Source: Chobani

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

Plant-based dairy has made headlines this week. Chobani, America’s top seller of yogurt, is debuting a product line dedicated to oats. Ellen Degeneres and Portia de Rossi have invested an undisclosed sum to Miyoko’s as the brand prepares to release new vegan cheeses and butters.

In retail news, Kroger has partnered with Berlin-based startup, Infarm, to launch in-store farms at its Seattle locations. It plans to roll out 13 more by March of next year. Meanwhile, Amazon has announced plans to open cashierless grocery stores next year.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

1. Amazon Is Planning to Open Cashierless Supermarkets Next Year – Bloomberg

Amazon is preparing to open Amazon Go supermarkets and popup stores, an expansion of the company’s cashierless ambitions that includes the possibility of licensing the technology to other retailers.

2. Chobani’s Empire Was Built on Greek Yogurt. Here’s Why Its Next Move Is Oat Milks – Fast Company

The top seller of yogurt in America is plowing into plant-based foods. Fast Company has an exclusive look at the germination of the Chobani Oat line, launching in January.

3. Kroger Brings Farming to Its Stores in Push to Get Greener (and Sell More Kale) – Bloomberg

Kroger’s deal with German startup Infarm includes two Seattle-area stores with plans for 13 more to come online by March of next year. While this is Infarm’s first stateside venture, it has more than 500 farms at more than 25 retailers internationally.

4. Ellen Degeneres and Portia De Rossi Invest in Vegan Brand Miyoko’s – VegNews

The couple’s investment will help support the brand as it prepares to release new vegan cheeses and butters. Financial terms were undisclosed. Miyoko’s also said it would partner with California farmers who want to transition from milking cows to growing crops for creating vegan alternatives to milk, cheese and yogurt.

5. How Serious a Threat is Amazon’s New Grocery Store? – Grocer Dive

With new details emerging about Amazon’s confirmed launch of a brick-and-mortar grocery in a Los Angeles suburb, experts weigh in on how the forthcoming chain might unsettle established retailers.

6. Oceans Can Feed the World with Better Management and Policies – Food Dive

Better management could lead the ocean to provide six times more food than it does today and furnish two-thirds of the animal protein required to feed the global population of 2050.

7. Bumble Bee Is In Talks to File for Bankruptcy and Sell Itself – Los Angeles Times

Two years after Bumble Bee Foods pleaded guilty to price-fixing, the canned tuna producer is in talks with seafood industry peer FCF Fishery to buy it during a bankruptcy reorganization.

8. A Futuristic Farming Startup Raised $260M from Jeff Bezos and SoftBank on the Promise of Upending Agriculture. Insiders Are Raising Questions – Business Insider

Seven former employees told Business Insider that Plenty’s leadership repeatedly touted expectations for the company that did not materialize during their time at Plenty. Four of the people said they felt unsafe at work on more than one occasion.

9. Remrise Raises $8.2M to Deliver Tailored, Plant-Based Sleep Solutions – TechCrunch

Investment was led by Founders Fund. The startup aims to move users off medicated sleep aids, using a combination of traditional herbal supplements and improvements to sleep hygiene.

10. Former Casper Execs Are Building a Direct-to-Consumer Dog Food Startup Called Jinx – TechCrunch

The startup has raised $5.6m from investors including Alexis Ohanian of Initialized Capital, Will Smith, Nas, Brand Foundry, and others. It plans to start selling its first products in January.

11. Your Gut Is Directly Connected to Your Brain, by a Newly Discovered Neuron Circuit – Science Mag

A new study reveals the gut has a more direct connection to the brain through a neural circuit that allows it to transmit signals in mere seconds. The findings could lead to new treatments for obesity, eating disorders, depression and autism.

12. 2018 U.S. Food & Beverage Startup Investment Report

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. Check out the report for a deep dive into the investor and investment trends. We also share a complete list of deals and acquisitions.

Our newsletter is the absolute easiest way to stay on top of the emerging sector, so sign up for it today and never miss the latest food tech and innovation news and trends, Already signed up? Share the love with your friends and colleagues!

The post Amazon to Launch Cashierless Supermarkets, Chobani Bets Big on Oats, Kroger Launches In-Store Infarm + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Source: The Verge

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

Despite the looming presence of Amazon in the grocery space, startups and traditional grocers are still rushing to compete. Accel Robotics has just raised $30 million from SoftBank to take its automated cashierless stores global. Walmart ceased Jet.com’s fresh food delivery business in New York City last week. Meanwhile, Kroger is getting into the business of ghost kitchens with its new partnership with Clustertruck.

In CPG news, Impossible Foods is looking to raise up to $400 million. PepsiCo has acquired the maker of PopCorners, BFY Brands, for an undisclosed sum.

Last but not least, the Trump Administration is moving forward with its cutback on food stamps, impacting nearly 700,000 people. The new rule makes it harder for states to waive work requirements.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

1. SoftBank Leads $30M Investment in Accel Robotics for AI-Enabled Cashierless Stores – VentureBeat

The company is now ready to scale its “frictionless commerce platform” globally, a move that will include increasing its manufacturing capacity.

2. Hundreds of Thousands Are Losing Access to Food Stamps – New York Times

The USDA gave its final approval to the first of three rules that are ultimately expected to cut more than 3m from the food stamp rolls. The rule will remove 700,000 people from the food stamp program by enforcing federal work requirements.

3. Impossible Foods Eyes Doubling Valuation With New Funding – Reuters

The is looking to raises $300-400m at a valuation of between $3-5b, according to sources.

4. Walmart’s Jet to Cease Its New York City Fresh Grocery Business – Bloomberg

Jet.com is ending its fresh food delivery business just a year after introducing the service in New York City, another sign that the urban-focused site is scaling back.

5. PepsiCo Acquires PopCorners Maker to Expand Portfolio of Healthy Options – Nosh

PepsiCo announced plans to acquire BFY Brands, maker of PopCorner snacks, from Permira. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

6. To Grow, Kroger Is Diversifying Beyond Grocery – ModernRetail

The company is now focusing on prepared meals. It announced it would be launching four delivery-only kitchens in partnership with Clustertruck.

7. Postmates Cuts Dozens of Jobs and Shuts Mexico City Office After Investors Turn on Cash-Burning Business – CNBC

The delivery company filed confidential paperwork for an IPO earlier this year, but the markets turned on cash-burning business after the struggles of Uber and Lyft and near collapse of WeWork.

8. New Report Confirms Challenges for Young and Beginning Farmers – Civil Eats

Data from USDA shows that beginning farms are smaller and less financially successful than their more established counterparts—and reveals some surprises.

9. Grocery-Packing Robots Are Aiming For World Domination – Bloomberg

U.K. supermarket-tech company Ocado has won contracts around the world. Its latest deal in Japan is a tall order to fill on top of everything else.

10. FDA Issues Warnings to 15 CBD Companies — and Alerts Consumers of Possible Side Effects – Nosh

FDA said it cannot recognize CBD as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use in human or animal food.

11. Why a Robot Pizza Startup Could Be Worth $4B – Recode

Zume is in talks with investors to be valued at $4b in a new round of fundraising. Softbank pumped $375m into Zume just last year, and is expected to back Zume again.

12. Australia’s v2food Raises $35M for Plant-Based Meat – The Spoon

The round was led by Main Sequence Ventures and Horizon Ventures. V2food will use its funding to expand R&D and build a new production facility in Australia.

13. Online Grocery Shopping Could Help Alleviate Food Deserts – The Spoon

The Yale University study looked at eight states participating in the Online Purchase Pilot of the 2014 Farm Bill that allows people on SNAP to purchase groceries online. The provision could go nationwide after the trial ends in 2021.

14. Fresh-Food Vending Machines Will Be Graded Like Restaurants – New York Times

New York City health officials are requiring Farmer’s Fridge to get permits and inspections for its machines, which dispense salads and bowls.

15. 2018 U.S. Food & Beverage Startup Investment Report

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The post Accel Robotics Raises $30M, USDA Cuts Food Stamps for 700,000, Impossible Foods Eyes $4B Valuation + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Source: Discover Los Angeles

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

Cultured meat, dairy and seafood made headlines this week. Animal-free dairy protein company Perfect Day has closed $140 million in funding led by Temasek. Cellular aquaculture startup BluNalu has unveiled a culinary demo of its cultured yellowtail. Amsterdam-based Meatable has raised $10 million to develop lab-grown pork.

Meanwhile, Beyond Meat CEO Ethan Brown has hinted at developing poultry in 2020. Kroger is trialing dedicated plant-based meat sets within its conventional meat department in 30 stores. JUST has acquired its first manufacturing facility to reduce the cost of producing its plant-based eggs.

In other news, Delivery Hero is nearing and agreement to acquire Woowa for $4 billion. Spain’s Glovo has raised $166 million for its deliver anything app. Uber is in talks to sell its India Uber Eats to Zomato.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

1. Perfect Day Closes $140M Funding Round – Food Dive

The investment was led by Temasek. Perfect Day plans to use this money to bring its product to market and add to its product portfolio.

2. Beyond Meat CEO Ethan Brown Hints at ‘Poultry’ News In 2020 – Bloomberg

Beyond Meat is pushing further past its plant-based beef and pork into poultry, and CEO Ethan Brown says that product line will finally get more attention in 2020.

3. Korea: Delivery Hero Nears Agreement to Buy Woowa in $4B Deal – Bloomberg

Asia will become the German company’s biggest, fastest-growing market.

4. Spain’s Glovo Grabs $166M Series E for Its ‘Deliver Anything’ App – TechCrunch

Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala led the round. The round has pushed Glovo’s valuation past $1b. Funding will be used to achieve profitability.

5. Kroger Begins Test of Plant-Based Meat Retail Concept in 60 Stores – Food Navigator

The retailer has started trialing dedicated 3-ft plant-based meat sets within its conventional meat department in 60 stores in Indiana and Illinois.

6. Cellular Aquaculture Startup BlueNalu Unveils Cell-Based Yellowtail in Culinary Demo – The Spoon

The startup plans to introduce its cultured seafood to market within the next two years. It has also internally tested mahi mahi and red snapper.

7. Eggless Egg-Maker Buys First Plant in Bid to Crack Costs – Bloomberg

JUST has acquired its first manufacturing facility: a 30k-sq-ft in Minnesota that will make more plant-based eggs for less money.

8. The Netherlands: Unilever Opens $94M Plant-Based Food Research Center in Europe – VegNews

Unilever recently invested in The Hive, where it plans to develop new products, including plant-based meat and sustainable food packaging.

9. Uber Is in Talks to Sell Its India Food-Delivery Business to a Rival – Wall Street Journal

A deal would see Uber unload its costly Indian operations of Uber Eats to Zomato.

10. Snackpass Snags $21M to Let You Earn Friends Free Takeout – TechCrunch

Andreessen Horowitz partner Andrew Chen led the round. Funding will go towards hiring up with the goal of reaching 100 campuses in 2 years.

11. Bushel Wants to Enhance, Not Disrupt, Grain Trading with $19.5M Series B – AgFunder

Continental Grain led the round. The new funds will be used to create new product lines and complete additional hires to run the new products.

12. Roundup Suit Lawyer Accused of $200M Extortion Plot – CBS

Law enforcement officials have arrested a Virginia lawyer involved in litigation over the health risks of Monsanto’s Roundup weed killer product.

13. A Deal for DuPont’s Food Business Will Create a $45B Giant – CNN

DuPont is creating a new consumer goods giant by merging its food and nutrition business with International Flavors & Fragrances in a $26.2b deal.

14. ProducePay Closes $205M Debt Financing to Launch Aggressive Scaling Campaign – AgFunder

Coventure and TCM Capital led the round. New funding will allow the company to go aggressively after strategic markets like Peru, Chile and Guatemala. Its online marketplace allows farmers to seek higher pricing from distributors.

15. Consumer Sous Vide Startup Nomiku Is Winding Down Operations – TechCrunch

The company raised more than $1.3m over two Kickstarter campaigns. It was able to bring a cost-prohibitive cooking technology down to an affordable price point, only to see the market flooded by competitors.

16. Kraft Heinz Leads $12M Series A for Smart Checkout Startup Zippin – AgFunder

Evolv Ventures led the round. Funding will go towards enabling product innovation, technical team growth and expanding Zippin’s partnership and sales efforts.

17. Amsterdam: Dutch Startup Meatable Is Developing Lab-Grown Pork and Has $10M in New Financing to Do It – TechCrunch

The company has raised $7m from a slew of angel and institutional investors and a $3m grant from the European Commission. The new cash will be used to accelerate the development of its prototype.

18. Silicon Valley’s Psychedelic Wonder Drug Is Almost Here – Fast Company

MindMed could have the key to providing the upsides of psychedelic drugs for both focus and addiction treatment—while cutting out the downsides of tripping. The company has raised $6m thus far.

19. 2018 U.S. Food & Beverage Startup Investment Report

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The post Perfect Day Raises $140M, Beyond Meat Hints at Poultry in 2020 + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Source: Califia Farms

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

Plant-based dairy maker Califia Farms has received a $225 million infusion to expand its oat-based products and launch new product lines. Meanwhile, the parent company of plant-based fish brand Good Catch, Gathered Foods, has just raised $32 million from Greenleaf Foods and General Mill’s VC arm 301 Inc. Spain-based NovaMeat has unveiled its 3-D printed plant-based beef muscle cut which rivals the look and feel of a steak.

In other news, Indigo Ag has raised $200 million to support the continued global development of Indigo Grain Marketplace.

And last but not least, the USDA has updated its calorie counts – by tracking consumption and waste, they now have a better measure of the calories we’re actually burning.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

1. Plant-Based Milk Substitute Market Gets Frothy with $225M for Califia Farms – TechCrunch

Investors include Qatar Investment Authority, Temasek, Claridge and Green Monday Ventures. The company will use the money to increase its production capacity, R&D efforts and geographical expansion.

8. Indigo Ag Closes $200M Convertible + Debt Round with Fedex, a Potential Buyer of Indigo Carbon Credits – AgFunder

The bridge round takes the company’s total funding to $850m. The new capital will support the continued global development of Indigo Grain Marketplace and promote the adoption of Indigo Carbon.

2. Good Catch Nets General Mills in $32M Financing Round – Food Dive

Gathered Foods received $32m led by Stray Dog Capital and Rocana Ventures. The funds will be used to expand distribution in North America and Europe, enter Asia, open a manufacturing facility, launch new products and enter foodservice.

6. Spain: NovaMeat Develops ‘World’s First’ Meat Analogue with Look and Feel of Whole Beef Muscle Cut – Food Navigator

The company has developed a 3D-printed plant-based beef steak made from pea protein and algae. Moving forward, it wants to partner with top restaurants, space agencies and cultured meat companies.

3. Americans Hit Fresh Milestone in 2019 in Buying Stuff Online – Bloomberg

Nonstore retailers posted 2019 sales of $778.4b, up 13.1% from the prior year and squeaking by the individual totals for categories of food and beverage stores, restaurants and general merchandise vendors.

4. Argentina: Amazon for Ag? Agrofy Closes $23M Series B in LatAm’s Largest-Ever Agtech Deal – AgFunder

SP Ventures led the round. Part of funding will go towards introducing transaction-based fees and expanding to Mexico in 2020. The company matches buyers and sellers of agricultural products.

5. USDA Scientists Are Rethinking Calorie Counts. Good News: They’re Lower Than We Thought – New Food Economy

Certain ingredients like almonds, cashews, and walnuts are harder for eaters to digest than we realize. By tracking consumption and waste, USDA researchers now have a better measure of the calories we’re actually burning.

7. India: Zomato to Raise $150M from Ant Financial at $3B Valuation – Bloomberg

The capital is part of a $500m fundraising that’s likely to close in the next two months. The fund infusion also comes when Zomato is in talks to acquire UberEats in India.

9. Netherlands: Mosa Meat Gets Investment and Support to Bring Cultured Meat to Europe in 2022 – Food Dive

The company is receiving funds from Lowercarbon Capital and Nutreco, which also will help create the nutrients to grow the cells. It aims to get cultured hamburgers on the market in Europe in the first half of 2022. Financial terms were undisclosed.

16. 2018 U.S. Food & Beverage Startup Investment Report

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The post Califia Farms Raises $225, Indigo Ag Closes $200M, NovaMeat Develops 3-D Printed Plant-Based Steak + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Source: Eater

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

Softbank has led three headlining investments this week, paving way for a historical moment in the cultured meat industry. Memphis Meats has raised $161 million to construct its first pilot production plant in the Bay Area. Bear Robotics, maker of robotic waiters, has raised $32 million, and Soft Robotics has raised $23 million to expand further into food and beverage.

UBS has released a report that claims the personalized nutrition industry could generate annual revenues as high as $64 billion by 2040.

Last but not least, the Trump administration has put in place new rules that would weaken Michelle Obama’s signature school lunch reforms, allowing schools more “flexibility” in the vegetables they choose to serve.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

1. Memphis Meats Raises $161M to Build a Cell-Based Meat Plant – Food Dive

Investors included Softbank, Norwest and Temasek, Cargill, Tyson Foods, Richard Branson and Bill Gates. The facility could be making products in 24 months.

2. Personalized Nutrition Could Be the Next Plant-Based Meat, Worth $64B by 2040, Says UBS – CNBC

Food, medical diagnosis, technology and food delivery companies can all benefit from this industry.

3. Burger King Cuts Impossible Whopper Price on Slowing Sales – Bloomberg

The sandwich was recently added to the chain’s two-for-$6 discount menu on a temporary basis. That compares to the previous suggested price of $5.59 per sandwich.

4. Bear Robotics, a Company Making Robot Waiters, Just Raised a $32M Round Led by SoftBank – TechCrunch

Bear Robotics is currently testing the robot in restaurants, casinos and some homes. Its robot, Penny, will be leased to establishments, and will require a subscription commitment.

5. Soft Robotics Raises $23M from Investors Including Industrial Robot Giant FANUC – TechCrunch

Calibrate Ventures and Material Impact led the round. The company plans to expand further into food and beverage as well as double down on its presence in the retail and logistics industries.

6. As Retail Robotics Heats Up, Berkshire Grey Raises $263M – TechCrunch

The round was led by SoftBank. The company makes pick, pack and sorting robots for fulfillment centers. The money will go toward increased headcount, acquisitions and a push toward international growth.

7. Spain: Glovo Exits the Middle East and Drops Two LatAm Markets in Latest Food Delivery Crunch – TechCrunch

Spain: Glovo Exits the Middle East and Drops Two LatAm Markets in Latest Food Delivery Crunch – TechCrunch

8. Uber Sells Food Delivery Business in India – New York Times

By selling Uber Eats in India to Zomato, Uber can cut losses while taking a 9.99% stake in a startup that was valued at $3.55b.

9. The Inside Story of One of the Biggest Organic Farm Scams in History – Modern Farmer

Randy Constant, who killed himself this past summer, was the ringleader of an organic grain scheme that brought to light all sorts of problems in the organic world – and subsequently shook it to its core.

10. Trump Administration Weakens Michelle Obama’s Signature School Lunch Reforms On Her Birthday – New Food Economy

The new rules would reduce the amount of fruit schools are required to offer students for breakfast from one cup to a half cup. They would also allow schools more “flexibility” in the vegetables they choose to serve.

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The post Memphis Meats Raises $161M for Cultured Meat Plant, Personalized Nutrition To Be Worth $64B by 2040 + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Source: New York Times

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

Following a $140 million raise in December, Perfect Day CEO Ryan Pandya hinted that an IPO would be something the company would seriously consider. The company is gearing up for a series of product launches in 2020 that will go beyond cultured ice cream.

On the same day, Tim Hortons announced it was dropping Beyond Meat breakfast sausage at 4,000 of its Canadian restaurants, and KFC announced it would be expanding Beyond’s plant-based “fried chicken” at 66 stores in Nashville, TN, Charlotte, NC and across Kentucky. This week, Denny’s also expanded its partnership with Beyond Meat across the US and Canada.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

1. For Alternative Meat Manufacturer Beyond Meat, Fast Food Chains Giveth and Taketh Away – TechCrunch

On the same day that the Canadian Tim Hortons is dropping Beyond Meat products from its menus, the company and KFC announced the expansion of a pilot run of the company’s fried plant-based chicken at stores in Nashville, TN, Charlotte, NC and across Kentucky.

2. Beyond Meat Soars on Denny’s Deal As Rest of Market Slides – CNBC

The Denny’s restaurant chain will expand a Los Angeles launch of the plant-based Beyond burgers to locations across the US and Canada. Beyond Meat shares climbed as much as 6%.

3. Perfect Day Readies for Broader Product Launch As It Ponders IPO – Food Dive

CEO Ryan Pandya spoke to Food Dive about finding the right partners as it scales up ice cream production and expands into other categories in 2020.

4. Singapore’s Shiok Meats Hopes to Hook Diners with Lab-Grown Shrimp – New York Times

One kg of lab-grown shrimp meat now costs $5k. CEO Sandhya Sriram hopes to cut the cost to $50 per kg by the end of this year.

5. Sodexo Partners with Container Farming Startup Freight Farms to Bring Indoor Ag to College Campuses – AgFunder

Container farms can integrate into food-focused curricula or provide work-study opportunities for students, as well as supplying their canteens.

6. US Says It’s Got a Promising African Swine Fever Vaccine – Bloomberg

The vaccine has proven 100% effective. Thus far, the disease has wiped out millions of pigs around the world.

7. Nearly One in Four in US Have Cut Back on Eating Meat – The Counter

About three in 10 women, people of color, and Democrats ate less meat last year.

8. Cashless Restaurants in NYC Will Officially Be Banned This Year – Eater

The City Council is set to pass a bill requiring all restaurants and food stores to accept cash payments from its customers.

9. Billionaire Jitse Groen’s Takeaway.com Faces Unexpected Investigation Over $7B Just Eat Merger – Forbes

Just Eat shares have tumbled 2% after the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority informed Takeaway.com that an 11th hour investigation into the recently announced $7b merger is warranted.

10. The Next Big Leap for Fake Meat – Grist

To give animal-based protein a run for its money, plant-based and lab-grown meats will need friends in high places — friends, perhaps, in the very industry they’re trying to disrupt.

11. The Trump Administration Rolls Back Waters of the United States Rule – Modern Farmer

The new version could have disastrous effects on American clean water – but plays to Trump’s political base.

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The post Perfect Day Ponders IPO, KFC Expands Beyond Meat Pilot + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Source: NBC News

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

On Monday, Chipotle was fined nearly $1.4 million over accusations that it routinely violated Massachusetts child labor laws. The chain settled without admitting to the estimated 13,000 violations it made between 2015 and 2019.

7-Eleven has announced plans to pilot a cashierless store concept in Texas. Instacart is partnering with Publix for its launch of Instant Meals – offering what it dubs a “digital deli counter.” The online grocery also witnessed a historic moment when employees voted to form its first union in the US.

Last but not least, China’s booming food delivery industry is seeing fewer orders of food delivery as customers avoid contact with couriers amidst the Coronavirus outbreak.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

1. Chipotle Is Fined $1.4M in Vast Child Labor Case – New York Times

Massachusetts said Chipotle let teenagers work too many hours per week and too late on school nights. The chain settled without admitting to the estimated 13,000 violations.

2. 7-Eleven Is Piloting a Cashierless Store Concept in Texas – The Spoon

The test store is currently available to 7-Eleven employees and functions much like an Amazon Go store. The store’s system was built in-house and runs on algorithms and predictive analysis.

3. Coronavirus Hits Food Delivery, Restaurants in China – Bloomberg

Mu Chen, founder and CEO at BigOne Labs, discusses how the coronavirus outbreak is impacting the food delivery business and restaurants in China.

4. Instacart Gets Into Ready-to-Eat Food Deliveries with Build Your Own Sub Service – TechCrunch

Instacart is partnering with Publix for the initial launch of Instacart Meals – offering what it dubs a “digital deli counter.”

5. Foxtrot Picks Up $17M to Reimagine the Convenience Store – TechCrunch

Imaginary and Wittington Ventures co-led the round. Foxtrot offers a mix of local, emerging and heritage brands all under one roof. With stores in Dallas and Chicago, it plans to expand its footprint in those markets, as well as launch in DC.

6. Online Grocery Forecast Increases to $143B by 2025 – Grocery Dive

This figure was first predicted in 2017 as $100b by 2025 and updated last year to $100b reached between 2022 and 2024.

7. US Farm Bankruptcies Hit an Eight-Year High – Reuters

US farm bankruptcies jumped 20% in 2019 as financial woes in the US agricultural economy continued in spite of massive federal bail-out funding.

8. FDA Approves First Drug for Peanut Allergy – Bloomberg

US health regulators approved the first drug for children and teenagers with peanut allergies, marking a potential paradigm shift in treatment. The drug, sold under the brand name Palforzia, will be marketed by Aimmune Therapeutics.

9. Instacart Workers Win Historic Union Election – Vice

After months of upheaval, Instacart employees voted to form the Silicon Valley app’s first union in the US.

10. UAE: Dubai-Based Cloud Kitchen Platform Kitopi Raises $60M in Series B Round – Deal Street Asia

Knollwood Investment Advisory and Lumia Capital led the round. Kitopi plans to use funding to add 50 locations in the US and 100 globally by the end of 2020.

11. Brazil: Solinftec Raises $60M As the Amazon of LatAm Leads Record-Breaking Series B – AgFunder

The deal was split into a $40m equity tranche, led by Unbox Capital and owners of Magazine Luiza, and $20m in agri asset-backed debt, led by Itaú BBA and Gaia Securitizations. The funding will focus on the next round of technological development and further grow the team.

12. AppHarvest Closes $11M Funding Round – Richmond Register

Participants in the round included Equilibrium, ValueAct Spring Fund, Rest Seed Fund and Blake Griffin Enterprises. The company plans to expand operations to support indoor farms across Centra Appalachia. Its 2.7m-sq-ft indoor farm will begin operations later this year.

13. Bumble Bee Files for Bankruptcy and Sells Business for $928M – Food Dive

Taiwan-based FCF Fishery has closed on its acquisition of Bumble Bee’s North American assets for $928m.

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The post Chipotle Fined $1.4M for Child Labor Violations, 7-Eleven Pilots Cashierless Checkout + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Source: VegNews

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

After witnessing Beyond Meat’s successful IPO last May, Oatly is now looking into various funding options and possible exit scenarios, including an IPO in the next 18 to 24 months. The brand could raise as much as $100 million from international investors, along with $20 million from existing investors.

Major headlines in retail this week, with news of DTC company Brandless shutting down less than two years after SoftBank’s Vision Fund said it would invest $240 million in the startup. Row 7 announced a partnership with Wegmans to bring their specialty produce into supermarkets.

Lastly, Sweetgreen has partnered with chef David Chang to launch a kelp bowl, available across all US locations until March 26.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

1. Oatly Considering IPO, Sale and Additional Funding – Food Dive

Oatly could raise $100m in growth capital from international investors, along with $20m from existing investors. The company is reportedly considering to sell itself to a large CPG company such as Nestlé, Unilever, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola or Saputo.

2. SoftBank-Backed Brandless Shutters Less Than 2 Years After Investment – Bloomberg

The company will stop taking orders and cut about 70 employees, less than two years after SoftBank’s Vision Fund said it would invest $240m in the startup.

3. Dan Barber Bets on Grocery Stores to Bring Better Vegetables to the Masses – Civil Eats

A new partnership with Wegmans brings Row 7’s bred-for-flavor produce—and conversations about seeds—into supermarkets.

4. For Sweetgreen, 2020 Is the Year Kelp Becomes Cool – The Washington Post

The salad chain has collaborated with chef David Chang to debut its kelp bowl, available coast to coast until March 26.

5. Alpha Foods Raises $28M for Its Vegetarian Prepared Foods – TechCrunch

AccelFoods led the round. Funding will go towards new products, making new hires and expanding its distribution channels nationally and internationally.

6. Freight Farms Raises $15M Series B Led by Ospraie Ag Science – AgFunder

Existing investor Spark Capital also participated in the round, which brings the company’s total funding to over $28m. Funding will go towards software updates and plant science R&D.

7. Verde Farms Receives $15M Investment – Meat + Poultry

Manna Tree Partners led the round. The company will introduce RTE mealtime options and continue to expand its product lines across the US in the near-term and internationally in the long-term.

8. Dirty Lemon Makes Mass Retail Push with Walmart Launch – BevNet

The launch will bring three of Dirty Lemon’s most popular SKUs to 500 Walmart locations nationwide.

9. State of Retail Tech: Ahead in 2020 – CB Insights

In 2020, funding to AI applications in retail and CPG will be increasingly important to bring precision, efficiency and personalization across physical and digital retail.

10. Half of Us Face Obesity, Dire Projections Show – New York Times

By 2030, nearly one in two adults will be obese, and nearly one in four will be severely obese.

11. Food Waste Is Worse Than We Thought and the Rich May Be to Blame – Bloomberg

The world is throwing away more than twice as much as previously thought, with the wealthy the worst offenders.

12. Snack-Maker Kind Takes Its Bars to Refrigerators and Freezers – CNBC

Kind is introducing frozen and refrigerated bars, chocolate bark and snack mix under its namesake brand. Its acquisition of Creative Snacks and joint venture with Mars helped bring about the new products. The company is actively looking for more acquisitions.

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Source: Toast

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

Retail news made headlines this week – Blue Apron is exploring strategic options including putting itself up for sale. Ahold Delhaize USA announced it is shutting down the Midwest division of its online grocery business, Peapod.

The valuation of Boston startup Toast has climbed to $4.9 billion with its $400 million Series F funding. The company plans to expand its offerings to include financial products to fund restaurant business growth.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

1. Payments Tech Provider Toast Raises $400M at $4.9B Valuation – Wall Street Journal

The round was led by Bessemer Venture Partners and TPG, in addition to Tiger Global Management and Greenoaks Capital. The company plans to expand its offerings to include financial products to fund restaurant business growth.

2. Blue Apron Eyes Options Including a Sale – Wall Street Journal

The company is exploring strategic options including putting itself up for sale, after the meal kit maker reported more customer defections and another quarterly loss.

3. Peapod Shutting Down Online Grocery Shopping and Delivery in the Midwest – The Spoon

Ahold Delhaize USA announced this week that it is shutting down the Midwest division of its Peapod online grocery business. The operation accounted for $97m of the company’s overall $1.1b in revenue.

4. Liquid Death Raises $9M to Make Canned Water Cool – TechCrunch

Velvet Sea Ventures led the round. The startup is expanding its lineup with a sparkling water can.

5. China: HungryPanda, a Food Delivery App for Chinese Communities, Raises $20M – TechCrunch

83North and Felix Capital led the round. Funding will be used on hiring, product development and global expansion, particularly in the US.

6. Israeli Seed Breeder Equinom Closes $10M Series B – AgFunder

BASF Venture Capital led the round. The company will be releasing a high-protein pea variety in 2021.

7. Green Queen Releases First-Ever Asia Alternative Protein Report – Green Queen

From market trends to the latest “2.0” alternative protein startups, accelerators and potential areas for further innovation, the report is the most comprehensive look at the alternative protein industry in Asia to-date.

8. Singapore Budgets $215M to Support Deep-Tech Startups – E27

This will include emerging technologies such as biopharma, medtech, advanced manufacturing and agrifood tech and will help them gain better access to capital, expertise and industry networks.

9. Los Angeles-Based ‘Deep Tech’ Investment Firm Riot Ventures Is Raising a $75M Fund – TechCrunch

The fund invests in startups applying innovations in automation, artificial intelligence, computer vision, computational biology, material sciences and robotics to industrial products and processes.

10. This Bacon Looks Like the Real Thing As It Sizzles – but It’s Made from Fungus – Fast Company

Prime Roots has launched limited sales of its first product – a fungi-based bacon – online today.

11. Walmart to End Jetblack Shopping Service – Wall Street Journal

The retail giant is shutting down its personal shopping unit, which offers fast product delivery on orders placed through text message, and laying off most of its roughly 350 staffers after abandoning plans to find investors for the unprofitable operation.

12. Bayer, BASF Ordered to Pay $265M in Weedkiller Crop-Damage Suit – Wall Street Journal

A jury ruled against Bayer and BASF in a crop-damage case, awarding $265m to a Missouri peach farmer who claimed the companies encouraged farmers to irresponsibly spray a hard-to-control weedkiller.

13. US Watchdog to Investigate Trump’s Farm Bailout Program – New York Times

The Government Accountability Office will review how the $28b farm bailout aimed at cushioning trade-related losses was spent.

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Source: DoorDash

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

Following on from a record-breaking 2018, Foodtech and agtech startups raised $20 billion in VC funding across 1858 deals, according to a AgFunder’s annual investing report.

DoorDash, Uber Eats and Postmates have discussed mergers between their businesses in an effort to remain afloat, though so far, no deals have been made. India’s Swiggy has raised $113 million to invest in new lines of business such as cloud kitchens and delivery beyond food items.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

1. Food and AgTech Startups Raised $20B in 2019, Led By Meat Alternatives and Indoor Agriculture – Forbes

AgFunder’s annual report saw a 250% increase over five years. Funding to startups operating upstream raised $100m more in 2019, a 1.3% increase to $7.6b.

2. Food Delivery Services DoorDash, Uber Eats and Postmates Might Merge – Eater

The companies have discussed mergers between their businesses in an effort to remain afloat, though so far, no deals have been made. Postmates and DoorDash are also reportedly mulling public offerings.

3. Cargill to Challenge Beyond Meat, Impossible Foods With New Plant-Based Burger – New York Times

Cargill will launch plant-based hamburger patties and ground “fake meat” products in April, challenging Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods for sales in grocery stores, cafeterias and restaurants.

4. Launch of Eat Beyond Global Investment Fund Opens Doors for Retail Investors in Plant-Based Segment – Food Navigator

The fund plans to invest in 10-20 key equity-linked plant-based investments ranging from $1m to $10m Canadian in the next four years with a minimum ownership goal of 5%.

5. Grocery CPG Trends To Watch In 2020 – CB Insights

Fifteen emerging trends in food, beverage and household essentials categories, ranging from plant-based meat to tech-enabled vending machines.

6. India’s Swiggy Raises $113M Led by Prosus – TechCrunch

The new round values Swiggy at about $3.6b. The startup will use the fresh capital to invest in new lines of business such as cloud kitchens and delivery beyond food items.

7. Kraft Heinz Invests in $110M Series B for Cloud Retail Robotics Startup Fabric – AgFunder

The new round will be used to fuel Fabric’s US expansion, which began six months ago.

8. BlueNalu Raises $20M, Gears Up for Small-Scale Launch of Cell-Based Seafood in Late 2021 – Food Navigator

The Series A was led by Stray Dog Capital, CPT Capital, New Crop Capital and Clear Current Capital.

9. NewLeaf Symbiotics Raises $20M Series D to Expand Offerings to Broadacre Row Crops – AgFunder

Koch Agronomic Holdings, Leaps by Bayer, Otter Capital, S2G Ventures and RockPort Capital were participants in the investment round. The new funding will be used to enhance its R&D efforts while commercializing its product for broadacre row crops.

10. Kind Founder Invests $18M in Yogurt Brand Ellenos – Food Dive

Ellenos received an $18m investment from Equilibra Partners Management, the family office of Kind Snacks founder Daniel Lubetzky. Investment will allow the company to scale the support it has built in the Northwest to further expand across the country.

11. Dahmakan, a Malaysian ‘Full Stack’ Food Delivery Startup Raises $18M Series B – TechCrunch

Investors include Rakuten Capital, White Star Capital, JAFCO Asia and GEC-KIP Fund, bringing total funding to $28m. The startup uses cloud kitchens to reduce delivery costs.

12. Kenya: Sokowatch Raises $14M to Digitize Africa’s Informal B2B Supply Chain – TechCrunch

Quona Capital led the round. With its Series A, the startup plans to broaden its client services and target new African markets.

13. Investment in Agritech Declines As Appetites for Food Delivery Wanes – Financial Times

Funding for food delivery services plunges amid pullback in venture capital industry.

14. Millions of Americans Have Moved Off Assistance. Does Trump Get Credit? – New York Times

The president has reveled in the declines in Americans receiving aid from several government programs in recent years, citing his economic policies as a catalyst.

15. Brazil: Meat Company Faces Heat Over ‘Cattle Laundering’ in Amazon Supply Chain – The Guardian

Brazil’s JBS says it can’t trace the origins of all stock, as concerns grows over deforestation linked to beef industry.

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Image Source: New York Times

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

Plant-based food continues to be on the rise. New research by SPINS has found that US sales of plant-based foods rose 11.4% last year, for a total market value of $5 billion. Category drivers were plant-based milks, meat, dairy alternatives and plant-based meals.

The stunning cancellation of food industry trade shows – Expo West, Shoptalk, and Inspired Home – reflect the chaos that the coronavirus is causing across the business world. All the while, food delivery companies and retailers are scrambling to prepare for changes to consumers’ response.

DoorDash quietly filed for an IPO amidst financial loss, fierce competition and lawsuits. Amazon Go has opened its expanded grocery model in Seattle, and an LA tech investor has reached out to Blue Apron about a potential sale.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

1. Plant-Based Foods’ Market Value Rises to $5B – Food Dive

Plant-based dairy and meat were the biggest growth drivers as the segment’s sales grew 11.4% last year.

2. DoorDash Faces Its Latest Challenge: Wooing Wall Street – New York Times

The food delivery app is losing money, battling rivals, facing lawsuits — and trying to go public. What could go wrong?

3. Derailed By Coronavirus, a Corner of the Food Industry Questions the Future of Its Biggest Event – Forbes

Expo West has been canceled. The event’s drawn-out demise offers a snapshot into the chaos the global outbreak is causing across the business world.

4. Amazon Is Expanding Its Cashierless Go Model Into a Full-Blown Grocery Store – The Verge

The new store is modeled after a standard Amazon Go location, but has expanded to include an array of grocery items you’d find at Whole Foods. It joins the nearly 20 Go stores currently open throughout the country.

5. Why KIND Won’t Be at Expo West, and Why the Natural Foods Community May Need to Re-Examine Our Relationtion with the Organizers – Daniel Lubetzky

New Hope seems to be forcing companies to choose between having to lose what to many of them is the largest investment of the year or to face what could turn out to be a potential threat to their health and wellbeing.

6. Mitigating This Major Disturbance in the Natural Products Industry “Force” – John Foraker

The #expowest2020 situation is massive and especially devastating for earliest stage brands looking to build and be discovered. Foraker offers his perspective to ways in which New Hope, retailers and industry veterans can help.

7. LA Tech Investor Eyeing Blue Apron Purchase – New York Post

Tai Lopez, an investor in Farmers Box and owner of more than 700 acres of farmland in Virginia, declined to say how much he’s willing to pay, but claims he has big plans about how to revive it.

8. Uber Sold Its Food Delivery Business in India to Zomato for $206M – TechCrunch

The deal underscores a significant cut in the 11-year-old Indian firm’s valuation, which was reported to be worth $3b when it disclosed a $150m fresh investment earlier this year.

9. Tropical Forests Losing Their Ability to Absorb Carbon, Study Finds – The Guardian

The Amazon could turn into a source of carbon in the atmosphere, as soon as the next decade, owing to the damage caused by loggers and farming interests.

10. Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Raises $18.7M to Fuel Wholesale & Retail Growth – Nosh

NextWorld led the round. The company aims to add 6 more retail stores in 2020.

11. Walmart Is Quietly Working on an Amazon Prime Competitor Called Walmart+ – Vox

As soon as next month, Walmart plans to start publicly testing a new membership program that is a rebrand of its Delivery Unlimited program. It could include a feature that would allow customers to use text messaging to place orders.

12. Bill Gates-Led Fund Invests in Synthetic Palm Oil Startup – Bloomberg

Breakthrough Energy Ventures is leading an investment of $20m for C16 Biosciences, which uses microbes to convert food waste and industrial byproducts into a sustainable alternative. Funding will be used to grow the team and scale the technology.

13. A Comprehensive New Federal Roadmap for Climate Action on Farms – Civil Eats

US Representative Chellie Pingree’s Agriculture Resilience Act would incentivize and support farmers to address the climate crisis in the face of USDA inaction.

14. Inspired Home Show Canceled Due to Coronavirus – The Spoon

Another trade show has gone down due to the coronavirus.

15. Shoptalk and Groceryshop Postponed Due to Coronavirus Concerns – Grocery Dive

In a reversal of last week’s confirmation, the retail conference will be held in place of its sibling event, Groceryshop, which is rescheduled to next spring.

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The post Plant-Based Grows to $5B Market in US, DoorDash Files for IPO + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Image Source: Vox

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

A group of food industry titans have banded together and invested $200 million to form the LiveKindly Co, a platform company that seeks to move the world toward plant-based eating.

Meanwhile, the global uncertainty caused by the novel coronavirus has led to an unprecedented upheaval to the food industry. Key trade shows have been postponed or cancelled, grocery supplies have been rationed, and companies are warning investors of the threat it poses to their earnings. Following news of Expo-West’s postponement, Indie CPG published a list of resources to help support brands. Meanwhile, businesses are bracing the impending economic downturn as they watch countries abroad shut down commercial activities and close borders.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

1. Why Food Titans Invested $200M to Form Plant-Based Platform LiveKindly – Food Dive

A group of food industry titans banded together to form a new platform company for plant-based meat — the LiveKindly Co. — that seeks to move the world toward plant-based eating through an opening $200 million investment, as well as brand acquisitions, investments in similarly aligned companies and an online advocacy platform.

2. Post-Expo West Support for Brands – Notion

Indie CPG curated a list of resources to help support brands impacted by the cancelation of Expo West.

3. Italy Shuts Down All Stores Except Supermarkets And Pharmacies, Escalating Coronavirus Lockdown – Forbes

All shops, bars and restaurants were forced to be shut down. Farms and factories can still produce food and products, but will be required to adopt safety measures.

4. Fulcrum Global Capital Closes $36M First Agrifoodtech Fund and Four Investments – AgFunder

Fulcrum raised the fund from high net worth investors to support early-stage animal health, precision agriculture, food safety and supply chain logistics.

5. Coronavirus Sends Food Prices Soaring in China, as Producer Prices Slump – Wall Street Journal

Falling prices for industrial wholesale goods combined with decade-high consumer food inflation present Chinese policy makers with a worsening dilemma as the virus freezes economic activity.

6. Airport Retailer OTG Will Use Amazon’s Cashierless Technology Starting Next Week – TechCrunch

The airport hospitality group operates more than 350 restaurants and retail locations in North American airports. The first store, CIBO Express Gourmet Market, will open March 16 in Newark’s Liberty’s Termincal C.

7. US Foods Buying Smart Foodservice From Apollo Funds for $970M – Wall Street Journal

US Foods expects to see $20m in annual run-rate cost synergies by 2024, primarily through purchasing efficiencies and the expansion of private brand products.

8. Albertsons Files for Public Offering – Grocery Dive

The company has not determined the number of shares it plans to offer or the price range it seeks for the offering.

9. PepsiCo to Acquire Energy Drink Maker Rockstar Energy in a $3.85B Deal – CNBC

Pepsi and its rival Coca-Cola have been pushing into energy drinks as soda consumption declines in the US.

10. Belgium: Biotalys Increases Series C to €45M to Mimic the Immunity of Certain Animals in Biological Crop Protection – AgFunder

Novalis LifeSciences and existing investors participated. Funding will be used for the further development, registration and commercial-scale production of Biotalys’ biofungicide product and to continue to expand and build the company’s platform.

11. Spindrift Raises $29.8M in Funding Round – BevNet

Financial terms were undisclosed. The round brings the company’s total financing to $70m.

12. Leading Non-Alcoholic Beer Maker Athletic Brewing Closes $17.5M Series B Round Backed By Darren Rovell And Blake Mycoskie – Forbes

Timothy Barakett’s family office, TOMS founder Blake Mycoskie, and Tastemaker Capital Partners participated in the round. Athletic Brewing Company will use funding to purchase a San Diego brewery.

13. Coronavirus Is Closing Schools. Here’s What it Means for Millions of Kids Who Rely on School Meals. – Civil Eats

Schools in three states so far have closed to try to prevent exposure to COVID-19. School lunch groups are asking USDA to ensure students get access to meals.

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Image Source: Impossible Foods

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

Restaurants and bars across the US have shuttered in an effort to contain the outbreak of COVID-19. In response to the crisis, a slew of programs, grants, and resources—from grassroots efforts to government relief—have begun to take shape.

Amidst the economic turmoil caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Impossible Foods has raised $500 million to boost its manufacturing, expand its distribution in supermarkets, and speed up the commercialization of its new line of products. Ample Hills has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, citing its Brooklyn manufacturing facility as the main cause of its financial distress.

Meanwhile, groceries are scrambling to respond to the overwhelming demand, experiencing delivery strains and record app downloads as more shoppers move online.

In an effort to do our part and support the community we love so dearly, we have compiled a list of resources and organizations that are providing support to those in need. We are also offering free job postings to anyone who is looking to employ people impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Call Your Reps: Call your representatives and senators at 202-224-3121 to demand that restaurants be a part of the federal stimulus plan.
Resources: Please add any resources, organizations, initiatives, virtual gatherings, etc. here, so we can promote them.
Jobs: Use code “coronavirusfoodjobs” to post remote or remote-friendly food jobs on our job board.

We need your support as well. Producing this newsletter takes a lot of time and resources. To date, we’ve funded our work through our events and newsletter sponsorships, which are all on hold due to the pandemic. We hope you will consider making a one time or monthly donation, so we can keep the newsletter going. Not able to contribute right now? You can help by sharing our newsletter with friends and colleagues.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

1. Impossible Foods Raises About $500M in New Funding – Reuters

South Korea’s Mirae Asset Global Investments led the round, bringing total raised to $1.3b. The latest funds will help the company expand its manufacturing capacity.

2. Restaurants and Bars Shuttered Across the US in Light of Coronavirus Pandemic – Eater

The governors of Washington, Maryland, Massachusetts, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Ohio have taken the most dramatic state-wide steps so far, ordering all bars and restaurants closed. Carryout and delivery will continue to be permitted.

3. Food Industry Coronavirus Support Resources

In an effort to do our part and support the community we love so dearly, we are compiling a list of resources and organizations that are providing support to those in need. Please add any resources, organizations, initiatives, virtual gatherings, etc. so we can promote them.

4. As Coronavirus Shutters Restaurants Across the Country, a Swell of Support for Workers Rises Up – Food & Wine

Here are local and nationwide resources that we hope can provide some relief for laid-off restaurant workers.

5. It’s a Huge Blow’: How Businesses Are Moving Forward After Coronavirus Canceled Expo West – Food Dive

The annual trade show is critical in helping launch products, and the loss of face time with retailers and buyers has left many companies searching for creative solutions to recover.

6. Ample Hills Files for Bankruptcy, Cites Manufacturing Issues – Nosh

The producer cited issues with its Brooklyn manufacturing facility as the main cause of its financial distress, noting that it had built out a factory to increase volume and lower costs, but instead it resulted in increasing losses.

7. Grocery Delivery Strains to Meet Voracious Demand – Wall Street Journal

Grocers aren’t meeting the now-intense demand for their delivery services, as consumers endure cancellations and long waits on orders they are placing to prepare for long stretches at home.

8. Indonesia: Ride-Hailing Giant Gojek Raises $1.2B for Clash with Grab – Bloomberg

Rumored investors include Singaporean bank DBS, Visa and Thailand’s Siam Commercial Bank. The new funds give the company more firepower to compete against Grab.

9. Grocery Apps See Record Download As Shoppers Move Online – Grocery Dive

Instacart, Walmart Grocery and Shipt have seen respectively 218%, 160% and 124% increases in average daily downloads compared to the previous month.

10. Grocers Scramble to Hire Thousands Amid Outbreak – Grocery Dive

Grocers are hiring immediately for thousands of temporary, part-time and full-time positions across the US in an attempt to restock bare shelves, sanitize stores and meet demand for online order fulfillment and delivery.

11. Grubhub $100M Relief Effort Isn’t What It Seems, Restaurant Owners Say – Forbes

The offer to “suspend fees” is actually a short-term fee deferral only that applies to commission fees and not delivery or processing fees. The contract also stipulates that restaurants stay on the Grubhub platform for at least one year.

12. Chefs Launch Petition to Save Restaurants During Coronavirus, with Help From Alice Waters, Reem Assil and More – Forbes

75,000+ restaurant industry members and concerned individuals signed a Change.org petition seeking a government-sponsored aid package to protect this essential industry from demise.

13. The Companies Putting Profits Ahead of Public Health – New York Times

As the coronavirus spreads, the public interest requires employers to abandon their longstanding resistance to paid sick leave.

14. Court Cites Coronavirus in Blocking Trump Administration’s Food Stamp Cuts – NBC News

A federal court blocked the Trump administration’s rule that would have forced 700,000 low-income Americans to lose access to SNAP, citing the coronavirus pandemic in her decision to suspend the rule.

15. House Safeguards SNAP, WIC and Other Nutrition Programs in Emergency Coronavirus Funding Bill – The Counter

The bipartisan bill would also mandate paid sick leave for some workers, but exempt companies with 500 or more employees—a huge segment of the food industry.

Our newsletter is the absolute easiest way to stay on top of the emerging sector, so sign up for it today and never miss the latest food tech and innovation news and trends, Already signed up? Share the love with your friends and colleagues!

The post Impossible Foods Raises $500M, Restaurants and Bars In Crisis Across US + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Image Source: New York Times

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

Sustainable Bioproducts has announced a new round of funding and name change. Now known as Nature’s Fynd, the company is ramping up its production of cultured meat and dairy with an $80 million infusion.

The COVID-19 pandemic has put more than 10 million independent restaurant workers at risk of losing their jobs for good. Across sectors, businesses are being forced to pivot their business models as consumers go on lockdown and change their buying habits. This round-up features many of the ways the pandemic is impacting all parts of the food industry.

Call Your Reps to Save Independent Restaurants: We need to keep calling our reps to urge the House to pass the $2 trillion stimulus package and get independent restaurants some relief. Here is a sample script.
Resources: Please add any resources, organizations, initiatives, virtual gatherings, etc. here, so we can promote them.
Jobs: Use code “coronavirusfoodjobs” to post remote or remote-friendly food jobs on our job board.

We need your support as well. Producing our newsletter takes a lot of time and resources, and we need to change our business model to keep it going. To date, we’ve funded our work through our events, sponsorships and consulting, which are all on hold due to the pandemic. If you find our newsletter to be a valuable resource, we hope you will consider making a one time or monthly contribution, so we can keep the newsletter going and free for those who can not afford a subscription fee. Not able to contribute right now? You can help by sharing our newsletter with friends and colleagues.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

1. Chicago Startup Raises $80M to Make Chicken Nuggets in a Lab – AmericanInno

Sustainable Bioproducts, now known as Nature’s Fynd, has raised a new round of funding led by Generation Investment Management and Breakthrough Energy Ventures. Funding will be used to support production at its new facility.

2. Coronavirus Sparks Hiring Spree for Nearly 500,000 Jobs at Biggest Retailers – Wall Street Journal

Walmart, Amazon and CVS are among about a dozen large companies looking to hire nearly 500,000 Americans in coming weeks, a spree that would mark a major shift of the US workforce from smaller businesses that have cut staff to survive the coronavirus.

3. Will We Have an America Without Restaurants? – New York Times

Independent restaurants employ more than 10 million people. Our fear is that these jobs may well disappear for good. In New York alone, nearly all 26,000 restaurants have now shut down.

4. How You Can Help Save Restaurants – James Beard Foundation

Seven million people have been laid off and chefs and restaurant owners have become fluent in the ins and outs of disaster relief and applications for emergency aid. There are things that each and every one of us can do, whether you’re a diner or industry professional.

5. Webinar Recap: Optimizing E-Commerce During the COVID-19 Crisis – Nosh

The global lockdown has made e-commerce more vital than ever in sustaining sales during an uncertain economic period. VMG Partners and Right Side Up hosted a webinar to help companies swiftly optimize their businesses.

6. India: BigBasket Acquires Online Milk Delivery App DailyNinja – Bloomberg

The merger comes at a time demand for online groceries has skyrocketed due to a coronavirus-triggered lockdown in India. Financial terms were not disclosed.

7. By the Numbers: COVID-19’s Devastating Effect on the Restaurant Industry – Eater

From canceled dinner plans to delivery app downloads, app data reveals how COVID-19 has brutalized restaurants.

8. Restaurants Closed By Coronavirus Won’t Reopen Without Economic Assistance – The Washington Post

Without grant money, loan forgiveness and help from insurance companies, independent restaurants may not reopen after quarantines end.

9. Inside the Story of How H-E-B Planned for the Pandemic – TexasMonthly

The grocer started communicating with Chinese counterparts in January and was running tabletop simulations a few weeks later.

10. To Save Their Industry, Restaurant Owners Get Organized – Grubstreet

The most effective, fast-moving action is a three-tiered approach: the Independent Restaurant Coalition, the Relief Opportunities for All Restaurants, and the New York City Hospitality Alliance.

11. Chinese Tech Giant Pumps $85M Into Farm Produce Platform – AgFunder

Meituan Dianping led the round. Wangjiahuan is a B2B portal for agricultural produce, providing a range of services from group buying and selling to marketing.

12. If Coronavirus Doesn’t Get Us, Starvation Will’: A Growing Number of Americans Say They Can’t Afford to Stock Up on Groceries – The Washington Post

For those living on a fixed income, it can be difficult to stock up on groceries for weeks at a time, especially when many shoppers are panic-buying because of fears about the coronavirus pandemic.

13. Countries Starting to Hoard Food, Threatening Global Trade – Bloomberg

It’s not just grocery shoppers who are hoarding pantry staples. Some governments are moving to secure domestic food supplies during the coronavirus pandemic.

14. Facing Labor Shortage, Feds Encourage Farmers to Hire Foreign Workers Already in the US – The Counter

Producers worry that workforce gaps now will lead to food supply issues during harvest season.

Our newsletter is the absolute easiest way to stay on top of the emerging sector, so sign up for it today and never miss the latest food tech and innovation news and trends, Already signed up? Share the love with your friends and colleagues!

The post Retailers Hiring For 500K Jobs, An America Without Restaurants + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Image Source: USA Today

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

Meat plants, farms, warehouses and packaging factories across the globe are reporting early positive cases of coronavirus that raise alarm over production disruptions. The infections speak to a growing threat to the world’s food supplies.

Meanwhile, the pandemic could lead to a growth of online grocery sales over the long term. Nearly one-third of US households have used online grocery services over the past month. Workers at big retailers have voiced concerns over their safety. Whole Foods and Instacart employees launched nationwide protests this week demanding for more sick pay and protections for those working through the pandemic.

Resources: We have compiled a database of resources for those in the food industry impacted by the pandemic here. Please add your own resources as well.
Jobs: We need to band together to support everyone across the food system who has lost their job due to the pandemic. Use code “coronavirusfoodjobs” to post remote or remote-friendly food jobs on our job board for free.

We need your support as well. Producing our newsletter takes a lot of time and resources, and we need to change our business model to keep it going. To date, we’ve funded our work through our events, sponsorships and consulting, which are all on hold due to the pandemic. If you find our newsletter to be a valuable resource, we hope you will consider making a one time or monthly contribution, so we can keep the newsletter going and free for those who can not afford a subscription fee. Whether it’s $5 or $500 every bit helps and shows us that you value our work. Not able to contribute right now? You can help by sharing our newsletter with friends and colleagues.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

1. The Workers Who Supply the World’s Food Are Starting to Get Sick – Bloomberg

In all likelihood, the number of cases will keep going up at meat plants, farms, warehouses and packaging factories across the globe. The infections speak to a growing threat to the world’s food supplies.

2. Nearly One Third of US Households Shopped for Groceries Online in the Past Month, Report Says – Grocery Dive

Forty million, 31% of US households, have used online grocery services like home delivery and pickup over the past month. This is more than double the amount of monthly users since August 2019.

3. Whole Foods Workers Launch Sickout Protest. How Many Isn’t Clear – Bloomberg

They’re demanding more sick pay and protections for grocery store employees working through the pandemic.

4. Home Cooks Trapped by Coronavirus Are Flocking to Meal Kits – Eater

Blue Apron and HelloFresh have seen surges in demand and investor interest over the last few weeks, as home cooks avoid grocery stores.

5. If the Stimulus Package Fails Independent Restaurants, It Fails America – Eater

The deal isn’t good enough for small business owners or millions of service workers. There’s some hope to be found in the newly established loan program, but it’s not enough.

6. US Visa Confusion in Mexico Keeps Out Agriculture Workers – Reuters

Restricted visa services, quickly evolving regulations and increased border controls risk wider labor shortages in the US produce industry that may leave grocery stores scrambling for fruits and vegetables.

7. Instacart’s Gig Workers Are Planning a Massive, Nationwide Strike – Vice

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the grocery delivery company has refused to offer its 175,000 gig workers basic protections like hazard pay, hand sanitizer and paid leave for those with pre-existing health conditions.

8. Amazon Picks Southern California for Second Grocery-Concept Site – Bloomberg

The unnamed chain is distinct from the company’s Whole Foods business and cashierless convenience stores.

9. DoorDash Now Delivers from Over 1.8K Convenient Stores Nationwide – TechCrunch

DoorDash is expanding beyond food to deliver household essentials from convenient stores across the US.

10. Panic Buying Strains the World’s Food Banks – Bloomberg

As the numbers of unemployed and needy rise, many more people are seeking food relief.

11. Amid Difficult COVID-19 News from Around the World, There’s Hope in the Food System – Food Tank

Organizations across the food system are rushing to the defense of restaurants, service workers and people who are food insecure. Food Tank is keeping a running list of 40+ groups you can support with money, donated food or volunteer time no matter where you live.

12. The Moment for Food Sovereignty Is Now – Civil Eats

Many gardeners are beginning to see food production as a collective effort—one that has the potential to respond to historical inequities and re-frame yesterday’s Victory Garden in the vein of today’s food justice movements.

Our newsletter is the absolute easiest way to stay on top of the emerging sector, so sign up for it today and never miss the latest food tech and innovation news and trends, Already signed up? Share the love with your friends and colleagues!

The post Coronavirus Threatens World’s Food Supply, Online Grocery Order Volume Surges 193% + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Image Source: Associated Press

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

Food workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic are testing positive for the virus and beginning to die. Walmart, Trader Joe’s and Giant reported four deaths and meat packing giants Tyson Foods and JBS reported three deaths. The news exposes the fragility of global supply chains that are needed to keep grocery stores stocked amid panic buying and empty shelves.

As a result of the restaurant and school closures, the seafood industry has reported an 85% loss in revenue. Meanwhile, the dairy industry expects to lose $5 to $10b in sales over the next six months.

Resources: We have compiled a database of resources for those in the food industry impacted by the pandemic here. Please add your own resources as well.
Jobs: We need to band together to support everyone across the food system who has lost their job due to the pandemic. Use code “coronavirusfoodjobs” to post remote or remote-friendly food jobs on our job board for free.

We need your support as well. Producing our newsletter takes a lot of time and resources, and we need to change our business model to keep it going. To date, we’ve funded our work through our events, sponsorships and consulting, which are all on hold due to the pandemic. If you find our newsletter to be a valuable resource, we hope you will consider making a one time or monthly contribution, so we can keep the newsletter going and free for those who can not afford a subscription fee. Whether it’s $5 or $500 every bit helps and shows us that you value our work. Not able to contribute right now? You can help by sharing our newsletter with friends and colleagues.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

1. Grocery Workers Are Beginning to Die of Coronavirus – Washington Post

At least four people – who had worked at Walmart, Trader Joe’s and Giant – have died from covid-19 in recent days. Thousands of grocery store employees have continued to report to work as US infections and death rates continue to climb.

2. Deaths Expose Fears for Strength of US Food Supply Chain – Bloomberg

At least three people who worked at plants owned by Tyson Foods and JBS were reported to have died from the pandemic. Vice President Mike Pence said Tuesday that these workers are “vital,” calling on them to “show up and do your job” to keep the nation fed.

3. Seventy Percent of Seafood Is Purchased When Dining Out. What Happens When the Nation Is Ordered to Stay Home? – The Counter

Fishermen and processors say they’ve lost up to 85% of their revenue. They also worry: Will there be any restaurants left when the pandemic ends?

4. Dairy Groups Plead for Relief Amid Covid-19 Impacts – Food Business News

The dairy industry expects to lose $5 to $10b in sales over the next six months. Groups representing dairy farmers in the Midwest urged the USDA to purchase mass quantities of dairy commodities and provide direct aid to farmers.

5. Indian Online Grocery Startup BigBasket Raises $60M – TechCrunch

Alibaba, Mirae Asset and CDC Group led the round, bringing the startup’s valuation above $1b. The startup is aggressively trying to hire more delivery staff. The volume of orders has surged by up to five times in recent weeks.

6. Some Restaurant Relief Funds Are So Overwhelmed With Applications They’ve Stopped Taking New Ones – Eater

Nonprofits and trade associations are already overwhelmed. ROC received 10k financial assistance applications in one week, while the James Beard Foundation received 4.2k applications in just a few hours.

7. New York’s New Soup Kitchen Has an Upscale Address: Eleven Madison Park – New York Times

A group called Rethink has teamed up with the Michelin-starred restaurant to feed New Yorkers in need.

8. Restaurant Sales Could Drop 27.1% in Worst-Case Coronavirus Scenario – Restaurant Dive

If new COVID-19 cases peak and start to decline in May, restaurants and bars can expect at 11.4% decline in business. The worst-case scenario would be a second wave of outbreaks in Q4, which would result in a decline in sales of 27.1%.

9. Big Restaurant, Hotel Chains Won Exemption to Get Small Business Loans – Wall Street Journal

While the new $350b Paycheck Protection Program is aimed at businesses with 500 or fewer employees, big restaurant and hotel chains can participate regardless of how many people they employ.

10. FoundersGive Brings Together 200+ Brands to Support Frontline Workers – Nosh

The group has collected over half a million products from roughly 230 brands. The items are redistributed to nine local New York City hospitals, with 16 more expected to come online next week.

11. Key Food Prices Are Surging After Virus Upends Supply Chains – Bloomberg

As the coronavirus pandemic penetrates more deeply into global supply chains, prices for key staples are starting to soar in some parts of the world.

12. New Fund Coefficient Capital to Back Omnichannel Businesses – BevNet

The fund raised $170m for its first fund last week. It is looking for food, beverage, pet and personal care companies with $4 to $5m in trailing 12-month revenue.

13. India’s Swiggy Raises $43M to Expand to New Businesses – TechCrunch

Existing investor Tencent and new players Ark Impact, Korea Investment Partners, Samsung Ventures and Mirae Asset Capital Markets financed the new tranche.

14. Online Grocery Shopping Becoming Available to a Quarter of SNAP Recipients – The Fern

With the addition of California and Arizona, it will be an option in eight states, with a combined 10m SNAP participants, a quarter of national food stamp rolls. The USDA said it would consider requests from other states for the service.

15. Why NYC’s Undocumented Restaurant Workers Are the Forgotten Victims of the Shutdown – Eater

Despite being a critical part of the hospitality industry, undocumented immigrants face a reality with little help from the government—or their employers.

16. Is This the Start of a CSA Boom? – Eater

As home cooks practice social distancing, farm produce that skips the store makes sense.

Our newsletter is the absolute easiest way to stay on top of the emerging sector, so sign up for it today and never miss the latest food tech and innovation news and trends, Already signed up? Share the love with your friends and colleagues!

The post Fish Industry Loses 85% of Revenue, Dairy Industry Expects to Loose $5-10B in Sales + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Image Source: Eater

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

The so-called Paycheck Protection Program has all but failed small, independent restaurants. The $349 billion program has run out of money just two weeks after going into effect. Four days after the SBA opened the application window, Ruth’s Chris Steak House was granted a $20 million in forgivable loans. Unsurprisingly, the White House’s Economic Council was revealed to include fast food chain executives, fine dining chefs, and not a single independent operator.

Last month, French Agricultural Minister Didier Guillaume issued his appeal for a “great agricultural army” amid the coronavirus lockdown that has seen border closures that are depriving farmers of their usual contingents of migrant seasonal laborers. More than 200,000 people answered France’s call for temporarily workers to help farmers desperate for extra hands as summer approaches.

In the US, large farmers are being forced to destroying millions of pounds of fresh goods that they can no longer sell. In response, the Trump administration announced plans to purchase milk and meat products as part of a $15.5 billion aid package that would go to US food banks or sent overseas as aid.

Coronavirus cases are continuing to grow across the meat packing and grocery industry. The world’s largest pork producer, Smithfield Foods, shut down three of its meat plants this week as its Sioux Falls, South Dakota plant became the single biggest hotspot in the United States with 518 employees testing positive for COVID-19. Deaths among workers have lent urgency to the demands for protection and underscore the fragility of interconnected food supply chains amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Resources: We have compiled a database of resources for those in the food industry impacted by the pandemic here. Please add your own resources as well.
Jobs: We need to band together to support everyone across the food system who has lost their job due to the pandemic. Use code “coronavirusfoodjobs” to post remote or remote-friendly food jobs on our job board for free.

We need your support as well. Producing our newsletter takes a lot of time and resources, and we need to change our business model to keep it going. To date, we’ve funded our work through our events, sponsorships and consulting, which are all on hold due to the pandemic. If you find our newsletter to be a valuable resource, we hope you will consider making a one time or monthly contribution, so we can keep the newsletter going and free for those who can not afford a subscription fee. Whether it’s $5 or $500 every bit helps and shows us that you value our work. Not able to contribute right now? You can help by sharing our newsletter with friends and colleagues.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

1. The White House’s Economic Council for Restaurants Is Just a Bunch of Chains and Four Fine Dining Chefs – Eater

The food and beverage group is made up almost entirely of executives from major restaurant chains, industry associations, food and drink manufacturers, and a few high-profile chef-restaurateurs.

2. France: More Than 200K People Sign Up to Help French Farmers with Harvest – The Local

Citizens are responding to an appeal by agriculture minister Didier Guillaume for a “great agricultural army” amid the coronavirus lockdown that has seen border closures that are depriving farmers of their usual contingents of migrant laborers.

3. Dumped Milk, Smashed Eggs, Plowed Vegetables: Food Waste of the Pandemic – New York Times

With restaurants, hotels and schools closed, many of the nation’s largest farms are destroying millions of pounds of fresh goods that they can no longer sell.

4. Ruth’s Chris Steak House Gets $20M from Coronavirus Aid Program – Wall Street Journal

The high-end dining chain is among the first public companies to disclose it has received a government-backed loan to support payroll, days after the $350b program to aid small businesses started taking applications.

5. Hundreds of US Meat Workers Have Now Tested Positive for Virus – Bloomberg

As many as 50 people at a JBS facility tested positive, adding to more than 160 cases at a Cargill meat-packaging plant and 190 cases at a Smithfield Foods pork facility. The Cargill and Smithfield plants are being shuttered, while JBS said it will continue operations.

6. World’s Top Pork Producer Closes More Plants in a Domino Effect – Bloomberg

Top pork producer Smithfield Foods is shutting down two more US plants in a decision that underscores the vulnerability of interconnected food supply chains amid the coronavirus pandemic.

7. Coronavirus Cases at DC Whole Foods Highlight Risks Facing Grocery Workers – New York Times

A cluster of infections at the store in the heart of trendy downtown Washington is not an isolated episode, as the nation’s grocery workers increasingly fall ill.

8. Federal Small Business Bailout Fund Is About to Run Dry – Eater

As chains like Potbelly’s and Ruth’s Chris secure $10m loans, smaller restaurants stand to be crowded out.

9. The Cares Act Was Supposed to Help Save Small Businesses, but Independent Restaurants Remain in Dire Straits – The Washington Post

Operators say the $2.2t relief plan is not designed to help small restaurants that have already shut down or been reduced to a carryout.

10. By the Numbers: How the Coronavirus Pandemic Continues to Devastate the Restaurant Industry – Eater

Sales of gift cards and liquor are booming, but restaurants and workers remain at the center of the economic storm. An NRA survey showed that while 44% of restaurant owners have closed temporarily, 11% are planning to shut down for good next month.

11. US to Buy Milk and Meat as Part of $15.5B Farm Aid – Bloomberg

The Trump administration would like to make purchases of milk and meat products as part of a $15.5b initial aid package to farmers rattled by the coronavirus. The products would go to US food banks or sent overseas as aid.

12. Korean Cold Chain Pioneer Kurly Raises a Reported $150M – but Says Round Remains Open – AgFunder

The funding comes from existing investors DST Global, Hillhouse Capital and Sequoia Capital. The round remains open. Kurly plans to use funding for a new fulfillment center and new customer acquisition.

13. Choco Gobbles Up $30.2M at a $250M+ Valuation, Tweaks Restaurant Supplier Ordering Platform to Sell to Consumers During Pandemic – TechCrunch

Coatue Management led the round. Funds will be used to continue building out its technology and customer base, as well as to adapt to the current market with more initiatives to help its customers stay in business.

14. Medical Meal Replacement Brand Kate Farms Raises $23M – BevNet

Funding will primarily go towards scaling company operations and increasing sales and marketing efforts. The round consisted of individual investors led by David Roux, co-founder of Silver Lake Partners.

15. SoftBank, One of 2019’s Top Agrifood Investors, Forecasts $24B Loss on Its Startup Bets – AgFunder

The announcement came just a few days after SoftBank founder and CEO Masayoshi Son admitted that he expected 15 companies in the Vision Fund portfolio to go bankrupt.

16. UAE: Amid Covid-19, the Gulf Region Commits $200M to Safeguard Its Food Security with Agtech – AgFunder

Wafra invested $10m in Pure Harvest Smart Farm’s Series A, with plans to invest up to a total of $100m to support the expansion of the company’s farms. Abu Dhabi Investment Office’s committed $100m in grant funding to further the R&D of four agtech companies.

17. Indian Cloud Kitchen Trailblazer Rebel Foods Raises $50M from Coatue – AgFunder

Rebel Foods’ other investors include Sequoia Capital and City Storage Systems. The startup is expanding to the UAE and currently operates 325 cloud kitchens in India.

Our newsletter is the absolute easiest way to stay on top of the emerging sector, so sign up for it today and never miss the latest food tech and innovation news and trends, Already signed up? Share the love with your friends and colleagues!

The post Trump Taps Big Chains and Fine Dining Chefs for COVID-19 Economic Council, 200K+ Citizens Enlist to Help French Farmers + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Image Source: Wall Street Journal

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

The failure of the Paycheck Protection Program when independent restaurants and bars learned that they had been passed over as funds went to large chains. Facing criticism, Shake Shack and Sweetgreen both announced that they would be returning their $10 million loans.

Meat packers and big box retailers are continuing to experience an increase in positive coronavirus cases and deaths. In response, Tyson has suspended operations of its largest plant in Waterloo, Iowa. Several grocery stores have converted to online shopping to protect their employees.

Eight states have deemed recreational cannabis essential during Covid-19 shutdowns. Industry executives believe federal legalization of cannabis would provide economic stimulus through tax revenue and job creation during the recovery.

Resources: We have compiled a database of resources for those in the food industry impacted by the pandemic here. Please add your own resources as well.
Jobs: We need to band together to support everyone across the food system who has lost their job due to the pandemic. Use code “coronavirusfoodjobs” to post remote or remote-friendly food jobs on our job board for free.

We need your support as well. Producing our newsletter takes a lot of time and resources, and we need to change our business model to keep it going. To date, we’ve funded our work through our events, sponsorships and consulting, which are all on hold due to the pandemic. If you find our newsletter to be a valuable resource, we hope you will consider making a one time or monthly contribution, so we can keep the newsletter going and free for those who can not afford a subscription fee. Whether it’s $5 or $500 every bit helps and shows us that you value our work. Not able to contribute right now? You can help by sharing our newsletter with friends and colleagues.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

1. US Cannabis CEOs Say Coronavirus Crisis Will Speed Up Legalization: ‘We Have Been Deemed Essential’ – CNBC

Cannabis CEOs say federal legalization of cannabis would provide economic stimulus through tax revenue and job creation during the Covid-19 recovery. Eight states deemed recreational cannabis essential during Covid-19 shutdowns.

2. Sweetgreen Returns $10M Loan Meant to Help Small Businesses Survive the Coronavirus Pandemic – Business Insider

Kura Sushi, the largest conveyor belt sushi chain in the US, also announced that it would return its nearly $6m loan.

3. Facing Criticism, Shake Shack Returns $10M Small Business Loan – Eater

Shake Shack’s move to return the funds was met with skepticism, as some questioned why the loan was available to to the chain in the first place.

4. Ruth’s Chris to Repay Federal Small-Business Loan – Wall Street Journal

Steakhouse chain says it will return $20 million in coronavirus relief funds after The Treasury Department asked publicly traded companies to repay loans they received this month from a program intended to aid small businesses hurt by the coronavirus pandemic.

5. COVID-19 | Reopening Critical Path for Independent Restaurants + Bars

A comprehensive critical path laying out foundational tasks to assist restaurants with reopening their doors.

6. Four Georgia Poultry Workers Dead from Coronavirus – ABC News

Tyson Foods has declined to say how many of its workers have tested positive for Covid-19.

7. Tyson’s Largest Pork Plant Suspends Operations Due to Coronavirus Outbreak – Forbes

The plant’s 2,800 employees will continue to be paid, though the company acknowledged that the closure of its plant in Waterloo, Iowa will affect its supply chain of farmers, truckers, distributors and customers.

8. A Portland Whole Foods Employee Has Died of Coronavirus – Eater

Meanwhile, another Portland Whole Foods employee has tested positive for the virus at the Hollywood location.

9. How the Federal $19B Coronavirus Relief Fund Can Help Farmers and Food Producers – Food Dive

The financial support will include $16b in direct payments to farmers and ranchers: $9.6b to livestock, $3.9b to row crop producers, $2.1b to specialty crop producers and $500m for other crops.

10. Help Is On the Way, Restaurants Are Told. But Will It Work? – New York Times

Owners of many small, independent restaurants were passed over by a federal loan program. Now they fear that a new round may not solve their problems.

11. ‘Instead of Coronavirus, the Hunger Will Kill Us.’ A Global Food Crisis Looms. – New York Times

The world has never faced a hunger emergency like this. It could double the number of people facing acute hunger to 265m by the end of this year.

12. Majority of Grocery Workers Lack Access to Paid Sick Leave – Grocery Dive

The expansion of paid sick leave for employers with more than 500 employees has left 85% of essential employees in the grocery, pharmacy and general merchandise industries without mandatory access to Covid-19 related sick leave benefits.

13. I Harvest Your Food. Why Isn’t My Health ‘Essential’? – New York Times

All workers, regardless of immigration status, deserve emergency income and health care. For those of us still on the job, we need enforceable health and safety protections and hazard pay—not lower wages—to compensate us for the risks we are taking to protect our country’s food supply.

14. Chipotle to Pay $25M Criminal Fine for Food Poisoning – Bloomberg

The fast casual chain will pay a $25m criminal fine to resolve allegations by federal prosecutors that its food sickened more than 1,100 people across the US from 2015 to 2018.

15. Hunger Relief Will Come in the Form of the ‘Harvest Box’ – The Fern

The government will spend $300m a month to buy fresh produce, dairy and meat products that will be packaged into a box for food banks and other charities. Some $3b will be spent on purchases of surplus foods for donation.

Our newsletter is the absolute easiest way to stay on top of the emerging sector, so sign up for it today and never miss the latest food tech and innovation news and trends, Already signed up? Share the love with your friends and colleagues!

The post Sweetgreen, Shake Shack & Ruth’s Chris Return PPP Loans, More Meat Processing Plants Shuttered + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Image Source: New York Times

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

On Tuesday, Trump declared meat processing plants “critical infrastructure,” in an effort to combat the shortages of beef, pork and chicken that the head of Tyson Foods warned of in a national newspaper last week. More than 20 meat plants saw closures in the last two months, as 6,500 workers have fallen ill or are awaiting results.

The newly formed Independent Restaurant Coalition (IRC) has been at the forefront of lobbying for the independent restaurants that define our communities. Now, they’re calling upon Congress to establish a $120 billion fund to help save small restaurants.

Frontline grocery workers at some of the country’s largest corporations are organizing a historic mass strike on May Day, asking customers to boycott Amazon, Instacart, Whole Foods and Target. As these companies reap record profits, workers are fighting for basic protections as they continue to risk their lives at work.

Resources: We have compiled a database of resources for those in the food industry impacted by the pandemic here. Please add your own resources as well.
Jobs: We need to band together to support everyone across the food system who has lost their job due to the pandemic. Use code “coronavirusfoodjobs” to post remote or remote-friendly food jobs on our job board for free.

We need your support as well. Producing our newsletter takes a lot of time and resources, and we need to change our business model to keep it going. To date, we’ve funded our work through our events, sponsorships and consulting, which are all on hold due to the pandemic. If you find our newsletter to be a valuable resource, we hope you will consider making a one time or monthly contribution, so we can keep the newsletter going and free for those who can not afford a subscription fee. Whether it’s $5 or $500 every bit helps and shows us that you value our work. Not able to contribute right now? You can help by sharing our newsletter with friends and colleagues.

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

1. Trump Declares Meat Supply ‘Critical,’ Aiming to Reopen Plants – New York Times

The executive order is meant to prevent shortages of pork, chicken and other products. But unions fear it will endanger workers in the plants, which have become coronavirus hot spots.

2. Chefs Call for $120B Restaurant Stabilization Fund – Food & Wine

The Independent Restaurant Coalition are calling for a stabilization fund to help save small restaurants. The food service industry only received 9% of PPP loan dollars, even though it accounted for 60% of job losses in March.

3. US Food-Worker Deaths Reach 20 as Thousands See Virus Impact – Bloomberg

More of America’s workers who are keeping food supplies churning are falling sick and dying.

4. The Food Supply Chain Is Breaking.’ Tyson Foods Warns of Meat Shortage as Plants Close Due to COVID-19 – Time

One of the US’s biggest meat processors warned that millions of pounds of meat would disappear from the supply chain. As a consequence, farmers across the nation will not have anywhere to sell their livestock to be processed, leading to food waste.

5. Amazon, Whole Foods, Instacart Workers Organize a Historic Mass Strike – Vice

On May 1st, frontline workers at some of the biggest corporations in the country will lead a mass strike action, asking customers to boycott Amazon, Instacart, Whole Foods and Target.

6. Meatpacking Union Says 25% of US Pork Production Hit by Coronavirus Closures – CNBC

Meatpacking plants responsible for 10% of all beef production and 25% of all pork production have closed. Thirteen packing and food processing workers have died after contracting Covid-19.

7. Two Months That Tore Apart the Food Chain – Wall Street Journal

Grocery demand skyrocketed, restaurants shut their doors and distribution became exponentially more complex, resulting in the most dramatic shift in history. For consumers, it could mean fewer choices, higher prices and an adjustment in the way we shop and stock our pantries.

8. Safe Dining? Hard to Imagine, but Many Restaurants Are Trying – New York Times

Though widespread reopenings may be a long way off, chefs and health officials have begun studying how a post-pandemic restaurant might look.

9. Online Grocery Reaches New Heights in April – Grocery Dive

Online grocery sales jumped to a record high in April, as shoppers spent $5.3b on orders for delivery and pickup. The total represents a 37% increase over March, when sales hit $4b.

10. Tracking Coronavirus Closures at Food and Beverage Factories – Food Dive

While food and beverage manufacturers scramble to keep up with demand as consumers stock their pantries, many now must also contend with coronavirus outbreaks in their factories.

11. USDA Let Millions of Pounds of Food Rot While Food Bank Demand Soared – Politico

While other federal agencies quickly adapted their programs to the coronavirus crisis, the Agriculture Department took more than a month to make its first significant move to buy up surplus fruits and vegetables.

12. Thousands of Cars Line Up at One Texas Food Bank As Job Losses Hit Hard – NPR

A record 6k families preregistered for emergency food distribution at the San Antonio Food Bank, and when word got out on social media, another 4k cars showed up.

13. What’s in Store for Agrifood Investing in the Wake of Covid-19? – AgFunder

Blake Stevens of Alexandria Investments and Dave Friedberg of Climate Corporation joined AgFunder to discuss the future of agrifood investing and the technology trends we can expect to arise from it.

14. Too Many People Are Going Hungry Right Now. Harris, Gillibrand and Sanders Are Offering a Lifeline. – Mother Jones

The lawmakers’ Closing the Meal Gap Act would increase the benefit to individuals and families by 30% and allow territories like Puerto Rico, American Samoa and Northern Mariana Islands to receive food assistance as an entitlement, instead of a block grant.

15. Pivot Bio Raises $100M Series C to Meet Demand for Sold-Out Nitrogen-Fixing Microbe Product – AgFunder

Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Temasek led the round. The new funding will help the company scale its microbial nitrogen technology that promises to help farmers boost crop yield.

16. Cheetah, a Restaurant Wholesale App That Pivoted to Consumers for Covid-19, Nabs $36M – TechCrunch

Eclipse Ventures led the round, bringing total raised to $66m. Funding will go towards expanding its business and to help it stay the course through the pandemic.

Our newsletter is the absolute easiest way to stay on top of the emerging sector, so sign up for it today and never miss the latest food tech and innovation news and trends, Already signed up? Share the love with your friends and colleagues!

The post Trump Orders Meat Plants to Remain Open, Restaurants Call For $120B Stability Fund + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Image Source: Chicago Tribune

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

As dozens of meatpacking plants across the country have shut down because of coronavirus outbreaks, disruptions in the supply chain are reaching customers at fast food chains and grocery stores. On Monday, one-fifth of Wendy’s restaurants in the US were sold out of beef products. Retailers like Kroger, Costco and Giant Eagle and more have placed a product cap on purchases of beef, pork and poultry.

In turn, the meat shortages are boosting sales of meat alternatives. Impossible Foods will now be sold in Kroger stores nationwide, and Beyond Meat saw its shares jump 49% last month.

Last but not least, Howard Schultz is calling for a Marshall Plan for small businesses, especially the 500,000 independent restaurants that are the most vulnerable businesses in this new era of social distancing.

Resources: We have compiled a database of resources for those in the food industry impacted by the pandemic here. Please add your own resources as well.
Jobs: We need to band together to support everyone across the food system who has lost their job due to the pandemic. Use code “coronavirusfoodjobs” to post remote or remote-friendly food jobs on our job board for free.

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Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

1. A Wendy’s With No Burgers as Meat Production Is Hit – New York Times

On Monday, nearly one-fifth of Wendy’s restaurants–over 1k locations–were sold out of beef products. Last week was the fourth week in a row that the number of cattle slaughtered fell below 500k, down more than 35% from average beef production.

2. Grocery Stores Limiting Meat Purchases Over Concerns of a Shortage – CBS

Albertsons has limited meat items to two per customer at its Pavilions, Vons, Safeways and Albertsons stores. Kroger also announced that it was limiting the sale of ground beef and pork at its Ralphs and Food 4 Less stores.

3. Tyson Says Nation’s Pork Production Is Down 50%, Despite Trump’s Order to Keep Meat Plants Open – The Washington Post

Last Friday, pork production was down 42.9% for all US companies. Tyson was short 74% for hogs processed per day. According to the CDC, 130k workers at 115 processing facilities had 4.9k cases and 20 deaths.

4. With Meat Shortages Looming, Kroger Rolls Out Impossible Burgers – Bloomberg

The plant-based burger will be sold in more than 1.7k Kroger stores in 28 states as well as the company’s website.

5. America’s Small Businesses Need a Marshall Plan – Howard Schultz

Schultz launched The Plate Fund to provide $500 grants to the hardest hit food service workers in the Seattle area. It’s now on course to distribute $7m to 14k eligible workers. But providing money alone is not sufficient.

6. USDA to Purchase $470M in Surplus Meat, Dairy and Produce – Food Dive

The department said this will allow more products to be distributed to communities nationwide, while giving financial support to struggling producers. The buys will include fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy and seafood.

7. One Meat Plant. One Thousand Infections. [Podcast] – New York Times

One of the largest coronavirus outbreaks in the US has been inside the Smithfield pork factory in Sioux Falls. A worker at the plant, a refugee who survived civil war and malaria, finds her life and livelihood threatened anew.

8. Those We’ve Lost – Eater

In NYC, where COVID-19 has hit harder than anywhere else in the country, the number of people dying in the restaurant industry is growing. Here’s who they were—and the impact they made.

9. Natural Products Expo East Set to Debut This Year in Philadelphia – New Hope Network

Natural Products Expo East will go on with considerations for today’s coronavirus challenges. Here’s a letter from show organizer New Hope Network.

10. ‘We Had to Do Something’: Trying to Prevent Massive Food Waste – New York Times

Over the next few weeks, the USDA will begin spending $300m a month to buy surplus produce, dairy and meat from distributors and ship them to food banks and charitable groups. New York will give food banks $25m to buy products made from excess milk.

11. Instacart’s Frantic Dash From Grocery App to Essential Service – Bloomberg

The grocery delivery startup added 300k workers in eight weeks, but Covid-19 is still overtaking it in more ways than one.

12. One of the World’s Best Restaurants Might Not Reopen for Business – Bloomberg

The future of Eleven Madison Park is uncertain. It will take millions of dollars to reopen.

13. Fake Meat Startups Rake in Cash Amid Food Supply Worries – Bloomberg

Beyond Meat saw its shares jump 49% last month. Meanwhile, venture capitalists have been pouring money into smaller cultured and plant-based meat companies. In mid-April, US sales of these products were double that of the same period last year.

14. Cargill Expands Plant-Based Protein Food for China – Reuters

It plans to offer more plant-based products to the food service sector and also introduce a consumer brand called PlantEver at the end of June with both online and offline retailers.

15. As Coronavirus Pandemic Pushes More Grocery Shoppers Online, Stores Struggle to Keep Up with Demand – CNBC

Only about 3% or 4% of grocery spending in the US was online before the pandemic, but that’s surged to 10% to 15%. If the online shopping habit sticks, it could represent a meaningful shift in an industry that’s been slow to go digital.

16. A Former Farmworker on American Hypocrisy – New York Times

In the pandemic, “illegal” workers are now deemed “essential” by the federal government.

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