Reducing food waste, protecting brand integrity
Optimizing resources can help reduce food waste and protect brands’ reputations across the supply chain
Healthy foods
USDA green lights Nutrition Hub network
The network aims to improve food access in marginalized communities
Natural market remains resilient in 2024 with functional options
The natural food and beverage category remained resilient in 2024 with functional options growing as plant-based products yield mixed results, according to data shared during a Naturally Chicago webinar.
5 Food trends warming up the frozen aisle in 2025
Consumers are balancing healthy and adventurous flavors when buying frozen foods, Conagra shared in its annual report on the category.
Biggest trends of 2024 and what to expect in 2025
Healthspan tops Euromonitor’s 2025 trends list
Consumers interested in staying mentally and physically fit are focusing on healthspan over lifespan, spurring innovation in better-for-you foods and beverages, according to Euromonitor’s end-of-the-year report.
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
2025 trendspotting: Exhausted consumers demand lower prices, healthy food, treats
Most US consumers are exhausted after a year of uncertainty marked by ongoing inflation and political turmoil, and industry insiders predict as they enter the new year many will seek relief – physical, emotional and financial – from the foods and...
Biggest trends of 2024 and what to expect in 2025
Letter from the editor: What to expect for packaged food & beverage in 2025
As 2024 ends and a new year begins, many US consumers are looking for control and comfort from the foods and beverages they buy as they continue to navigate rising prices, mounting food safety concerns and general discord from a divisive presidential...
Plant-based diet, mental health interventions may help improve older adult sleep
There may be a positive correlation between nutrient-rich plant-based diets and improved sleep health among older adults, according to a study by researchers in China.
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Persistent inflation will shape where and what groceries consumers buy in 2025
Consumer frustration and fear about their finances likely will continue to color their shopping behavior in the new year after the latest Consumer Price Index data released last week revealed prices – including for groceries – picked back up in November...
Is Gen Z embracing the healthy eating trend?
Healthy eating is dominating food and beverage, but how are younger people responding?
‘Mood food’ megatrend set to boom in 2025
As poor mental health continues to rise across the globe, consumers are growing increasingly reliant on ‘mood foods’.
Oobli receives ‘no-questions’ letter from FDA for its second sweet protein monellin
Oobli received a “no-questions” response letter from the FDA for its precision fermentation-derived monellin — the company’s second sweet protein to achieve Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status this year.
Major NPD opportunities in intermittent fasting
Fasting diets are creating huge NPD opportunities in food and beverage. So, how can brands get involved and what’s next for this mega trend?
Founders’ Fundamentals podcast shares strategies for enduring CPG brands
Building a successful food and beverage CPG business often requires the right mix of ingenuity – knowing where the market is heading before it is there – and carefully expanding retail distribution while keeping an eye on margins, velocities and cash...
SNAP recipients more likely to buy national brands over private-label, Circana reports
US shoppers receiving assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) gravitate to national CPG companies over private label alternatives, despite the cost-saving associated with store brands, according to a recent Circana webinar.
One Trick Pony bucks CPG industry’s high failure rate to celebrate second birthday
As peanut butter brand One Trick Pony celebrates its second anniversary, co-founder Lucy Dana acknowledges how few startups reach this milestone and she reflects on lessons she learned to achieve this rare success, including the concept that “done is...
Fresh from the freezer: Dorot Gardens’ rebrand highlights fresh taste of frozen herbs
Dorot Gardens’ rebrand emphasizes the fresh taste of its flash-frozen, pre-portioned garlic and herbs, positioning the brand as a convenient and healthy option with a two-year shelf life — a differentiator for its retail partners.
Beef, prepared deli sales soar as consumers embrace convenience, quality
Despite 96% of shoppers expressing concern about an economic recession in the coming months, fresh foods remain a top priority, with many willing to pay a premium for high-quality options, according to a recent Circana webinar.
Starfish closes gap on FSMA 204 compliancy with reporting software
Food traceability software provider Starfish addresses transparency requirements in the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) with technology that simplifies supply-chain data without food and beverage companies changing their current system.
Kroger partners with bitewell to ‘opt up’ its nutrition program
Kroger’s OptUP nutrition program in collaboration with food data technology company bitewell will use bitewell’s Food Health Score algorithm to help consumers make healthier choices and strengthen shopper loyalty.
F&B trade groups on Trump: Organizations share concerns, optimism for next four years
Donald Trump’s electoral win as the 47th US President is already being felt across the food and beverage industry, as various trade groups and non-profits share their hopes for a collaborative next four years while other raise concerns about what the new...
The butterfly effect: Non-GMO Project Verified out grow similar self-reported claims
CPG companies trying to make the most out of their non-GMO claims are finding market success through certification programs rather than making claims on their own, according to data shared in a recent SPINS webinar.
Founders' Fundamentals Podcast
Karen Anderson on identifying, capitalizing on whitespace innovation
Delivering on whitespace innovation can propel a CPG food and beverage startup into mainstream success, and filling a gap in the market might be simpler than some startups think, explained Karen Anderson, CEO of Purple Peak Marketing, during a recent...
Gopuff integrates SNAP, expands private label & fresh food offerings
Gopuff’s Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program (SNAP) integration for its e-grocery platform will also include its recently introduced Basically Premium private label line, reaching millions of eligible households.
Mood food for mental wellbeing – How can industry capitalize?
On-the-go functionality: Snack brands like Mood Bars blend brain-boosting benefits, convenience
Consumer demands for on-the-go functionality are fueling growth in the nascent mood-support snack bar, with brands like Mood Bars and others differentiating themselves in a crowded category with the help of brain-boosting ingredients.
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Consumers increasingly turn to food for ‘emotional wellness’
Emotional wellbeing is emerging as a top health concern for consumers across the generations, according to new research by the Hartman Group, which also found an increasing portion of people prefer to manage their moods with food, beverages and...
Mood food for mental wellbeing – How can industry capitalize?
Relaxation, mood-support foods focus on ‘other side’ of functional
A good night's sleep could be a functional product away, as consumers swap their alcoholic nightcap for a nonalcoholic option or their favorite comfort food to ease their mind after a long day, Scott Dicker, director of insights at SPINS told...
Mood food for mental wellbeing – How can industry capitalize?
Letter from the editor: What is the opportunity for mood-boosting foods, beverages?
Many Americans are eating their feelings or turning to drink to manage their mood, but that isn’t necessarily bad as innovative manufacturers leverage nootropics, adaptogens and botanicals alongside packaging and branding to create products that...
PoLoPo seeks seed funding, partners with CSM Ingredients to crack egg on commercialization efforts
Israel-based alt-protein company PoLoPo is inching closer to commercialization of its molecular farming-derived ovalbumin powder, as the food-tech company raises seed funding for its US expansion and partners on product applications.
USDA funds $6m to boost healthy food access in underserved communities
USDA, in partnership with the Reinvestment Fund, has allocated nearly $6 million to improve access to nutritious foods in underserved communities across the country, reinforcing the trend toward healthy diets and potentially reshaping how brands and...
2025 trends to watch: Functionality, sustainability, comfort flavors continue growth
Functionality and sustainability will grow in 2025, as shoppers balance their desires for authentic and indulgent flavors with nutritious foods and beverages, C.A. Fortune and SPINS shared in a recent webinar.
FDA’s Human Foods 2025 goals: Microbiological safety, food chemical safety & nutrition
FDA’s fiscal year 2025 priority deliverables for the Human Foods Program emphasize transparency and accountability amid state funding cuts and resource constraints.
Is the Nordic Diet the next major food trend?
Health trends are big business for food and beverage brands. So, will the new Nordic Diet take the industry by storm or be a foodie flash in the pan?
Organic sales hit record as regenerative organic sees growth, investment
Industry leaders are emphasizing the integration of regenerative agriculture alongside established organic practices, as demand for sustainable food and beverage products continues to rise.
GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic set to shake the global food industry
Originally intended as a treatment for diabetes, GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic could be set to turn the food and drink industry upside down.
ELAVI’s Costco expansion highlights demand for better-for-you options, innovative packaging
Better-for-you snack brand ELAVI doubled its Costco rotation to 30 Southern California stores in less than a year while addressing cocoa shortage and packaging changes.
How to identify and engage with your target market
Creating and building brand awareness, with potential customers, is essential to success. Here’s how to recognise and connect with your target market.
Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee
How would eliminating ultra-processed foods and products high in sugar, fat impact diet, health?
Diets that exclude foods high in added sugar and saturated fat, like sugary drinks, snacks and processed meat, still provide sufficient levels of essential nutrients, like vitamins, minerals and fiber, according to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.
Dairy innovation and trends
Letter from the editor: Innovations, trends & startups reshaping the dairy category
The dairy case is no longer a limited selection of fat-free, low-fat or whole milk in generic white bottles or a bare-bones choice between just “orange” or “white” cheese – rather an explosion of innovation in recent years has dramatically multiplied...
Unmet need in plant-based dairy revealed with rise of low-FODMAP diet
The influx of plant-based milk in recent years could provide relief and stability for consumers suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, but there remains a significant unmet need for clean-label, allergen-free options, according to one registered...
Dietary Guidelines for Americans
DGAC recommends more repeated exposure to healthy foods for kids
The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) recommended introducing a variety of fruits, vegetables and grains at appropriate ages does not adversely impact growth or increase obesity risk in young children.
Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee
Nutrition experts reveal Healthy US-style dietary pattern – but is it flexible enough?
The 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) recommends consolidating various dietary patterns into a single, inclusive Healthy US-Style Dietary Pattern that includes nutrient-dense, plant-based foods and which is accessible for all Americans.
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
4 flavor, color trends for 2025 that focus on simplicity, comfort & rediscovery
After a year of “unapologetically” embracing luxury, indulgence and whimsy through vivid colors and unexpected flavor combinations, consumers will rediscover and recenter themselves in 2025 by choosing taste profiles and hues that more realistically...
US private-label groceries to hit 25-30% market share in next 10 years, RaboResearch projects
The US private-label market is capitalizing on consumer trends on value, as food manufacturers push for quality and innovation to spur category growth in the next decade.
Olfactive Biosolutions harnesses food ingredients for weight loss
Olfactive Biosolutions' Protenx Weight Loss is a patented (US 12,102,664 B2) line of natural food ingredients and additives that target weight loss and blood sugar reduction that could help brands meet the growing demand for functional foods in the GLP-1...
Gut health: What’s next for this major F&B trend?
Consumer demand for ‘gut-friendly’ foods and beverages is growing fast, and industry is innovating just as quickly to meet it. So, what’s next for this seemingly unstoppable trend?
Why shoppers are turning towards costly organic food and drink
More consumers are buying pricier organic food and drink, despite continuing cost-of-living pressures, with sales expected to rocket as governments push to make organic farming central to future sustainability strategies.
Food manufacturers, retailers double down on private-label, as market continues growth, FMI report
Retailers and food manufacturers are banding together to develop more on-trend and innovative private-label products, as the market sheds the perception that they are just cheaper alternatives to national brands, FMI – The Food Industry Association...
DGAC: Diets high in plant-based foods are moderately linked towards reducing illness
Although the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) did not find strong evidence between dietary patterns and disease risk, some age-related cognitive health issues and breast cancer are moderately linked to diet.
How Bumpin Blends’ founder turned a flight delay into a Barbie collab
When a delayed flight could have ruined her day, Bumpin Blends' founder, Lisa Mastela, used the downtime to network with fellow travelers and, in doing so, connected with representatives from toymaker Mattel that ultimately landed the smoothie brand a...