👋 Hey, it’s Jordan!
Have you noticed it? The CPG industry turn around is in full swing. I’m having so many positive, exciting conversations with founders where they are genuinely excited about where things are going.
It’s a big turnaround from conversations I was having just a year ago, when a lot of people were feeling pessimistic.
Now founders are feeling hopeful, proud, and dare I say it… joyful about where things are headed.
How are you feeling about the state of the industry these days?
⚡ ōku® Conscious Energy® Gummy Snacks founded by Carolyn J. Hamlet launched nationally in 330 Sprouts Farmers Market stores as one of four brands selected for the retailer’s inaugural 60-day Forager Program checkout cohort, marking its first move from DTC into national grocery retail.
🍜 Crafty Ramen co-founded by Jared and Miki Ferrall launched at Sprouts nationwide with five frozen restaurant-inspired ramen SKUs at $7.99, marking the Canadian brand’s first U.S. retail footprint ahead of expansion to more than 4,000 American shelves this fall.
☕ Relly’s Good Coffee co-founded by Ian Hildebrandt, Jake Wilhelm and Mitch McGinty is expanding its Denver-roasted specialty coffee presence through local retailers including Leevers Locavore, Spinelli’s and McGuckin Hardware while supporting rescue dogs through its mission-driven model.
🐶 Ava’s Pet Palace founded by Ava Dorsey expanded its retail footprint into Mariano’s, Fresh Thyme Market, Jimbo’s Naturally, Clark’s Nutrition & Natural Foods Market and the Obama Presidential Center Gift Shop, while also broadening its assortment at Erewhon Market.
🥛 NOON founded by Tamir Triguboff and Cade Fleming launched its shelf-stable “breakfast in a can” at approximately 2,000 Target stores nationwide, offering 20g of protein, 5g of fiber and 0g of added sugar in three flavors.
🥤 Mitra9 founded by Dallas Vasquez expanded national availability with the launch of Kava by Mitra9 on Walmart.com, extending access through Walmart distribution centers while building on double-digit growth across its beverage and regional distribution channels in the first half of 2026.
🍅 Sababa Foods founded by Amy Dell is rolling out refreshed Saturday Sauce packaging beginning at roughly 40 Fresh Market locations as the Mediterranean simmer sauce brand expands its national retail footprint across markets including The Fresh Market, Erewhon and QFC.
🥭 GOOD GOOD led by CEO Gardar Stefansson launched Mango Habanero Jam, a no-added-sugar sweet-and-spicy SKU made with Texas-grown habaneros that is debuting online before expanding to retail later this year.
🥞 Little Spoon co-founded by Ben Lewis and Angela Vranich launched Pancake Spoonies, single-serve microwaveable pancake cups with 9g of protein in Banana Chocolate Chip, Blueberry and Classic Maple flavors, available online and at Target as part of its eight-product summer innovation rollout.
🍓 Huel launched Strawberry Lemon and Pink Grapefruit flavors of its Daily Greens ready-to-drink line, with each can delivering 42 vitamins, minerals and superfoods, adaptogens, 4g of fiber and 1g of sugar.
⚡ 5-hour ENERGY® founded by Manoj Bhargava is debuting its first Halloween-specific variety pack with four limited-edition candy-inspired flavors Ghoulish Grape, Cobweb Candy, Fright-Fetti and Candy Cauldron available online and at select retailers beginning September 8.
🍓 Welch’s® Fruit Snacks teamed up with TaskRabbit on a limited-time “Homework Pass” campaign offering the first 1,000 families a $150 TaskRabbit credit to outsource back-to-school chores, inspired by new research showing the season’s time and convenience pressures on parents.
🍪 Royce+Reign founded by Jessica Lang is building a Chicago-based dessert brand around zero-proof, cocktail-inspired cookies designed for gifting, hosting, events and premium hospitality occasions.
🟢 French’s marked National Mustard Day with the induction of its limited-edition Goomi’s Green Mustard, created with Illumination’s Minions & Monsters, into the National Mustard Museum as the first green mustard in the institution’s history.
🍗 Kidfresh founded by Matt Cohen earned a 2026 Good Housekeeping Parenting Award for its White Meat Chicken Nuggets & Buttered Pasta Easy Combo Meal, recognizing the frozen kids’ meal for its combination of convenience, hidden vegetables and 14g of protein per serving.
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