KANSAS CITY — Following an exciting, challenging and ultimately satisfying first year, Food Business News is expanding Food Entrepreneur with more content and more ways to connect with a highly engaged audience in 2021.

Food Entrepreneur launched a year ago to share stories about the startups and trends driving change in the industry. The initial concept featured a print supplement published six times per year, an email newsletter delivered six times per year, and a digital tasting event.

The launch was a resounding hit. Notably, more than 7,000 industry professionals subscribed to the email newsletter throughout the year. The content resonated with stakeholders across the supply chain, eager to learn about the next big thing in food.

Beginning this month, the Food Entrepreneur email newsletter will arrive in inboxes biweekly, full of insights, innovation and news. Subscribers will receive the latest updates on the trends, events and developments surrounding up-and-coming businesses.

Two digital events, to be conducted in April and October, will include product sampling opportunities and presentations that bring to life the trailblazing trends and products developed by emerging businesses. Participants will interact with entrepreneurs and thought leaders driving disruption throughout the industry.

In addition to six print editions this year, each issue of Food Business News will feature a recurring Food Entrepreneur section to provide even more information and inspiration. Content will include many of the activities and topics relevant to startup companies, plus profiles of the passionate personalities behind brands on the rise.

Central to the success of Food Business News over the past 15 years has been its unparalleled coverage of the trends and innovations creating profound change in the marketplace. Food Entrepreneur represents a distillation of that work that gets to the heart of what all industry stakeholders want to know — what’s next?

What’s the next RXBAR or Beyond Meat?

Despite a global pandemic, food entrepreneurship has remained dynamic and resilient. In a year tiresomely described as “uncertain” and “unprecedented,” the industry overcame numerous obstacles, discovering creative ways to develop new products and solve problems caused by COVID-19. Many shifted to direct-to-consumer operations and other channels of distribution. Some brainstormed clever approaches to building brand awareness in the absence of instore demos and trade shows. Some raised money through equity crowdfunding or participated in various virtual pitch competitions popping up throughout the year.

The already collaborative community of food entrepreneurs doubled down, lending helping hands to prop one another up when hope dimmed.

Amid the initial shockwaves of the pandemic, the future of Food Entrepreneur came into question. Would entrepreneurs continue to innovate? How would startups raise capital or go to market?

What stories would be left to tell?

With 2020 as hindsight, it is abundantly clear there are more stories to share than ever before.

Visit FoodBusinessNews.net to learn more, and subscribe to the latest offerings from Food Entrepreneur. Connect with Food Entrepreneur on LinkedIn to engage with this vibrant community and stay in the loop.