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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.

We launched our 2018 U.S. Food & Beverage Startup Investment Report today, which finds that $1.45 billion dollars was invested across 200 reported deals in 2018. Read the full report here.

Barclays analysts believe that the market for alternative meat has the potential to reach $140 billion over the next decade, capturing 10 percent of the $1.4 trillion global meat industry.

In CPG news, Jay-Z’s Marcy Venture Partners led a $1 million seed round for allergen-free cookie maker Partake Foods. The FDA hearing reviewing CBD in food and supplement products has left many unanswered questions.

And finally, Amazon has unveiled its transforming Prime Air delivery drone, which it plans to use for delivery in the coming months.

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

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1. Newly Crowned Billionaire Jay-Z Just Invested in a Cookie Company – Entrepreneur

The mogul’s March Venture Patners led a seed round for allergen-free cookie maker Partake Foods.

2. Alternative Meat to Become $140B Industry in a Decade, Barclays Predicts – CNBC

That rapid pace of growth implies the animal-free industry could capture about 10% of the $1.4t global meat industry.

3. Many Unanswered Questions, Concerns about CBD Products, Says FDA Acting Chief at First Public Hearing – The Washington Post

You can buy CBD in oils, supplements, soda, even dog food. But very little of it is legal, prompting concerns over safety and deceptive marketing.

4. Here’s Amazon’s New Transforming Prime Air Delivery Drone – The Verge

Amazon has unveiled the latest version of its Prime Air delivery drone, a hybrid aircraft that’s capable of vertical takeoff and landing as well as sustained forward flight. The company wants to launch a delivery service using the drone in the coming months.

5. 2018 U.S. Food & Beverage Startup Investment Report

Our 2018 Food & Beverage report finds that $1.45 billion was invested across 200 disclosed deals. In total, there were 247 reported financings in 2018.

6. Specialty Food Industry Sales Reach New High, Nearing $150B – Progressive Grocer

Specialty food sales increased 9.8% between 2016 and 2018. Online sales have grown 41% since 2016.

7. A Global Trade War Could Boost America’s Lunch Bill by $875M – Bloomberg

The growing threat of an all-out global trade war means Americans may have to fork out more cash at lunchtime.

8. Nestle’s New Plant-Based Awesome Burger Wants in on the Fake Meat Market – Fast Company

To compete with the exploding success of Impossible and Beyond Burger, the world’s largest food company is launching its own meat-like plant burger.

9. Plant-Based Meat Maker ‘Before the Butcher’ Acquired by Owners of Ground Beef Company – Entrepreneur

The company says the acquisition will allow the two-year-old startup to be able to compete in an increasingly competitive market.

10. AgTech Landscape 2019: 1,600+ Startups Innovating on the Farm and in the ‘Messy Middle’ – AgFunder

Seana Day, partner at Better Food Ventures and The Mixing Bowl, is now tracking 1,600+ startups globally and today releases her latest market map.

11. Canada: Walmart Launches ‘Fast Lane’ Checkout – Grocery Dive

While this is not Walmart’s first foray into scan-and-go, Walmart Canada’s new Fast Lane more closely resembles Amazon Go technology than Walmart’s previous attempts.

12. Cocoa’s Child Laborers – The Washington Post

Mars, Nestlé and Hershey pledged nearly two decades ago to stop using cocoa harvested by children. Yet much of the chocolate you buy still starts with child labor.

13. Leah Chase, Creole Chef Who Fed Presidents and Freedom Riders, Dies at 96 – New York Times

In New Orleans, Dooky Chase’s was the only upscale restaurant that welcomed African-Americans, and it became a gathering place for civil rights leaders.

14. 11,000 People Who Prepare Your Airline Food Are Considering a Strike – New York Times

A shortage of controllers hastened the end of the government shutdown this year. Now catering employees hope a similar dynamic will help them win better pay.

15. Women, Women of Color & Gender Non-Conforming Innovator Database

We created this open-source list to increase representation, support and investment in women, women of color & gender-nonconforming innovators in food. Join the list & help us spread the word using #womxninfood

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!

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