Dairy-based ingredients

Walmart’s grocery business still ‘solid’ despite counter-intuitive impact from stimulus spending

11-Sep-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

While economic stimulus spending has helped drive up Walmart’s market share in general merchandising in recent months, it may have taken an unexpected toll on the retailer’s grocery business when paired with other pandemic-related operational changes,...

To boldly go… NotCo raises $85m to expand plant-based empire, gears up for US market entry

09-Sep-2020 By Elaine Watson

Santiago-based food tech company NotCo has closed an $85m Series C funding round co-led by Future Positive and L Catterton,* and is gearing up for a move into the US market in late 2020 or early 2021.

Target Good & Gather private label line to nearly double number of SKUs

04-Sep-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Launched in September 2019, Target’s newest private label line Good & Gather has generated more than $1bn in sales and will nearly double its line with 600 new items this fall.

No dairy, no nuts, no soy... LOCA Food gears up for DTC launch of potato-based queso

04-Sep-2020 By Elaine Watson

Giving up meat was tough… but there are lot of great alternatives out there, says LOCA Food founder Lauren Joyner, a UX designer turned food entrepreneur. Giving up nacho cheese sauce – a staple of her childhood diet – was a whole different ballgame....

Consumer desire for ‘resiliency’ during pandemic opens door for functional products, says Hartman Group

02-Sep-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

New opportunities are opening for functional foods and beverages as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic pushes consumers to seek products that will boost their “resiliency,” support their health and wellness and personally empower them while simultaneously...

Investing in the Future of Food: Strategies to maximize boards for fast growth, successful fundraising

02-Sep-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Cash-strapped startups may hold-off on establishing a board to save money, but according to one career coach a solid line-up of advisors can generate returns several-fold higher than their fees or salaries and can reassure potential investors, making...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: How can industry help feed students returning to school online & in person

31-Aug-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

As many schools negotiate how to teach children safely during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, they also must navigate how to feed them – a challenge that will require creativity and cooperation from regulators, legislators, and school nutrition professionals...

PURIS gears up to open Dawson pea protein plant, teases new launches incl pea syrup, sweet lupin flour

28-Aug-2020 By Elaine Watson

Plant-based protein specialist PURIS – a key supplier of pea protein to Beyond Meat - is rolling out a series of new products this year including a pea syrup that can serve as an alternative to corn-, brown rice- or tapioca syrup; and sweet lupin flour,...

New leader in fresh snacking? Clio Snacks closes $8m funding round and doubles revenue this year

26-Aug-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Clio Snacks -- known its for chilled, chocolate-covered Greek yogurt bars -- has closed an $8m series C fundraising round led by long-term investment partner Alliance Consumer Growth (ACG) and new investor in the brand, AF Ventures, bringing total investment...

a2 Milk Company nearly doubles revenue in US aiming to reach $100m annual sales as next milestone

20-Aug-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

With more than 20,000 stores in its retail footprint, new packaging and products, and increased trend spend, a2 Milk Company is moving closer to reaching meaningful scale in the US since its launch in select California retailers five years ago, said CEO...

‘Don’t Quit’ shakes up adult nutrition category with minority investments from Keurig Dr. Pepper and L.A. Libations

19-Aug-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Keurig Dr. Pepper (KDP) has taken a minority investment with a defined path to ownership in emerging brand ‘Don’t Quit’ to become the next heavyweight in the segment, said KDP president Robert Gamgort during the firm's Q2 2020 earnings call.

Food & beverage entrepreneurs! Want to take center stage at the 2020 FOOD FOR KIDS virtual summit?

17-Aug-2020 By Elaine Watson

Want to get feedback on your new child-focused food or beverage launch, brand, or business, from our expert panel at FoodNavigator-USA's virtual FOOD FOR KIDS summit in the fall?

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: The iconic ‘Got Milk?’ campaign returns as shoppers flock back to the beverage

17-Aug-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

After years of declining sales, dairy milk is on the rise again thanks in part to the coronavirus driving a resurgence of baking, cooking and eating at home, but to keep the momentum going during and after the pandemic, industry stakeholders are reviving...

Impossible Foods raises another $200m; products under development include milk and steaks

14-Aug-2020 By Elaine Watson

Impossible Foods has raised $200m in a Series G funding round led by new investor Coatue, with participation from existing investors including Mirae Asset Global Investments and Temasek as well as new investor XN. The move brings its total funding since...

With millions of Americans lactose intolerant, should dairy remain as an independent, recommended food group?

14-Aug-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Likely fighting an uphill battle, some nutrition experts, health care providers and professional athletes want the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans to demote dairy from its long-held position as a standalone and recommended food group to a discretionary...

Post Holding’s spun-off BellRing off to a rocky start with pandemic, but confident in long-term results

11-Aug-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Executives from Post Holdings and its recently spun-off active nutrition business BellRing Brands may be confident that the new food company will meet its full-year targets, but analysts on the company’s third quarter call late last week sounded dubious.

House Ag Committee requests relief for ranchers, specialty crop farmers & seeks investigation of cattle industry amid pandemic

10-Aug-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Members of the House Agriculture Committee are demanding USDA take a closer look at and provide additional relief for the coronavirus pandemic’s “disproportionate toll on farmers and ranchers,” and the specialty crop sector.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Land O’Lakes, Microsoft team to boost food production, sustainability & farm quality of life

10-Aug-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

An unexpected partnership between one of the largest dairy cooperatives in America and a technology powerhouse that is more often associated with cubical farms than actual farms is taking on some of the biggest threats to the US food system to help farmers...

USDA proposes stricter oversight, enforcement of organic to better detect, prevent fraud

05-Aug-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Responding to increasing fraud threats to the organic industry, the US Department of Agriculture seeks to strengthen oversight and improve the transparency and traceability of organic food through a four-prong plan that praises and mirrors actions already...

Danone sees strong sales of plant-based products while small-format bottled water drops 32%

03-Aug-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Despite headwinds from closures of away-from-home channels due the ongoing pandemic, Danone grew sales and household penetration of its US plant-based and premium dairy brands for the first half of 2020.

Universal free school meals could alleviate hunger for millions of children, financial strain on schools

31-Jul-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Legislation proposed yesterday to provide all children free school meals not only would help feed the increasing number of children who face food insecurity due to the pandemic and associated economic downturn, but it would also ease financial strain...

Sen. Booker targets corporate consolidation in agriculture for ‘fundamentally broken’ US food system

29-Jul-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Decrying the US food system as “fundamentally broken and worsening the challenge of justice in our country,” Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., is on an mission to block and dismantle corporate consolidation in agriculture, which he argues places profits over...

Unlocking Innovation webinar Aug. 6: Discover how to reduce your environmental impact & improve sustainability

28-Jul-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Even as the pandemic continues to strain the food system and pressure manufacturers to balance increased demand with restricted supply, companies must still pursue sustainability goals, including minimizing their environmental impact and improving the...

Citizen Petition argues toddler milks threaten children’s health and pose ‘economic harm’ to families

28-Jul-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

In a Citizen’s Petition filed today, children’s health advocates are ramping up pressure on FDA to address the labeling of so-called ‘transition formulas’ or ‘toddler milks,’ which they say offer “no unique nutritional value,” threaten the health of young...

Chobani moves into functional beverage category with Chobani Probiotic; unveils new high protein Complete yogurt range

21-Jul-2020 By Elaine Watson

Chobani has moved into new territory with the launch of Chobani Probiotic: a new line of organic, plant-based functional beverages; and Chobani Complete: a new line of protein- and fiber-packed lactose-free Greek yogurt cups and shakes with no added sugar,...

Califia Farms CEO: Tackling structural racism in food system is ‘celebratory’ and ‘just good business’

21-Jul-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

As with other aspects of American culture, racism has both deep and multiple roots in the food system, which CPG companies must address holistically, ranging from how they source materials and services to their hiring practices, marketing strategies and...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: More consumers consider sustainability as more than ‘simply saving the earth’

20-Jul-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

As consumers settle into living with the threat of the coronavirus and better understand their grocery needs while staying at home, their priorities inevitably will shift from panic purchasing any and all products to stocking their pantries more selectively...

fairlife moves into ice cream

17-Jul-2020 By Jim Cornall

US dairy firm fairlife, LLC, which launched ultra-filtered milk in 2015, has partnered with Boardwalk Frozen Treats, LLC, to enter the ice cream category. It is the Coca-Cola Company owned firm's first venture away from beverage-related products...

Brave new world: Perfect Day spinoff The Urgent Co launches Brave Robot brand utilizing animal-free dairy

16-Jul-2020 By Elaine Watson

The second consumer product featuring Perfect Day’s dairy proteins (produced by microbes) has launched in the US, under the brand name Brave Robot, which is pioneering a new ‘animal free dairy’ category delivering the taste and performance of real dairy,...

Americans need to more than halve their consumption of added sugars, says Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee

15-Jul-2020 By Elaine Watson

Americans need to more than halve their consumption of added sugars, reducing average consumption from 13% of daily energy intake to just 6%, the equivalent of 30g for someone on a 2,000 calorie-a-day diet, according to the expert committee advising the...

SHIFT20: 3 ways to ‘build back better’ a food-system damaged by social inequality & coronavirus

14-Jul-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

The uneven impact of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has underscored systemic inequalities, but it also has created an opportunity “to build back better” the food system, according to a panel of experts gathered on the opening day of the Institute of...

Grain Processing Corp.’s maltodextrins, modified starches improve plant-based eating experience

10-Jul-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Brands struggling with plant-based snacks becoming excessively dry, chewy or crumbly over time or beverages designed to mimic dairy falling short of a desired creamy mouthfeel could improve the functional benefits of their products with the addition of...

FoodStory Brands embraced digital rebates to offer financial relief while driving sales, foot traffic during pandemic

10-Jul-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

In the early days of the pandemic when many retailers suspended in-store promotions to focus on stocking shelves, Arizona-based FoodStory Brands turned to online third-party deal vendors to offer digital rebates to consumers who rely on sales to fill...

Report highlights ‘substantial opportunity to harmonize’ development of feeding guidelines for infant and children up to 2-years-old

08-Jul-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

“More rigorous methods” are necessary for developing, communicating, and disseminating recommendations for feeding children from birth to 24 months -- arguably the most critical window for nutrition for a child, according to new report by the private,...

Perfect Day expands Series C to $300m; significantly boosts efficiency of animal-free dairy protein production

08-Jul-2020 By Elaine Watson

Perfect Day, a startup producing milk proteins via microbial fermentation (minus the cows), has expanded its Series C round from a previously-announced $140m, up to $300m through a new tranche led by CPP Investments and bolstered by long-time supporters...

‘The nation is going to need all of our help,’ Chobani president says unveiling new charity SKU

06-Jul-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

With today’s launch of a limited-edition peanut butter and jelly low-fat Greek yogurt, Chobani expands its support for food banks nationwide while simultaneously offering a comforting new flavor that the company president says he hopes will recall ‘happy...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Food System 6, Huhtamaki team to launch Circular Economy Startup Program

06-Jul-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

While the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has exposed many vulnerabilities and inequities in the current food system, ranging from supply chain fragility to worker safety, it also is opening minds – and doors – to promising sustainability solutions brought...

IDFA praises USMCA but says Canada already violating it

02-Jul-2020 By Jim Cornall

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), has sent a letter to the United States Trade Representative (USTR), which is thankful for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), but also expresses concern about Canadian dairy compliance.

TurtleTree Labs in talks with leading dairy, infant formula brands to license cell-cultured human breastmilk technology

01-Jul-2020 By Elaine Watson

Singapore-based TurtleTree Labs is in talks with leading dairy and infant formula brands to license its technology for the production of cell-cultured human breastmilk, and has articulated a longer-term mission to produce cow's milk as well.

AEB: Eggs are a ‘Swiss Army knife’ to help meet Gen Z desire for convenience, bold flavors, comfort

30-Jun-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Often called the “Swiss Army knife of food formulators’ toolbox for their versatility,” eggs can help brands meet Generation Z’s, sometimes contradictory, demand for experimental flavors, elevated eating experiences and, yet, still comforting foods, according...

SHIFT20: American Egg Board reinforces value of real eggs with free online education courses, seal program

30-Jun-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Hard boiling an egg may seem basic, but according to the American Egg Board it is one of the most frequent questions asked of the checkoff marketing group – revealing a deep need for education and inspiring the commodity board to launch an online egg...

IDFA welcomes FDA announcement on high protein milk

30-Jun-2020 By Jim Cornall

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced it is allowing the use of milk protein concentrate (MPC), milk protein isolate (MPI) and whey protein concentrate (WPC) in products labeled "high protein milk."

Trending topics at SHIFT20, the virtual IFT show, from plant-based protein trends to sustainable packaging

29-Jun-2020 By Elaine Watson

From plant-based protein trends to sustainable packaging, managing food waste, using artificial intelligence to track consumer sentiment, and the latest developments in cell-cultured meat and keto diet trends, here are some of the education sessions that...

SHIFT20: How the virtual IFT show will work…

29-Jun-2020 By Elaine Watson

Confused about navigating the virtual IFT show (Institute of Food Technologists' annual meeting and expo) next month (July 13-15)? FoodNavigator-USA caught up with Corrine Calice, senior director, knowledge and learning experiences; and Susan Young,...

FDA moves to keep coronavirus fears from interrupting ingredients trade

25-Jun-2020 By Hank Schultz

The US Food and Drug Administration says it will move actively to prevent the worldwide trade in dietary ingredients, food ingredients and whole foods from being restricted because of misplaced coronavirus infection concerns.

Coronavirus fears further fragment grocery retail landscape with DTC ordering emerging as favorite

25-Jun-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic not only significantly accelerated the already steady consumer adoption of online shopping from grocery stores, it also drove business away from retailers to direct-to-consumer providers and online specialty product aggregators...

Untapped market potential found in ‘big gap’ between consumers seeking, using functional foods

23-Jun-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Even before the coronavirus outbreak hit the US, consumer interest in immunity was on the rise, but data from The Hartman Group revealing a substantial gap between consumers who intentionally use foods and supplements to manage their health and boost...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: How is the coronavirus pandemic & unemployment reshaping snacking?

22-Jun-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has reshaped virtually every aspect of American’s lives, including what, when and how we eat, according to research from the flavor, ingredient and color company Flavorchem, which found our emotions are influencing our...

Dairy industry groups call for added research input of dairy fats in 2020 Dietary Guidelines

19-Jun-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

The US dairy industry is calling for the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) to include “all relevant scientific studies” related to the fat content of dairy products before it delivers its recommendations to USDA and HHS for the 2020-25 Dietary...

Online marketplace Fieldcraft modernizes discovery & democratizes access for suppliers of all sizes

19-Jun-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

The coronavirus pandemic may have brought to a standstill the large tradeshows where industry players traditionally came together, but thanks to new digital platforms – including Austin-based Fieldcraft – stakeholders not only can still meet, explore...