#96 - New Research Hub & Cheddies Hits Target Shelves

🚨 Research Hub Alert 🚨

Exciting news! We’ve just launched a comprehensive research hub focused on regenerative consumer packaged goods.

You can explore valuable insights across three key categories:

🌱 Consumer Research

 💬 Marketing Regenerative Products

🏢 Big CPG Regenerative Programs

Who needs plans for Earth Day...? 👋

Join us at RegenerativeNYC on April 22nd and 23rd!

🍎 Why Regenerative is bringing regen to the Big Apple for year 2!

AC will be participating in a fun conversation about how we can use our adult beverage of choice to spur the regenerative revolution 🍻

Who wants to join in on the fun?

You can get 20% off using code "REGENBRANDS" at checkout:

It’s no secret we need to “finance the transition to regenerative agriculture”

But most of these conversations forget about one critical group…

🚨 Emerging brands!!! 🚨

While investment in regenerative agriculture is growing, most of it is directed towards production, leaving CPG brands without the necessary support to grow their businesses, build regenerative supply chains, and help scale regenerative acreage.

To address this, we need way more dedicated support for financing regenerative brands.

The future of regenerative agriculture depends not only on transitioning farmland but also on funding the brands that bring these products to market.

6️⃣  Financing for regenerative brands is insufficient and misaligned

Our final takeaway for “Key Challenges Facing Regenerative Brands”

👉 Learn more in our inaugural report: The State of Regenerative CPG – Successes, Challenges, and Opportunities for Collective Action

🧀 Cheddies Organic Cheese Crackers Roll Out To Target Stores

• Cheddies, the regenerative organic cheese cracker brand, is now available in over 1,700 Target stores, introducing a new multipack and expanding its chili lime flavor to 1,100 locations.

• Grammy-nominated DJ and entrepreneur Steve Aoki has joined Cheddies as Chief Snacking Officer, partnering with the brand to "remix snack culture" through bold flavors and innovative marketing.

• Cheddies claims to be the first snack brand using regenerative organic cheddar, supporting soil health, biodiversity, and animal welfare while offering higher protein and more cheese than leading competitors.

🤑 (ICYMI) GoodSam Foods has secured a $9 million Series A funding round—one of the largest for a woman-founded CPG brand—to scale regenerative farming and expand its product line with 11 new SKUs. (New Hope Network ↗) CEO Heather K Terry shares how she transitioned from Broadway to food system innovation, challenging extractive business models and advocating for farmer-first financing. In a thought-provoking conversation, she explores food justice, impact investing, and the power of saying "no" to systems that don’t align with a regenerative future. (FutureKind Podcast ↗)

🌕 PACHA has debuted its first-of-its-kind Sourdough Buckwheat Tortillas at Expo West, offering a gluten- and grain-free option made with just two ingredients: regenerative sprouted buckwheat and sea salt. Prioritizing gut-friendly fermentation and clean, whole-food ingredients, PACHA continues its mission to support regenerative agriculture while disrupting the tortilla market with a sustainable, allergen-free alternative. (Progressive Grocer ↗)

🌾 Lil Bucks founder Emily Griffith shares how she transformed buckwheat from an overlooked ingredient into a thriving snack brand, securing retail partnerships with Whole Foods and beyond. On Taste Radio, she discusses the power of clear messaging, strategic sourcing, and staying true to her vision while scaling and fundraising for the brand’s next phase. (Taste Radio ↗)

🙌 BAM Buckwheat Milk and Founder Paige Hansen will be featured on Shark Tank this Friday, March 21, introducing millions of viewers to America’s first buckwheat milk. Tune in to ABC or Hulu to see how BAM is elevating buckwheat through its innovative plant-based milk. (LinkedIn ↗)

🧼 Dr. Bronner’s has updated its Magic Soap labels to improve legibility, add usage guidelines, and highlight its commitment to regenerative organic certified oils. The refreshed packaging also includes an EWG Verified seal, enhanced recyclability, and a tribute to founder Emanuel Bronner, reinforcing the brand’s mission to “Heal Earth!” and “Heal People!” (Happi ↗)

👏 Serenity Kids co-founder Serenity Carr and Quinn Snacks founder Kristy Lewis have been named to Inc. Magazine’s Female Founders 500 list. (LinkedIn ↗ + LinkedIn ↗)

💵 UK-based Citizens of Soil has raised £1.8 million in Seed funding to scale its mission of delivering premium extra virgin olive oil sourced from regenerative farms and underrepresented female farmers. By cutting out intermediaries, the company ensures fresher, more flavorful oils while championing sustainable farming, soil health, and fair pay for small-scale producers. (Tech Eu ↗)

🍄 M2 Ingredients has launched the first large-scale offering of Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC™) mushrooms, setting a new gold standard for sustainability in the functional mushroom industry. Alongside this milestone, the company introduced Myco-Suspend™, a breakthrough beverage solution that keeps whole mushroom powders evenly suspended, enhancing both efficacy and consumer experience. (Business Wire ↗)

🚀 Expo West 2025 showcased a maturing natural products industry, with regenerative agriculture overtaking organic messaging and a surge in functional beverages, high-protein innovations, and kid-focused nutrition. As brands shift from single-attribute claims to integrated storytelling, the event underscored a deepening commitment to sustainability, transparency, and products that connect with consumers on both a nutritional and emotional level. (Adweek ↗)

⚖️ California’s Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has finalized a long-debated definition of “regenerative agriculture” for state grant funding, sparking controversy over whether organic certification should be required. While proponents argue for stricter organic-based standards, others push for broader inclusion, reflecting the ongoing battle over regenerative labeling, certification, and market credibility. (Wine Business ↗)

🥩  Force of Nature is hiring a Creative Director & Product Safety & Quality Analyst

🫘 SIMPLi is looking for an Accounting Manager

🐮 Painterland Sisters is hiring a Senior Events & Partnerships Manager, Social & Marketing Coordinator, Graphic Designer, & Customer Experience Manager