5@5: Meal kits move to grocery stores | Humans are speeding extinction at 'unprecedented' pace

Meal kits move to grocery stores—and Walmart, Whole Foods and Kroger are taking the lead

Many meal kit companies have shifted gears in recent months from a direct-to-consumer online model to grocery store shelves and other retail outlets. Sales in these locations “rang up $93 million in sales in 2018,” and at least two major retailers have acquired meal kit companies outright. The online subscription model has run into its fair share of trouble, as can be seen by Blue Apron’s demise—but retailers and meal kit companies alike are optimistic about the potential of retail distribution as a lifeline. Read more at US Chamber of Commerce …

Humans are speeding extinction and altering the natural world at an ‘unprecedented’ pace

A recent 1,500-page report from the UN, which was “compiled by hundreds of international experts and based on thousands of scientific studies,” concludes that human activities such as farming, logging, poaching, fishing and mining are changing the natural world at an alarming pace. The report highlights the fact that global warming is also contributing to wildlife decline, as well as “makes clear the links between biodiversity and nature and things like food security and clean water in both rich and poor countries.” Read more at The New York Times …

Padma Lakshmi and Stacy’s Pita Chips launch funding and mentorship project for female food founders

The Stacy’s Rise Project, a “$200,000 pitch contest for female founders in the food space” from female-led company Stacy’s Pita Chips, will feature celebrity Padma Lakshmi as both a judge and a mentor. The contest is for any female-founded food or beverage company that has made at least $25,000 in annual revenue, and applications are open until June 21. Lakshmi hopes her participation will help create parity in a male-dominated space through “mentorship and counsel and support and funding.” Read more at Forbes …

Urban agriculture’s growth has meant a surge in urban livestock. But when is enough, enough?

Both urban agriculture and the local food movement are booming, which means regulators have had to reconfigure legislation surrounding the ownership of farm animals within city limits. Some aspects of raising animals in cities, such as slaughtering the animals, present public health concerns. Advocates for urban livestock however argue that animals such as goats, rabbits and chickens raised in backyards are “healthier, tastier, and more humanely raised than meat that came from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and industrial farms.” Read more at New Food Economy …

Coca-Cola, Danone, General Mills join a major new foodtech hub in China

The China Food Tech Hub is the product of several major CPG companies working together to “stay relevant and hang on to their customer bases” in the country by engaging with innovative startups that might appeal more to millennials and Gen X-ers. China is the world’s largest food producer and has also struggled with rising childhood obesity rates in recent years, so the population is becoming more and more interested in transparent ingredients, organic foods and personalized food products. Read more at The Spoon …