To go deeper into foodservice and test new products, Planting Hope has acquired the assets of Argo Tea from Golden Fleece Beverage.

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In between meetings with buyers and investors, the non-stop travel that comes with leading a growing team, and being a mom, Woodard has managed to grow allergen-friendly snack brand Partake and turn what might have been relegated to natural retail a formidable player in mass — Target, to be precise. But Woodard has also become one of the most important voices in CPG, founding The Black Futures in Food & Beverage fellowship program, which helps students at historically Black colleges and universities learn more about (and get hired in) the industry.

350 slices of pizza are consumed in the U.S. every second and the food group (yes, pizza is a food group) garnered $46.98 billion in sales in 2022 alone. Pinsa Love is hoping to snag a slice of the market with its frozen take on the new-to-the-U.S., Roman-style premium pie. 

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In food distribution updates, instant tea kits see success at Target, upcycled fruit sugars snag shelf space at Sprouts and banana bread baking mixes go big at WFM.

• A successful Target test launch has taken women-founded brand Tea Drops to 1,000 Target stores. The move will bring the brand’s Matcha Bubble Tea, Ube Latte and Chai Latte kits to new doors and signals the continued, rising consumer interest in boba tea.
• Sprouts Farmers Market is now carrying upcycled date sugar from Just Date, marking the brand’s first national distribution partnership. In addition to that milestone, the sugar also happens to be Just Date’s only upcycled product.
• Chicago-based food maker GoNanas has locked in nationwide distribution at Whole Foods market. The banana bread baking mix brand took part in Mondelēz CoLab 2022 accelerator program and just earlier this year, launched nationwide at Wegmans. 

Check out the full Distribution Roundup on NOSH.

As part of a new marketing campaign, Gaia Herbs is sending a very public invite to the FDA. The North Carolina-based producer of gummies, teas, and other supplements wants to call attention to the value of transparent, traceable and high quality herbal and functional remedies.

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• Why did The Planting Hope Company pickup Argo Tea and what does it stand to gain from the transaction? Hint: There's nothing like a Gen Z college student to give you honest feedback.
• Why Pinsa Love is betting that a slow pace will lead to long term success.