Latest food tech and innovation news, jobs and events.
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rebbl
FEATURED
House Farm Bill Collapses, Blue Apron Goes Brick-and-Mortar, Rebbl Raises $200M + More (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=75235168a0&e=2715c96b29)
Our round-up of this week's top food innovation news.
2017 US Food & Beverage Startup Investment Report (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=ccb6343237&e=2715c96b29)
Introducing our first annual Food & Bev Startup Investment Report by Ryan Williams. There were $1.08b in venture capital investments across 99 deals in 2017. Check out our report for a deep dive into the deals and trends.
EVENT
fail friday
It's not easy being a food innovator. There's no road map for reinventing an industry.
That's why we've teamed up with ForceBrands: FoodForce | BevForce (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=c458d89f30&e=2715c96b29) to celebrate failure in all its glory at Fail Friday (on a Wednesday). Join us to hear stories of failure and lessons learned from top food entrepreneurs. Try food from emerging brands and network with the community.
Get Your Ticket (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=2b421391df&e=2715c96b29)
https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=2cbfebd70a&e=2715c96b29
LATEST JOB LISTINGS
Director of Operations at PetPlate (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=9a258e0234&e=2715c96b29) - New York, NY
Director of Growth Marketing at PetPlate (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=c6ae50df61&e=2715c96b29) - New York, NY
Marketing Associate at Gray Growth Strategies (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=7bee256d5c&e=2715c96b29) - New York, NY
Customer Experience Intern at Hopsy (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=119733be04&e=2715c96b29) - New York, NY
Sales Account Executive at Copra (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=2e3f51a702&e=2715c96b29) - New York, NY
Sales & Distribution Manager at Cocoburg (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=6654345045&e=2715c96b29) - Brooklyn, NY
Senior Engineer at Sweetgreen (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=2482638d36&e=2715c96b29) - Los Angeles, CA
Product Development Manager at Splendid Spoon (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=38e50d0d22&e=2715c96b29) - Brooklyn, NY
iOS Engineer at Sweetgreen (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=dba2cf11d3&e=2715c96b29) - Los Angeles, CA
Value Chain Coordinator at Sweetgreen (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=3ee497edb3&e=2715c96b29) - Bay Area, CA
Sales Specialist at BentoBox (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=4067e0f3e5&e=2715c96b29) - New York, NY
SEARCH MORE JOBS! (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=b409d12025&e=2715c96b29)
impossible
CPG
The Impossible Burger Is Officially Certified Kosher (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=87a783b33a&e=2715c96b29) - Grub Street
Jewish people who keep kosher can finally sink their teeth into "bleeding" plant burgers.
High Brew Coffee Closes 'Non-Traditional' $20M Funding Round (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=369bb2df4b&e=2715c96b29) - Food Navigator
The investment was led by Charles Street Partners and will go towards digital advertizing and furthering its Amazon partnership.
Necco Is Sold for $18.8M at Bankruptcy Auction (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=daeddc46e6&e=2715c96b29) - Boston Globe
Spangler Candy, which makes Dum Dums lollipops, bested two other bidders to acquire the Revere candy maker. The result means Necco will stay in business, at least through the fall.
The Importance of Eco-Friendly Food Packaging (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=9ab14952ea&e=2715c96b29) - Food Dive
While it's difficult for CPG companies to reduce excess packaging, shifting to more sustainable options appeals to today's more environmentally conscious consumers.
Chobani on the Power of In-House Creative and Not Obsessing Over Efficiency (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=3f8d84c6f8&e=2715c96b29) - Marketing Dive
The yogurt marketer goes against the industry grain on several fronts when crafting campaigns like a current one around its Flip line of snacks.
Why Good Design Can Make or Break Your Food and Beverage Business (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=93086e2ac8&e=2715c96b29) - Food Dive
It pays for firms to invest in impactful product packaging that tells a story and educates.
PepsiCo Partners with Food, Beverage Incubator (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=abb7f6ab83&e=2715c96b29) - Food Business News
Pepsi has partnered with The Hatchery Chicago to help food industry entrepreneurs grow their businesses.
home chef
RETAIL
Kroger to Buy Home Chef in Latest Move to Get Meal Kits in Grocery Stores (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=ec8dd212b0&e=2715c96b29) - CNBC
The initial price is $200m and could go up to $700m over the next five years in exchange for Home Chef meeting certain milestones, including significant growth of in-store and online meal kit sales.
Whole Foods Quietly Pauses Its GMO Labeling Requirements (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=1924fa93e6&e=2715c96b29) - New Food Economy
The company's comprehensive labeling policy was scheduled to go into effect on September 1. A new deadline has not been announced.
India: Grocery Startup Raises $7M in Series A Funding (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=89723e067b&e=2715c96b29) - Gadget Now
Milkbasket's recent investment was led by Kalaari Capital in addition to funding from BeeNext and existing investors, Unilever Ventures and Blume Ventures. It plans to use funds to improve supply chain eficiencies, last mile logistics and customer experience.
How the Quest for Experience is Evolving the Retail Landscape (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=95e524c472&e=2715c96b29) - Project Nosh
New strategic announcements in the space show that retailers and brands are realizing that experience, value and quality have a significant impact on customer loyalty. Retailers should test and experiment to figure out what resonates most with their customers.
The Race Is On for Grocery Delivery, but Most Customers Still Want to Shop In Stores (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=118f25bc61&e=2715c96b29) - Forbes
Only 33% of American shoppers have bought food online, while 65% are prefer the in-store shopping experience. Grocery retailers' bigger growth opportunity is in the grocery shopping experience.
UK: One Grocery Chain Is Removing 'Best Before' Stickers in a Dramatic Effort to Reduce Food Waste (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=cdf5e40316&e=2715c96b29) - Fortune
Tesco has announced that it will remove "best before" dates from 70 pre-packaged produce products because people have been throwing away food before it actually goes bad.
Why Walmart Is So Eager to Win Your Online Grocery Business (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=e41869e458&e=2715c96b29) - Motley Fool
It's about beating rivals to the punch, and hopefully extracting higher profits down the line.
Alibaba's Futuristic Supermarket in China Is Way Ahead of the US, with 30-Minute Deliveries and Facial Recognition Payment — and It Shows Where Amazon Is Likely to Take Whole Foods (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=971482ad0a&e=2715c96b29) - Business Insider
Alibaba is expanding aggressively into physical retail through investments in a variety of product categories to push its strategy of combining online and offline shopping. Its supermarket, Hema Xiansheng, shows where Amazon may try to take Whole Foods in the future.
How Brandless Built a Following with Its 'Just What Matters' Approach (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=6f4c31592f&e=2715c96b29) - Food Dive
Co-founder Ido Leffler talks about how the company's values, branding strategy and direct-to-consumer model made it a retail standout.
Consumers Still Hesitate to Buy Fresh Produce Online (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=75db20fd04&e=2715c96b29) - Food Dive
Grocers can use informational marketing, word of mouth and discount pricing to bring them onboard.
nolla
RESTAURANTS
Drink-A-Day Startup Hooch Raises $5M as It Plans Blockchain Initiative (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=68b288a3da&e=2715c96b29) - TechCrunch
Funding was led by Revelis Capital Group and Blue Scorpion Investments, with participation from Access Industries Holdings, Warner Music Group, FJ Labs and others. The company's subscription gets users one free drink per day from a partner bars and restaurants.
Could Zero-Waste Restaurants Be the Future of Fine Dining? (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=f0671e6f91&e=2715c96b29) - Mind Body Green
Helsinki-based restaurant Nolla is hosting a zero-waste popup in New York in a room made with recycled plastic and using local ingredients that would have otherwise been trashed.
Sweden: Diaz & Swahn Are Using Sound to Change the Way Your Food Tastes (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=87257c18e5&e=2715c96b29) - The Spoon
The company uses a mix of sensory science, business and marketing expertise to help food companies with product development and growth. While restaurants aren't the only focus area, they stand to benefit from this approach.
Want Better Working Conditions in Restaurants? Build a Co-op (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=3199784517&e=2715c96b29) - Eater
When employees make decisions and advocate for themselves, good things happen.
Why Bars and Restaurants are Becoming Co-working Spaces (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=94f47172da&e=2715c96b29) - SevenFifty Daily
Operators are turning on-premise venues into part-time communal offices—passive income is just one of the benefits.
Coffee Waste Is Now Fetching a 480% Premium Over Coffee Itself (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=70536a5b8d&e=2715c96b29) - Bloomberg
Prices for dried husks, better known as cascara, are outstripping those for beans. Chains like Starbucks, Stumptown and Blue Bottle Coffee are adding it to their menus as teas and carbonated drinks.
McDonald's Workers Describe Rampant Harassment, Workplace Groping and Suggestive Comments (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=f0f94c8dae&e=2715c96b29) - The Washington Post
Complaints from the McDonald's workers were filed with financial support from the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund, a $21m charity launched to support low-income workers who want to report sexual harassment.
Starbucks Says People Can Now Sit in Its Stores Without Buying Anything (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=f5a911b3d4&e=2715c96b29) - Grub Street
Stores are now open to everyone regardless of whether they make a purchase.
Avocados on Everything? Restaurants Capitalize on Rising Supply (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=1a15f5de63&e=2715c96b29) - Bloomberg
The already-popular avocado is getting a turbo boost from higher supply and lower prices -- and restaurants are eager to cash in.
crowd cow
AGRICULTURE
Crowd Cow, Offering Ranch to Table Meats, Picks Up $8M from Madrona, Ashton Kutcher (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=ce6045f42b&e=2715c96b29) - TechCrunch
Crowd Cow plans to use the funding to continue expansion into different proteins and new markets, as well as opening new distribution centers to speed up delivery to customers.
Denmark: Connecterra Raises €4.2M Series A for AI-powered Dairy Tech (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=2e05e39fd4&e=2715c96b29) - AgFunder
The round was led by Sistema VC with new investment from AgFunder, 7 Percent Ventures, Acequia Capital, and industry veteran Henk Bles. Connecterra will use the funding to further develop its technology, expand into new markets and grow its team.
France: Algaia Raises €4M to Expand Algae Product Portfolio and Extraction Technology (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=5d846f0c0e&e=2715c96b29) - AgFunder
Maabarot Products invested the additional equity capital to support Algaia's expansion of its production facility and innovation center. The company manufactures algae-based products for agriculture feed, personal care and nutraceutical industries.
Weed-Killing Robots Are Threatening Giant Chemical Companies' Business Models (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=e37a39918a&e=2715c96b29) - MIT Technology Review
AI-powered weed hunters could soon reduce the need for herbicides and genetically modified crops.
Blockchain Is Coming for Agriculture and You Might Not Even Notice (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=5715bce8ab&e=2715c96b29) - AgFunder
Blockchain alone doesn't make growers more money, but it does provide the technology infrastructure for things that drive farmers' bottom lines.
Indigo Agriculture Holds the Secret to Pesticide-Free Crops and the Future of Food (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=55be126a7a&e=2715c96b29) - CNBC
The company is using microbes to help farmers grow crops in challenging conditions. It boasted $67m in annual bookings in 2017 and is on target to hit half a billion this year.
Brazil: Brazilian Ag Marketplace Raises $630K Seed Round from Monsanto Growth Ventures and Others (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=b7e4e5c661&e=2715c96b29) - AgFunder
Grão Direto has raised R$ 2.3m in seed funding from Monsanto Growth Ventures, Canary and OpenVC. It plans to use funds to expand across Brazil, further develop its products and services and further digitize the grain chain.
This Robotic Pollinator Is Like a Huge Bee with Wheels and an Arm (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=e080256b89&e=2715c96b29) - Wired
In a world with too many humans and not enough pollinators, robots like the BrambleBee could help.
'Farm-To-Table' Shouldn't Only Be For Rich White People (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=2c8e5978c0&e=2715c96b29) - Huffington Post
The concept and execution of farm-to-table ideas and values are predominately centered on white voices even though so much of the food in this country has always and continues to depend on the labor of people of color.
The Organic Coating that Gives Produce a New Life—and Opens New Markets for Farmers (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=fe31380a47&e=2715c96b29) - Civil Eats
Avocados, mangoes and cassava are the first crops that Apeel is targeting with their edible coating, approved for use on organic foods, that can prevent food waste and grow farm economies.
Norwegian Salmon Prices Are Going Wild (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=0b71c81aae&e=2715c96b29) - Bloomberg
Prices for Norwegian salmon have surged to a record as faltering supply combines with booming global demand.
plastic straws
EATERS
Plastic Straws Might Soon Be Banned in New York City (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=83ea8e9077&e=2715c96b29) - Grub Street
A new bill even proposes $100 fines for violators.
The Truth about Organic Produce and Pesticides (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=e0b3a9ba23&e=2715c96b29) - The Washington Post
Despite reports to the contrary, there is less residue than on conventional produce. But how much does it matter?
What the Failure of the House Farm Bill Means for Good Food Advocates (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=f3a33ee029&e=2715c96b29) - Civil Eats
Last week's collapse of the bill surprised many, but it's too soon to declare it a win.
Drink to Your Health (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=381157bcb1&e=2715c96b29) - Eater
Kombucha's unlikely rise from Soviet elixir to modern-day miracle drink.
Are Avocados Toast? (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=5f29ae2dbc&e=2715c96b29) - Grist
What will we eat in 2050? California farmers are placing bets.
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