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?
After establishing itself as a top player in the honey category with strong year-over-year growth, Nature Nate’s Honey Co. is expanding into adjacent categories where a company executive said it can offer “real, clean” alternatives to existing products...
The Season Brand wants to expand the currently limited appeal of sardines in the US by launching a new line of on-the-go snack kits that will directly target tuna-lovers with a healthier alternative, while also appealing to existing sardine-lovers who...
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.
More than 1,600 foods and beverages evaluated by the Guiding Stars nutrition guidance program will lose stars and roughly 1,400 items will gain stars as of Feb. 1 when the program updates how it assesses the nutritional quality of products to better reflect...
Complex supply chains, heavy processing and continual supply and demand issues make seafood the ideal target for food fraud, but innovations in molecular biology, along with other tried and true detection and deterrent methods could reduce the risk and...
Consumers are embracing grocery shopping online faster than originally anticipated, and both manufacturers and brick-and-mortar retailers are at risk of being caught flat-footed unless they quickly hire the staff and build the technology necessary to...
Pique Tea’s clean sweep of gold medals in all three categories of the Global Tea Championships that it entered validates the company’s effort to elevate the quality of instant tea, which often is derided as the lowest class, to that of the industry’s...
The current rollout of national hummus brand Tribe’s new packaging featuring more white space, simplistic designs and fewer claims reflects the manufacturer’s recent commitment to clean label, including a reformulation to remove artificial ingredients,...
Despite downward price pressure in the nutrition bar category, Bobo’s continues to sell its organic oat bars for nearly three times as much as its competitors – helping it curry favor with retailers and earn prime in-store positioning that further boosts...
After dominating the premium end of the sparkling water category with Perrier and S.Pellegrino, Nestlé Waters North America is going after the mainstream shopper, and an even larger share of the fast-growing segment, with the launch of new and updated...
Until recently, Americans only ate about one-third of the recommended amount of seafood per week, but industry insiders say this is changing and they note shoppers aren’t reaching for just any seafood – they want sustainably sourced seafood that is not...
While some commentators still suspect that the ‘emperor has no clothes’ despite the steady influx of cash being pumped into the burgeoning meal kit industry, the meteoric growth at Sun Basket – which boasts industry-leading margins as well as customer...
Peanut butter and jelly maker JM Smucker Co. prepares for the departure of the head of its food and beverage for the US at a delicate time when it is navigating shifting consumer preferences away from “big food” and rising supply costs for some of its...
Consumer demand for products that are healthier for them is quickly expanding to include those that also are better for the environment – creating new opportunities for companies that strive to be more sustainable and barriers for those that do not, according...
Inspiring consumers through beautiful Pinterest posts, delicious recipes, heart-warming blog posts and viral videos can help build brand awareness, but the most effective digital marketers also make each experience easily shoppable, according to new research...
For the first time, Generation Z is emerging as an influencer in grocery spending and early indications suggests that they will favor more organic, healthy products as well as authentic and multicultural offerings, according to new research from Acosta....
What are the key beverage trends - and companies - to watch in 2018?
One of the most exciting players in the fast-growing meal replacement space, Soylent built its business – and a highly engaged community – online, first on its own website, and later on Amazon, but has recently ventured into the bricks and mortar space...
The launch of Amazon Go and a separate $5.5 million infusion of seed preferred financing into Cargo’s “in-car commerce platform,” underscore how quickly the grocery channel landscape is changing and the need for brands to take an omni-channel marketing...
The increasing speed with which new fads emerge and old ones fade can leave companies scrambling to innovate and launch products before consumer whims shift, but as cookie maker Donsuemor shows there are other ways to meet changing trends without changing...
Busy parents who don’t have time to chop & puree food for their babies and who distrust premade food in jars, pouches or HPP tubs, now have another option that meets them half way: Raised Real offers subscription flash frozen meal kits for children...
A new coalition of over 30 organizations representing growers, refiners, producers, transporters, retailers and consumers has announced it will work with the Trump Administration and Congress to preserve and modernize NAFTA, noting that withdrawal from...
Members of Congress chastise the US Department of Agriculture in a Jan. 17 letter for threatening to withdraw a widely popular final rule passed in the 11th hour of the Obama Administration that would heighten animal welfare standards for organic producers.
‘Stealth nutrition’ brand Sneakz Organic – best known for its veggie puree-infused milkshakes - is entering a new category with the launch of vegan protein powders for kids, which will be followed by a dairy-free ready-to-drink shake, and new products...
The jury may be out still on whether trace amounts of the popular herbicide glyphosate pose health risks to humans, but industry insiders predict mounting consumer fear about the possibility will pressure more food and beverage manufacturers in 2018 to...
Hoping to overcome sales-limiting stereotypes about prunes and expand when and how people consume them, the California Dried Plum Board is teaming with the meal kit provider Chef’d to showcase the dried fruit’s diverse uses and benefits in three new meals...
The global financial crisis that began with the housing market crash in 2008 may technically be over, but its long-term impact will continue to influence how consumers spend their money in 2018 and beyond and which companies and brand they support, according...
From cannabis cuisine - Jeff Sessions’ recent interventions notwithstanding - to ‘intrinsic nutrition' (a renewed focus on nutrient-dense foods naturally rich in healthy fats, protein, fiber, and other nutrients), here are 10 macro trends to watch...
A joint venture between ingredient suppliers Cargill and PURIS announced today will allow for the significant expansion of pea protein production at a time when more consumers are looking for plant-based options that deliver health benefits, are sustainable...
“Deeply disappointed” by the US Department of Agriculture’s recent decision to eliminate the new organic standard on animal welfare, stakeholders are taking their case to the mainstream public in an effort to pressure the agency to change its position....
Industry and consumer interest in adaptogens is on the rise, but the list of actual adaptogens may be a lot smaller than many think, says a leading expert.
New Zealand’s a2 Milk Company is expanding its US business to the Northeast region, a market that accounts for roughly 20% of total US milk volume, a category that is beginning to see some growth in sales after years of declines.
While some commentators say Trader Joe's is most at risk of losing customers to a resurgent Whole Foods, the chain's curated product selections, superior customer service, and creative private label items have helped propel it to the top of...
For all the strides plant-based diets made in 2017, including the growing popularity of veggie burgers that bleed, cauliflower rice and zucchini noodles, new cuts of meat is predicted to be the number one food trend to watch in 2018, according to the...
In 2013, Mosa Meat showed the world what clean meat looks like; 'Burger 2.0' will now be ready in under 2 years. But it's not a case of being first, the CEO says. “The global meat market is worth over one trillion dollars. Four companies...
Most food and beverage startups dream of expanding from a local brand serving only a handful of stores to one that is nationally distributed to hundreds or thousands of retailers, but the logistics of getting there can be a nightmare if not carefully...
The US market for low FODMAP foods aimed at helping IBS sufferers is still small and consumer awareness is low, but companies large and small are targeting a category that could be bigger than gluten-free.
A high fat diet may not sound like a logical way to shed extra pounds, but consumers are flocking to the controversial ketogenics diet as a way to manage their weight and in doing so are creating a new market ripe for innovation but not necessarily longevity,...
Blaming genes for failing to lose weight may no longer be an excuse – in fact, genetic predisposition for obesity actually could magnify diet-based weight loss efforts, according to new research in The BMJ.
Lidl’s entrance last summer into the highly competitive US retail market already is placing significant pricing pressure on nearby major retailers, which likely will need to drop prices even further and offer more convenient shopping services in order...
‘I’m a fan. The low-calorie cola segment in the US is in desperate need of some kind of refresh…’
Coca-Cola is rolling out a bold new look for Diet Coke in slimmer 12oz cans, and introducing four spicy new flavors: Ginger Lime, Feisty Cherry, Zesty Blood Orange and Twisted Mango.* But what do designers and market researchers think of the new look,...
In an era when consumers prize “buying local,” regional brands looking to expand and national companies seeking a toehold in area markets must carefully craft partnerships that will spur growth without alienating consumers who are attracted to homegrown...
Catering to consumer demand for “experiences,” food and beverage manufacturers in 2018 will make their products more “tactile” in a way that goes beyond Instagramable unicorn colors and unexpected black, predicts Supermarket Guru Phil Lempert.
Food and beverage companies must do more than just follow the money as consumers shift spending away from eating at home and towards eating out – they also must consider the eating occasion and experience on a meal-by-meal basis to excel, new research...
Does the world need another packaging seal? Real estate on most food labels is limited, acknowledge the backers of the new ‘High Pressure Certified’ seal, but an independently-verified logo will help ensure the integrity of high pressure processing (HPP)...
New research from a health, sports and travel specialist insurer casts a shadow over the health halo of protein bars, which consumers increasingly reach for as an easy way to stave off hunger after a workout and because they perceive them as a more nutritious...
Despite US adults spending more than three hours a day online, print is not dead – at least when it comes to advertising fast-moving consumer goods like groceries, according to a recent Nielsen research.
Sales of high protein, low sugar Greek yogurt brand Oikos Triple Zero grew by 22% in the year to December 24, 2017, said brand owner Dannon, which has enlisted Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott to front its new ad campaign and started road testing...
A move announced yesterday by US Attorney General Jeff Sessions to allow federal prosecutors to pursue marijuana enforcement cases further unsettles the regulatory underpinning for those companies seeking to use hemp derivatives for nutritional products.
