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Vol. 127 - NO. 39

BlogNewswire Startup CPG

SINCE 2019

Introducing: 
The Startup CPG Section at Summer Fancy Food 2025

2025, we are back again with another dedicated Startup CPG Pavilion at the Summer Fancy Food Show in the Debut District area, and we are so excited to feature 24 amazing new and emerging CPG brands!

We are so proud to partner with Specialty Food Association to offer brands access to entry-level tabletops at a discounted rate, allowing many to exhibit who might not otherwise be able to afford it – this is major for early-stage brands. What’s more, this year, we’ve partnered with SFA to giveaway one free booth to a standout brand — CONGRATS, FIGA FOODS! We are also proud to share that our brands are 79% minority owned and 50% women owned!

Per usual, Startup CPG has a ton of events going on both on and off the show floor – so register now and don’t miss out!

We cannot wait for you all to meet the brands in our section – see you at the show and make sure to come say hi to the Startup CPG team – Booth RP101  @ River Pavilion!

Startup CPG Events During Summer Fancy Food:

Saturday, June 28th

  • The CPG Ops Table – an exclusive dinner with operations leaders hosted by our partners, Doss. This event is by application only has very limited seating. More details here.  Fancy Food badge is not required.

Sunday, June 29th

  • 1pm – Further CPG Female Fundraising Panel – Looking to fundraise? Hear from investors who are interested in adding female-founded brands to their portfolio. Fancy Food badge is required.
  • 2pm – Further CPG Female Retailer Panel – Learn from leading retailers at Startup CPG’s Female Founder Lounge including Thrive Market, Gopuff, Whole Foods Market, and Happier Grocery. Fancy Food badge is required.
  • 3pm – Further CPG Female Shark Tank Panel – Join us for an insider’s look at ABC’s hit show Shark Tank with Casting Producer, Mindy Zemrak, and contestant and Founder of Sweetkiwi. Fancy Food badge is required.
  • 6pm – Grocery Run NYC @ Fairway Market – meet the team from Fairway Market and other industry VIPs while sampling from selected community brands! More details here. Fancy Food badge is not required.

Monday, June 30th

  • 6pm – CPG Founder Dinner – an opportunity for founders to gather off the show floor and in an intimate setting. This event is about to sell out. More details here.

Tuesday, July 1st

  • 5pm – Summer of Startups Party @ Shopify NYC – meet industry VIPs including the entire Whole Foods Market foraging team! See full details and VIPs here.  Fancy Food badge is not required.

We cannot wait for you all to meet the CPG innovators in our section, and we’ll see you at the show and out there partying!

Curious about who will be in our section? Meet the brands below.

Absurd Snacks

Absurd Snacks is shaking up snack time with bold, sweet and salty Chickpea and Granola Crunch Mixes made from roasted chickpeas, granola clusters, and naturally sweetened dried fruit. With twice the protein and less than half the sugar of traditional snacks, their mixes are vegan, fiber-packed, and top 9 allergen-free, empowering everyone to munch without limits. Absurd Snacks gives you the freedom to snack wherever, whenever, and with whoever. It’s absurdly crunchy, endlessly shareable, and made for all.

Altrofood

Altrofood’s innovative shelf-stable, plant-based meat & egg alternative mixes are game changers in taste, flexibility of use, customization, and sustainability. Our gluten, soy and allergen free burger, cutlets/nuggets, taco or regular mince and egg have fantastic flavors that are easily customizable for different menu items, flavor profiles, or ethnic cuisines. Most importantly they can create the comfort foods that we all crave while offering top-of-health plant-based nutrition. Our products don’t need cold transport or storage therefore have a much smaller carbon footprint than other plant-based meat alternatives. Nutrition and sustainability are at the heart of our commitment for the future of our planet.

BOBABAM

BOBABAM is redefining the boba category as the leading brand in at-home boba drink kits, offering authentic, Taiwanese-style frozen boba ready in just 60 seconds. Born from a desire to bring cultural joy home during the pandemic, BOBABAM is proudly BIPOC and AAPI-owned, and has grown into a multi-million-dollar business known for its clean, vegan, gluten-free, and customizable product formats. With sustainability at its core—recycled packaging and compostable straws—BOBABAM is also a mission-driven brand, donating annually to Project Potluck to support diversity in CPG. Now expanding into shelf-stable beverages, BOBABAM is building a brand and driving growth in a high-demand category across frozen, refrigerated, and grab-and-go aisles.

Chikka Chikka

Chikka Chikka is a functional snack made primarily from maple-roasted fennel seeds, packaged in beautiful, pocket-sized tins. It is a natural breath freshener, improves digestion and is anti-inflammatory. Chikka Chikka is the flagship brand for I Can Has More, which was founded in 2024 by husband and wife team Arif Khan and Sabeen Hasan who built and ran a successful, award-winning restaurant for seven years. Their mission is to bridge cultures, to delight, to nourish, and pursue joy.

Date Smarter!

We’re on a mission to break up with unhealthy snacks! Date Smarter chocolate-covered date caramels taste like classic caramel but are naturally sweetened with dates. They’re gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, chemical-free, and vegan. Our founder Grace created Date Smarter after working as a TV news anchor with 3 AM wake-ups and late nights. She realized the importance of nourishing, wholesome foods that still allowed her to indulge in something sweet—without compromising her health.

Elements

At Elements, we blend ancient wisdom with modern nutrition to craft indulgent yet clean chocolates. Our certified organic, vegan chocolates and plant-based protein mixes are made with direct-trade, regenerative cacao and rigorously tested for purity. We steer clear of soy, natural flavors, artificial sweeteners, heavy metals or anything artificial—prioritizing taste without compromise. Sustainability is at our core, with 25% of our profits supporting the education of underprivileged children.

Explorer Cold Brew

Explorer Cold Brew is an award-winning and proudly LGBT owned and operated coffee brand that offers the best way to elevate your day with a range of premium organic and fair trade cold brew and chai a variety of flavors and unique selection of caffeine levels, ranging from 99.9% caffeine free to extra caffeinated.

Fichi Fig & Nut Bites

Fichi Fig and Nut Bites will satisfy your sweet tooth with no added sugar! Made with just two ingredients each – Figs and Almonds, and Figs and Walnuts, Fichi are a tasty and wholesome snack inspired by a classic Italian treat. We are made sourced with 100% USA grown figs and nuts. Fichi bites are perfect as an on-the-go snack, an after-dinner treat, or the newest addition to any charcuterie board or wine and cheese night. Good Source of Fiber, Zero Added Sugar, and absolutely tasty!

Figa Foods

Figa Foods is redefining Brazilian superfoods for the modern American palate, starting with cupuaçu (coo-pu-ah-soo)—a bold, creamy, and sustainable superfruit from the heart of the Brazil. We’re the first and only company in the US to craft chocolate-style bars from upcycled cupuaçu seeds, unlocking a whole new flavor experience: think rich and velvety like chocolate, but with bright, tropical notes of citrus and caramel. Made with just three simple ingredients, naturally sweetened with dates, and topped with fun, Brazilian-inspired flavors like tapioca crunch, and dried cupuaçu fruit Figa Cupuaçu Bars are proof that indulgence and sustainability can (and should) go hand in hand. Say olá to chocolate’s Brazilian cousin

Folkland Foods

Folkland Organic Farm Fries are simple: unique varieties of farm fresh potatoes, cooked and crisped in olive oil, tossed in savory herbs and spices, with the perfect touch of salt… using only ingredients that you can find in your own kitchen.  The fries are grown with regenerative organic practices and made by 3rd generation potato farmers.  Folkland’s mission? Ignite passion in organic and regenerative agriculture and bridge the urban-rural divide with something we all deserve: REAL FOOD

Gourmend Foods

Gourmend Foods, a certified B Corp, specializes in clean label, gut-friendly cooking essentials, and all products are low FODMAP certified, making them extra easy on digestion. Gourmend broths and seasonings replace stomach symptom-causing ingredients like onion and garlic with the highest quality, flavorful, gentle alternatives. All products are organic, gluten-free, dairy-free, preservative-free, flavoring-free, and GMO-free. Production is done entirely in the U.S. and all products are sustainably packaged.

Honey Child Pops

Honey Child Pops is black owned business on a mission to build, grow and support healthier communities, one frozen dessert at a time.  Our flavor forward plant based ice cream pops are packed with whole blended fruit, superfoods, plant based protein, prebiotic fiber and Omega-3s.  Everything we make is free from dairy, gluten and white sugar so everyone can join in the fun.  Honey Child Pops are a decadent and nourishing treat for kids of all ages.  

LAKRIDS BY BÜLOW

LAKRIDS BY BÜLOW crafts premium chocolate-coated gourmet licorice in Copenhagen using Danish craftsmanship and sustainable practices. Our award-winning collections feature up to 30 layers of Belgian chocolate with natural ingredients like French sea salt and Danish strawberries. As the first Nordic confectionery B Corp, we create gluten-free, Non-GMO products in our green-energy factory, packaged in recyclable jars. We make the world love licorice.  

LOOPINI

Authentic. Delicious. Guilt-free.

Loopini’s healthy frozen pizzas are raising all the standards and ticking every box: low calories, the best macros (high protein and fibres), low glycemic index, low net carbs, and an ingredient list so clean you could eat off of it. 

Oh and the taste? Unmatched. Loopini set out to create a pizza with the best of both words: Traditional Italian craftsmanship with health and high performance.

Nadas Foods

Born in Colombia, made in New York and served wherever you are – Nadas is a better- for-you Hispanic American food brand that makes gluten free products by ‘la cultura’ for everyone, anywhere. Nadas is a pandemic born brand with flavor to match our story, currently focused on delivering real, authentic, naturally colorful, Colombian style Empanadas to every frozen section. Nadas is a welcome home, a welcome to our table. Where our products are made with love.

OOSO Sparkling Tea

OOSO Sparkling Tea is an adult non-alcoholic beverage inspired by natural wine. With vitamins and adaptogens for overall wellness, OOSO artfully blends organic teas and a hint of organic honey to create a unique flavor experience. Born in Brooklyn, OOSO is the perfect synergy of tradition and innovation. Whether you’re living a non-alcoholic lifestyle or just taking a break, be unapologetically you.

Oishii Farm Corp

Oishii is a visionary farming company with a passion for fruit, using indoor vertical farming techniques to grow produce that is good for you and the planet. As the world’s largest indoor vertical strawberry farm, we are striving to change the produce industry and raise the standard of fresh fruit in America. Oishii was started with the goal of introducing Japanese fruit culture to the US. Traditionally in Japan, fresh, clean, delicious fruit means there is a special occasion to celebrate. The Omakase Berry, Koyo Berry, Nikko Berry, and the Rubī Tomato have made this goal come to life. Through visionary innovation and new-wave techniques, we’ve reinvented the capabilities of traditional agriculture.

Pricklee

Pricklee is on a mission to replace artificial hydration drinks with the planet’s most powerful superfruit: the prickly pear cactus. We’re disrupting a market long filled with artificial dyes and sweeteners—now linked to negative impacts on brain health—with an antioxidant-rich, low-sugar hydration that’s completely free of artificial ingredients, and powered by the water-conserving prickly pear cactus. As seen on Shark Tank, The Today Show, and GMA, and named a Top 10 Food & Beverage Trend at Whole Foods for 2025, Pricklee is a PRICKIN’ DELICIOUS way to hydrate—just as nature intended.

RIND

Founded in Brooklyn in 2017 by Dina DiCenso and Joshua Katcher, RIND is a WBENC-certified, LGBTQ-owned company that combines traditional cheesemaking with vegan innovation. RIND offers cave-aged French-style cheeses, creamy spreads, and Veggie Underground—the only vegan sliced and shredded cheeses made with real vegetable purées. Produced in the USA with domestically sourced ingredients, these plant-based cheeses deliver superior meltability, exceptional flavor, and a reduced carbon footprint, making them ideal for health-conscious, sustainability-minded consumers.

Tea Jams

Tea Jams are Low-Sugar Organic Fruit Jams infused with phenomenal blends of tea. With 50% less sugar than your average jam and 100% depth of flavor that will compliment everything from sweet to savory to foods to drinks!! Our jams reinvent the Jam world, making perfect bases for recipes like iced teas, hot teas, spritzers, pastries, cakes, sandwiches, salad dressings, marinades, ice cream and desserts. We offer 32 oz jars for restaurants/cafes and mini 1.5oz jars that are the heart warming compliment to everything from your charcuterie boards to room service amenities. Tea Jams is a versatile pantry staple that elevates any meal and can be used in more ways than one.

The Lucky Ox

The Lucky Ox is more than a beverage company. It is a celebration of Asian-American culture, the resilience of the immigrant journey, and the joy of bringing people together, one sip at a time. Each drink is crafted with culturally rooted flavors and timeless stories, offering a gateway to heritage. ‘It Wasn’t Just Luck’ is a tribute to those who came before and a reminder of the perseverance behind every bottle.

TruJoy Yogurt

TruJoy Yogurt elevates the world of frozen desserts with protein & probiotic packed Frozen Greek Yogurt.  Made with Simple, Natural & Timeless Ingredients, TruJoy Yogurt is naturally nutritious indulgence.  We believe that balance is the key to a happy and healthy life – you deserve to treat yourself!  We are on a mission to make the world a happier and healthier place by making the healthy choice the easy one!

WHIMS

WHIMS Chocolates makes low-sugar treats to change the way people treat themselves. Yes, we craft crave-worthy confectionery delights (and love doing it!) — but we’re here to prove that indulgence doesn’t need to come at the cost of your health. Every piece contains just 1g of sugar, is gluten-free, dairy-free, and made without sugar alcohols or palm oil. We’re challenging the candy aisle to grow up — because better-for-you should still taste incredible.

Zeroe Caviar

Zeroe’s mission is to bring the joy and tradition of caviar to more people, without the environmental impact or exclusivity of the original. Made from seaweed sustainably harvested off the southern coast of France, Zeroe is entirely plant-based, kosher-certified, allergen-friendly, and shelf-stable. By blending culinary elegance with thoughtful inclusivity, Zeroe is reshaping what indulgence can look like — whether it’s served at a Michelin-starred restaurant or shared at home with friends. It’s luxury made modern, and made for all.

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