By James Richardson, PhD, founder, Premium Growth Solutions
Influencers. Who are they? What do they influence? How can you accelerate your brand’s influence on consumer shopping decisions? These are sociological questions, not merely marketing ones. Influence is about persuasion, after all, one of the oldest human...
CSPI: Consumers often cannot tell how much of the grain in a product is whole and how much is refined
Key stakeholders have urged the FDA to provide more clarity on the labeling of whole grains, with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) urging the agency to require firms to disclose either the percentage of whole grains and refined grains on pack,...
Bunge North America has added a non-GMO lentil flour to its portfolio that the company says can serve as a “functional equivalent substitute” for modified starches and can be appear as “lentil flour” in an ingredient deck, appealing to consumers searching...
It is now legal to sell cannabis for recreational use in several US states - with Michigan joining the tally after yesterday's midterms, paving the way for all kinds of ‘edibles.’ But how big could this market become?
Once the “biggest skeptic” of how blockchain technology could benefit the food and beverage industry, Frank Yiannas, the VP of food safety for Walmart, says he experienced a near “religious conversion” after working with IBM to digitize the food supply...
Months after the USDA unexpectedly and unceremoniously pulled the plug on plans to implement a federally mandated organic check-off program, the Organic Trade Association is soliciting ideas to help the industry ‘GRO’ through a voluntary, industry-vested...
Protein cookie brand Lenny & Larry’s has agreed to settle a lawsuit alleging it overstated the protein content of its cookies, in order to avoid the cost and hassle of prolonged litigation, but says it stands by its claims and won’t be changing its...
German flavors and fragrances company Symrise AG has opened a US facility near Atlanta, Georgia, for the production of natural food ingredients, investing approximately US$57m in the nearly 100 acre site to grow its US business.
As US consumers continue to explore global flavors and become more familiar with international cuisine, a few regional favorites are rising to the top – including many from Africa.
For entrepreneurs and startups willing to go the extra mile, the benefits of competing in pitch slam, such as Rabobank’s FoodBytes!, can go far beyond the immediate exposure they gain when presenting their products or the possibility of winning a prize.
The Oreo maker will launch an innovation hub ‘SnackFutures’ next month that will invest in snack startups through partnering with early-stage entrepreneurs.
As consumers increasingly opt to follow a healthy lifestyle, they are demanding more gluten-free, low-carb, whole grain, organic and paleo diet products. However, there will always be a way to find an excuse to give in to indulgence, especially when it...
“…‘I should not have eaten that salad yesterday, I think I just woke up with infertility…’ says nobody, ever,” observes Jackie Bowen, executive director at nonprofit the Clean Label Project. Regulators, she argues, are great at dealing with health issues...
Consumers’ approach to what they eat is changing from “monolithic meat, potatoes and veggies,” to increasingly “heterogeneous” diets that go beyond sustenance to represent values and lifestyles – a shift that is translating to big business for companies...
The FDA is issuing a request for information (RFI) on the prevalence and severity of sesame allergies in the US to inform possible regulatory action that would require sesame to be labeled as an allergen on packaged foods along with the ‘big eight’ (milk,...
Recognizing that pregnancy and breastfeeding are not easy, Sweetie Pie Organics is raising funds to expand production and distribution of its functional products that help expecting and new mothers navigate morning sickness, boost breast milk production...
When manufacturers, retailers, restaurants and food service providers throw away “perfectly good food” because they overestimated how much they needed or were unable to sell it before its best by date they are also throwing away more than $40 billion...
At the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo in Washington, DC, manufacturers showcased a variety of new and recently launched products tailored for different diets ranging from plant-based and allergen-friendly to low-sugar and high-protein.
The FDA should consider whether a “significant liberalization of qualified health claim language would help drive innovation and be beneficial to consumers,” says Campbell Soup Co.
Bantam Bagels – known for its mini stuffed bagels found at Starbucks locations nationwide and in the frozen foods aisle of 16,000 retail stores – has been growing at such a high velocity that it needed an industry partner to support its explosive growth.
Market sales data – if you can afford it – will tell you what's trending now, says online platform RangeMe, which connects retail buyers and suppliers. But how do you know what buyers are looking for next? And how can you get a clearer sense of how...
Food and agriculture startups focused on reducing waste, using artificial intelligence to deliver higher food, and offering more sustainable and plant-based options, took center stage at Rabobank's FoodBytes! pitch competition and networking event...
New consumer research suggests that targeting so-called ‘foodies’ to leverage their influence for expanded brand awareness may not be as effective as appealing to an emerging, much larger and potentially more powerful segment known as the ‘food connected...
Ingredient supplier Layn is helping food and beverage manufacturers in Mexico and Central America take the guesswork out of sugar reduction by expanding in the region two new plant-based sweetener platforms that are optimized for different categories.
As the laws legalizing recreational use of cannabis shift in North America, consumer interest and readiness to try cannabis-infused products is also evolving, recent research by A.T. Kearney revealed.
Appalled at the amount of produce wasted every year while many people struggle with food insecurity, Kroger will launch a new brand that prizes oddly shaped and discolored fruits and vegetables that previously would have been rejected by the retail chain.
The value equation on which consumers select food and beverages has become infinitely more complex in recent years – creating a rising demand for ‘radical personalization’ that is forcing retailers and manufacturers to rethink how they make and offer...
It may be possible to increase food production sustainably and feed 10 billion people by 2050, say researchers, but only if we switch to flexitarian diets, cut global food waste in half and adopt climate-smart agriculture practices.
'Ignorance is amok... not even the investors are asking the right questions. It’s total anarchy'
If you ask the FDA or the DEA if CBD (cannabidiol) is permitted in foods, beverages and supplements, the answer is a pretty unequivocal NO. If you ask the scores of companies currently selling it in everything from CBD-infused soda to smoothie kits, the...
Mexico’s market is primed for products offering prebiotic benefits as consumer research shows that consumers in the region are more knowledgeable and interested in digestive health than those in North America and Europe, according to ingredient supplier...
As the desire to attain a healthier, longer life through diet expands beyond niche groups focused on wellness into the mainstream population, consumers increasingly are looking for functional ingredients they recognize across categories – including in...
Transparency into how products are made, what is in them and how they impact society is no longer simply ‘nice to have’ – rather a new report from the Food Marketing Institute made possible with help from Label Insight shows that it is a ‘must-have’ for...
Companies facing growing pressure to launch a near constant stream of new products or better-for-you versions of beloved items that do not sacrifice taste or experience may find some relief by using innovative flavors, suggests an expert with the consumer...
Often overshadowed by flavor and color in marketing, texture plays a pivotal role in how consumers experience food and beverages, and research firm Mintel predicts that it is “the next big thing” companies should focus on as they try to keep up with demand...
Andy Jacobs, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Hostess Brands, talks trends and how the company is set to disrupt the breakfast category with new product launches.
A year after acquiring microalgae ingredients specialist TerraVia, new owner Corbion has seen the most success with a consumer packaged product - Thrive culinary algae oil - which is rolling out to more than 2,000 Walmart stores this fall, taking its...
The Detox Project – which certifies products as ‘Glyphosate Residue Free’ – has been overwhelmed by industry inquiries over the past six months as food brands seek not just to get certified, but more often, to “use us as a consultancy service” to find...
San Francisco-based ReGrained, a startup transforming food waste into value-added food ingredients, has closed a $2.5m series seed financing round led by privately-held global product development company Griffith Foods with participation from Barilla...
Opertech Bio – the Philadelphia-based firm behind an automated high throughput system for rapid characterization of taste sensory properties – will team up with Tate & Lyle to apply its technology to sugar reduction after winning a place on the TERRA...
A voluntary decision by leading food and beverage manufacturers and restaurants to strengthen the nutritional requirements for products advertised to children in the US will require nearly half of the products currently marketed to kids to be reformulated...
A citizen petition filed Sept. 24 by the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation asking FDA to prohibit 'non-GMO' claims on foods and beverages likely will not gain broader industry support or traction with the agency, according to...
The line between breakfast and dessert can be a bit blurry with options such as coffeecake on the menu, but superfood snack company Health Warrior wants to place muffins squarely on the side of better-for-you morning meals with the launch of its Protein...
Predicting what consumers will want to see on menus in the coming season “is a bit of a mix of art and science,” according to a product development expert at the food service distributor US Foods, but she says this fall consumers will seek out versatile...
Breastfeeding is one of the most natural and instinctual experiences shared by a baby and mother, but that doesn’t mean it is easy – and many women could use help not just from healthcare professionals and family, but also from the food and beverage industry...
Feeding children nutritious food is a top priority for parents, and while many are confident that they are meeting this goal, their opinions vary on what they consider ‘healthy’ and what attributes they prioritize when purchasing products, according to...
Check out FoodNavigator-USA’s latest gallery of new products hitting US shelves as we approach the holiday season, from the inevitable pumpkin spice-themed wares, to protein mug muffins, and oat milk nitro cold brew lattes.
The prevalence of food allergies has increased dramatically over the last 25 years, with infants and children most severely affected. But why? Is it changes in gut bacteria? The so-called ‘hygiene hypothesis’? The rising use of antibiotics? Is prevalence,...
