Purple is hot (well, so says Dr Oz). From purple carrots, potatoes, tomatoes and cauliflower to blackberries, grapes, blueberries and cabbage, a deep purple hue is usually a good sign that fruits and veg contain a healthy dose of beneficial phytonutrients.
While there have been some standout successes - from PepsiCo’s Trop50 juice drinks to ThinkThin protein bars - growth in the overall weight management market is pretty sluggish, according to new research.
Hain Celestial has unveiled a raft of new products utilizing hot ingredients from chia and quinoa to coconut pulp and almonds, including organic gluten-free chia seed corn tortilla chips under the Garden of Eatin' brand, and coconut almond butter...
Seeing light at the end of the economic tunnel puts a spring in consumers’ steps and a little sizzle on their palates, too. Culinary trends expert Suzy Badaracco said we’re not in extreme consumption mode yet, but consumers are starting move beyond the...
Why do pineapple and blue cheese taste so great together? Lots of reasons, but a key one is that they both contain the flavor component methyl hexanoate, say the founders of Belgian firm Foodpairing.com, which has built a business around identifying novel...
From non-entity to 15 retailers in 2.5 years is a rapid rise, and doing so by blending health, convenience and affordability to produce prepared foods that also taste ‘amazing’ is only the beginning, says the Founder and CEO of Lyfe Kitchen Grocery.
Convenience stores and value supermarkets are the fastest growing channels for confectionery in the US as cash strapped consumers down-trade and stores expand, according to the National Confectioners Association (NCA) and market analysts Nielsen.
Big interview: Ingrid Hirstin Lazcano, CEO, Andean Dream
A technical paper produced by NASA in 1993 observes: "While no single food can supply all the essential life sustaining nutrients, quinoa comes as close as any other in the plant or animal kingdom.”
Actor and producer Mark Wahlberg, who recently lent his name to a new range of sports nutrition products called MARKED, has teamed up with fellow celebrity Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs to promote and develop high pH alkaline water AQUAhydrate.
Muller Quaker Dairy, the joint venture between PepsiCo and German dairy giant Theo Müller Group, is rolling out Müller yogurts to more US cities in the Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes and Southeast regions, including Chicago, Atlanta, Cincinnati and Tampa after...
Expect more products containing beans and lentils, new quinoa-packed soups and entrees, high-protein nut and seed-based spreads, and more popped whole grains in US grocery stores this year, predicts market researcher Packaged Facts.
As food marketers focus more on positive nutrition than ‘food minus’ concepts, the boundaries between ‘diet’ foods and ‘regular’ foods are becoming increasingly blurred, says Euromonitor International.
It might sound counter-intuitive given the lackluster state of the economy, but food manufacturers most attuned to the tastes of a small but powerful group of affluent and educated ‘upscale’ shoppers are the most likely to succeed in the US food retail...
While obesity in America has reached epidemic proportions, manufacturers seeking to help us battle the bulge are avoiding the word ‘diet’ like the plague; cutting sugar, fat and salt by stealth; and instead promoting more positive messages about food...
Affordable gourmet confectionery is on the rise in the US, according to the National Confectioners Association (NCA) which has seen a hike in demand from exhibitors wanting to showcase products in the Gourmet Marketplace at the 16th Sweet & Snacks...
A small minority of energy drink consumers regularly drink more than one can/shot in one sitting; the peak time for knocking back an energy drink or shot is 3-9pm; and the most popular energy drink combo is Red Bull and 5-Hour Energy.
Big Interview: Michael Shoretz, founder and CEO, Enlightened Ice Cream (Beyond Better Foods LLC)
Can ice cream actually be good for you - as opposed to just a little less bad for you? And if it can, will it sell? One man on a mission to find out is Michael Shoretz, founder and CEO of Beyond Better Foods, the start-up behind new market entrant Enlightened...
Fresh juices and foods subjected to high pressure processing (HPP); protein - especially at breakfast; cage-free hen eggs; premium private label; fermented foods; culinary botanicals; and edible packaging could all be hot trends this year, predicts trend...
While the growth of the US energy drinks and shots market has been nothing short of explosive - last year it was worth $12.5bn, up 60% since 2008 - manufacturers will need to attract new users if they are to sustain such meteoric levels of growth, says...
Hershey gained market share in every category in the fourth quarter but admits it is still struggling to excite US consumers with Air Delight - the aerated chocolate range it launched in 2011.
Big interview: Drew Harrington and Amanda Klane, co-founders, Yasso
It’s a runaway success story that will either inspire budding entrepreneurs across the nation or have them seething with jealousy... But it’s hard to think of a better example of a product that hit the market just at the right time.
From food ingredients that reduce the blood glucose response to food intake, to natural high-potency sweeteners, digestive health and weight management ingredients, and plant-based ingredients that can mask bitter flavors…
Spices and seasonings giant McCormick says it is encouraged by the strong pipeline of new products that food manufacturers it supplies are developing this year, but admits that it had expected more new launches last year.
With Super Bowl 2013 just a ball’s throw away, beefed up pack sizes, ridged potato chips for easy dipping and well-paired flavors for hot wings, beer and pizza are set to succeed, an analyst says.
Special edition: Protein-rich foods… the next generation
Protein has never been hotter - at least that’s what the market researchers tell us - and vegetarian proteins in particular are top of the pops right now.
If you’ve trudged around any industry trade shows recently, you’ve probably seen your fair share of prototype product concepts targeting the key ‘need states’ created by ‘modern life’: Wake up! (in energizing oranges and reds), Focus! (in royal purple),...
There is a huge untapped opportunity to drive growth in the US chilled prepared food market with innovative new products offering freshness and convenience, says Bolthouse Farms.
Want to get a slice of the action in the shots category? Build a brand with a compelling story or ‘mission’, and formulate a product that delivers a discernible effect on consumers in 20-30 minutes, or you’re wasting your time, beverages and shots guru...
While the meteoric growth of gluten-free retail products is well-documented, new research from Technomic shows that there has also been an “explosion of gluten-free items” on menus at limited service restaurants (LSRs) in the past two years.
Energy drinks and ready to drink coffee are the fasting growing products in the vending market - although they still represent a relatively small chunk of the market - according to a new report from Packaged Facts.
While Kraft’s 2013 innovation pipeline is dominated by line extensions - rather than blue sky innovation or entirely new product formats - it refreshes pantry staples with bolder flavors and capitalizes on trends towards healthier choices, flexible meals...
While volumes (unit sales) of all the other core ‘center of store’ categories declined in 2012, volumes of energy drinks, bottled water and coffee climbed strongly, according to Symphony IRI Group.
Big interview: Ryan Black, founder and CEO, Sambazon
Want a dictionary definition of 'high-achiever'? Meet Ryan Black, a former NFL player and surfer who went on holiday to Brazil in his early 20s in search of waves and came back with the germ of a business idea that is now worth more than $100m...
Unit volumes of energy drinks were up a whopping 18.7% in 2012 - a staggering achievement given that unit sales of consumer packaged goods across all outlets slumped 0.3% over the same period - according to Symphony IRI*.
Despite strong evidence to the contrary, the belief that a gluten-free diet will help you lose weight and improve your health - even if you don’t have celiac disease - continues to gain momentum, according to a new survey.
General Mills has been making up lost ground in the fast-growing US Greek yogurt market, increasing its market share to 9% compared with less than 6% in early summer.
Bell Flavors & Fragrances has unveiled its annual list of the top 10 flavor and fragrance trends to watch in the next 12 months, from comforting butterscotch and whipped cream for beverages to “nostalgic” rhubarb and peanut-butter flavors for desserts.
The economics of supplying plant-based foods and beverages over dairy will become increasingly compelling “because the cow is a relatively inefficient converter of grain into protein”, says the chief executive of WhiteWave Foods.
While coconut water is best known for its hydrating properties, manufacturers are increasingly using it to cut calories and liven up 100% juice beverages, says one formulation expert.
Kit Lai, director of Tetra Pak’s Soya- and Coconut Knowledge Centers, discusses the global growth of coconut water and soya milks as categories, and the firm's latest formulation and processing innovations.
