Proteins

Tyson unveils new president

07-Nov-2019 By Aidan Fortune

US processor Tyson Foods’ board of directors has named Dean Banks as the new president of the company.

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...

WATCH: ‘We want Spira to be the Willy Wonka of algae…’

05-Nov-2019 By Elaine Watson

One of 15 startups pitching at Rabobank’s FoodBytes! competition in Chicago last month, Spira is using CRISPR gene editing techniques to create more stable natural blue pigments from spirulina, and exploring the potential of spirulina protein isolate.

Meatless Farm Co. eyes more of US market, enters restaurant scene

04-Nov-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

After entering 450 US Whole Foods locations across 43 US states earlier this year, UK-based The Meatless Farm Co, has launched its meat-free products at New York City restaurant, Pomodoro Rosso.

WATCH: Start Right Foods targets millennial moms and active kids with a healthier breakfast waffle

04-Nov-2019 By Elaine Watson

Back in 2015, when former college athletes Clint Matthews and Kyle Rood started making protein-packed gluten-free waffles "by hand in a rent by the hour kitchen and delivering to stores in a pick up truck" in St Louis, they were plowing a pretty...

Survey: A rising generation of food consumers embrace new food technologies

01-Nov-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

As new food technologies emerge, such as cell-cultured meat and new fermentation-based ingredients, younger generations such as Gen Z and millennials are more open and quicker to embrace these new advancements, according to a consumer perception survey...

Sacha Inchi: A super seed ready for prime time? Amazon Health Products debuts Starseed brand

01-Nov-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Sacha Inchi could be the next hot plant-based superfood, but how much is known about its nutrient content? And can the supply keep up with future demand as the ingredient takes off in popularity?

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...

Where next for Bolthouse Farms? CEO gears up for CBD launch: 'We'll use California as a test zone...'

31-Oct-2019 By Elaine Watson

In 2012, Campbell Soup parted with $1.55bn to get a foothold in the chilled store perimeter via the acquisition of Bolthouse Farms. This summer, its former boss paid $510m – supplied by Butterfly Private Equity – to buy it back. So what went wrong, and...

3 strategies revealed by National Pork Board research could help retailers engage Hispanic shoppers

31-Oct-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

As the largest minority in the US and with a buying power predicted to reach $1.7 trillion by 2020 – an estimated $95 billion of which goes to CPGs annually – the US Hispanic and Latino population represents a powerful consumer segment with which most...

Consumption of MorningStar Farms up sharply in Q3 as plant-based trend gathers pace, says Kellogg

30-Oct-2019 By Elaine Watson

Legacy meat alternative brand MorningStar Farms – which has been steadily losing market share in recent years – has regained its mojo, gaining a point of market share and accelerating consumption growth to 11% in the third quarter, Kellogg CEO Steve Cahillane...

Mankai duckweed, a fully-fledged superfood? New research demonstrates the green protein's health benefits

30-Oct-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Duckweed, a high-protein aquatic plant strain, has significant potential as a superfood due to its ability to efficiently manage glucose levels, according to a team of researchers from Ben Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) in Israel.

Protein from coffee? Applied Food Sciences introduces CoffeeProtein to plant-based protein market

29-Oct-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Applied Food Sciences has launched CoffeeProtein, which the company says offers clear sensory and consumer-friendly advantages over the rest of the plant-based protein competition.

The Real MEAT Act 2019: Plant-based brands should use term 'imitation' meat

29-Oct-2019 By Elaine Watson

A federal bill that would require plant-based and cell-cultured meat products to be labeled as ‘imitation’ meat has been welcomed by beef producers and slammed by plant-based meat advocates, as the row over terminology in the burgeoning space heats up.

Impossible Whopper a 'huge hit' says Burger King, Beyond Meat raises forecasts, as brands hit back at ads attacking ‘ultra-processed’ plant-based burgers

29-Oct-2019 By Elaine Watson

A series of ads attacking the next generation of plant-based burgers as ‘ultra-processed’ products ‘hiding’ scary unpronounceable ingredients is a crude attempt by a “dark-money front group funded by Big Beef to mislead consumers and push propaganda,”...

The power of influencer marketing: IZEA and IRI can pinpoint influencers' direct impact on sales

28-Oct-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Influencers have become a crucial element of the content marketing toolbox for CPG brands, and with the recent launch of InfluenceImpact by IRI and IZEA Worldwide, brands and marketers can now measure the direct impact influencer campaigns have on the...

Eight culinary trends to watch, from carob and copaiba to the ‘climatarian’ diet

28-Oct-2019 By Elaine Watson

From a rise in interest in essential oil copaiba, which is claimed to have similar benefits to CBD (although it lacks clinical data to prove it), to a resurgence of enthusiasm for carob, food trend watcher Liz Moskow has identified eight culinary trends...

Direct to consumer brand Tiny Organics launches mission to make toddlers more adventurous eaters

28-Oct-2019 By Elaine Watson

"With some persistence, very young children will eat salmon and kale," said Dr Erin Quann from Nestlé Nutrition at FoodNavigator-USA’s FOOD FOR KIDS summit last year. "But then we enter the chicken nuggets and French Fries phase...”

Merit Functional Foods disrupts plant-based protein industry with better-tasting, more functional pea and canola proteins

25-Oct-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Debuting at the SupplySide West show in Las Vegas last week, Merit Functional Foods introduced its portfolio of pea and canola protein ingredients, which the company claims exceed industry standards for purity, solubility, taste, and other key attributes.

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...

Aqua Star launches in-store seafood meal kits: 'If you can fry an egg, you can cook seafood'

22-Oct-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

National seafood brand Aqua Star believes many consumers underestimate their ability to cook seafood at home and is helping overcome this mental block with the recent launch of Cutting Board Meal Kits sold at major retail stores nationwide.

Sustainability, price are top priorities for shoppers buying seafood, Blue Circle Foods survey finds

22-Oct-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

When it comes to buying seafood, consumers are most concerned about where it is sourced and how much it costs, according to new research by Blue Circle Foods, which is why the company strives to be transparent about where its fish comes from and price...

From fonio and tigernuts to more imaginative food for kids… Whole Foods unveils top 10 food trends for 2020

21-Oct-2019 By Elaine Watson

West African foods from the ancient grain fonio to tigernuts and moringa; to refrigerated protein-packed snacks; chickpea butter; and more imaginative food for kids will all gain traction in 2020 according to buyers, product developers, category managers...

Edible insect startup Cricket One closes seed round: ‘Our job is to develop unique applications’

18-Oct-2019 By Elaine Watson

Vietnamese edible insect startup Cricket One – which processes crickets raised by local cassava farmers in abandoned shipping containers that have been kitted out as intensive breeding units - has closed a seed round led by VC firm 500 Startups and Singapore-based...

WATCH: What role will microscopic microbial factories play in the future of protein?

18-Oct-2019 By Elaine Watson

Could a suite of microscopic microbial factories (yeast, bacteria, fungi, algae) churning out protein in huge fermentation tanks prompt the collapse of the meat and dairy industry as we know it, or are proponents of this view living in some kind of ‘vegan...

Geltor teams up with GELITA to commercialize animal-free ‘biodesigned’ collagen for supplements

17-Oct-2019 By Elaine Watson

Geltor - a San Leandro-based startup producing collagen proteins via microbial fermentation (without animals) – has struck a deal with collagen maker GELITA to commercialize the world’s first animal-free ‘biodesigned’ collagen for dietary supplements...

Lightlife to enter thousands of new stores including Kroger, Publix, and Target supported by new marketing campaign

16-Oct-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Lightlife's new plant-based meat burgers, sausages and grounds are rolling out to more than 12,000 retails stores where they will be sold in the meat aisle alongside animal proteins.

Improved Nature makes retail debut at ShopRite with plant-based chicken line

16-Oct-2019 By Elaine Watson

Improved Nature – which is carving a distinct path in the plant-based meat segment with a fibrous protein that replicates whole muscle – is making its retail debut in 300+ ShopRite stores in the New York Metro Area with a line of nuggets, tenders and...

NPD Group: US consumers beginning to weigh in environmental impact when making food and beverage purchases

15-Oct-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

An increasing proportion of US consumers (between 18- and 44-years-old) claim to be factoring in the environmental impact before purchasing a food or beverage product, according to NPD Group.

Future Meat Technologies raises $14m to commercialize cell cultured meat: 'We see a path to reality here, it’s not just something on a Power Point presentation,' says S2G Ventures

11-Oct-2019 By Elaine Watson

Future Meat Technologies is one of the few players in the nascent space to have shown how cell-cultured (a.k.a. ‘cultivated’) meat could move from the lab to an industrial scale, claims one of the lead investors in a $14m Series A round that will support...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Saffron Road serial entrepreneur shares what inspires millennials

11-Oct-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

Even as food and beverage brands are starting to look more closely at Gen Z shoppers to determine what they want and what makes them tick, many are still struggling to pinpoint how best to engage with millennials who Goldman Sachs has dubbed “the most...

WATCH

Soy tacos, pea burgers and jackfruit burritos: How Mexican demand for vegetarian is evolving

10-Oct-2019 By Niamh Michail

Mexican food is traditionally very meat-based but this means there are many dishes where plant-based proteins can be added. We spoke to market analysts and ingredient suppliers to find out more about the market potential.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Mercato introduces free, unlimited, same-day grocery delivery from independent and specialty grocery stores

10-Oct-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Mercato is carving out a niche spot in the e-commerce grocery market by offering same-day, unlimited, and free delivery from local grocers for its members.

Got (collagen-laced) milk? California dairy startup competition promotes novel applications for dairy

10-Oct-2019 By Elaine Watson

Nine dairy startups promoting everything from whey protein-packed probiotic drinks to indulgent dessert-inspired dairy beverages will square up in San Francisco on November 7 in a competition designed to identify novel applications for fluid milk with...

MycoTechnology unveils texturized fermented vegetable protein for plant based meat applications

09-Oct-2019 By Elaine Watson

As the race to expand protein options for plant-based meats heats up, Colorado-based MycoTechnology has thrown its hat into the ring with a texturized version of PureTaste, a vegetable protein produced via the fermentation of pea and rice proteins with...

VMG Partners acquires popchips to anchor new branded snacking platform

09-Oct-2019 By Elaine Watson

Private equity firm VMG Partners is betting big on the snacks category with the formation of a new division – Velocity Snack Brands (VSB) – set up to buy, incubate and grow snack brands, beginning with the acquisition of the popchips* brand from majority...

news in brief

Nestlé gears up for 2020 launch of the ‘PB triple play,’ a 'no-compromise plant-based bacon cheeseburger'

09-Oct-2019 By Elaine Watson

In 2020, diners ordering Nestlé's plant-based Awesome Burger (in the US) or Incredible Burger (in Europe) will be able to pair it with plant-based cheese and bacon via the 'PB triple play’: a "no-compromise plant-based bacon cheeseburger."

NuttZo skips venture capital in favor of revenue-based financing to expand distribution, portfolio

09-Oct-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

While venture capital is a popular choice to fund food and beverage brands, other options – such as revenue-based financing* – can provide entrepreneurs with capital necessary to grow without diluting their equity, according to the founder and CEO of...

Imperfect Produce becomes Imperfect Foods as it expands offerings across categories & distribution

07-Oct-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

After almost five years of rescuing so-called ‘ugly’ produce from being wasted and instead selling it at a steep discount to consumers in a conveniently delivered subscription box, Imperfect Produce is ready to level up and sell a wider variety of food...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: What will it take to bring animal-free cultivated meat & fish to market?

04-Oct-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

Once the stuff of science fiction or far-flung futuristic dreams, the ability to eat juicy sausages, fish fillets or a sizzling steak without having to first slaughter an animal is rapidly becoming a reality as the cultured-meat and -seafood industries...

Hershey deal will accelerate distribution, take ONE Brands into new categories, says CEO

03-Oct-2019 By Elaine Watson

Joining forces with Hershey will help protein bar maker ONE Brands reach new audiences in club, foodservice and international markets; help support moves into new product categories; and crank up marketing; says ONE Brands president and CEO Peter Burns.

Hungryroot aims to create a ‘new category in the DTC space’ with increased personalization, product selection

03-Oct-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

Wanting to fix the “broken in-store and online grocery experience,” food subscription service Hungryroot is rebranding, expanding its product selection, and enhancing consumer engagement to offer a more personalized, streamlined shopping experience.

Forget animals, animal cells, and plants, says Air Protein: The most sustainable 'meat' is made from microbes… and thin air

02-Oct-2019 By Elaine Watson

Air Protein – one of a new wave of startups producing proteins via microbes rather than plants or animals – is gearing up to commercialize consumer products featuring a Non GMO whole food ingredient with 80% protein that it claims could blow rivals out...

Impossible Burger No. 1 packaged item at Gelson's: 'We had die-hard Impossible fans buying 10 packages at a time'

01-Oct-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

The Impossible Burger, which is sold in more than 17,000 restaurants nationwide, is now seeing explosive demand for its products at retail stores, new territory for the brand.

Cowboy Cricket Farms to open new edible insect farm in Montana in 2020

01-Oct-2019 By Elaine Watson

While media and investor interest in ‘alternative proteins’ is focused on plant-based meat, cell-cultured meat, and proteins produced via microbes, demand for cricket protein is still growing, claims Cowboy Cricket Farms, which will open a new edible...

Quorn shares 5 ways meat-alternatives can sustain their rapid rise

01-Oct-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

With Nielsen data showing dollar sales of plant-based foods in the US growing more than 20% in 2018 over the prior year to top $3.3bn, it is clear the industry is booming, but to sustain this momentum, a leader for the meat-alternative brand Quorn says...

CBD, celery juice, pea protein, moringa, sauerkraut? Tastewise talks trending ingredients

30-Sep-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Over one-third of consumers are looking for functional benefits from food and beverages, and are turning to specific nutrient-dense, superfood ingredients to achieve their specific wellness goals, according to AI-powered food trend and analysis company...

Embracing the weekend warrior: Top 10 highlights from our Sports & Fitness webinar

30-Sep-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

The sports and fitness consumer has expanded beyond hard-core body builders and elite athletes to a more general profile of someone looking to transition to a more active lifestyle and eat healthier, noted panelists from last week's Sports &...

The ‘clean taste and smooth texture of almond protein are unparalleled in the protein space,’ says Blue Diamond

30-Sep-2019 By Elaine Watson

Plant-based protein is a hot ingredient in the food industry right now, as formulators experiment with everything from mung beans to sacha inchi. But how does almond protein square up vs the competition?

WATCH: Higher Steaks talks cell-cultured (a.k.a. ‘cultivated’) meat at FoodBytes! Chicago

30-Sep-2019 By Elaine Watson

Cell-cultured or ‘cultivated’ meat offers the promise of ‘real meat’ – not a plant-based approximation – without raising and slaughtering millions of animals. But is it attracting the same level of investment, and how soon might it realistically come...