Accelerators may disproportionately target startups, but well-established companies and heritage brands can also benefit from the jumpstart they offer as illustrated by Merisant’s rapid development and launch of its latest brand Sugarly Sweet and a new...
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...
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...
For decades, Oreo has encouraged consumers to play with their food by twisting, licking and dunking its iconic cookies, but the brand takes the idea to the next level in its new “Stay Playful” campaigning featuring musician Wiz Khalifa and his son Sebastian....
Fundraising is different for every company, every time they do it, but according to Luke Saunders, the CEO and founder of Farmer’s Fridge, which recently closed a series C round, there are two common denominators that entrepreneurs must understand in...
A regulatory requirement that organic farmers must rotate their crops can be a significant financial hurdle for some producers, but it also is becoming an opportunity for economic development as some farmers team with innovative manufacturers to create...
Studies show the bio-availability of some nutrients is higher in sprouted grains. However, effects vary widely according to the grain, temperature, and sprouting period, while a lack of human clinical data makes it hard to make generic claims about whether...
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...
Once niche, conscious consumerism is emerging as a mainstream trend in 2019 that is influencing more companies to offer products that are not just environmentally-friendly but also animal-friendly, according to Euromonitor International.
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,...
What is piquing the interest of food & beverage investors as we approach Expo West? Not surprisingly, CBD is high on the list, along with brands disrupting the kids’ food category, according to New York based venture fund AccelFoods.
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...
Many entrepreneurs describe their startup as their baby, but just like parents they need to learn to say no sometimes and to let go – lessons that the founders of I Heart Keenwah learned early.
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...
Renewal Mill spent 2018 proving that its business model of upcycling tofu byproduct discarded by large food manufacturers was viable, according to COO Caroline Cotto. Now armed with a $2.5m seed round investment led by HG Ventures, the company is heading...
Long-known as nutritional powerhouses, seeds have played a strong supporting role in the health and wellness movement in food & beverage in recent years, but thanks to their diverse flavor profiles they may finally take center stage in 2019, according...
After taking a slight hit in 2017 compared to 2016, consumer satisfaction with the food and beverage industry rebounded in 2018 as companies delivered innovative products that both surprised and delighted consumers and met their demands for healthy options.
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...
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.
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...
With new players entering the food and beverage space daily, entrepreneurs at startups may feel pressured to stake out their shelf space in as many stores as they can as quickly as possible – but this can be a recipe for disaster.
Demand for plant-based proteins and oils is increasing steadily, while the arable land available to grow them is constrained. But what if you could grow something like soy – but with a far higher yield - on trees?
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...
Soom Foods spent over five years educating American consumers on the versatility of tahini (sesame paste) that can be used in anything from milkshakes and smoothies to a popcorn topping and as a salad dressing. The company’s next conquest is silan, a...
The idea that a plant-based diet could improve the health of people and the planet was once niche, but is rapidly gaining mainstream momentum with two pivotal developments this week, including an endorsement by the high profile EAT-Lancet Commission and...
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...
From new sources of plant-based protein (pongamia, bambara) to novel biomaterials extending the shelf life of foods (Cambridge Crops), the Winter Fancy Food Show – organized by the Specialty Food Association - showcased a wide range of innovations, although...
Entrepreneurs looking for relief from being pulled in multiple directions may be tempted to rely on their broker or distributor to craft a strategic growth plan for their business, but industry veteran and the founder of Premium Growth Solutions James...
Grocery stores, food & beverage manufacturers and restaurants are offering furloughed federal employees free food to help keep their pantries and plates full even as their bank accounts empty during the ongoing partial government shutdown that has...
While consumers will continue to explore internationally-inspired flavors in 2019 – digging deeper into the specific origins of flavors and ingredients – they also will ground themselves with the familiar, nostalgic flavors of the past, according to the...
Despite widespread scientific agreement that genetically modified foods are safe to consume, the vast majority of Americans disagree and are unlikely to change their opinions unless they can first be convinced to open their minds, according to new research....
New research from Jenny Craig suggests that consumer confusion about the meaning of ‘wellness’ could cause marketing campaigns centered on the concept to fall flat unless companies more clearly define – and back with science – how their products support...
With cost saving opportunities already exhausted in many cases, big food companies turned their attention back to the top line in 2018 in an attempt to turn around sluggish growth with a flurry of innovation, says Bernstein. But how impressive were their...
Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) has struck a deal to acquire citrus oils and ingredients supplier Florida Chemical Company (FCC), a division of Flotek Industries, for an undisclosed sum.
Every year, retailers lose approximately $47.4 billion in sales because products are out-of-stock or improperly shelved, but consumer insights provider IRI has a new solution that uses artificial intelligence and machine-learning technology to ensure...
First time entrepreneurs often lament that if they had known how much work it would take to launch a startup they might not have done it, but the husband and wife duo and long-time industry veterans behind the plant-based protein brand Sweet Earth Natural...
As the partial government shutdown entered the 19th day and furloughed federal employees face the prospect of their first missed paycheck this Friday, the White House is taking steps to ensure low-income Americans will continue to receive support for...
Child-directed TV advertising of high-sugar breakfast cereals has been linked to higher intake of those sugary cereal brands among preschoolers, a study conducted by researchers at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center concluded.
A pioneer in the premium natural sweetener segment, NuNaturals is moving in a “more youthful direction” with new products and positioning that appeal to a broader consumer base than the company historically courted following a leadership transition from...
Fears about trade wars and populist policies will start to take a toll on the US economy in 2019, despite ongoing robust business investment and fast-growing consumer spending that helped buoy the country’s GDP in 2018, according to new research from...
While clean label remains a top-priority for consumers, the litany of associated free-from claims that have dominated marketing the past few years are not, suggests the founder of allergen-friendly snack startup Blake’s Seed Based.
Crowdsourcing data from drivers in real time helps Waze app users avoid traffic and make smarter routing decisions. The Basket app – which crowdsources pricing data from an army of food shoppers across the country – is helping consumers save cash, says...
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...
As manufacturers and grocery retailers offer more convenient meal solutions, such as kits and pre-made options that emphasize nutrient density and freshness, consumers are eating out less and eating at home more – ratcheting up the competition between...
Since launching last October, Brooklyn Bites gluten- and dairy-free cookie brittle has gained distribution in 600 stores with the goal of becoming a national brand, co-founder Barbara Dayan shared.
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...
Frivolous lawsuits? Hiring challenges? Raising money? 'Mafioso-like business practices' from distributors? FoodNavigator-USA quizzed food & beverage entrepreneurs and CEOs to find out what is keeping them awake at night as they head into...
