Carol Ortenberg

Posts by Carol Ortenberg

Coronavirus: Questions, Concerns About Federal Family Leave Act

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) was designed to provide an option for employees to take paid leave due coronavirus-related illness, quarantine or loss of childcare. But some food and beverage company CEOs are also concerned about keeping their manufacturing facilities staffed, due to their operating at a size at which having a few employees out on leave could hamper production.

Expo West Cancelled, New Hope to Focus on Fall Show

In an email to attendees late this afternoon, Natural Products Expo West producer New Hope announced it would cancel the natural products trade show in favor of focusing on its next large show, Expo East.

New Hope, Informa & SFA Update Attendees

Yesterday, Expo West producer New Hope and Fancy Foods Show producer The Specialty Food Association (SFA) updated their respective attendees with show updates. Meanwhile, Supply Side East was postponed until the Summer.

Brands Grapple With Coronavirus Conundrum at Expo West

Over the weekend, food and beverage companies are facing the potential of a Coronavirus-reduced Natural Products Expo West show were regretting sunk costs as they wondered whether they could do enough business with the show’s drastically-reduced retailer contingent to justify the money they had already laid out.

Expo West Approaching, Brands Weigh Coronavirus Fears

As food companies gear up for next week’s Natural Products Expo West conference, some of their conversation has moved from how many samples to bring to potential health and safety risks from the fast moving virus, COVID-19, also known as the Coronavirus.

Beyond RX, Rahal Talks Investing & Next Steps

What happens after you achieve the goal you’ve spent years chasing? In 2017 Peter Rahal sold his protein bar brand RXBAR. In 2019 he stepped down as CEO to be an advisor to the company and focus on his own projects. Now he’s busy investing in brands under his firm Litani and figuring out what his next play should be.

Butterfly Picks Up Orgain to Compliment Bolthouse

Los Angeles-based private equity firm Butterfly last week announced its acquisition of a majority stake in “clean” protein brand Orgain. The deal is Butterfly’s fifth investment and second in beverage, following the purchase of fresh juice focused Bolthouse Farms earlier this year.

M13 Closes “Founder-Focused” Second Fund

After investing close to $100 million over the past few years, the Reum brothers aren’t going to have to look for partners on an investment-by-investment bases anymore. Their investment firm, M13, has raised $175 million for a second fund, this time with capital committed from a pool of limited partners.

Ocean Spray Revamps R&D, Will Enter New Categories

Last week, the company announced a new model for innovation, known as the Lighthouse Incubator, which will focus on rapid innovation and bring the company into new categories beyond beverage.

Harbinger Ventures Closes Second Fund

Over the past three years the firm, which invests in early-stage companies that are led by female or “mixed-gender” founder teams, has seen interest in its investment thesis grow exponentially. Perhaps the best indication of the changing sentiment: this week the firm announced the close of its second fund, worth $21.7 million -- roughly 12 times larger than its first fund.

Misfit Pivots from Juices to Meat To Save the Planet

To offer consumers a means to consume more vegetables, while also positively impacting climate change, Misfit Foods has pivoted away from its signature juice line — and the use of imperfect produce — and into the meat counter with the launch of a new line of veggie and meat sausages.

To Target New Shoppers, Vital Proteins Expands Portfolio

Collagen-focused company Vital Proteins announced today the launch of a line of bars, sports drinks and a liquid creamers, moves CEO and founder Kurt Seidensticker told NOSH are designed to help the brand target a wider array of shoppers and expand beyond its core wellness enthusiast.

Natural Food and Beverage Brands Rank on Inc. 5000

Earlier this week, Inc. released the 2019 edition of the Inc. 5000 list — a ranking of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the U.S. Alongside marketing firms, healthcare management, financial services and other service providers, this year’s list featured dozens of natural food and beverage companies, showing the industry’s increasing impact on the American economy.