Dairy-based ingredients

NEWS IN BRIEF

The next two Ocado-powered fulfillment centers for Kroger will be in central Florida and the Mid-Atlantic

20-Feb-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Kroger and UK-based online grocery retailer Ocado will construct two new customer fulfillment centers (CFCs) in central Florida and the Mid-Atlantic, expanding the national grocery chain's online delivery reach throughout the East Coast.

News in brief

PepsiCo boosts sports nutrition credentials with acquisition of CytoSport (Muscle Milk, Evolve Protein)

20-Feb-2019 By Elaine Watson

Hormel Foods has sold its CytoSport business – which makes the Muscle Milk and Evolve Protein sports nutrition brands - to PepsiCo for an undisclosed sum.

News in brief

Glanbia Nutritionals strikes deal to acquire Watson Inc

20-Feb-2019 By Elaine Watson

Glanbia Nutritionals - a $1.4bn nutritional ingredients and cheese business - has struck a deal to acquire Watson, a Connecticut-based manufacturer and supplier of custom nutrient premixes, bakery ingredients, edible films and material conditioning products.

Former Campbell Soup president Mark Alexander joins skyr brand Icelandic Provisions as CEO, plans Krímí whole milk launch

19-Feb-2019 By Elaine Watson

Former Campbell Soup executive Mark Alexander is moving into the yogurt aisle to take the helm at fast-growing skyr brand Icelandic Provisions, replacing outgoing CEO Steve Platt, who will retain an advisory position at the company.

Soup-to-Nuts Podcast: Demand for clean labels, increased sustainability are influencing package design

15-Feb-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

For many food and beverage brands, their product packaging is their first – if not only – touchpoint with consumers, and yet all too often companies treat it as an afterthought or as little more than a protective exterior for what is inside.

Craigs Creamery marries ‘traditional goodness’ of dairy with cutting-edge technology for sustainability

13-Feb-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

Producing high quality cheese sustainably and at an affordable price is the central mission of industry newcomer Craigs Creamery, which is currently rolling out in stores in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

Soup-to-Nuts podcast: Campbell & Land O’ Lakes share strategies for meeting sustainability demands

08-Feb-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

Shoppers increasingly are making purchasing decisions based on how sustainable they perceive a product, brand or manufacturer to be, but as recently published research from Nielsen notes the consumers’ definition of sustainability is amorphous – making...

Manufacturers increasingly are dropping suppliers that fail to meet sustainability goals, CDP reports

07-Feb-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

As consumers increasingly consider the environmental impact of the products they purchase, manufacturers are turning up the heat on suppliers to lower their emissions, manage water security risks and reduce deforestation, among other sustainability targets...

Mrs. T’s new ‘Stuffed with the stuff you love’ campaign promotes pierogis with emotional connection

05-Feb-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

With a new multimillion dollar advertising campaign that includes conventional and new marketing strategies, the iconic frozen pierogi brand Mrs. T’s hopes to attract new consumers and woo back lapsed shoppers by invoking the emotional connection that...

Back-to-basics: Euromonitor International predicts consumers will favor quality over quantity in 2019

04-Feb-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

After years of trading quality for easy year-round access to all types of food no matter the season or the region where they originated, consumers are starting to push back and instead seek more premium, authentic products, even if they are more expensive,...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: A shrinking middle class means companies must court low-income shoppers

01-Feb-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

In the last month, the food and beverage industry rallied around the hundreds of thousands of people whose paychecks were unexpectedly stopped during the partial government shutdown, but even though government is back up and running, for now, more than...

California residents can now earn rewards for buying milk

31-Jan-2019 By Beth Newhart

The California Milk Processor Board (CMPB) has announced a new loyalty program that will allow California residents to accrue rewards from buying fluid milk products. ‘Moo Money’ will run through April.

US consumers continue to eat more cheese

30-Jan-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Americans may be drinking less milk, but consumption of US-produced cheese products continues to grow, according to Rabobank.

Organic farmers head to hill to ensure Congressional support for anti-fraud and other measures in the Farm Bill

30-Jan-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

Twenty-two organic farmers will visit more than 40 lawmakers and national agriculture organizations on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, next week to ensure new and existing legislators understand the economic benefits of organic, the challenges the industry...

Ancient Nutrition's new CEO has sights set on entering new product categories and international markets

25-Jan-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Greg Shearson has taken the helm as CEO of Ancient Nutrition, a move which will take the company to the "next level" including expanding into new product categories and international markets.

IFIC & AHA ask: Could a universal ‘healthy’ logo help consumers make healthier food choices?

24-Jan-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

New research from the International Food Information Council Foundation and the American Heart Association shows consumers increasingly want foods and beverages that will support wellness, but many people don’t know which products will deliver their desire...

USDA calls back FSA staff to ease shutdown pressure on farmers, but other services remain in limbo

24-Jan-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

This morning more than 9,700 federal employees who work for the Farm Services Agency will return to work without pay at least part time for the duration of the partial government shutdown, which is now in its 33rd day and by far the longest in US history.

Ample redefines what a meal replacement can be, gears up for equity crowdfunding campaign

23-Jan-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Healthy meal shake company Ample has grown into a multi-million dollar business through the direct-to-consumer channel selling its pre-portioned powders packed with high quality proteins, premium fats, fiber, and probiotics, sealed in single-serve bottles...

Consumers’ evolving understanding of wellness creates marketing opportunities for retailers, brands

23-Jan-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

As consumers’ focus on health and wellness deepens, their understanding of the concept also is evolving and diversifying based on their life stage and unique circumstance – creating new marketing opportunities for retailers and brands that can offer more...

More change to come in the food industry in the next 10 years than in the last 50, says Accenture Strategy

22-Jan-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

The food industry will continue to drastically reshape itself in terms of food retailing, production, and consumption, pointing to more change "in the next 10 years than in the last 50," according to global consulting firm Accenture Strategy.

RISE Brewing Co. looks to convert more coffee drinkers to cold brew, accelerating nationwide distribution

21-Jan-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

RISE Brewing Co. is looking to attract more coffee drinkers to its nitro cold brew products entering the mass channel this April with new distribution at 2,000 Walmart locations.

Kale finally falls from the top 10 list of superfoods to make way for plant-based milks, fermented food

21-Jan-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

For years kale dominated supreme as the top superfood sought by Americans, but the leafy green has finally fallen off the top 10 list – replaced by fermented foods in the top spot, followed by avocados and seeds in the second and third, according to the...

Proposal to adopt plant-based diet to avoid ‘dire’ consequences dismissed by animal ag stakeholders

17-Jan-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

Fearful that the current approach to diet and food production globally could have ‘dire’ consequences for public health and the environment in the future as the population rapidly increases, a group of leading scientists from around the world recommend...

Some furloughed FDA safety inspectors return to work without pay to focus on ‘high risk’ foods

16-Jan-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

Hundreds of furloughed FDA employees are returning to work without pay this week “to re-initiate high risk surveillance inspections across our food and medical product programs,” FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb announced in a tweet Jan. 15.

Yasso frozen Greek yogurt carves out middle ground in the ice cream aisle

16-Jan-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Since hitting the market in 2011, Yasso frozen Greek yogurt has been generating double-digit revenue growth year-over-year with no signs of cooling off, according to founder Amanda Klane and Drew Harrington.

Horizon Organic takes on Fairlife with high protein milk line

11-Jan-2019 By Elaine Watson

Horizon Organic is taking on Fairlife in the dairy aisle with a high protein milk – the first in the organic category – with 50% more protein than regular milk (12g per 8oz serving vs the standard 8g).

Amazon’s grocery ambitions: ‘Amazon has no intention of giving up on fresh food,’ says Ascential

09-Jan-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Despite double digits sales growth, Amazon hasn’t been hitting its original targets for online grocery sales as it struggles to get its fresh food business (Amazon Fresh) to take off, Edge by Ascential’s (formerly One Click Retail) 2019 Predictions for...

Nightfood Ice Cream hits store shelves next month: 'If you’re already eating ice cream at night, how could you not give it a try?'

07-Jan-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Americans are snacking at all hours of the day and as the evening hours approach, those snack choices tend to take an indulgent turn into the sweet and decadent (according to Mintel). So why not position an ice cream brand to address this nighttime snacking...

Organic: ‘An age-old growth driver that’s here to stay,’ says Nielsen

04-Jan-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Organic products have become much more accessible and popular, with consumers of all ages spending more on organic items compared to previous years (+9.5% in annual household spend on organic products in 2018 compared to 2017*).

Soup-to-Nuts Podcast: What does it take to truly disrupt a category and find long-term success?

04-Jan-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

The food and beverage industries are undergoing a massive renaissance with fresh ideas continuously entering the market, but with a dismal failure rate for new CPGs of upwards of 85% in the first two years, it can be difficult to identify from the outset...

Nui cookies hit the keto sweet spot: 'We really want to make it easy for people to say no to sugar'

20-Dec-2018 By Mary Ellen Shoup

A keto food brand entering the market today would have a tough time standing out among the droves of new products catering to the low-carb, low-sugar, moderate protein diet, but for Nui cookies it has had two and a half years to get its positioning just...

Final GMO labeling rule does not require labeling of highly refined ingredients from GM crops, if no modified genetic material is detectable

20-Dec-2018 By Elaine Watson

In its final GMO labeling rule - released this morning - the USDA says it will not mandate the labeling of highly refined ingredients from GM crops if no ‘modified genetic material’ is detectable, but it will allow manufacturers to make voluntary disclosures...

Origin builds premium a2 Guernsey milk brand: ‘People tell us it’s what milk used to taste like’

17-Dec-2018 By Elaine Watson

If The a2 Milk Co has built a brand around the tummy-friendly credentials of milk with a2 beta casein proteins, Ohio-based brand Origin (which sources its a2 milk exclusively from Guernsey cows) has adopted a different approach built around nutrition,...

Soup-to-Nuts Podcast: What does the future for meal kits look like?

14-Dec-2018 By Elizabeth Crawford

When meal kits first launched in the US, Americans were fast to embrace the idea of pre-planned, pre-portioned, ready-to-prepare dinners delivered to their doors, but according to new research from Packaged Facts that love quickly faded for many who became...

The Pinterest 100: Functional ingredients, plant-based eating, fast meals & more pique pinners’ interest

13-Dec-2018 By Elizabeth Crawford

Each month more than 250 million people use Pinterest to discover and share ideas, including what to eat and drink, giving the social media platform the ability to spot and track emerging trends early in the adoption cycle, which when leveraged by savvy...

Investing in the Future of Food: Chobani helps startups navigate food safety, picking partners and more

12-Dec-2018 By Elizabeth Crawford

Earlier this week, Chobani put out an open call for “big-hearted food and beverage startups” that make delicious, nutritious, natural and affordable food to help it “take on the broken food system” by participating in the fifth cohort of its highly competitive...

Pillars Yogurt prepares to launch whole milk kids’ yogurt range

11-Dec-2018 By Elaine Watson

US retail sales of Greek yogurt have been declining over the past two years after a meteoric growth spurt, but there are still pockets of opportunity, particularly in drinkable formats and kids’ products, claims drinkable yogurt brand Pillars, which is...

Labor shortages likely will get worse before they improve, but several strategies can ease impact

11-Dec-2018 By Elizabeth Crawford

Securing sufficient labor – both skilled and unskilled – increasingly is a challenge for the food and beverage industry, but strategies ranging from increased automation to partnering with higher education providers to offering employees incentives beyond...

Rabobank experts see path forward for food & ag growth despite ongoing trade uncertainties

10-Dec-2018 By Elizabeth Crawford

Uncertainty surrounding the US-China trade war and the renegotiated trade deal with Canada and Mexico are taking a toll on US food and agricultural industries, but experts with Rabobank say there is hope for the future if players take action now to diversify...

NEWS IN BRIEF

Mercato online delivery platform expands small grocer offerings

07-Dec-2018 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Mercato, an online ordering and delivery platform for small retailers, has brought on 11 more specialty purveyors to its network ranging from poultry and butcher shops to Russian and French bakeries.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Generation Z is coming – does your brand know how to reach them?

07-Dec-2018 By Elizabeth Crawford

For years, Millennials have held the spotlight as the main focus for product development and marketing efforts, but members of Gen Z are now ready in the wings and manufacturers are starting to shift some attention to them before they come into their...

Whole Grains Council, CSPI, American Heart Association, slam final rule on school meals: ‘This rollback is an unnecessary threat to children’s health’

07-Dec-2018 By Elaine Watson

Health advocacy groups have urged schools to reject a final rule from the Trump Administration that they claim reverses hard-won progress on sodium reduction and whole grain consumption, and “continue their commitment to serve healthier foods on our kids’...

Investing in the Future of Food

Investing in the Future of Food: Being responsive – not perfect – is a key to RISE Brewing Co.’s fast success

05-Dec-2018 By Elizabeth Crawford

Given the importance placed on making a good first impression, many entrepreneurs and innovators may think they need to perfect a product before they introduce it to the market – but according a co-founder of the cold brew nitro-infused coffee company...

Cashew cheese maker Nuttin Ordinary expands as demand for non-dairy options rises

04-Dec-2018 By Elizabeth Crawford

With the opening of a larger manufacturing facility, cashew cheese maker Nuttin Ordinary is ready to expand distribution beyond its home market in New England so that it can continue to ride a wave of consumer interest in non-dairy alternatives that fueled...

NEW PRODUCTS GALLERY: From Oikos Oh! and Two Good to Gimmies. The yogurt aisle is heating up

30-Nov-2018 By Elaine Watson

Check out FoodNavigator-USA’s latest gallery of new products hitting US shelves, where healthy fats, high protein claims and pre- and probiotics feature heavily as we head into 2019…

'We’re not marketing Gimmies based on parental claims, we’re marketing it based on what kids want'

Chobani unveils Gimmies kids’ yogurt brand: ‘We tested the characters with the kids as much as we tested the food’

29-Nov-2018 By Elaine Watson

Chobani is hoping to unlock an incremental growth opportunity in the sluggish yogurt category with the launch of Gimmies, a dedicated brand supported by a new set of characters designed to appeal to kids aged five to nine, who it says are not well-served...

Talking protein with Glanbia Nutritionals: It’s a time of trial and experimentation

29-Nov-2018 By Elaine Watson

Is the protein craze fizzling out? Not if you look at new product launch data, or the fact that producers of both plant and dairy proteins are continuing to add capacity, and consumers are continuing to experiment with new sources, from marine collagen...

From high protein coffees to popsicles, dairy proteins are entering new categories, says AMCO Proteins

28-Nov-2018 By Elaine Watson

While plant-based and so-called ‘alternative’ proteins – from algae to cricket powder – continue to gain traction in the food industry, dairy proteins are still growing, fast, says AMCO Proteins, which has been working with customers on a range of novel...

Brazi Bites appoints Mike Guanella as CEO, gears up for new product launch in 2019

27-Nov-2018 By Elaine Watson

Brazi Bites – which launched in 2010, hit the big time after an appearance on Shark Tank in late 2015, and sold a majority stake to a private equity firm in July – has appointed former Justin’s president Mike Guanella as CEO, and will launch a new product...

Food For Kids Summit

FOOD FOR KIDS trailblazer 2018: Nom Noms World Food balances parents' & kids' needs with innovative packaging

27-Nov-2018 By Elizabeth Crawford

Marketers of children’s products have a difficult task of balancing the different wants and needs of parents and their kids, but for Nom Noms World Food this challenge doubled as an opportunity to set itself apart with globally-inspired recipes and innovative...