Dairy-based ingredients

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Consumers’ definition of ‘clean label’ is becoming more sophisticated, complex

14-Feb-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

When demand for “clean label” first burst on the scene several years ago, it was all about removing “chemical-sounding,” “unnatural” and unnecessary ingredients from products, but as shoppers learn more about food, how it is made and its impact on their...

Kraft Heinz CEO on 'disappointing' 2019 results: 'We have taken critical actions over the past six months to re-establish visibility and control'

13-Feb-2020 By Elaine Watson

While Kraft Heinz’s 5.1% drop in net sales and 4.2% dip in volumes in Q4 is hardly cause for celebration, analysts at Bernstein say there are good signs that CEO Miguel Patricio "is taking the necessary steps to stabilize the business rather than...

Non-dairy yogurt is a ‘bright spot’ in fast-growing plant-based category, thanks to innovation, IRI says

13-Feb-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Plant-based yogurt has been a bit slower off the starting line than other alternatives to animal-based products, but data from IRI shows that it is hitting its stride with double-digit dollar growth and a steep increase in household penetration at a time...

Icelandic Provisions’ first national ad campaign seeks to set skyr apart from its ‘cousin’ yogurt

05-Feb-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

With the launch of a multi-media national advertising campaign today, Icelandic Provisions is ready to bring its traditional Nordic-style skyr out from the long shadow of its “cousin” yogurt, where the brand has steadily grown over the past four years,...

FDA, FTC and healthcare professionals should discourage toddler milk consumption, research suggests

04-Feb-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Researchers with the UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity are calling on US regulators to severely restrict advertising for toddler milks and strengthen labeling requirements for the products after long-term market analysis revealed a significant...

Violife makes US (re)debut into plant-based cheese category

30-Jan-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Popular among vegan circles, plant-based cheese brand Violife is breaking into mainstream US grocery channels where it can go head to head with the likes of Daiya Foods and Kite Hill.

'We need bees': Häagen‐Dazs displays bee-friendly seal on ice cream flavors with almonds

29-Jan-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Häagen‐Dazs will be the first major food brand to carry the Xerces Society's Bee Better Certified Seal on its ice cream products containing almonds, communicating to consumers that its almonds were grown and harvested in a 'bee-friendly'...

Premier Protein taps ‘super fans’ to position the brand as more approachable than competitors

27-Jan-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

After Post Holdings successfully spun off its fast-growing Active Nutrition segment late last year, the newly named BellRing Brands is ready to “significantly invest” in its iconic Premier Protein line with the launch of a 360-degree marketing campaign.

Public health advocates push back against USDA proposals to ‘simplify’ school meal standards

20-Jan-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Two proposals characterized by the US Department of Agriculture as giving schools “additional flexibilities” around the food they serve students and as a solution to food waste in cafeterias are, according to public health advocates, “a step in the wrong...

Don’t have $6m+ for a Super Bowl ad? Don’t worry – other marketing strategies work just as well

20-Jan-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

For many Americans watching the Super Bowl Feb. 2, what food and beverages are served is just as important, if not more so, than who wins the Big Game – making the sporting event a pivotal marketing moment for brands across categories to lift sales and...

Whisps Snacks taps into Americans' love of cheese with expanding cheese crisps lineup: 'We're growing a category,' says CEO

17-Jan-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Snack trends may come and go, but few can dispute the permanence of cheese in the American diet, says Ilana Fischer, founder of the fast-growing Whisps cheese crisps brand.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Unicorn brands are radically different, dedicated to design & ‘a little weird’

17-Jan-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

The consumer-packaged goods industry is undergoing a “cataclysmic transformation,” according to one branding expert, who explained that a new crop of entrepreneurs who are unfettered by outdated taboos and not intimidated by industry giants are challenging...

US and China sign ‘phase one’ of new trade deal

16-Jan-2020 By Beth Newhart

After coming to a verbal trade agreement in December, President Donald Trump and General Secretary Xi Jinping signed the first installment of the deal on Wednesday.

Ben & Jerry's hits back at lawsuit: We never said *all* of our milk came from happy cows…

16-Jan-2020 By Elaine Watson

Ben & Jerry’s (old) packaging states that it uses “milk & cream from happy cows,” acknowledges the company in a motion to dismiss a high-profile false advertising lawsuit over animal welfare. But it “doesn’t use the word ‘exclusively’.”

Honeycut Kitchen puts a healthier spin on the nostalgic snack cake

13-Jan-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Honeycut Kitchen, an emerging brand out of Los Angeles, is giving fitness enthusiasts an alternative to the monotony of protein bars with a lineup of snack cakes reminiscent of America's best-selling brands, but with a cleaner ingredients deck and...

Borden Dairy files for bankruptcy in the US

06-Jan-2020 By Beth Newhart

Just two months after Dean Foods made a similar announcement, Borden Dairy Co. is reorganizing and financially restructuring its dairy business.

Consumers will eschew fad diets in 2020 in favor of ‘intuitive’ eating, sustainable options, IFIC predicts

06-Jan-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Food and beverage manufacturers that historically have relied on weight-loss or diet-related messaging to bolster sales in January may need a new game plan if the International Food Information Council Foundation’s prediction comes true that consumers...

Coca-Cola takes full ownership of fairlife

06-Jan-2020 By Rachel Arthur

The Coca-Cola Company has acquired the remaining stake in fairlife LLC from its joint venture partner Select Milk Producers: giving it 100% ownership of the ultra-filtered milk company.

Ag-tech could hold the key to attracting a new generation of US farmers, returning industry to growth

02-Jan-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Increased production of key crops from China, Argentina and Brazil may have weakened US agriculture’s competitive position over the last 10 years, but rapid innovation in ag-tech in the new decade could help American farmers regain a pole-position by...

Coalition pushes for ‘low-carb’ diet to be added to 2020 Dietary Guidelines

20-Dec-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

A coalition of doctors, academics, and American consumers called the Low-Carb Action Network (LCAN) is urging US nutrition leaders to include a low-carb diet as part of the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA).

New launches from Danone bank on sugar-reduction, plant-based, probiotics & healthier kids’ options

15-Dec-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

With a new suite of dairy and non-dairy yogurt innovations unveiled last week and set to launch in 2020, Danone North America plans to build on the success it saw in the past decade, during which it captured a third of market share to become the category...

Farmers must be part of climate change solution, not stigmatized as problem, Rep. Pingree argues

12-Dec-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

Agriculture accounts for approximately a quarter of annual greenhouse gas emissions, but rather than scapegoat farmers for climate change Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine wants stakeholders across the supply chain, along with legislators and consumers, to...

Online grocery: Is Walmart giving Amazon a run for its money?

11-Dec-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

More shoppers now report using Walmart, rather than Amazon, for their most recent online grocery shopping experience, according to new research from the Retail Feedback Group. However, Amazon delivered the highest customer satisfaction scores.

Perfect Day raises $140m to scale up animal-free dairy platform, prepares for 2020 launches in multiple categories

11-Dec-2019 By Elaine Watson

Perfect Day, a startup producing milk proteins via microbial fermentation (minus the cows), has raised $140m in a Series C round led by Temasek with substantial involvement from past investors including Horizons Ventures, bringing its cumulative funding...

Investing in the Future of Food: Vite Ramen co-founder shares strategies for crowdfunding success

11-Dec-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

Crowdfunding is a popular option for entrepreneurs looking for an infusion of capital without having to handover equity in exchange, but according to Kickstarter only 25% of food-related projects successfully reach their funding goals – a discouraging...

With classic children’s drinks in ‘terminal decline,’ Euromonitor sees uptick in water, plant-based milk

10-Dec-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

Ongoing concern about the long-term health consequences of too much sugar has many parents turning away from classic children’s beverages, and instead serving lower-calorie options traditionally considered for adults, according to recent research from...

Digital grocery rankings underscore importance of a frictionless customer experience

06-Dec-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

A grocery retailer's digital capabilities are factoring in more strongly in long-term sales growth and customer satisfaction, reveals a new report by Incisiv and Winsight Grocery Business.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: How breaking school lunch free from ‘trap of cheapness’ can bolster business

06-Dec-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

The National School Lunch Program serves approximately 4.9 billion meals a year to children nationwide, and for many recipients it is their only source of nutrition, and yet, according to a new book by Jennifer Gaddis, the program is chronically underfunded...

noosa launches hilo yogurt to appeal to more health-aware consumers monitoring their protein and sugar intake

02-Dec-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Tapping into what it believes is the next pocket of growth in the yogurt category, noosa yoghurt has launched hilo, a high protein, lower sugar yogurt containing 12 grams of protein and 12 grams of sugar (compared to 7g protein and 17g sugar in its core...

Slate debuts ultrafiltered chocolate milk for adults in a shelf stable can: ‘We can bring it to an entirely new audience’

01-Dec-2019 By Elaine Watson

Kids love chocolate milk. Most adults do too, says Boston-based entrepreneur Manny Lubin. But they want something convenient “without cartoon cows” on the label that’s “a bit more hip than that bottle of YooHoo they drank as kids.”

60-second Interview

Children’s products & plant-based foods primed for innovation, predicts Kraft Heinz sensory testing tech

26-Nov-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

Given that the success of most food and beverage launches hinge on taste, but that consumer preferences for flavors, textures and overall experience are constantly shifting, sensory testing has become a lynch-pin in the innovation cycle.

FOOD FOR KIDS summit 2019: The highlights, from lunchables 2.0 to stealth nutrition, brainfood, and reimagining the kids' menu

26-Nov-2019 By Elaine Watson

If you didn't make it to Chicago last week for the FoodNavigator-USA FOOD FOR KIDS summit, you missed an inspirational ensemble of industry experts, pediatricians, consumer health advocates, Chicago parents, market researchers and brand strategists,...

NEW PRODUCTS GALLERY: From Twinkies cereal and CBD-infused tea to Coca-Cola's AHA moment and Chobani Oat

20-Nov-2019 By Elaine Watson

Check out FoodNavigator-USA’s latest gallery of new products hitting US shelves, from a slew of CBD-infused beverages to Coca-Cola's AHA flavored sparkling water and a flurry of innovation from Chobani, which is heading into two new categories: Creamers,...

PepsiCo seeks to empower, attract women to agriculture to help create more sustainable food system

19-Nov-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

Recognizing that feeding a growing population sustainably will “require the talent and energy of all,” PepsiCo is working closely with global partners to uplift and better leverage the agricultural contribution of women, many of whom work without the...

Chobani debuts oat drinks, yogurts, seeks to disrupt dairy creamer category

18-Nov-2019 By Elaine Watson

Chobani is making a move into two major categories beyond the yogurt aisle in 2020 with the launch of Chobani Oat – plant-based beverages made with organic oats; and Chobani Coffee Creamer – clean-label dairy creamers made with cream and milk.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: What might the 2020 dietary guidelines for the first 1,000 days include?

15-Nov-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

With emerging research showing that the diet of pregnant women and children under the age of 2 years can have a powerful impact on children’s brain development and future health, the upcoming recommendations for the 2020 Dietary Guidelines will, for the...

GROW Välling draws on Swedish heritage to launch a better-for-you alternative to toddler milks

14-Nov-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

Transitioning children from breast milk to cow’s milk and solids can be frustrating and frightening for parents if their little ones regularly push away new foods, creating a market demand for so-called toddler milks and follow-on formulas that claim...

Happy Cows? Ben & Jerry’s sued again over milk sourcing: ‘You will most certainly see more cases like this,’ predicts attorney

14-Nov-2019 By Elaine Watson

Three months after Tillamook was accused of misleading shoppers with bucolic images of cows grazing on local small farms when most of its milk allegedly comes from industrial-scale factory farms, Ben & Jerry’s has been sued in a similar suit that...

Horizon Organic launch of Growing Years milk supports 1- to 5-year-olds & eases parents’ stress

13-Nov-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

Recognizing that the first few years of raising a child can be filled not only with daily delights but also anxiety about providing proper nutrition, Horizon Organic offers caregivers some relief with the launch of its Growing Years organic whole milk,...

Good Culture moves into new territory with probiotic gut shots

12-Nov-2019 By Elaine Watson

Good Culture – which launched in 2015 with a mission to disrupt the sleepy cottage cheese aisle – has moved into new territory with the development of cultured kefir probiotic shots featuring on-trend functional ingredients from matcha and turmeric to...

Miyoko’s Creamery wants to turn dairy farms to plant-based: ‘The economy is changing’

11-Nov-2019 By Beth Newhart

Non-dairy brand Miyoko’s Creamery announced a partnership with Farm Sanctuary to help California dairy farms transition to plant-based operations. They think it’s a win-win opportunity for a sustainable future.

Siggi’s seeks to stay ahead of competition with new products & partnerships with dietitians

07-Nov-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

In the next few weeks, Icelandic-style yogurt maker siggi’s will begin rolling out a suite of new products that the company’s CEO Carlos Altschul described as “the most exciting since the launch of the brand” 15 years ago.

Investing in the Future of Food: 3 strategies for startups to level the playing field with e-commerce

06-Nov-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

Entrepreneurs hoping to disrupt an established category dominated by large companies and well-known brands could gain a significant strategic advantage by launching first online where they can leverage positive consumer reviews and social media, advises...

Trends at FNCE: From innovative plant- & dairy-based drinks to women’s health products & upgraded standbys

06-Nov-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

At the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo in Philadelphia late last month, more than 10,000 registered dietitians, nutritionists and industry stakeholders joined to discuss emerging health and diet trends in America. The expo floor featured more...

Gerber teams with TerraCycle to boost recycling, explores ‘major innovations’ to reduce packaging

05-Nov-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

As part of Nestlé’s goal to make 100% of its packaging recyclable or reusable in the next five years, baby food giant Gerber is teaming with TerraCycle to collect, clean and remold hard-to-recycle but extremely popular single-use containers, including...

Basics Market tests new retail concepts to help shoppers cook more from scratch

05-Nov-2019 By Elaine Watson

The rapid growth of pre-prepared foods in supermarkets shows that shoppers want quick convenient options for dinner. However, the rise of meal kits suggests that many Americans also want to cook more from scratch, but need extra help, says the president...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Trends at FNCE from personalized nutrition to new solutions for allergy-sufferers

01-Nov-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

Earlier this week, more than 10,000 registered dietitians, nutritionists, nutrition science researchers, policy makers, healthcare providers and industry leaders descended on Philadelphia to learn about and discuss key health issues facing Americans at...

Amazon Fresh drops $15 monthly fee for Prime members in a bid to drive sales and usage of grocery delivery

29-Oct-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

In an effort to boost sales and attract more users, Amazon has expanded its list of benefits to Prime members and has dropped the $14.99 monthly fee to users of its Amazon Fresh grocery delivery service.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Is the low-FODMAP diet the next big trend?

25-Oct-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

More than 45 million Americans suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome – the same number who use online dating apps and have student loans – only unlike people looking for love or struggling with debt, those suffering from gastrointestinal discomfort predominately...

ACSI: Customer satisfaction with food, soft drinks hold steady despite some headwinds

22-Oct-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

Customer satisfaction in grocery food and beverages continues to outrank that of most other consumer good segments, but a slight reshuffling among the most trusted brands underscores a broader shift in shopper preferences from the once all-powerful national...