A double-blind, placebo controlled study on elite athletes found that the dairy-derived Lactobacillus helveticus Lafti L10 by Lallemand Health Soultions can be a beneficial supplement for the reduction of upper respiratory tract infections.
Sustainability and environmentally-friendly claims are becoming increasingly influential among consumers with recent research from The Hartman Group finding almost a third of consumers always buy products based on social well-being and environmental concerns.
To help fight the good fight against the ongoing obesity epidemic in America, Mars Food is teaming with the Partnership for a Healthier America to offer more nutritious foods and increase access to dietary information as part of its aptly named global...
Cold brew coffee is creating quiet the buzz in the US with new brands streaming into the market and retail sales growing exponentially in the past five years.
Serial snackers, addicted to new products and ‘emotionally connected’ to coffee? Marketers are obsessed with Millennials—generally defined as adults between the age of 18 to 34—so we thought it would be fun to head into the streets of Chicago and find...
As The Dannon Company nears the finish line for fulfilling its promise to improve the nutrition of its products that it made three years ago to the Partnership for a Healthier America, the company also is demonstrating that what is good for Americans’...
Banana water from Elmhurst Naturals – which combines water, banana juice concentrate and natural banana flavor (70 cals per 12oz bottle) – is now available in HEB, Jewel, Sprouts, Albertsons, Amazon and other big name grocers, and hits Kroger in the fall.
Once considered boring by many Americans, water is becoming a go-to beverage of choice thanks to innovative manufacturers that are adding to it carbonation, fruit flavors and functional ingredients that consumers want, according to market research.
With one in 13 children diagnosed with a food allergy in the US*, ‘allergy-friendly’ foods are now infiltrating every category in grocery. But right now, it still makes sense for most retailers to merchandise them in a dedicated set rather than spreading...
Is Paleo a trend or a fad? And are 'plant-based foods' just a sexier term for meat & dairy alternatives, or the start of a new food movement? FoodNavigator-USA caught up with Blake Mitchell, president of food packaging and branding design...
Consumer demand for high-protein products and high-end juices seem insatiable, and to help meet this demand Bolthouse Farms is launching several new products that also tap into consumers’ desire for bold flavors and clean ingredients.
Natural and organic are gaining momentum and driving sales across retail channels, but to capitalize fully on their potential stores and manufactures must work together to improve product assortment and integration throughout the store, according to an...
Entering a crowded category, Chicago-based RXBAR is confident that its flavour and ingredient combinations, intentionally different from most bars out there, can win spots on more shelves.
Partially hydrogenated oils are being phased out by many margarine and spreads brands, but many shoppers still see them as ‘highly processed’ and less 'natural' than butter, and sales are going backwards. MELT Organic, by contrast, is still...
Refrigerated babyfood presents merchandising challenges for retailers, but has the potential to create a new super-premium subsegment in a category in need of fresh thinking, says Ashley Rossi, founder of organic baby food brand OrgaNums, which debuted...
Marketers of meat-alternatives like to talk a lot about sustainable protein, and how we’re going to feed the world in 2050. But are these things really primary purchase drivers today? FoodNavigator-USA caught up with Quorn Foods at the Healthy & Natural...
Sales of tea in the US continue to climb steadily, thanks in part to a big push from interest in specialty tea – especially by millennials, according to the Tea Association of America.
With the recent elevation of dietary supplement oversight from a division to its own office at FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, the agency should renew its focus on reducing tainted supplements, improving compliance with good manufacturing...
Target is trialing endcap coolers in the baby food aisle in 65 stores in Los Angeles, Minneapolis and Dallas in partnership with new brand Once Upon a Farm to test consumer demand for refrigerated, HPP (high pressure processed) babyfood.
How best to merchandise 'natural' foods? For some mainstream food retailers, a store within a store is the best option, says David Winter, director of sales operations and sales strategy at SPINS. For others, it makes more sense to integrate...
For shoppers today, buying groceries is all about fresh and local – which can be a tall order for retailers in urban areas or with limited access to nearby farms.
It is no secret that the cereal aisle is struggling with Euromonitor estimating a 19% drop in sales in 2015 compared to 10 years earlier and a projection to lose another $1 billion in sales in the next 10 years.
The demand for tea in the US is skyrocketing, but so too is the desire for speed and convenience – two terms that do not apply to high quality loose leaf tea, which requires special tools for measuring and steeping, or tea bags, which can create a drippy...
The sweet but tart taste of switchel can be polarizing, says Cide Road founder Kevin Duffy. But it meets a growing demand for bolder, more sophisticated, flavors that has helped to drive sales of products such as kombucha, adds Duffy, who has now secured...
Farmwise frozen veggie fries contain 30% vegetables and beans, and 70% potatoes, and have been flying off the shelves in conventional as well as natural channels, says co-founder and CEO Dave Peters, who caught up with FoodNavigator-USA at the 2016 Expo...
Despite doctors’ recommendations to eat more fish for its many health benefits, many consumers steer clear of tuna – an affordable, sustainable source of omega-3s and beneficial nutrients because they are worried about mercury.
With more fiber than cold-pressed juice (4-5g per serving), plus a dose of probiotics (Ganeden’s ultra-resilient BC30 strain), Nomva is targeting consumers seeking simple, minimally processed snacks in a convenient format, says brand owner Phenomenal...
At Expo West 2016, companies large and small were reimagining pantry staples, from savory snacks to baking mixes, and reinventing their categories by introducing new ingredients.
Whether it’s a mug with your beloved pet’s picture on it, or a bespoke set of placeholders for a party you’ve ordered online, consumers love to design their own products these days. But how can mass customization work in the food industry, where minimum...
Unlike some of the more esoteric products at Expo West, Banza chickpea pasta is aimed squarely at mainstream consumers who are looking for more protein and fiber in their pasta, but are not prepared to compromise on taste or texture (no mush).
Start-ups are changing the food industry from trailblazing new ideas to providing new growth models, and both big businesses and small start-ups need to collaborate to innovate. The benefits are mutual, says Jeremy Basset, founder of Unilever’s incubator...
From Cabernayzyns (dried Cabernet grapes) to bakkwa, a meat snack sold in street markets in Singapore and Malaysia that's just hit the West Coast of the US, the Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco was jam-packed with unusual new products. FoodNavigator-USA...
Does bone broth have mass market appeal, and if so, what’s the best format to package it in, and where is the best place to put it in store? FoodNavigator-USA caught up with EPIC Provisions co-founder Taylor Collins to get his take on this emerging category...
KRAVE Jerky founder Jon Sebastiani - who sold his business to Hershey last year – has already identified some entrepreneurs he hopes to mentor – and fund – as part of his new incubator, Sonoma Brands.
As the race for manufacturers and restaurants to switch to 100% cage-free eggs in the US gains momentum, the speed of the transition could create short-term supply challenges for manufacturers and long-term opportunities for existing specialty egg providers,...
If you didn't make it to Chicago in October for FoodNavigator-USA's inaugural Food Vision USA event, you missed a truly awesome ensemble of industry experts covering everything from our nutritional needs on a manned mission to Mars to the challenges...
Back to Nature Foods Co.’s revitalization of the recently acquired iconic SnackWell’s brand is an example of how established companies can refresh aging brands that are struggling to better compete with new products from disruptive startups.
Transparent advertising is essential for reaching modern consumers, but as the maker of Element [Shrub] discovered – knowing which facts to emphasize first is key to driving initial trial.
Union Kitchen: Inside a food and beverage incubator
To make it in the highly competitive food and beverage segment, startups need to listen to consumers and evolve to meet changing demands – even if that means letting go of their “baby,” says the founder of Momme Meals.
General Mills coughed up a cool $820m to buy Annie’s last year. But it has also signaled its intention to invest in brands at an earlier stage in their development via its 301 Inc venturing arm and a recent tie up with equity crowdfunding site CircleUp....
Union Kitchen: Inside a food and beverage incubator
Launching a new food or beverage company requires a lot of passion, but it also requires a business plan, regulatory knowledge, access to equipment, distribution and exposure – which is a lot for any startup to fully grasp out of the gate.
With volumes flat or declining in many CPG categories, and dollar growth coming primarily from price increases, manufacturers are increasingly relying on promotions to drive engagement, but find they are becoming less and less effective, according to...
Online retail of food and beverage may be small now, but it is slowly gaining traction in the US – providing start-ups struggling to get their foot in the door another option for reaching consumers, according to the CEO of online subscription snack service...
Americans increasingly want fresh, healthy food, but they don’t always have the extra time it takes to plan and prepare those ingredients – creating a white space in the market for enterprising manufacturers.
A new fast absorbing protein from Arla Foods Ingredients could help crack open the endurance sports sector, which has significant potential for growth but until now has been largely dominated by sports drinks with only carbohydrates and electrolytes.