Founded in the same year that Edison created the first functioning light bulb, Thompson Brands is one of America’s oldest chocolate companies. But it hasn’t stayed in business this long by resting on its laurels, CEO Gene Dunkin tells Elaine Watson.
Frito-Lay’s flagship brand Lay’s has a global penetration of 26% and is the ninth most chosen fast-moving-consumer-goods (FMCG) brand in the world, according to Kantar World Panel.
Dannon has launched a Greek yogurt variation of its popular probiotic-enriched Activia yogurt brand in the US – a combination the company has branded a “powerhouse.”
AB InBev CEO Carlos de Brito has revealed that the world’s biggest brewer will launch UK cider sales sensation Stella Cidre in the US within the next few weeks.
New York-based start-up LifeIce is aiming to create a completely new category in the healthy snacking market with new bite-sized all-natural frozen fruit snacks that are sold as a shelf-stable product in a freeze-at-home tray.
Does size matter? Yes, but bigger does not necessarily mean better if you’re in the US consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, according to a new analysis from Boston Consulting Group and IRI.
An Abbott Laboratories shareholder proposal to remove genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) from its natural products - including its Similac infant formula range - has been rejected, the company has revealed.
Wisconsin firm LiveGreat Foods is launching a rebranded version of its Clarinol CLA-fortified milk Acclaim at the forthcoming Healthy Beverage Expo in Las Vegas (June 7-9).
Leading food manufacturers and retailers have joined forces to launch a consumer education campaign designed to change the way consumers think about frozen foods.
Voters will get to decide whether foods with genetically modified ingredients should be labeled in Washington State because lawmakers have taken no action on GMO labeling initiative I-522.
This is the story of how an initiative from Oxfam prompted assurances from leading chocolate companies to improve the lives of women cocoa farmers. How did each firm react? Were they quick and effective enough?
TruHealthMD, a manufacturer of nutritional solutions targeted at specific disease conditions, has entered into a development agreement with a Manitoba research consortium.
Unilever should put its spreads business ‘on notice’ if things don’t improve, says one analyst after Unilever posted another set of quarterly results where strong growth in personal and home care was offset by a weak performance in food, notably spreads.
In February 2012, Kraft unveiled a category first: MilkBite milk and granola bars for the refrigerated dairy aisle combining “real milk” (and as much calcium as an 8floz glass of milk), whole grains, nuts and fruit.
Not-for-profit organization Fair World Project has criticized changes to Fair Trade USA's labeling policy, which allows chocolate to carry the seal when it contains a high percentage of other ingredients like sugar that are not fairly traded.
Dr Pepper Snapple (DPS) CEO Larry Young insists US retailers are working hard with his firm to develop a ‘better-for-you’ carbonates platform, and said Royal Crown Cola Ten’s initial success was a ‘pleasant surprise’.
On day two of the 2013 Food Technology & Innovation Forum in Chicago, R&D bosses from the world's biggest food and beverage companies learned how Unilever gains consumer insights online, what Nestlé thinks about biotech crops and how McDonald's...
If Hershey arrived in China later than some rivals, it has more than made up for lost time since, delegates at the Food Technology & Innovation Forum in Chicago learned this week.
From PepsiCo to Hershey, Nestlé and Unilever, the food industry's biggest guns headed to Chicago this week to talk about everything from open innovation, to portion sizes, targeting Millennials and personalized nutrition at the 2013 Food Technology...
Some of the world’s biggest agriculture firms have united with food industry and scientific partners to form a steering committee, intended to share initiatives for achieving a sustainable global food and water supply chain.
Unilever has filed an international patent for a process that creates tea juices with improved taste and color, to cater for the upsurge in demand for tea powders and RTD drinks with minimal processing and higher levels of bioactive compounds.
Nestlé USA has launched a new initiative called ‘Balance Your Plate’ after data from NPD Group revealed that US consumers meet the dietary guidelines on average on just seven days out of 365 (less than 2% of the time).
Hostess Brands has closed all asset sales and pulled in $860m; a figure a little less than the worth of the company but expected given the speed of the sell-offs, an analyst says.
Heinz’s (soon to be) new owners 3G Capital and Berkshire Hathaway today revealed that Burger King boss Bernardo Hees will become CEO of Heinz once their 28bn deal (including debt) to buy the soups to ketchup giant is completed.
In part two of this FoodNavigator-USA special looking at the OC&C index of the world’s top 50 CPG companies, we look at which emerging markets present the juiciest opportunities for food and beverage firms.
Strip out inflation from the revenue growth of some of the nation’s leading food and beverage manufacturers in their domestic market, and you are left with some pretty lackluster figures.
CEO ROBERT SANDS EXCITED AT SECURING MODELO 'CROWN JEWEL'
Constellation Brands plans to double of the capacity of its new Piedras Negras brewery in Mexico to 20m hectolitres within three years, and says its ‘transformational’ deal with AB InBev will make it the No.3 US brewer.
Frito-Lay has launched Doritos Locos Tacos tortilla chips to profit from soaring consumer enthusiasm surrounding its year-long partnership with quick service restaurant Taco Bell.
New York-based Chobani was handed an injunction last month prohibiting its use of the term ‘Greek yogurt’ in the UK following a court battle with rival, Fage, which claims that the term refers to geographical origin. But can Athens-based Fage stand by...
Cereal maker Post Holdings says it will close its Modesto, California plant - which employs approximately 140 employees - and transfer production to other facilities, by September 2014.
Big Interview: Nathan Carey, founder and owner, ProYo Frozen Yogurt
While ConAgra Foods has been on a “very steep learning curve” since it acquired private label giant Ralcorp, bosses are more confident than ever that demand for store brands “is not only here to stay but will play a leading role in the industry's...
Kraft officials spent an hour yesterday with blogger Vani Hari (aka the Food Babe) discussing a petition urging the company to stop using artificial colors Yellow #5 and #6 in its Mac & Cheese, but says it is satisfied that they are both safe and...
Dole Food Company has completed the sale of it global packaged foods and Asia fresh businesses to ITOCHU Corporation of Japan for $1.7 billion in cash. The transaction will include rights to the Dole name in certain packaged food products worldwide and...
It made its name by selling frozen yogurt, and is now moving into fresh with the roll-out of Pinkberrygreek. But will customers buy into the concept? And could this be a prelude to a retail product to take on Chobani? Elaine Watson caught up with Pinkberry...
Gluten-free and vegan snack specialist Mary’s Gone Crackers will be able to expand across the US and globe after a majority stake purchase by Kameda USA, its CEO says.
Senator Richard Blumenthal has denounced Monster on Twitter for threatening kids’ nutritionist ‘Dr Deb’ with legal action, following ‘false and defamatory’ statements on energy drinks made in a newsletter aimed at children aged 6-10 and their parents.
ABInBev says it will 'vigorously defend' itself against a new consumer class action seeking to prevent its full $20.1bn buyout of Mexican brewer Grupo Modelo, but admits the suit could halt the deal.
US dairy giant Dean Foods has announced plans to close its Oak Farms processing plant in Shreveport, Louisiana later this year – citing the pressures of operating in a “highly competitive marketplace.”
60 second interview: Dr Michael Wald, Director of Nutritional Services, Integrated Medicine of Mount Kisco, NY
TV’s ‘blood detective’ and zombie fan Dr Michael B. Wald has combined his interest in nutrition and er, zombies, to develop the Zombie Food Bar. But does it have what it takes to stand out in an increasingly crowded market? Elaine Watson caught up with...
A large chunk of the growth in the beverage category in North America over the next decade will come from products in categories that do not even exist today, predicts Coca-Cola’s Venturing & Emerging Brands (VEB) team.
BIG INTERVIEW - CHEWING OVER SNACK CHALLENGES WITH THE SFA
The president of the Snack Food Association (SFA) acknowledged that there are concerns about the snack industry’s role in global obesity but said healthy product development and clear communication on nutrition is top of the agenda for manufacturers.
