DOJ, DEA Reschedule Medical Cannabis Products
The U.S. Justice Department and DEA have reclassified FDA‑approved and state‑licensed medical cannabis products from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. The change follows a 2025 Trump executive order and a 2024 DEA proposal that attracted 43,000 public comments. An expedited administrative hearing will start on June 29 to evaluate broader rescheduling. Industry executives welcomed the move, citing research opportunities and potential tax relief.
Twofold Introduces THC Spirits
Twofold has launched a line of six THC spirit analogues—vodka, gin, agave, whiskey, rum and aperitif—packaged in 750 ml bottles for bar service. Each 1.5‑oz pour delivers a precise 2 mg THC dose, offering a non‑alcoholic alternative that mimics the ritual of...
Grön Brings Chocolate Bars to New Jersey
Grön, the cannabis‑infused chocolate maker, has launched a five‑product line in New Jersey. Each bar is gluten‑free, soy‑free and scored into 20 pieces delivering 5 mg THC per segment for precise dosing. The assortment spans daytime sativa, balanced hybrid, classic indica...
Señorita Debuts 1777 Hemp THC Spirit
Señorita has launched 1777, a non‑alcoholic hemp‑derived THC spirit packaged in a 750 mL bottle and delivering 10 mg of THC per 1.5‑oz serving. The drink, crafted by winemakers Joel Gott and Charles Bieler, blends agave, terpenes, lime, dragon fruit and chili...
ALOHA Launches Key Lime Protein Bar
ALOHA, the employee‑owned plant‑based protein brand, introduced a limited‑edition Key Lime Protein Bar featuring 14 g of protein, 10 g of fiber, and only 4 g of sugar per serving. The bar uses a short, whole‑food ingredient list—real key lime, brown rice crisps,...
Dairy Leaders Align on Sustainability Progress
More than 260 dairy value‑chain leaders, including 26 farmers, gathered at the 2026 Dairy Sustainability Alliance Spring Meeting to turn shared priorities into concrete action. Speakers highlighted that modern cows now deliver five times more nutrition than mid‑century herds while...
Frankie’s Expands Organic PuffCorn Distribution
Frankie’s Organic Snacks is extending its PuffCorn line to 41 new East Coast stores, adding 27 MOM’s Organic Market locations and 14 Earth Fare outlets. The rollout introduces six flavor varieties, all certified organic, gluten‑free, kosher and non‑GMO. The 4‑oz bags...
Earth’s Best Targets ‘Big Kid’ Snacking
Earth’s Best, the organic baby‑food brand, launched its first snack line for children ages 4‑8, called Earth’s Best Big Kids Snacks. The portfolio includes Organic Crispy Sticks in Cheesy Mac and Pizza, and Organic Veggie Waves in Rock’n Ranch and...
Flowers Foods Expands Breakfast, Snacks
Flowers Foods announced a wave of new breakfast and snack products across its Canyon Bakehouse, Dave’s Killer Bread, Simple Mills, Tastykake and Wonder brands. The launches include gluten‑free bagels and English muffins, organic mini bagels, seasonal flavors, protein‑rich snack bars,...
G Hughes Relaunches Zero Sugar Line
G Hughes announced a full relaunch of its zero‑sugar sauce line, updating packaging and brand visuals across the portfolio. The refresh maintains the brand’s zero‑sugar, gluten‑free, HFCS‑free promise while adding two globally inspired BBQ sauces—Korean BBQ (13 oz) and Tex‑Mex BBQ...
Butter Buds Names Sales, Marketing Lead for Latin America
Butter Buds Inc. has appointed Rosaura Quesada as International Sales and Marketing Manager for Latin America. Quesada brings more than 20 years of experience with the company’s Central American distributor and prior leadership roles at Univar Solutions and Chemsol. In...
RTD Beverages Target Hormonal Wellness
The Cycle, a ready‑to‑drink brand focused on hormonal wellness, unveiled two new beverages—Peri Comfort and Meno Comfort—targeting perimenopause and menopause. The additions expand the line to four phase‑specific drinks, all featuring organic sea buckthorn juice and botanicals like black cohosh...
Dave’s Killer Bread Debuts Mini Bagels
Dave’s Killer Bread is introducing Mini Bagels in two flavors—Plain Awesome and Epic Everything—available nationwide. The 100‑calorie, organic‑whole‑grain mini bagels address a growing demand for smaller portions, especially among Gen Z, who often find regular bagels too large. The brand is...
Land O’Frost Promotes Howard to SVP
Land O’Frost promoted Kelli Howard to senior vice president of operations, giving her oversight of planning, customer service, distribution, transportation and production. Howard, who joined in 2015, is known for a people‑first leadership style and will drive tighter integration between...
Totis Launches Kettle Cooked Plantain Chips
Vilore Foods is rolling out Totis Kettle Cooked Plantain Chips nationwide, adding three globally inspired flavors—Chile Lime, Cinnamon Churro, and Sea Salt. The snack is positioned as a better‑for‑you alternative, being gluten‑free, vegan, and non‑GMO. By leveraging its national distribution...
JOYRIDE Debuts Lower-Sugar Candy Line
Joyride introduced three lower‑sugar candy products—Fruit Chews, Fruity Zips and Sour Zips—each offering at least 50% less sugar than typical alternatives and featuring prebiotic fiber. The line is free of artificial sweeteners and colors and comes in a variety of...
Alden’s Launches Banana Cookie Crumble Ice Cream
Alden’s Organic announced the launch of Banana Cookie Crumble, a 48‑ounce organic ice‑cream that mixes banana‑flavored base with crunchy cookie crumbles. The new flavor, priced between $9.99 and $15, is available online and at select natural‑food retailers such as Sprouts,...
Sustainability Drives 25% of CPG Sales
The NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business and Circana released the 2025 Sustainable Market Share Index, showing sustainable‑marked consumer packaged goods now command 25.4% of U.S. CPG dollar sales, up 1.6 points year‑over‑year. These products are growing at a 10.9%...
Botanicals Blur Line Between Immune Boosters, ‘Boasters’
Immunity‑supporting botanicals are gaining traction among Gen Z and Gen Alpha, but many act more as “immune boasters” than true boosters. Curcumin offers anti‑inflammatory benefits but suffers from poor oral bioavailability, requiring fat or piperine to reach effective levels. Ashwagandha shows promise...
PIILK Debuts Clean-Label Protein Drinks
Armored Fresh’s PIILK brand entered the U.S. direct‑to‑consumer market with a clean‑label, yeast‑based protein drink line. The beverages contain only seven ingredients, eliminating carrageenan, emulsifiers, and artificial sweeteners, and use non‑GMO fermented yeast as the sole protein source with a...
Mojo Expands Energy Pouch Lineup
Mojo Energy Pouches introduced a new Sour Apple flavor, sold as a 5‑pack for $19.99 on Amazon and GrabMojo.com. Each pouch provides 50 mg of caffeine sourced from green tea, with zero sugar, zero calories, and added B‑vitamins, L‑theanine, ginseng and...
De La Calle Launches Strawberry Citrus Soda
De La Calle, the modern Mexican soda brand, introduced Strawberry Citrus, a fermented beverage that blends ripe strawberries with bright citrus. The low‑sugar, low‑calorie soda is USDA Organic, contains 6 g of fiber, under 60 calories, and delivers high Vitamin C. It...
Consumers Question Processed Foods, Still Buy
A Purdue University survey of 1,200 U.S. consumers reveals a clear gap between expressed concern about highly or ultra‑processed foods and actual purchasing habits. Respondents rated their health worry at 7.1 out of 10, yet 58% still choose processed items...
Upcycled Innovation Gains Momentum
Expo West 2026 highlighted a surge of upcycled food launches, from the low‑alcohol RTD beverage waste to snack innovations like Daily Crunch’s cherry‑berry mix and Seven Sundays’ PB Puffs. The Upcycled Food Association (UFA) showcased members turning crop side streams into...
Huer Taps Swicy Trend With Chamoy Gummies
Huer Foods Inc. launched the Huer Cholula Chamoy Tropical Ring Mix, a sour gummy ring coated with Cholula Chamoy seasoning and flavored with watermelon, pineapple and mango. The product rides the accelerating "swicy" (sweet‑spicy) trend that is outpacing overall candy‑category...
VitaCup Debuts Creatine Coffee Stick Packs
VitaCup has launched Creatine Coffee Stick Packs, a portable blend of 5 g creatine monohydrate, vitamin D + K, and premium coffee. The single‑serve sticks are sold exclusively through Sprouts Farmers Market stores nationwide. The format lets consumers ingest a clinically proven creatine...
Death Wish Expands RTD Line With Caramel
Death Wish Coffee Co. has introduced a Caramel Cold Brew Latte, expanding its ready‑to‑drink (RTD) portfolio that already includes Mocha, Vanilla and Classic lattes. The 11‑oz slim can delivers up to 120 mg of natural caffeine and is made with 100 %...
Kiva Sales & Service and Petalfast Merge
Kiva Sales & Service (KSS) has merged with fellow cannabis distributor Petalfast, creating a unified platform that spans California and Arizona. The deal preserves both sales teams while introducing two distinct selling divisions organized by product category. A new "KSS...
Kraft Launches Restaurant-Style Mac and Cheese
Kraft Heinz unveiled the Mac & Cheese Restaurant Edition, a new line that pairs familiar instant‑mac convenience with restaurant‑style flavors and premium pasta shapes. The range launches with three varieties—Parmesan Pesto, Romano Cacio e Pepe, and Monterey Jack Caramelized Onion—each...
Hershey Unifies Portfolio Under ONE Model
The Hershey Company unveiled "ONE Hershey," a unified U.S. commercial operating model that brings its Sweet, Salty and Protein brands under a single structure and centralizes global brand marketing. The change expands the responsibilities of senior leaders, giving them oversight...
Grön Debuts PIXLZ Gummy Clusters
Grön has launched PIXLZ, a line of cannabis‑infused gummy clusters that combine THC, minor cannabinoids and curated terpene blends into three distinct "modes" aimed at energy, focus or relaxation. The three flavors—Blue Razzeberry, Tropical Rush and Berry Blast—deliver specific cannabinoid...
ButACake, Azuca Launch RTD Cherry Hibiscus Elixir in New Jersey
Azuca and ButACake have introduced the Cherry Hibiscus Elixir, a ready‑to‑drink cannabis beverage, in New Jersey. The 7.5‑oz can contains 5 mg THC and delivers effects within five to fifteen minutes thanks to Azuca’s TiME INFUSION and ACTiVATOR technology. The launch...
Trolli Expands Gummi Pop Line With Berry Flavor
Trolli has introduced Gummi Pop Very Berry, a new frozen candy that pairs its signature soft‑gummi texture with sour Berry Punch and Blue Raspberry flavors. The product joins the existing Gummi Pop line, which previously added Cherry Lemon and Grape...
SFA Completes Good Food Integration
The Specialty Food Association (SFA) has completed the integration of the Good Food Foundation’s Guild and Merchant programs, bringing those members under the SFA umbrella. The transition grants Good Food members year‑round access to SFA’s research, education, networking, and trade‑show...
Little Debbie Enters Premium Cookie Segment
McKee Foods has launched Little Debbie Soft Baked Cookies, a new premium, portable snack line under its iconic brand. The 3‑ounce, individually wrapped cookies come in Chocolate Chip and Peanut Butter varieties, offering a moist, bakery‑style texture. Positioned as a...
Protein Quality Confusion Opens Door For Innovation
The International Food Information Council’s latest survey shows Americans are actively seeking protein, but their definition of “protein quality” diverges from scientific standards. While 40% associate high‑quality protein with taste and 45% focus on total protein content on packaging, technical...
Dirty Gut Launches Probiotic Chocolate Bites
Dirty Gut has introduced Probiotic Chocolate Bites, a new line featuring three flavors—Rich Dark, Sea Salt Crunch and Classic Milk—each 10‑gram bite delivering 2 g of fiber and 1 billion live probiotics. The product sells for $42.99 per six‑bag pack and is...
Tate’s Launches Key Lime, Brings Back Blueberry Cookies
Tate’s Bake Shop rolled out two limited‑time cookies for spring: Key Lime Pie, a citrus‑forward treat with white‑chocolate chips, and Blueberry Crisp, a revived flavor featuring freeze‑dried blueberry pieces. Both products are being shipped to national retailers such as Whole...
NCA Announces Senior Leadership Promotions
The National Confectioners Association (NCA) announced a slate of senior leadership promotions, elevating Brian McKeon and Christopher Gindlesperger to executive vice‑president roles overseeing public policy, regulatory affairs, and communications. Steve McCroddan now serves as EVP, CFO, and chief administrative officer, while Sarah Atkinson becomes...
Hormel Names New Food Safety Leader
Hormel Foods announced that long‑time vice president of global food safety and quality management Richard Carlson will retire after a 35‑year tenure. Jeremiah Johnson, a 20‑year Hormel veteran and current director of food safety management, will succeed him as vice...
Rise Baking Expands Utah Production Facility
Rise Baking Company announced a 115,000‑square‑foot expansion of its Pleasant View, Utah facility, boosting its manufacturing capacity and aligning production with growing demand for items such as pies and cookies. The project will bring the plant’s total footprint to roughly...
Joseph’s Bakery Invests In Tumaro’s Growth
Joseph’s Bakery, the U.S. pita‑bread leader, is deepening its investment in Tumaro’s after acquiring the brand. Tumaro’s, known for its Carb Wise, flavor‑forward wraps such as Multi‑Grain and Protein Flex, will benefit from heightened promotional support and product innovation. The...
NuSpice Launches Retro-Inspired ‘NuStalgia’ Campaign
NuSpice, a custom spice‑blending firm, unveiled its ‘NuStalgia’ campaign, a retro‑themed promotional kit featuring a 1980s‑style metal lunchbox, trading cards, a Rubik’s Cube, and three Chili Crunch seasoning blends. The kit includes an interactive digital experience that unlocks upon receipt,...
Dainty Foods to Build Ohio Facility
Dainty Foods, a Canadian private‑label rice and ready‑to‑heat meal producer, announced a $150 million investment to build its first U.S. manufacturing plant in Batavia Township, Ohio. The 250,000‑sq‑ft facility will create about 240 jobs and generate roughly $15.8 million in annual payroll....
Online Grocery Shoppers Prioritize Health Over Taste
A Purdue University study of 1,200 U.S. consumers finds that health and nutrition now eclipse taste as the primary driver for online grocery shoppers, with only 37% ranking taste first. Nutritional targets and health goals were cited by 59% and...
DON’T QUIT Rebrands as SkyPop Protein Soda
DON’T QUIT has rebranded as SkyPop, launching a national line of protein sodas. The drinks contain 10 g whey protein, zero sugar, and 45 calories per 12‑oz can. SkyPop secures over 65,000 retail facings in Target, Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons and other...
Smokiez Partners with Global Cannabis Exchange for International Expansion
Smokiez, the fourth‑largest U.S. edible brand, announced a partnership with Global Cannabis Exchange to accelerate its international rollout. The company, currently in 22 states, aims to add four more U.S. markets, plus Puerto Rico and Costa Rica, by the end...
King & Prince Seafood Names Steve Yung CEO
King & Prince Seafood announced that longtime CEO Michael Alexander will retire after 15 years of service, effective April 17, 2026. Steve Yung will succeed him as president and chief executive officer on April 20, 2026. The company emphasized that...