Food Robotics Market to Hit $3.1B by 2025, Chrissy Teigen & David Chang Partner with Hulu + More

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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.

A report by Meticulous Research stated that the food robotics market is set to hit $3.1 billion by 2025 led by articulate robots and dairy manufacturers. Overall, food is becoming an increasing focus for institutional investors and family offices, according to executives at the Milken Institute Global Conference.

Chrissy Teigen’s Suit & Thai Productions and David Chang’s Majordomo Media have partnered with Hulu to create a variety of food shows. Lyft has teamed up with nonprofit Martha’s Table to launch its Grocery Access Program. And finally, Burger King is set to launch Impossible Whoppers nationwide by the end of this year.

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. Food Robotics Market to Hit $3.1B by 2025 – The Spoon

Increasing food safety regulations, rising demand for advanced food packaging and increasing production of low-cost robots will all drive this growth.

2. Chrissy Teigen and David Chang Are Making Food TV for Hulu – Grubstreet

The two have united as part of a multiyear deal with Hulu, for which they and their respective production companies Majordomo Media and Suit & Thai Productions will create a variety of food shows.

3. Lyft Discounts Trips to Grocery Stores – PYMNTS

Lyft teamed up with nonprofit Martha’s Table to launch the Grocery Access Program. The pilot program will first run in Atlanta before expanding to other cities.

4. Burger King May Sell Plant-Based Burger Across US This Year – New York Times

Sales of the Impossible Whopper have gone so well that it will start testing it in additional markets with potential to expand sales nationally by the end of this year.

5. Cannabis Fans Everywhere May Get Their Wish As Oreo-Maker Mondelez Eyes CBD-Infused Snacks – CNBC

CEO Dirk Van de Put said CBD might not be a good fit for the company’s family brands, but the company could add it to other products or create new product lines.

6. Investors at Milken Focus on Food as the Public’s Eating Habits Change – Bloomberg

Food is becoming an increasing focus for institutional investors and family offices.

7. UK: London Startup Butternut Box Raises £15M to Fuel Expansion – EveningStandard

The investment included Five Seasons, White Star Capital, Passion Capital and Sky Bet’s Richard Flint. Funding will allow the company to diversify into snacks, toys and wellness products as well as pursue market expansion.

8. New Zealand: Invert Robotics Raises $8.8M for its Wall Crawling Inspection Robot – The Spoon

Funding was led by Finestere Ventures. The new cash will also go towards research and development.

9. Singapore: Shiok Meats Raises $4.6M Seed Round to Develop Cell-Based Shrimp – Forbes

Investors included Y Combinator and the CEO of Monde Nissin. Funding will be used to invest more in research and development, as well as adding on bioprocess engineers. Shiok expects to scale production in 2 to 3 years.

10. Does Your Food Label Guarantee Fair Farmworkers’ Rights? This One Does. – Civil Eats

Most labels address how food is grown. The Agricultural Justice Project also focuses on how the people behind the food are treated.

11. It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! No, It’s Google’s Wing Aviation Drone Carrying your Dinner – AgFunder

Google’s Wing Aviation is the first company to receive approval from the US Federal Aviation Administration to begin using drones as a commercial operation to deliver goods. It will launch a delivery trial later this year.

12. Momofuku Just Named Its First-Ever CEO in Big Structural Switch-Up – Eater

New CEO Marguerite Zabar Mariscal, 29, began as an intern with David Chang’s company in 2011.

13. Starbucks, Dunkin Race Against Bans, Taxes on Disposable Cups – Bloomberg

Inspired by plastic bag bans, jurisdictions have set their sights on a much bigger target: the to-go coffee cup.

14. Sweetgreen Will Once Again Accept Cash – Bloomberg

An early proponent of electronic payments, the fast casual chain has rethought its policy.

15. 2018 Saw the Most Multistate Outbreaks of Foodborne Illness in More Than a Decade, CDC Says – The Washington Post

Foodborne illnesses killed 120 Americans last year and sickened 25,606.

16. 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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