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This Week in CPG 10/12/2026
🛒 Retail Rollouts
🍜 Crafty Ramen Expands to Target, Kroger, and Meijer
Crafty Ramen, co-founded by Miki and Jared, is expanding its U.S. retail footprint with an October launch at Target, Kroger, and Meijer, bringing its restaurant-inspired frozen ramen featuring scratch-made noodles, slow-simmered broths, and globally inspired flavors to more shoppers nationwide. Born from a restaurant concept, the brand is making restaurant-quality ramen more accessible through the freezer aisle. Its frozen lineup includes Brisket Birria, Spicy Chicken Tantanmen, Shiitake Pork Shoyu, Chicken Shoyu, and Spicy Pork Miso, each combining noodles, broths, proteins, and vegetables for a convenient meal at home. The October expansion marks another step in bringing its ramen offerings to a broader U.S. retail audience.
🥤 REBBL CLEAR Arrives at Whole Foods Nationwide
REBBL, founded by Elizabeth Stephenson, launched REBBL CLEAR at Whole Foods Market nationwide, introducing a refreshing protein hydration drink in four fruit flavors with 20g of whey protein, zero sugar, and essential electrolytes. First previewed at Natural Products Expo West 2026, the new protein hydration drink offers a lighter alternative to traditional thick protein shakes. Available in Mixed Berry, Lemon Lime, Strawberry Watermelon, and Mandarin Orange, each 80-calorie serving provides 20g of complete whey protein, potassium, magnesium, sodium, and 20% of the daily value of zinc. The product debuted at Whole Foods Market nationwide on October 1, 2026, with a suggested retail price of $4.99.
🍬 Chili Chews Lands Nationwide at Target
Chili Chews, founded by Shant Reganyan, launched its Strawberry Bites nationwide at Target as part of the retailer’s Halloween assortment, marking a major retail milestone for the spicy candy brand that started as a college side hustle. What began as a way to help pay college rent has grown into a national retail opportunity. Its Strawberry Bites are now available on Target shelves across the country as part of the seasonal Halloween assortment, introducing the brand’s spicy candy to a wider audience. The launch represents a significant step in the company’s journey from small-scale candy making to nationwide distribution.
🥣 Maazah Brings Lentil Dips to Target
Maazah, co-founded by sisters Sheilla and Yasameen Sajady, launched its lentil dips at select Target stores nationwide in three globally inspired flavors, expanding access to its better-for-you, seed-oil-free alternative to traditional hummus. The Minnesota-based brand is bringing its globally inspired approach to dips to a larger retail audience with Classic Lemon, Roasted Red Pepper, and Turmeric Ginger varieties. Made with lentils and without seed oils, the dips offer an alternative to traditional hummus while introducing shoppers to bold flavors. The Target rollout marks another retail milestone as the sister-founded company continues expanding its national presence.
🫑 Yaza Foods Brings Muhammara to Costco Northwest
Yaza Foods, founded by Christian Karim Khalil, expanded its Costco presence with the launch of its Muhammara dip in the retailer’s Northwest region, building on the brand’s growing distribution at Whole Foods Market, Harris Teeter, and The Fresh Market. Made with roasted red peppers, walnuts, and pomegranate, Muhammara introduces shoppers to a Mediterranean dip that may be unfamiliar by name but features recognizable ingredients. The brand has relied heavily on in-store sampling and roadshows to introduce its products to Costco customers, with its first Muhammara roadshow selling out by Friday morning. The Northwest rollout follows the regional expansion of its Tzatziki and represents another step in bringing Mediterranean flavors to mainstream grocery shoppers.
🚀 New Product Launch
🥥 CocoLove Launches Chocolate Coconut Water
CocoLove, founded by Vinny “CocoVinny” Zaldivar, launched its first flavored coconut water, CocoLove Chocolate, combining pure coconut water with real cocoa and coconut cream for a non-dairy chocolate beverage with half the calories of regular chocolate milk. The new offering blends 100% pure, never-from-concentrate coconut water with real alkalized cocoa, natural chocolate flavor, and a touch of coconut cream to create a rich chocolate experience without dairy. Each can provides 433mg of naturally occurring potassium, positioning the drink as an alternative to traditional chocolate milk. The launch comes as the brand continues growing across thousands of retail accounts, with CocoLove Chocolate available in 6-packs of 11-ounce cans and 12-packs of 16.9-ounce cans, with 1-liter resealable bottles planned for a future release.
🥛 Bovita Health Introduces Colostrum + Metabolic Fiber
Bovita Health launched Colostrum + Metabolic Fiber, a daily wellness supplement combining 3g of colostrum, 7g of fiber, and clinically studied Akkermansia postbiotic to support gut health, appetite regulation, and metabolic wellness. Designed to connect digestive support with broader metabolic wellness, the new formula combines ingredients intended to support fullness, a healthy appetite, blood sugar response, and the body’s natural GLP-1 pathways. Colostrum contributes naturally occurring bioactive nutrients to support the gut barrier, while fiber and Akkermansia postbiotic complement the formula’s gut and metabolic focus. The supplement is available through the brand’s website in a 10-count stick-pack pouch for $39.99 and a 30-serving pouch for $79.99.
🥜 WildBoard Reinvents Trail Mix With Savory Clusters
WildBoard, founded by Amy Boysen, introduced its savory trail mix clusters in three globally inspired flavors, combining roasted chickpeas, nuts, and seeds into a vegan, gluten-free snack delivering 15g of protein and 12g of fiber per bag. Moving beyond conventional sweet trail mixes, the brand brings together roasted chickpeas, nuts, and seeds in baked clusters designed for adult snackers. The lineup includes Aperitivo with pine nuts and rosemary, Mezze with pistachio and za’atar, and Tapas with Marcona almonds and smoked paprika. Each 3.5-ounce bag carries a suggested retail price of $7.99, and the brand distributed more than 3,500 samples, including at Expo West 2026, ahead of its September launch.
🥤 Koia Expands Elite +Creatine With Two New Flavors
Koia, led by CEO Christopher Hunter, expanded its Elite +Creatine protein shake lineup with Cinnamon Roll and Fudge Brownie flavors at Target and Whole Foods Market, each delivering 32g of plant protein, 1,000mg of creatine, and 6g of prebiotic fiber. The new flavors build on the brand’s plant-based protein portfolio by combining complete protein with creatine in a convenient ready-to-drink format. Both shakes are formulated to support muscle recovery, strength, and sustained energy, while incorporating prebiotic fiber and avocado oil instead of seed oils. Cinnamon Roll is available at Target, while both Cinnamon Roll and Fudge Brownie are available at Whole Foods Market, expanding flavor choices for consumers seeking functional protein beverages.
🍪 Mom Snacks Launches With Momager and Mom Gut
Mom Snacks, founded by Maggie Slavonic, launched its first two products, Momager and Mom Gut, introducing convenient, craveable snacks designed to support busy moms navigating work, family, and everyday responsibilities. Built around the idea that mothers often prioritize everyone else’s needs before their own, the brand aims to make everyday snacking more convenient and enjoyable. Its debut lineup features Momager and Mom Gut, two offerings created with the realities of busy schedules in mind, from school pickups and meetings to daily family responsibilities. The launch introduces a snack brand specifically focused on the routines and needs of moms.
🍓 Once Upon a Farm Introduces Electrolyte Blends for Kids
Once Upon a Farm, co-founded by Cassandra Curtis, launched organic Electrolyte Blends in three fruit and vegetable flavors, expanding its refrigerated pouch portfolio with a convenient hydration option for active kids. Created for the increasingly active years of childhood, the new refrigerated purées combine organic fruits and vegetables with coconut water and sea salt to provide naturally occurring electrolytes. The lineup features Strawberry Kiwi, Apple Berry Punch, and Guava Strawberry, available in 4-ounce single-serve pouches and four-pack formats. The products are available at select retailers nationwide and through the brand’s direct-to-consumer website, extending its portfolio beyond early childhood nutrition.
🤝 Brand Partnerships
🥤 OLIPOP Partners With Compartes for Holiday Chocolate Collection
OLIPOP, founded by Ben Goodwin, debuted its seasonal Pomegranate Sparkle soda alongside its first collaboration with Compartes Chocolatier, introducing a holiday gift set featuring three soda-inspired chocolate bars. The October 1 debut brought together a seasonal beverage launch and the brand’s first chocolate collaboration. The limited holiday gift set features three chocolate bars inspired by Pomegranate Sparkle, Crisp Apple, and Ginger Ale soda flavors. The partnership extends the soda brand into a new product category while offering a holiday gifting experience that connects its beverage flavors with premium chocolate.
🍦 Yogurtland and Final Boss Sour Team Up for Sour Peach Topping
Yogurtland partnered with Final Boss Sour to bring Punch Out Peach sour candy toppings to its frozen yogurt bars nationwide for a limited time, combining gaming-inspired candy flavors with customizable frozen yogurt creations. The collaboration introduces Final Boss Sour’s real peach slices to Yogurtland topping bars, allowing customers to create their own sweet-and-sour frozen yogurt combinations. Inspired by gaming culture and the popularity of bold sour candy flavors, the crossover transforms the candy brand’s social-first snack into an interactive in-store experience. The limited-time offering gives frozen yogurt fans a new way to personalize their treats while introducing a playful twist to the traditional topping bar.
💸 Acquisitions and Investments
🛒 RodeoCPG Acquires ASMG Next UP
RodeoCPG, founded by Zachary DeAngelo, acquired ASMG Next UP LLC, founded by Richard Schleigh, expanding its retail sales management capabilities by combining the acquired team’s expertise with SnoBase’s data, analytics, and technology platform. The acquisition brings ASMG Next UP’s established retail sales management team into the organization, strengthening its ability to support CPG brands with retail execution and in-market visibility. By pairing hands-on sales management experience with the data and technology capabilities of SnoBase, the company aims to offer brand partners a more comprehensive approach to retail growth. The move expands its sales organization and reinforces its focus on helping emerging and established brands improve performance across retail channels.
🥣 18 Chestnuts Welcomes Cistern Capital as Investor
18 Chestnuts, founded by Ilona Kossoff, welcomed Cistern Capital as an investor to support its next stage of growth, building on distribution across more than 1,500 retail locations nationwide and continued momentum in retail and e-commerce. The investment marks another milestone for the chef-crafted soup brand, which has grown from farmers’ markets into a nationally distributed ready-to-eat soup business. With a scalable production and fulfillment platform already in place, the company is positioned to build on its growing retail and e-commerce presence. Cistern Capital, known as The Wellness VC, joins as an investor supporting the brand’s mission to make nutritious, chef-crafted soups more accessible to consumers.
🎉 News to Celebrate
🥣 Backflip Sells 480,000+ Cereal Units in 60 Days at Target
Backflip, co-founded by Ben Azelart and Shaun Neff, sold more than 480,000 cereal units across 1,876 Target stores within 60 days of its national launch, achieving approximately twice the kids’ cereal category’s average sales velocity while attracting a significant share of shoppers new to the cereal aisle. Launched nationally at Target on July 5, the creator-led cereal brand is bringing a modern approach to kids’ breakfast by combining entertainment, collectible trading cards, and a reformulated cereal product. According to performance figures shared at the Better Bites Food Forum, 75% of its shoppers were new to the cereal aisle or had not purchased cereal in the previous two years, while the brand generated more than 100 million organic video views mentioning its products. Its cereal contains 6g of protein, 40–50% less sugar than leading kids’ cereals, no synthetic dyes, and a gluten-free recipe, helping the brand connect digital audience engagement with retail sales.
🫒 Freestyle Snacks Gains Organic Celebrity Exposure
Freestyle Snacks, founded by Nikki Seaman, gained organic exposure through appearances in content featuring DJ Khaled and Alix Earle, highlighting its growing presence through Gopuff and hundreds of office canteens nationwide. The snack brand recently appeared in two separate, unplanned social media moments, with DJ Khaled featuring its olives in a Gopuff promotion and Alix Earle showcasing its pickles in an office snack stash during a day-in-the-life video. The appearances highlighted two growing channels for the company: online delivery partnerships and workplace snacking. With its convenient, mess-free pouches now stocked in hundreds of office canteens across the country, the brand is benefiting from organic product discovery alongside its expanding distribution.
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