Videos

CPG startups on 2024: Tierra Negra, RMBR, Mez Foods share high, low moments of the year

Startup CPG hosts emerging Chicago-based startups at annual holiday event

Startup Spotlight

BAKR Cookies collaborates with co-manufacturers to scale clean-label brand

Former Proctor & Gamble director Alexa Ryan is using her logistic and supply chain know-how to expand her clean-label frozen cookie dough brand, BAKR Cookies, beyond the Midwest in 2025.

Brand Alchemy

Brand Alchemy: How brands are turning influencers into storytellers

Authenticity is the new currency of successful influencer partnerships, as brands seek to connect with increasingly discerning consumers.

Confectionery giants amass almost $500 million in US advertising spend

One multinational confectioner dominates the spend total for campaigns in the US. Can you guess who it is?

Biggest trends of 2024 and what to expect in 2025

Letter from the editor: What to expect for packaged food & beverage in 2025

As 2024 ends and a new year begins, many US consumers are looking for control and comfort from the foods and beverages they buy as they continue to navigate rising prices, mounting food safety concerns and general discord from a divisive presidential...

Startup Spotlight

Eat Senza builds its pasta brand one dollar at a time

The pasta makers’ crowdfunding approach to organic growth.

Startup Spotlight

Throne Sport Coffee shares why investing in a team is essential to achieve CPG dream

To keep overhead low, entrepreneurs often wear multiple hats and work long hours with a skeleton crew when first launching a business, but the founder of the ready-to-drink coffee startup Throne Sport Coffee suggests this may be penny-wise, but...

New products: From limited-time holiday offerings & everything mint-chocolate to garlic & gluten-free

New product launches this holiday season are all about limited time offerings, including a barrage of peppermint-chocolate flavor extensions, and a smattering of inclusive allergen-friendly and better-for-you options.

Startup Spotlight

Happy Wolf’s Whole Foods expansion is a ‘make or break’ moment for kid’s snack brand

Clean-label children snack brand Happy Wolf is leaning on brand ambassadors to spread awareness of its Whole Foods Market launch and where the product can be located, Jana Goodbaum, co-founder of Happy Wolf, shared in a recent Startup Spotlight interview.

One Trick Pony bucks CPG industry’s high failure rate to celebrate second birthday

As peanut butter brand One Trick Pony celebrates its second anniversary, co-founder Lucy Dana acknowledges how few startups reach this milestone and she reflects on lessons she learned to achieve this rare success, including the concept that “done is...

Real California Milk Excelerator features 'herd' of game-changers in dairy

In its sixth year, the Real California Milk Excelerator powered by VentureFuel brought together a diverse cohort – or herd – of startups, students and processors that are “harnessing the nutritional benefits of real dairy” to improve digestion, boost...

ADM reveals 2025 strategy – healthy indulgence takes centre stage

Ingredients giant ADM has revealed the NPD and consumer trends driving its business forwards, including healthy indulgence.

Startup Spotlight

Pistakio secures retail deals with last-minute recipe pivot

Pistachio spread brand Pistakio landed key retail partnerships despite a last-minute formula change driven by logistical challenges — a feat made possible by the founders’ pistachio expertise and their commitment to filling a gap in the nut butter market.

Mood food for mental wellbeing – How can industry capitalize?

Relaxation, mood-support foods focus on ‘other side’ of functional

A good night's sleep could be a functional product away, as consumers swap their alcoholic nightcap for a nonalcoholic option or their favorite comfort food to ease their mind after a long day, Scott Dicker, director of insights at SPINS told...

Mood food for mental wellbeing – How can industry capitalize?

Letter from the editor: What is the opportunity for mood-boosting foods, beverages?

Many Americans are eating their feelings or turning to drink to manage their mood, but that isn’t necessarily bad as innovative manufacturers leverage nootropics, adaptogens and botanicals alongside packaging and branding to create products that...

Startup Spotlight

An unexpected strategy for startups to land retail shelf space: Saying ‘no’

Knowing when to say ‘no’ to a retailer, distributor or broker can be just as powerful of a growth driver for emerging brands as saying yes, as illustrated by the initial success of the clean-label barbeque sauce startup Tamarind Heads.

November Launch Pad

Holiday-themed launches for 2025 tap into nostalgia, balance health & indulgence

The holiday season is here bringing a slew of food and beverage launches to help consumers celebrate with seasonal products featuring nostalgic fall and winter flavors that make entertaining easier and warm consumers as the weather cools.

Belly Brand taps into functional, clean-label trends with gluten-free baking mixes

Belly Brand Foods is delivering gut and skin health benefits with its collagen-infused and gluten-free bakery mixes, as the company gears up to spread brand awareness in 2025 with trade shows.

Brand Alchemy

How F&B brands can boost their ROI with a diversified media strategy

Today’s marketing strategies need flexible adjustments and a blend of channels to keep pace with rapid shifts in media consumption, unlike the fixed annual media plans of yesteryear.

Bell Flavors & Fragrances’ consumer center is ‘where science meets senses’

Bell Flavors & Fragrances' new Consumer Science Sensory Center provides CPG companies with a space to develop innovative new flavors and products that resonate with consumers.

Dairy innovation and trends

Letter from the editor: Innovations, trends & startups reshaping the dairy category

The dairy case is no longer a limited selection of fat-free, low-fat or whole milk in generic white bottles or a bare-bones choice between just “orange” or “white” cheese – rather an explosion of innovation in recent years has dramatically multiplied...

11 startups disrupting dairy across categories from the farm to store shelf

Dairy’s nutrient density and decadent eating experience create a powerful canvas for startups innovating across categories to offer better-for-you moments of permissible indulgence while simultaneously supporting the health of consumers, the planet and...

Startup Spotlight

Fishwife reels in bold flavors, creative branding to revive canned fish category

Tinned fish brand Fishwife launched in response to the lack of innovation and bold branding in the multi-billion-dollar canned fish category, with a strategic focus on culinary-inspired flavors and artistically-driven packaging, CEO and Co-Founder, Becca...

Video

Ask the experts: What do F&B start-ups get wrong?

What do food and drink start-up businesses get wrong? It’s the big question facing many fledgling businesses. FoodNavigator speaks to nine industry experts to find out.

Startup Spotlight

Tips to secure deals in writing: ‘A verbal commitment means almost nothing’

Long gone are the days when a deal was sealed with a handshake and verbal commitment, which is why the co-founder of veggie snack startup Theo’s advises entrepreneurs to be persistent – but not annoying – about securing commitments in writing before acting.

How Bumpin Blends’ founder turned a flight delay into a Barbie collab

When a delayed flight could have ruined her day, Bumpin Blends' founder, Lisa Mastela, used the downtime to network with fellow travelers and, in doing so, connected with representatives from toymaker Mattel that ultimately landed the smoothie brand a...

Novonesis develops ‘cleaner ingredient deck’ for plant-based meat with biosolution technology

Biotech company, Novonesis, addresses core taste, texture and nutritional challenges in plant-based meat and dairy with its biosolution technologies, potentially reducing the ingredient label deck.

Startup Spotlight

Beekeeper Coffee taps into youth culture to build its RTD honey-sweetened coffee

Beekeeper Coffee's co-founders leveraged their extensive brand-building expertise from giants like Nike and Beats by Dre to stand out in the crowded RTD coffee market with a distinct honey-sweetened brew, emphasizing authenticity and sustainability...

Launch Pad

The holiday rush inspires innovations for Halloween through New Year

New pumpkin spice products continue to hit store shelves as other food and beverage product launches in September usher in the holiday season from Halloween to Rosh Hashanah to Christmas.

Watch on demand: Innovating low- and no-sugar beverages that meet function & flavor

Consumers increasingly want more from their beverages – more benefits, more flavor and more fun, but they do not want more sugar nor do they want to compromise on taste, which creates a challenge for manufacturers to find the sweet spot between shoppers’...

Startup Spotlight

Regenerative organic agriculture certification opens retail doors, drives sales for SIMPLi

Fast-growing pantry staples brand SIMPLi is reinvigorating sleepy center-store categories and unlocking additional distribution in thousands of regional and independent grocers nationwide after growing nearly 500% year-over-year at Whole Foods Market...

Building a net zero, water secure future in food & beverage

Water stewardship rises amid scarcity concerns, consumer interest in conservation

Increasing water scarcity is prompting stakeholders across the food industry to rethink and reup their stewardship practices, and in doing so they not only are reinforcing supply chains and the health of the planet, but market research suggest they could...

Startup Spotlight

Coffee for children? Kiid Coffee takes a functional twist on the morning cup of Joe

Coffee is not just for adults thanks to Kiid Coffee, a functional beverage mix designed to help children hit their daily recommended intake of iron, magnesium, calcium and other important nutrients, the brand's co-founder David Sanborn told...

Nature’s Fynd’s fungi-based platform drives category expansion

Nature’s Fynd is expanding into the dairy-free yogurt category with its proprietary Fy Protein to deliver nutritious solutions that meet consumer demand for plant-based alternatives that deliver taste and texture without compromise.

Calling all Sports & Active Nutrition start-ups!

NutraIngredients-USA is inviting early-stage active lifestyle brands to enter its "Start-up Stars" competition which will see three pioneering entrepreneurs gain industry notoriety at the Sports & Active Nutrition Summit 2025.

milkadamia shrinks packaging for its oat milk using 2-D printing technology

milkadamia’s flat-pack oat milk, a format made from a proprietary 2-D printing process that takes oat paste and prints it out in sheets, has potential to cut down on packaging waste and carbon emissions due to lighter shipping weights, according to...

Startup Spotlight

Ayo Foods’ expansion reflects a growing ‘cultural movement’ among consumers and retail

West African frozen meal and sauce brand Ayo Foods’ expanded from 200 retail doors to more than 20 retailers nationwide through a combination of cold calling and working with brokers to land shelf space.

ADM on the farm: Building regenerative agriculture builds business opportunities

Regenerative agriculture is emerging as a powerful marketing concept with recent research by ingredient supplier ADM revealing most consumers familiar with the tenets are more likely to trust and buy from brands that support the practice.

Letter from the editor: How is rising demand for global flavors influencing innovation & ingredient sourcing?

Long gone are the days when salt and pepper were sufficient seasonings for most Americans – now US consumers want bold flavors that will take their tastebuds on a global adventure, giving rise to a new class of frozen meals, sauces, spice blends and even...

Startup Spotlight

Functional beverage startup Yesly’s viral social media posts underscore big ad budgets are not necessary for big impact

Big advertising budgets are not a requirement for big sales or an indicator of how successful a marketing campaign will be as illustrated by a viral video on social media by functional beverage newcomer Yesly, which generated more than 16 million views...

September Launch Pad: Fall brings a burst of color, nostalgic flavors & back-to-school solutions

The waning days of summer bring a colorful lineup of food and beverage launches featuring bold purples and blues, along with nostalgic flavors that welcome the promise of cooler weather and seasonal partnerships that celebrate traditional fall activities.

Startup Spotlight

Mission MightyMe’s snack puffs hit Target shelves, as brand aims ‘to drastically reduce the rate of nut allergies’

Children's snack brand Mission MightyMe is taking its first big step beyond ecommerce, launching in select Target stores, after raising $2.3 million earlier in the year to fuel growth and raise awareness on reducing peanut allergies by introducing the...

NutraWomen Wednesday: Julia Streuli, Co-founder, FUL Foods

FUL Foods is a social impact company focused on sustainable nutrition solutions using microalgae. Julia Streuli and her co-founders first met in business school and became interested in decarbonizing the food sector due to its significant impact on...

Startup Spotlight

OK Energy stands out by ‘spurning traditional marketing’

Much like Gen X before them, Gen Z consumers have grown disillusioned with traditional marketing that over-promises and under-delivers, prompting energy drink brand OK Energy to take a more authentic—yet still playful—approach Evan Nied, CEO, OK Energy,...

Future Food Tech Alternative Proteins

[Watch] Functional ingredients may drive diversification in milk alternatives

Plant-based milks offer great potential to not only mimic the nutritional profile of dairy milk, but also distinguish itself through taste, texture, functionality and technologies like precision fermentation, Lynn Dornblaser, director of innovations and...

Startup Spotlight

Diamond Brew launches ‘brewless’ coffee with a balance of passion, pragmatism

Passion, experience and market insights are essential to launching a business, but they are far from enough to ensure enduring success, according to long-time CPG industry expert and first-time entrepreneur Douglas Yu, who earlier this month launched...

Future Food-Tech Alternative Proteins 2024

Lever VC’s investment strategy in alternative proteins focuses on cost-reduction, tech gains & partnerships

Lever VC is zeroing in on innovative companies within the alternative protein space, backing those with strong technological potential and the ability to scale, Nick Cooney, founder and managing partner, Lever VC, told FoodNavigator-USA during Future...

Future Food Tech Alternative Proteins 2024

AI and food-grade bioreactors may improve margins on cultivated meat commercialization

For cultivate meat companies to hit ambitious goals of scaling production from a few kilograms a year currently to tons annually within the next three years, the industry must overcome manufacturing, regulatory and funding challenges by embracing AI,...

Digital Food & Beverage 2024

Kellanova delivers digital marketing content with ‘ruthless prioritization,’ AI optimization

Kellanova is optimizing digital marketing through a test-and-learn approach, and leveraging AI capabilities to create assets more efficiently, Lauren Freedman Autry, senior director of integrated marketing and ecommerce at Kellanova, told FoodNavigator-USA.

Startup Spotlight

Brightland CEO on building an olive-oil brand ‘brick by brick’ to expand into Whole Foods

Who says no to distribution at Whole Foods? Brightland shares its strategy behind its launch into the natural foods retailer after declining two previous offers, as the company seeks to differentiate itself from the olive oil category with a modern...