Sweeteners (intense, bulk, polyols)

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.

Do non-sugar sweeteners make people hungrier?

15-Apr-2024 By Flora Southey

This is the question posed by researchers, who also wanted to find out whether swapping out sugar for artificial and natural sweeteners reduces blood sugar levels.

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...

US patchwork of additive bans: Will food manufacturers be forced to come up with a different formulation for different states?

09-Apr-2024 By Gill Hyslop

Unsurprisingly, the current state of play in the US is causing deep concern in the food industry: especially for those producers that sell products across multiple states. It's turning into a quagmire to stay ahead of the latest regulatory developments...

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...

Short read

Liquid assets: The need for business action on water

22-Mar-2024 By Francesca O’Hanlon

The diamond-water paradox was a puzzle to the man that coined the term, economist Adam Smith. Although water is, unarguably, more valuable to humans, why do diamonds command a higher price?

Startup Spotlight

United Sodas of America's president on growing brand, ‘We have to learn how to say no’

14-Mar-2024 By Ryan Daily

United Sodas of America’s recently appointed president, Dan Herndon, is taking a practical hands-on approach to growing the low-sugar soda company, as the brand focuses on expanding in select channels and deploying capital efficiently to maintain a sustainable...

Sweetener ‘controversy’ fuels consumer confusion: How should industry respond?

06-Mar-2024 By Flora Southey

Growing ‘controversy’ and ‘confusion’ around alternative sweeteners is impacting consumer trust. What should manufacturers’ next steps be?

Incredo Sugar G2 provides versatility across categories

05-Mar-2024 By Deniz Ataman

Foodtech company Incredo expands its sugar reduction solutions with the launch of Incredo Sugar G2, a concentrated version of its clean label, protein-sucrose blend Incredo Sugar made from cane and/or beet sugar and a dairy- or plant-based protein to...

Cargill highlights its sustainable proteins for first-ever tasting in NYC

03-Mar-2024 By Deniz Ataman

Cargill showcased the breadth of its protein portfolio and sustainable sourcing partnerships in a multi-course tasting earlier this month in New York City.

Smoove's prebiotic beverages place African culture in the spotlight

29-Feb-2024 By Deniz Ataman

Tapping into the multi-billion dollar functional beverage market, Smoove’s RTD prebiotic juice is a cultural nod to African representation through indigenous and traditional ingredients, like tropical almond, tamarind and African cherry, while responding...

Winter Fancy Food Show

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Demand for functional beverages could lead to ‘tsunami of innovation’ in 2024

29-Feb-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

Beverage sales have outpaced that of food within the specialty segment in the past decade, according to the Specialty Food Association, which attributes the boom to an increased demand for functional benefits, a faster pace of innovation and a lower threshold...

Hershey’s strategy for sweet success focuses on gummies, celebrities and Reese

26-Feb-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

The Hershey Company may be best known for its eponymous chocolate bars, but the company is betting big on gummies this year with significantly increased production capacity to support innovation and a new partnership model, including a collaboration with...

Dawn Foods expands ready-to-use portfolio with new chocolate buttercream

23-Feb-2024 By Ryan Daily

Bakery ingredient supplier Dawn Foods launched a European-style chocolate buttercream that is ready to use for bakers, Allison Hornev, senior director marketing core portfolio
& innovation, told FoodNavigator-USA.

Startup Spotlight

Rotten’s ‘gross-out’ culture branding expands appeal of better-for-you candy to consumers often overlooked by health brands

15-Feb-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

Better-for-you confection newcomer Rotten’s early distribution gains since it launched in September underscores an unmet consumer desire for candy that cuts back on sugar and artificial ingredients, but not the fun.

Crystal Light feature brand refresh with new functional product line, enters mocktail category

08-Feb-2024 By Deniz Ataman

The new year sparks a refresh not only for consumers but also for Kraft-Heinz’s powdered flavor enhancer, Crystal Light, which introduced a new logo, typography, photography and packaging to coincide with its new functional product lines inspired by consumer...

The cost of sugar is soaring: What does this mean for food manufacturers and consumers?

06-Feb-2024 By Donna Eastlake

From confectionery to cakes, breakfast cereals to beer, sugar is a huge part of the modern diet, but why is the cost of one of our most indulgent ingredients increasing and how will this affect both food manufacturers and consumers?

Kellanova expands core brands for c-store channels in time for summer

02-Feb-2024 By Deniz Ataman

Kellanova Away From Home’s latest snack launches seek to standout in the fast-paced c-store shopping experience with new flavors and formats that offer nostalgia, convenience, better-for-you choices and snacks as meals, Dan DeMeyer, senior director, commercial...

Rockstar Energy hops on functional mushroom trend with Focus launch

01-Feb-2024 By Ryan Daily

PespiCo’s flagship energy drink – Rockstar Energy – is out with a new functional mushroom-infused beverage line called Focus, designed to provide an energy and mental boost, Danielle Barbaro, VP of PepsiCo North America Beverages R&D, told FoodNavigator-USA.

Tate & Lyle hits the sweet spot

01-Feb-2024 By Danielle Masterson

Ingredient solutions firm Tate & Lyle continues to build its sweetener portfolio as consumers shift from full-sugar to reduced-sugar offerings.

Startup Spotlight

Harken Sweets reimagines ‘what a candy bar can be using the power of date fruit’

01-Feb-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

The founder of startup Harken Sweets, which launched earlier this month, wants to “nutritionally overhaul” the candy bar category by using “the power of the date fruit,” like how she helped Caulipower reinvigorate the pizza category with the “power of...

Why Coca-Cola is betting on water security innovation

31-Jan-2024 By Flora Southey

With climate change exacerbating water stress and scarcity, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners is backing new tech solutions to help future-proof the beverage industry.

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...

Are you ready to dive into Japan? Ichigo is on a mission to deliver a little piece of culture through snacks

23-Jan-2024 By Gill Hyslop

‘Ichigo ichiya’ is a Buddhist saying that describes a cultural concept of treasuring the unrepeatable nature of a moment. In other words, cherish every moment – which is exactly what the specially curated snack boxes of Ichigo’s TokyoTreat and Sakuraco...

Startup Spotlight

[Video] ELAVI's journey to Costco and reinvigorating its brand

18-Jan-2024 By Deniz Ataman

Participating in Costco’s RoadShow and interacting directly with consumers to sample its gut-friendly, cashew dessert spreads gave WOC-founded startup ELAVI insights that would have “cost thousands of dollars” to acquire elsewhere, allowing it to make...

Can Oatly reinvigorate slowing oatmilk category sales with launch unsweetened, clean-label options?

11-Jan-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

Oatmilk pioneer Oatly’s new Unsweetened Oatmilk and Super Basic Oatmilk, which launched this week, respond to rising consumer concerns about plant-based milks, including their nutritional value and, for some, long lists of unfamiliar ingredients, which...

Wholesome Yum focuses on zero-sugar honey, expands flavor portfolio

09-Jan-2024 By Deniz Ataman

Wholesome Yum’s Zero Sugar Honey Substitute, made of monk fruit, allulose and tapioca fiber blend, reigns as the brand’s most popular product since its launch two years ago to fill in gap of zero-sugar honey products in the market, Maya Krampf, founder,...

Oobli expands sweet protein chocolate line, taps into permissible indulgence trend

03-Jan-2024 By Ryan Daily

Biotech company Oobli is expanding its confections portfolio with the release of a line of milk chocolate bars, demonstrating sweet proteins' potential for chocolate applications, company CEO Ali Wing told FoodNavigator-USA.

Rockstar Energy: The ‘anchor’ to PepsiCo’s energy-drink strategy

02-Jan-2024 By Ryan Daily

PepsiCo is using Rockstar Energy as the core of its energy-drink strategy, while leveraging its partnership with Celsius to tap into leading consumer trends, Fabiola Torres, GM & CMO, SVP Energy Category at PepsiCo, told FoodNavigator-USA.

Chamberlain Coffee continues RTD expansion, launches Oatmilk Lattes

02-Jan-2024 By Deniz Ataman

The Gen Z-oriented coffee brand Chamberlain Coffee released Salted Caramel and Mocha oatmilk lattes last month to “appeal to those that like a sweeter coffee and prefer oats as their top choice of milk,” Christopher Gallant, CEO, told FoodNavigator-USA.

Do consumers prefer sugar or non-nutritive sweeteners? It’s complicated

02-Jan-2024 By Flora Southey

Consumer confusion over how best to reduce sugar in one’s diet persists. Are they still looking for ‘zero added sugar’ in sweet drinks? Regulatory and ingredients experts weigh in.

From AI flavors to RTD alcohol: Coca-Cola talks innovation

21-Dec-2023 By Rachel Arthur

Once a soda giant, Coca-Cola has evolved its portfolio into categories that would once have been unimaginable for company (take, for example, RTD alcohol or AI-generated flavors). So how does the company steer its innovation efforts towards success?

Health and taste from fruit-based sweeteners

21-Dec-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Fruit has been used for sweetness in Europe since before we even knew about refined sugar. It’s still in widespread use as the basis for sweeteners.

Assessing the Ozempic effect: What food, beverage companies can do now to create healthier products

19-Dec-2023 By Ryan Daily

As the debate on weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and public health continues, CPG companies have a range of opportunitied to create healthier products now, which can have meaningful impacts on consumer health, Hank Cardello, leadership solutions program...

Mitra9 gears up for national expansion with reformulated functional beverage, taps into non-alc demands

18-Dec-2023 By Ryan Daily

Functional beverage brand Mitra9 has released a reformulated cleaner label product ahead of retail expansion plans, as the company looks to improve margins and reduce costs, brand co-founder and CEO Dallas Vasquez told FoodNavigator-USA.

Zevia CEO gives “up edgy and cool to be timeless and iconic”

12-Dec-2023 By Ryan Daily

Consistent branding and values can create a stronger business over time compared to chasing trends or copying the competition, which can dilute a brand's long-term impact, according to Zevia CEO Amy Taylor.

[Video] Plant Press positions energy drink brand as a clean-label coffee alternative

08-Dec-2023 By Ryan Daily

Plant Press founder Ariana Farahani took to the stage at the BevNET LIVE event this week to share her brand’s vision for a clean energy drink during the New Beverage Showdown, as the brand readies for retail expansion with the help of a $1.2m seed round.

White Claw launches electrolyte-enhanced 0% Alcohol: ‘It’s a fundamentally new kind of drink for every kind of adult drinker that could only come from White Claw’

08-Dec-2023 By Rachel Arthur

Hard seltzer pioneer White Claw is launching White Claw 0% Alcohol in the US in January: ‘a radically new beverage’ that is designed to combine White Claw flavors with hydrating electrolytes while replicating the complexity of alcohol.

Sugar reduction in 2024: How consumer demands, health policies will influence product launches

07-Dec-2023 By Ryan Daily

As consumers become increasingly wary of sugar content, CPG companies are meeting the demand for zero-sugar products with the help of natural sweeteners, a trend set to gain momentum in the US as regulators and scientists push for reductions.

Mood support, natural sweeteners set to disrupt beverage market, SPINS shares at BevNET Live

07-Dec-2023 By Ryan Daily

Functional and wellness attributes and mood-boosting and naturally sweetened drinks are primed for growth in the year to come, Scott Dicker, market insight director at SPINS, shared at BevNET Live.

How newstalgia blends comfort and novelty in the snack category

29-Nov-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Consumers still crave familiar flavors and experiences, as they did during the pandemic, but they also are open to new innovations and technologies -- leading to an emerging trend of 'newstalgia,' Kevin Ryan, CEO, Malachite Strategy and Research,...

Innovations in snacking

KIND embraces ‘AND’ philosophy for snacking innovation to balance health, taste, convenience & sustainability

29-Nov-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Health and wellness remain top priorities for snackers, but as peak pandemic continues to recede, indulgence is becoming more important and as such consumers are less willing to sacrifice taste for functional benefit, according to Emily Strobel, VP, growth...

How the cookie doesn’t crumble: Biobake promises to improve shelf-life and reduce food waste in bakery snacks

29-Nov-2023 By Deniz Ataman

While traditional amylase-based enzymes have helped bakery snacks improve shelf-life and freshness, its efficacy is limited if the dough contains high amounts of sugar. Kerry’s anti-staling enzyme, Biobake Fresh Rich addresses freshness and moisture for...

Limiting front-of-pack nutrition labeling to added sugar, saturated fat & sodium could skew potential health impact, stakeholders tell FDA

27-Nov-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Front of package nutrition labeling intended to help consumers select healthier foods and beverages by potentially calling out the amount of added sugar and other nutrients of interest could unintentionally expose children to higher levels of non-nutritive...

NPD Trend Tracker: From wholegrain spelt to Christmas dinner pie

27-Nov-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

In this week’s NPD Trend Tracker, we have a range of festive products, including a festive wrap, festive ice-cream flavours and a pie containing an entire Christmas dinner. We also have a new flavour from Tate & Lyle, a wholegrain spelt from Merchant...

Advertising allulose simply as ‘sugar’ is misleading, watchdog determines in case against Nutrishus Brands’ RxSugar

21-Nov-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

While allulose may technically be a ‘rare’ sugar, marketing it simply as sugar could mislead consumers to believe it is or is the same as common table sugar, the National Advertising Division of BBB National Programs determined in a recent decision.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: FTC warning to influencers includes new disclosure principle

20-Nov-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Warning letters sent last week by the Federal Trade Commission to two food industry trade groups and a dozen online health influencers questioning the adequacy of paid partnership disclosures may not be a harbinger of impending enforcement that some believe,...

Futureproofing the Food System

Will ‘healthy’ iconography help consumers select better options?

17-Nov-2023 By Deniz Ataman

While the FDA is updating its current definition of healthy and exploring voluntary iconography for packaging, the term means many different things to many different people, which could complicate the impact of the icon and product marketing, suggests...

Spilling the tea (and coffee) on natural beverage trends

10-Nov-2023 By Deniz Ataman

The functional and perceived health benefits of tea and coffee paired with their familiarity and diverse usage occasions across dayparts make them ideal platforms for beverage manufacturers to meet consumers’ evolving preferences for indulgence, health...