Even as the pandemic continues to strain the food system and pressure manufacturers to balance increased demand with restricted supply, companies must still pursue sustainability goals, including minimizing their environmental impact and improving the...
In a Citizen’s Petition filed today, children’s health advocates are ramping up pressure on FDA to address the labeling of so-called ‘transition formulas’ or ‘toddler milks,’ which they say offer “no unique nutritional value,” threaten the health of young...
The Better Meat Co - a Sacramento-based startup supplying plant-based proteins that “blend seamlessly into ground meat products” at inclusion rates of 30-50% to create a new wave of ‘hybrid’ products - has closed an $8.1m seed round, bringing its total...
Geltor - a startup producing collagen proteins via microbial fermentation (without animals) – has closed a $91.3m Series B round led by CPT Capital with significant commitment from WTT Investment Ltd, and says it plans to launch its first ingestible products...
Food has become a way for consumers to ease their worries and anxiety in an increasingly stressful world, and they are looking for products that can answer their basic needs for control, community, and purpose, says Eve Turow-Paul, a writer and cultural...
As Americans continue to stay at home during the coronavirus pandemic, they increasingly are living vicariously through social media influencers, many of whom have yet to raise their advertising rates to reflect their higher engagement – making them a...
O’dang Foods has entered the niche category of plant-based mayonnaise offering consumers an egg-free alternative made with 20% chickpea protein and broth (a.k.a. aquafaba), creating a better-for-you alternative to traditional mayonnaise.
From plant-based queso to kolanut-fueled energy drinks and spreadable 'granola butter,' check out 17 emerging brands who took part in the first pitch event from Startup CPG, a new organization that promotes and supports startups founded by Daniel...
Sustainably-marketed products across categories are growing market share a whopping seven times faster than their conventional counter-parts and are disproportionally contributing to the overall growth of their CPG categories, according to new research...
The US needs a more integrated nutrition security system to help fight the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which disproportionately impacts people with underlying health conditions – often related to poor diet, according to an expert from The Rockefeller...
Foods and beverages sweetened with miraculin, brazzein and curculin - proteins found in exotic fruits that can be produced far more efficiently via microbial fermentation - could hit the US market in less than two years, offering formulators intriguing...
Israeli startup Better Juice has signed agreements with US-based global beverage manufacturers to commercialize its patent-pending enzymatic technology, which can achieve up to 80% sugar reduction of naturally-occurring sugars (e.g. sucrose, glucose,...
Hybrid products combining meat grown from cells in bioreactors with plant-based proteins and fats could drive the first wave of cell-based product launches, predicts the founder of UK-based startup Higher Steaks, which unveiled the ‘world’s first’ cell-based...
Ruckus and Co - a brand of ready-to-drink frozen smoothies for kids developed by the Mondelēz SnackFutures Innovation hub - was set to land in retail freezer sections in early May before the world took a turn, temporarily halting its distribution and...
Chobani has moved into new territory with the launch of Chobani Probiotic: a new line of organic, plant-based functional beverages; and Chobani Complete: a new line of protein- and fiber-packed lactose-free Greek yogurt cups and shakes with no added sugar,...
As with other aspects of American culture, racism has both deep and multiple roots in the food system, which CPG companies must address holistically, ranging from how they source materials and services to their hiring practices, marketing strategies and...
Trader Joe's indefinite commitment to remove "very soon" any store brand labels with "variations" of the name Trader Joe's, which the petition describes as 'harmful stereotypes,' could be too little too late late...
Does an association exist between dietary protein choice (animal or plant-based sources) and long-term overall mortality in the US population? Yes, say researchers who conducted a 16-year observational health study and found that greater intake of plant...
As consumers settle into living with the threat of the coronavirus and better understand their grocery needs while staying at home, their priorities inevitably will shift from panic purchasing any and all products to stocking their pantries more selectively...
After months of adapting to the roller coaster of shifting business priorities caused by the coronavirus pandemic, GoGo squeeZ is entering another period of uncertainty: the back-to-school shopping season, typically a peak sales time and marketing push...
Ongoing social distancing requirements, the resulting recession and a rediscovery of the joy of cooking and baking will help sustain some, but “certainly not all,” of the surging sales enjoyed by many CPG food and beverage brands since the coronavirus...
The food and beverage industry has been a tale of two cities since the coronavirus pandemic was declared with some companies seeing surging sales reinforced by fresh rounds of high-dollar investments and other businesses grinding to a halt with both revenue...
With 1.6 billion tons of food worth $1.2 trillion lost or wasted every year, the Danish startup Nature Preserve sees massive market potential for its miniaturized food processing plant to convert surplus produce into nutrient-dense powders across the...
Perceived health benefits remain the #1 purchase driver for plant-based foods according to new consumer research from innovation consultancy Mattson, although environmental factors, taste (in the case of plant-based dairy), and the sense that ‘I feel...
PespiCo’s ambitious dream of a world “where plastics need no longer become waste,” is one step closer to becoming reality with the creation of the first fully-recyclable PET-free paper bottle made from sustainably sourced pulp.
The uneven impact of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has underscored systemic inequalities, but it also has created an opportunity “to build back better” the food system, according to a panel of experts gathered on the opening day of the Institute of...
MCTco is competing in the highly-competitive snack bar category, addressing major consumer demands around protein and sugar content as well as emerging ‘beauty-from-within’ and immunity trends with its line of products containing collagen protein and...
While the coronavirus has hit hard the food and beverage industry over the past four months, players across the supply chain have worked closely with federal agencies and the government to improve manufacturing processes and temporarily ease what the...
Brands struggling with plant-based snacks becoming excessively dry, chewy or crumbly over time or beverages designed to mimic dairy falling short of a desired creamy mouthfeel could improve the functional benefits of their products with the addition of...
In the early days of the pandemic when many retailers suspended in-store promotions to focus on stocking shelves, Arizona-based FoodStory Brands turned to online third-party deal vendors to offer digital rebates to consumers who rely on sales to fill...
Baze, a personalized nutrition startup which provides customers with tailored supplements based on its at-home blood diagnostic test, has broadened its service to include food and meal recommendations addressing the “root cause” of nutrient deficiencies,...
After KRAVE Jerky inspired entrepreneurs to flood the meat snack segment with innovative and premium products in a bid to replicate its breakout success, the company’s founder and recently renewed owner appears ready to roll-up the most promising new...
Perfect Day, a startup producing milk proteins via microbial fermentation (minus the cows), has expanded its Series C round from a previously-announced $140m, up to $300m through a new tranche led by CPP Investments and bolstered by long-time supporters...
Founders who wear multiple hats during the lean early years of a startup may struggle to pass responsibilities to others as their companies grow, but, according to the founder of Sweet Loren’s, to fully maximize companies’ potential entrepreneurs need...
The ongoing growth of online grocery delivery and pickup services in June illustrates how the contact-less shopping method is becoming more integral for a broader consumer base, as both order frequency and household penetration continue to increase, reports...
Emerging Minneapolis-based brand Jajja Wellness is exposing consumers to under-the-radar, yet nutritionally-powerful ingredients, from baobab to spirulina, with its expanding line of ready-to-drink tonics available online and in local retailers.
Rabobank is updating its FoodBytes! platform with a redesign of its pitch competitions and its corporate innovation program (formerly known as the TERRA accelerator) in a bid to foster year-round engagement with its network of food and ag startups, investors,...
General Mills launched direct-to-consumer brand sites that could quickly ship products to consumers to better support shopping during the pandemic -- a strategy that helped increase its share of net sales from the e-commerce channel in categories most...
Instead of hitting pause on its R&D work to focus on more basic ‘mission critical’ business functions (e.g. supply chain challenges) during the ongoing pandemic, better-for-you pancake and waffle mix brand Birch Benders has reinvigorated its approach...
With today’s launch of a limited-edition peanut butter and jelly low-fat Greek yogurt, Chobani expands its support for food banks nationwide while simultaneously offering a comforting new flavor that the company president says he hopes will recall ‘happy...
While the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has exposed many vulnerabilities and inequities in the current food system, ranging from supply chain fragility to worker safety, it also is opening minds – and doors – to promising sustainability solutions brought...
The specialty food and beverage market has consistently outpaced the growth rate of conventional grocery for the past decade, says the Specialty Foods Association (SFA), but the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly altered this growth trend, reports SFA in...
After helping to build a category for biltong – jerky’s less-processed, softer and often healthier cousin – the founders of Kalahari Snacks believe the “next evolution” in the meat snack segment is a trio of crunchy beef crisps that it launched online...
In a move that may not come as a huge surprise given executives' recent hints about “pruning” the portfolio, Coca-Cola is discontinuing the Odwalla juice brand and the refrigerated network of trucks supplying it to stores. So was the 40-year-old...
Singapore-based TurtleTree Labs is in talks with leading dairy and infant formula brands to license its technology for the production of cell-cultured human breastmilk, and has articulated a longer-term mission to produce cow's milk as well.
To support increased online shopping demand, Stop & Shop (part of Ahold Delhaize USA) is expanding same-day delivery, opening new warerooms (small fulfillment locations to serve online grocery customers), and adding more store pickup locations by...
Plant-based snack brand Outstanding Foods, maker of PigOut Pigless Pork Rinds, has closed a $5m round of financing led by SternAegis Ventures to propel the snack brand into its next phase of growth.
E-commerce sales at Conagra Brands surged by 89.7% in the year ending May 31 compared to same time last year, as more consumers opted for the convenience (and perceived safety) of click-and-collect and at-home grocery delivery services.
Once primarily restricted to dietary supplements or powders used primarily by the most dedicated fans for at-home DIY smoothies or drink enhancers, collagen is now one of the fastest growing ingredients in the functional food space with countless applications...
To keep consumers who discovered center-of-the-store products during the early pantry-stocking days of the pandemic from reverting to their pre-coronavirus shopping preferences, brands that have not already done so should update formulas and labels quickly...
