Wal-Mart’s Walton family backs startup trying to cut food waste

Colorado-based startup FoodMaven has raised $8.6 million, including an investment from Walton Enterprises. The company, which counts former Whole Foods Market co-CEO Walter Robb as a board member, connects surplus or “ugly” food rejected by retailers with restaurants, hospitals and large institutional cafeterias that can use it. CEO Patrick Bultema says it has 700 customers in Colorado and expects to pull in about $10 million in revenue this year. Read more at Bloomberg…

Soaring popularity of grass-fed beef may hit roadblock: less nutritious grass

Sales of grass-fed beef skyrocketed from $17 million in 2012 to $272 million in 2016, according to Nielsen data. But there may be a hang-up on the horizon. Instead of feeding them grains, farmers who raise grass-fed animals depend on pastures, which, according to some researchers, are getting less and less nutritious. Levels of crude proteins in plants have dropped by 20 percent since the mid-90s, according to researcher Joe Craine, who suspects that at some point prairie grasses may no longer have enough protein to support grazing. Read more at Civil Eats…

Kroger expands organic brand, offers special deals for customers

In addition to adding new beverages, snacks and non-animal proteins to its Simple Truth line this year, Kroger says it will add 10 new Fair Trade certified products. Kroger already offers more fair trade products than any other U.S. private label grocery brand. Read more at Dayton Daily News…

7-Eleven launches its own line of organic, cold-pressed juices

Speaking of private label…7-Eleven is out with its own line of organic, Non-GMO Project verified juices with no added sugar. The 14 oz. juice bottles retail for $2.99 a pop. Read more at Food & Wine…

Avon expanding into health and wellness with supplement line

Espira is a new line of supplements from beauty brand Avon. It includes products for sleep, energy, metabolism and food cravings, as well as a plant-based protein powder. Read more at Well+Good…