Chocolate and confectionery ingredients

SHIFT20: How the virtual IFT show will work…

29-Jun-2020 By Elaine Watson

Confused about navigating the virtual IFT show (Institute of Food Technologists' annual meeting and expo) next month (July 13-15)? FoodNavigator-USA caught up with Corrine Calice, senior director, knowledge and learning experiences; and Susan Young,...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Soom Foods shares strategies for driving trial, managing demand during COVID-19

29-Jun-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

For emerging brands or companies with unfamiliar products that relied on chefs to introduce their food or beverages to mainstream consumers, the shuttering of restaurants during the pandemic has been especially devasting, but, according to the co-founder...

Sustainability

Rainforest Alliance says it’s ready to work with Nestlé on its cocoa certification scheme

26-Jun-2020 By Anthony Myers

The Rainforest Alliance has said it is ready to fully support Nestlé in its mission to improve sustainability in the cocoa sector, after it was announced the confectionery giant and maker of KitKats is to expand its in-house Cocoa Plan certification scheme...

FDA moves to keep coronavirus fears from interrupting ingredients trade

25-Jun-2020 By Hank Schultz

The US Food and Drug Administration says it will move actively to prevent the worldwide trade in dietary ingredients, food ingredients and whole foods from being restricted because of misplaced coronavirus infection concerns.

Coronavirus fears further fragment grocery retail landscape with DTC ordering emerging as favorite

25-Jun-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic not only significantly accelerated the already steady consumer adoption of online shopping from grocery stores, it also drove business away from retailers to direct-to-consumer providers and online specialty product aggregators...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: How is the coronavirus pandemic & unemployment reshaping snacking?

22-Jun-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has reshaped virtually every aspect of American’s lives, including what, when and how we eat, according to research from the flavor, ingredient and color company Flavorchem, which found our emotions are influencing our...

Online marketplace Fieldcraft modernizes discovery & democratizes access for suppliers of all sizes

19-Jun-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

The coronavirus pandemic may have brought to a standstill the large tradeshows where industry players traditionally came together, but thanks to new digital platforms – including Austin-based Fieldcraft – stakeholders not only can still meet, explore...

Children under 2 years should avoid all added sugars, says Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee

18-Jun-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Children under the age of 2 years should avoid all added sugars in order to better make “every bite count,” according to the Dietary Guidelines advisory subcommittee tasked with creating the first ever dietary guidelines for children younger than 24 months....

Stress prevention replaces weight management as top health concern, creating marketing opportunity

16-Jun-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

For the first time in a decade, weight management is no longer America’s top health concern as anxiety and stress prevention and treatment rise to the No. 1 position of a long list of health conditions with which households are grappling, according to...

Soup-to-Nuts Podcast: Orgain gives $150,000 to 3 startups with mission to help people lead 'vibrant, healthy lives'

15-Jun-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Even though Andrew Abraham has helped millions of people live healthier, more vibrant lives first as a medical doctor and then for the past 12 years as the founder of the organic protein shake and bar brand Orgain, he wanted to help more consumers learn...

MycoTechnology raises $39m in Series D to expand functional ingredients platform

10-Jun-2020 By Elaine Watson

MycoTechnology – which is building a functional ingredients platform utilizing mycelia, the filament-like roots of mushrooms - has raised $39m in a series D financing round from investors* including plant-based meat specialist Greenleaf Foods to Tyson...

Investing in the Future of Food: NextGenChef connects ‘foodpreneurs’ with mentors, consumers online

03-Jun-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

No longer able to rely on conferences, in-store demos or serendipitous meetings to raise awareness of a new business or product, entrepreneurs increasing are connecting with each other, mentors and consumers through subscription-based online platforms...

Brands' support of anti-racism movement balances business benefits, risks

03-Jun-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Many food and beverage companies are joining the fight against racism in America by temporarily pausing sales, using their voices and positions to raise awareness of systemic racism in the US, donating profits and pulling advertising from platforms that...

IRI Pacesetters of 2019: 'This was really the resurgence of $100m brands'

02-Jun-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

The IRI New Product Pacesetters List of the top 100 CPG brand launches of 2019 saw a resurgence of $100m brands which accounted for 33% of Pacesetter dollar sales in 2019.

E-commerce expert: “This is a great entry time for new and small brands to flourish on Amazon”

26-May-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

The uneven impact of the coronavirus on sales of food and beverage brands of different sizes has created an opportunity for smaller and emerging companies to drive consumer awareness by advertising on Amazon at a scale that previously would not have been...

Commodities

Cocoa prices dip on markets in wake of coronavirus pandemic

25-May-2020 By Anthony Myers

The price action on cocoa on the futures market looks similar to 2008, analyst claims, while lockdown in Nigeria disrupts supplies

FDA grants temporary labeling flexibility for non-allergen minor ingredients

22-May-2020 By Elaine Watson

With many food manufacturers experiencing difficulties in sourcing some ingredients during the pandemic, the FDA is allowing temporary flexibility in food labeling requirements enabling them to make minor formulation changes without updating labels, provided...

WATCH: Navigating the COVID-19 rollercoaster with Undercover Snacks

14-May-2020 By Elaine Watson

The last few weeks have been a rollercoaster ride for many small businesses. FoodNavigator-USA caught up with Diana Levy, founder and CEO at Undercover Snacks, which makes chocolate covered quinoa snacks at its own SQF-3 manufacturing facility in New...

Investing in the Future of Food: Sharing an office space can transform & accelerate startups’ growth

13-May-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

After weeks of working remotely during the coronavirus pandemic, some companies are rethinking the value of central offices, but for the founder of Seed + Mill sharing space with other entrepreneurs at WeWork’s Food Labs in New York City before the outbreak...

Investing in the Future of Food: Aloha CEO shares tips for securing shelf space, courting Trader Joe’s

06-May-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Waiting for a response from cold calls to retail buyers about placing a product on store shelves can feel demoralizing to emerging brands, but Brad Charron, the CEO of the plant-based bar and beverage brand Aloha, advises entrepreneurs not to take it...

Emerging brands with ‘turnkey’ solutions more likely to win shelf space during coronavirus pandemic

05-May-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Emerging and regional brands with inventory and turnkey solutions could more easily win space on store shelves despite delayed category resets and formal reviews as retailers continue to grapple coronavirus-related disruptions and low fill rates from...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Navigating coronavirus’ uneven impact to chart a path forward for groceries

04-May-2020 By Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Navigating coronavirus’ uneven impact to chart a path forward for groceries

While some food and beverage brands have enjoyed tremendous growth following the coronavirus outbreak, others have been completely "pummeled" by government and consumer response to the virus – revealing a division that could provide a road map...

KIND Foundation rallies companies to donate to first responders, matches them to those in need

01-May-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

In the past two weeks, more than a dozen food and beverage companies – many of which are small and struggling to operate during the pandemic – have teamed with the KIND Foundation’s and Project N95’s recently launched Frontline Impact Project to donate...

Mondelēz to cut SKUs and 'significantly' reduce innovation projects: ‘We are working on making our business simpler’

30-Apr-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Driven by strong demand for its snacks products in North America, Mondelēz International reported 2.6% growth in net revenue to $6.7bn for Q1 2020, offsetting sales downturns in other areas of the business including world travel retail and away-from-home...

Mars patents heat-resistant chocolate that maintains taste and shape in hot climates

30-Apr-2020 By Flora Southey

Mars, Inc. has developed a packaged heat-resistant chocolate it says maintains taste, mouthfeel, and shape during transportation and handling in hot climates.

Gifting food will rise as practical option during coronavirus and beyond, Packaged Facts predicts

28-Apr-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

The convenience, practicality and comfort of offering food as tokens of recognition, appreciation and affection could help insulate the US food gifting market during the coronavirus pandemic, but it may not be enough to fully offset losses in 2020 from...

Eggs, flour, sugar... Quarantine baking pushes staple ingredients into the spotlight

17-Apr-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

At-home baking has exploded as a go-to quarantine activity among US households, causing a shift in consumer attitudes for overlooked pantry ingredients and heightened demand for highly-scrutinized ingredients such as 'refined' sugar.

Investing in the Future of Food: Mason Dixie drives ‘explosive’ growth with data-driven decisions

15-Apr-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

While there is something to be said about following your gut as an entrepreneur, the founder and CEO of Mason Dixie Biscuit Co. advises that following the data often is a more reliable strategy for sparking retailer interest and launching products that...

Food & beverage manufacturers thank first-responders, help feed those in need during pandemic

10-Apr-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

The generosity of the food and beverage industry is on full display as companies – some with limited resources – give what they can to those serving on the frontlines of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and to those in need, including many who unexpectedly...

Extreme buying slows but remains elevated at 23% higher than pre-coronavirus levels, reports NCS

09-Apr-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Now that the 'surge' has calmed down, consumers are entering a new stage of shopping behavior – ‘home-confined buying’ – characterized by higher sales of non-essential food items such as cookies, chocolate, and ice cream, with overall spending...

To survive this crisis, prioritize relationships and employee health & safety, says CEO of That's How We Roll

03-Apr-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

CEO of snacking company That's How We Roll, the parent company to national brands ParmCrisps and Thinsters cookie thins, feels cautiously optimistic about how the CPG industry will fare during and post COVID-19.

IFT 2020 annual meeting & expo to transition to virtual event

31-Mar-2020 By Elaine Watson

The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) 2020 annual meeting & expo - scheduled to take place in Chicago July 12-15 - will transition to a virtual event, the organizers confirmed Monday, citing the need to "prioritize the health and safety of...

CBA: Concern about grocery shortages eases as more Americans feel their pantries are well-stocked

30-Mar-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Americans’ fears about accessing essential products, including food and beverages, during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic may be ebbing slightly, even as their concern about the virus generally continues to rise, according to new data from the Consumer...

Consumers pick up back to basics cooking skills and 'stress baking' during coronavirus quarantine

25-Mar-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Consumers are getting back to basics with their online grocery shopping as they use their extended periods of time at home to learn basic cooking skills and recipes such as how to bake a potato, make homemade bread, and how to cook rice, according to...

PepsiCo hires 6,000 employees, provides additional compensation to workers on frontline of pandemic

23-Mar-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

PepsiCo is hiring 6,000 new, full-time employees over the next month and is providing additional compensation to the more than 90,000 frontline employees – those who “make, move, and sell” PepsiCo products – at both PepsiCo Beverages North America and...

Retail Insights

Unlocking category growth: ‘Lead with the shopper in mind,’ says Hershey VP

05-Mar-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

The role of category managers is evolving from a game of dominoes to chess, optimizing the retail experience to anticipate the next step in shopper behavior, said David Nolen, VP, category management at Hershey.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Consumer Brands Association uncovers what keeps CPG leaders up at night

21-Feb-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

The consumer packaged goods industry may be composed of diverse companies offering disparate products ranging from toothpaste to pet food to canned soup, but a recent survey conducted by the Consumer Brands Association reveals 86% of CPG leaders place...

Bokksu poised for exponential growth as consumer demand for snacks, Japanese culture booms

20-Feb-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

After growing steadily for the past four years, despite “living month to month” due to restrictions related to bootstrapping a business, the Japanese snack subscription service and ecommerce platform Bokksu is ready to go to the next level with a seven-figure...

NEWS IN BRIEF

General Mills appoints former 7-Eleven CTO as chief digital & technology officer

17-Feb-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

General Mills has appointed Jaime Montemayor as its new chief digital & technology officer reporting to chairman and CEO, Jeff Harmening, effective Feb. 24, 2020.

KIND steps into frozen, refrigerated, and new snacking categories

10-Feb-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Best known for its nut-based snack bars, KIND Healthy Snacks has made its biggest portfolio expansion yet – launching frozen bars, snacking bark, chilled nut protein butters, and grain-free snack clusters.

Does social media influence the way we eat? One study says yes

07-Feb-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Social media users are likely to eat more fruit and vegetables as well as junk food if they think their online peers are doing the same, a new study reports.

Mighty Gum’s vitamin-infused chewing gum “is designed to help you feel as fresh as your breath”

06-Feb-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

For many Americans, chewing gum is a way to avoid bad breath, yellow teeth, or unhealthy cravings, but the founder of the Seattle-based startup Mighty Gum believes the format can do more than simply mask symptoms – it can offer a holistic solution to...

FDA, FTC and healthcare professionals should discourage toddler milk consumption, research suggests

04-Feb-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Researchers with the UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity are calling on US regulators to severely restrict advertising for toddler milks and strengthen labeling requirements for the products after long-term market analysis revealed a significant...

Premier Protein taps ‘super fans’ to position the brand as more approachable than competitors

27-Jan-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

After Post Holdings successfully spun off its fast-growing Active Nutrition segment late last year, the newly named BellRing Brands is ready to “significantly invest” in its iconic Premier Protein line with the launch of a 360-degree marketing campaign.

Atkins Nutritionals & Rob Lowe tackle misinformation about the low-carb diet in new campaign

15-Jan-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Recognizing that there is a lot of information – and misinformation – about different diets, weight management brand Atkins Nutritionals is launching a new multi-marketing campaign with spokesman Rob Lowe that aims to set the record straight about what...

Honeycut Kitchen puts a healthier spin on the nostalgic snack cake

13-Jan-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Honeycut Kitchen, an emerging brand out of Los Angeles, is giving fitness enthusiasts an alternative to the monotony of protein bars with a lineup of snack cakes reminiscent of America's best-selling brands, but with a cleaner ingredients deck and...

NEWS IN BRIEF

Kraft Heinz appoints new leader for its US business

08-Jan-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Campbell Soup executive Carlos Abrams-Rivera will join the senior leadership team at Kraft Heinz as the new U.S. Zone President, leading all US business operations, the company’s largest business, effective February 3.

Investing in the Future of Food: Lily’s CEO shares strategies to ‘run your own race’

08-Jan-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

As more entrepreneurs adopt an iterative, fail-fast approach to innovation it is increasingly tempting to compare businesses and products as a way to measure success, but according to Jane Miller, the CEO of Lily’s Sweets, a better strategy to remain...

Bored of chocolate? Eat coffee instead, says The Whole Coffee Co: 'We're creating a completely new food category'

06-Jan-2020 By Elaine Watson

Until the 19th century, chocolate (cocoa) was something you drank, not ate, notes David Burke. “And then we figured out how to turn it into a food. Now we’re on the cusp of exactly the same thing with coffee.”

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: How breaking school lunch free from ‘trap of cheapness’ can bolster business

06-Dec-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

The National School Lunch Program serves approximately 4.9 billion meals a year to children nationwide, and for many recipients it is their only source of nutrition, and yet, according to a new book by Jennifer Gaddis, the program is chronically underfunded...