An editorial in an academic journal has reignited the debate over the extent to which a poor diet – and the marketing tactics employed by the food industry – is responsible for America’s obesity epidemic.
Congress needs to strengthen FDA’s oversight of genetically modified organisms before foreign countries, with potentially lower safety standards, begin genetically engineering crops used in finished products that are imported to the U.S., argues an executive...
From a standing start in late 2013 – when it hit shelves in Whole Foods - Hampton Creek’s egg-free spread Just Mayo is now in 21,000 retail locations. But its progress in foodservice has been even more meteoric, says CEO Josh Tetrick, who says a deal...
Sharp increases in imported organic soy beans and corn to the U.S. in 2014 to feed the expanding organic dairy, poultry and livestock sectors is a “‘help wanted’ message for American farmers,” according to Laura Batcha, CEO of the Organic Trade Association.
Europe’s largest frozen foods business Iglo Group has been bought by a pair of US investors for €2.6bn, at 2.4 times return on the original investment made by parent company Permira.
FDA is considering adding pre- and post-market enforcement “enhancements” to the final rule for the process of determining food substances are GRAS – or generally recognized as safe, according to a top agency official.
As widely predicted, multiple class action lawsuits were filed against KIND on Friday following the publication of a Food & Drug Administration (FDA) warning letter citing a long list of concerns over label claims on its bars and its website.
Kraft has unveiled plans to remove artificial preservatives and synthetic colors from its iconic Original Kraft Macaroni & Cheese in the U.S. starting January 2016. Meanwhile, Kraft Dinner Original in Canada will be free from synthetic colors by the...
Water is likely to be sufficient for food production in 2050 – but increased competition means two-thirds of the world will be affected by water scarcity, according to a joint report from the FAO and the World Water Council.
Millennials have a general distrust of big companies and a different set of priorities than baby boomers
While working at sexy new food & beverage companies such as Hampton Creek or Suja Juice sounds like a pretty exciting way to earn a living, the most talented people coming out of business school today are still more likely to pick technology or investment...
Organic is outgrowing its moniker as a specialty category thanks to a double digit increase in sales last year by consumers nationwide of all political leanings and ethnic backgrounds, according to data from the Organic Trade Association.
Dr Pepper Snapple Group has invested $15m in a minority stake in Bai Brands, which has generated explosive growth in multiple retail channels with its 'antioxidant infusion' low-calorie Bai5 beverages.
It’s no secret that smaller, emerging brands are winning the battle for consumers’ hearts, minds and wallets from larger, established players in the US food and beverage industry, but which ‘challenger’ brands really stand out in the crowd? And what are...
There are plenty of billion-dollar brands in the CPG market, but just 8% of 213 ‘legacy’ US food and beverage brands analyzed by market researcher Hartman Group are outpacing inflation and category growth rates.
Americans are falling out of love with many big legacy ‘processed food’ brands and the “financial markets have closely observed what is happening in our industry and acted quickly and decisively”, according to the chairman of the world’s biggest food...
$86m factory now operational as distribution broadens
Capri-Sun is expanding its presence in China, announcing a partnership with Reignwood Group that will give it the necessary sales and distribution muscle.
FDA: KIND bars do not meet the requirements for use of the nutrient content claim ‘healthy'
KIND LLC says it is working closely with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to address a long list of concerns raised by the agency in a warning letter over label claims on its bars and its website.
Several well-established manufacturers are stepping out of their comfort zones and expanding into new categories or updating iconic brands to meet consumers’ ostensibly insatiable desire for protein-packed snacks.
Investing in 3D printing could open new markets and generate huge cost savings for food manufacturers and retailers, but first companies must overcome potential regulatory and legal hurdles, many of which are not yet identified, warn food and drug lawyers...
While Trader Joe’s gets plenty of plaudits, its German parent company ALDI – which operates nearly 1,400 stores in 32 US states - is probably “the most underestimated grocery retailer” in the nation, according to a new report from market researcher Hartman...
Through partnerships with small farmers, non-governmental organizations and other industry stakeholders, General Mills reports it is making progress towards its goal of sustainably sourcing 100% of its top 10 ingredients by 2020.
While their sophisticated flavor profile and branding might seem a natural fit for Whole Foods Market, Brewla gourmet ice pops – made from brewed tea, coffee and root beer – are also on sale at Walmart, proving that the brand has broad appeal, say co-founders...
According to the March 2015 report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, most Americans now consume two or three snacks a day - news that came as no surprise to the outgoing chairman of the Snack Food Association, Mark Singleton. Elaine Watson...
Artisan Bistro hopes to coax back to the frozen food aisle consumers who have given the category the cold shoulder by raising the culinary and ingredient bars with its boldly flavored meals that are healthy for consumers and the earth.
Legislation requiring warning labels on sugar-sweetened beverages alerting shoppers to the risk of diabetes, obesity, and tooth decay has been backed by a group of 34 leading public health scientists and researchers.
A California federal judge has given the green light to a false advertising lawsuit filed against Hain Celestial accusing it of misleading shoppers by describing its Sunflower Dream beverage and related products as ‘all-natural’ when they contained “artificial,...
Manufacturers are cautiously reinvesting in tempeh, which is well-positioned to capitalize on multiple growing consumer trends, but they realize that before it can take-off it must clear a major hurdle: Most consumers have never heard of it.
The requirement to be “authentic” to succeed in the competitive food and beverage industry is clear, but how consumers define authenticity and how companies can meet and benefit from this lofty standard is not as clear.
US sales of specialty foods blasted through the $100bn barrier in 2014, with retail ($85.5bn) and foodservice sales ($24bn) combined hitting $109.5bn, up 10.3% on 2013 sales of $99.3bn, according to a new report from the Specialty Food Association using...
Subscription snack box company Love With Food helps natural snack manufacturers drive brand awareness and sales by sampling their products directly to consumers’ doors for a fraction of the cost and labor of in-store demonstrations, according to the company’s...
Big CPG firms are not nimble enough to innovate and align with changing consumer tastes, says TABS Group founder
The impending marriage of Heinz and Kraft Foods Group will create a $29bn consumer packaged goods powerhouse. But is bigger always better, or are megadeals like this more about making money for lawyers and shareholders than delighting consumers and driving...
From obesity to malnutrition and water scarcity, the world is facing an ever-growing number of food-related problems. But how responsible is the food industry for fighting back against these issues?
The adventure-seeking co-founders of freeze-dried snack fruit start-up Berry Golden hope to lead consumers by example to step out of their comfort zone and try something new.
There are strict rules governing nutrient content claims about antioxidants. However, a new lawsuit challenging claims that GT’s Kombucha drinks contain “powerful antioxidants” suggests there is still room for debate over what you can - and can’t - say...
“Bamboo Water can reach the amazing eco and health conscious movement on our planet”
Bamboo Water could harness the neglected nutritional properties of bamboo leaves to create a drink that is both healthy and ecologically sustainable, says the co-founder of Bamboo Beverages.
Rising health concerns, commodity costs and competition are restraining sales of chocolate in the U.S. that until 2014 were growing strongly, according to market research from Mintel.
Large food and beverage companies are starting to fight back with mixed success against the smaller, more nimble companies that continue to steal market share, according to market analysts.
Fostering children's willingness to try new flavours and foods has clear benefits for the food industry - yet researchers say baby food manufacturers may be inadvertently creating picky eaters.
Aside from making a functional, better-for-you-snack taste good, the hardest part is selling it—an even tougher proposition if your primary target market is children aged six to 18 and their moms.
The face of the organic shopper is changing slowly to reflect more accurately the American population thanks in part to increased distribution, according to a new study by the Organic Trade Association.
Improving the quality, assortment, display and accessibility of fresh food is “critical” to Walmart’s “plan of attack” to grow sales and market share, the firm’s new U.S. CEO told analysts April 1.
As many of today’s busy consumers are getting upwards of half their daily calories from snacks, they’re demanding more than ever from the category. So newcomer Snack Out Loud saw an opportunity to leverage the power of the yet untapped roasted pinto bean...
Yogurt maker Dannon’s partnership with cold pressed juice giant Evolution Fresh creates a powerhouse that could bring renewed energy to the Greek yogurt category, which has been slowing recently.
We have vegetarian, pescetarian, fruitatarian, vegan… and pollo-tarian? Ditching beef and dairy for poultry products is the best diet to combat climate change, according to new research.
Mondelēz will bear the brunt of any potential financial sanctions if a charge of manipulating wheat prices brought yesterday by The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) succeeds.
