Source: What Now Los Angeles

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.

Amazon has opened its first brick-and-mortar grocery store called Fresh in Woodland Hills, California. The supermarket combines elements of micro-fulfillment, contactless features, a curated assortment of premium and conventional products, and highly personalized service into one store.

As Covid-19 upends the industrial meat supply chain, the industry is estimated to face losses of more than $20b in 2020. Meanwhile, demand for vegan meat has soared, with sales up by 264% in the 9weeks ended May 2. Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat were slammed in an open letter from Lightlife Foods this week, positioning itself as a “real food company,” with products “developed in a kitchen, not a lab.”

Last but not least, wildfires across Northern California continue to devastate farms, with little containment in sight.

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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. Inside Amazon’s New Fresh Grocery Banner – Progressive Grocer

Amazon has opened its first stand-alone supermarket banner in Woodland Hills, California, called Fresh.

2. Our Meatless Future: How The $2.7T Global Meat Market Gets Disrupted – CB Insights

As Covid-19 spreads across the globe, the meat supply chain is estimated to face losses of more than $20b in 2020. Meanwhile, demand for vegan meat soared, with sales up by 264% in the 9weeks ended May 2.

3. Wildfires Across Northern California Devastate Farmers and Farmland – Civil Eats

Dozens of lightning-sparked wildfires have hit some of the Bay Area’s most beloved farming communities, destroying farm structures and razing crops, with little containment in sight.

4. Impossible Foods Hits Back at ‘Disingenuous, Desperate Disinformation Campaign’ As Lightlife Attacks ‘Hyperprocessed’ Ingredients – Food Navigator

In an open letter, Lightlife Foods has attempted to distinguish itself from ‘food tech’ rivals in the plant-based meat arena by positioning itself as a “real food company,” with products “developed in a kitchen, not a lab.”

5. Amazon Go’s Cashierless Tech May Come to Whole Foods As Soon As Next Year – The Verge

Amazon may start implementing the tech in Whole Foods sometime during the second quarter of 2021.

6. Behind the Cancellation of James Beard Awards, Worries About Chefs’ Behavior and No Black Winners – New York Times

The decision to put the honors, the Oscars of American restaurants, on hiatus came amid concerns about a lack of diversity and allegations against some nominees.

7. Craft Spirits Revenue Plunges $700M As Pandemic Curtails On-Premise Operations – Food Dive

Craft distillers lost 41% of their sales due to the pandemic. In addition, 4.6m people that make up nearly 31% of the industry’s employee base have been furloughed.

8. How the UK Restarted Its Restaurant Industry: Paying Half the Bill – New York Times

For the month of August, the government has been paying for a 50% discount on all meals eaten in restaurants, pubs or cafes, up to $13 per person. In the first three weeks, 64m meals cost the government $441m.

9. Heat, Smoke and Covid Are Battering the Workers Who Feed America – New York Times

Climate change is piling on to the hazards already faced by California farm laborers, some of the country’s poorest, most neglected workers.

10. DoorDash Is Planning a Traditional IPO in Fourth Quarter – Bloomberg

The company is taking steps to go public in November or December.

11. Drizly Raises $50M As E-Commerce Alcohol Delivery Surges – Food Dive

Avenir led the round. The alcohol delivery platform said it has grown more than 350% compared to 2019. Funding will be used for both Drizly and Lantern, its cannabis commerce platform.

12. Asian E-Grocer Weee Charts Ongoing Expansion with $35M in Funding – Grocery Dive

The round was led by DST Global, bringing total amount raised to $100m. Funding will be used to support the grocer’s ongoing expansion efforts and recruitment process as it continues to grow.

13. Vegan Leather Industry Will be Worth $89.6B by 2025 – Vegconomist

Soaring demand for vegan leather includes mounting concerns over the impact of traditional leather on the environment and ascending demand for animal-free products. The Asia Pacific is projected to continue leading the market demand.

14. Food & Ag Anti-Racism Resources + Black Food & Farm Businesses to Support

Check out our list of resources to learn about systemic racism in the food and agriculture industries. We also highlight Black food and farm businesses and organizations to support.

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