Dairy-based ingredients

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Immunity-boosting ingredients, diets rival comfort food for center stage in 2021

08-Feb-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

Even though the coronavirus vaccine is slowly, albeit a bit unsteadily, rolling out, a recently published survey of dietitians predicts Americans in 2021 will continue to seek protection from COVID-19 and its rapidly spreading variants from food and beverages...

Consumer confusion about precautionary allergen labeling underscores need for governmental guidance

05-Feb-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

New research revealing the depth of consumer confusion about allergen labeling underscores a need for clearer, more consistent labeling about the presence of allergens or the risk of cross-contamination in food and beverages, and bolsters support for...

Animal-free dairy ice cream Brave Robot secures listings in 5,000 stores

04-Feb-2021 By Elaine Watson

‘Animal-free dairy’ ice cream brand Brave Robot – which launched in July 2020 - will be in 5,000 stores across the US by Earth Day 2021 (April 22), says brand owner The Urgent Company.

‘Highly disingenuous…’ Plant-based labeling battle heats up as more states challenge use of meat, dairy terms

03-Feb-2021 By Elaine Watson

Plant-based brands have blasted the latest wave of bills proposing restrictions on the use of terms such as ‘milk’ and ‘meat’ in states including New York and Texas as “a solution in search of a problem,” but say more work is needed to persuade legislators...

Nutritional Growth Solutions expands kids nutrition shake portfolio with acquisition of KidzShake

01-Feb-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Nutritional Growth Solutions, Ltd. (NGS), parent company of Healthy Height kids protein shake mixes, has acquired nutritional shake brand KidzShake and has announced plans to enter the US medical market.

Sargento lawsuits shine a light on ‘no antibiotics’ claims on food labels

27-Jan-2021 By Elaine Watson

What do reasonable consumers think ‘no antibiotics’ on a cheese label means? That the cheese contains no antibiotics? That the milk is from cows that have never been administered antibiotics? Or something else?

Siggi’s makes sugar reduction fun, inspirational & convenient with Palate Training Kit

27-Jan-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

A limited-supply Palate Training Kits released today from Icelandic skyr brand siggi’s takes an innovative approach to sugar reduction, which has gained prominence among consumers during the pandemic, but which continues to be stymied by taste and convenience...

FrieslandCampina: Convenient, personalized, and active nutrition top 2021 consumer health trends

20-Jan-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Sparked by the health crisis of COVID-19, personalized and active nutrition will be at the forefront of consumers' daily and long-term health goals in 2021, according to a new report from FrieslandCampina Ingredients.

From high-tech fats to ‘non-animal’ dairy: Swedish foodtech brand Nick’s raises $30m, hires ex-siggi’s exec to drive US expansion

15-Jan-2021 By Elaine Watson

Swedish brand Nick’s – which entered the US in late 2019 with a range of light ice creams and generated revenues of $10m in its first full year on the market (2020) – has hired dairy industry veteran Carlos Altschul to head up its US business after raising...

Cost-conscious consumers’ embrace of bulk packaging, private label reshapes competitive landscape

07-Jan-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

More consumers suffering from the economic fallout of the pandemic will prioritize value when grocery shopping this year – forcing brands to rethink packaging and fueling private label innovation and sales that will reshape the competitive landscape,...

2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans 'miss the mark' on added sugar, suggest “shifts” in protein consumption to “add variety"

29-Dec-2020 By Elaine Watson

The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines advise Americans to watch their sugar and alcohol consumption but fall short of recommending the drastic cuts recently suggested by the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC).

General Mills forecasts increased at-home eating to be 'new normal' post-pandemic

18-Dec-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

General Mills net sales increased 7% to $4.7bn for Q2 2021 as the company continued to benefit from elevated at-home demand for its core brands within its meals & baking and cereal segments, which grew net sales by 9% for the quarter.

Consumer demand for products that nourish mental health, offer time-saving convenience on the rise

17-Dec-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

The emotional and physical strains caused by events in 2020 have shined a light on the need for and accelerated development of foods and beverages that not only nourish consumers’ physical bodies, but their mental health as well, according to Rabobank...

Investing in the Future of Food: Food-tech investments target productivity, quality & sustainability

16-Dec-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Pandemic-fueled consumer demand for food that is healthier, more sustainable, ethically produced and easier to access has fueled a “burst of investment” in food-tech in 2020 that Finistere Ventures predicts will have a lasting impact on the industry long...

Remilk prepares to scale with $11.3m investment: ‘We estimate regulatory approval to be granted sooner than most expect’

15-Dec-2020 By Flora Southey

Alt milk start-up Remilk, which makes dairy alternative products through microbial fermentation, has closed a funding round worth $11.3m (€9.2m).

Surging COVID cases trigger another wave of stockpiling, threatening inventory, but not like in Spring

15-Dec-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

As the current wave of coronavirus cases crests the peak of the first, consumers once again are stockpiling essentials, although many manufacturers do not anticipate as great a sales lift as they saw in March and April at the beginning of the pandemic....

Silk Kids Almondmilk Yogurt Alternative launches to meet growing demand for plant-based kids’ options

11-Dec-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

While interest in plant-based options for children is on the rise, meeting the high bar for taste and texture set by kids – who often are less willing than adults to compromise on experience for nutrition – can be a tall order, according to some nutritionists.

Rabobank: Increased transparency, digitation needed to reinforce supply chain against future threats

11-Dec-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

While the food supply chain bent to accommodate weaknesses revealed and intensified by the coronavirus outbreak earlier this year, next time an unexpected threat arises the industry might not be so lucky unless it increases transparency and digitization...

Chobani bets big on probiotics, expands oatmilk line with zero sugar option

10-Dec-2020 By Elaine Watson

Chobani has moved further into the functional foods arena with the launch of probiotic yogurts and shakes, which follow hot on the heels of its plant-based probiotic beverage and protein- and fiber-packed Chobani Complete range, which hit shelves in the...

What's the difference between plant-based and vegan? Foodchain ID unveils new certification schemes

07-Dec-2020 By Elaine Watson

While the terms 'plant-based' and 'vegan' might appear to be interchangeable (they both exclude animal products), consumers do not view them in quite the same way, claims Foodchain ID, which has just launched separate 'vegan,'...

GALLERY: Plant-based brands and innovations to watch in 2021

04-Dec-2020 By Elaine Watson

Plant-based eggs, bacon, and everything inbetween… check out our gallery of plant-based brands and innovations to watch in 2021, from NotCo and Black Sheep Foods to Gold & Green. There are of course SCORES of exciting brands not covered here; this...

Rabobank's FoodBytes! winners offer solutions for food waste, climate change and improved health

04-Dec-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

In a year when food waste, climate change, social inequity and health & wellness have dominated headlines, it is fitting that the winners of Rabobank’s virtual FoodBytes! 2020 Pitch competition offer solutions to address these challenges and help...

Comfort foods take center plate in Grubhub’s 2020 ‘Year in Food’ report

03-Dec-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Analyzing user behavior for its more than 30 million active diners this year, online and mobile-food ordering platform Grubhub saw surging orders for comfort foods and a rise of ready-to-drink coffee orders.

GALLERY: Food tech companies to watch in 2021

02-Dec-2020 By Elaine Watson

From a flurry of startups using microbes – instead of plants or animals – to produce proteins, to AI-driven platforms exploring ‘the dark matter of nutrition,’ and real honey produced without bees, check out our gallery of foodtech companies to watch...

Danone adopts ‘Local First’ model to regain profitability by mid-2021

30-Nov-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

After a tumultuous year caused by the pandemic, Danone is transitioning from a category-led to a "Local First" business model, which will help the company return to profitable growth as soon H2 2021, said Danone chairman and CEO Emmanuel Faber....

Peekaboo Organics ice cream with hidden veggies wins $200,000 at Real California Milk Snackcelerator

23-Nov-2020 By Jim Cornall

Peekaboo Organics’ ice cream featuring hidden vegetables was named the grand prize winner of the Real California Milk Snackcelerator dairy snack innovation competition created by the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) and VentureFuel.

Flavor trends for 2021: fresh from the garden, breakfast all day, chicken & home baked goods

19-Nov-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Consumers’ desire for comforting, nostalgic and indulgent foods and beverages as a way to cope with pressures from the pandemic, election and economic hardship in 2020 is about to clash with more austere preferences more typical of each new year, including...

Graeter’s Ice Cream partners with Perfect Day on ‘animal-free’ vegan ice cream launch

17-Nov-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Cincinnati-based Graeter’s Ice Cream, a 150-year-old family-owned company, and Perfect Day, a San Francisco-based startup producing animal-free milk proteins via microbial fermentation, have partnered to launch “Perfect Indulgence”, a line of frozen desserts...

Eclipse Foods moves into retail, raises $12m Series A: ‘We’re following the Beyond Meat playbook’

17-Nov-2020 By Elaine Watson

Many plant-based dairy brands are built around ‘hero’ ingredients such as almond or coconut. At Eclipse Foods, by contrast, the mission is to replicate the taste and functionality of real dairy, and the brand, which could span multiple dairy platforms,...

Webinar Tomorrow: Meeting Children’s Nutritional Needs from conception through the teenage years

17-Nov-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Children’s dietary patterns are mostly set by the time they turn 2 years old, which doesn’t leave a lot of wiggle room for indulging picky eaters if caregivers want their kids to grow up eating – and liking – a wide variety of healthy, nutrient-dense...

FOOD FOR KIDS Trailblazers recap: ‘DTC is probably the way to go’ to break into children’s food & beverage

12-Nov-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Companies hoping to break into the children’s food and beverage category may have a better shot at success by going direct-to-consumer with solutions that extend beyond kids to target the whole family than they do at breaking into and out on grocery retail...

Growth Spurt gears up for launch of goat’s milk toddler formula: ‘It’s a much closer breakdown to breast milk’

02-Nov-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Cow’s milk allergy is one the most common food allergies among infants and toddlers, yet very few formula alternatives exist for parents looking for a solution that eases their baby’s digestive sensitivities while matching the nutritional profile of breast...

Hybrid milk? DFA rolls out Dairy+ Milk Blends combining plant-based and dairy milk to Northeast

31-Oct-2020 By Elaine Watson

Dairy Farmers of America is rolling out its Dairy+ milk blends (lactose-free milks featuring 50:50 blends of plant-based milk and cow’s milk) to retailers in the Northeast as it pioneers the ‘hybrid’ trend in the dairy case after seeing more brands experiment...

Sprouts Farmers Market on track to double business in 5 years with innovation, new branding

30-Oct-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Encouraged by strong third-quarter sales online and in stores as well as net sales in the period that grew twice that of a year ago, Sprouts Farmers Market is “financially stronger than ever,” and on track to double its business by 2025, according to...

WEBINAR Oct 28: Kids and the plant-based trend

27-Oct-2020 By Elaine Watson

Do children like oatmilk and Beyond Burgers? Research* shows that US families with children over-index for plant-based milk and yogurt sales and that parents of children under 18 are more likely to think that plant-based proteins are healthier than animal-based...

Researchers call for crackdown on ‘kid influencers’ promoting unhealthy food, beverages on YouTube

27-Oct-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

After discovering a “staggering level of exposure” of fast food, candy, soda and other unhealthy branded foods and beverages on YouTube videos featuring and targeting young children, researchers from New York University are calling on the Federal Trade...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: COVID-19 impact underscores need, ability for industry to tackle sustainability goals

26-Oct-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Farmers and ranchers have long grappled alone with “extreme and episodic” events that have threatened their ability to meet demand, but according to one food and ag non-profit the added strain of the pandemic has illustrated the need for stakeholders...

'Vegan cheese' banned but 'veggie burger' still on the table, votes European Parliament

23-Oct-2020 By Flora Southey

The European Parliament has voted to ban dairy-related terms for plant-based alternatives. An amendment proposing to ban ‘meaty’ terms for vegan products, however, has not passed – much to the sector’s delight.

McDonald’s nudges more people to buy Happy Meals with fruit & veggies through creative marketing

21-Oct-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

By adding healthier sides that are more prominently featured in marketing alongside more nutritious beverages, McDonald’s is chipping away at its goals to offer – and sell – more balanced Happy Meals with simplified ingredients, and less saturated fat,...

Impossible Foods seeks to double size of R&D team, provides glimpse of work on Impossible Milk and egg alternatives

20-Oct-2020 By Elaine Watson

It’s not sharing launch dates, but Impossible Foods is making progress on developing egg alternatives and a milk that “is better than anything that comes from a cow,” company execs told reporters during a call outlining plans to double the size of the...

Kroger adds more than 50 plant-based items to Simple Truth line

14-Oct-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Kroger has added more than 50 items -- from oat milk ice cream and non-dairy cheese to the debut of Emerge Chik'n -- to its Simple Truth plant-based collection to meet consumers' growing appetite for plant-based alternatives.

Tune into the Consumer Parents' Panel in part one of the FOOD FOR KIDS 2020 virtual summit

14-Oct-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

How are parents coping with the COVID-19 pandemic in their households when it comes to feeding their kids? Has the extra time spent at home given families more opportunity to cook and experiment with new recipes, or has the anxiety left parents scrambling...

Real California Milk Snackcelerator expands with more prize money

08-Oct-2020 By Jim Cornall

The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) has announced it has doubled the number of semi-finalists and added more than $350,000 in additional awards to the Real California Milk Snackcelerator, its dairy product innovation competition.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Organic Trade Association & CPG leaders address ‘existential threat’ of climate change

05-Oct-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Over the last two weeks of September, members of the Organic Trade Association met virtually with 30 legislators on both sides of the aisle from 19 states to advocate for policies that they say will help all farmers mitigate and adapt to climate change,...

Introducing the FOOD FOR KIDS 2020 virtual summit: From kids and the plant-based trend to dietary guidelines for infants and toddlers

29-Sep-2020 By Elaine Watson

School closures – and tentative re-openings – have compounded stress levels for families, while COVID-19-induced economic anxiety is also straining household budgets. So how can food and beverage brands come up with enticing – but affordable – recipes,...

Brazi Bites launches on Amazon and in Walmart stores: 'We felt we were missing out on a number of consumers'

23-Sep-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Brazi Bites, best known for its frozen gluten-free Brazilian-style cheese bread, is expanding its consumer reach by launching on Amazon and in 300 Walmart stores where the brand can tap into a new base of consumers, said co-founder and CMO, Junea Rocha.

Decentralized production & enhanced biodiversity, bioavailability are key for a ‘perfect food system’

22-Sep-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

To create a “perfect food system” that can feed more people with fewer resources in the next 50 years, the food industry needs to turn 180-degrees away from long-considered “best practices,” including focusing on high yield crops, concentrating production...

Investments in grocery CPG, food delivery increase despite lingering economic uncertainty

22-Sep-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Venture capitalists’ initial hesitancy to enter new deals immediately following the coronavirus outbreak appears to be easing with the most interest and activity focused on grocery CPGs and food delivery, according to an analyst with Pitchbook.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Is a slimmed down grocery selection spurred by the pandemic here to stay?

21-Sep-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

At six months into the pandemic, we are well-past the frantic pantry stocking days that left many store shelves bare, and yet, the broad product selection available in stores before the coronavirus outbreak has not returned – prompting questions about...

13% of Americans rely on SNAP food assistance – IRI shares strategies to win & keep their business

17-Sep-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

As the number of Americans dependent on what was once known as food stamps swells to 13% of the population due in large part to an unemployment spike related to the pandemic, they have become an increasingly important demographic for CPG retailers, according...