This Week in CPG 01/29/24

This Week in CPG 01/29/24

by Foodbevy

January 29, 2024

🛒 Retail Rollouts

🌿 Soom Foods Expansion

Soom Foods, under the leadership of Amy Zitelman, significantly grew it’s distribution. The brand, known for its high-quality tahini, has expanded its retail footprint from 2,250 to 3,300 doors. This significant increase not only demonstrates the growing demand for Soom’s products but also marks an important step towards the company’s long-term vision of making their tahini a household name across the United States. Their presence in conventional, natural, and e-commerce retailers showcases the versatility and widespread appeal of their product, setting a new standard in the food industry.

🥥 The Coconut Cult's Nationwide Reach

The Coconut Cult has announced a major expansion, with their Original and Chocolate Mousse products now available at all Whole Foods locations nationwide. The company grew from 6 regions to all 11 due to their success in market. This nationwide rollout is just the beginning for this cult classic. 

🍫 SANS Bar's Costco Debut

SANS Bar, founded by Nathan Gordon, debuted in the Costco Bay Area Region, signifying a significant step in the brand’s retail journey. The launch included engaging demos in 30 Costco locations, offering a unique opportunity for consumers to experience SANS Bar’s offerings. This strategic move into Costco’s network marks a critical point in SANS Bar’s growth, illustrating the brand’s appeal and its potential to reach a broader audience. The support and guidance from Costco’s team, particularly Jeremy Smith, have been instrumental in this successful rollout, highlighting the importance of collaborative retail partnerships.

🥐 Flings' Target Launch

Flings, the innovative fruit-filled pastry created by Dino Vassiliou, launched into 500 Target stores across the United States. This is their first major retail launch and is the culmination of months of hard work in perfecting the recipe and scaling production. This expansion is a pivotal moment for Flings, setting the stage for further growth.

🚀 New Product Launch

🍦 True Scoops' Innovative Milkshake Kits

True Scoops, led by Shelley Marshall and Kelley Williamson, have expanded its product line with the launch of Milkshake Kits, following the success of their holiday ice cream sandwiches. This new offering taps into the growing market for convenient, at-home dessert options, while also exploring opportunities in the gifting sector, including corporate gifting, date night packages, and kid-friendly activity boxes. The Milkshake Kits’ launch, strategically timed around Valentine’s Day, demonstrates True Scoops’ understanding of market trends and consumer preferences. 

🎉 News to Celebrate

🍻 G’s Hard Ginger Beer's Silver Medals

G’s Hard Ginger Beer, founded by Donna Katz, has been honored with two silver medals by The Tasting Alliance, recognizing their outstanding quality in the beverage category. The recognition from renowned judges reinforces G’s Hard Ginger Beer’s position.

🥪 Chubby Snacks' Market Impact

Chubby Snacks, co-founded by Dillon Ceglio, Brett Perrotta, and Sean O’Brein, has been making waves in the food industry with significant increases in sales and velocity at major retailers like Target and Whole Foods. The brand’s focused approach to brand awareness, including content production and aggressive marketing campaigns, has paid off, resulting in a notable impact on the market. Their innovative CHUBB-O-MATIC initiative has been a key driver of this success, demonstrating the effectiveness of their marketing and distribution strategies. Here are some of their stats from January:

100%+ velocity increases on prior quarter avg’s at Target
30%+ sales increases at Whole Foods Market (sidenote 3 of our highest volume days since 2021 all occurred last week)
40% velocity increase at Kroger doors over previous highest month.

🏆 Todo Verde's Pitch Competition Win

Todo Verde, founded by Jocelyn Ramirez, has achieved a remarkable victory at the SFA Face-Off Pitch competition, held at the Specialty Food Association’s Fancy Food Show. Their Tinga seasoning impressed the judges, showcasing the brand’s commitment to flavor and quality. This win highlights Todo Verde’s potential in the food industry and the growing interest in diverse, flavorful products. The recognition also underscores the importance of platforms like the Fancy Food Show in elevating BIPOC-founded brands, providing them with the exposure and opportunities to succeed in a competitive marketplace.

💸 Acquisitions and Investments

🍫 Mezcla's Series A Funding

Mezcla, known for its quinoa-based snack bars that blend the texture of rice crispies with traditional protein flavors, has raised $4 million in a Series A funding led by Dream Ventures and Santatera Capital. The round brings Mezcla’s total funding to $7.5 million, attracting notable investors and industry leaders. Founded by Griffin Spolansky, the company aims to disrupt the $5 billion nutrition bar market with its unique flavors and culturally inspired packaging, signaling a promising growth trajectory in the competitive snack bar segment.

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News from Bumpin Blends Smoothie Cubes, Pitaya Foods, Soom Foods, Ghia, Belgian Boys, Hotpot Queen, Fancypants, Laoban Dumplings, RIND Snacks, Liquid Death, Twrl Milk Tea, BEHAVE Candy and Essie’s Heart Healthy DELISH.

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News from Bumpin Blends Smoothie Cubes, Pitaya Foods, Soom Foods, Ghia, Belgian Boys, Hotpot Queen, Fancypants, Laoban Dumplings, RIND Snacks, Liquid Death, Twrl Milk Tea, BEHAVE Candy and Essie's Heart Healthy DELISH.
News from No Days Wasted, Bowlcut, Laoban Dumplings, Tal's, Offshoot Brands, Lil' Gourmets, Wellious and Whole Foods Market.
News from AubSauce, Paradise, Sauz, Blackbird Foods, Diana’s, Fruit Friends, Atomo Coffee, Actual Veggies, BāKIT Box and LEXINGTON BAKES.

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