Whole Earth Brands (parent company to Equal and Pure Via sweetener brands) has entered a definitive agreement to acquire Wholesome Sweeteners, the No. 1 organic sweetener brand by share in the organic and natural channel.
The emotional and physical strains caused by events in 2020 have shined a light on the need for and accelerated development of foods and beverages that not only nourish consumers’ physical bodies, but their mental health as well, according to Rabobank...
Encouraged by the first doses of the coronavirus vaccine administered in the US this week, many Americans are eager for a return to normalcy in the new year, but they also recognize widespread inoculation and economic recovery will be slow and so they...
Pandemic-fueled consumer demand for food that is healthier, more sustainable, ethically produced and easier to access has fueled a “burst of investment” in food-tech in 2020 that Finistere Ventures predicts will have a lasting impact on the industry long...
In the spirit of optimism and pursuit of renewal many consumers are seeking in the new year, Sensient Technologies Color Group has identified “Rising Orange” as its 2021 Color of the Year, which the company predicts will help fuel an new wave of food...
The USDA is proposing to update rules allowing firms using celery salt or other natural sources of nitrates or nitrites, to make the claims ‘No Nitrate or Nitrite Added’ on labels (something they're not allowed to do if they use synthetic nitrites/nitrates)...
While interest in plant-based options for children is on the rise, meeting the high bar for taste and texture set by kids – who often are less willing than adults to compromise on experience for nutrition – can be a tall order, according to some nutritionists.
While the food supply chain bent to accommodate weaknesses revealed and intensified by the coronavirus outbreak earlier this year, next time an unexpected threat arises the industry might not be so lucky unless it increases transparency and digitization...
Chobani has moved further into the functional foods arena with the launch of probiotic yogurts and shakes, which follow hot on the heels of its plant-based probiotic beverage and protein- and fiber-packed Chobani Complete range, which hit shelves in the...
With a coronavirus vaccine on the horizon, many industry stakeholders are looking forward to gathering over drinks or dinner with business partners they haven’t seen in months, but not to talk shop as they might have before the pandemic.
Orlando-based Kalera has expanded operations of its indoor vertically-grown hydroponic lettuce and microgreens to the Pacific Northwest with construction of a facility in Seattle, a significant milestone in the company's journey of making locally-grown...
Nature’s Fynd - a Chicago-based startup growing protein-packed food from microbes with a fraction of the environmental footprint of meat or dairy – has raised a further $45m and hired a clutch of food industry veterans as it gears up to launch its first...
“When we went on Shark Tank [in late 2018], Rohan Oza [managing partner at CAVU Venture Partners, who agreed to invest in the business] said to us, ‘I absolutely love your liquid, but I hate the packaging,” recalls Poppi co-founder Allison Ellsworth....
Displaying health warnings on sugar-sweetened drinks could be an effective way of reducing consumption, suggest US researchers, who found a 14.5% decline in consumption among students when warning labels were displayed on drinks in a college cafeteria....
Strong sales and market share gains in Kroger’s third-quarter announced last week suggest its controversial three-year, four-prong ‘Restock Kroger’ initiative is paying off and could insulate the retailer against a potential growth slowdown once a coronavirus...
The Coca-Cola Co. is trying to make the best of a bad situation by using the pandemic, which had decimated its revenues with the closure of public places, as a “catalyst for change” to “drive out some of the bureaucracy,” refocus on local opportunities...
Meat processing giant Tyson Foods threw its hat into the plant-based meat arena in 2019 with the nationwide launch of the Raised & Rooted brand, which is now available in 10,000+ US retail locations and select QSR outlets. But has it met expectations?
Premium packaging and label design, unique brand backstories, and products that evoke novelty and excitement are highly-sought-after product attributes for craft chocolate consumers, according to research conducted by food scientists in Penn State’s College...
While the terms 'plant-based' and 'vegan' might appear to be interchangeable (they both exclude animal products), consumers do not view them in quite the same way, claims Foodchain ID, which has just launched separate 'vegan,'...
Kraft Heinz is pulling back on innovation in favor of renovating well-established, iconic brands to which consumers have flocked during the coronavirus pandemic in an effort to maintain household penetration gains made in the last nine months of lockdowns,...
Eat Beyond Global Holdings, a publicly-held investment issuer focused on alternative proteins and traded on the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE), has announced its strategic focus on the advancement of the cell-based agriculture industry in Singapore through...
Faced with rising food prices and stagnant or reduced income during the pandemic, Americans are embracing a more DIY-approach to sourcing and cooking food to save money, and are less tolerant of waste that they believe could help feed the hungry, according...
While all entrepreneurs face an uphill battle, Black, Indigenous and People of Color often face more challenges and have fewer resources than their white counterparts in America – contributing to a racial wealth gap that McKinsey & Company projects...
One day after McCormick & Company acquired Cholula hot sauce for $800m in a deal that will accelerate the spice company’s growth opportunities and expand its portfolio, the CPG giant is warning investors to reject an unrelated, unsolicited and undervalued...
Without the physical constraints of brick and mortar stores, e-commerce offers retailers an opportunity to appeal to more than just mainstream shoppers by diversifying their assortment to attract niche consumers who often will spend more for specialized...
As cases of COVID-19 resurge nationwide, retailers are bracing for another round of potential stockpiling and increased consumer demand by ordering more product – a trend that could strain production at plants already operating at capacity, suggests JM...
After initially hitting pause on new deals during the early days of the coronavirus outbreak, investors have steadily returned to the bargaining table, but the CEO of one venture capital firm warns the pandemic has raised the bar for and slowed the pace...
Toronto-based Mother Raw, a fast-growing brand of fresh, plant-based dressings, condiments, and quesos, has closed a US$6.1m Series A financing round to accelerate distribution across the US while expanding marketing and innovation initiatives, said CEO...
As consumers continue to navigate the pandemic’s threat to their physical and emotional health in the New Year, they increasingly will seek nutrition that is personalized, technologically enhanced, mood moderating and immunity boosting, according to Innova...
This week Americans will kick off the winter holiday season with a Thanksgiving like no other in recent memory as the ongoing pandemic forces many people to eschew typical large gatherings in favor of smaller solo or household affairs – a change that...
CHUM Fruit Snacks founder Benjamin Bartley says parents "want cleaner ingredient lists, a sustainable story, breakthrough benefits not yet seen and above all, originality."
Hemp seeds are nutritional dynamite, but they’re still surprisingly under-utilized in foods and beverages, say the founders of Let There Be Hemp, a new brand hoping to make a splash in the chips category, and - down the road - to introduce Americans to...
The plant-based meat category is becoming increasingly competitive, with legacy brands vying for shelf space with multinationals, well-funded foodtech players, and a host of enterprising startups, says No Evil Foods co-founder Sadrah Schadel. But independent...
A sharp and steady decline over the past 18 years of infant iron consumption uncovered by Nestlé’s long-term Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study reveals a threat to children’s brain development and learning capabilities as well as a significant market...
Consumers’ desire for comforting, nostalgic and indulgent foods and beverages as a way to cope with pressures from the pandemic, election and economic hardship in 2020 is about to clash with more austere preferences more typical of each new year, including...
While consumer understanding of prebiotics may still be in its infancy, basic knowledge around the topic is growing as more food and beverage brands enter the category, finds Kara Landau, founder of prebiotic functional food brand Uplift Food.
Cincinnati-based Graeter’s Ice Cream, a 150-year-old family-owned company, and Perfect Day, a San Francisco-based startup producing animal-free milk proteins via microbial fermentation, have partnered to launch “Perfect Indulgence”, a line of frozen desserts...
Children’s dietary patterns are mostly set by the time they turn 2 years old, which doesn’t leave a lot of wiggle room for indulging picky eaters if caregivers want their kids to grow up eating – and liking – a wide variety of healthy, nutrient-dense...
TRUFF – best known for its luxury truffle-infused hot sauce – has expanded into the premium pasta sauce category, an area of the store co-founder Nick Ajluni feels is a natural evolution for the fast-growing brand, which has registered triple-digit sales...
Despite higher interest in plant-based eating, Gen Z consumers are less likely to shop, prepare, and eat fresh vegetables than any other generation, according to Mintel research.
The FDA has issued draft guidance encouraging food manufacturers to voluntarily declare all uses of sesame in the ingredient list on food labels, notably in flavors and spices, but says it needs more data to assess whether it should be subject to mandatory...
Companies hoping to break into the children’s food and beverage category may have a better shot at success by going direct-to-consumer with solutions that extend beyond kids to target the whole family than they do at breaking into and out on grocery retail...
Following its acquisition by Beverage USA Holdings Inc. (BevUSA) earlier this year, mental acuity beverage company NERD is on track to become a nationally-recognized brand with new retail distribution, an expanded direct-to-consumer business, and refreshed...
When the pandemic prompted some retailers to delay category resets or close their doors temporarily to new brands, the emerging wellness shot brand So Good So You didn’t dwell on delayed distribution opportunities – rather it doubled down support for...
Food styling is a key marketing tool to make products, dishes, and meals look more appealing and appetizing, but does “pretty” food also impact its perceived healthiness? Preliminary research suggests there may be a link.
Projecting its sixth straight year of double-digit growth, PepsiCo-owned Propel is taking advantage of the recent surge in consumer interest around immune health with the launch of its Immune Support line containing vitamin C and zinc.
As illustrated by the diversity and record number of entrants to FoodNavigator-USA’s 2020 Food For Kids Trailblazers Challenge, innovation abounds in the children’s food and beverage segment, but funding and shelf space in stores – even digital ones –...
Limited access to processing facilities is a top contributor to food waste, and a major hurdle that blocks mid-sized food and beverage businesses from scaling to the next level – two challenges that startup Matriark Foods is hoping to bypass with a unique...
Brands’ acquisition and retention of new customers – and investors – increasingly hinges on their ability to provide experiences and a sense of community that can help relieve customers’ emotional strain due to limited contact with others during the drawn-out...
