Headlines

Welcome to Public Life: Lessons from the Oatly Short Report

Last month, still hot on the hype of its highly publicized May IPO, plant-based milk maker Oatly sustained its first major setback as a publicly traded company when Spruce Point Capital Management released a document claiming that the company had misrepresented its success. What can other companies learn from this about going public?

Fancy Food Show Moves to Fully Virtual Format; New Hope Adds New Protocols

Earlier today, The Specialty Food Association (SFA) cancelled the in-person trade show portion of the Fancy Food Show 2021. Slated to run September 27 through 29 in New York City, the event will now move to a fully virtual format. Meanwhile, New Hope, and its parent company Informa, announced new Covid-19 related protocols for Natural Products Expo East.

LifeAID Raises $20M in Series C Round

LIFEAID Beverage Co. announced this week that it has raised $20 million in an oversubscribed Series C financing round. The capital will go towards supporting the brand’s growth in retail in the U.S. and overseas, as well as funding new innovation and c-suite level hires.

CPG Leaders Make Forbes’ Wealthiest Self-Made Women List

This year’s Forbes list of the top wealthiest self-made women featured four founders, leaders and executives behind some of CPG’s most notable brands. Released this week, the full list includes 100 of the top female entrepreneurs and executives, two-thirds of which either founded or cofounded their company and 26 who have served as CEOs.

Taste Radio: Embrace Waste. Imperfect Foods Built A Unicorn Out Of It.

This week we’re joined by Benjamin Chesler, the co-founder of Imperfect Foods, a pioneering online grocery service that specializes in selling produce and surplus food that would otherwise be discarded. Chesler discussed Imperfect’s roots and mission to reduce food waste on a massive scale, the process for incorporating branded items into its product selection and how the company communicates quality as a seller of “imperfect” food.

Boston Beer and PepsiCo Partner to Create ‘HARD MTN DEW’

Launching in the U.S. in early 2022, the 5% ABV flavored malt beverage will be developed and produced by Boston Beer, while PepsiCo has set up a new entity to sell, deliver, and merchandise the product, according to a press release.

Super Coffee Closes $106M Series C Round

Super Coffee has closed a $106 million Series C fundraising round, the company confirmed today. The round was led by Maryland-based venture group Durable Capital Partners and included participation by beverage industry veteran Clayton Christopher and former Peet’s Coffee CEO Dave Burwick, as well as another tranche from Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev).

Judge Rules in Favor of Monster in VPX Trade Dress Lawsuit

A federal judge in Florida ruled this week that Monster Energy Corp. did not violate the trade dress of Bang Energy when it launched performance energy brand Reign Total Body Fuel in 2019, putting a cap on one branch of the ongoing legal feud between Monster and Bang manufacturer Vital Pharmaceuticals (VPX).

Monster: Q2 Results Outperform Despite Major Supply Disruptions

Despite pandemic headwinds, can shortages and supply chain disruptions, Monster Energy Corp. saw net sales rise 33.6% to $1.46 billion in Q2, according to an earnings report this week. Second quarter net income rose 29.7% to $403.8 million and net income per diluted share was up 28.6% to $0.75 per share.

New Leadership, Products Fueling Keef Brands ‘Second Inning’

At 11 years in business, Colorado-based Keef Brands is already a veteran of the nascent cannabis beverage category. As the company has grown alongside the recreational marijuana industry, it’s now preparing to begin its next act as an international brand driving the growth of THC beverages through innovation and expansion.

Lifeway Foods Acquires Local Dairy Company To Expand West Coast Presence

Having long been interested in an acquisition, kefir company Lifeway Foods announced it has reached an agreement to purchase California-based GlenOaks Farms Inc. Lifeway CEO Julie Smolyansky said the move comes after the company proved its resilience in the face of the pandemic while also aligning with the strategy for Lifeway’s 2.0 growth plan. Lifeway is expected to purchase the company for $5.8 million in cash by the end of August 2021.