Given how little time entrepreneurs have during most pitches, intentionally ending the meeting a few minutes early may sound counterintuitive, but the founder of the bakery and packaged cookie company Sugar Bliss says this gives potential buyers or investors...
Food-system stakeholders must underscore the economic value of a healthy populace, as improving wellness in the US will require systemic shifts in how consumers and CPG companies think about nutrition, Katie Stebbins, executive director at the Food &...
Vegan cookie company Love+Chew is controlling its destiny by not accepting venture capital (VC) funding and finding success at Costco in the process, brand CEO and founder Lauren Chew told FoodNavigator-USA during a Startup Spotlight interview.
While most Americans are willing to swap meat for plant-based products and have done so at least once – only a quarter have done so repeatedly, according to industry research – begging the question: Why are more consumers not coming back?
Smoked fish producer Acme adds tuna and snack kits to its portfolio – expanding beyond its presence as a “specialist on salmon,” Teresa Low, CMO, Acme, told FoodNavigator-USA during the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City last month
Mega-viral social media trends promoting water “recipes” and consumption, including #watertok, #beveragegoblin and #sexywater, alongside surging demand for hard-to-find Stanley cups may lead one to believe that Americans are sufficiently hydrated – but...
Conagra successfully boosted “meaningful” volume sales of key snacks and frozen foods in the past year despite “a challenging consumer environment,” in which shoppers gave a cold shoulder to some competitors, including PepsiCo, thanks in part to strategic...
PepsiCo named the finalists for this year's Greenhouse Accelerator Program, featuring eight brands that create products inspired by Hispanic heritage and tap into consumer demands for better-for-you and functional foods and beverages.
Quorn is the latest to delve into the controversial ‘hybrid meat’ category, which gives consumers products that are neither fully meat nor fully meat free. But why now?
PepsiCo’s second quarter 2024 earnings released this morning, revealing new challenges to its Frito-Lay North America business, as company Chairman and CEO Ramon Laguarta vows to tap into consumer demand for zero-sugar and functional products and increase...
Upcycling would-be wasted food or side streams from manufacturing into nutritious and sustainable products for human consumption continues to gain traction with more companies calling out the claim and sales of Upcycled Certified products overall growing...
Many CPG brands eager to grow their retail footprint often rely on the expertise of brokerage firms. However, finding the right partner can be a nuanced challenge that requires founders to have a detailed growth strategy down to specific channels and...
Pasta is evolving to fit consumer preferences for convenient and accessible cooking at home, while creating improved taste, texture and packaging, according to category players showcasing at the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City last month.
Non-alcoholic bitters brand seasn is adding a dash of sophistication to mocktails and cocktails, as it enters the US market at a time when consumers are seeking better-for-you and premium beverages, Ben Branson, founder of Pollen Projects and Seedlip,...
Vertical farming company AeroFarms is showing consumers how to use microgreens for all occasions through recipes that demonstrate the versatility of its vegetables beyond salads, Emily Gee, the company’s director of marketing and communications, shared...
Despite a shared commitment to domestic aquaculture, non-profit North Star Caviar carves a unique niche with its focus on sustainable paddlefish caviar, contrasting with Marky's sturgeon farm’s dedication to producing the US's only beluga and...
Professionals tasked with creating the future of online shopping experience are facing technology budget cuts, underscoring the need to justify the return on investment of new and enhanced omnichannel capabilities, experts shared at the Digital Food &...
On-the-go consumers are turning to healthy snacks to satisfy their cravings for taste, functionality and convenience, as better-for-you snack brands capitalize on interest in GLP-1 drugs by introducing products that promote satiety and address different...
Gluten free may not be as trendy as it once was, but the call-out continues to resonate with consumers as the quality, quantity and variety of products making the claim continue to improve – as showcased by brands across categories at the Summer Fancy...
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans Advisory Committee is considering how the industry should approach ultra processed foods (UPFs) – including nomenclature and infrastructure.
Equitea, maker of cold brewed USDA organic teas, wants to destigmatize mental health and improve access to wellness products, the company’s co-founder and CEO Quentin Vennie told FoodNavigator-USA during BevNet Live in New York earlier this month.
The early retail success of functional beverage startup Crunchy Hydration shows sugar – or its low- and no-calorie counterparts – are not a necessary ingredient for success in a category that is laden with sweeteners used to mask the sometimes bitter...
Granola and breakfast brand Purely Elizabeth premiered its large-scale advertising campaign around wholesome nutrition last month following a 56% sales growth rate YoY during its first quarter, the company’s CEO and Founder, Elizabeth Stein, told FoodNavigator-USA.
As consumer sentiment on the economy slumps, retailers are adjusting their pricing strategies in the hopes of attracting shoppers back into their stores, while CPG brands can capitalize on demands for better-for-you products, Bryan Gildenberg, managing...
The US beef market remains resilient in Q2 with high prices and consumer demand, as global production is expected to decline in the coming quarters and the industry struggles to implement environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting changes, Lance...
SAUZ’s pasta sauces, made with premium ingredients and natural flavors, are designed by founders Troy Bonde and Winston Alfieri to bring flavor and convenience to consumers’ kitchens, while disrupting a stagnant category, they told FoodNavigator-USA.
Sparkling water brand Aura Bora is turning negative comments about its brand into a positive with its Chili Watermelon flavor, made possible through a collaboration with candle company P.F. Candle.
As the media landscape has become more fragmented in the past ten years, social media has emerged as one of the most influential sources of information on the consumer path to purchase and many companies are shifting advertising dollars accordingly –...
Flashfood diverted 37 million pounds of food from landfills and saved consumers more than $93 million on food, including $13 million in fresh produces, the technology provider said in its recently published 2023 impact report.
Price-conscious consumers are gravitating to brands with clear value propositions — including private-label — as companies offer products that tap into permissible indulgence and functional trends at affordable price points, Ari Goldsmith, VP of marketing...
Better-for-you candy company Issei Mochi Gummies is bolstering its retail footprint with recent launches into Albertsons and Walmart stores nationwide, as it finds an opportunity to provide an alternative to the gelatin- or pectin-based products on the...
Canadian-based vegan seafood brand Seed to Surf is debuting its tinned fish product at more than 150 US Whole Foods Markets after completing the retailer’s Local and Emerging Accelerator Program (LEAP), and is teeing innovation in the soup category, company...
Food and beverage brands should focus on the fundamentals of growing slowly and strategically to set up long-term success while also complementing a founder's vision with a team of experts with diverse skillsets, Seth Goldman, co-founder and chief...
In-store product demos and digital couponing can help brands vying for retail distribution by boosting sales and velocities, Luke Abbott, founder and CEO of VDriven Consulting, explained during an International Dairy Deli Bakery Association webinar.
Land-based premium trout producer Riverence Provision touts its responsible farming practices to stand out among the competition in grocery stores, where it launched a selection of frozen fish and dips after pandemic-related challenges disrupted its food...
JUST Egg enhances its plant-based egg formula with JUST Egg v5 for wider culinary applications, while solidifying its breakfast category presence with the Breakfast Burrito launch last month.
The iconic chocolate brand Butterfinger is celebrating its centennial by reviving its partnership with The Simpsons, as it finds new ways to tap into pop culture through video gaming and seasonal products to stay relevant among consumers of all ages,...
U.S.–based Schwan’s Company and CJ Foods, its South Korea-based subsidiary, purchased a 142-acre site in Sioux Falls, S.D., for its 700,000 square-foot production facility to support its Korean food brand, bibigo, using modernized automated production...
Children’s food brand Little Spoon expands into breakfast with a range of new products, as it remains bullish on its direct-to-consumer (DTC) channel growth, company Co-founder and Chief Product Officer Angela Vranich told FoodNavigator-USA.
Retailers like Amazon and non-profits developing food-as-medicine programs must first understand the community that they wish to serve to make a lasting impact on the health and lives of consumers, a panel of experts shared during a session at last week’s...
The alternative-protein market might have an opportunity to kickstart market growth with innovative products that cater to more meal occasions, including breakfast, and by meeting the demands of flexitarian consumers, Fazeela Abdul Rashid, partner at...
Kraft Heinz will continue to innovate and actively promote its Oscar Mayer brand, which has a “role to play in the scale of the company,” CEO Carlos Abrams-Rivera told investors last week when asked about rumors that the company could divest the iconic...
Colour plays a key role in how consumers see products. Should plant-based companies use red to evoke flavour, or green to evoke sustainability, with their offerings?
CPG brands are retooling its marketing strategies as younger consumers shift more of their spending to social-media platforms like TikTok, Kenny Juskowiak, managing director of emerging brands for NIQ, shared during a recent webinar.
Full volume recovery for packaged food could take upwards of 18 months as consumers struggle to adjust to higher prices due to inflation – requiring CPG companies to be more flexible and reinvest in their brands as they did during the pandemic, and forcing...
While bayjoo’s founder Ana Bautista Lee embarked on the solopreneur path to bring bayjoo, a traditional Caribbean beverage, to the United States, she relies on a vast network of other founders and experts to help her navigate the competitive and complex...
Better-for-you snack brand Sweet Loren’s is expanding its product portfolio with a series of ready-to-use pizza, pastry and pie doughs as the company taps into demands for clean-label treats and ready-to-use foods, company CEO and Founder Loren Castle...
CVS is putting the ‘fun’ in functional food with the launch of more than 40 snacks, beverages and grocery items with trendy flavors and ingredients consumers want, including probiotics, fiber, protein and superfoods like turmeric and goji berries under...