Latest food tech and innovation news, jobs and events.
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food tech connect
Biodiversity
FEATURED
39 Food Industry Leaders Explore the Role of Biodiversity in the Food Industry (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=fe3ad3121b&e=2715c96b29)
In honor of Climate Week, we're revisiting our editorial series featuring 39 interviews with 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=27c5d50b55&e=2715c96b29) with Danone, Starbucks, Impossible Foods, Aerofarms, General Mills, Kathleen Merrigan and more.
19 Companies Worth $500B Form Biodiversity Initiative, CircleUp Raises $200M for Credit Division + More (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=eee0cab795&e=2715c96b29)
Our round-up of this week's top food innovation news.
2018 U.S. Food & Beverage Startup Investment Report (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=4bea6dee23&e=2715c96b29)
Over $1.45B was invested across 247 deals in 2018, according to the research in our second annual investment report produced in partnership with Ryan Willams. Plant-centric alternatives to meat and dairy accounted for one-third of total investment in food and beverage startups in 2018. Check out the report for a deep dive into last year's investor and investment trends.
SPONSORED
metro xcel
Applications are open to METRO Xcel for Hospitality's autumn 2019 program.
Are you a tech startup looking to enter the European market, scale or branch into the hospitality industry? Apply to METRO Xcel's program to receive unprecedented access to the biggest wholesaler in the world (METRO AG (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=5d601677d3&e=2715c96b29) ), to open incremental sales channels into the hospitality industry and to get access to masterclasses in sales, HR, finance and more. Apply now (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=18d4b6fe2d&e=2715c96b29) or meet the team in person on its recruitment tour (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=b1b7340f12&e=2715c96b29) .
Apply Now! (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=ce626c8d89&e=2715c96b29)
circleup
CPG
CircleUp Raises $200M to Woo Consumer Retail Startups with a VC Alternative: Loans (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=2033ce66fa&e=2715c96b29) - Forbes
Investors included Michigan's state pension fund and Pacific Life. CircleUp's credit unit draws on Helio to inform its commitments, typically backing companies that have between $500k and $5m in sales.
When Mac & Cheese and Ketchup Don't Mix: The Kraft Heinz Merger Falters (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=8cf030575d&e=2715c96b29) - New York Times
The company behind brands like a famous ketchup and Oscar Mayer meats is dealing with slumping sales, shareholder lawsuits, layoffs and questions about its accounting practices.
Tastewise Raises $5M, Releases New Report on the Importance of Functional Foods (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=b807a5176c&e=2715c96b29) - The Spoon
PeakBridge led the round. New funds will go towards expanding and improving the company's computer vision analysis.
Nestle Pushes Into US Faux Meat Crowd to Catch Up With Beyond (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=4a2064e6a5&e=2715c96b29) - Bloomberg
The company starts shipping its meatless Awesome Burger to supermarkets throughout the US. It may need a fast food deal to catch up with young rivals.
AB InBev Prices Its Budweiser Offering at HK$27 – the Second Biggest IPO This Year (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=2e053c513a&e=2715c96b29) - CNBC
The offering is expected to raise up to $5b.
Nestle Invests in Food Allergy Prevention Business (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=0c5d45e5f9&e=2715c96b29) - Food Business News
Nestle has invested an undisclosed sum to Before Brands, a provider of early childhood food allergy prevention solutions.
Casper's CBD Gummies Are Here to Help You Sleep When a Mere Matress Isn't Enough (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=d1b9e96df2&e=2715c96b29) - Fast Company
The sleep-aiding munchers are the result of a partnership with the cannabidiol company Plus.
RXBar Driving Millions for Kellogg As Its Cereal Business Falls Out of Vogue (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=093ac474be&e=2715c96b29) - CNBC
RXBAR net sales during the first 12 months of Kellogg's ownership surpassed $200m.
What's Driving China's Noodle Revival? (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=76ef6ac263&e=2715c96b29) - Bloomberg
Between 2001 and 2011, the peak of China's boom, instant-noodle sales increased 140%, to 43b bowls and packets, as hundreds of millions of farmers moved to the cities and sought out cheap eats between factory shifts.
When Corporate Innovation Goes Bad — The 155 Biggest Product Failures of All Time (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=b739471865&e=2715c96b29) - CB Insights
From the DeLorean and New Coke to the Newton and Google Glass, here's a list of the biggest product flops from corporate giants.
stockwell
RETAIL
Bodega, Once Dubbed 'America's Most Hated Startup,' Has Quietly Raised Millions (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=2a6cb99385&e=2715c96b29) - TechCrunch
The startup – now Stockwell – has raised $45M in funding from a number of investors including GV, NEA and DCM Ventures. It has used its latest infusion to explore shared ownership models.
MaxAB Raises $6M Seed Round to Optimize Egypt's B2B Grocery Markets (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=4b2a9f7593&e=2715c96b29) - TechCrunch
Beco Capital and 4DX Ventures led the round. The startup will expand its operations to several different cities in Egypt and grow its tech team.
Package Free Picks Up $4.5M to Scale Sustainable CPG Products (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=4afc720766&e=2715c96b29) - TechCrunch
Primary Ventures led the round. The startup plans to use funding to expand to creating its own sustainable CPG products, first tackling the 'white space' of products that aren't currently available via vendor partners.
A New Name for a New Agenda: One of the Food Industry's Biggest Trade Groups Rebrands Itself (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=6b693c3f76&e=2715c96b29) - CNBC
The Grocery Manufacturers Association is changing its name to Consumer Brands Association in 2020. It will have a new agenda that it says is a better reflection of today's consumers and its members' concerns.
Vitamin Shoppe Gives Customers Shot at Subscription (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=8e89dc8128&e=2715c96b29) - Chain Storage
The Vitamin Shoppe is launching Only Me, a personalized online assessment that delivers a custom assortment of vitamins and supplements to participating subscribers.
PLT
RESTAURANTS
Canada: Beyond Meat Stock Soars 12% After McDonald's Announces Canadian Test of Its Plant-Based Burgers (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=20062bdcce&e=2715c96b29) - CNBC
The new "plant, lettuce and tomato" sandwich will use Beyond Meat's patties in 28 restaurants next week.
Disney World Just Added Tons of Vegetarian and Vegan Options – Here Are the Highlights (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=15e4c4e7db&e=2715c96b29) - Fast Company
The company is going to have more than 400 plant-based menu items at Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
Bon Appétit Partners With Grubhub for a Virtual Restaurant (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=cde36aefee&e=2715c96b29) - The Spoon
The Chicago-based virtual restaurant features dishes from the brand's magazine, website, podcast, Instagram feed and other channels.
Virtual Reality Is the Latest Dinner Party Trick (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=ed6f5a81b8&e=2715c96b29) - Bloomberg
The James Beard House joins one of the country's most lauded chefs to make the case for VR meals.
The Restaurants Joining Forces for a Better Hospitality Company (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=3abd07c2d6&e=2715c96b29) - Eater
Deciding they were stronger together, the women behind Detroit restaurants Folk and Marrow formed restaurant group Nest Egg LLC.
A Look at Venture-Backed Food Companies As Sweetgreen Raises $150M (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=eb229b51c5&e=2715c96b29) - Crunchbase
$3.3b has been invested in the food and beverage startups so far in 2019, with 46% of those rounds invested in the seed stage. Here's a look at food, food-adjacent and drink companies that have pulled in VC dollars.
At This Food Hall, Public Space Comes First, Vendors Order Collectively, and Employees Are Trained to Work at Any Counter (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=3c74f82d37&e=2715c96b29) - New Food Economy
The internet economy has broken the old retail and dining model. The future of commercial real estate may depend on experimental models like Santa Monica's Social Eats.
fifth season
AGRICULTURE
Fifth Season Comes Out of Stealth with 60K Sqft Vertical Farm and $35M in Funding (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=e7b81095d2&e=2715c96b29) - AgFunder
The Pittsburgh-based startup, founded as RoBotany, is planning a staged expansion in other similarly-sized cities throughout the US. Drive Capital and private investors led the round.
USDA Expects 'Significant Delays' in Economic Research Reports (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=3812211c09&e=2715c96b29) - Politico
ERS conducts research into areas such as climate change, nutrition, export data and the farm economy. Farmers also heavily rely on its outlook reports to make planting decisions. Crop markets can swing on the results of the numbers.
Scotland: Vertical Farming Tech Intelligent Growth Solutions Closes £7M Series A (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=3340f8a967&e=2715c96b29) - AgFunder
S2G Ventures and Scottish Investment Bank led the round. Funds will go towards expanding its market presence through global sales operations for lighting in agritech and commercial uses.
The Rising Cost of Bread Will be a Harbinger for Climate Change (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=72b6600270&e=2715c96b29) - Bloomberg
New study says droughts could affect some 60% of global wheat fields by the end of the century.
China's Tech Industry Brings Home the Bacon (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=ae4325e36f&e=2715c96b29) - Wall Street Journal
China's second-largest gaming company, NetEase, is investing $211m to build a pig farm in Shaoxing. The company thinks it can use technology to raise pork output.
Israel: Hyperspectral Tech Company FruitSpec Secures $4M Series A (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=7395a1530e&e=2715c96b29) - AgFunder
Investors included AgVentures, Acorn and Hubei Forbon Technology Co.
Farm Animals Are the Next Big Antibiotic Resistance Threat (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=b55e9fd54e&e=2715c96b29) - Wired
Bacteria harvested from pigs and chickens are developing resistance to numerous antibiotics at an alarming rate.
The Battle Over Fish Farming in the Open Ocean Heats Up, As EPA Permit Looms (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=ce26177e51&e=2715c96b29) - NPR
Advocates say farmed seafood is more sustainable than wild-caught. Critics say these farms pollute surrounding waters. Federal waters have been off-limits to aquaculture, but that may soon change.
GrainChain Uses Blockchain to Link Up Honduras' Disjointed Coffee Industry (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=0059a7713c&e=2715c96b29) - AgFunder
The startup aims to deliver its blockchain-based platform to help cut down on risk, improve conditions and encourage reinvestment in the cafe industry of the Central American nation.
Can Big Ag Be Part of the Climate Solution? (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=b62221229e&e=2715c96b29) - Civil Eats
The US Farmers and Ranchers Alliance, which represents agriculture's biggest trade groups, has gone from not mentioning the words "climate change" to promoting farmers' role in mitigating it.
India: Aquaculture Startup Aquaconnect Raises $1.1M Seed Round from Omnivore and HATCH (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=cf331691dd&e=2715c96b29) - AgFunder
Aquaconnect aims to expand its network of shrimp farmers into South and Southeast Asia. It plans to use funding for team expansion, enhancing its AI-enabled platform offering and increasing its omnichannel marketplace fulfillment capabilities.
US, Japan Reach Trade Deal on Farm Goods, Digital Trade (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=592f60654d&e=2715c96b29) - Wall Street Journal
Trump and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe signed an agreement that will lower agricultural tariffs in Japan, industrial tariffs in the US and set new rules for digital trade between the world's first and third-largest economies.
Critics Worry About Food Safety As Federal Meat Inspectors Face Work Overload, Burnout (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=ae0a0f87d8&e=2715c96b29) - New Food Economy
A 9-month investigation by Investigate Midwest reveals dozens of troubling situations at our meat processing facilities.
In a Race Against the Sun, Growers Try to Outsmart Climate Change (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=f7600b267b&e=2715c96b29) - New York Times
From California to Costa Rica and beyond, farmers are experimenting with new crops and growing tactics.
Meat Is Getting Pricier Because China Is Peckish for Protein (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=3313a42c88&e=2715c96b29) - Wall Street Journal
China is scrambling to import meat after a swine disease hit hog farms across the country and decimated its pig herd. It's pushing up beef, pork and poultry prices around the world.
childrens drinks
EATERS
What Should Young Children Drink? Mostly Milk and Water, Scientists Say (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=92fe773aaf&e=2715c96b29) - New York Times
The new recommendations are among the most comprehensive, and restrictive, issued in recent years. Experts hope the guidelines will help curb childhood obesity.
Agriculture Department Flooded With Appeals to Stop Food Stamp Purge (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=20aa97aeed&e=2715c96b29) - New York Times
Efforts by the Agriculture Department to tighten eligibility for food stamps were greeted with a deluge of protests.
Food Network Teams With Amazon to Stream Top Chefs at Home (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=7cd70c0a91&e=2715c96b29) - Bloomberg
Discovery, owner of the Food Network, is introducing a new streaming video service that will let subscribers watch live cooking classes with famous chefs and have recipe ingredients delivered to their homes.
Survey Finds Younger Consumers Most Concerned About Wasting Food (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=6083fd8c9a&e=2715c96b29) - New Hope Network
People are least likely to think about food waste while they are dining out, and they care about saving money more than the environment.
When We Love Our Food So Much That It Goes Extinct (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=feeacc4421&e=2715c96b29) - NPR
A new book explores how overhunting and habitat destruction have left us with only a fraction of the foods that existed a century ago, and the changes that are needed to preserve our culinary variety.
https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=606350febc&e=2715c96b29
LATEST JOB LISTINGS
Director of Finance and Operations at Parlor Coffee (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=ac5bab624d&e=2715c96b29) - Brooklyn, NY
Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Food Innovation and Agricultural Technology at Santa Clara University (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=8aefe73844&e=2715c96b29) - Santa Clara, CA
General Manager at Bio-Logical Capital (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=3907c9735b&e=2715c96b29) - Charlotte, VT
Head Chef at Bio-Logical Capital (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=cc159a9cea&e=2715c96b29) - Charlotte, VT
Food & Beverage Manager at Bio-Logical Capital (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=7fdf4d6884&e=2715c96b29) - Charlotte, VT
Operations Manager Guru at Eclipse Foods (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=557d0d1489&e=2715c96b29) - Berkley, CA
Producer Support Operations Specialist at Fair Trade USA (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=ce8e245d68&e=2715c96b29) - Oakland, CA
Sales Development Representative at Leanpat (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=22ef248b43&e=2715c96b29) h - Portland, OR
Account Manager at Leanpath (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=804177a66c&e=2715c96b29) - Portland, OR
Business Development Manager // Enterprise Sales at Leanpath (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=d9d21d1d2f&e=2715c96b29) - Portland, OR
Director, Customer Success and Account Management at Impossible Foods (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=fe0fdde3d0&e=2715c96b29) - Redwood City, CA
Retail Sales Associate at Ark Foods (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=ceb6c3c77a&e=2715c96b29) - Brooklyn, NY
Chief Financial Guru at East Bali Cashews (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=53e0fb79a2&e=2715c96b29) - Bali, Indonesia
Sales Lead at Pod Foods Co (https://foodtechconnect.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5137626c88ab3a61c40112a42&id=f89b0ed86d&e=2715c96b29) - Los Angeles, CA; New York, NY
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