Latest food tech and innovation news, jobs and events.
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food tech connect
global foodshot
FEATURED
We've interviewed 45+ CEOs, execs, farmers and investors about the role of biodiversity in the food industry. Read our interviews (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=66bf88af97&e=2715c96b29) with Starbucks, Rebbl, Food Tank, Impossible Foods and more.
FoodShot Global on Investing in a Regenerative, Biodiverse Food System (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=e534326b05&e=2715c96b29)
FoodShot Global founder Victor Friedberg talks to us about white space opportunities and capital structures for transitioning to a regenerative and biodiverse food system.
How Vertical Farming Startup Bowery Approaches Biodiversity (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=a3d9869bbf&e=2715c96b29)
Bowery's Susan MacIsaac explain how the vertical farming company is utilizing previously unusable industrial space to grow over 100 crop varieties.
How Health Warrior Built Its Chia Supply Chain (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=cf923fa55f&e=2715c96b29)
Health Warrior's director of strategic sales Casey Emmett talks to us about how the chia brand built its initial supply chain for the underutilized crop.
How Farm.One Uses Tech to Grow 500+ Specialty Crops For Chefs (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=c69a1251f3&e=2715c96b29)
Farm.One CEO Rob Laing talks to us about how the vertical farming startup uses technology to grow over 500 specialty produce crops for chefs.
RePlant Capital on Investing From Soil to Shelf (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=7ea0277e8a&e=2715c96b29)
RePlant Capital's Robyn O'Brien talks about how the impact investment firm works with American farmers & companies tackling issues created by climate change.
Slow Food's Database Catalogues Thousands of Endangered Foods (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=6a41ac5b59&e=2715c96b29)
Slow Food USA Executive Director Richard McCarthy talks to us The Ark of Taste database, which catalogues 3,500 endangered foods, and relocalizing our food.
Why Yolélé Foods Is Bringing West African Ancient Grain Fonio to the US (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=e32739beab&e=2715c96b29)
Yolélé Foods CEO Philp Teverow talks to us about how the company is creating market demand and processing infrastructure for fonio.
Siete Foods Raises $90M, Viome Acquires Habit's Personalized Nutrition Platform + More (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=6430e34848&e=2715c96b29)
Our round-up of last week's top food innovation news.
EVENT
food biodiversity
Just 12 plants and 5 animals make up 75% of the world's food supply. This kind of consolidation puts our food supply at risk and leaves a lot of opportunity - new flavors and food experiences - on the table.
Join us to hear how game-changing startups are creating a more biodiverse food system at our February Food+Tech Meetup. CEOs and COOs from Row 7 Seed Co (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=48a12858e9&e=2715c96b29) , Alpha Food Labs (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=995393a091&e=2715c96b29) , Kuli Kuli (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=b3d9f11bab&e=2715c96b29) and Tender Greens (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=4646acd86d&e=2715c96b29) will do a deep dive into their business models and supply chains.
Get Your Tickets! (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=0a859c4554&e=2715c96b29)
graze
CPG
Unilever Acquires UK Snack Brand Graze to Accelerate Growth in the Better-For-You Sector (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=eea0541219&e=2715c96b29) - Food Navigator
The retail giant bought the company from The Carlyle Group for $194m. Graze offers a variety of snacks with no artificial ingredients. The company started with a snack box delivery service and is now also available in retail stores, e-commerce and direct-to-consumer.
Ritual Raises $25M for Its Subscription-Based Women's Daily Vitamin (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=1fcafb2c5d&e=2715c96b29) - TechCrunch
The Series B is led by Lisa Wu at Northwest Venture Partners. Ritual plans to launch two new products, a postnatal and post-menopausal vitamin, in 2019.
Ceres Natural Products Acquires Tretap (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=195143d68a&e=2715c96b29) - BevNET
CBD retailer Ceres Natural Products announced on Tuesday it has acquired maple water maker Tretap for an undisclosed sum.
New Plant-Based Products Group Pushes Sustainable Food Packaging (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=3d2026fa49&e=2715c96b29) - Food Dive
The council, whose founding members include ADM, Cargill, Tate & Lyle and Ingredion, launched a database featuring more than 480 plant-based and bio-based products already on the market.
Little Spoon Gets $7M for Its Organic Baby Food Delivery Service (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=61f96d3be9&e=2715c96b29) - TechCrunch
Funding was led by Vaultier7, with participation from the likes of Kairos, Tinder founds, Interplay Ventures the San Francisco 49ers and SoGal Ventures. New capital will be used to expand its line of baby meals.
Jimmy Dean Parent Tyson Foods Has Held Talks to Buy Foster Farms for $2B (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=e90d4e183e&e=2715c96b29) - CNBC
The two sides are currently disagreeing over price. An acquisition of the US brand would mark a mild change in course for Tyson.
How Render Is Building a Chef-Driven Brand (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=e6ad51025a&e=2715c96b29) - Nosh
At the winter fancy food show, NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg sat down with Render CEO and Co-Founder Dana Peck to learn about the brand's new product lines and how the company's model differs from celebrity sponsorship.
Bridging the Food and Beverage Manufacturing Skills Gap with Simulation Training (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=34b1a040b8&e=2715c96b29) - Food Dive
Training systems that employ artificial intelligence can automatically assess the training metrics and use that to control the pace of students' advancement.
New Emails Reveal CDC Employees Were Doing the Bidding of Coca-Cola (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=2d07d37958&e=2715c96b29) - Salon
Instead of protecting Americans' health, insiders at the CDC were dutifully helping Coke sell sugar water.
Haagen-Dazs Announces New Boozy Ice Cream Line (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=872890e12a&e=2715c96b29) - CNBC
The boozy flavors will be available in grocery stores in April and in select Haagen-Dazs locations in March. Each product contains less than 0.5 percent alcohol per volume.
relex
RETAIL
Finland: Retail Technology Platform Relex Raises $200M from TCV (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=edc297c82f&e=2715c96b29) - TechCrunch
The investment is the first public investment from TCV's new $3b fund. It will be used to give the company's sales a boost, especially in the US, and to develop more services on its current platform.
Apeel Partners with Nature's Pride to Bring Spoilage-Resistant Fruits and Veggies to Europe (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=c2fd27764c&e=2715c96b29) - TechCrunch
Subject to regulatory approval in the EU, Nature's Pride said it will integrate Apeel's plant-based preservation technology into its avocado supply chain. The company says produce will stay fresh two to three times longer than untreated produce.
Canada: P&P Optica Receives $1M Investment for its Hyperspectral Food Inspection (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=015fc8d975&e=2715c96b29) - The Spoon
Funding was led by Export Development Canada, and will be used to continue development of P&P's Smart Imaging System and expand its footprint across North America.
Most Shoppers Are Still Leery of Buying Their Groceries Online. But Delivery in the US Is Set to 'Explode' (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=88d7d47ccc&e=2715c96b29) - CNBC
In the US, 3% of grocery spending takes place online. Shoppers are still reluctant to try delivery services and often don't stick with them, but grocery delivery will ultimately take off as companies continue to invest in it.
Kroger Bringing Home Chef Meal Kits to 500 More Stores (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=aae637e5b6&e=2715c96b29) - Grocery Dive
The retailer and its recently acquired meal kit company will also begin offering customizable recipes to online subscribers.
After Uproar, Instacart Backs Off Controversial Tipping Policy (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=2bb1a0dea3&e=2715c96b29) - New York Times
The delivery app's practice of counting tips toward guaranteed minimum payments for its contract workers drew accusations of wage theft.
panera
RESTAURANTS
Panera Will End Its Pay-What-You-Want Test, Closing Boston Store (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=b349695448&e=2715c96b29) - Bloomberg
The sandwich chain will close its last pay-what-you-can location next week after determining the model wasn't sustainable. It's already shut the other free-meals cafes around the country.
New York Restaurants Grapple with Unexpected CBD Plan (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=74f4a069b4&e=2715c96b29) - Skift Table
The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's rollout of its CBD ban has been called vague and sneaky by restaurant operators. But what's really confusing is having to hear about new regulations via media reports, instead of documentation from the governing entity.
Uber's Secret Gold Mine: How Uber Eats Is Turning Into A Billion-Dollar Business to Rival Grubhub (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=c852da4e52&e=2715c96b29) - Forbes
Uber Eats could make up a tenth of the ride-hailing giant's revenue this year, impressive news for investors in its IPO. But well-capitalized rivals are already trying to tap the same vein.
India: Growth Equity Firm Glade Brook Capital Invests in Zomato (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=f71933efa4&e=2715c96b29) - VCCircle
Investment amounted to $39.7m, and brings Zomato to a valuation of $2b.
India: Bus Aggregator Shuttl Forays into Food Delivery Space (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=cd317562f8&e=2715c96b29) - Economic Times
After a pilot started in October last year with 50 buses, the Gurgaon-based company plans to scale up the offering this year by providing meals on 1.2k buses, most of which operate in Delhi NCR.
OpenTable's New Tool Helps Avoid at Least One Valentine's Day Fight (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=57939d0603&e=2715c96b29) - Bloomberg
The online reservations service has introduced its Matchmaker tool, designed to let people scroll through options to pick mutually approved places to eat, for Valentine's Day and beyond.
mushrooms
AGRICULTURE
Why 2019 Is the Year of the Mushroom (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=741e302b5e&e=2715c96b29) - AgFunder
Sales of specialty mushrooms have increased 240% over the last six years. Smallhold's co-founder & CEO Andrew Carter shares insight on why this year's "it" produce is gourmet mushrooms.
AgShift Raises New Funding from CerraCap Ventures (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=85d36c3ab7&e=2715c96b29) - The Spoon
CerraCap Ventures has invested an undisclosed sum of new funding in AgShift, an agtech startup that uses computer vision and AI to help remove transactional bias in the food supply chain.
Wheatsheaf Acquires Purfresh's Ozone Tech Reducing Food Waste in Shipping Containers (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=a16547a913&e=2715c96b29) - AgFunder
Whatsheaf Group's subsidiary TriStrata Group has acquired 90% of Purfresh. Financial terms were undisclosed.
A New Era in Ag As Record Number of Women Hold Top State Jobs (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=6947dd49ce&e=2715c96b29) - Politico
A total of 13 women have either been elected or appointed to head state agriculture departments, and that number could increase, as the top state agriculture position remains open in five states.
Cell-Based Seafood: First ASEAN Clean Meat Company Shiok Meats Has Its Eye on APAC and US Markets (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=4f7e246ce3&e=2715c96b29) - Food Navigator
Shiok Meats is the first cell-based meat company is Singapore and South East Asia, exclusively developing lab-grown seafood. It aims to go to market in the next one or two years.
We Need a National Rural Broadband Plan (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=dfcdd8cbc0&e=2715c96b29) - New York Times
The government has given a lot of money to major telecommunications companies without much regulatory accountability.
'This One Here Is Gonna Kick My Butt'—Farm Belt Bankruptcies Are Soaring (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=90dbd9fb9c&e=2715c96b29) - Wall Street Journal
Trade disputes over agriculture add pain to low commodity prices that have been grinding down American farmers for years.
What Happened to All the Black Farmers? (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=96b9a13801&e=2715c96b29) - NBC Left Field
Black farmers once made up 14% of America's farmers. Today, black farmers account for less than 2%.
A 'Common Food Policy' Offers a Guide to a More Sustainable Food System in Europe. Could It Be a Model for the US? (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=35ac4b5768&e=2715c96b29) - Civil Eats
Although the EU and US are oceans apart on some food policy issues, they face similar challenges. IPES-Food's new proposal hopes to shift the discussion—in both regions.
Why Scientists Are Making the Case Against Octopus Farming (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=a93194a890&e=2715c96b29) - New Food Economy
A new study argues that industrial-scale octopus farms could leave wild populations untouched while depleting stocks of other ocean animals they rely on for food.
Can Heritage Pork Scale Up? (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=406707a688&e=2715c96b29) - Civil Eats
Consumers and chefs are clamoring for heritage-breed pork. Can the market support both farmers and pure-bred animals?
viome habit
EATERS
Naveen Jain's Wellness Startup Viome to Acquire Habit Nutrition Service from Campbell Soup Co (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=d7593d2148&e=2715c96b29) - GeekWire
Financial terms were undisclosed. Viome makes personalized food recommendations based on a person's microbiome, while Habit develops nutritional recommendations based on biology, metabolism and personal goals.
Vermicular, a Dutch Oven with Sous Vide Functionality, Launches in the US (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=6868e1a695&e=2715c96b29) - Forbes
The pot marks the revival of an 80-year-old family business from Japan.
Single? Samsung Launches Matchmaking Service Based Off What's In Your Fridge (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=15deac1a18&e=2715c96b29) - The Spoon
Just in time for Valentine's Day, the technology giant is launching an online dating service called Refrigerdating. Users upload a photo of their fridge to get matched with others.
I Tried 45 Oranges and This Is the Best One (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=3d4746ee38&e=2715c96b29) - Extra Crispy
Forty-five different kinds of oranges ranked.
Fermented Foods Are Up 149% Percent - As Long As They're Unfamiliar (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=b126cab447&e=2715c96b29) - Forbes
People are eating fermented foods like kimchi and kombucha more than ever before.
https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=e08b4d7717&e=2715c96b29
LATEST JOB LISTINGS
Customer Success Manager - Sustainability/Food Waste at Leanpath (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=e426916b2b&e=2715c96b29) - Mountain View, CA
Food Insecurity Curriculum Editor at Ample Table for Everyone (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=eed0ac60f8&e=2715c96b29) - New York, NY
Associate Brand Manager at King Arthur Flour (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=612d595366&e=2715c96b29) - White River Junction, VT
Commercialized Banking Research and Development at ALS Concepts (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=db079a5f80&e=2715c96b29) - New York, NY
Food Operations Manager at Kitchentown (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=cb8d19ef9f&e=2715c96b29) - San Mateo, CA
Google Food Program Innovation Project Manager at Google (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=f992f60d1b&e=2715c96b29) - Bay Area, CA
Food Service Sales Executive at MySuperFoods (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=1859f1ce2f&e=2715c96b29) - Summit, NJ
Retail Sales Executive at MySuperFoods (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=5cef2bf432&e=2715c96b29) - Summit, NJ
Food Science Intern at Spero Foods (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=cabcaae2d6&e=2715c96b29) - Los Angeles, CA; San Jose, CA
Shift Leader / Supervisor at Ox Verte (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=0494a3153c&e=2715c96b29) - New York, NY
Operations Manager - Manufacturing at Banza (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=1c338a5916&e=2715c96b29) - Riverside, CA
SEARCH MORE JOBS! (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=cec22a6c0e&e=2715c96b29)
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