Consumers want more protein and more snacks, yet according to recent data from Nielsen only 20% currently eat protein snacks – revealing a substantial marketing opportunity for innovative companies. Here are a few up-and-comers looking to fill the void.
'Our relationship with Leo began a few years back...'
The star-studded group of investors backing Beyond Meat – which makes what it claims to be ‘near-perfect’ replicas of meat, from plants – has expanded this week as Oscar winner and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio has invested an undisclosed sum...
They might be a novel concept for most Americans, but farmer’s cheese bars could develop into a potentially exciting new category in the burgeoning protein snacking segment, says the co-founder of Yooli Foods, which is rolling out farmer’s cheese cups...
The US team behind the coconut-based yogurt COYO hopes slashing its suggested retail price will help the brand jump from the natural to the conventional channel and that its creamy texture will keep it there by captivating mainstream shoppers who place...
Encouraged by positive early compliance rates with the ‘game-changing’ gluten-free labeling standard that went into effect in mid-2014, FDA could now focus its attention on reducing the risk of cross contact with gluten-containing foods and ingredients,...
Can PepsiCo or Kraft Heinz build another brand like Pepsi or Heinz from scratch, in-house, or will they increasingly serve as scale up platforms for brands they didn’t create?
Plum Organics – which disrupted the baby food aisle in 2009 with its spouted pouches and novel flavor combinations – is aiming to shake up the category again this fall with the launch of Baby Bowls, a new line of products in recyclable BPA-free plastic...
Not so long ago high-protein products and ‘snacks’ were on opposite ends of the health spectrum with one appealing to fitness enthusiasts or people trying to manage their weight or build muscles, and the other aimed at fun-seeking consumers who ate for...
As sugar continues to gain prominence as public enemy No. 1 in America for contributing to obesity and other chronic health problems, Berkeley-based biotech startup Sugarlogix has taken on the daunting task of teaching manufacturers and consumers that...
Flavor and fragrances giant Firmenich has launched a new line of natural flavor solutions called Protein Shield designed to help developers develop better-tasting high protein beverages.
PureCircle Stevia Institute (PCSI) – originally founded as the Global Stevia Institute in 2010 - debuted today at the International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS) 21st International Congress of Nutrition (ICN) in Buenos Aires.
The ideal kitchen-of-the-future is where herbs and legumes are alive and growing in a cupboard instead of dried or canned, according to Jaime Guerrero, founder and administrator of a high school food science lab in Chicago. With the MIT ‘food computer,’...
Virginia-based pork processor Smithfield Foods has set up Smithfield Renewables, an initiative to power its efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions and spark sustainable energy projects.
A 'Marlboro Friday' moment* (a huge overnight price cut) is not something most big US food manufacturers will contemplate as they seek to claw back the initiative in a rapidly evolving food retail market, say Bernstein analysts. Instead, we...
Are Americans ready for savory yogurt? Right now, it seems the jury is still out, with some high profile brands quietly dropping some of their more adventurous SKUs and Blue Hill pausing production of its beet- and carrot-fueled yogurts. However, some...
Based on a survey of 2,000 consumers conducted this summer, market research group Packaged Facts found that Millennials who shop at natural channel stores are most likely to seek probiotic foods and beverages. So what are growth opportunities companies...
New research revealing a dramatic increase in the number of insurance claims related to severe allergic reactions to food reinforces other evidence indicating that food allergies are on the rise, and bolsters the marketing opportunity and potential longevity...
Joesley and Wesley Batistia, the billionaire brothers of scandal-rocked Brazilian meatpacker JBS, have been charged with insider trading by prosecutors who allege the duo pocketed over US$30m.
60-second interview: Peter Rahal, co-founder, RXBAR (Chicago Bar Company LLC)
Protein bar brand RXBAR was recently scooped up by Kellogg in a $600m deal. FoodNavigator-USA caught up with co-founder Peter Rahal to discuss the rationale behind the deal...
Extruded chickpea puff brand HIPPEAS has raised $10m from CAVU Venture Partners to help fund its explosive growth, while CAVU co-founder Brett Thomas will join its board of directors.
Nissin Foods, inventors of instant ramen, is removing MSG and artificial flavors and reducing sodium in its Top Ramen brands, in response to clean label demands from consumers.
After building a successful restaurant in Mexico based in part on the popularity and health benefits of coconut, entrepreneur Daniella Hunter is expanding her mission of promoting digestive well-being and sustainability to the US and Belize with a new...
After 10 successful years focused on making unique wafer-thin savory and sweet crackers, snack company 34 Degrees is ready to try something new and thanks to a $3.4 million investment from its long-time supply chain manager Fresca Foods it has the means...
Thailand and the US did not strike a deal to drop what one industry insider called a “de facto ban” on American pork imports when the two countries met in Washington recently.
With an emphasis on meals, meal times, and cooking at home and less ‘ultra-processed’ food, are the 2014 dietary guidelines in Brazil changing how the nation eats?
Global flavor and fragrance giant Givaudan is acquiring the Nutrition Division of Centroflora Group to expand its presence in Brazil and to strengthen its global offering of natural extracts.
With inflation rates shrinking (but still high), economic conditions in Argentina are improving. And with the government taking on export taxes and import restrictions, the future is looking rosier for the country.
With growth of coffee consumption in the US and Europe stagnating, manufacturers are pursuing increase opportunity in emerging markets, such as Brazil, “despite several macro-economic road bumps,” according to new research from Rabobank.
From the makers of the better-for-you snack subscription box Love With Food, which builds brand awareness and gathers consumer feedback for finished products, comes a new product testing and insights platform that promises to do what traditional focus...
Trader Joe’s is the most at-risk retailer in the US, not because of price reduction but simply because so many of its consumers cross shop at both Amazon and Whole Foods, says an industry consultant.
The Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED) continues to commission key studies to support the quality and efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids, with recent meta-analyses of the health benefits starting to impact policy and regulatory conversations.
High inflation in many Latin American countries is pushing consumers to shop based on value, but whether they define this as higher quality or larger quantity varies on their age, goals and specific country, according to recent research from Nielsen....
The disruptive influence of challenger brands continues to shake up the food sector, not least because agile companies have proven skilled at responding to – and sitting at the forefront of – emerging consumer demands. FoodNavigator looks at how and why...
High rates of obesity and diabetes in Mexico has consumers looking for healthier options that do not compromise on a taste – a difficult combination that is nonetheless within reach for manufacturers thanks to innovative ingredients showcased at the Food...
Convenience retailers are very positive about Coca-Cola’s recently launched Coke Zero Sugar, with one analyst predicting it could bring the company’s carbonated soft drink portfolio back to the black in a couple of years.
Mexico is eager to follow America’s growing demand for more protein, probiotics and fiber, but lower income levels could hold back consumers and create challenges for manufacturers, according to one industry insider.
The founder of beverage brand Treo wants to do for birch-water what his father did for iced tea in the 1980s and ’90s when he founded Snapple: take it from a niche ‘acquired taste’ market to the mainstream.
Setting up a fresh food ecommerce operation from scratch is not for the faint hearted, as the eye-watering sums spent by some meal-kit/meal delivery brands have proved. But for retailers, lifestyle brands, CPG brands or others interested in a slice of...