Image Credit: Snaxshot

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.

In recent news, the internet’s uproar over David Chang’s legal actions towards brands has highlighted a prevailing sentiment against the commercialization of culture. Despite efforts to capitalize on trends, like his Momofuku chili crunch, public opinion remains unimpressed. Meanwhile, in the world of retail, investors and marketers are turning their attention to the produce aisle, as fruits and vegetables become the latest target for branding initiatives, signaling a shift in focus within the agriculture industry.

In other news, we’ve wrapped the first season of our podcast in partnership with AgFunder: New Food Order, a nuanced investigation into the business of tackling our climate and social crises through food and agriculture. Read all about why we launched the podcast, and be sure to subscribe and share!

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1. “Momo-fuk-u” Takes It Back – Snaxshot

It was incredible to see the internet collectively roast David Chang when The Guardian broke the news about him sending cease and desists to brands. No matter how hard they try to commercialize culture, the public consensus seems to be their chili crunch is mid anyways.

2. Cool Comes to the Humble Produce Aisle – WSJ

Fruits and vegetables are the latest section of the supermarket to get a branding push as investors and marketers target the agriculture industry.

3. Perfect Day Sued By Manufacturing Partner for Fraud and Breach of Contract. Olon Claims $112M in Unpaid Bills, $32M in Damages – AFN

Perfect Day has been sued by contract manufacturing partner Olon for breach of contract, fraudulent inducement and fraudulent concealment.

4. Food Inflation Risks Are Brewing Across the Supermarket Again – Bloomberg

As cocoa steals the spotlight with its red-hot rally, prices of other major crops are also ticking up — reviving the risk of food inflation that has remained stubbornly high in parts of the world.

5. On “Trademark Bullies” – Jing Theory

Emerging food brands by founders of color challenge market norms. Jing shares her thoughts and hopes on operating from a place of empathy, rather than division.

6. Netherlands: Mosa Meat Secures €40M in Funding to Expand Production and Speed Up Launch of Cultivated Meat – Green Queen

The company will use the funds to further scale up its production processes, following the May 2023 opening of what it claims is currently the world’s largest cultivated meat facility in Maastricht, Netherlands.

7. Zooming in on European Startups in the FoodTech 500 (Part 1) – Forward Fooding

AgriFoodTech funding in Europe may have decreased, but Europe’s total share of global investments has increased; going from 23% in 2021 to 36% in 2023.

8. Why Regenerative Farming Needs Organic Certification-and Vice Versa – Forbes

A fast growing food trend is combining the popularity of organic certification with the social and climate benefits of regenerative agriculture.

8. Harvesting Crops, or Harvesting Insurance? How the USDA’s Crop Insurance Policy Is Preventing a Regenerative Transition – Regenerative Food Systems Investment

The restrictive nature of current crop insurance programs presents an opportunity for the development of regenerative agriculture insurance, incentivizing sustainable farming practices while mitigating risks for producers.