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This Week in CPG 02/02/2026
🛒 Retail Rollouts
🥨 Chunk Nibbles, founded by Brad Cocklin, is now available in 110 Kroger stores across Michigan
The fast-growing snack cluster brand has launched three fan favorite flavors Vanilla, S’mores, and Toffee in the deli section of Kroger locations across the state. Known for its bold flavors and satisfying crunch, Chunk Nibbles’ indulgent snack bites are designed to drive impulse purchases and repeat buys. This regional expansion represents a major growth milestone and reflects the brand’s continued retail momentum in the Midwest.
🍹 Dude Wow Cocktails, founded by Igdalsky, has entered select ABC Fine Wine & Spirits stores in Orlando
The Florida-based brand is now offering its award-winning All-Natural Bloody Mary Mix at ABC Fine Wine & Spirits in the Orlando metro area, with more locations expected later this year. Known as “Florida’s Official Drink of Brunch,” Dude Wow is capitalizing on rising demand for clean-label cocktail mixers, expanding its reach through key beverage retailers across the state.
🧀 Ollin, founded by Alyssa Fernandez, has rolled out statewide in Texas via Central Market
This marks a major retail milestone for the brand, which is now available across all Central Market locations in Texas. The partnership aligns Ollin with a premier grocery retailer known for curating high-quality and artisanal products, allowing Fernandez’s brand to reach a broader customer base while staying true to its values of quality, transparency, and mission-driven food.
🚀 New Product Launch
🍵 OoMee, founded by Alissa Miky, has launched a ready-to-drink matcha in three fruit-forward flavors
Crafted for clean, sustained energy, OoMee Matcha blends organic matcha (60mg caffeine), 30mg of L-theanine, and Seabiotics™ from agar-agar to deliver a jitter-free boost. Available in Berry, Passionfruit & Yuzu, and Lemon & Mint, the drinks are vegan, under 5g of sugar, and non-carbonated, offering a smooth, refreshing alternative to sugary energy drinks or lattesno whisk required.
🤝 Brand Partnerships
👟 SIMPLi, founded by Sarela Herrada, has partnered with Strava to launch a movement challenge for moms
The “Moved by Motherhood” challenge, which began January 26 for users in CA, FL, and NY, makes SIMPLi the first brand to activate Strava’s new stroller tag. The three-week program invites moms to log 30 minutes a day of stroller-tagged walks or runs totaling 11 hours to celebrate real-life movement. Participants who complete the challenge receive a free SIMPLi grocery item, with one grand prize winner receiving a Thule Urban Glide 3 stroller and a year of SIMPLi products. The campaign ties into SIMPLi’s “Nourish Like a Mother” platform, emphasizing nourishment through consistency, care, and everyday routines.
🍪 Creations Foods, led by Aki Georgacacos, has merged with REAL Cookies, co-founded by Lauren Berger and Marla Felton
The combined company will form a vertically integrated snacking platform focused on indulgent, clean-label products with broad North American reach. REAL Cookies brings award-winning better-for-you cookies to the table, while Creations Foods contributes scalable manufacturing and operational infrastructure. Berger will serve as VP of Strategy & Innovation, driving long-term growth initiatives and brand development across the new portfolio.
🎉 News to Celebrate
🏆 Dar Baklava, founded by Sherif Badawy, won multiple medals at the 2025 CPG Awards
The brand’s Pistachio Baklava and Sesame Crackers with Pistachio took home Century, Double Gold, and Gold honors from Food & Beverage Magazine. Judged by a panel of retail buyers actively scouting new products, the awards underscore Dar Baklava’s standout quality and position the brand for increased retail interest.
📦 Lazy Food, founded by Nakul Kapoor, revealed its newest packaging refresh for 2026
The redesign includes a new front and center pasta image, a larger logo, gluten-free certification, and new kosher status updates aimed at boosting shelf visibility and meeting evolving consumer needs. Originally designed for DTC, Lazy Food’s packaging now reflects its focus on driving retail velocity, with Kapoor noting that intentional iteration is part of the rand-building process.
🎯 Banza, co-founded by Scott and Brian Rudolph, showcased its high-protein pizza at The Fit Expo
Sampling its Four Cheese Pizza (17g protein, 10g fiber), Banza engaged with fitness fans and health conscious attendees, highlighting how its lineup including vegan and veggie flavors is available at major retailers like Whole Foods, Target, Wegmans, and Walmart. The event helped reinforce Banza’s positioning as both nutritious and delicious in the frozen aisle.
🚀 Sixty emerging brands, including Doughy, Croots, and REAL Cookies, were named finalists in the 2026 Albertsons Innovation Launchpad
Set to compete on March 3 in Anaheim, the finalist group spans beverage, snack, and better-for-you categories. Standouts like Actbar, GoodPop, Proper Good, and Sunday Supper will pitch for a chance to land on Albertsons shelves, with the competition supported by RangeMe and retail mentors. This cohort reflects the growing creativity and innovation shaping the next generation of CPG.
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