Many of the tried-and-true tactics, contracts, marketing strategies and business decisions that fueled growth for most successful businesses to date, will not take companies to the next level or guarantee their survival in the next ten years, suggests...
Spice giant McCormick and Co. is getting a jump start on New Year’s resolutions with an aggressive line-up of goals for improving the livelihoods of its farmers, advancing environmental sustainability and fostering a more diverse and inclusive workforce....
Rice Bran Technologies has exited the Brazilian market and will concentrate on growing its ingredients business in North America, the company announced recently.
The search for the best price on food, product variety, quality and convenience are prompting consumers to hop from retailer to retailer and in doing so conventional grocery stores are losing out, according to recent data from Acosta.
The reinvention and rising popularity of cauliflower over the past year illustrates how consumer grocery shopping styles are evolving along with their focus on specific ingredients, and the opportunities this change creates for manufacturers and retailers...
As anyone that’s tried a vegan gummy bear lately will tell you, it’s incredibly hard to replicate the unique properties of gelatin, a gelling agent derived from animal skin, bones and connective tissues used in everything from candies to Jello. But what...
Beyond Meat raises $55m in round led by Cleveland Avenue LLC
Beyond Meat – the plant-based company behind the Beyond Burger (the first meat-free burger to be merchandised in the meat counter) – has raised $55m in a financing round led by VC firm Cleveland Avenue, LLC, and supported by meat giant Tyson Foods.
The NadaMoo! coconut milk fueled dairy-free brand – which has been growing at an explosive, triple-digit pace over the past three years – is exploring moves beyond the frozen case into new plant-based categories, says its CEO.
The first commercial products from Hampton Creek’s clean (aka cultured) meat production platform – launching at the end of 2018 - will be in the poultry family, and could be targeted at retail and foodservice customers, says the company, which has just...
Data from a randomized clinical trial using Ingredion’s new slowly digestible carbohydrate provides scientific validation for manufacturers seeking ingredient solutions to help consumers stay active and avoid fatigue, says the company.
NadaMoo! – which is carving out a niche at the premium end of the dairy-free frozen dessert market with its organic coconut milk based wares – has raised $4m in a Series A financing round led by InvestEco Capital and supported by District Ventures Capital,...
It has surged in popularity in recent years thanks to its complex flavor profile, health benefits, versatility in sweet and savory applications, and ‘artisanal’ culinary associations, says flavors giant Firmenich, which has selected fig as its flavor...
On-shelf nutritional rating systems, such as Guiding Stars, not only help consumers make healthier purchases, but they can boost retail sales by encouraging larger baskets with more expensive items, according to new research.
Identifying the geographical origin of palm oil is now quicker and more accurate thanks to a method developed by Spanish researchers, who claim it could help fight palm oil fraudulently labelled as certified sustainable.
While household penetration of plant-based alternatives to meat in the US is only a small a fraction, innovation and sales in the category are poised for growth and could mirror the trajectory of plant-based milks, predicts a senior scientist with the...
The ease of buying food online may diminish the sense of psychological ownership, which may ultimately make it easier for people to discard food, suggests a new analysis with implications for retailers.
Negative consumer perceptions around ingredients like carrageenan and xanthan gum are challenging their usage in the US, but darlings like pectin are booming and now is the time industry should be talking more to consumers, says a leading hydrocolloids...
Hidden hunger due to malnutrition can have devastating consequences not only for those who suffer from it, but also on the economy – prompting governments to seek help in a way that is creating business opportunities for innovators with solutions.
Snack products with specific healthful claims have experienced the strongest uptick in sales, say a new insights from Nielsen, as the category reaches $33 billion in the US.
Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. and CPG veteran Bill Moses have launched Disruptive Brands, a new platform focused on investing in and supporting emerging better-for-you food and beverage brands.
Despite the rising popularity and much-touted health benefits of plant-based diets, new research suggests a complete shift away from animal-based food production in the US would “create a food supply incapable of supporting the US population’s nutritional...
With sales doubling year-on-year and two of its founders named in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Class of 2018 in the Food & Drink category, Soom Foods is showing how success in food service can drive retail sales.
Consumers no longer have to trade nutrition for convenience when shopping the frozen snack aisle thanks to innovative companies, such as Smart Flour Foods, that are revamping classic comfort foods with cleaner ingredient decks that also deliver on taste...
Grasshoppers have several distinct advantages over crickets as a food ingredient, claims Dror Tamir at Israeli edible insect start-up Hargol FoodTech, who caught up with FoodNavigator-USA editor Elaine Watson at FOOD VISION USA in Chicago.
The plant-based movement is easier to understand when considering it alongside another trend that proved to be a financial boon for brands: gluten-free.
Next year, Americans will seek food that comforts them and helps them escape from reality as the unpredictable political climate, wobbly economy and emotionally draining natural disasters that impacted so many in 2017 continue to create a sense of uncertainty,...
Hailed by experts as ‘needed’ and ‘significant’, the US Food and Drug Administration has issued draft guidance on best practices to follow when convening a panel of experts to evaluate whether a substance is “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS).
General Mills is seeking to patent a way to make gluten-free and reduced-gluten fresh, filled pastas such as ravioli without any breakages or tears during processing.
The NuVal shelf tag program – which assigned products a score of 1-100 based on their nutritional value – has been phased out. Good riddance, or do we need a system that attempts to provides consumers with at-a-glance information that helps them rapidly...
Against the vast majority of stakeholders’ wishes, the US Department of Agriculture once again is delaying the widely supported Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices because the department believes the final rule oversteps Congress’ mandate ‘for the...
Double digit increases in the US acreage for organic grains – and in soy and corn in particular – signal the industry is maturing and America soon could be able to rely on domestic production to meet growing demand for organic products, according to a...
Dr Richardson: 'Strategic plans empower entrepreneurs to say ‘no’ to the wrong opportunities'
By Dr James Richardson, founder, Premium Growth Solutions
With retailers increasingly open to stocking premium products from emerging brands, and Amazon offering a great platform to help entrepreneurs reach a nationwide audience, it might seem like there's never been a better time to start a food &...
Field Roast Grain Meat Co makes vegan roasts, sausages, burgers and cheese. But it’s not in the meat or dairy ‘analog’ business, stresses co-founder, and CEO David Lee. “I’m not making fake beef or Monterey Jack. I’m not trying to mimic or imitate specific...
Powerful – the four-year-old brand credited with launching the ‘brogurt’ category – has raised $4m to support its protein-fueled ambitions, and says it now does more business with women than men.
Quaker Oats is putting the nutritional power of the oat front and center for two new consumer campaigns, one about food waste targeting Millennials and the other about the specific health benefits linked to oats for Boomers.
From chickpea tofu to spiced coffee, Sterling-Rice Group (SRG) highlights six culinary trends it predicts will inspire packaged foods and foodservice menus in 2018.
The arrival of 2017 may have marked the end of the year of the pulse, but new products featuring lentils and legumes continue to flood the market and gain traction with consumers thanks to the many benefits they offer, including weight management, heart...
CircleUp has announced CircleUp Growth Partners, a new $125m venture fund targeting early-stage consumer brands that utilizes a machine learning platform called Helio claimed to enable more data-driven investment decisions.
The FDA is proposing to revoke a health claim on the relationship between soy protein and reduced risk of heart disease, citing “inconsistent findings” from research published since the claim was authorized in 1999.
Campbell Soup – which is leaving the Grocery Manufacturers Association after finding itself “at odds with some of its positions” - is joining the Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA), a new trade association dedicated to boosting consumption of plant-based...
Pasta is often passed over by consumers who perceive it as having ‘too many carbs,’ or not being nutritionally dense or simply taking too long to prepare – but Barilla is making it a snap to make as part of a healthy meal with its new Ready Pasta pouches.
Increased consumer demand for convenience has led to high activity in the grab-and-go space. New York City-based Baldor Specialty Foods is tapping into the trend through its recently launched line of vegetable meal kits Urban Roots.
Personalised nutrition using a natural, calorie-free fibre to create nutritionally enhanced foods on demand is “revolutionary”, according to the makers of a 3D-printing platform.
California-based Caulipower launched its grain-free, cauliflower frozen pizza crust at the beginning of this year into 30 stores. It’s now set to hit 6,500 stores nationwide by the end of October.
The Battle Creek-based cereal giant responded to demands from consumers who still want a sugary hit first thing in the morning in an effort to boost its sagging ‘morning foods’ business.
Despite improved access to organic staples such as milk and salad, consumers still struggle to prepare fully organic meals because they can’t easily find organic “extras” to round out dishes, such as condiments, dressings and dips – something the new...
The judge handling a putative class action lawsuit* over ‘natural’ claims on Annie’s salad dressings, has stayed the case (put it on hold) on primary jurisdiction** grounds, and speculated that the FDA is likely to address the use of the term natural...
