Fermentation growth collides with manufacturing shortage – iFAB aims to fix it
As Europe and Asia outpace the US in precision fermentation investment, an Illinois-based consortium backed by ADM and a $51 million federal grant aims to catch up
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Natural Products Expo West
Predictive data reveals the next wave of performance-driven wellness trends in food
Insights from Spate reveal consumers want functional, low-sugar and benefit-packed food and beverages that fit easily into their lives
Gut instinct: The 10 functional ingredients gaining ground in 2026
Dietitians’ latest data points to a more grounded approach to functionality, where gut health, cost and credibility matter as much as claims
Taste gap narrows for plant-based dairy – but only in select categories
Nectar’s Tasty Awards reveal rapid gains in non-dairy barista milk driven by flavor and functionality, with significant white space in plant-based mozzarella and yogurt
Future Food-Tech San Francisco
Collaboration, not capital, is driving the next wave of food innovation
Industry leaders at Future Food-Tech San Francisco say lower investment levels are giving rise to an era of deeper cooperation among stakeholders focused on creating healthier products
Future Food-Tech San Francisco
Inside the race to reinvent food color: Global Food Tech Awards Americas heat winner pioneers new approach to natural dyes
Award-winning biotech Michroma is using fungi-based fermentation to tackle the cost, supply and performance challenges holding back natural colors
Fueling the NFL: A look inside elite sports nutrition strategies
Maintaining peak performance over the course of a 17-game NFL season requires far more than game-day preparation. According to Jordan Mazur, RD, director of sports nutrition for the San Francisco 49ers, nutrition plays a foundational role in supporting...
Rooted in Chicago and Nepal, two pet food brands share a strategy with simple ingredients
It’s a family affair for Nak Chews and Ava’s Pet Palace. Though their clean-label pet treats are developed on opposite sides of the globe, the two independent pet food companies share a common non-negotiable for today’s pet parents: no mystery chemicals...
High-fiber konjac could be the next big competitor in better-for-you foods
From noodles to “inner beauty” drinks, konjac is moving beyond Asia to challenge established categories across the US functional food landscape
Classic condiment sales are slipping, and innovators are moving in
As mayonnaise, ketchup and salad dressing sales decline, brands like Primal Kitchen, Truff and Lucky Foods are driving growth with healthier oils, bold spices and elevated flavor experiences
Regenerative Organic Certified emerges as one of food’s fastest-growing labels
‘The bottom line is, if we don’t have healthy soils, we are not going to have healthy plants … and we are not going to be healthy ourselves’
Wisecode gives brands a new way to claim they’re non-UPF
Built on an ingredient-level ultra processed food standard and a database of more than 840,000 products, the app’s new Non‑UPF Shield lets food and beverage manufacturers quickly verify products
Food-Tech Solutions For A More Sustainable And Secure Food System
Retailers and brands turn to AI for help as grocery shoppers feel financially squeezed
With 73% of US shoppers stressed about grocery costs, retailers are turning to tools like Algolia’s Intelligent Grocery Solution to balance affordability, margins and evolving consumer behavior
Fancy Faire
6 trends redefining spicy beyond extreme heat to reach new consumers
From sweet-heat pairings and clean-label innovation to global flavor exploration and softer packaging cues, brands are transforming spicy into an everyday, elevated experience
Winter Fancy Faire
Beans get rebrand as companies tap into protein- and fibermaxxing trends and GLP-1 user needs
From snackable lentils to refrigerated formats, brands are making legumes relevant again through convenience, creativity and nutrition
Winter Fancy Faire
3 trends revitalizing the sleepy nut butter and seed spread category
From swicy flavors to squeezable pouches, emerging brands at the Specialty Food Association’s Winter Fancy Faire are pushing a mature category into its next growth phase
Startup Spotlight
How early-stage food and beverage brands are navigating tight capital in 2026
Early-stage founders share how they’re reinventing indulgent foods while navigating one of the toughest fundraising environments in recent years
Winter Fancy Faire
Playing defense on price isn’t enough to win today’s food shoppers
Even cautious consumers are balancing budgets with quality, trust and values — and brands that focus only on price risk missing growth opportunities
Diet Trends
Rethinking sweetness in an age of sugar skepticism
As shoppers scrutinize labels and headlines, brands are rethinking sweetness strategies to deliver lower sugar, clearer messaging and commercially viable reformulations
Winter Fancy Faire
Dry oat milk ‘slices’ promise a step-change in plant-based beverage sustainability
Using a proprietary dry-printing process, Milkadamia’s new oat milk format reduces packaging by 85%, lowers logistics costs and gives retailers a less expensive, more sustainable entry point for plant-based milks
News Bites
From dietary guidelines to cocoa shortages, pressure mounts on CPG brands
This week’s top stories show how nutrition policy debates, shifting views on processing and cocoa supply disruptions are reshaping formulation and sourcing decisions for CPG brands
Clarified choices: How one brand is cutting through the fat confusion for consumers
As Americans navigate a maze of information about the safety and nutrition of oils and tallows, Marianne’s Harvest offers clear labeling and expert guidance for its versatile products
Dietary Guidelines, GMO labeling and monk fruit production could shake up food industry
This week’s top stories: a new food pyramid, court ruling on GMO labeling and democratization of monk fruit
Startup Spotlight
Whole-cut technology emerges as plant-based meat’s next proving ground
Backed by a $1 million investment from Global Brain, Baltimore-based startup Offbeast is scaling a proprietary fiber assembly process to tackle texture, one of the category’s toughest challenges
News Bites: Policy shifts, gene editing and 2026 shopper trend
Trump’s food price probe, research on what really drives acceptance of gene-edited foods and KeHE’s latest read on authenticity, function and global flavor exploration reshape the industry as the year winds down
News Bites
3 strategies shaping the future of food and beverage
Brands and retailers are responding to consumers who want more — more flavor, more functionality and more alignment with their health and sustainability goals
Startup Spotlight
AI that speaks the language of CPG
What the food and beverage market needs isn’t just another AI model — it needs artificial intelligence that understands CPG-specific business
Danone tackles the big question for GLP-1 users: What should they eat?
Grounded in emerging science, Danone’s research and innovation team is developing nutrient-dense products tailored to every stage of the GLP-1 user journey – and meeting the needs of the broader health conscious consumer
Inside Ocean Spray’s cranberry empire
Behind the juice aisle lies an ingredients business that supplies everything from trail mixes and chocolate bites to canned cocktails – often with no Ocean Spray logo in sight
Cost-cutting in food: How tech and ingredients can keep expenses down
Precision fermentation and ingredient diversification could provide answers for struggling food companies
Pucker mania is spicing up snack shelves … and powering pickle sales
Pickles are big business and experiencing rapid growth through savvy startups and private-label expansion
Better-for-you beverages take the stage at private-label trade show
FedUp Foods and FrshBev exemplify contract manufacturing’s role in functional beverage development
US plays catch up in store brands renaissance
As private-label products surge overseas, US grocers are just beginning to unlock their full potential
Startup Spotlight
Yough! scales gut-friendly frozen pizza with clean ingredients and specialty retail strategy
From Greek yogurt crust to store shelves, Yough! is navigating the hurdles of scaling a healthier frozen pizza
Startup Spotlight
Third wave hydration: Plink! sparks shift toward flavor-first daily wellness
By putting consumer enjoyment ahead of its sustainability mission, the fizzy electrolyte tablet brand has ushered in an era of daily hydration and in doing so doubled its velocity, expanded distribution and outpaced legacy competitors in natural grocery...
Prepare for turbulence: AI, retail media networks and M&A shifts require a new growth playbook
After years of price-driven gains, Acosta’s John Carroll warns the industry must pivot to tech-enabled collaboration to reignite meaningful unit growth
News Bites
Gen Z trends, UPF debate & Coca-Cola’s beverage pivot
Younger consumers redefine “healthy,” experts warn UPF rules may backfire and Coca-Cola bets big on protein and zero sugar
Startup Spotlight
Grocers are leaving money on the table: Startup BetterBasket can help
The startup says its AI-enhanced platform boosted revenue 8% for one independent grocer, and it aims to help more retailers reclaim margins lost to pricing inefficiencies
Conagra all in on Taco Bell, Buffalo Wild Wings and pickles
CPG giant showcases co-branded launches and adventurous snacking trends at NACS, targeting flavor-driven demand
News Bites
From vegan collagen to smart sweeteners: FDA and CPG shifts shape food innovation
FDA accelerates precision fermentation, General Mills refocuses on overlooked consumers and innovators redefine the role of sugar
Retailers ‘scramble’ to comply with no-sweets SNAP laws
The payment system restructure could cost the industry $1.6 billion
Healthy, hot and functional foods driving c-store growth
Prepared-food sales are climbing, and younger shoppers are leading the push for fresher, clean-label offerings
Acme Smoked Fish champions sustainability and climate action across the seafood supply chain
From traceable sourcing to employee engagement, Acme’s Citizens of Seafood initiative and Climate Awards demonstrate how seafood companies can align business success with environmental responsibility
News Bites
Lay’s glow-up, food science myths and fermented frontiers
Lay’s gets a new look, nutrition science is getting a reality check and precision fermented ingredients are getting FDA’s nod
Smithfield leverages honey trend with Mike’s Hot Honey Bacon
Smithfield and Mike’s Hot Honey use honey’s flavor versatility to create bold, on-trend products that engage millennials, Gen Z and sweet-and-spicy enthusiasts
Startup Spotlight
Startup Elavi doubles down on high protein brownies – and retail notices
While a national buy from Whole Foods is the dream for many startups, often a ‘no for now’ will bide time and resources to land on more shelves in the future
Most CPG ads miss the mark with video gamer players: Here is how to fix it
CPG marketers can’t afford outdated strategies when it comes to connecting with video game players. Learn what works now in FoodNavigator-USA’s free webinar Fueling Fun: Connecting with Esports Enthusiasts and Everyday Gamers FTW
Kerry turns consumer insights into sustainable food solutions
Kerry’s sustainable nutrition spectrum guides CPG brands in reformulating foods that meet evolving consumer expectations for health, sustainability and taste.
Startup Spotlight
From console to convenience store: How Bangers! Snacks converts videogame buzz into real-world retail sales
By connecting with millions of Roblox players across 200 video games, the caffeinated snack startup is scaling distribution at a fast pace
Groceryshop 2025
Shoppers hit a breaking point: How will price and value play out in 2026?
NielsenIQ’s latest outlook warns consumers are hitting their spending limits and are desperate for relief – opening the door for promotions, private-label and health-claims to drive sales