Image Source: New York Times

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.

Plant-based food continues to be on the rise. New research by SPINS has found that US sales of plant-based foods rose 11.4% last year, for a total market value of $5 billion. Category drivers were plant-based milks, meat, dairy alternatives and plant-based meals.

The stunning cancellation of food industry trade shows – Expo West, Shoptalk, and Inspired Home – reflect the chaos that the coronavirus is causing across the business world. All the while, food delivery companies and retailers are scrambling to prepare for changes to consumers’ response.

DoorDash quietly filed for an IPO amidst financial loss, fierce competition and lawsuits. Amazon Go has opened its expanded grocery model in Seattle, and an LA tech investor has reached out to Blue Apron about a potential sale.

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. Plant-Based Foods’ Market Value Rises to $5B – Food Dive

Plant-based dairy and meat were the biggest growth drivers as the segment’s sales grew 11.4% last year.

2. DoorDash Faces Its Latest Challenge: Wooing Wall Street – New York Times

The food delivery app is losing money, battling rivals, facing lawsuits — and trying to go public. What could go wrong?

3. Derailed By Coronavirus, a Corner of the Food Industry Questions the Future of Its Biggest Event – Forbes

Expo West has been canceled. The event’s drawn-out demise offers a snapshot into the chaos the global outbreak is causing across the business world.

4. Amazon Is Expanding Its Cashierless Go Model Into a Full-Blown Grocery Store – The Verge

The new store is modeled after a standard Amazon Go location, but has expanded to include an array of grocery items you’d find at Whole Foods. It joins the nearly 20 Go stores currently open throughout the country.

5. Why KIND Won’t Be at Expo West, and Why the Natural Foods Community May Need to Re-Examine Our Relationtion with the Organizers – Daniel Lubetzky

New Hope seems to be forcing companies to choose between having to lose what to many of them is the largest investment of the year or to face what could turn out to be a potential threat to their health and wellbeing.

6. Mitigating This Major Disturbance in the Natural Products Industry “Force”​ – John Foraker

The #expowest2020 situation is massive and especially devastating for earliest stage brands looking to build and be discovered. Foraker offers his perspective to ways in which New Hope, retailers and industry veterans can help.

7. LA Tech Investor Eyeing Blue Apron Purchase – New York Post

Tai Lopez, an investor in Farmers Box and owner of more than 700 acres of farmland in Virginia, declined to say how much he’s willing to pay, but claims he has big plans about how to revive it.

8. Uber Sold Its Food Delivery Business in India to Zomato for $206M – TechCrunch

The deal underscores a significant cut in the 11-year-old Indian firm’s valuation, which was reported to be worth $3b when it disclosed a $150m fresh investment earlier this year.

9. Tropical Forests Losing Their Ability to Absorb Carbon, Study Finds – The Guardian

The Amazon could turn into a source of carbon in the atmosphere, as soon as the next decade, owing to the damage caused by loggers and farming interests.

10. Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Raises $18.7M to Fuel Wholesale & Retail Growth – Nosh

NextWorld led the round. The company aims to add 6 more retail stores in 2020.

11. Walmart Is Quietly Working on an Amazon Prime Competitor Called Walmart+ – Vox

As soon as next month, Walmart plans to start publicly testing a new membership program that is a rebrand of its Delivery Unlimited program. It could include a feature that would allow customers to use text messaging to place orders.

12. Bill Gates-Led Fund Invests in Synthetic Palm Oil Startup – Bloomberg

Breakthrough Energy Ventures is leading an investment of $20m for C16 Biosciences, which uses microbes to convert food waste and industrial byproducts into a sustainable alternative. Funding will be used to grow the team and scale the technology.

13. A Comprehensive New Federal Roadmap for Climate Action on Farms – Civil Eats

US Representative Chellie Pingree’s Agriculture Resilience Act would incentivize and support farmers to address the climate crisis in the face of USDA inaction.

14. Inspired Home Show Canceled Due to Coronavirus – The Spoon

Another trade show has gone down due to the coronavirus.

15. Shoptalk and Groceryshop Postponed Due to Coronavirus Concerns – Grocery Dive

In a reversal of last week’s confirmation, the retail conference will be held in place of its sibling event, Groceryshop, which is rescheduled to next spring.

Our newsletter is the absolute easiest way to stay on top of the emerging sector, so sign up for it today and never miss the latest food tech and innovation news and trends, Already signed up? Share the love with your friends and colleagues!