Danny Meyer’s Daughter Stalls Startup, What’s at Stake for Ag Policy Under Trump & More Top News

Umi Kitchen Screenshot Via 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. Last week’s top news features more challenges and growth for startups rethinking restaurants, including Danny Meyer’s daughter  robot food delivery and what Trump’s secretary of agriculture pick might mean for the industry.

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. 10 Rad Sales, Marketing & Customer Service Food Startup Jobs

Looking for a sales, marketing or customer service job at an exciting food startup? We’ve got you covered with jobs in NYC, SF, Chapel Hill, Boston & more.

2. The Food Startup Backed by Shake Shack Creator Danny Meyer Has Stalled Out After Just 4 Months – CNBC

Umi Kitchen let home chefs sell small batches of their recipes to eaters in their neighborhoods. Hallie Meyer, Umi co-founder and Danny Meyer’s daughter, said the pause in operations was caused by tricky delivery economics.

3. How Delivery-Only “Ghost” Restaurants Are Changing Takeout – Fast Company

“Ghost restaurants” like Green Summit, Maple and Good Uncle are popping up across the country. They have less overhead and are more nimble, but delivery economics are difficult. Can delivery-only restaurants succeed?

4. What’s at Stake for Ag Policy under Trump’s USDA Pick – Civil Eats

Food policy experts around the country weigh in, with hope and deep concerns, including Kathleen Merrigan, Wenonah Hauter and Chellie Pingree.

5. Products, Not Marketing, Are The Future of Big Food

If big food companies want to survive in the future, they need to completely rethink how they innovate by focusing on product, not just marketing.

6. The Robots Are Coming – to Deliver Your Dinner – San Francisco Business Times

Delivery robot maker Starship Technologies has partnered with DoorDash and Postmates for its U.S. pilot. The robots will begin food deliveries with DoorDash in Redwood City, CA and with Postmates in Washington, DC this month.

7. AgFunder Announces 2016 Innovation Award Winners – AgFunderNews

Biome Makers, AgBiome, Blue Rive Technologies, Farmers Business Network and Yield Lab top the list of winners nominated by AgFunder’s 25k person network.

8. Future of Food Labor Meetup – Thursday, Jan 26 in NYC 

From minimum wage increases, to dwindling farm, processing and culinary talent, to a rise in automation, get a look inside how eatsa, Dig Inn, Food Chains, Greyston Bakery and ROC United are reimagining the future of food labor. Plus, enjoy snacks from Ripe, The Meatball Shop, Barney’s Bone Broth and more. Snag your spot now!

9. Juicero Slashes Connected Juicer Price from $699 to $399 – Fortune

The Keurig-for-juice startup was also able to make the reduction because it was selling twice the number of juice packs than it expected. Additionally, Juicero will also start a self-serve juice pilot with Whole Foods, as the retailer looks to cut labor costs.

 10. Sorry, Wal-Mart, Amazon Wants Your Food-Stamp Customers Too – Seattle Times 

Amazon is joining a pilot program in which it will accept food stamps online, showing that it wants to appeal to lower-income shoppers, traditionally a key customer base for Wal-Mart.