Dairy-based ingredients

US: Whole and lactose-free milk sales grow as plant-based alternatives dip

21-Jan-2024 By Teodora Lyubomirova

While the annual fluid milk consumption continues to decline, some categories have bucked the trend with growing retail sales in 2023, according to newly-released data.

Grocery stores lose sales share to value-focused retailers as consumers continue to seek deals

19-Jan-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

Traditional grocery stores lost sales across categories to value-focused retailers in 2023 as most consumers sought deals to offset higher prices even as inflation steadily slowed over the year and many acclimated to prices and felt better about their...

Egglife Foods launches exclusive variety pack for Sam’s Club, expands club channel presence

17-Jan-2024 By Deniz Ataman

Egglife launched exclusively at Sam's Club a two-flavor variety pack that feature its original and sweet cinnamon wraps -- a strategy that allows the brand to expand in the club channel and “drive trial with new consumers at Sam’s Club locations...

News in brief

Imagindairy receives GRAS nod from FDA, acquires industrial-scale precision fermentation lines

17-Jan-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

Israeli-based food-tech startup Imagindairy expects products made with its animal-free dairy protein to launch in the US within the year after it says it received from FDA a letter of no objection for the ingredient’s GRAS status and the subsequent acquisition...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: From women’s health to guajillo peppers, Tastewise reveals food trends to watch in 2024

15-Jan-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

Once considered taboo and woefully underfunded in terms of research and product development, women’s health will continue to emerge as a major growth opportunity for food and beverage brands in 2024 as hormonal health and menopause rise to the top of...

Kabrita USA latest to launch goat-milk infant formula, leans on science to educate parents on health benefits

12-Jan-2024 By Ryan Daily

Kabrita USA launches a goat-milk infant formula following a lengthy process to determine its whey protein concentrate and non-fat dry goat milk as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for infants, the brand’s director of medical and scientific affairs...

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...

Egg prices jump as avian flu spreads, pushing up overall food prices, CPI reveals

11-Jan-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

The Consumer Price Index released today shows the price of eggs is climbing again as producers scramble to contain a highly contagious outbreak of avian flu that the US Department of Agriculture estimates has infected more than 50 flocks in the last 30...

Planet Oat releases ‘milkiest’ product yet with Barista Lovers, oat milk starts 'treading water'

10-Jan-2024 By Ryan Daily

Planet Oat is responding to consumer demands for multi-purpose products with the release of its non-dairy Barista Lovers products, as the company focuses on innovation to spur growth in the stalled plant-based market, brand’s senior VP of marketing, Chris...

Precision versus personalization: AHARA explores a “new frontier” in nutrition

10-Jan-2024 By Deniz Ataman

With the rising popularity of personalized nutrition plans, AHARA’s app takes personalization one step further through precision nutrition, a combination of machine-learning, evidence-based nutrition science and an international advisory board to verify...

Danone, JM Smucker divestments & Cal-Maine acquisition reflect push to reshape, rebuild portfolios as industry stocks struggle

03-Jan-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

A trio of acquisitions and divestments in the packaged food industry at the turn of the new year suggest companies are taking a proactive and aggressive approach to rebuilding their businesses by reshaping their portfolios after industry stocks overall...

FDA downplays impact on US infant formula supply in light of Reckitt/Mead Johnson recall

03-Jan-2024 By Teodora Lyubomirova

The manufacturer recalled more than 670,000 cans of Nutramigen infant formula after a finished product sampled outside the US tested positive for Cronobacter.

Anyone for cheese? Wisconsin Cheese reveals top five trends for 2024

21-Dec-2023 By Teodora Lyubomirova

From flavor innovation to mindful indulgence, Wisconsin Cheese pin-points the top five trends most likely to rule consumer decisions in 2024.

ADM acquires Revela Foods, expands dairy flavor capabilities

20-Dec-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Revela's dairy flavor ingredients and solutions will add new capabilities to Archer-Daniels-Midland's existing global dairy and savory flavors portfolio. With Revela’s projected sales of almost $240m in 2023, the acquisition will strengthen...

Cottage cheese has a moment in dairy, prepared items heat up deli category, Circana data shows

18-Dec-2023 By Ryan Daily

The dairy market lifted slightly in units in November thanks to cottage cheeses growth, as deli slumped slightly in units and dollars month-over-mont but had gains from prepared items like pizza, Anne-Marie Roerink, president of 210 Analytics, shared...

Chobani re-enters coffee category with $900m acquisition of La Colombe

18-Dec-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Greek yogurt behemoth Chobani is taking another shot at the coffee category as part of broader, yet hit-and-miss strategy to diversify beyond yogurt, with the acquisition of La Colombe for $900m, announced Friday.

Congress passes Whole Milk Act but sparks inequality fears

18-Dec-2023 By Teodora Lyubomirova

The House of Representatives passed a bill that could reinstate whole and reduced fat milk on school menus – but lobby groups say the change would spark racial inequalities.

AHARA partners with Instacart to streamline shopping for personalized nutrition

15-Dec-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Precision nutrition and food-tech platform AHARA's integration with Instacart allows users to easily add nutritionist-recommended items to their grocery lists on the food delivery platform.

‘Strikingly low’: FAO condemns ‘diminishing’ funding for agrifood systems amid slow climate change progress

12-Dec-2023 By Teodora Lyubomirova

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has warned that funding to support climate-smart agrifood systems is ‘strikingly low’ and has plummeted in the past year despite the growing urgency to stave off climate change.

Will whole milk return to US schools? Congress set to vote on bill that enjoys 'strong bipartisan support'

11-Dec-2023 By Teodora Lyubomirova

Congress is expected to debate and vote on a bill that could bring whole milk back on school menus, in contravention with Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The bill has bipartisan support of 134 co-sponsors in the House, according to the International...

Daiya Foods embraces dairy-like culturing methods as it unleashes reformulated plant-based cheese

11-Dec-2023 By Teodora Lyubomirova

The company tells us more about its reformulation process and the key to achieving ‘smooth, creamy texture and dairy-like melt’.

Infants fed on novel milk formula have BMI, blood pressure similar to breastfed infants – Danone-funded five-year study

11-Dec-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Infants who were fed on a novel milk formula containing large milk phospholipids coated droplets in the first four months of life were found to have a body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure that were similar to breastfed infants, according to a five-year...

Changing menus, focus on sustainable production: COP28 focuses more on food

30-Nov-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

The food and beverage industry is inherently linked to the climate crisis, responsible for at least a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions. The COP28 summit, held this year in Dubai, UAE, focuses more significantly on food than in previous years.

Vivici partners with Ginkgo Bioworks to create new range of animal-free dairy proteins with precision fermentation

29-Nov-2023 By Ryan Daily

Food ingredient company Vivici has partnered with Ginkgo Bioworks to develop a range of new alternative dairy proteins created through precision fermentation, as biotechnology can help create a more sustainable dairy market, Dena Strehlow, senior director...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Snacking increases but innovation needed for long-term growth

29-Nov-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Snacking in the US continues to climb, according to data from Circana, despite predictions that a surge in the frequency and sales of snacks during the pandemic was unsustainable and would revert to pre-COVID levels as consumers returned to in-person...

FDA publishes SME-friendly compliance guide on new yogurt standard

28-Nov-2023 By Teodora Lyubomirova

As the implementation date nears, the FDA has released an easy-to-digest guide to help small businesses prepare for the new requirements for yogurt – from information about additives to labeling rules and beyond.

Scientists find nutrient in meat and dairy that helps fight cancer

28-Nov-2023 By Flora Southey

Fresh research reveals a fatty acid in meat and dairy products improves the ability of immune cells to fight tumours.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Winners of Real California Milk Excelerator Open Innovation competition shines light on dairy’s growth potential

27-Nov-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Nearly 150 dairy industry stakeholders, including producers, entrepreneurs and investors, gathered at a winery in idyllic Livermore, Cali., earlier this month to celebrate the winners of the 5th Real California Milk Excelerator competition, which scoured...

Heali’s food-as-medicine platform to improve nutrition, food access for consumers, businesses

21-Nov-2023 By Deniz Ataman

With $3M in seed funding from Astanor Ventures, Heali plans to expand its personalized nutrition services for consumers and patients with chronic illnesses through its database of evidence-based nutrition research, while developing a larger presence with...

‘Our goal is to see a bigger shift across our industry’: Unilever bids to solve ice cream's last-mile problem by sharing reformulation patents

13-Nov-2023 By Teodora Lyubomirova

The CPG giant is sharing 12 reformulation patents with the wider ice cream manufacturing industry as it looks to lead the way in reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions from the last mile of the supply chain.

Futureproofing the Food System

Watch this week: FoodNavigator-USA’s digital summit explores trends in food-tech, food as medicine and the circular economy

13-Nov-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

This week, join FoodNavigator-USA and stakeholders across the supply chain, including Eat Just, The Hartman Group, Oishii, NotCo, Instacart, NIQ, Consumer Brands Association, FMI – The Food Industry Association, Cargill and more for our three-day Futureproofing...

Consumers expect to pay more for holiday meals, continue seeking convenience from grocery retailers

10-Nov-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Thanksgiving retail is expected to see a more judicious consumer who expects to pay more this year and will seek more deals while retailers can expand food service departments with semi and fully-prepared meals to complement the majority of consumers...

Danone, Keurig Dr Pepper tell FDA that sugar reduction requires a different playbook from sodium reduction

09-Nov-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Research showing consumer preferences for sweetness intensity may not be as easy to reduce as their preferences for sodium suggests a “stealth health” approach of slowly lowering added sugar across the food supply may not be an effective strategy for...

US butterfat is experiencing a resurgence – and trade opportunities await

09-Nov-2023 By Teodora Lyubomirova

CoBank lead economist for dairy Corey Geiger believes the ‘butterfat boom’ is set to provide exciting opportunities for dairy producers and consumers alike.

Food remains an issue of concern globally as food insecurity persists, suggests survey

03-Nov-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Food insecurity persists as a major problem around the world. A survey conducted by Stack Data Strategy on behalf of campaign Hungry for Action shows that concerns about the ‘supply and price of food’ consistently remains a priority among the population...

Kraft-Heinz focuses on building value through packaging, external partnerships

03-Nov-2023 By Deniz Ataman

In the wake of Kraft-Heinz's earning results, the company reported a 3.5 percentage point increase in its stocks with double digit growth in emerging markets. Carlos Abrams-Rivera, incoming CEO, Kraft-Heinz, discussed during CNBC’s Evolve Global...

Futureproofing the Food System

Exploring how consumers define ‘healthy’ through dietary patterns

02-Nov-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Consumers’ relationship with food continues to evolve through diets that target more specific needs while simultaneously shifting how they define healthy, according to results from the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Food and Health survey.

Nestlé launches probiotic and HMO blend to mirror breastmilk changes

27-Oct-2023 By Nikki Hancocks

Nestlé has launched a new proprietary blend for infant nutrition combining a probiotic strain with varying levels of six human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) to support the developing infant through its life stages.

MyFoodPlanit's all-in-one meal planning addresses nutrition customization

24-Oct-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Driven by a growing number of consumers addressing their specific and changing nutrition concerns, MyFoodPlanit launched its all-in-one meal planning and nutrition tracking platform earlier this month, Ryan Chapman, CEO and founder, told FoodNavigator-USA...

Limited window to apply for CDE branding grant

24-Oct-2023 By Teodora Lyubomirova

Value-added dairy businesses can still apply for a Center for Dairy Excellence (CDE) grant of up to $5,000.

Alaska Airlines partners with Stumptown Coffee for in-flight service and select airport lounges

20-Oct-2023 By Deniz Ataman

The recent partnership between Alaska Airlines and Stumptown Coffee features a custom coffee blend brewed specifically for high altitudes and highlights the airlines’ collaboration with West Coast-based food and beverage brands.

National Association for Convenience Stores

Blending convenience, novelty and flavors at NACS’ Cool New Products snack showcase

18-Oct-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Never-before-seen alternative snacks, energy drinks and frozen packaged snacks dubuted at the National Association for Convenience Stores’ Cool New Products expo Oct. 3-6 in Atlanta, Ga.

SupplySide West 2023: Arla to show new ways to incorporate whey in sports nutrition products

12-Oct-2023 By Teodora Lyubomirova

At the Las Vegas-based trade event, the company will demonstrate how its whey protein solutions can be used to create clear protein shakes.

Willingness to pay more for fresh food could hinge on health, sustainability beneits

12-Oct-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Consumers are willing to pay a premium for fresh food to reap perceived health benefits, but rumblings from shoppers and retailers alike that suppliers have raised prices higher than necessary to offset inflation could portend a negative shift in elasticity...

Natural Products Expo East

Plant Based Foods Association launches consumer marketing initiative to fuel growth, address ‘considerable challenges’

05-Oct-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

The diversity, availability and sales of plant-based foods continue to grow, despite the high-profile struggles of meat alternatives, and as they do, the Plant Based Foods Association is preparing to lead stakeholders into the next phase of the industry’s...

Whipnotic whips up $2.5m in seed funding to fuel growth, adds two new flavors

03-Oct-2023 By Ryan Daily

Whipped cream brand Whipnotic has raised $2.5m in seed funding to grow its retail distribution as demand for better-for-you dairy products and indulgences increase, brand co-founder and CEO Lori Gitomer told FoodNavigator-USA.

Join us next week for FoodNavigator-USA's digital Futureproofing the Food System Nov. 14-16

03-Oct-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

To feed a global population of 10bn people by 2050 we need to produce more food in the next 40 years than we have in the past 8,000 years, but as illustrated by the Green Revolution simply increasing available calories isn’t the answer – they need to...

Natural Products Expo East

Cedar’s Foods takes dip beyond snacks with labne launch

28-Sep-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Sitting between Greek yogurt and soft cheese, labne (sometimes spelled labneh) has the potential to be the next big dip in the US – potentially rivaling long-time creamy favorites Ranch and French Onion but with a better-for-you positioning – but first,...

Drop in egg price drives down dollars sales in dairy for August 2023, Circana finds

27-Sep-2023 By Ryan Daily

Dollar growth declined and unit sales were flat in the dairy category in August, as prepared meals and entertaining products are bright spots in the deli counters, according to Circana data shared in a recent IDBBA webinar.

‘Pumpkin spice everywhere,’ NIQ’s Sherry Frey unpacks LTO trends for fall, winter

27-Sep-2023 By Ryan Daily

Consumers tapping into the autumn and winter festivities are turning to flavors like pumpkin, eggnog, and peppermint, while they look for more natural products and brush aside inflation to enjoy their favorite seasonal flavors, Sherry Frey, VP of Total...