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🚨NOSH INSIDER WEEKLY: Expo West Review Special, Impossible's Revamp, Mushroom Madness & More |
Happy St. Patrick's Day! It's my one chance of the year to remind you, dear reader, of my Irish heritage - and that I'm not above hitting up Applebee's for as many Pot O' Gold Daq-A-Ritas as the manager will allow me. But, it's been a whirlwind week at Nosh HQ. Expo West came and went in a flurry - reporter Lukas Southard was last seen getting on a boat at 2am, and managing editor Monica Watrous tried so many mushroom-infused products she spent the drive home making mycelium puns. We have all the news and views from the biggest show of the year down below. Alright! On with the Sunday newsletter. FIRST UP! I've waited years to make this Seinfeld reference - let me have this one: |
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🍼 Serenity Now! Serenity Kids Picks up $52M |
| Baby food brand Serenity Kids has closed a cool $52M Series B investment round led by Stride Consumer Partners writes a very serene Monica Watrous. | |
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| The money will be used for marketing, R&D and hiring. It comes on the back of a $7M Series A in 2021 and a $1.5M raise in 2019.
🥡 Key Takeaway: Serenity Kids is in a comfortable position - it's profitable, had bumper 71% YOY retail revenue growth in 2023, and wasn't in need of funding. So why the Series B? Turns out, founders Serenity and Joe Carr were attracted to Stride's track record with brands such as Yasso. What's more, its firm positioning of high quality and certified nutrients is clearly hitting a tone with parents.
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📺 Expo West Video Specials |
| Aside from eating and drinking their way through the showfloor, the Nosh Expedition Team paid close attention to emerging trends and flourishing movements at this year's Expo West. Join Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and editor-in-chief Jeff Klineman as they recap days one and two.
Is regenerative agriculture finally moving into the limelight? And, just how much does Jeff know about Georgia history?
Are mushrooms going to take over the (CPG) world? And, will hemp-derived THC drinks overtake their CBD cousins?
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📓 Expo West Notebooks: Impossible Revamp, Tattooed Chef Return |
| It's safe to say that this year's Expo West was one of the busiest yet, and it will be a while before we've digested everything that happened (and all the samples). To kick things off the Nosh Expedition Team kept notes on some of the major stories to come out of Anaheim. Here's a sample.
Meanwhile, it looks as if the anything-but-durum wheat pasta trend is continuing its evolution with heirloom wheat pastas from Pastifico vying for attention against Andriani S.p.A's spirulina and buckwheat SKUs. | |
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And, it looks like the Korean food kraze is continuing apace - expect frozen kimbap to be a big thing as the year rolls on. | |
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🔊 CPG Week Podcast: Expo West Extravaganza |
| On this week's CPG Week podcast the Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and reporters Brad Avery and Lukas Southard are joined by special guest, Editor-in-Chief Jeff Klineman, as they discuss all things expo and Expo West related.
As well as helpful hacks and showfloor preparedness advice, the team discuss trends to watch and why they'll be keeping an eye out for celebrity sightings.
Spin this week's podcast here. | |
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🍓 Juicy Quote |
| "The surging trend toward ‘seed-oil free’ products will not be relegated to the Erewhon shopper"
This week's deep dive comes from Oils & Vinegars Editor Lukas Southard, who sat down pre-Expo West with Sunnie Snacks founders Katy Tucker and Lisette Howard to discuss their latest investment, moving onto ambient shelves and staying away from seed-oils.
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| Sunnie's story so far is one of innovation (some of it accidental in the form of grain-free Sea Salt Crackers) and staying true to its roots, while not being afraid of revising its production and distribution. And, don't forget, the biz won the 2022 Nosh Pitch Slam.
Tellingly, AK-based Fulcrum Collective led the company's recent raise (backed by its customers - about a third of the funding is from individuals signed up to Sunnie's newsleter) who honed in on Sunnie's seed-oil free status, seeing it as a serious future growth area amongst Millenials and Gen Z.
Distribution is also a big theme - aside from an under-wraps big retail partnership, Sunnie is also expanding with foodservice contracts.
What are your thoughts, Sunday readers? Is seed-oil free a new moniker we can expect to see much more of - or will it be flash in the pan trend like keto? Click here to send in your comments. | |
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🥑 Quick Bites |
| Expo West: better-for-you sour candies are mixing nostalgia with global flavors With the gummy market expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.8% between 2024 and 2030, the sky's the limit, writes Sour Things Editor Shauna Golden.
The bars include prebiotic fiber and no added sugar, and are covered in a milk chocolate-style oat coating, writes Alt-Snickers Editor Monica Watrous.
The first products from Sprinkles CPG will include a line of chocolate bars and mini chocolates inspired by the company's cupcake flavors, says Red Velvet Connoisseur Adrianne DeLuca.
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📰 Jobs Market |
USA
Minneapolis, MN
Atlanta, GA |
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👀 ICYMI 👀 |
| You are what you e̶a̶t wear - put a pin on it with the new merchandise line from Jollibee, California's favorite Filipino fast food joint.
Aside from staples such as hoodies, t-shirts and tote bags, Chickenjoy aficionados can also pick up as-yet unnamed limited edition threads.
I'm no fashionista, but I know when something got style - and this is stylin'.
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| AND FINALLY: Somewhere over the rainbow, there's a pot of g̶o̶l̶d frozen mint Oreos.
Someone at Oreo HQ has decided Irish people are intrinsically linked to mint chocolate chip (instead of the lower hanging fruit options of stout, soda bread, potatoes, rain, etc) for its new ad campaign collab with Fooji. Fans can enter for a chance to win a 'Pot-o-Oreo' (yes, really) filled with samples of frozen Mint Oreo bars and sandwiches.
With a press image like this, all is forgiven. | |
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