• 🤔 Major MAHA Misstep?
• ⛔ J.M. Smucker Shutters Hostess Plant
• ⬆️ Instacart Names New CEO
• 🆕 What Else Is New?

After recovering from a co-manufacturing challenge last year, snack pack and cracker purveyor Sunnie has unveiled revamped packaging that will transition it from “a kid’s brand to a snack for the whole family,” according to co-founder Lisette Howard. 

“Over time, we have learned through all of our distribution channels that there are a lot of busy snacking adults. It just made more sense to say: This is for families,” she told Nosh. 

The new look brings color blocking to the brand's SKUs – from Strawberry Jam Snack to Flatbread Pizza Snack to Hummus Snack – while adding a protein callout to the front of pack. Each snack contains 5-7 grams of protein, depending on the variety. 

Additionally, Sunnie updated its tagline from “Snack Brighter” to “Snacking Made Better” to more effectively communicate its value proposition and mission statement. The nomenclature for the snack packs themselves, previously named “dippers,” has been replaced by a standardized “snack” descriptor to avoid consumer confusion. 

The move comes as the Los Angeles-based brand prepares to grow its distribution footprint this summer with retailers across mass, natural and conventional channels, starting with an expanded Target partnership. The brand is growing from approximately 180 Target stores in the Southwest region to over 500 stores. 

Sunnie is also raising an undisclosed bridge round to support capacity demands during the second half of 2025 and to prepare for further retail expansion next year. 

Insiders can read the full story on Nosh to hear which retailers are onboarding Sunnie with its fresh new look.

After last week’s Make America Health Again Commission released its inaugural report outlining the factors it believes contribute to rising chronic disease among children, responses are mixed.

• Jeff Grogg, managing director at JPG Resources, shared his take on how the findings were presented and where, as an industry, we go from here.

💬 Key takeaway: “Demonizing packaged foods here is not going to get you to a solution.”

Insiders can read the full interview for Grogg’s insights on the report and how the industry should respond.

The J.M. Smucker Company this week announced plans to close an Indianapolis manufacturing plant that produces Hostess products and consolidate operations into existing facilities by early next year.

• The company expects to close and pursue a sale of the site by early next year.
• It is unclear how many employees will be affected by the closure.

🧁 The decision supports efforts to reduce costs and complexity as Smucker seeks to stabilize the Hostess business and position it for long-term growth, said Judd Freitag, SVP and general manager, Pet and Sweet Baked Snacks.

Go Deeper: Sweet Deal: Smucker Divests More Brands to Prioritize Hostess

Instacart has found its new CEO from within, promoting chief business officer Chris Rogers to the chief executive role, effective August 15.

• Rogers will replace Fidji Simo in the role, who is stepping down after four years in the position to serve as CEO of OpenAI Applications. Simo will maintain a role on Instacart’s board of directors.
• Rogers joined Instacart about six years ago, first as VP of global retail, and has served in his current role since 2022.
• “Over the last four years, we’ve transformed Instacart into a growing, profitable, leading technology platform that’s helping reshape the grocery industry,” Simo said in a release. “We’re building a generational company at the intersection of technology and food, and Chris is the right leader for our next chapter.”