing and selling great beer and enriching the communities we serve. Together, these Brooklyners have assembled the skills needed to transform a home brewing hobby into an independent brewery with a brand that has become an international beacon for good beer.

The post Women Innovating Food appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Increasing demand for healthy, sustainable and personalized options has disrupted the CPG space. Big food companies are losing market share to startups with more nimble business models, greater consumer focus and faster innovation cycles. Since 2013, food and beverage startups have raised $9.5 billion across 2,100 deals globally. From direct-to-consumer functional foods to plant-based ingredient innovations, startups are radically rethinking how food products are developed, packaged and sold.

Join us to hear from some of the game-changing startups who are rethinking consumer packaged goods at our August Food+Tech Meetup. Founders will do a deep dive into their business models, approaches to product development and lessons learned. We will also have networking with the community and lots of great food and drinks to sample from, RIND Snacks, Dafero, Lavva, The Worthy Company, Masienda, Egunsi Foods, Seek Food, DIRTY LEMON, Makku and Yolélé Foods.

SCHEDULE:
6:30 – 7:15pm: Networking
7:30 – 9:00pm: Presentations + Q&A
9:00 – 9:30pm: Networking

PRESENTERS:
Zak Normandin, Co-Founder & CEO of DIRTY LEMON
In 2015 Normandin launched DIRTY LEMON, the world’s first direct-to-consumer beverage brand that sells exclusively by text message. Backed by A-List celebrities and business leaders alike, DIRTY LEMON is recognized nationally by media leaders such as Vogue, Forbes and Fast Company. In developing this proprietary technology, Normandin built a conversational commerce platform that provides effortless transactions, bypassing existing distribution inefficiencies, to improve the customer’s experience.

Victor E. Friedberg, Executive Chairman, Lavva; Co-Founder, Seed 2 Growth Ventures (S2G); Founder and Chairman of FoodShot — MoonShots for Better Food
Victor has been at the forefront of innovation, global development and sustainability for over 20 years. As Co-Founder of S2G Ventures he has been a principal force in developing the S2G mission, culture, strategy and team. Through his work, he has pioneered system investing as a strategy for investing into food and agriculture and applied this approach in building the S2G portfolio. As Managing Director, Victor lead the S2G investments into Beyond Meat, sweetgreen, Ripple, Maple Hill Creamery, Apeel Science, Ataraxis, FishPeople and Lavva. As Executive Chairman at Lavva, Victor guides forward-looking business strategy to establish pathways to brand aligned sourcing, manufacturing and new product development. He works collaboratively with the management team at Lavva to provide support for key opportunities and needs for the day-to-day execution of the business as needed.

Santiago Proaño Gómez, Brand Manager at Innovation Lab Tyson Foods
¡YAPPAH! is a new brand from Tyson Innovation Lab that exists to help fight food waste and address other sustainability challenges. ¡YAPPAH! products incorporate ingredients like upcycled proteins, and rescued vegetables and grains. These Protein Crisps are crunchy, tasty snacks that also provide the good stuff like chicken and veggies. It’s a snack that helps fights food waste AND delivers the flavor nuance of a meal.”

HOST:
Kickstarter is a funding platform for creative projects. We are an independent, founder-controlled company of 132 people working together in an old pencil factory in New York City. Over 10 million people, from every continent on earth, have backed a Kickstarter project from films, games, and music to art, design, and technology. To date, tens of thousands of creative projects — big and small — have come to life with the support of the Kickstarter community.

SPONSORS:
Like our namesake borough, the Brooklyn Brewery is made up of a rich collection of characters from all over the world. In our Williamsburg home, these characters are dedicated to brewing and selling great beer and enriching the communities we serve. Together, these Brooklyners have assembled the skills needed to transform a home brewing hobby into an independent brewery with a brand that has become an international beacon for good beer.

The post Rethinking CPG 2018 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.

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

It’s not easy being a food innovator. There’s no road map for reinventing an industry.

That’s why we’ve teamed up with ForceBrands: FoodForce | BevForce to celebrate failure in all its glory at Fail Friday (on a Wednesday). Join us to hear stories of failure and lessons learned from top food entrepreneurs.

We will also have food from emerging brands Seek Food, Lavva, HavenRow, PetPlate and drinks from Metabrew. And, as always, there will be lots of networking.

SCHEDULE:
7:00 – 7:45: Networking, Snacks & Drinks
7:45 – 8:45: Failure Stories & Q&A
8:45 – 9:30: More Networking

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS
Rita Hudetz, CEO, Hu Kitchen & Products
Rita M. Hudetz is a 2009 Yale FES/SOM Joint Degree Graduate. Rita was recently promoted to CEO of Hu Kitchen/Hu Products, a high quality/ultra unprocessed restaurant and CPG business located in NYC. She joined Hu Kitchen as Chief Commercial Officer of Hu Products in 2016, to drive expansion of their retail product line. Since 2016 she has expanded the products business nationally, launched an ecommerce platform, increased sales by 5x and introduced new products following Hu’s “no weird ingredients” mantra.

Camilla Marcus, Founder, west~bourne
west~bourne, is a healthy-minded café and takeaway shop in SoHo founded by Camilla  Marcus, an artist and cook at heart with a background in business development, law, and investing. Camilla has helped bring to life some of New York’s beloved neighborhood restaurants, including dell’anima, Riverpark, and the reopened Union Square Café.  Formerly the Director of Business Development for Union Square Hospitality Group, Camilla has also worked in real estate investing for Colony Capital and CIM Group. With west~bourne, she is now both the investor and the entrepreneur, committed to rethinking what it means to be a good neighbor through the lens of hospitality. a portion of every purchase made at west~bourne will benefit a neighboring non-profit, The Door, to fund hospitality job training for youth in our community, and we are hiring from that very program to build our team.

Renaldo Webb, Founder & CEO, PetPlate
Renaldo Webb is Founder and Chief Product Officer at PetPlate. Inspired by his dog Winston, Renaldo founded PetPlate after deciding that he did not want to feed his dog anything less than real food. After making hundreds of batches of home-cooked dog food for Winston and his pup pals, Renaldo decided to launch a pet food brand that he could proudly call his own. Prior to PetPlate, Renaldo worked at LCatterton and McKinsey & Company as a lean manufacturing consultant, where he led operational turnarounds for public and private companies. He launched PetPlate as a nationwide subscription service in early 2017, following an appearance on the hit TV show Shark Tank.

Ravi Jolly, Co-Founder & President, I Heart Keenwah
Ravi Jolly, founded I Heart Keenwah, a brand that makes delicious, nutritious, plant-based food products using top quality quinoa. In doing so, he has made a mark on the world by making organic and Fair Trade quinoa accessible, introducing many to a health-supporting protein source and sourcing quinoa in a way that is equitable to farmers.

PARTNERS:

Force Brands is a boutique recruiting and staffing agency that specializes in hiring strategies and organizational design for food and beverage companies. Force Brands includes two divisions, the newly introduced FoodForce, which focuses on hiring for the food industry and BevForce, which focuses on hiring for the beverage industry. FoodForce | BevForce is a comprehensive hiring and job search platform providing staffing resources, including: executive recruiting, interim placement, board of director assembly and targeted industry job boards.

Kickstarter is a funding platform for creative projects. We are an independent, founder-controlled company of 132 people working together in an old pencil factory in New York City. Over 10 million people, from every continent on earth, have backed a Kickstarter project from films, games, and music to art, design, and technology.

The Brooklyn Brewery is made up of a rich collection of characters from all over the world. In our Williamsburg home, these characters are dedicated to brewing and selling great beer and enriching the communities we serve. Together, these Brooklyners have assembled the skills needed to transform a home brewing hobby into an independent brewery with a brand that has become an international beacon for good beer.

The post Fail Friday (on a Wednesday): Food Startups Share Lessons Learned appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Image source: Tate’s Bake Shop

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.

We’ve released our first annual Food & Bev Startup Investment report of 2017, which saw $1.08b in venture capital investments across 99 deals. Check out our report for a deep dive into the deals and trends.

Some major acquisitions took place in the CPG space this week. Nestle is betting $7.15 billion on Starbucks to revive its coffee sales, by paying the rights to market its branded products. Mondelez has purchased Tate’s Cookies for $500 million as it seeks to address changing consumer tastes.

Meal kit are getting a boost as they move in-store. Blue Apron announced a 30% reduction in price for its meal kits sold in Costco. Chef’d announced expansion to more than a dozen retailers nationwide, including Costco, Harris Teeter, Tops, Hy-vee, Weis and Gelson’s Markets. Purple Carrot closed $4m from Del Monte.

And finally, the USDA’s long-awaited GMO label is here–term “bioengineered” will be used to label foods instead of “genetically modified”. Calorie counts are now required at thousands of restaurants, grocery stores and movie theaters.

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. 2017 US Food & Beverage Startup Investment Report – Food+Tech Connect

Introducing our first annual Food & Bev Startup Investment Report by Ryan Williams. There were $1.08b in venture capital investments across 99 deals in 2017. Check out our report for a deep dive into the deals and trends.

2. Nestle Bets $7B on Starbucks to Revive Coffee Sales – Bloomberg

Nestle will pay $7.15b for the right to market Starbucks-branded products, marrying its international distribution network with the allure of the biggest name in coffee.

3. Beloved Tate’s Cookies Has Been Scooped Up by Oreo’s Parent Company – Fast Company

Mondelez purchased Tate’s Cookies for $500m. Tate’s sales have quadrupled over the past five years. It plans to expand its distribution as a standalone business.

4. Meal Kit Maker Blue Apron Turns to Costco as Customer Growth Slows – Wall Street Journal

Blue Apron is now selling its meal kits in select Costco stores at 30% off the normal price. The company has plans to expand distribution beyond San Francisco and the Pacific Northwest in the future.

5. Chef’d Selling Meal Kits at Costco, Gelson’s, Other Retailers – Biz Journals

Helping with the retail push is Smithfield Foods, which invested $25m in Chef’d last year. The meal kit will expand to more than a dozen retailers nationwide.

6. Soft Robotics Raises $20M to Expand Operations – TechCrunch

Funding came from Scale Venture Partners, Calibrate Ventures, Honeywell Ventures and Tekfen Ventures, along with existing investors. The new round will help push Soft further into the F&B categories, along with larger presence in retail and logistics.

7. Uber Plans to Test Food Delivery by Drone in Under 30 Minutes – Bloomberg

The company plans to deliver food by drone in San Diego as part of a wide-reaching commercial test program approved by the federal government.

8. Tom Brady’s Vegan Meal-Kit Maker Gets Del Monte Capital Infusion – Bloomberg

Purple Carrot has just received $4m from Del Monte, which gives it access to a national distribution network and supply chain.

9. Square Launches Restaurant Point-of-Sale Platform – TechCrunch

Square for Restaurants handles everything from menu updates, floor layouts, employee scheduling and performance tracking to tip splitting. Restaurants no longer need a separate tablet system for Caviar.

10. Israel: Rootility Raises $10M Series C Led by ADM Capital – AgFunder

ADM’s Cibus Fund was joined by GreenSoil Investments and Middleland Capital. The startup uses root-focused plant breeding methods to increase crop yields. It plans to use the funding to scale its operations and enter new markets in Asia.

11. Bushel Raises $7M for Farm Relationship Management Tool – AgFunder

Funding came from a syndicate of individual investors in the agriculture and software industries. Since launching in June 2017, it has expanded to more than 400 elevator and ethanol plants across the US and Canada.

12. IFF Joins M&A Rush in Flavorings With $7.1B Frutarom Deal – Bloomberg

International Flavors & Fragrances jumped into a rush of dealmaking in the food-flavoring industry, agreeing to buy Israel’s Frutarom. The company is tapping the fast-growing market for natural food ingredients.

13. India: Walmart Beats Amazon in $15B Flipkart Battle – Bloomberg

The deal will give Walmart a leading position in the growing market of 1.3b people and a chance to rebuild its reputation online.

14. Mandatory GMO Labels Are Coming to Your Food – The Washington Post

Food products may be exempted from labeling if they are made with some refined GM sugars and oils, or if it contains those ingredients in certain amounts. The term “bioengineered” will be used to label foods instead of “genetically modified”.

15. Obama’s Calorie Rule Kicks in Thanks to Trump – Politico

One of Barack Obama’s top food policy rules has escaped Trump’s war on regulations. Starting Monday, calorie counts will have to be posted at thousands of restaurants, grocery stores and movie theaters.

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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.

DoorDash has swallowed another half billion dollars of capital from SoftBank, Sequoia, GIC, and Wellcome Trust. The company is making it clear that investors are buying into its delivery vision. Ford has picked Miami to be its test-bed for driverless delivery, beginning with a partnership with Domino’s and Postmates. In China, Alibaba has agreed to buy out Ele.me, hand it the biggest chunk of the Chinese online food delivery market.

JUST, formerly known as Hampton Creek, is going public with a product it describes as its solution to addressing West African malnutrition. The fortified cassava porridge, dubbed Power Gari, has earned the approval of local schools and nonprofits in Liberia.

After remaining in the shadows after a $4 million investment, startup AiFI has announced the availability of its own checkout-free solution for retailers. Walmart’s membership warehouse, Sam’s Club, has partnered with Instacart to offer same-day delivery and rival Amazon.

And finally, Dan Barber has launched a seed company with Cornell University plant breeder Michael Mazourek and upstate New York seed farer Matthew Goldfarb called Row 7 Seed Co, an attempt to overturn the conventional wisdom about seeds, food and flavor.

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. DoorDash Raises $535M to Fuel Food Delivery War – Forbes

The Series D round comes from SoftBank as well as returning backers Sequoia, GIC, and Wellcome Trust, valuing the company at $1.4b. The company plans to triple its markets to 1.8k cities by the end of 2018 and add another 250 employees.

2. Ford Targets Miami to Test Driverless Food Delivery – Wall Street Journal

The Miami experiment will test self-driving cars that will deliver food for Domino’s and Postmates. It will involve both self-driving cars and human-driven cars made to ceate an experience of what it is like for a robot to make a delivery.

3. The Silicon Valley Food Startup Best Known for Its Vegan Mayo Thinks It Can Cure Malnutrition in Africa – The Washington Post

JUST is launching a fortified cassava porridge dubbed Power Gari to compete with foods currently offered by development organizations in Africa. CEO Josh Tetrick predicts it will be on sale in 15 African countries within two years.

4. AiFi Emerges from Stealth with Its Own Cashier-Free Retail, Similar to Amazon – TechCrunch

AiFi will unveil its technology at a 50k square-foot store of an undisclosed major retailer. The company was founded by former Google and Apple employees, and has received $4m in funding to date.

5. China: Alibaba to Buy Out Baidu in China’s Top Food Takeout App – Bloomberg

The e-commerce giant has agreed to buy Ele.me, which has been valued at $6b. An acquisition would hand it the biggest chunk of Chinese online food delivery and pit it against Dianping.

6. Seeds Only a Plant Breeder Could Love, Until Now – New York Times

Dan Barber has partnered with upstate seedman Matthew Goldfarb and Cornell plant breeder Michael Mazourek to start Row 7 Seed Company. The founders aim to give breeders the chance to reach a big market by connecting them with chefs, home growers and smaller farmers.

7. CRISPR Startup Inscripta Raises $55.5M Series C to Democratize Gene-Editing – AgFunder

Funding was led by Mérieux Développement and Paladin Capital Group. The new capital will be used to expand its research capabilities and strengthen its internal team of research experts.

8. What Out, Cows. Yeast Is Gunning to Be the Next Dairy Disruptor – Quartz

After raising $24.7m in Series A funding, Silicon Valley food tech startup Perfect Day is now in talks to sell its newly-patented non-milk proteins to large food brands as a replacement for whey and casein.

9. Walmart’s Sam’s Club Partners with Instacart for Same Day Grocery Delivery – TechCrunch

Earlier this month, Amazon began offering Whole Food deliveries through its Prime Now service. Walmart is now fighting back by partnering its Sam’s Club with Instacart to offer same-day delivery of groceries and household goods.

10. Boost Biomes Launches Microbe Discovery Platform with $2M Seed Round – AgFunder

Nimble Ventures and Viking Global Investors led the round with participation from Tencent. The seed round will be used to develop its DNA-sequencing microorganism discovery platform.

11. Netherlands: Dutch Supermarket Introduces Plastic-Free Aisle – New York Times

Upmarket chain Ekoplaza has introduced what it billed as the world’s first plastic-free aisle in Amsterdam. It contains 700 items of meat, sauces, cereals, yogurt and chocolate packaged in compostable or reusable materials.

12. Unilever Vows 50% of the Startups It Works with Will Be Female-Led by 2023 – The Drum

As of now, just 24% of investment goes to female-led businesses.

13. India: Omnivore Invests in Online Milk Delivery Startup Doodhwala – VCCircle

The startup raised $2.2m to expand its service into new markets, acquire talent and upgrade its technology.

14. Israel’s Saturas Raises $4M Series A to Commercialize Precision Irrigation Tech – AgFunder

The investment was led by Hubei Forbon, Ramat Magshimim and Miguel Torres Winery along with existing investors. The company will use funds to bring its first products to market and continue development of its sensors for vineyards.

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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.

Wayne Pacelle, one of the most well-known animal rights advocates in the country, has stepped down as the CEO of Humane Society after facing a staff revolt and fleeing donors amid sexual harassment allegations.

Blue Apron shares rallied 7% when a Gabelli & Co analyst labeled Walmart as a logical buyer. Kroger has sold its convenient stores to British gas station operator EG group for $2.5 billion as it sharpens focus on its grocery business. Whole Foods has been making waves in retail news with the launch of its two-day Amazon Prime delivery and newly implemented rates for suppliers.

Tyson’s VC venture has backed the countertop smart oven startup, Tovola, for an undisclosed sum. Swiggy has garnered $100 million from Meituan-Dianping and Naspers. Yum Brands has purchased a 3% stake in GrubHub for $200 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.

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1. Humane Society CEO Resigns Amid Sexual Harassment Allegations – Politico

Wayne Pacelle resigned Friday amid a staff revolt and feeing donors over sexual harassment allegations against him and a former top executive. News broke last week of an internal investigation dating back to 2005.

2. Blue Apron Shares Rally After Walmart Named ‘Logical Buyer’ of Meal Kit Brand – CNBC

A Gabelli & Co analyst labeled Walmart a logical buyer for Blue Apron, stating the deal would add another valuable e-commerce company to the retailer’s stable. Speculation helped stock raise shares of the meal kit company almost 7%.

3. Kroger to Sell Its Convenience Stores to UK’s EG Group for $2.15B – CNBC

The chain will sell nearly 800 convenience stores to the British gas station operator as it sharpens focus on its mainstay grocery business. It plans to use proceeds from the sale to buy back shares and lower debt.

4. Here’s How Amazon Prime’s New Whole Foods Delivery Will Work – Fortune

Amazon will be offering free two-hour delivery of Whole Foods products to Amazon Prime customers in select cities starting today. It plans to expand the service across the country over the year.

5. Getting Your Product on Shelves at Whole Foods Just Got Harder – Wall Street Journal

Whole Foods is asking suppliers of all sizes to pay new rates for prime shelf space as it tries to boost profits and better organize the exploding number of natural and organic products hitting the market.

6. Move Over, Chicken: Tyson’s Newest Venture Is Steamed Dinners – Bloomberg

Tovala, a company making countertop smart ovens that heat ready-to-cook meals, is the latest startup to receive backing from Tyson’s VC arm. No terms were announced.

7. India: Swiggy Garners $100M Series F Funding Led by Meituan-Dianping and Naspers – YourStory

The funding will primarily be used to strengthen their market position, new service and product offerings as well as increase investments in the ‘New Supply’ business line. The company has raised $255m so far.

8. Yum Brands Buys 3% Stake in Food Delivery Service GrubHub for $200M – Wall Street Journal

Yum will partner with GrubHub to add online ordering for pickup and delivery to its restaurants, increasing customers’ access to its KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hutt brands.

9. Soylent Looks to Shed Techie Image with 7-Eleven Store Expansion – Bloomberg

The company is trying to fuel growth by pulling in mainstream customers at 7-Eleven on the East Coast.

10. Singapore’s Sirius Venture Backs $3M Round in Israeli FoodTech Startup SuperMeat – Deal Street Asia

Sirius joined in the seed funding round led by New Crop Capital and Stray Dog Capital. The round also saw SuperMeat striking partnership with PHW, one of Europe’s top poultry producers. Funding will be used to further scientific research and work towards scalability.

11. Danone Manifesto Ventures Leads $30M Investment in Harmless Harvest – BevNET

Danone Manifesto Ventures joined Mousse Partners and AccelFoods in the round. The company will use the investment to enhance sustainable production capacity in Thailand, increase brand awareness and widen distribution.

12. Germany: Balderton Capital Leads $25M Series A in ‘Urban Farming’ Platform Infarm – TechCrunch

The round is led by Balderton Capital, bringing total raised to $35m. New capital will be used for international expansion and to further develop its 5k square meter R&D center in Berlin. The startup is targeting 1k farms to be operational across Europe by the end of 2019.

13. Wandering Bear Coffee Raises $8M – BevNET

Investors of the series A equity round were undisclosed. New capital will be aimed at scaling the company.

14. Agrilyst Adds Horizons Ventures to New Round with Eyes on China – AgFunder

Indoor farming software startup Agrilyst has raised an undisclosed strategic round, bringing in new investors iSelect Fund, Argonautic Ventures, Horizons Lab and Onlan Capital Ventures. It aims to expand its product offering and enter the Chinese market.

15. American Robotics Raises $2M to Bring Fully Autonomous Drones to Market – AgFunder

Investors included Brain Robotics Capital and unnamed angel investors. The new funding will allow the startup to add engineering and sales staff to its team.

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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 maker of Keurig’s coffee maker machines has purchased Dr Pepper for $19 billion in cash, making it one of the largest nonalcoholic drink deal on record. Tyson’s VC arm is now taking bets with lab-grown meat with an investment in Memphis Meats. Ripple Foods received a $65 million investment led by Euclidean Capital.

In retail news, meal kit service Sun Basket has secured a $42.8 million investment from August Capital. Uber drivers can now begin selling products through Cargo, which raised $5.5 million from CRCM Ventures and eighteen94 capital, Kellogg’s VC fund. Alibaba has made two major investments in India’s delivery space: $200 million in BigBasket and $150 million in Zomato. Irish food group Total Produce has purchased a 45% stake in Dole for $300 million with plans for a complete acquisition within five years.

Two major publications have brought attention to two major issues occurring on America’s farms: a sexual harassment epidemic and children’s safety at risk operating farm machinery.

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. Keurig to Acquire Dr Pepper Snapple – Wall Street Journal

The deal will give shareholders of the soda maker nearly $19b in cash and go down as one of the largest beverage deal in years. Keurig’s owner, JAB Holding, is expanding its coffee business into sodas and ready-to-drink beverages.

2. Tyson Joins Bill Gates, Cargill to Invest in Lab Meat Producer – Bloomberg

The company’s VC arm has invested an undisclosed sum in Memphis Meats, adding to the string of high-profile backers including Cargill, Bill Gates and Richard Branson. The company will use the Tyson funds for product development.

3. Goldman Sachs Invests in Pea Milk Startup – Bloomberg

The $65m investment in Ripple Foods was led by Euclidean Capital with participation from Khosla Ventures, Fall Line Capital, S2G Ventures and Goldman Sachs.

4. Sun Basket Secures $42.8M in Funding – Meat + Poultry

The Series D round was led by August Capital and included Unilever Ventures. New funding will be used to build out its personalization tech, expand its menu offerings.

5. Cargo Raises $5.5M to Let Uber Drivers Sell Snacks and Essentials Nationwide – TechCrunch

The funding comes from CRCM Ventures and eighteen94 capital, Kellogg’s VC fund. The startup plans to deploy its hardware and software solution in about 20k cars and open in one new city each month for the next six months before its Series A.

6. Nuro’s Self-Driving Vehicle Is a Grocery-Getter and Errand-Runner – TechCrunch

After raising a $92m Series A round, the startup has revealed its autonomous vehicle platform designed to transport goods from a local business to a customer or from one person to another.

7. ‘Super’ Crops and Cows – Bill Gates, UK Inject Cash into Farm Science – Reuters

Research for growing “super crops” and breeding higher-yielding dairy cows received a funding injection of about $174m from Britain’s Department for International Development and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

8. Total Produce to Buy Stake in Dole Food Company for $300M – The Irish Times

The Irish food group will purchase all shares in Dole within five years, having acquired an initial 45% stake for $300m in cash. Total Produce has the right to acquire an extra 6% of Dole at any time.

9. India: Alibaba’s Twin Investments: BigBasket Gets $200M and $150M for Zomato – Business Standard 

With the capital, BigBasket will take on giants Amazon and Flipkart, which are vying to grow their presence in the online grocery space. Zomato will utilize the funds to combat its two largest rivals Swiggy and Foodpanda.

10. There’s a Sexual Harassment Epidemic on America’s Farms – The Atlantic

Many of the women who work in agriculture often have few options but to put up with abuse on the job. Undocumented workers without papers and workers on temporary visas are extremely vulnerable to exploitation in the workplace.

11. 5-Year-Olds Work Farm Machinery, and Injuries Follow – New York Times

Children are growing up driving large farm machines to help their families. Thousands are injured every year, and many are killed.

12. Kroger Strikes Back at Amazon Go with Expansion of Shopper Tech – Bloomberg

Kroger is expanding its “Scan, Bag, Go” technology to 400 stores. The system allows customers to use a handheld scanner to log grocery items in their cart as they shop, while also viewing coupons and a running total of their order.

13. Why Online Grocery Could Be a $100B Opportunity in the Next Four Years – Food Dive

Online grocery adoption is accelerating thanks to changes in consumer behavior and a few key acquisitions. Seventy percent of shoppers will be buying groceries online by 2022.

14. CaliBurger to Launch Payments Using Facial Recognition – The Spoon

After a successful pilot, the quick service restaurant is expanding the use of facial recognition at its Pasadena location from just unlocking loyalty accounts to paying for meals.

15. Walmart to Launch Online Grocery Delivery in Japan, E-Book Sales in US – NPR

Walmart is joining with Japan’s largest e-commerce retailer Rakuten to launch an online grocery delivery service in Japan. The deal includes opening a combined e-commerce fulfillment center in Tokyo to deliver groceries to a wider region.

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 Keurig Acquires Dr Pepper, Tyson Invests in Memphis Meats, Ripple Foods Raises $65M + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

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.

If you missed the Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco last weekend, be sure to check out The Future Market to explore themes on cannabis cuisine, blockchain chicken, and more.

Amazon’s long-awaited checkout-free convenience store opened its doors on Monday. The company also announced its marketing platform, causing investors to salivate over its ad business and increasing market value.

Two major acquisitions were made in the on-demand food delivery space–David Chang’s Ando was swallowed by Uber Eats and Square, owner of Caviar, bought out the long-established Texas-based company, Entrees On-Trays. DoorDash has joined the food waste movement by partnering with Feeding America on a pilot program to deliver surplus food to places in need.

David Barber, co-founder of Blue Hill restaurants, has launched a $30 million fund with Zoe Feldman for agriculture and hospitality tech, CPG and experiential retail companies.

And finally, National Geographic featured an article that visualizes China’s industrializing agricultural economy, reminding us of the country’s ever-growing population and shrinking farmland.

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. Inside Amazon Go, a Store of the Future – New York Times

The technology inside Amazon’s new convenience store, opening today in downtown Seattle, enables a shopping experience like no other — including no checkout lines.

2. Uber Eats Acquires Ando, the Food Delivery Startup from David Chang That Makes Its Own Food – TechCrunch

Ando is shutting down its service immediately as it begins to integrate with Uber Eats. The news comes as Uber CEO declares Uber Eats will be the largest food delivery company in the world this year.

3. Introducing Six New Concept Products From The Future Market

The Future Market is launching six new concept products at the Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco on Sunday, January 21. Visit us to explore themes on cannabis cuisine, blockchain chicken, and more.

4. Almanac Launches Fund for Scalable & Sustainable Businesses – BevNET

David Barber, co-owner of Blue Hill restaurants, and Zoe Feldman have launched a $30m fund for agriculture and hospitality tech, CPG and experiential retail companies. Almanac will invest in seed or series A rounds for early stage brands and has already closed three investments.

5. Amazon Has a Plan to Become Profitable. It’s Called Advertising – Bloomberg

Over the past several years, Bezos & Co. have quietly put together a marketing platform. Analysts predict it will become the first company with a $1T market value.

6. DoorDash Is Now Using Its Algorithm to Deliver Extra Food From Restaurants to Food Banks – Fast Company

DoorDash and Feeding America have launched a pilot program called Project DASH allowing restaurants to have their surplus food delivered to places in need through their MealConnect app.

7. Bacardi Is Buying Patron in Deal That Values the Tequila Company at $5.1B – CNBC

The deal will make Bacardi the biggest spirits player in the super-premium segment in the US. Tequila has been a fast-growing category as consumers shift away from beer and vodka.

8. PrecisionHawk Raises $75M Series D from Big Tech and Big Ag – AgFunder

The round was led by Third Point Ventures, Intel Capital, Comcast Ventures, Syngenta Ventures and Dupont. The company offers drones and subsequent data management and analysis.

9. OriginTrail Raises $22.5M for Supply Chains Blockchain Protocol – Coinjournal

The startup’s technology aims to increase trust and efficiencies, bringing transparency to supply chains. OriginTrail is part of the Bits x Bites tech accelerator program and has piloted its technology with Chinese online food store Yimishiji.

10. To Battle Amazon, Kroger Eyes Alibaba Alliance – New York Post 

Executives of each company met each other in China last month. Sources hint at a possible deal spanning online and offline sales.

11. Square Has Acquired a 32-Year-Old Restaurant Delivery Company – TechCrunch

Square has acquired Entrees On-Trays to expand the footprint of its on-demand food delivery service, Caviar, in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas area. It will also allow Caviar to deliver from long-standing favorites, grow existing markets and pilot cross country pop-ups.

12. 5 Women Sue Monster Energy Over Abusive, Discriminatory Culture – Huffington Post

The women say they were bullied, harassed and even assaulted. They’re out of work, and the men who allegedly behaved badly still have jobs.

13. Hong Kong: Asia’s Favorite Bean Just Got Served Up as Scrambled Eggs – Quartz

JUST, formerly Hampton Creek, debuted its “Just Scramble” for the Asian markets in Hong Kong. The company is showing off the fruits of its $90m investment from Horizons Ventures. It plans to get its products into China, Japan and India.

14. How China Plans to Feed 1.4 Billion Growing Appetites – National Geographic

As more Chinese crave Western-style diets, the booming nation rushes to industrialize an agricultural economy long built around small farms.

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The post Inside Amazon Go, David Barber Launches $30M Fund, Uber Eats Acquires Ando + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

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.

First, if you’re headed to The Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco, be sure to come visit us at The Future Market booth to explore themes on cannabis cuisine, blockchain chicken, and more.

In other news, Nestle has finally closed its deal to sell its US candy business to Ferrero for $2.8 billion as it moves into healthier, faster-growing categories. French microorganism developer Novolyze has raised a €2.2 million ($2.69m) second seed round for its foodborne illness mitigation technology.

Food waste-to-fertilizer tech startup WISErg has raised $19 million to build a second facility in California.

Instacart has acquired voice-shopping Canadian startup Unata for $65 million, signaling where its headed in its battle with Amazon. Ready-made meal startup Urban Remedy has raised $17 million led by General Mill’s venture arm, 301 Inc. Delivery logistics platform Briggs swallowed $12 million, bringing total funding to $22 million. Kroger announced plans to roll out a new digital display technology that may change grocery shopping as we know it.

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. Nutella Maker to Pay $2.8B for Nestle US Candy Unit – Bloomberg

Nestle agreed to sell to Ferrero in its first step away from the candy business. It plans to focus on healthier, faster-growing categories like coffee, pet food and water.

2. Introducing Six New Concept Products From The Future Market

The Future Market is launching six new concept products at the Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco on Sunday, January 21. Visit us to explore themes on cannabis cuisine, blockchain chicken, and more.

3. Instacart Acquires Coupon and Voice-Shopping Startup Unata – Bloomberg

The deal totals to $65m and gives the retailer new kinds of e-commerce tools and a path to expand in Canada. Unata specializes in digital coupons and is developing a voice-activated tool to allow customers to purchase goods online using devices.

4. Advice on Launching a Food Startup – Part 1 – NXFOOD

Over the next couple of months, Danielle Gould will be sharing a series of blog posts with advice on how to create the next big  idea, find product market fit and launch a food startup.

5. Urban Remedy Raises $17M for Fresh-Focused Platform – Project Nosh

Investment was led by General Mill’s venture arm, 301 Inc and will go towards expanding staff, increasing production capacity and expanding into a new market. The startup delivers ready-to-eat meals, juices and snacks.

5. Delivery Logistics Platform Bringg Raises $12M from Strategic Investors, Including Salesforce Ventures – TechCrunch

The startup offers retailers and companies like Coca-Cola and Panera visibility into delivery operations with features like driver tracking, notifications and driver-to-customer communications. Its Series B funding brings the total round to $22m.

6. Kroger Is Rolling Out a New Technology to Nearly 200 Stores That Could Change Grocery Shopping As We Know It – Business Insider

The Kroger Edge digitally displays pricing and nutritional information as well as video ads and coupons for various products. It will eventually communicate with customers’ smartphones and highlight products as they walk down store aisles.

7. India: Morgan Stanley Marks Up Valuation of FoodTech Unicorn Zomato to $2.5B – Inc42

Zomato is expected to clock up to $1.3b in revenue, including delivery fees in FY2018. Its valuation could reach $6.7b in the next 10 years.

8. Harvesting Robotics Market to Reach $5.5B from Early Adopters Alone – AgFunder

Despite this, only a few products have reached the commercial market and only 3% of growers are currently using harvesting robots on their farms. Financial concerns are both the strongest deterrent and motivator for adoption.

9. France: Novolyze Raises €2.2M Seed Round to Prevent Foodborne Illness with Microbes – AgFunder

Its funding came from private investors, family offices, public research programs and grants. Money will go towards expanding its marketshare in Europe, the US and Asia as well as developing a digital product that will allow food processors to verify their food safety process.

10. Kimbal Musk Is Leading a $25M Mission to Fix Food in Schools across the US – Business Insider

In 2011, Musk launched his nonprofit Learning Gardens in 300 public schools in US cities. He is now renaming it Big Green and expanding it nationally. The $25m effort could see 100 more gardens built in each of the four new cities by the end of 2020.

11. Amazon Led the US in Online Grocery in 2017 – Business Insider

Amazon sold $2b in grocery products, up 59% year-over-year. The retailer is estimated to have 18% of the US online grocery market, with packaged food products leading sales.

12. WISErg Brings Funding Total to $57M for Food Waste Tech with Series C – AgFunder

The food waste-to-fertilizer tech startup has raised $19.2m led by Laird Norton Company, Second Avenue Partners and other existing investors. WISErg will use the new funds to build a second facility in California.

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 Nestle Sells its Candy Unit, Advice on Launching a Food Startup, Zomato Valued at $2.5B + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

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.

Siggi’s was acquired by French dairy company Lactalis for an undisclosed sum. Sonoma Brands closed $60 million for its second fund. Weed startups are disrupting the alcohol industry by offering consumers with new products like cannabis wine and pot-infused seltzer. Hershey and Cargill are the latest food giants to leave the GMA.

Investors have lost their appetites for meal kits as they look towards perishable grocery services like FoodMaven, a new food waste retailer that just raised $8.6m from Walmart’s billionaire heirs the Waltons, among others.

Toyota and Ford announced new pilot programs testing self-driving delivery vehicles at CES this week. Toyota revealed a Pizza Hut “e-Palette” that would cook and deliver pizzas, while Ford has partnered with Postmates to develop driverless on-demand distribution.

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. Lactalis Buys Yogurt Brand Siggi’s, as Emmi’s Sells Its Stake – FoodBev

The acquisition was made for an undisclosed sum. Siggi’s will remain a standalone company. Emmi will sell its 22% stake in the brand and focus its US business on milk and cheese products.

2. Jon Sebastiani’s Sonoma Brands Raises $60M – Forbes

The VC fund announced the closing of its second fund, aimed at continuing investment in emerging consumer brands and taking minority positions in startups. It also announced it’s spinout of Smashmallow.

3. Why the Most Hated-On New Ice Cream Brand in America Is a Booming $100M Business – Inc.

Halo Top has found itself at the center of a deep philosophical divide: the ice cream purists versus those hungry for a cheap calorie thrill.

4. Weed Startups Want Social Drinkers to Change the Way They Get Buzzed – Bloomberg

Startups are competing with alcohol companies by offering consumers alternative ways to catch a buzz. The industry is expected to balloon to $50b by 2026 from $6b in 2016.

5. Food Lobby Group’s Rolls Further Contract as Hershey and Cargill Depart – Politico

The companies are the latest food giants to part with the GMA as it struggles to navigate deep divisions within its membership on how to respond to rapidly changing consumer preferences.

6. Once-Hungry Investors Pass on Meal Kit Startups – Wall Street Journal

While the sector is expected to grow to $6b+ in 2021, supermarket chains have an advantage over startups by selling in-store and at cheaper prices. Investors are looking towards perishable grocery delivery services, meat replacement companies and startups combating food waste.

7. Robomart Is the Latest Startup to Try and Unseat the Local Convenience Store – TechCrunch

The startup aims to license its white-labeled service to wholesalers and big box retailers. It would include the vehicle, a wireless charging device as well as a fleet management and on-demand ordering system.

8. Inocucor Brings in Pontifax to Close $38.5M Series B – AgFunder

Inocucor manufactures biological stimulants for soil and plant optimizers. Strategic acquisitions will be a significant part of its growth strategies, along with expanded distribution across Canada and crop development in the Latin America and Western Europe.

9. Ford Prepares for Food Delivery in Era When Diners Talk to Cars – Bloomberg

Ford will team up with Postmates on a pilot program that explores how self-driving tech could change the delivery experience. It plans to eventually remove the driver from on-demand distribution.

10. Here’s an Autonomous Pizza-Oven-on-Wheels No One Asked For – Eater

Pizza Hut is partnering with Toyota on a driverless concept vehicle that could one day cook and deliver pizza. Test models of the “e-Palette” vehicle could hit the streets by 2020.

11. What to Know About FoodMaven, a New Food Waste Startup Backed by the Grocery Industry’s Top Players – GrubStreet

The Colorado-based startup anounced its $8.6m Series A funding from a handful of backers, most notably Walmart’s billionaire heirs the Waltons. It has brought aboard 700 Colorado business in just 18 months and expects to do $10m in sales this year.

12. Drop Kitchen Nabs $8M in Funding as Kitchen Tech Investment Heats Up – The Spoon

The Series A round was led by Alsop Louie Partners, bringing total investment to $12m. Funds will be used to continue developing its KitchenOS platform and support its partnerships with appliance manufacturers.

13. Noma Has Lost Everything. Can It Come Back Even Stronger? – Bloomberg

Rene Redzepi gave up Noma’s many achievements, including its title of World’s Best Restaurant and two Michelin stars, in search of new ideas and new approach to food at its new location, which will open February 15th.

14. Whole Foods Places New Limits on Suppliers Upsetting Some Small Vendors – The Washington Post

Whole Foods is now requiring suppliers pay for a program that manages demos and shelf management, changes that are intended to save on costs and centralize operations as Amazon pushes to reduce prices at the chain’s 473 stores.

15. Sprouts Signs on with Instacart as US Grocers Experiment with Delivery – CNBC

The retailer will expand its delivery service through Instacart, beginning in select areas in Arizona.

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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.

Three prominent men in the restaurant industry – Mario Batali, Johnny Iuzzini and Ken Friedman – have stepped down in the face of sexual misconduct allegations by multiple women.

Target has closed an all-cash deal to buy out Shipt for $550 million up against Amazon. Walmart and Jet are joining forces with BuzzFeed to sell kitchen tools, appliances and food through Tasty’s recipe videos.

Soylent CEO Rob Rhinehart has stepped down aftermajor setbacks over the past two years. Investors are betting on a meat tax and urging big food companies to start diversifying into plant protein. Tyson Foods has taken the cue and joined Cleveland Avenue in a $55 million investment in Beyond Meat.

And finally, Puerto Rico’s food industry is still in recovery mode, and farms were hit the hardest. Global losses are estimated to amount to $2.8 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.

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1. Mario Batali  Away from Restaurant Empire Following Sexual Misconduct Allegations – Eater

Four women accused the chef of inappropriate touching in a pattern of behavior that spans at least two decades. Batali will also step away from his television show, “The Chew,” while ABC reviews allegations.

2. ABC Pulls ‘Great American Baking Show’ Following Johnny Iuzzini Misconduct Allegations – Eater

Eight women have come forward with sexual misconduct and abuse allegations against Iuzzini, most of the incidents stemming from his time as pastry chef of Jean-Georges.

3. Ken Friedman, Power Restaurateur, Is Accused of Sexual Harassment – New York Times

Ten women accused Friedman of unwanted sexual advances and many others stated working for him required tolerating daily kisses and touching. He has taken an indefinite leave of absence from his restaurant operations.

4. Target to Buy Shipt for $550 Million in Challenge to Amazon – Bloomberg

The all-cash deal will let Target customers order groceries and other goods online, and then have the items sent directly to their doors from nearby Targets. The deal will give Target same-day delivery at half of its 1,834 stores by next summer.

5. The CEO of Food-Replacement Startup Soylent Is Out – Business Insider

Rob Rhinehart has stepped down, and Bryan Crowley, president of Soylent’s parent company, will take over as CEO. The company has seen major setbacks over the past two years, including a temporary halt to sales after food poisoning incidents.

6. Walmart and Jet Are Joining Forces with BuzzFeed in Their Quest for Millennial Shoppers – Business Insider

The retailer will start selling its kitchen tools, appliances and eventually food through links in Tasty’s recipe videos. Tasty has nearly 91m Facebook followers, and its recipe videos have accumulated more than 65b views.

7. Andreessen Horowitz Has a New, $450M Bio Fund – TechCrunch

The bio fund has made dozens of investments already, including Freenome, Apeel, PatientPing and BioAge Labs. Investments range from $2m at seed stage to north of $10m for Series A stage companies.

8. Ginkgo Bioworks Secures $275M in Series D, Valuing the Company at Over $1B – TechCrunch

The funding comes from previous investors Viking Global, Y Combinator’s Continuity Fund, Cascade Investment, Bill Gates, as well as new investor, General Atlantic. It will be used to build out its Bioworks3 production facility.

9. Unilever Teams with Big Banks on Blockchain for Supply Chain – GreenBiz

The company has begun a year-long pilot program that will use blockchain to manage transactions within its tea supply chain. It is partnering with British supermarket Sainsbury, packaging company Sappi and three global financial service companies to develop the blockchain system.

10. Food and Beverage Is the Fastest Growing Online Channel – Food Dive

Global online F&B sales will increase 80% over the next five years, according to Euromonitor International. By 2022, global online retail sales will eclipse traditional grocery sales.

11. Taxes on Meat Could Join Carbon and Sugar to Help Limit Emissions – Bloomberg

Investors are betting governments around the world will start taxing meat production as they aim to improve public health and hit emissions targets. They are pushing companies to diversify into plant protein.

12. Meat Giant Tyson Foods Increases Stake in Plant-Based Brand Beyond Meat: A ‘Fantastic Alternative for Consumers’ – Food Navigator

Beyond Meat has raised $55m in a financing round led by Cleveland Avenue and supported by Tyson. The funds will be used to more than triple the size of its production footprint, further fund R&D as well as expand sales and distribution.

13. How Puerto Rico’s Food Industry Is Picking Up the Pieces After Hurricane Maria – Eater

Restaurants have begun to open and become hubs for communities. Puerto Rico’s agriculture sector lost $45m of net produce with Irma and $200m with Maria. Global losses are estimated at $2.8b.

14. A Store in Every World Capital:’ Eataly Plans Further Expansion and Eyes IPO – Fortune

The Italian food emporium is planning an IPO on the Milan stock exchange as early as next year. In the next two years, it plans to open 7 locations in 6 countries across Europe and North America.

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 Target Buys Shipt for $550M, Mario Batali, Johnny Iuzzini and Ken Friedman’s Sexual Misconduct Allegations, Target Buys Shipt for $550M + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.