The food industry’s biggest guns have recently been engaged in some serious retail therapy, investing in a flurry of smaller, sexier brands and setting up venture arms to nurture them. And they’re not the only ones out shopping. Leonardo DiCaprio and...
Eating involves smell, taste, touch, sound, and sight, which presents obvious challenges for anyone trying to simulate it in virtual reality. But what if you could enjoy a mind-blowing meal without eating a thing – or perhaps just a spoonful of something...
Social Nature harnesses social media to drive consumer engagement
Demos are expensive and time consuming, shows and events can be hit and miss, and redemption rates for coupons handed out at events can be frustratingly low. So how can you reach more target consumers, generate more buzz about your products, and use it...
From robotic hands on rails above your worktop that will make your dinner, and then clean up afterwards, to a suite of wifi-connected devices for stress-free meal planning and cooking, technology seems set to transform our kitchens. But what about restaurants,...
Is personalized nutrition just an overpriced indulgence for affluent people that are already health conscious, or could Campbell Soup’s $32m bet on Habit – a nutrition and meal-delivery operation partnering with leading systems biologists – really transform...
The founders of BOMB Coffee want to help America’s armed forces and veterans stay mentally sharp by offering them a “super caffeinated” specialty coffee and by donating a percentage of its sales to non-profits that help service members cope with post-traumatic...
Consumers with food sensitivities often face an unenviable choice in the frozen dessert aisle: Buy something that could trigger a reaction, or opt for an allergy-friendly product loaded with more calories, fat and sugar than conventional ice cream, according...
For the 45 million Americans who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, identifying food that they can safely eat without triggering a flare up is a source of deep frustration that also could be a sizable market opportunity for innovative food and beverage...
Most Americans are pretty clueless about mung beans, but Crunchsters - a Boulder-based start-up determined to put them on the culinary map - reckons it’s only a matter of time before the protein- and fiber-packed beans become an essential part of every...
Historically consumers who wanted a gluten-free alternative to a wheat-based product had to sacrifice nutrition, taste or accept the presence of other common allergens in the ingredient list.
Campbell Soup is investing $32m in Habit, a personalized nutrition and meal delivery company led by Plum Organics founder Neil Grimmer set to launch in 2017.
Brick and mortar grocery stores and ecommerce-based subscription meal kit delivery services may directly compete at many levels, but a new partnership between plant-based meal kit provider Purple Carrot and Whole Foods Market’s North Atlantic region show...
Probiotic-fueled organic fruit & veggie snack brand Nomva has just picked up distribution in close to 175 Target stores, 200 Ralph’s stores and 150 Sprouts stores on the West Coast, says Los Angeles-based brand owner Phenomenal Foods, which has recently...
Breakfast and snack food maker Living Intentions is overhauling its packaging and streamlining its portfolio to help products better “pop” from the shelf and more effectively communicate its “roots” in brining uniquely flavored, optimally healthy products...
From purveyors of ostrich meat and Kenyan purple tea to fruit- and vegetable-infused whey protein, lupini bean snacks and pizza crusts packed with veggies, the entrepreneurs entering our 2016 trailblazers challenge are at the cutting edge of food &...
On a mission to “take back” food from the chemical industry which “hijacked” it, CPG manufacturer Nothing But Real is launching its debut product: Oat Chocolate & Protein – a vegan shake made without artificial or processed ingredients, says company...
Media outlet and consumer product evaluation laboratory Good Housekeeping is launching a new nutrition seal and first-of-its kind food brand incubator to help companies create food and beverages that “inspire healthier eating habits” and make it easier...
Small changes in how Spindrift approached the fast-growing sparkling water category added up to a big opportunity for the brand, sales of which have grown 16 times since 2009, according to the company’s CEO and Founder Bill Creelman.
'It still feels like we’re just at the tip of the iceberg...'
To Your Health Sprouted Flour Co – the Alabama-based supplier of the organic sprouted grains in Kashi’s cereals – has expanded its facility for the third time to meet surging demand, says founder Peggy Sutton, who is predicting revenues of $6m in 2016,...
RangeMe, an online platform that streamlines the product discovery process for retailers, has struck deals with a string of high-profile brands in its first year of business in the US, including Whole Foods Market, Petco, Sprouts, SpartNash, Sam’s Club...
We've just got into 1,700 Walmart stores with paleo, organic and gluten free meals
Most successful entrepreneurs combine limitless self-belief and a thick skin, says Beetnik Foods founder David Perkins, but they’re also human: “As a chef, I know everyone’s tastes differ, but this company is my baby, so if even one person has a bad experience...
With the launch of a new line of cocktail mixers, Zevia continues its transformation from a leader specializing in only diet, all-natural soda to a multi-service platform that offers beverages for a variety of needs throughout the day and into the evening.
Cold-pressed, HPP juice-maker Evolution Fresh’s upcoming spring launch of Organic Superfood Juices promises to “support a wide range of consumers in their wellness goals,” including cutting back on sugar, which can be a tall order in the juice category,...
The growing popularity of sparkling water among health-conscious adults who want an alternative to soda and sugar-laden beverages now is bubbling over into the children’s beverage segment with the launch of Tickle Water in May.
An infusion of $6 million last April from venture capital investors is helping plant-based startup Hungryroot “uproot how America eats” by enabling it to double the variety of vegetable-based ready-to-eat meals, sweets and snacks it offers and expand...
Academics at Penn State University are seeking to commercialize water-soluble yellow, orange and red colors derived from avocado seeds (pits), which they claim offer cost and stability advantages over natural colors currently on the market.
From Ayurvedic-inspired cuisine and Vietnamese Pho, to plant-based ‘meat’ and goat empanadas- Sterling-Rice Group (SRG) highlights 10 culinary trends it predicts will inspire packaged foods and foodservice menus in 2017.
Food- and beverage-focused venture fund AccelFoods’ latest cohort of six startups underscore the ongoing heavy influence on industry and market potential of healthy snacking, international flavors and small-batch production.
In the past few years, Americans’ growing demand for protein and desire for on-the-go food opened the door for meat jerky to re-position itself as a healthy, convenient snack, which eventually lead to a full-blown love affair with all types of meat snacks...
In a world where most business growth comes from the tech, oil, gas and software industries, gum and mint maker The PÜR Company was “sweetly surprised” recently to secure a spot in PROFIT 500’s top 10 list of fastest growing Canadian companies and the...
High Brew Coffee is now in nine out of the 11 regions served by Dr Pepper Snapple Group’s direct store delivery (DSD) network, and is on course to hit the one million case mark in 2016 and surpass two million cases in 2017, as Americans continue to embrace...
Drinkable soup ZÜPA NOMA has been flying off shelves in the west coast, according to owner Sonoma Brands, which has just recruited ex-PepsiCo exec Jennifer Berliner as director of marketing for the new brand.
Veteran snack-maker Two Moms in the Raw expands its portfolio of organic plant-based products after rebranding as Soul Sprout to appeal to more consumers and better communicate the added-value of its food as well as more firmly ground the company’s image...
Shiitakes are loaded with nutrients, and also contain more protein than rival mushrooms (up to 18% by dry weight), although many other foods contain more. But what if you could use their filament-like roots (mycelium) to manufacture a high-quality, complete...
When most Americans think of cottage cheese – if they think about it – images of 1950s-styles salads with syrupy fruit or uninspired scoops of lumpy white mush likely come to mind. But industry newcomer Good Culture wants to “bring cottage cheese back”...
Pulses (beans, chickpeas, peas and lentils) are now appearing as added value ingredients in every part of the store, from chips and snacks to salads, soups, pastas, dips and baked goods. But where will they go next, and who is driving innovation, both...
Cauliflower is a nutrient powerhouse packed with vitamin C, K, B6, folate, potassium, and fiber… and it also makes a surprisingly good bread substitute, says Santa Barbara-based start-up Outer Aisle Gourmet, which has secured shelf space for its cruciferous...
Hardly a week goes by without a large food company snapping up an innovative food or beverage company or someone investing millions in a promising young brand – but for every entrepreneur who secures sufficient funds to scale, many more struggle to be...
Cide Road organic switchel is now the dominant brand in the US switchel market and the #3 player in the broader drinking vinegars market, with distribution to 3,500 stores nationwide, from Kroger and HyVee to Sprouts and Whole Foods Market, claims CEO...
From personal shopping to personal trainers, we are far more willing to part with our cash for a product or service that gives us exactly what we want – not a lazy or well-meaning approximation. And diets are no exception, with a flurry of firms now offering...
If the edible insects market is heating up, and big name retailers from Publix to Sprouts are now stocking cricket bars, snacks and protein powders, why is Whole Foods – which has reportedly temporarily dropped all bug-based products - apparently cooling...
As recently as 15 years ago, most Americans had never heard of hummus, or even its base ingredients of chickpeas and tahini. But now the dip is a staple in many US homes and makes common appearances in lunchboxes, at picnics and on many restaurant menus.
Most new food & beverage brands quietly disappear after their creators run out of cash or patience; while those that do make it often slog away for years before the major retailers pay them any attention. A rarefied few – such as Hippeas - hit the...
Under pressure from industry, consumers and legislators, the US Department of Agriculture is exploring how Americans can use food stamps to buy groceries online.
The first wave of entrepreneurial food companies selected by Chobani founder and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya to participate in Chobani's new food incubator scheme include chickpea pasta brand Banza and bone broth brand Kettle & Fire.
An infusion of $3 million from new and existing investors will help dairy innovator and industry newcomer good culture advance its mission “to bring cottage cheese back.”
Field Trip - which burst onto the premium jerky scene in 2010 and is now in 30,000+ retail locations from Stop & Shop to Starbucks – is hoping it can strike CPG gold a second time around with a move into the meat sticks category.
Hinoman – an Israeli start-up developing a novel source of vegetable protein that promises to give rivals a run for their money in the nutrition and sustainability stakes – aims to open its first commercial scale production facility in Israel in the first...
If you want to compete in the cut-throat world of online grocery retailing, you’ve got to find an incredible niche, or think very, very big. And David Hack, the serial entrepreneur behind online marketplace Direct Eats, is firmly in the second bracket: “This...
