Source: Yahoo

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.

Beyond Meat CEO Ethan Brown announced that the company is now developing plant-based bacon. The launch date has not been confirmed. In addition, the company has just partnered with Dunkin’ to offer Beyond Sausage breakfast sandwich at 163 restaurants in Manhattan at $4.29. Nationwide expansion will follow.

Eatsa has rebranded as Brightloom and announced $30 million in funding led by Tao Capital Partners and Valor Equity Partners. It has also inked new deal with Starbucks, allowing it to license aspects of the coffee company’s technology, offering a version on its own hardware and mobile platforms for other food companies to use.

After two decades of R&D, a new apple variety dubbed the Cosmic Crisp – a hybrid between the Honeycrisp and Enterprise, a late-ripening, long-storing apple – is landing this fall with aims to disrupt the apple industry.

And finally, Trump’s USDA has announced a proposal that puts 30 million SNAP recipients at risk of losing their eligibility. The rule could potentially rescind free school lunch from more than 200,000 children.

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

1. Beyond Meat Is Developing a Plant-Based Substitute for Bacon – Bloomberg

The company doesn’t have a launch date, but CEO Ethan Brown said the product is improving as it goes through development.

2. Beyond Meat’s Restaurant Reach Expands With Dunkin’ Sandwich – Bloomberg

Dunkin’ will offer Beyond Sausage breakfast sandwich at 163 restaurants in Manhattan at $4.29. The plan is to go national with the menu item.

3. Eatsa Rebrands As Brightloom, Inks Deal with Starbucks, Raises $30M – The Spoon

The round was led by Tao Capital Partners and Valor Equity Partners. Brightloom will integrate Starbucks customer engagement software in exchange for Starbucks taking an equity stake and joining its Board of Directors.

4. After Two Decades of R&D, The Cosmic Crisp Apple Lands This Fall. It Could Disrupt an Entire Industry – California Sunday 

The Cosmic Crisp is the result of crossbreeding the Honeycrisp and Enterprise, a late-ripening, long-storing apple.

5. Retail’s Adapt-Or-Die Moment: How Artificial Intelligence Is Reshaping Commerce – CB Insights

Traditional and new-school retailers alike are using AI and robotics to automate various parts of the retail chain, from manufacturing to last-mile delivery.

6. Self-Service Kiosk Market to Reach $30.8B – Restaurant Dive

Self-order kiosks are making an increasing appearance at QSR restaurants as different retailers look for ways to provide consumers with a tech-driven experience.

7. Is It Possible to Raise a Carbon-Neutral Cow? – Fast Company

Here’s why Stonyfield, Danone, Annie’s and other food companies are leading a regenerative agriculture revolution.

8. Japan: Lab-Grown Foie Gras Will Be in Restaurants by 2021 – Livekindly

Cultured meat company IntegriCulture wants to bring its cultured foie gras to restaurants by 2021.

9. New Trump Administration Rule Could Kick 3M People Off Food Stamps – Salon

The USDA is set to propose a rule that will redefine SNAP eligibility and potentially rescind free school lunch from more than 200,000 children.

10. OpenTable Now Offers Delivery with Help from Uber Eats and Grubhub – Engadget

OpenTable announced that it’s partnering with Uber Eats, Caviar and Grubhub to offer meal delivery from over 8k restaurants in 90 cities across the US.

11. Uber Is Testing An All-in-One Subscription for Rides, Food Delivery, Bikes and Scooters – The Verge

$24.99 a month gets customers discounted rides and free food delivery.

12. UK: Uber Is Launching a Restaurant “Accelerator” to Fill the Gaps It Sees on Uber Eats – Quartz

Uber plans to launch a restaurant accelerator program in partnership with Karma Kitchen in London. Restaurants selected for the 3 week program will work on everything from photographing food to streamlining delivery operations.

13. 2018 U.S. Food & Beverage Startup Investment Report

Over $1.45B was invested across 247 deals in 2018, according to the research in our second annual investment report produced in partnership with Ryan Willams.  Check out the report for a deep dive into the investor and investment trends. We also share a complete list of deals and acquisitions.

14. 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

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