|
|
🚨NOSH INSIDER WEEKLY: Better Meat Co Raises $31M, Hot Takes at Newtopia Now, PBR Soup & More |
This week, we're raising the barn and blowing the roof off as Better Meat Co brings home the bacon, diving deep into brand collabs and the importance of online sales, and cycling around central London with a basket full of beans. But, more on all that below.
And, shout-out to Keychain for raising a hefty $30M Series B, which will be used to launch an AI operating system called KeychainOS. Robot renegades Monica Watrous and Lukas Southard have all the info here.
Alright! On with the Sunday newsletter.
FIRST UP! Alt-meat may be faltering but there's one brand shining stronger than ever - so what's the secret? |
|
|
🥩 The Better Meat Co Raises $31M |
Mycelium-based not-meat grower The Better Meat Co. (BMC) has (humanely) raised $31M from an oversubscribed Series A funding round writes Mushroom Manager Adrianne DeLuca. | |
|
|
The feisty funding will be used to scale the CA-based company's patended mycoprotein fermentation process to commercial levels - to the extent that it plans to sell its ingredient at prices below the animal-based equivalent by 2026. Wowzers! BMC claims to have achieved 'continuous fermentation' which, if you're big into ferments, is like finding a unicorn with a rabbit's foot on an ankle bracelet, or something. Grab a shroomy bite on Nosh.com. 🥡 Key Takeaway: Unlike first-gen not-meat slingers, BMC is keeping a focus on wholesale and is claiming letters of intent from significant meat industry players - big news if true. As predecessors continue to crumble (more on that just below 👇) and competitors such as Meati falter, it looks like BMC is in the rise. | |
|
|
| AND: go deeper via Adrianne's in-depth interview with BMC CEO Paul 'Steaks' Shapiro where he discusses what makes BMC's approach different from competitors - and his hopes for continued growth amid a negative alt-meat and VC landscape.
|
|
|
🔥 Hot Takes: New Products and Trends at Newtopia Now |
| Bones might be the hot new item on the broth aisle but it looks like its uses are quickly extending into unexpected sets such as pasta sauce, protein powders and protein bars (yes really) writes Soups N' Stocks Editor Monica Watrous from the Newtopia Now show floor.
Amongst a number of startups leaning into bone broths, some of the more interesting brands found at Newtopia Now include HOL Health Club whose protein bars include a simple ingredient list rounded out with chicken bone broth. At 30g of protein and 280 calories per bar, it's definitely ticking the high-protein boxes.
Read all about beef bone broth-infused meat sticks, protein packed jarred pasta sauces and more over on Nosh.com. | |
|
|
🛌 Nosh Live Hotel Room Bloc is Open |
Hey! Want to get the real VIP experience at Nosh Live Winter 2025 in Marina Del Rey, CA, this December 4 + 5? How about availing of our special room bloc?Not only will you be on the same floor as all the cool kids having sleepovers and staying up all night watching movies, you'll also guarantee yourself the shortest journey possible from the ensuite to the conference center. And, get this, there's a mighty fine Insiders-only discount - on top of the Early Bird special (we can go halfsies, y'hear?).
| |
|
|
🗣 Nombase: How Sunnie's Setback Became a $1M Raise |
Self-funding mishaps, manufacturing errors, investor rejections - CPG is at best an uncertain landscape. And Sunnie has experienced it all. How can a business go from a low point to a million dollar raise?
This week's Nombase Podcast sees Sunnie co-founders Katy Tucker and Lisette Howard discuss how persistence pays off, and the signs to watch out for at every step of the way.
Hosted by BevNET & Nosh Director of Community Melissa Traverse, the Nombase Podcast is like a warm CPG hug direct to your brain.
| |
|
|
🔊 CPG Week Podcast: Clean Labels on Dirty Sodas? Soylent Stalling? |
On this week's CPG Week podcast Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporter Brad Avery divulge the Dirty Soda trend to the great unwashed - and how it's DRIP-ing through the bev industry (get it?). Discussion quickly moves onto Keychain's $30M Series B before sliding over to Soylent's struggling fortunes, and if the dystopian-named meal replacement brand can get off the ropes. Finally, amongst a roster of protein-packed sauces, the duo question declines in drinking and Newtopia Now.
Spin this week's podcast here. | |
|
|
🍓 Juicy Quote |
| "It’s more like vibe checking"
This week's fit check comes courtesy of noted Instagram influencer Adrianne DeLuca who sat down with social marketing strategist Kendall Dickieson to discuss how brands can collaborate with content creators and other brands to build awareness and grow sales - even if the direct ROI isn't there (gulp!). | |
|
|
There's no shortage of ways to cross-pollinate your brand. From partnerships with influencers, popup events, product launches and more, the first question is where to start. Dickieson takes the likes of Graza - which relied on sample drops and outreach early on - as a blueprint for how to kick things off. Online sales are also key at this point, she says.
Further down the line Dickieson points to Fly By Jing as a brand that has successfully used collabs as a way to boost consumer awareness (see: Fishwife’s tinned Smoked Salmon). Just don't ask how to calculate an ROI on that, hmmkay?
What are your thoughts, Sunday readers? Have you collaborated with other brands in the past? What was the intent, and the outcome? Is it foolish to discard ROI tracking - or a necessary jump to make? Click here to send in your comments. | |
|
|
🥑 Quick Bites |
Seeing what's filling up the big rigs this month. |
|
|
📰 Jobs Market |
|
|
🌭 She's the Sauce Brings Protein to Condiments |
It looks like the inevitable is happening (actually, why did it take this long?) and the protein tornado is making its way to the condiments aisle writes Sauce Boss Shauna Golden.
She's the Sauce is a new line of fiber and protein enriched sauces, currently available in Creamy Ranch and Cheesy Vinegar Honey Mustard SKUs. The products are free from seed oils (subbing out for organic avocado oil), refined sugars and guano fillers, and sport 4g of protein and 2g of fiber per serving.
The big question is - when will legacy conglomerates like Heinz catch on?
🥡 Key Takeaway: The wider condiment segment is experiencing sustained growth as consumers drizzle, dip and douse in every conceivable way. And it's no surprise to see a brand hitting the high-protein sauce notes. Now, when's the pickle flavor SKU dropping? | |
|
|
👀 ICYMI 👀 |
| Meanwhile over in dystopian ol' England the nation's favorite tinned food is finding a new lease of life - in the basket of a rental bicycle.
Bean brand Branston has ticked off half of the internet with its Instagram post showing a Lime Bike user cycling down a road, the front basket filled with (presumably) cold beans. Please, for the love of god, don't hit a speed bump. | |
|
|
| AND FINALLY: Closer to home, Campbell's has teamed up with Pabst Blue Ribbon for 2025's finest vintage: chunky soups infused with everyone's favorite dive bar beer.
The soups come in two flavors: Beer Cheese with Potatoes & Chorizo Soup, and Beef, Bacon & Beer Chili with Beans, neither of which claim to be high-protein.
Get this: the tins were launched at Ray's Bar in NYC last Thursday. The smell, I can only imagine, was immense. | |
|
|
| If you'll excuse me, Malibu's collab with Dole won't on shelves until 2026 - so I'm taking matters into my own hands with a pineapple and bottle of white rum. Wish me luck. Until next week, your host, |
|
