Member News & Headlines Blog

Check out this cool article from our member Aclara Research about cannabis infusion at home. Click here to download the pdf copy of their research and findings. 

In many cultures around the world, insects and arachnids form a normal part of a person's diet. In the United States and Europe, however, we tend to regard such "delicacies" with mistrust. Can scientific evidence suggesting that insects are more healthful and nutritious than other foods change our minds?

Edible insects have the highest market value in Asia-Pacific regions, according to recent reports. However, the same reports indicate that their value is on the rise in the United States.

Read the full article here 

RXBar is pushing further beyond its protein bar heritage by diving into another category where there’s already plenty of competition: oats.

Yes, the bar company acquired by Kellogg Co. in 2017 is getting into the cereal business. Clearly, it’s aware of PepsiCo’s Quaker Oats and the other products that try to compete against that behemoth. And it’s going into that category anyway.

“Healthy competition is always good,” RXBar Chief Marketing Officer Victor Lee says on the latest episode of Ad Age’s Marketer’s Brief podcast. “If you don’t have competition you start to question well, why are we doing this?”

Read the full article here 

MillerCoors is taking another step towards a plastic-free world with their newest product, a fiber, eco-friendly six-pack beer ring. The recyclable, biodegradable and compostable six-pack beer rings are currently only being used in Colorado. The MillerCoors craft brewer, AC Golden, has the fiber rings on their Colorado Native beer. However, a spokeswoman for MillerCoors said if the trial run goes well, the fiber rings could eventually be available in Milwaukee.

Read the full article from WISN here

Nestlé, the largest food company by revenue, announced a pilot program to track its supply chains using blockchain, according to a company statement.

The firm partnered with OpenSC, a blockchain platform, to develop the distributed ledger system which will be separate and distinct from Nestlé’s ongoing participation with IBM Food Trust blockchain.

The pilot will last six months, and success will be determined by the “feasibility, viability and scalability of the system,” as well as how well the system verifies data, according to a Nestlé representative. Once rolled out, the service may involve a QR code, mobile app, and web portal.

Read the full article here 

Part two of our new Founders Series: Sales & Distribution, took place at the beautiful PRE office in the West Loop, downtown Chicago. Our wonderful members from Amica Tea joined us to sample their delicious, signature green tea as attendees started to file into the space. Our panel of experts for the evening included Josh Katt, CEO & founder of KitchFix, Ali Shouman, Senior VP - Business Development, Alex Marx, Director - Growth Solutions at KeHe, Joe D'Angelo, Director of Sales with Norman Distribution, and Joy Tucci, owner of DaCosta Global Inc. 

The panel broke down the logistics of sales and distribution, from early stage start-ups, to established CPG companies on how to best navigate this aspect of your business. Guests for the evening were given the opportunity to learn about unique tactics and strategies that can be used to get the most out of your transactional experiences with your distributor, as well as how to be a great client (which most often results in becoming a "high priority client").The panel also attributed their own personal experiences into how to grow and scale your business, refine your sales and enhance the distribution process. As always, we had a blast with our guests at this Founders Series! Learning and growing as a Network.

An old Northwest Side factory that produced television sets for the old Zenith Electronics soon will be the source of new food products.

The redevelopment of the 300,000-square-foot facility in Chicago’s Belmont Cragin neighborhood got the final financing it needed with a $4 million loan from JPMorgan Chase, channeled through the Chicago Community Loan Fund (CCLF). All told, the project will cost about $25 million.

What is already under construction is a facility to be dubbed Amped Kitchens Chicago, which will offer dozens of kitchens, refrigeration, storage and similar resources to Chicago entrepreneurs ready to take their food concoctions to the commercialization stage.

Read the full article here 

Paradise Icing is not just vegan; it is plant based, keto and allergen friendly and tastefully wholesome. Consumers love sweets, but they want pleasure, nostalgia and nutrition. Research shows that consumers claim to be eating 2.5 snacks a day and 45% are looking for healthier snacks. They want their snacks to supply nutritional benefits rather than empty calories. Energy, satiety and focus are lifestyle ingredients. Adding Paradise Icing to your daily diet not only gives the consumer lifestyle ingredients, but the excitement of being able to satisfy their guilty pleasure without ruining their waste line. 

Read the full article here

It’s no secret that e-commerce has changed the landscape of B2C retail- but the ripple effect this evolution has wrought on supply chains, including those of B2B shippers, may be less apparent.  

On June 18, GlobalTranz and the Chicagoland Food and Beverage Network hosted a panel discussion titled, The Future of Ecommerce: Delivering on New Consumer Expectations According to the “New Rules” of Retail to address the challenges for shippers of today’s online and offline marketplaces.  

Our panelists included Adam Root, Chief Operating Officer at Blake’s Seed Based, Maureen Cherwin, Director, e-commerce and digital media at Simple Mills, Kris McDermott, Senior Vice President, e-commerce at Edelman, and Brian Winshall, Executive Vice President at GlobalTranz. 

Read the full article from GlobalTranz here 

The food company unveiled Thursday a new line of smoothie products called Fruitlove, which come in small cups and contain a spoon. The Kraft Heinz press release touted five flavors, each containing at least three fruits or vegetables, and provide a source of calcium, protein and other nutrients.

The new smoothie line can be seen as an attempt to add more health choices to company's offerings, as Kraft Heinz has been hurt by the public's turn toward healthier foods over processed ones. Kraft Heinz has also acquired several healthy food brands this year, such as Primal Kitchen.

Read the full article here