Plant-based seafood company Good Catch Foods nets $5.5M

While Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat continue to grab attention for their efforts to create plant-based options that make even meat eaters salivate, there’s a similar—albeit more under-the-radar—movement happening in the seafood world. The latest company creating buzz is Good Catch Foods, which says it will hit the market this year with three faux seafood products—plant-based shredded tuna (in three flavors), crab cakes and fish patties. Employing a blend of six plant proteins—lentils, chickpeas, fava, soy, navy and pea—plus other ingredients like algae oil, the company is able to achieve a favorable nutritional and taste profile. Earlier this month, it closed a $5.5 million Series A. Read more at The Spoon…

The food ingredient panic meter

Unpredictable weather events and trends have threatened all kinds of crops across the world recently, from almonds to vanilla to avocados, creating concern about potential supply issues and higher prices. But do we really need to worry about these ingredients? If we’re talking about avocados, then probably not, but vanilla? We could be in trouble. Read more at Bloomberg…

Purple Carrot CEO talks leadership, innovation and plant-based food for non-vegans

More than three-fourths of vegan meal kit company Purple Carrot’s subscribers are omnivores, according to CEO Andy Levitt, which is good because his goal has always been to create meals that are so flavorful and fun that people don’t even miss the meat. The toughest part of growing the business, he says, is forecasting demand, minimizing waste and continuing to innovate. But what’s helped make Purple Carrot successful has been, in the early stages, hiring what he calls “athletes”—enthusiastic people who really fit the culture and can play multiple roles. Read more at Forbes…

Boston tech entrepreneur starts jerky business with his brother

Meet Brothers Artisanal, a handcrafted jerky company founded last year by a pair of foodie brothers. With interesting flavors like Pistachio Lemon Schwarma and Carolina Dip Turkey, and an all-star lineup of advisers including the founder and CEO of Butcher Box, the company has launched a Kickstarter campaign to get off the ground. Read more at BostInno…

How to launch a successful health food business

Don’t go too niche, verify your ingredients and start with small, independent retailers who know their customers intimately, say these food and beverage innovators. Read more at The Telegraph…