Soylent – a meal replacement brand that gained a cult following among Silicon Valley programmers after its 2014 launch, but has since broadened its portfolio and its appeal – is rolling out to 450 Walmart stores across the US, taking its retail footprint...
While overall US dairy milk sales are in virtual freefall, the organic industry has managed to stay one step ahead so far, but it is nearing saturation with fluid milk and needs to find new outlets to reach the “next level of penetration,” according to...
Here, an Illinois-based company creating clean label food and beverages in the refrigerated CPG space, has closed a $4m Series A funding round led by food-focused venture fund Listen Co.
Plant-based protein beverage brand Koia is on course to triple sales in 2018 after quintupling sales last year, fueled by a $7.5m cash injection from KarpReilly and AccelFoods in July 2017.
Sharply contrasting views over the scope of the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans have emerged in comments submitted to USDA and HHS this week, with some stakeholders arguing that issues such as sustainability (eg. should we recommend eating less...
From leveling the playing field between plant-based and meat and dairy, to increasing investment in plant-based food R&D research and development of plant-based foods and clean meat, leading plant-based advocacy groups are outlining their wish lists...
The omnibus spending bill just passed in the House directs the FDA to strengthen and enforce dairy standards of identity in a bid to crack down on plant-based 'imitators,' claim milk producers. But the Plant Based Foods Association says the...
Not so long ago, dairy and meat alternatives were niche categories for vegans and vegetarians; today they’re driving a new ‘plant-based’ movement. But does plant-based necessarily mean healthy, and can brands in this space meet demand for cleaner labels?...
Americans are snacking more than ever, but not just any bag of chips or candy bar will do. Rather, they want products that are both convenient and nutritious – two boxes that the makers of Truth Bar check with their line of functional nutrition bars.
Multiple exhibitors at the Natural Products Expo West show were showcasing plant-based yogurts this year, but each with a slightly different slant, says Jody Polishchuk, who claims his product – Yooga – delivers on taste and nutrition, without as much...
Consumer demand for fiber is on the rise thanks in part to increased awareness of the ingredient’s cancer-fighting and other health benefits, but according to recent research not all fiber packs the same punch.
According to the Tea Association of the USA, sales of tea in the US are growing 3-5% annually, which the co-founder and CEO of Pique Tea attributes to rising consumer interest in plant-based diets, convenience and function beyond simple hydration.
Kashi hopes that other brands will follow its lead in paying more for crops from farmers transitioning from conventional to organic to encourage more producers to make the switch and ensure there is sufficient ingredient supply in the future to meet the...
There’s a reason why plant-based yogurts haven’t achieved anything close to the category share of plant-based milks – and it’s not simply that they are newer to market – claims Edward Averdieck, CEO at British coconut yogurt and dessert brand The Coconut...
Bare Snacks unveils new carrot, beet, and sweet potato veggie chips
Bare Snacks – best known for its apple, banana and coconut chips – has expanded into the veggie snacking arena with a new line of carrot, beet, and sweet potato chips. FoodNavigator-USA caught up with CEO Santosh Padiki at the Natural Products Expo West...
Emerging trends that have helped fuel the natural and organic industry’s “multi-decade tear” with growth that far outpaces that of the conventional channel are now crossing over to the mainstream with increasing speed thanks in part to an influx of funds...
“There are protein powders for smoothies, baking mixes for cookies, and I just thought ‘why not a no-bake mix for bars?’” Karen Nation, founder and CEO of Creation Nation, told FoodNavigator-USA at the recent Natural Products Expo West show in Anaheim,...
It’s pretty reductive to sum up a show the size of Natural Products Expo West with a handful of slides....but that’s never stopped us before, so here goes...
While growth has slowed a little in 2017 vs 2016, the natural and organic products industry remains in rude health. But what’s driving the growth and where does ecommerce fit in? Checkout our gallery of highlights from some education sessions at Natural...
'This year will be the most transformational year for Quaker in its history'
The Quaker brand – best known for its hot and cold cereals and snack bars – is planning its first foray into the chiller, as brand owner PepsiCo seeks to tap into consumer demand for more convenient nutrition, says Seth Kaufman, head of the company’s...
‘Retailers must get their heads in the clouds’, says Whipstitch Capital, which means brands must think omni-channel and what they can do outside of just offering a ‘product’.
If the evidence that predominantly plant-based diets are better for human health is growing, the evidence that they are better for the planet is compelling, delegates at the 7th International Congress on Vegetarian Nutrition (ICVN) were told.
Check out FoodNavigator-USA’s latest gallery of new products hitting US shelves, from oat yogurt drinks, cane juice, and plant-based 'bacon chips,' to nut butter pouches from RxBar. We’ve included the Expo West booth numbers if brands are at...
Analysis of multiple cohorts of consumers around the world featuring large subsets of people on vegan and vegetarian diets – including the Adventist Health Study 2 in the US, the EPIC Oxford study in the UK and the Tzu Chi Health Study 1 and vegetarian...
The salty snacks category is notoriously competitive, but as Hippeas has proved, you can cut through the noise if you have a distinct proposition coupled with bold, fun and impactful packaging, says Greenwave Foods president and CEO Raymond Chung, who...
Attorney: 'I would be surprised if the USDA acts on this petition'
Producing ‘clean’ meat by culturing cells – instead of raising or slaughtering animals - is a new frontier in food production that will require consumer education and transparent labeling. But should regulators prevent pioneers in this space from using...
'The shoulders of the Kite Hill brand can hold many product platforms'
Almondmilk-fueled brand Kite Hill could potentially play in multiple categories in the ambient, chilled and frozen aisles of the store, says new CEO Rob Leibowitz , who plans to sit down with co-founder Tal Ronnen in the weeks ahead to explore opportunities...
“So the ketogenic diet, sure, it will cause you to lose weight in the short term. So would cholera, or a cocaine binge, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea,” observed Dr David Katz at the 7th International Congress on Vegetarian Nutrition (ICVN) this...
A new marketing campaign from Chosen Foods aims to change the way Americans think about health and wellness from an all-or-nothing mentality to one that values small but sustainable changes, such as using the company’s avocado oils as a better-for-you...
Cellular agriculture start-up Perfect Day – which is creating ‘vegan’ dairy proteins without cows – has raised $24.7m in a Series A funding round led by Singapore state-owned investment company Temasek.
People on a primarily plant-based diet are consistently slimmer and healthier than meat eaters, with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers and type 2 diabetes, according to research unveiled at the 7th International Congress on Vegetarian...
Novel ‘grape-like’ refrigerated fruit bites made from fruit and veggie purees held together with fibers will start shipping to the produce section of 500+ stores in New England in April, says brand owner Incredible Foods, the firm behind allergy-friendly...
Preparing delicious healthy home cooked meals every night requires inspiration, time and energy: things most working people are short of, hence, the growth of meal kits. But not everyone can afford them, is comfortable with the amount of packaging they...
Rules governing which foods and beverages are credited under child nutrition programs* need updating to reflect changing eating habits and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, says the Good Food Institute (GFI), which wants schools to have the option...
'No one wants to pay more than they have to for groceries...'
Consumers are tired of cavernous stores with “90 different jars of pasta sauce,” said Tom Cindel, director of operations at ALDI’s Moreno Valley, CA, division, pointing to a shelf at the recently opened store in Monrovia, CA. “We just buy this one, it’s...
With today’s launch of a new line of dairy-free, probiotic yogurt drinks, Califia Farms hopes to repeat the success it had when it entered the nut-milk category, and at the same time increase the transparency of marketing probiotics.
The steady growth of Kashi’s Certified Transitional program in the past two years along with positive consumer and retailer response to the protocol shows how paying more for ingredients from farms in the process of becoming certified organic can also...
“At the beginning I thought our audience would be mostly vegans, but what I’ve realized is that a lot of people are just looking to try new things, especially high-quality alternative, premium, or gourmet food products,” says the chef behind dairy-free...
Love and passion, not a bottomless bank account and fierce competitive spirit, are the cornerstones for Bob’s Red Mill’s longevity and success, according to founder Bob Moore, who recently celebrated his 89th birthday and has overseen operations at the...
Responding to consumers’ increasingly fragmented dietary preferences, GoMacro revamps the packaging for its low-sugar Thrive bars to better communicate “how accommodating” the protein bars are for a variety of restrictions and needs, according to the...
Insufficient funds may have forced entrepreneur Scott Joseph to pull his beverage brand Chimp Food from store shelves just as large orders were starting to come in, but he isn’t giving up – rather he says he is ready to come back stronger with new branding...
Natural and organic products specialist Hain Celestial is expecting to “double or even triple” ecommerce sales over the next two to three years as it dedicates more resources to boosting online sales.
Significant percentage of consumers buy plant-based dairy alternatives because they think they are healthier, reveals Comax study
While flavor is still the most important attribute, consumer research from Comax Flavors reveals that a significant percentage of shoppers (36%) regularly consuming plant-based dairy alternatives cite health benefits as a key purchase driver, results...
A highly functional, neutral-tasting chickpea flour that mimics the functionality of wheat flour but also “behaves like modified starch in some applications” could significantly improve the organoleptic and nutritional profile of gluten-free pastas, baked...
Creamier than a sorbet, but far lower in fat and calories than dairy ice cream and most dairy-free alternatives, Hakuna Banana is seeking to carve a novel niche in the frozen desserts aisle, co-founder Hannah Hong told Elaine Watson at the Specialty Food...
An infusion of $30 million into Harmless Harvest’s coffers by strategic investors who believe in “constructive capitalism” will help the refrigerated coconut water manufacturer expand production and distribution in a way that also benefits the Thai communities...
First peanut milk... next protein shakes and ice cream? 'The sky is really the limit...'
Elmhurst Milked peanut milk - which has the protein content and creamy mouthfeel of dairy milk without the thickeners, emulsifiers and stabilizers deployed in most plant-based beverages - could form a base ingredient in protein shakes, yogurts and frozen...
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Could cold brew tea be as big as cold brew coffee? Is there a legal definition of kombucha… and a ‘correct’ way to manufacture it? Are consumers paying attention to the debate over the nutritional merits of plant-based versus dairy milks?
To standout in an increasingly crowded category and manage rising consumer concerns about sugar, juice manufacturers are incorporating more exotic ingredients while also streamlining formulas and playing with new formats, according to one industry player.
A new study from McGill University in Canada compared four of the most commonly consumed dairy alternative beverages (almond, soy, rice, and coconut) and determined that soy was the most comparable substitute to cow’s milk in terms of nutrition.
