Dairy-based ingredients

Natural Products Expo West

Evergreen launches Waffles 'N' Bites, continues expanding into breakfast category

19-Apr-2024 By Deniz Ataman

The debut of breakfast brand Evergreen’s Waffles 'N' Bites at Natural Products Expo West last month taps into a growing consumer demand for handheld and “snackable quick breakfast formats,” and frozen quick options, which Innova Market Insights...

Startup Spotlight

Nourish Ingredients expands in animal-free specialty fats with Creamilux for dairy

18-Apr-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

Nourish Ingredients, a pioneer in the emerging ‘animal-free’ speciality fat segment, is expanding into non-dairy with the debut of Creamilux – a low-inclusion lipid that recreates the rich, creamy mouthfeel, taste and emulsification properties of dairy...

La Colombe introduces new RTD Draft Lattes and brand redesign

16-Apr-2024 By Deniz Ataman

La Colombe’s new RTD Draft Lattes use the same technology as its draft lattes in its cafes to deliver the same velvety foam finish in five flavors, in addition to three plant-based formats, which are all part of the brand’s new redesign.

Serenity Kids on creating global cuisines for the next generation of foodies

15-Apr-2024 By Deniz Ataman

With an infusion of $52m in Series B funding closed last month, Serenity Kids will drive growth and innovation to provide diverse, nutritious baby food inspired by global cuisine.

PLANTSTRONG Foods finds whitespace for fortified plant-based milk, launches product in Whole Foods

10-Apr-2024 By Ryan Daily

PLANTSTRONG Foods is creating plant-based milk with fortified nutrients to differentiate in the category as the company aggressively grows its direct-to-consumer (DTC) channel.

USDA finalizes modern WIC program, secures additional $1bn in funding

10-Apr-2024 By Deniz Ataman

A wider range of packaged foods, including canned fish, canned beans and some plant-based dairy, could qualify for reimbursement under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) following an update by the US Department...

NPD Trend Tracker: From PepsiCo snacks to collagen tea

08-Apr-2024 By Flora Southey

The collagen trend is on an upwards trajectory, particularly in food and drink. In our latest new product development round-up, we look at a new tea inspired by collagen (it contains collagen peptides). Elsewhere, plant-based continues to trend and UK...

Mason Dixie’s frozen breakfast sandwiches make comfort food clean

05-Apr-2024 By Deniz Ataman

Mason Dixie Foods' transition from foodservice to retail, including Whole Foods and Costco, allowed the brand to tap into whitespace in frozen breakfast foods with a healthy halo and clean label, Ayeshah Abuelhiga, the brand’s founder and CEO, explained...

Nourished on how to communicate the potential of personalised nutrition to consumers

05-Apr-2024 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Personalised nutrition has immense potential for extremely bespoke nutritional benefits to consumers. But for such a niche category, how does a company communicate this potential?

From permits to quarantine: What’s next for US dairy farmers in the bird flu outbreak?

04-Apr-2024 By Teodora Lyubomirova

Producers have been told to improve biosecurity measures to protect herds and workers, with entry permits, quarantine measures and PPE use becoming hot topics.

Danone’s Remix platform moves yogurt beyond breakfast to snacks, appeals to younger consumers

03-Apr-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

Danone wants to entice more Americans – especially young generations – to eat more yogurt, more often and across more dayparts with the launch of its Remix platform, which offers consumers the ability to “mix in” to yogurt crunchy, chewy, sweet and salty...

Bird flu in US dairy: What we know so far plus tips for producers (updated)

28-Mar-2024 By Teodora Lyubomirova

We round-up the facts around the HPAI outbreak affecting some US dairy herds, what farmers should do now to bolster biosecurity, and what all this means for milk supply and public health.

Dannon’s Light + Fit supports women entrepreneurs in new cause marketing campaign

28-Mar-2024 By Deniz Ataman

The Light + Fit campaign is designed to “inspire women to crave more beyond yogurt” through packaging redesigns from female artists and a grant program partnership with the Female Founder Collective, Jessica Grane, senior director of marketing, Dannon,...

Beyond organic: Once Upon a Farm's brand expansion reimagines milk for a new generation

28-Mar-2024 By Deniz Ataman

Once Upon a Farm’s A2/A2 Whole Milk Shakes and Smoothies launch leverages the company’s established presence in plant-based children’s nutrition and responsible ingredient sourcing, the company’s C-suite team explained to FoodNavigator-USA during the...

Dairy innovations: IFF shares strategies for developing lactose-free products, low-sugar yogurts

28-Mar-2024 By Ryan Daily

IFF is helping CPG brands tap into whitespace in the dairy category by assisting with the creation of lactose-free dairy products and low-sugar yogurts with its portfolio of ingredients and capabilities, two company executives told FoodNavigator-USA....

Natural Products Expo West

Straus Family Creamery paves way for dairy farms to become carbon neutral by 2030

28-Mar-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

Cows are often the posterchild for the negative environmental impacts of farming or ranching, but what if they could be a force for good in the fight against climate change?

Dairy production, prices set to rebound in 2024, as butter sees ‘almost off the charts’ growth, Rabobank reports

28-Mar-2024 By Ryan Daily

As demand for butter and milk fats accelerates, the dairy market could shake off several challenging years, including lower demand and production, Lucas Fuess, senior dairy market analyst at Rabobank, told FoodNavigator-USA.

Winter Fancy Food Show

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: What is driving specialty cheese sales in the US

28-Mar-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

A third of global consumers consider cheese a staple, with most buying the dairy product because they love the flavor or are drawn to its health benefits, according to Innova Market Insights, but industry innovators add those are not the only reasons...

Natural Products Expo West

Goodles adds gluten-free SKUs to rainbow of flavors, aims to ‘out weird the competition’

27-Mar-2024 By Ryan Daily

Goodles is shaking up the mac and cheese shelf with colorful branding, playful product names and better-for-you options, including a new gluten-free option sampled at the recent Natural Products Expo West event.

Special edition: Better-for-you confectionery

The sweet truth: Embracing better-for-you confectionery for a healthier future

26-Mar-2024 By Anthony Myers

In an era of rising health consciousness, the confectionery industry finds itself at a crossroads. Traditionally associated with indulgence and guilty pleasures, confectionery products are now undergoing a transformation to meet the demands of a more...

‘A significant breakthrough’: Researchers develop human milk fat analog from microalgae

25-Mar-2024 By Asia Sherman

Biotechnology company Checkerspot has reproduced an essential human milk fat by fermenting microalgae at scale for the development of infant formula that replicates the nutritional benefits of breastfeeding.

NPD Trend Tracker: From Easter-egg ice cream to dairy-free chocolate eggs

25-Mar-2024 By Donna Eastlake

We’re getting ready for Easter in this week’s new-product roundup. There’s everything from egg-cellent (not sorry!) mini-egg ice cream to egg-citing (still not sorry!) dairy-free chocolate eggs. There’s also a range of drinks from energy-sparking mixers...

FDA’s import alert targets synthetic chemicals for food products, including PFAS

22-Mar-2024 By Deniz Ataman

The recent import alert grants FDA the authorization to prohibit entry of human food products into the US if they are contaminated with a broad range of synthetic chemicals that are deemed harmful for human consumption and the environment.

Changing freshwater cycle: Are we on a collision course with disaster?

22-Mar-2024 By Donna Eastlake

Human activity has significantly altered the freshwater cycle. But is this change reversible, and if not, what does it mean for the future of food and water supplies?

How is the food industry supporting childhood nutrition?

21-Mar-2024 By Donna Eastlake

From infancy through to adolescence, nutrition is essential in ensuring a healthy body and mind for our youngsters. So how can this be achieved and what it the food industry doing to help parents?

Arla, Kraft Heinz, Unilever grilled by UK parliamentary committee over ‘greedflation, profiteering’

20-Mar-2024 By Teodora Lyubomirova

The bosses of major food companies were pressed about increasing their profits as consumers struggled with food affordability. Dairy and agriculture industry reps were also questioned about the impact of inflation on farmers.

Natural Products Expo West

Aussie Bubs’ Essential Infant Formula makes ‘clean nutrition available for the masses,’ redesigns packaging for Americans

19-Mar-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

With the launch of a lower-priced but still premium Essential Infant Formula at Natural Products Expo West last week, Australian-made infant and toddler nutrition company Aussie Bubs also revealed a new look designed to better appeal to the American consumer.

Natural Products Expo West

Expo West trendspotting: Functional benefits, purity testing help justify premium pricing as consumers navigate economic challenges

19-Mar-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

Emphasizing the value of exisiting products appeared to trump breakthrough innovation this year at Natural Products Expo West where many companies either introduced smaller sizes of existing SKUs to lower the entry point or more prominently called out...

Unilever to spin off ice cream division as it looks to become ‘simpler, more focused company’

19-Mar-2024 By Teodora Lyubomirova

The consumer goods giant has admitted that its ice cream division requires ‘a very different operating model’ and a separation would allow the company to focus on growth.

'A relationship turned sour’: How Yoplait plans to reverse a declining yoghurt trend

08-Mar-2024 By Flora Southey

The UK kids’ yoghurt category is in long-term decline. Having researched the root causes, dairy major Yoplait now wants to reverse the trend.

Eco-friendly by stealth? Why a hybrid dairy newcomer is avoiding ‘hybrid’ labelling

08-Mar-2024 By Flora Southey

PlanetDairy says its marketing is transparent, but actively avoids terminology such as ‘hybrid’, ‘more sustainable’ or ‘green’.

FDA weighs application of new yogurt qualified health claims on sugary products

06-Mar-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

FDA will not object to two qualified health claims linking consumption of yogurt and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, regardless of fat or sugar content, but in an enforcement discretion letter to Danone North America detailing its decision the agency...

Brands bet on fortification to fill the gaps in plant-based milk innovation

05-Mar-2024 By Teodora Lyubomirova

Milk alternatives are the most mature category in alt dairy, but while food brands have largely addressed sensory and functional challenges, nutrition is still lacking.

New Culture self-determines GRAS status for its animal-free casein

01-Mar-2024 By Deniz Ataman

New Culture self-affirms its animal-free casein is Generally Recognized As Safe following an independent review of experts, which brings it one step closer to selling its animal-free cheese in retail, while strengthening its partnerships with foodservice...

Consumers embrace 'just-in-time shopping,’ shift fresh-food spending to save money, Circana finds

29-Feb-2024 By Ryan Daily

To combat high food prices, consumers are increasing store trips and shifting what they purchase in fresh food, including moving away from meat, seafood, and produce to deli and bakery items, Jonna Parker, principal II, fresh foods team lead at Circana,...

Protecting children from deceptive food advertising: The scope of NY’s S213-B bill

21-Feb-2024 By Deniz Ataman

Recently proposed legislation in New York seeks to expand the state’s deceptive food advertising regulations to include safeguarding children who may be susceptible to excessive consumption of unhealthy goods, but lawyers with the firm Venable argue the...

Earth Fare and Merryfield gamify nutrition labels in-store

20-Feb-2024 By Deniz Ataman

Earth Fare, an organic and natural grocery chain, has partnered with Merryfield for its Micro-Moments program where shoppers can scan QR codes in-store for additional ingredient education on select better-for-you brands. This supplements Merryfield's...

USDA approves RTE meal box delivery for children in rural Alaska

20-Feb-2024 By Deniz Ataman

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) approved the demonstration project, Alaska Meals to You (M2Y), for the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (AK DEED), to help find an effective way to provide meals to children in rural Alaska during...

Animal-free dairy round-up: Vivici, TurtleTree and New Culture

19-Feb-2024 By Teodora Lyubomirova

What's new in precision fermentation dairy?

Egg prices drag down dairy again, prepared meats remain strong in deli, Circana reports

19-Feb-2024 By Ryan Daily

After a challenging year, dairy and deli markets are starting 2024 with unit growth, as egg prices rise once again as a result of avian flu, Jonna Parker, principal of fresh foods team lead at Circana, shared during an International Dairy Deli Bakery...

USDA pushes for more timely SNAP payments that account for a third of retail grocery sales

12-Feb-2024 By Deniz Ataman

SNAP households are a major contributor to F&B sales, with 70% of SNAP dollars going towards food and beverages, according to Circana data, yet problems with late and inaccurate payments by states hinder access to food for the 42 million participants...

Hungryroot grows 40% YoY, expands curation of healthy foods

09-Feb-2024 By Deniz Ataman

Generating $333m in net revenue and more than $9m in profit, Hungryroot attributes its growth to its AI-driven “core personalization” of users’ food preferences and an expanded inventory in its three facilities, explained Alex Weinstein, the company’s...

Super Bowl ranks high among holiday weekends, snacks take center stage

08-Feb-2024 By Deniz Ataman

As Las Vegas prepares for the estimated $215bn economic growth from the additional 215,00 visitors for the Super Bowl, CPG companies and retailers have a significant opportunity to feature value-added offerings for viewers across the country, according...

Once Upon a Farm unveils new dairy lineup, embraces regenerative farming

31-Jan-2024 By Deniz Ataman

Children's food brand Once Upon A Farm launches its A2/A2 whole milk shakes “to fill the gap no for added sugar dairy snacks” with milk sourced from grass-fed cows on regenerative farms, company CEO John Foraker told FoodNavigator-USA.

Regenerative agriculture, renewable energy is ‘best path forward’ for reducing Scope 3 emissions

31-Jan-2024 By Deniz Ataman

Upstream and downstream activities that indirectly impact a company’s Scope 3 emissions may be difficult to measure, but a collaborative investment between stakeholders will help improve environmental impacts long-term, Brian Nash, vice president of corporate...

Winter Fancy Food Show

Milkadamia’s Artisan plant-based milks launch in refrigerated set, show ‘less is more’

29-Jan-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

Plant-based milk brand milkadamia moves into the refrigerated set and proves “less is more” with the debut of its organic Artisan macadamia milk and blends line that skips the fillers and gums common in many non-dairy beverages and responds to a growing...

Regenivore movement pushes dairy industry to adopt regenerative agriculture practices

26-Jan-2024 By Deniz Ataman

Dairy brands are shifting their sustainability initiatives to cater to the Regenivore movement—a conscious consumption of sustainably produced foods—through regenerative practices that promote animal and soil health. The shift highlights a significant...

Startup Spotlight: Armored Fresh brings ‘new enthusiasm’ to vegan cheese category with taste, price, new flavors

25-Jan-2024 By Ryan Daily

While the vegan cheese category continues to face headwinds in the market, South Korea-based startup Armored Fresh is turning to its technology to address taste and price challenges, company VP Andrew Yu told FoodNavigator-USA in a Startup Spotlight video...

Mentorship

NCA announces its 2024 Future Leaders class

24-Jan-2024 By Anthony Myers

The National Confectioners Association (NCA) has announced the eight confectionery industry professionals selected for its 2024 Future Leadership Programme.

Kroger reformulates prepared foods, hones in on private label products

23-Jan-2024 By Deniz Ataman

As grocery prices are predicted to decelerate, with an expected increase of 1.2% this year, Kroger’s strategic reformulation of its deli and bakery goods is focused on expanding value and convenience for its shoppers with a focus on flavor, quality and...