Today’s top story was a toss up so instead of bringing you one big take – we’ve diced up ALL the things you need to know, into a handful of easy-to-digest bites. 

From an athletic duo’s new investment in plant-based protein to an upcycled food maker shift’s to foodservice as well as a insight into a local debacle over retail expansion plans and a discounter’s multi-million dollar raise – there’s a whole lot going on in the food industry that should be on your radar. Here’s a taste of what you are about to dig into:

• 📦 Martie Nets $7M for Discount Groceries
• 🦊 Local Biz Asks Foxtrot To Scurry Out Of Neighborhood
• 🏭 PE Firm CD&R Acquires Shearer’s Foods
• 🥩Meati Adds Chris Paul and Aly Raisman to Investor Roster
• 🧑‍🍳 Spare Foods Enters Foodservice With Upcycled Ingredient
• 🤝 Ben & Jerry’s Plant Workers Unionize

Discount e-commerce grocery platform Martie raised $7 million in a new funding round backed by Upfront Ventures and Day One Ventures to expand its team and bring on more buyers.

📈 Founded in 2021 by CEO Louise Fritjoffson, Martie is growing about 30% month-over-month while largely relying on word of mouth and limited social media marketing – it will also look to expand marketing efforts with the new funds.

🏷️ The discount retailer works with brands to sell overstock food, beverage and household products up to 70% off the sticker price via its website; offerings run the gamut from large CPGs like Kellogg’s and PepsiCo to startups like Fly By Jing.

💭 “Martie is really focused on ‘how do we build an experience that brands want to be associated with,’ where it’s super clear to the consumer that it’s a one-time opportunity… once it’s gone, it’s gone,” Fritjoffson said.

Read the full story on NOSH for the full scoop on Martie and what it is planning next.

Though it might seem like Foxtrot is Chicago’s darling of modern convenience, the company’s proposal for a new location in North Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood has one local business baring its teeth. 

🏪 Ándale Market — an Andersonville “curated bodega” concept — alleges that Foxtrot has committed “predatory practices” that includes “reappropriating” product selections and store look.

📝 The store’s owner, Mia Sakai, started a petition that has garnered nearly 2,300 signatures and represents about 40 small businesses.

❌ Additionally, Foxtrot CEO Liz Williams confirmed the company has laid off “a handful” of employees, following its recent merger announcement with Dom’s Kitchen and Market, but would not specify the exact number.

Shearer’s Foods, a North American contract manufacturer and private label salty snack, cookie and cracker producer, has sold to private equity firm Clayton Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) after nearly a decade under the ownership of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board.

🍪 Shearer’s operates 17 manufacturing facilities across the U.S. and Canada and produces both traditional and kettle cooked potato chips, tortilla chips, cheese curls and other extruded snacks as well as cookies, crackers, and wafers.

💭 “CD&R shares our focus and commitment, and their track record of helping build stronger, more sustainable businesses makes the firm an ideal partner as we continue to drive our business forward,” said executive chairman Bill Nictakis.

📈 Former PepsiCo president and CEO of PepsiCo North America, John Compton serves as CD&R’s operating partner; the firm’s portfolio includes food and manufacturing businesses such as MOD Pizza, foodservice distributor Cheney Brothers and packaging supplier Mauser. 

This morning Meati announced that two athletes – former Olympian Aly Raisman and NBA All-Star Chris Paul – are now investors in the mycelium-based food startup. 

📝Raisman and Paul join Meati’s growing list of investors and partners that also includes MLB Hall of Famer Derek Jeter, chef and restaurateur Tom Colicchio, TV personality Rachael Ray, and Sweetgreen co-founders Nicolas Jammet and Jonathan Neman. 

💭“Meati and I share an understanding that building something great involves being willing to put in the work…We also agree that nutrition has to taste good and be good for you,” Paul said.

🛒Looking ahead, Meati is focused on expanding its brick-and-mortar door count and it is aiming high; the brand plans to double its door count to over 6,000 stores by early 2024. 

Read the full story on NOSH for all the details on Meati’s recent momentum. 

Spare Food Co. is growing its portfolio – in-line with its mission and moniker – with the launch of a new plant-based flavor additive for foodservice. Spare Starter comes in 2-gallon tubs and can be mixed into sauces or soups, used as flavoring for tacos, dumplings and pizza, or paired with fillers for a meat replacement in burgers and meatballs.

🏫 Collegiate foodservice supplier Harvest Table Culinary Group will serve as the initial launch partner, bringing Spare Starter to eight university campuses along the East Coast.

♻️ According to a lifecycle analysis conducted by Planet FWD, the product saves 740 gallons of water while preventing about 15 kg of CO2e from entering the atmosphere.

🥤 Initially, Spare debuted with an upcycled whey RTD beverage in 2021 but has now followed the path of other early adopters of the movement, like Upcycled Foods, that have opted to extend into ingredient supplies to reduce the overhead of producing standalone CPG products.

Read the full story on NOSH and dig deeper with: Upcycling May Solve Food Waste Tomorrow, But Is It Worth the Cost Today?

Employees at Ben & Jerry’s Waterbury, Vermont production plant have officially unionized, joining with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) this week.

☑️ Parent company Unilever agreed to neutrality during a card check, avoiding a drawn out election process. Prior to the ratification, roughly 90% of Unilever manufacturing workers were unionized, leaving the ice cream company in the minority for Unilever-owned brands.

🍦 Earlier this year food service workers at the ice cream brand’s Burlington, Vermont scoop shop unionized and formed “Scoopers United.”

📣 Ben & Jerry’s has long aligned itself with progressive social and economic policies but in the 1990’s its founders had been criticized for pushing back on union drives. 

💭“Ben & Jerry’s are well known for their progressive politics, and we held them to their word,” said UFCW Local 371 President Ronald M. Petronella in a statement.