Health and nutritional ingredients

From low-sugar to climate change: The macro trends shaping food, beverage innovation

06-Sep-2023 By Ryan Daily

Food and beverage CPG brands looking to stay ahead of the market are innovating around reduced sugar, plant-based eating, and sustainability, Barb Stuckey, chief Innovation & marketing officer at Mattson, shared during an IDBBA webinar on leading...

Zenb takes ‘yellow-pea pasta revolution’ on the road with retail expansion into Sprouts

05-Sep-2023 By Ryan Daily

Plant-based pasta brand Zenb is expanding its distribution to Sprouts Farmer Markets nationwide, as it pushes into more retail stores with the help of its mobile kitchen and product innovation, the company’s senior VP of marketing Hugo Perez told FoodNavigator-USA....

Prescription produce programs associated with better health, food security – bolstering food as medicine movement

05-Sep-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

New research shows adults at risk of heart disease who were prescribed produce ate more fruits and vegetables and after six months had lower blood pressure, body mass index and blood sugar levels – buttressing calls by public health advocates and The...

Juni sparkling tea blends cultures, benefits for body & mind from adaptogens, nootropics

05-Sep-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

For many Americans living a fast-paced, on-the-go lifestyle, the meditative benefits of slowly sipping a hot mug of tea may be out of reach, but the health benefits and feeling of refreshment that come from a beverage brewed with adaptogenic, nootropic...

Machu Picchu wants to clean up energy drinks from ingredients to marketing for broader appeal

30-Aug-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Energy drink newcomer Machu Pichu’s dual marketing message of finding balance and connecting to nature and community sets it apart in a category that heavily promotes extremes and individual gains, as does its organic flavor technology and natural caffeine...

DSM-Firmenich discusses opportunities, formulation challenges of working with adaptogens

30-Aug-2023 By Ryan Daily

CPG brands innovating with botanicals and adaptogens to meet consumer demand for functional foods and beverages to improve their moods, alertness, and other areas of their lives, must overcome formulation challenges, two DSM-Firmenich representatives...

Indoor farming brand Plenty doubles retail distribution, breaks ground on strawberry facility

30-Aug-2023 By Ryan Daily

Indoor farming company Plenty is expanding its distribution in California to all Whole Foods Market and Gelson’s Markets stores, doubling its retail presence, as it starts work on its Richmond, Va., strawberry farm in partnership with Driscoll’s, the...

Hungryroot's personalized grocery service hits $182 million in revenue

29-Aug-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Hungryroot's transition to an AI-driven, personalized grocery and recipe service has resulted in a 67% YoY revenue growth to $182 million in 1H 2023, Alex Weinstein, chief digital officer, Hungryroot, told FoodNavigator-USA.

From functional to ethical, identifying the health halo in botanicals

29-Aug-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Angela Getzel, beverage business development lead, Kerry, explained to FoodNavigator-USA that as consumers are looking for more label transparency, from low/no sugar and artificial ingredients to environmental responsibility, botanicals fit into that...

Yaza spreads the word about labneh with brand launch

28-Aug-2023 By Ryan Daily

Tapping into the demand for snacking occasions and culturally inspired foods, food brand Yaza launched in the US last week, as it prepares to spread the word of labneh to a wider audience, Christian Karim Khalil told FoodNavigator-USA.

Carbonated soda market goes with its gut in responding to consumer demands

25-Aug-2023 By Ryan Daily

In an effort to reduce their sugar intake, many consumers are shaking up how they drink soda, opting for lower or no-sugar options with key functional benefits like gut health over the traditional sugary sodas, Salomi Naik, head of innovation at Ai Palette,...

Qina reveals top 10 trends in personalised nutrition

25-Aug-2023 By Nikki Hancocks

Personalised nutrition experts at the Qina consultancy have revealed a top tends report, unveiling a ChatGPT take-over, a merging of food and pharma, an entrance of big tech firms, and new abilities created by at-home blood draws.

Odyssey Elixir partners with 7-Eleven and Wegmans to bring functional mushrooms “out of niche spaces”

24-Aug-2023 By Deniz Ataman

As adaptogens and mushrooms continue piquing the interest of health conscious and sober-curious consumers, the sparkling, functional mushroom beverage brand expanded its convenience and grocery retail presence so “more people are able to experience the...

Albertsons releases 2023 ESG report, citing progress on several fronts

24-Aug-2023 By Ryan Daily

Albertsons this week released its 2023 environmental, social, and governance (ESG) report and announced that it has made progress to reduce carbon throughout its supply chain and reinforce food security in the communities it serves.

Nellson CCO bites into snack bar trends: flexitarian in, keto out

24-Aug-2023 By Ryan Daily

With the ebbs and flows of consumer demand, the snack bar market is preparing to meet the demand for more plant-based protein with flexitarian products, as some recent diet claims might be on the way out, Bart Child, CCO at Nellson, told FoodNavigator-USA.

Birdzi to power Berkot’s loyalty program

23-Aug-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Berkot’s Super Foods will implement Birdzi’s comprehensive customer intelligence and engagement system across its 17 grocery locations in Wisconsin and Illinois.

MOSH secures $3m in Series A funding to add “fuel on the fire” for brand growth

23-Aug-2023 By Ryan Daily

Better-for-you brand MOSH is preparing to take its brain-health-focused protein bars to a wider audience with the help of $3m in Series A funding, which will provide financial support as the company looks to make a bigger push into retail, brand co-founder...

Taste still drives beverage choice among consumers, along with hydration, nutrition and simplicity

21-Aug-2023 By Deniz Ataman

From convenience to hydration and satiation, consumer preferences for beverages offer manufacturers an opportunity to hone in on value, attributes and nutrition with taste and simple ingredients as a common driver, according to Hartman Group’s Modern...

Albertsons encourages healthy eating with Sincerely Health’s nutrition insight tool

21-Aug-2023 By Ryan Daily

Albertsons has updated its Sincerely Health app with a nutritional insight too that will take the groceries purchases and provide a snapshot if a consumer is meeting the daily serving recommendations of the USDA MyPlate.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: TiNDLE sees long-term growth in plant-based despite current downturn

19-Aug-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Even though plant-based protein sales continued to slide in July, prompting retailers to slim down and shift offerings from the more premium placement in the refrigerated section to the freezer aisle, startup TiNDLE Foods still sees significant opportunity...

Experts react to new health and nutrition claim proposals

18-Aug-2023 By Olivia Brown

A number of regulatory experts have spoken out following the proposals published by the UK Office for Health Improvements and Disparities (OHID) last week, which suggested introducing improvement notices to improve adherence to health and nutrition claim...

“Pumpkin was definitely table stakes,” KIND brand manager shares LTO strategy

17-Aug-2023 By Ryan Daily

Snack bar brand KIND is jumping into the fall flavor season with the debut of two seasonal varieties of Thins bars to tap into consumer trends to inspire flavor and product innovation in 2023 and beyond, Emily Geiger, brand manager for KIND, told FoodNavigator-USA.

Recess expands regional retail footprint, taps into zero-proof and supplement spaces

17-Aug-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Along with entering 5,000 new retail spaces like Target, Albertsons, CVS, Sprouts, H-E-B and Winn Dixie, the better-for-you, relaxation sparkling beverage brand also recently launched its Recess Mood and Recess Zero Proof Craft Cocktails.

dsm-firmenich gets FDA GRAS for novel HMOs

16-Aug-2023 By Stephen Daniells

The US FDA has issued ‘Good Day Letters’ to dsm-firmenich for three Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) notices submitted for the human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) LNFP-l/2’-FL and hypoallergenic grade LNnT and 2’-FL.

Pumpkin flavors are back, spicier than ever: Unwrapping 2023's LTO launches

16-Aug-2023 By Ryan Daily

From pumpkin-flavored coffee creamers to snack bars to caviars and everything in-between, CPG brands are preparing consumers for Autumn with a host of new and returning limited-time offerings (LTO) across dairy, snacks, dips, and other categories.

Will aronia berry be the next elderberry? A3 spreads the word on fruit's functional properties

14-Aug-2023 By Ryan Daily

With a high antioxidant content and functional properties, aronia berries might be the next big hero ingredient for better-for-you applications, Blake Johnson, managing partner with American Aronia Accelerator (A3), told FoodNavigator-USA.

Low consumer curiosity in sustainability, plant-based foods reveals marketing opportunity

11-Aug-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Simplicity is key for foodies, according to Curious Plot’s latest study on consumer curiosity where “early adopter consumers” across generations provided culinary, nutrition and sustainability insights on what drives their food choices and habits.

Catalina Crunch capitalizes on demand for better-for-you cereal, launches Pairings line for texture twist

10-Aug-2023 By Ryan Daily

Better-for-you brand Catalina Crunch has released its Pairing cereals line to grow its brand and retail presence by providing an alternative to conventional sugary breakfast cereals, Krishna Kaliannan, CEO of Catalina Crunch, told FoodNavigator-USA.

Sabra dips into spicy, bold flavors with Frank's RedHot & Stubb's Bold Hummus collaborations

09-Aug-2023 By Ryan Daily

Hummus brand Sabra is spicing up its portfolio with a trio of new products, including collaborations with Franks’s RedHot and Stubb’s, as the company readies more new flavors and innovations, Olugbenga Diyaolu, the company’s global chief research, development,...

IFT First

IFT First: How can nutrition and food science inform each other? Big data may help

09-Aug-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Food science’s role in public health will play a more critical role in addressing increasingly nuanced dietary and nutrition preferences within a diverse and growing population. Big data and personalized nutrition offer solutions to fine tune these preferences...

Actual Veggies’ produce-packed patties’ fast growth suggests alternative future for plant-based meat alternatives

09-Aug-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

The rapid growth of plant-based protein newcomer Actual Veggies suggests the sliding sales of alternative protein products that closely mimic their animal counterparts does not represent a lack of consumer interest in vegetarian and vegan options, but...

American Egg Board cracks open food, beverage innovation with Eggcelerator Lab

07-Aug-2023 By Ryan Daily

Product developers looking to crack open new food and beverage innovation often face challenges, but with the American Egg Board’s (AEB) Eggcelerator Lab, the trade group is streamlining the process and finding new opportunities for food and beverage...

Summer Fancy Food Show

Fauxmosa makes a non-alcoholic mimosa with California wine grapes

07-Aug-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Fauxmosa, a non-alcoholic mimosa brand, is made from California wine grapes and flavored with juices commonly found in a traditional mimosa was shown during the Summer Fancy Food Show which took place June 25-27 in New York City. CEO and co-founder,...

Consumers get thrifty with coupons, online shopping as economic pressures persist, Circana finds

02-Aug-2023 By Ryan Daily

Consumers across socio-economic statuses are responding to higher grocery bills by using coupons and online shopping tools to price compare, Sally Lyons Wyatt, executive and practice leader for client insights at Circana, shared during a webinar this...

Summer Fancy Food Show

Clark + Hopkins explores global cuisine through hot sauce

02-Aug-2023 By Deniz Ataman

FoodNavigator-USA met with Brandon Clark, co-founder, Clark + Hopkins to talk about the brand’s portfolio of global flavors during the Summer Fancy Food Show which took place at the Javits Center in Manhattan, New York, June 25-27.

IFT First

IFT FIRST: Uniting the food system through food science and nutrition

01-Aug-2023 By Deniz Ataman

FoodNavigator-USA sat down with Anna Rosales, senior director of government affairs and nutrition, IFT, to discuss science-based nutrition advocacy within the organization and externally with stakeholders and policy makers during an exclusive interview...

PepsiCo, Walmart seed $120m investment to boost regenerative agriculture

27-Jul-2023 By Ryan Daily

PepsiCo has entered into a seven-year collaboration with Walmart to invest $120m in regenerative agriculture, with a focus on boosting soil health and water quality of farms across their supply chain, Rob Meyers, VP of sustainable agriculture and global...

Free Webinar: Raising the Snack Bar - Exploring Growth Drivers, Innovations and Consumer Cravings

27-Jul-2023 By Deniz Ataman

What does it take to stand out in the saturated snack bar crowd? FoodNavigator-USA’s recent webinar, Raising the Snack Bar: Exploring Growth Drivers, Innovations and Consumer Cravings featured an expert panel on the various considerations brands must...

IFT FIRST

IFT FIRST: Seeding the Future Global Food System Challenge 2022 winners discuss creating a more sustainable food system

26-Jul-2023 By Ryan Daily

During the 2023 IFT FIRST event, Bernhard van Lengerich, founder of the Seeding the Future Foundation, honored three of the 14 winners from its 2022 annual Seeding the Future Global Food System Challenge, as they discussed bridging the gap between the...

Creating the future of food: Omega Ingredients CEO, food futurist discuss trends, sustainability

25-Jul-2023 By Ryan Daily

When it comes to creating the tastes of the future, food and beverage CPG companies aren't only tackling the demand to meet consumer ever-evolving taste preferences in a global economy, but they are grappling with making the supply chain more sustainable...

Climate change and consumers: Mintel shares how CPG brands can respond to global crisis

25-Jul-2023 By Ryan Daily

Consumers are protecting themselves and their families amid the climate crisis with functional products designed to improve skin health and hydration levels, Stephanie Mattuci, director of Mintel food and beverage and purchase intelligence, shared during...

IFT FIRST: Mintel shares four mind-boosting ingredients for brain-health claims

24-Jul-2023 By Ryan Daily

Consumers are starting to turn to products with brain-boosting benefits as CPG brands look to educate consumers on a range of functional ingredients, Stephanie Mattuci, director of Mintel food and beverage and purchase intelligence, shared during a presentation...

IFT FIRST: Avebe stretches what’s possible in plant-based cheese with PerfectaSOL ingredient

24-Jul-2023 By Ryan Daily

AT IFT FIRST 2023, ingredient company Royal Avebe released a potato protein and starch ingredient range, PerfectaSOL, to address texture formulation challenges in plant-based and to tap into the growing cultivated meat and plant-based, meat-based hybrid...

Upcoming webinar: How snack bar brands can carve out a space in a crowded market

19-Jul-2023 By Deniz Ataman

FoodNavigator-USA will present its free editorial webinar, Raising the Snack Bar: Exploring Growth Drivers, Innovations and Consumer Cravings on July 26 at 11:30 AM CT. The webinar will feature a panel of snack bar experts who will explore how key differentiators...

IFT FIRST

Consumers will pay more for cleaner and natural ingredient labels

12-Jul-2023 By Deniz Ataman

“Generally, consumers are not really interested in the science. Just looking at the ingredients label, a shorter ingredient label deck resonates very much with consumers, and they attach it to a healthier product,” Lauretta-Lyn Katsriku, global platform...

IFT FIRST

IFT Preview: From ingredients to ideals -- How clean label is reshaping product development

12-Jul-2023 By Deniz Ataman

The food as medicine movement continues to shape food and beverage with clean and simple ingredient labels that promote healthier food choices and provide important information to individuals with specific dietary needs, while enhancing transparency and...

Startup Spotlight

More than meal kits: MixMasters ventures into personalised meals, bars, shakes and more

06-Jul-2023 By Olivia Brown

Functional food startup MixMasters is trialling a new personalised nutrition concept ‘FoodiYou’, offering fresh meals, bars, and shakes, adapted to individual needs.

Summer Fancy Food Show

The specialty foods market is expected to surpass $200b this year

06-Jul-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Despite overall sales growth, the specialty foods industry has faced challenges in recent years, including inflation, declining unit sales (for the first time) and increased competition from conventional grocery stores, explained David Lockwood, CEO,...

The Detox Project simplifies contaminant-free claims with CleanScan certification program

06-Jul-2023 By Ryan Daily

Going beyond its initial mission of providing a glyphosate residue-free certification, The Detox Project is turning its attention to the wider food and beverage industry with a new certification program that'll help CPG brands tell a better story...