Farmwise closes fundraising round led by Cleveland Avenue LLC investment firm

The venture firm started by a former president and CEO of McDonald’s led a $4.5 million funding round for Farmwise, maker of Veggie Fries, Veggie Tots and Veggie Rings. Dave and Cristina Peters and their three daughters created Veggie Fries back in 2014 using a blend of vegetables, beans and potatoes, and have continued to shake up the frozen category with new products. The company won the pitch slam competition at Natural Products Expo West 2016. Read more at Fresh Plaza…

After 97 years selling beef, White Castle is adding Impossible Burgers to its menu

The times, they are a changin’. White Castle doesn’t just have square burgers—now it’s got veggie burgers too. And not just any veggie burger. The fast food chain is offering the Impossible Burger, the much-hyped vegan burger made from wheat, coconut oil, potatoes and an iron-containing compound that lends a pinkish color that resembles real meat. It will appear in the form of sliders on some 140 White Castle menus across New York, New Jersey and Chicago, for $1.99. “We don’t know where this will go—a majority of people aren’t demanding this—but there is an interest there,” said Kim Bartley, White Castle’s chief marketing officer. Read more at Quartz…

This food giant is now the largest B Corp in the world

Danone North America, which last year merged with WhiteWave and incorporated as a public benefit corporation, has put a cherry on top with B Corp certification, which holds companies to a certain level of accountability with their environmental and social performance. Other subsidiaries of Danone were already certified B Corps, but the North America division is the largest. Read more at Fast Company…

Frozen food is no longer just the sad refuge of dieters with office jobs

Brands big and small are adding quality and intrigue back into the frozen food equation, and it seems to be working. The frozen category is growing for the first time in five years, according a new report from RBC Capital Markets, which highlights revamped frozen meals under the Healthy Choice and Banquet banners. Read more at The Washington Post…

5 trends defining the food and beverage industry, and retail in general

Eating is colliding with art, gaming, sports and more as experience takes priority for young consumers.  This is just one of the ways the market is shifting today. Read more at Forbes…