Hostess Brands beat analyst expectations for the fourth quarter in a row by posting revenue growth of 11.7% for the second quarter over the same period in 2019. CEO Andy Callahan credits this growth to the company's ability to adjust production and distribution to meet pandemic-related changes in demand and the Voortman cookie acquisition.

More than 25 products from Coty's Rimmel, CoverGirl and Sally Hansen brands will be available for 30-minute delivery in more than 80 cities served by the digital delivery provider goPuff. The partnership is expected to generate valuable consumer data and will likely expand to include other Coty brands, said Kevin Shapiro, Coty's senior vice president of US marketing of consumer beauty.

The coronavirus pandemic-inspired growth in grocery e-commerce is permanent with the $26 billion industry projected to increase to $117 billion in the next three years, writes Tim Whiting, vice president of marketing at Label Insight. He outlines five ways brands can optimize searches on retail sites to avoid losing a sale due to poor keyword use.

Plans by Ferrero to use a new logo and package for its Crunch brand candy was the most-clicked story by SmartBrief's food and beverage readers this week. Walmart's intention to cut corporate jobs as part of its omnichannel push and a tasty recipe for vegetarian carpaccio also landed in the Top 10.

Dole Packaged Foods and the Dole Food Co. are donating fresh, frozen and shelf-stable food and beverages to summer meal programs hosted by No Kid Hungry. Both food companies are also providing creative support to the nonprofit's Cooking Matters program, which helps families prepare budget-friendly meals and will sponsor a childhood hunger awareness campaign at US retail in 2021.

Keurig Dr Pepper was prepared for coronavirus pandemic-related changes in consumer behavior due to its ability to track data in real time, said Ozan Dokmecioglu, chief financial officer. Information from Wi-Fi-connected Keurig machines told the company coffee consumption was surging at-home, while distribution channel data helped the company prepare for the aluminum can shortage, according to Dokmecioglu.

Johannes Leonardo's debut campaign for Bagel Bites features spots that showcase popular online debates, such as whether clowns are silly or scary, if children prefer unicorns or ponies and how dogs would wear pants. The ads feature the slogan "Pizza on a Bagel -- We Can All Agree With That," and the campaign is running across TV, social, digital and out-of-home.

Nestle is promoting its new frozen Life Cuisine line and its focus on trending diets with a 15-second ad produced by Grey Global and Hogarth Worldwide with the tagline "It's not lean, it's life." The Lean Cuisine brand is also releasing a spot showcasing its new bowl line that offers 20% larger portions.

Despite navigating a pandemic, CPG companies remain focused on developing more environmentally friendly packaging and incorporating sustainability into responsible procurement strategies. Consumer Brands' Meghan Stasz spoke at a webinar hosted by FoodNavigator, discussing CPG's leading role in reducing environmental impact and meeting aggressive sustainability goals. Watch the webinar on-demand now.

Don't miss your opportunity to digitally fulfill FDA and USDA's training requirements for acidification, thermal processing and container closure evaluation operations, from August 17 to 26. The seven-day, online course will be taught by highly knowledgeable process authorities with extensive industry experience and an expert food microbiologist, giving students the chance to ask questions and have them answered in real-time. Learn more and register today.

66% of Americans are optimistic about the next six months, and the United States' ability to find a treatment or vaccine, reopen the economy and resume normal activities.
Source: Consumer Brands Association