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...
Kroger is shifting from a "grocery company to a growth company" (referred to as its 'Restock Kroger' initiative), CEO Rodney McMullen told delegates at the NRF show in New York this week, noting that it embarked on the move well before...
Vertical indoor farming company, 80 Acres Farms, has received a "significant investment" from Virgo Investment Group, a San Francisco-based private equity firm, to help rapidly commercialize the company's specialized indoor farming technology.
When meal kits first burst onto the scene, they were pitched as a way to prep dinner in a hurry. However, the category’s major players are now finding that consumers are looking for even quicker options for every meal occasion - at more accessible prices.
Laird Superfood, maker of fortified non-dairy coffee creamers containing a full range of MCTs, has closed $32m in a private funding round led by co-working tech company WeWork, which the company intends to use for product development and to make small...
While there will always be a place in consumers’ hearts – and cups – for freshly brewed classic teas such as English breakfast and tisans like chamomile, shoppers increasingly are looking for premium, innovative options and formats that allow them to...
Food trendspotting is a round-the-clock practice for Campbell’s executive chef, Maria Gamble and her culinary team, who are tasked with finding ways to incorporate new flavors, textures, and ingredients into the company’s product portfolio that will spark...
Califia Farms – best known for its almond, coconut, and cashew milks - has moved into the rapidly-growing* oatmilk category with a barista blend launching in February, and an unsweetened oatmilk launching in April.
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...
The rise of diets – paleo, plant-based, Whole 30, keto, even ‘lazy keto’ – has created a challenging environment for food and beverage marketers trying to establish and grow a strong consumer following.
The latest iteration of the plant-based Impossible Burger matches conventional beef burgers when it comes to ‘likeability’ in blind taste tests, says Impossible Foods, which has replaced textured wheat protein with soy protein concentrate, and made other...
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.
The FDA and USDA recently proposed a joint regulatory framework for cell-based meat, with the FDA to oversee cell collection, cell banks, and cell growth and differentiation, and USDA to oversee the production and labeling of food products from the harvested...
Enacting new labeling rules for plant-based ‘milks’ “would create unnecessary, confusing, and costly label changes that likely violate the First Amendment and would be struck down in court,” members of the Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA) have told...
An ongoing capital raise of $500,000 is helping Boulder, Colo.-based Rollin Greens “take on the freezer category” and give American comfort foods “a healthy twist,” by helping it expand its distribution, revamp its packaging to appeal to more mainstream...
The Beyond Famous Star burger – a 100% plant-based burger supplied by Beyond Meat – will be available in 1,000+ Carl's Jr. locations this month starting at $6.29.
Personalized nutrition? Keto diets? Cell-based meat? FoodNavigator-USA quizzed food & beverage entrepreneurs and CEOs to find out what trends they will be monitoring in 2019 …
Counter to the chatter aroused by a recent report, the State of New York has not ‘banned’ CBD, according to an expert on the legality of hemp products. The state did however put some boundaries around a pilot agricultural program.
If you could invent a nutrition bar for your brain, what would it look like? If you included clinically significant doses of every ingredient associated with cognitive health, it would probably look pretty expensive, concedes the founder of IQ BAR. But...
Online grocer Peapod’s third annual meal forecasting survey revealed a growing appreciation for home cooked meals and that spending more time in the kitchen cooking healthy dishes is a top resolution for many in 2019.
San Francisco-based JUST - best-known for its plant-based eggs and mayo – has struck a deal with Japanese Wagyu beef producer Toriyama, and meat and seafood supplier Awano Food Group, to develop, sell, and market cell-cultured Wagyu beef products.
From the “volatile government situation” to the “crazy acts of nature” across the nation and “senseless hate crimes,” many consumers in the US are feeling uneasy and looking for a way to “escape from some of the badness” by visiting hotels, restaurants...
Uncertainty surrounding the US-China trade war and the renegotiated trade deal with Canada and Mexico are taking a toll on US food and agricultural industries, but experts with Rabobank say there is hope for the future if players take action now to diversify...
It’s good practice to fortify plant-based milks, but consumers don’t expect precise organoleptic or nutritional equivalency with dairy milk, says HP Hood, which is gearing up for a national launch of "full bodied, naturally sweet" oatmilk with...
Given its success in other markets, Swedish oatmilk brand Oatly was quietly confident that it would do well in the US, says US general manager Mike Messersmith. “But the magnitude of demand and the speed with which it developed vastly exceeded our expectations.”
Cargill has unveiled its new 188,000-square-foot North American protein headquarters in Wichita, Kansas, designed to foster employee collaboration and drive innovation in the protein category.
Hope & Sesame organic sesamemilk has a “subtle, nutty” taste, a creamy texture, and a comparable amount of protein to dairy milk, with added calcium and vitamin D, says brand owner Spinning Wheel Brands, which says consumers are starting to demand...
Given the importance placed on making a good first impression, many entrepreneurs and innovators may think they need to perfect a product before they introduce it to the market – but according a co-founder of the cold brew nitro-infused coffee company...
Consumer interest in “getting back to basics” will heavily influence how they approach food and beverages in 2019 – pushing them towards options that are both “real” in the sense offering natural benefits with minimal processing, and realistically depicted...
With the opening of a larger manufacturing facility, cashew cheese maker Nuttin Ordinary is ready to expand distribution beyond its home market in New England so that it can continue to ride a wave of consumer interest in non-dairy alternatives that fueled...
Within the adults snack bar category consumers can find everything from cold-pressed chilled bars made with whole fruits and vegetables to a myriad of clean label alternatives of protein bars. But when it came to snack bars for kids, the options were...
FreshDirect, an online fresh food retailer based in the Northeast, along with its in-house trendspotting experts have shared its top 10 major trends consumers can expect to see more of in 2019.
Synthetic biology specialist Amyris has embarked on a mission to capture 30% of the global stevia sweeteners market by 2022 with a Reb M sweetener produced from cane sugar by a modified yeast strain, that it claims gives it a clear competitive advantage...
Seattle Food Tech – a start-up seeking to carve a distinct niche in the burgeoning plant-based meat market by targeting schools, hospitals, universities, and the military with plant-based chicken nuggets – has raised $1m and hired a VP of business development.
Once a niche ingredient, pea protein is now the #2 player in the burgeoning plant-based protein market behind soy, with key players ratcheting up capacity to meet growing demand. FoodNavigator-USA (FNU) caught up with Tyler Lorenzen (TL), president at...
ADM – which is best known in the protein arena for its soy-based ingredients and edible beans - is moving into the fast-growing pea protein space early next year with an 80%+ concentrate, and is developing “legume ingredients with at least 80% protein...
HUEL is now competing in the ready-to-drink (RTD) beverage category with the launch of an on-the-go bottle format of its ‘nutritionally complete’ meal replacement protein blend.
Farbest Brands has been named the preferred North American distributor of pea protein by Chinese manufacturer Jianyuan Foods Group, which will start commissioning a new production facility in the coming weeks that will provide “a significant increase...
Natac Solutions, a recent 50-50 joint venture between Radient Technologies Inc. (RTI) and Grupo Natac S.L., will help CPG companies rethink and enhance their functional products with its range of plant-based extracts claimed to preserve the holistic plant...
If you didn't make it to Chicago last week for the FoodNavigator-USA FOOD FOR KIDS summit, you missed a truly awesome ensemble of academics, industry experts, health advocates, and our first parents’ panel, covering everything from the infant gut...
By tapping registered dietitians at retailers and in local communities, Freedom Foods has magnified the impact and reach of its recent launch in more than 2,000 stores in the US of nutritional bars and cereals featuring BarleyMax – a unique grain packed...
While earlier this year there was talk of a turf war between federal agencies over who should have primary jurisdiction over cell-cultured meat, the FDA and the USDA have now agreed to create a joint regulatory framework, providing clarity for a growing...
Food and beverage products that communicate a clear functional health benefit, sustainability story, explore alternative protein sources, or leverage technology to shorten the distance between a recipe and finished meal, are just some of the trends to...
While the terms ‘vegan’ and ‘plant-based’ might appear to be interchangeable (they both exclude animal products), consumers do not view them in the same way, says the Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA), which has just launched a new ‘certified plant-based’...
While the food and beverage industry is inherently competitive that doesn’t mean companies need to operate as islands – rather, at Rabobank’s FoodBytes! pitch slam in New York City the founder of whipped vegetable spread brand Frescious explains collaborating...
US retail sales of products referencing sprouted grains on pack decreased slightly (-2.1%) to $267.2m in the 52 weeks to October 7, according to new data* from SPINS, with the largest category - bread and baked goods - experiencing a 4.2% decline. However,...
