It’s 2016, and Friday Flavors is back, looking different — but for the better. Each week, I’ll have critical industry insight to keep business execs informed on the latest news, quotes, and trends. Don’t worry, though — I’ll always include the craziest food and beverage story of the week to keep the fun flowing. After all, what’s more fun than reading (and writing ... and editing ... on my end at least) about food?
What you missed
"Big Yogurt" and "Little Yogurt" are in a tussle. It all began when Chobani started a campaign last week for its Simply 100 light greek yogurt, targeting the likes of Yoplait and Dannon for using artificial ingredients while Chobani claims to only use natural ones. Chobani is clearly trying to capitalize on this consumer trend, and at the perceived expense of other brands' credibility.
But that's just the beginning of the story. Just one day after the campaign began, Dannon sent a cease and desist letter to Chobani to stop the campaign. Monday, Chobani filed a lawsuit against Dannon in New York. Also, General Mills is now suing Chobani. It says the ads "convey that, because Yoplait Greek 100 is laced with a pesticide, it is so dangerous and unfit to eat that consumers should discard it as garbage."
Greek yogurt has been a popular breakfast alternative, though its recent numbers haven't been as impressive to its previous rises. With this spat, it's obvious no one has any intention of backing down soon, particularly Chobani, as evidenced by its Twitter account.
What is happening in this world when the yogurt choice you thought was right has artificial sweeteners & artificial preservatives.
— Chobani (@Chobani) January 13, 2016
Give us only natural ingredients or give us nothing at all.
— Chobani (@Chobani) January 13, 2016
Quote of the week
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) has been unafraid to speak her mind about genetically modified salmon:
I look forward to having conversations w/FDA on Frankenfish, but I intend to block Califf's confirmation until these issues are resolved.
— Sen. Lisa Murkowski (@lisamurkowski) January 12, 2016
I cont'd my fight against GE salmon by moving forward w/my hold on the nom. of Dr. Califf to be FDA Commissioner. https://t.co/4Y20Zms2vf
— Sen. Lisa Murkowski (@lisamurkowski) January 12, 2016
Trend to watch
2016 is (again) the year of jerky — or at least that's what the first week of 2016 would indicate, given General Mills' purchase of EPIC Provisions and Jon Sebastiani leaving Krave after six years to launch a food incubator, Sonoma Brands, putting Krave back in the spotlight.
The meat snack industry's growth is palpable. NPD reported last year the category increased 18% in consumption by adults over the last five years.
"What was once a fringe category targeting young men, and those following a Primal or Paleo diet, this double-digit growth and the recent acquisitions indicate our category is finally getting attention by the mainstream," Joshua and Zora Tabin, co-founders of Wild Zora, told Food Dive in an e-mail.
Hershey buying Krave set the acquisition buzz into motion last year, as the company's first non-candy acquisition set the tone for brands expanding out of their comfort zones to capitalize on growing categories. As for this latest one, General Mills can provide strong company backing — though profits are still key for EPIC to remain a viable brand.
Fellow jerky company, Lawless Jerky, aims to provide something "original" to the category, with flavors like the popular BBQ pork spare rib and pho. Founder Matt Tolnick told Food Dive that not every flavor is going to resonate — pho, for example, wasn't a flavor many people were ready for. Tolnick told Food Dive sales ticked up last year 14 times more than the period between 2014 to 2015. Predictions for this year range from doubling to quadrupling, following its explosive growth.
Tolnick isn't looking to sell the company now, though also isn't ruling it out in the future.
"You want to do right by your company and its vision and its growth and for any investors you have kind of every step along the way," he said. "If that means you’re kind of in a holding pattern, you’re not able to grow it any more with the resources that you have, then partnering or fully selling to someone who’s bigger and who can then take that next step for your company, it’s always a possibility."
Joshua Tabin added, "We are not looking to be acquired by a larger company, but we are interested in partnering with smaller investors who share our vision and are interested in our long-term growth goals rather than a quick cash turnaround."
Despite all the growth and hope for the category, not all have seen success — meat snack and beef jerky producer Oberto Brands is closing its 3-year-old factory in Nashville while merging operations in Washington State, reported the Nashville Business Journal.
Craziest story I've read
How much would I pay for a gold-clad doughnut? Not $100, frankly, but there are people who are paying $1,000 for a dozen of these. Thanks, Manila Social Club, for enlightening the doughnut connoisseurs of the world.
Would you pay $100 for a doughnut filled with Cristal and covered in 24-karat gold? https://t.co/bliIOqZLgU pic.twitter.com/SnYJW4Hc9J
— ForbesLife (@ForbesLife) January 14, 2016