By Katherine Rich, chief executive of the New Zealand Food and Grocery Council
In January, the much respected British Medical Journal published a paper which aimed to test the success of the Mexican sugar excise tax, which had been levied on sugar-sweetened drinks.
More than half a dozen countries hope to follow Mexico’s successful lead in reducing sugary soda consumption by severely restricting advertising and leveraging heavy excise taxes on the beverages by the end of the year, according to public health advocates.
Washington-based American Brewing Company started with beer and expanded its product line to include kombucha. Its brand, Bucha, has been credited as one of the fastest growing breakout brands in a report by The Hartman Group.
The Coca-Cola Company has announced it is accelerating its refranchising plans, as part of its efforts to focus on ‘building strong, valuable brands and leading a system of strong bottling partners.’
Tyson Foods ongoing efforts to boost sales of its “Core 9” packaged foods brands are paying off – helping the firm achieve record earnings, operating income, margins and cash flow in the first quarter of its fiscal 2016.
Despite hitting spot-on several major trends driving food sales today, Asian noodles are struggling to gain traction in the US because many consumers are unaware of, daunted by or have misconceptions about them, according to a new report from Packaged...
US cooked meats manufacturer Deli Star Corporation will open a research lab-cum-kitchen in Missouri, where the company can develop new products, with customers able to explore research ideas while also enjoying a slice of ham.
Fast-growing and increasingly sophisticated fresh prepared food services at supermarkets are a double-edged sword for consumer packaged goods with one side defending against competition from restaurants and the other cutting into center-store sales by...
A graphical display of select nutrients has resulted in consumers purchasing healthier, lower-calorie menu items as a meal when ordering in a café setting, a study has shown.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has finalised new federal food safety regulations to reduce the risk of salmonella and campylobacter in chicken products.
Ben & Jerry’s new line of vegan frozen desserts could accelerate the already fast consumer adoption of plant-based alternatives to conventional products and inspire more mainstream product manufacturers to follow suit, advocates say.
By Keith Anderson, VP, strategy & insights, Profitero
According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), a quarter of Valentine’s shoppers went online to shop and/or buy gifts in 2015, up from 16.3% the prior year.
Overall sales of Post ready-to-eat cereals were impacted by a decline in the performance of the MOM brands acquired last year, the company has reported in its results for Q1 2016.
The US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) has finalized federal standards that it estimates will prevent an average of 50,000 illnesses annually.
TraQtion, a cloud-based quality and compliance software from public health and food safety organisation NFS International, has been enhanced, allowing it to automatically alert users to supply chain risks.
American start-up Memphis Meats has said it is less than five years away from being able to manufacture enough laboratory-made burgers and meatballs to stock the shelves of US grocery stores.
New entrants are quickly saturating the fast-growing jerky category, but there is still white space for pork, chicken and premium products aimed at consumers in the “middle of the road,” according to one category player.
Ask most people what ‘healthy vending’ is, and they will probably imagine a vending machine that has replaced candy with protein bars – but is still basically a snack machine. LeanBox, by contrast, is more like a smart fridge in the office breakroom packed...
2016 Beverage Innovation summit: Have you registered yet?
Bottled water, sparkling flavored water, energy and sports drinks, and ready-to-drink coffee have all made strong gains in the New Year as shoppers have continued to spurn carbonated soft drinks – particularly the diet variety - according to Nielsen data...
Nebraskan cattle producer Steve Hanson has been elected chairman of the Federation of State Beef Councils during the 2016 Cattle Industry Convention at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) trade show in San Diego.
Consumers may be reaching for more natural and better-for-you snacks in general, but when it comes to planning Super Bowl party menus they are just as likely to reach for processed and conventional options as they are healthier options, according to IRI...
Moringa superfood product manufacturer Kuli Kuli expands it portfolio and the reach of its social mission with the launch of three energy shots, thanks to an infusion of $1 million from a mix of investors and fundraising tactics.
By Keith Anderson, VP, strategy & insights, Profitero
On February 7, when more than 180 million people in the US tune in to watch the 2016 Super Bowl, some will watch for the action, others the ads, and some are there just for the snacks.
Revenues at plant-based foods maker Hampton Creek surged 350% in 2015 as the company expanded its product range and strengthened partnerships in retail and foodservice, said CEO Josh Tetrick, who also grew the headcount at the San Francisco-based company...
Hain Celestial hopes to stay “one step ahead” of the conventional CPG manufacturers now flocking to the increasingly popular natural and organic space, which the New York-based firm has dominated for years, by better customizing marketing, pricing and...
ADM has boosted its presence in the market for organic, non-GMO, gluten-free and 'minimally processed' foods and ingredients after striking a deal to buy a controlling stake in Iowa-based Harvest Innovations.
General Mills has filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit alleging it misled shoppers by presenting Cheerios Protein as a “high protein, healthful alternative to Cheerios”, and insists the product complies with all relevant food labeling regulations.
When Kevin Duffy first started test-marketing his Cide Road organic switchel in 2014, he was either met with blank stares (“to be honest, most people had never heard of switchel”) or evangelism (“I met all these enthusiasts that drink apple cider vinegar...
The FDA will not revoke soy protein's health claims, as requested by a citizen petition. But the agency also admits that there will still be ongoing review on the ingredient.
Unilever has unveiled a new Hellmann’s egg-free spread, and an organic mayonnaise range using 100% cage-free eggs, in a move described by one animal welfare group as "a clear indicator that the market is heading towards increased plant-based options...
Dutch researchers have launched a crowdsourcing appeal for a project that will analyse the safety and nutrient content of food grown on Martian and lunar soil - and the findings could prove useful for life on Earth too, they say.
US food firm OSI has reacted furiously to a Chinese court ruling, which claimed the company had supplied substandard food products to fast-food chains in China, including McDonald’s.
Shock market conditions, including a plummeting cattle price and tight protein supply, created the ‘perfect storm’ for US beef producers between 2014 to 2015 but the worst is behind the sector, according to Randy Blach, CEO of research organisation CattleFax.
An unconventional partnership between the crowdfunding website Barnraiser and KRAVE Jerky founder Jon Sebastiani’s new incubator and venture fund Sonoma Brands will create a new paradigm for fundraising and marketing that promises earlier, more sustained...
CORE Hydration – an ultra-purified, electrolyte-infused bottled water with a ‘perfect pH’ of 7.4 that first hit shelves in late 2014 and is now in 30,000+ stores – is on course to generate retail sales of $60-100 million in 2016, predicts co-founder Lance...
About half of Americans say “local” claims are an important factor in their food purchase decisions, but exactly how influential they are depends on where in the store they are made, according to a recent survey.
For flavor giant McCormick & Co. Inc., 2016 promises strong growth driven by innovative product launches, consumer inspired reformulations, a brand building campaign and potential acquisitions, according to company executives.
Startups and small companies now can reap all the credit they are due for their innovations – including on their taxes, thanks to changes to the research and development tax credit that go into effect this year.
Genius Juice – which is on a mission bring something fresh and different to the functional beverage set with its organic coconut smoothies – is finalizing a new round of seed capital, has streamlined its SKU count and switched to a smaller, 12oz bottle...
Dannon and General Mills are claiming victory in their legal spat with rival Chobani over the latter’s provocative new ad campaign for its Simply 100 Greek Yogurt after a judge granted their requests for a preliminary injunction to stop Chobani making...