Opinion

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.

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...

Are diet drinks damaging to gut health?

The diet drinks industry is booming, but could links to gut damage threaten its success?

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...

General Mills, Welch’s Fruit Snacks clash over where the line is for humor and truth

Welch’s Fruit Snacks’ maker Promotion In Motion (PIM Brands) went too far in ads it intended to humorously highlight the difference between its fruit snacks and those of competitors, and should discontinue messages that suggest competing products are...

California bans common food dyes in schools days after FDA, stakeholders discuss proposed systematic post-market review process for chemicals in foods

Manufacturers have just over three years to reformulate packaged snacks, confections and beverages with six common – and controversial – food dyes if they want to continue selling their products in California schools.

Food as medicine, waste reduction efforts could face headwinds following presidential election – prompting calls for fast action in coming months

Some legislators worry general political discord and uncertainty about the presidential election could aggravate food insecurity in the US and threaten investments in food as medicine as well as other initiatives and pledges made at the historic White...

Startup Spotlight

Sugar Bliss CEO: Cutting short pitch meetings could pave the way for long partnerships

Given how little time entrepreneurs have during most pitches, intentionally ending the meeting a few minutes early may sound counterintuitive, but the founder of the bakery and packaged cookie company Sugar Bliss says this gives potential buyers or...

How US dairy states hold the keys to the White House

The 2024 US presidential election is set to be a close contest – and key dairy-producing states may be the difference between winning or losing.

How to build successful relationships with wholesalers

Wholesalers are an essential part of the distribution process, for many food and beverage brands. Here’s how to create and grow strong relationships with them.

Conagra ‘nudges’ up snacks, frozen food volumes with merchandising, advertising & innovation

Conagra successfully boosted “meaningful” volume sales of key snacks and frozen foods in the past year despite “a challenging consumer environment,” in which shoppers gave a cold shoulder to some competitors, including PepsiCo, thanks in part to...

How gut health and GLP-1s are reshaping food innovation

While protein, fiber and low-carb options dominate the market, new diet drugs and consumer preferences are pushing the food industry to innovate for a future focused on gut health and targeted nutrition, one industry player said.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: How is the M&A landscape evolving for food & beverage?

An end may be in sight for the capital crunch that has slowed innovation, growth and M&A activity in the food and beverage space in recent years, according to one investment insider, but she warns the timeline is longer for closing deals and the bar is...

Do vegetable crisps deserve their health halo?

Colourful and classy vegetable crisps are often sought after as a ‘better-for-you’ alternative to ordinary crisps. But how accurate is this perception?

Navigating pesticide use in produce: Diverse approaches from industry leaders

Despite the prevalence of pesticide use in farming, recent research from Consumer Reports has raised health concerns and sparked conversations about the varying practices in pesticide management within the industry, while indoor farming companies like...

NPD Trend Tracker: From sweet butter to Milka chocolate milk

Sweet butter is creating a ‘new standard’ for the category, we’re told. And that’s not the only sweet NPD for the month. What’s the latest in sweet (and savoury) innovations?

Plant-Based 3.0 webinar: Tune in May 29 to discover what consumers want from meat alternatives, how to deliver on their taste, texture, appearance & nutrition demands

Nearly two-thirds of Americans are willing to swap meat for plant-based alternatives, and more than half have tried an alternative protein – but of those that have tried, nearly a quarter have not done so a second time, according to research cited by...

Organic vs regenerative: A classic case of ‘frenemies’ pushing each other to do better?

USDA Certified Organic has taken a defensive position in recent years against the proliferation of eco-claims, many of which are not as comprehensive, clearly defined or held as rigorously accountable, but which nonetheless influence consumers’ purchase...

PBFA: Plant-based sales slid in 2023, but ‘with ample space & signage’ units, dollars increase

Sales of plant-based products dipped slightly in 2023 from the prior year as prices rose to offset inflation at a faster rate than their animal counterparts in some – but not all – categories, according to new data from the Plant Based Foods Association.

Organic Trade Association's Organic Week Summit

Organic sales ‘bounce back to a higher growth rate’ to reach nearly $70bn in 2023

New data from the Organic Trade Association shows organic sales “bouncing back” after a post-pandemic and inflation-induced slowdown in incremental grown in recent years, with research from SPINS suggesting the products best positioned to seize this...

Reorg tops FDA’s priorities ahead of presidential election, followed by raft of ‘nutrition’ issues, including ultra-processed food, dietary supplement oversight

Finalizing FDA’s massive reorganization to create a unified Human Foods Program under one leader is the “number one” priority ahead of the November presidential election, which could impact the agency’s focus if a new administration wins office, agency...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Water stewardship, usage claims could be tiebreaker between competing products for sustainability-minded consumers

Water stewardship and use claims are quickly emerging as a top trend in 2024 and could become a “tiebreaker” between competing products as consumers become progressively concerned about sustainability amid increasingly inconsistent rainfall – including...

Coca-Cola fights ‘flat to modest growth’ in North America with innovation, in-store displays & RGM

The Coca-Cola Company anticipates “flat to modest growth in volume” in North America despite characterizing the US consumer as “in good shape” with only modest “compression” among lower-income shoppers, and reporting positive response to stepped-up...

Join FoodNavigator-USA at a free editorial Webinar exploring plant-based protein

Plant-based 3.0: Industry insiders share strategies for pushing alternative proteins forward

After a challenging few years in which falling sales and units dragged plant-based protein into the trough of disillusionment, stakeholders are finding ways up the other side of the Gartner Hype Cycle by leveraging emerging technologies, novel...

Moving beyond finger-pointing: Creating healthier products that deliver on taste, indulgence

Packaged food, especially ultra-processed, is a popular scapegoat for the ongoing struggle with diet-related chronic disease in America, where 70% of adults are overweight or obese, 50% have diabetes or prediabetes and 50% have heart disease – but what...

Skepticism of sustainability claims pushes companies to be more transparent about progress, lean on certifications

As consumers become more interested in sustainable food production and packaging, they are becoming increasingly sophisticated and skeptical in their assessment of green claims – pushing for more specificity, traceability, transparency and veracity,...

Natural Products Expo West

How are alternative protein players finding solutions for consumers, retailers?

While alternative protein sales and units declined notably in recent years, players cite improved food science, commercial scale, production and navigation of retailer expectations during the Natural Products Expo West event last month.

Natural Products Expo West

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Functional beverages trends from gut health to energy to low-sugar & high-protein

Consumers increasingly are weary of “drinking empty calories,” and are instead looking for less sugar and more functional benefits from their beverages – be it enhanced hydration, gut-health support, mood and mental health management or permissible...

Shoppers believe government policies are responsible for price increases, study finds

As shoppers continue facing high grocery prices on shelves, they look to government policies as the most responsible for these increases, while believing retailers should communicate price increases more clearly, according to recent data from The...

Soup-to-Nuts Podcast: What will it take to reinvigorate innovation in packaged food?

Meaningful innovation in the consumer packaged goods industry has ground nearly to a halt post-pandemic for all but an “elite 20%” of companies, according to the Boston Consulting Group’s latest Build for the Future Survey, which analyzes insights from...

Hydrocolloid market reaches ‘better equilibrium,’ but threats loom on horizon

The market for functional hydrocolloids used in foods is stabilizing after a “challenging couple of years,” in which supply chain disruptions during the pandemic triggered selective price hikes and a subsequent drop as food manufacturers scaled back...

Natural Products Expo West

Straus Family Creamery paves way for dairy farms to become carbon neutral by 2030

Cows are often the posterchild for the negative environmental impacts of farming or ranching, but what if they could be a force for good in the fight against climate change?

Startup Spotlight

‘Back end’ logistics may not be as ‘sexy & fun’ as consumer branding, but they are key to securing shelf space, says Pretty Tasty Tea exec

Bovine collagen infused Pretty Tasty Tea may be new to the functional beverage space, after launching in February, but the team behind the beauty-from-within brand includes industry veterans with deep expertise in distribution strategy and retail...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Clean label sales climb as more states explore ingredient bans

Sales of clean label products are outperforming total store sales, according to new research from the Acosta Group which also found consumer interest in products free of “bad” ingredients or “chemicals” is rising alongside high-profile state legislation...

Startup Spotlight

Lattini leverages sunflower seeds to offer healthier, climate-friendly plant-based milk

Consumers increasingly want more from their beverages when it comes to health, but they also want less in terms of calories, ingredients, processing and environmental impact – a delicate balance that startup Lattini strikes without compromising taste and...

Dietary fiber benefits are highly individualized: Study

Not all gut microbiomes react to dietary fiber in the same way, according to a recent study that explored the complex relationship between the two in the context of colitis sensitivity.

Balchem partners with Virginia Tech to study the impact of minerals on human health

Specialty ingredient player Balchem has joined with the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) to found the Virginia Tech Mineral Metabolism Research Center, dedicated to studying the impact of mineral nutrition in human health.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Alibaba explores how AI can level playing field for SMEs

With the recent launch of an AI-powered Smart Assistant, leading business-to-business e-commerce platform Alibaba.com wants to help level the playing field and increase the odds of success for small and medium enterprises and solopreneurs by simplifying...

Super Bowl ranks high among holiday weekends, snacks take center stage

As Las Vegas prepares for the estimated $215bn economic growth from the additional 215,00 visitors for the Super Bowl, CPG companies and retailers have a significant opportunity to feature value-added offerings for viewers across the country, according...

Regenerative agriculture, renewable energy is ‘best path forward’ for reducing Scope 3 emissions

Upstream and downstream activities that indirectly impact a company’s Scope 3 emissions may be difficult to measure, but a collaborative investment between stakeholders will help improve environmental impacts long-term, Brian Nash, vice president of...

Winter Fancy Food Show

Little labels, big impact: How can eco labels drive sales, velocity & consumer loyalty?

Eco labels, from Fairtrade America to Marine Stewardship Council to Non-GMO Project, can help tip the scales when consumers are deliberating between products at shelf and even encourage them to try a new or unfamiliar brand, according to leading...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Regenerative Ag practices could boost consumer perception, trust & purchase intent of brands

Regenerative agriculture may be a relatively new or unknown concept to most US consumers, but new research by ADM suggests that as shoppers’ awareness of the practice grows so too does their trust in retailers and brands that implement its tenets and...

Grocery stores lose sales share to value-focused retailers as consumers continue to seek deals

Traditional grocery stores lost sales across categories to value-focused retailers in 2023 as most consumers sought deals to offset higher prices even as inflation steadily slowed over the year and many acclimated to prices and felt better about their...

Daily Harvest’s January Jumpstart program features GLP-1-focused meal plans

Daily Harvest's debut of its GLP-1 Companion Food Collection as part of its quick-to-prep January Jumpstart plan includes “meals made with only real foods that are calorie-conscious while delivering ample vitamins and minerals,” Carolina Schneider, MS,...

PepsiCo sees snacking potential in chickpeas that check health, sustainability trends

Chickpeas could take a more prominent role in PepsiCo’s snack portfolio given rising consumer interest in the legume, its environmental sustainability attributes and its versatility stemming from its mild flavor and diverse texture applications,...

Eat Meati’s expansion into Target bucks retailer trend to downsize alternative proteins

At a time when many retailers are cutting back on the assortment and number of plant-based proteins they stock, fungi-based newcomer Meati continues to gain retail shelf space with the launch of four of its whole-cut MushroomRoot cutlets and steaks in...

When are ‘best’ claims puffery versus misleading? NAD weighs in on case brought against Old Trapper by Link Snacks

Whether advertising something as “best” is protected as puffery or requires substantiation depends on the context and whether the claims are presented “monadically” or are comparative or quantifiable, according to an advertising watchdog that reviewed a...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Tea sales rise, but volume flattens as brands explore how to boost consumption

Tea’s inherent functional benefits, positive sustainability messaging and diverse usage occasions, formats and flavor profiles should make it a shoe-in for US consumers searching for healthier options that don’t compromise taste or convenience, and yet...

2024 trends to watch: From functional foods and clean label to value-hunting and increased use of AI to drive promotions and efficiencies

The New Year will bring a renewed focus on clean-label and better-for-you products, including a desire or the “best of both worlds” as consumers gravitate towards indulgent products making functional health claims, as well as products that are better for...

[Video] Processing tech can boost food, but can transparency close the trust gap?

A recent white paper published by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) on the sustainable production of nutritious foods through processing technology highlights how various processing techniques can improve food and nutrition security. Yet the...