Proteins

VIDEO dispatches from Expo West 2017

EPIC Provisions co-founder: 'Regenerative agriculture is the next big movement in food'

15-Mar-2017 By Elaine Watson

Meat and dairy often get a bad rap on the sustainability front, but not all animal production systems have the same impact on the planet, says EPIC Provisions co-founder Taylor Collins, who reckons that “the next big movement in food is coming in the...

LonoLife embarks on mission to 'bring bone broth to the masses'

14-Mar-2017 By Elaine Watson

LonoLife – the first brand to put bone broth in a recyclable K-Cup, and a fast-growing player in the burgeoning bone broth stick-pack market – has rolled out to 2,500 stores just over a year after launch, and expects to be in 6,000 stores by the year...

Natural Products Expo West

KIND Snacks wants to ‘change the script’ in the fruit snacks segment with new Fruit Bites

13-Mar-2017 By Elizabeth Crawford

KIND Snacks expands into the children’s food segment for the first time with a riff on fruit snacks that directly tackles many parents’ complaints about the category. 

Plant Meat Matters: Unilever, Givaudan and Ingredion invest in vegetarian steak

13-Mar-2017 By Niamh Michail

Plant-based steak, with a taste and texture to rival the real thing, is one step closer to the market as Unilever, Givaudan and Ingredion join Wageningen researchers in the Plant Meat Matters consortium.

Bolthouse Farms showcases pea-based plant protein milk at Expo West ahead of summer launch

10-Mar-2017 By Elaine Watson

Pea based ‘milks’ represent a significant incremental growth opportunity in the plant-based beverage market as consumers look for allergy-friendly options with more protein, says the chief marketing and innovation officer at Campbell Soup’s C-Fresh division,...

Aloha rebrands, expands portfolio to support shift from online-only to brick-and-mortar stores

09-Mar-2017 By Elizabeth Crawford

To better support its transition from online-only sales to distribution at brick and mortar stores, wellness brand Aloha is unveiling at Expo West a massive rebranding along with new, reformulated and recategorized products that better align with consumers’...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: A closer look at protein’s rise to popularity and where it is headed

03-Mar-2017 By Elizabeth Crawford

Americans’ love affair with protein shows no signs of cooling in the coming years with a compound annual growth rate projected at a steady 5.6% for the next three years, bringing sales to a predicted $39.08 billion, according to Markets and Markets research. 

Sonoma Brands hails 'explosive' growth trajectory at SmashMallow

28-Feb-2017 By Elaine Watson

It’s early days, but SmashMallow snackable marshmallows – launched by food & beverage brand incubator Sonoma Brands in August 2016 – are already in 2,000 stores and growing at an “explosive” pace, claims founder Jon Sebastiani.  

Strong double-digit growth at gardein, says Pinnacle Foods: ‘Plant-based proteins represent a very significant opportunity’

24-Feb-2017 By Elaine Watson

Net sales at plant-based protein brand gardein grew at a “strong double-digit rate” in 2016, according to Pinnacle Foods (which acquired gardein in late 2014), with new production capacity coming online this quarter at a refurbished facility in Hagerstown,...

Plant-based protein a 'strategic growth platform' says Maple Leaf Foods as it strikes $140m deal to buy Lightlife Foods

22-Feb-2017 By Elaine Watson

Four months after Tyson Foods took a 5% stake in plant-based meat brand Beyond Meat, Canadian packaged meats giant Maple Leaf Foods has struck a $140m deal to acquire plant-based protein maker Lightlife Foods from Brynwood Partners.

Seafood manufacturers tackle causes of low consumption with new flavors & convenient packaging

22-Feb-2017 By Elizabeth Crawford

Building on the momentum of FDA’s recent guidance that women and children should eat more fish, several seafood manufacturers are launching new products that could help the industry come closer to clearing the remaining barriers that have long blocked...

From moon cheese to crunchy yogurt: REV technology paves way for new-to-the-world snacks, says EnWave

22-Feb-2017 By Elaine Watson

Moon Cheese – a shelf-stable, clean-label 100% cheese snack developed using 'radiant energy vacuum’ (REV) dehydration technology - is now in 20,000+ stores three years after launch, and will soon be followed by a flurry of other novel snacking concepts...

Is food deflation easing? Food-at-home index flat in January

21-Feb-2017 By Elaine Watson

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for food-at-home — a proxy for grocery-level inflation — was flat in January, after months of declines, with higher prices in eggs, dairy, meat, fish & poultry offset by lower prices for fruits & vegetables, non-alcoholic...

Standards of identity are designed to protect consumers, not stifle competition, says GFI

Dairy Pride Act is 'anti-competitive' and 'unconstitutional,' says Good Food Institute

21-Feb-2017 By Elaine Watson

More than 46,000 people have signed a Good Food Institute petition urging Senator Tammy Baldwin and Congressman Peter Welch not to pursue the passage of the Dairy Pride Act, which the GFI argues, is both “anti-competitive” and “unconstitutional.” 

Snacking Innovation Summit trend-watching: Mini-meals, tapas-style eating, and hero SKUs

17-Feb-2017 By Elaine Watson

The trend towards continuous grazing throughout the day will create new ‘multi-temperature’ snacking opportunities for manufacturers as a ‘tapas-style’ approach to eating gains momentum, predicted panelists at the FoodNavigator-USA/BakeryandSnacks snacking...

Bone broth sales more than tripled in 2016, albeit off a very small base

17-Feb-2017 By Elaine Watson

The bone broth category (shelf-stable and refrigerated) is pretty small in the scheme of things, but it’s growing rapidly, with US retail sales more than tripling to $19.7m in the 52 weeks to Jan 22,* fueled by a small but highly engaged set of health...

Ripple ‘Not Milk?’ campaign brands almond milk a ‘sham’ and tackles dairy over sat fat, sugar and sustainability

16-Feb-2017 By Elaine Watson

Pea protein-fueled brand Ripple has weighed into plant-based ‘milk’ debate with a provocative new media campaign that challenges the nutritional and environmental credentials of dairy milk, but also brands almond milk a ‘sham,’ and argues that when it...

Wrapped like deli-meat, No Evil Foods blends homey and edgy in its plant-based ‘meat’ branding

15-Feb-2017 By Adi Menayang

Packaged in the fashion of traditional deli meats—paper wrappers with a sticker label—No Evil Foods is stepping away from the tech-oriented positioning and branding that many non-animal ‘meat-like’ proteins are going for.

Yogurt makers cut sugar but add fat and convenience to meet consumer demands

15-Feb-2017 By Elizabeth Crawford

Yogurt manufacturers continue to expand and evolve their portfolios with healthier and more convenient options that meet consumers’ growing demand for products that are lower in sugar, high in flavor and easy to eat. 

‘Chewy’ ice cream from Lezzetli stretches Americans’ imaginations and palates

15-Feb-2017 By Elizabeth Crawford

Typically considered smooth and creamy, the idea for most Americans that ice cream also could be chewy might seem like a stretch – and it is. Literally. 

All dietary protein contributes to good muscle health, study suggests

14-Feb-2017 By Will Chu

A high protein intake from any protein dense food regardless of its source - plant or animal - can improve muscle health, according to US researchers.

Say vegan cheese! Miyoko’s Kitchen raises $6m in series B financing round

14-Feb-2017 By Elaine Watson

Artisanal vegan cheese maker Miyoko’s Kitchen has completed a $6m series B financing round led by JMK Consumer Growth Partners and supported by Obvious Ventures, Stray Dog Capital, and CircleUp’s internally-managed fund.

Univar and TerraVia ink deal to bring whole algae to Europe

13-Feb-2017 By Niamh Michail

Ingredients distributor Univar has inked a deal to bring TerraVia’s AlgaVia brand of whole algae ingredients to Europe.

Sleepy US $1.1bn cottage cheese category is ripe for disruption, says Muuna

10-Feb-2017 By Elaine Watson

Forty years ago, the US cottage cheese market was twice the size of the yogurt market. Today, yogurt (at $7.68bn) is seven times bigger in dollar terms than cottage cheese (down 1.7% to $1.1bn in retail sales in 2016 according to Nielsen data). So have...

Pasta Chips, Bow Ties, on course to generate revenues of $15m in 2017

From edgy to mainstream: Finding the sweet spot in the snacks market

10-Feb-2017 By Elaine Watson

Snack brands that want to break through the $2-3m revenue barrier have to appeal to mainstream shoppers as well as trend-setters in New York or L.A. says serial snacking entrepreneur and CPG veteran Jerry Bello, who says his latest innovations – Pasta...

Protein holds steady in 2017 but consumers become more sophisticated in their demands

09-Feb-2017 By Elizabeth Crawford

Protein shows no sign of petering out in 2017 with many consumers still listing it as an “ideal attribute” for fortification across categories and an ever-growing list of sources from which manufacturers can choose, according to a product development...

Coca-Cola’s fairlife launches ‘Superkids’ milk

09-Feb-2017 By Rachel Arthur

Coca-Cola’s ultra-filtered premium milk fairlife has launched a children’s ‘Superkids’ variety, available in white milk and chocolate milk. 

CAUGHT ON CAMERA AT THE 2017 WINTER FANCY FOOD SHOW

KRAVE Jerky general manager: It’s our flavors that differentiate us

09-Feb-2017 By Elaine Watson

When KRAVE burst onto the scene in 2010, its all-natural credentials, premium packaging and gourmet flavors gave it a unique point of difference in the sluggish meat snacks market. Since then, however, scores of new entrants have started muscling in on...

a2 Milk USA CEO: Plant-based ‘milk’ labeling is misleading, but it’s not what’s killing the dairy milk market

08-Feb-2017 By Elaine Watson

The dairy lobby is justifiably frustrated about the widespread use of dairy-terms (milk, cheese, yogurt) to describe plant-based products, but it also needs to focus on its own game to understand why sales of fluid dairy milk are declining, argues The...

Daiya Foods VP: The Dairy Pride Act is a solution looking for a problem

08-Feb-2017 By Elaine Watson

The Dairy Pride Act, which seeks to crack down on the use of dairy-derived labels for plant-based products on the grounds shoppers are being misled, is a “solution looking for a problem,” claims the marketing boss of one of the leading players in the...

CAUGHT ON CAMERA AT THE 2017 WINTER FANCY FOOD SHOW

The Good Bean: ‘We want to make bean nutrition accessible, delicious and affordable’

07-Feb-2017 By Elaine Watson

If pulse-based snacks (made with beans, peas, chickpeas, or lentils) were seen as niche, ‘natural,’ products a few years ago, they are firmly in the mainstream in 2017, says the CEO of one firm on a mission to make beans “accessible, delicious and affordable.”

The FoodNavigator-USA Snacking Innovation Summit: Have you registered yet?

07-Feb-2017 By Elaine Watson

If 50% of eating occasions are now snacks,* do we have to rethink what a snack is? An occasional treat or an everyday healthy indulgence? A fresh mini-meal? A quick energy boost? And when it comes to snacks, what new formats, flavors, label claims and...

Pulse snacks gain traction, but still trail other better-for-you options, Packaged Facts finds

06-Feb-2017 By Elizabeth Crawford

Pulse-based snacks are enjoying an “unprecedented popularity” thanks in part to a year-long marketing campaign spearheaded by the United Nations, but they still have a long way to go to catch-up with other alternative-ingredient snacks, according to Packaged...

Lithic Nutrition: We want to prove that cricket can be a viable, heavy-hitting protein alternative

03-Feb-2017 By Elaine Watson

If the novelty factor surrounding edible insects has worn off somewhat, consumer interest in protein – particularly where there is a sustainability story to tell – continues to grow, says Denver-based start-up Lithic Nutrition, which packs 15g of protein...

CAUGHT ON CAMERA AT THE 2017 WINTER FANCY FOOD SHOW

That’s It CEO: Our veggie bars could be just as big, if not bigger, than our fruit bars

02-Feb-2017 By Elaine Watson

That’s It fruit bars were an immediate hit, but will the brand’s new veggie bars – which combine black beans with veggies such as peas, carrots, kale, and corn – be a tougher sell? 

CAUGHT ON CAMERA AT THE 2017 WINTER FANCY FOOD SHOW

Rhythm Superfoods CEO: 'Our new products will be nutrient dense, shelf-stable and delicious...'

31-Jan-2017 By Elaine Watson

Rhythm Superfoods has just closed a $6m financing round led by Gen Mills' 301 INC arm. But what will it spend the money on? FoodNavigator-USA editor Elaine Watson caught up with CEO Scott Jensen at the Winter Fancy Food Show to find out.   

CAUGHT ON CAMERA AT THE 2017 WINTER FANCY FOOD SHOW

Califia Farms CEO weighs into plant 'milk' debate: ‘The consumer has never been confused'

27-Jan-2017 By Elaine Watson

Labeling conventions in plant-based ‘dairy’ are a hot topic right now, with two leading players (Almond Breeze and Silk) hit with false advertising lawsuits this week, and a Senate Bill urging the FDA to enforce standards of identity for milk, cheese...

WhiteWave, Blue Diamond Growers, targeted in plant ‘milk’ class actions

27-Jan-2017 By Elaine Watson

To the frustration of the dairy lobby, false advertising lawsuits objecting to terms such as ‘almondmilk’ and ‘soymilk’ have failed to make much headway. However, complaints filed this week vs Blue Diamond Growers and WhiteWave Foods adopt a different...

Seafood group ramps up educational resources

25-Jan-2017 By Hank Schultz

The nonprofit Seafood Nutrition Partnership (SNP) has announced the availability of new online education programs and resources aimed at teachers and individuals to promote the benefits of a seafood-rich diet. 

New formats, varieties and packaging of nut- and seed-based products gain traction in 2017

25-Jan-2017 By Elizabeth Crawford

Consumers’ growing familiarity with the health benefits of nuts and seeds paired with their versatility is inspiring manufacturers to seek new varieties, uses and packaging for the ingredient – propelling it into a starring role in the American diet in...

Dairy Pride Act a ‘waste of government resources’ says Good Food Institute in change.org petition

25-Jan-2017 By Elaine Watson

The Dairy Pride Act – a bill urging the FDA to prohibit the use of ‘almond milk,’ ‘vegan cheese’ and other such labels on plant-based products – is an “absurd” piece of legislation that “wastes government resources,” claims a new petition on change.org. 

Soup-to-Nuts Podcast

Soup-To-Nuts podcast: How doing good can also be good for business

20-Jan-2017 By Elizabeth Crawford

In today’s highly competitive landscape, many food and beverage manufacturers try to set their brands apart by tapping into consumers’ desire for products that not only are better for them but also better for the planet or for society. 

Final rule clarifies animal welfare standards under organic seal even as its own fate is uncertain

19-Jan-2017 By Elizabeth Crawford

Even though a final USDA rule strengthening animal welfare standards squeaked into the Federal Register today before the new administration takes control of country, the rule may not be safe from repeal, like so many others finalized under Obama’s leadership. 

Sonny Perdue must 'expand market opportunities for all types of agriculture,' says NFU

19-Jan-2017 By Elaine Watson

It’s been a long time coming, but President elect Trump has chosen his agriculture secretary - former Georgia governor Sonny Perdue – pleasing some food and farming associations, but alarming Friends of the Earth.

Roquette to open world’s biggest pea protein plant in Manitoba in 2019, says CEO: 'Demand absolutely outstrips supply’

18-Jan-2017 By Elaine Watson

Roquette has made a bold move to solidify its leadership position in the pea protein market with a jaw-dropping CAD400m+ (US$306m+) investment to build the world’s biggest processing plant for the on-trend ingredient dedicated to (human) food & nutrition...

Miyoko’s Kitchen CEO weighs into plant-based dairy labeling debate: It’s time to ditch ‘outdated and arcane’ standards of identity

17-Jan-2017 By Elaine Watson

Consumers have moved on since dairy standards of identity first hit the statute books, says Miyoko's Kitchen founder and CEO Miyoko Schinner, and it's time regulators did too.

$2.5M from Aqua-Spark will help Love The Wild transition to 100% aquaculture farmed fish

16-Jan-2017 By Elizabeth Crawford

With an investment of $2.5 million from Aqua-Spark, startup seafood meal kit maker Love The Wild hopes to change the way Americans eat fish and perceive aquaculture farming, which has a notoriously bad reputation. 

Beans, chickpeas, lentils, key to next-generation of plant-based dairy

Fava bean yogurt? General Mills patents process to create range of dairy-alternatives from legumes

16-Jan-2017 By Elaine Watson

A patent application from General Mills shows it is experimenting with legumes such as chickpeas, adzuki beans, fava beans and lentils to create non-dairy ‘milks;' eggless mayonnaise and dips; and cultured legume based products such as cheeses, yogurts,...

Are eggs ‘healthy’? Outdated FDA labeling rules don’t reflect latest science, says United Egg Producers

13-Jan-2017 By Elaine Watson

In recently revised guidance on ‘healthy’ label claims, the FDA changed its stance on total fat, but it should also make other changes in order to allow nutrient-dense foods such as eggs to be marketed as ‘healthy,’ says United Egg Producers.  

Alex McCoy: 'Ostrich is by far the most environmentally sustainable red meat'

American Ostrich Farms CEO: It’s not like tons of young people are going into farming. But the contrarian in me said, hey, why not?

12-Jan-2017 By Elaine Watson

Check out Alexander McCoy’s linkedin profile and you’ll see a string of corporate finance-related entries until you get to 2013, when he abruptly switched gears and took up ostrich farming.