When you start out, it’s tempting to say yes to everything, observes Banza co-founder Brian Rudolph (who admits ‘shiny object syndrome’ can also kick in once your brand gains traction and you start wondering where it could extend). But one of the reasons...
Images of mom preparing dinner alone in the kitchen for her busy family have been a staple in food and beverage marketing for decades, but new consumer research from the Benenson Strategy Group suggests brands that continue to recycle this theme are missing...
Innovation in the baby food aisle has come in waves. First came jars, then shelf stable pouches, and most recently a new generation of HPP (high pressure processed) refrigerated brands carving out a premium niche in the category. But could freeze-drying...
Amazon’s decision to tackle Whole Foods ‘whole paycheck’ moniker from day one with a wave of price cuts sends an immediate signal to rivals that “they are now dealing with a competitor that is not afraid to damage profits and margins if it creates long...
When it comes to food and nutrition, there are some ideas that we’ve accepted as common sense: Water is good. MSG is probably bad. Sodium in general isn’t great, but sea salt is a plus. Garlic is tasty. And what the heck is lecithin?
Plant-based formulations for bars, beverages, and powders made up about 60% of all orders to California-based manufacturer Nellson in 2016, compared to just 25% last year, and a negligible amount in 2014, the company’s SVP of commercial development Bart...
In another signal that traditional meat companies see cultured meat as an opportunity, rather than a threat, Cargill and other unnamed "food industry giants" have participated in a $17m funding round in clean meat firm Memphis Meats.
FDA is extending a helping hand to companies struggling to meet new food safety measures outlined in the Food Safety Modernization Act, for which the deadline is quickly approaching, by offering a free software application to help them identify and address...
Assuming that there are suitors willing to top Corbion’s $20m stalking horse bid for the algae-fueled company, an auction for some or all of TerraVia's assets will take place on September 11 in New York at the offices of Davis Polk & Wardwell...
New research showing that 98% of homes have packaged food that exceeds the recommended amount of sodium, despite drastic reductions in the last 15 years, should be a wake-up call for manufacturers to cut back on the mineral even more and for consumers...
High prices and the fear of being locked into a recurring subscription are the top two factors deterring Americans from embracing meal kit services, according to a new survey, which found that Millennials are the most receptive to the concept, but only...
How can you make access to fresh produce easier for households in food insecure areas? For a group of young University of Chicago entrepreneurs, community-driven grocery kits may be an answer.
Despite continued pressure from the on-the-go lifestyles that dominate today’s culture and have fueled the rise of convenience foods, packaged snacks and quick service restaurants, new research shows many consumers are beginning to shun these options...
In the early days, the news about Hampton Creek was almost universally positive. A man on a mission to disrupt the food system, founder Josh Tetrick emerged victorious from spats with Unilever and the FDA, raised bucketloads of cash from Silicon Valley’s...
Being a poor college student unable to afford books or a night out is one thing, but being a poor college student who also is unable to afford groceries or unsure where the next meal will come from is another level – one which researchers argue could...
Cynics might argue that junk food is junk food, whether it comes in green-hued packaging and eschews artificial colors, flavors and preservatives, or not. Kidfresh co-founder and CEO Matt Cohen begs to differ.
From turmeric paste and green banana flour to sprouted mung bean snacks and cauliflower wraps and pizza bases, the entries to our 2017 trailblazers challenge are at the cutting edge of food & beverage innovation. But we could only pick three winners...
Americans buy everything online, from books to vacations. But when it comes to groceries, bricks, not clicks, still rule. That was until Amazon struck a deal to buy Whole Foods, and gave everyone a “huge wake up call,” says Door to Door Organics CEO Mike...
Hope Foods has raised $7.4m by selling the 59,000sq ft industrial building in the Colorado Technology Center in Louisville, Colorado, where it manufactures its organic hummus and dips, to California-based Adler Realty Investments – and has struck a long-term...
A minority equity investment from Encore Consumer Capital could help fast-growing Veggie Noodle Co. spring to new levels by funding the startup's expansion into a larger facility in East Austin that will allow it to produce more than five times its...
Small size food manufacturers have only five weeks left before the deadline hits to develop food safety plans under the Food Safety Modernization Act’s Preventive Controls for Human Food – and for those that haven’t yet started, or think they can’t afford...
Hampton Creek has confirmed the Silicon Valley start-up is in talks to license its lab-grown meat technology to some of the world’s biggest meat companies.
A commonly held perception of the ongoing renaissance in the food and beverage industry is that only small, nimble startups are innovating to meet consumers’ evolving needs, and that large, legacy companies must acquire or incubate new brands to keep...
Does the empty space in your food package serve a useful purpose? If not, you could be at the receiving end of a lawsuit over what is known in the trade as 'non functional slack fill.'
There has been a resurgence in ‘all-natural’ litigation in 2017 as the industry has waited in vain for the FDA to provide a definition of the much-maligned term. However, a line item in an appropriations bill might spur the agency into action, say attorneys...
After years of knocking on the doors of top tier retailers and hearing no, baby and toddler food company NuturMe is finally hearing yes from major players including Target, Kroger and Costco – a change the company’s CEO attributes to the brand’s new “Tummy...
With its “chameleon-like” versatility, nutrient-density and strong structural integrity, the ancient grain freekeh is a triple threat to many modern day eating woes that plague time-crunched consumers seeking something healthy and fast, according to the...
Mung bean protein has potential applications in everything from egg substitutes to pasta and ice cream, says Hampton Creek, which has just received a 'no questions' letter from the FDA responding to its determination that its proprietary mung...
Despite Aramark’s ambitious five-year plan to improve the health of Americans 20% by 2020, the public health non-profit Balanced wants the food service giant to do more to improve the nutrition of the meals it serves more quickly.
Despite the sustained popularity of the paleo diet that has spawned an entire industry of packaged products from soup to snacks to decadent desserts, parents who want their children to follow the trend have had to make their own baby food – until now.
Back in 2011, it looked as if augmented reality (AR) might become as ubiquitous as the barcode on food packaging as marketers sought new ways to entice consumers with more immersive experiences.
For time-strapped entrepreneurs who are brave enough to take the stage, competing in pitch-slams is a good way to secure funding, meet potential business partners and weave a network of supporters who can help shine a spotlight on them without investing...
When it comes to edible insects, there is still something of a disconnect between the rhetoric (insects can help us feed the world) and the reality, in the US., at least (they’re still niche and expensive). But that’s about to change, predicts the company...
The partnership with Amazon Prime Now could ultimately expand to almost half of the Sprouts store network, predicts the Phoenix-based retailer, which posted a 1.4% rise in same store sales in the latest quarter while rival Whole Foods Market has continued...
For US-based Indian street snack maker The Chaat Co, $1 million in seed funding including investment from India’s Jain Farm Fresh Foods is about more than just the money -- it is also about securing a supply line for authentic ingredients to make its...
Much of the punditry immediately following the Amazon/Whole Foods announcement focused on how the tie up might impact Whole Foods stores. Will they become test beds for Amazon Go-style technology and fulfilment centers for Amazon's broader grocery...
While it's probably still best known for its iconic condensed soup, Campbell Soup has been quietly re-engineering its portfolio in recent years via a series of strategic acquisitions and investments spanning everything from hummus and dips to organic...
After almost 15 years in business without generating a profit, algae ingredients pioneer TerraVia has filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 and subjected itself to a competitive bidding process, with ingredients supplier Corbion entering the...
Looks may not be everything, but they matter a lot – especially in the produce section, which can be a pivotal driver for foot traffic and subsequent sales throughout the entire store, according to new research from the Food Marketing Institute.
Impossible Foods – a Bay-area-based start-up on a mission to precisely replicate the taste and texture of meat – has closed a $75m financing round,* bringing its total investment to date to a jaw-dropping $257m, a reflection of the belief investors have...
Seeing a looming opportunity, dietary ingredients supplier Ethical Naturals has brought a new monk fruit sweetener ingredient to market that it says uses the same technology that it applies to its botanical extracts.
San Diego-based Chosen Foods – best known for its avocado oils and mayo – is considering a move into refrigerated plant-based protein foods and high-protein snacks as it sits down with its new owner, Mexican specialty oils and seeds supplier Sesajal,...
The FDA – which has continued to maintain radio silence over plant-based ‘milk’ labeling despite mounting frustration from stakeholders – should clarify its position in the face of increasing commercial, legal and political pressure, says the Good Food...
Fruit d’ Or has announced approval by Health Canada for the omega-3 and omega-6 content of its multifunctional cranberry seed oil ingredient. The approved claim wording includes “for the maintenance of good health.”
When it comes to eating meat in the US, chicken, without a doubt, is the main attraction with Americans consuming an average of 91 pounds last year – that is nearly double the roughly 50 pounds of pork and 55 pounds of beef consumed in the same period,...
Daiya Foods has carved out an enviable slice of the fast-growing plant-based foods market since its 2008 launch, but did not attract the valuation it was looking for when it first explored a sale in 2014/15. Fast forward to 2017, however, and its value...
Among top performing retailers with high sales across the store, 49% of these sales come from the fresh department, according to the latest analysis by market research firm Nielsen.
As a percentage of the overall grocery retail market, Amazon’s $420m in Q2 grocery sales in the US is pretty small fry. But its 50% year-on-year growth is making the whole industry pay attention, says e-commerce data firm One Click Retail.
In an about-face, Blue Apron’s stock is surging on the strength of positive investor ratings published earlier this week, but the meal kit company’s initial rocky start in public trading still could have a negative long-term impact on competitors’ ability...
“Lidl will be a very real threat for small scale grocers that lack differentiation or operational efficiencies," predict analysts at Bernstein. However, its success in the US “is by no means a foregone conclusion,” they caution.