Flavors and colors

Sweets & Snacks Expo 2021

Hershey reveals product innovation and growth strategies for the ‘new normal’ at Sweets & Snacks Expo

24-Jun-2021 By Anthony Myers

The premier trade show for the candy and snack categories is back after a 12-month break and offers visitors to the Indiana Convention Center the opportunity to discover new confectionery and snack products, actionable insights and unparalleled access...

Unilever global ice cream leader talks plant-based formulation: First get the protein right…

24-Jun-2021 By Elaine Watson

Unilever experienced an “explosion” in the growth of non-dairy ice cream when it introduced products through mainstream brands such as Ben & Jerry's and Magnum, according to global ice cream EVP Matt Close. But getting plant-based proteins to...

‘Our goal is to make cultured meat affordable for everyone…’ Future Meat Technologies opens facility, gears up for 2022 launch

23-Jun-2021 By Elaine Watson

Israeli startup Future Meat Technologies has opened what it claims is the first ‘industrial’ cell-cultured meat facility, capable of producing 500 kilos of meat a day (the equivalent of around 5,000 hamburgers), as it gears up for a US launch next year,...

Consumer preference for fruity, tropical flavors edges out emerging herbal, floral & spiced options

22-Jun-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

Sales of non-alcoholic beverages last year rose across categories, including segments that were stubbornly flat pre-pandemic, as consumers looked for ways to recreate at home beverage rituals they once enjoyed while dining out or on-the-go, according...

Kerry: Consumers perceive botanical flavors as offering emotional as well as physical health benefits

17-Jun-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

While manufacturers and consumers have leaned heavily on the immune health supporting, anti-inflammatory and other perceived physical benefits of botanicals during the pandemic, new research from the taste and nutrition company Kerry shows that botanicals...

Motif FoodWorks raises $226m in Series B, gears up for launch of ingredient to transform flavor and performance of plant-based meat

16-Jun-2021 By Elaine Watson

Motif FoodWorks – a Boston-based startup focused on high-impact ingredients that can be added to plant- based meat and dairy formulations in small quantities but make a significant difference to the eating experience – has raised $226m in Series B* funding,...

Animal-free dairy co Change Foods closes $2.1m seed round, gears up for 2023 launch

16-Jun-2021 By Elaine Watson

San Francisco-based Change Foods – one of a new breed of startups making 'animal-free' dairy ingredients using microbes instead of cows – has closed an oversubscribed $2.1m seed funding round,* and plans to launch its first consumer products...

Should processed meat be added to Prop 65 list? Court orders state of California to answer petition

09-Jun-2021 By Elaine Watson

The Superior Court of California has ordered the state of California to answer a petition brought by a nonprofit calling for it to add processed meat to the Proposition 65 list of substances known to cause cancer or reproductive harm.

'Delightful yet peculiar': $2m seed funding is positive affirmation for Aura Bora's unique spot in sparkling water set

08-Jun-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Craft sparkling water brand Aura Bora has raised $2m in a seed round to support the company's latest chapter of growth, which includes expansion into 7-Eleven, Sprouts, Whole Foods Pacific Northwest, and Fresh Thyme, as well as its new online subscription...

Cell-cultured seafood pioneer Finless Foods gears up to launch its first product… plant-based tuna

08-Jun-2021 By Elaine Watson

Finless Foods – a pioneer in the nascent cell-cultured seafood space – is gearing up to launch its first product: plant-based tuna.

Grounded Foods adds novel twist to plant-based cheese category: ‘We’re not vegans ourselves, and we’re not willing to compromise at all when it comes to cheese’

06-Jun-2021 By Elaine Watson

Plant-based milk has captured 15% of the US fluid milk market. Plant-based cheese - which has been around for just as long - has captured less than 2%* of the market, because it's much more technically challenging to formulate, and consumers are...

Nowadays plant-based nuggets boast ‘unparalleled' nutritional profile: 'We don’t just need to remove animals, we need to create better products'

03-Jun-2021 By Elaine Watson

The plant-based meat category is not short of starry-eyed founders armed with me-too products and a lofty mission to fix the broken food system (spoiler alert, they probably won’t). But there is still room for new players with a genuine point of difference...

Virtual Natural Products Expo West

Functional beverage sales rise, but not all ingredients, benefits gain equally as consumer interest shifts

03-Jun-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

Sales of functional beverages are bouncing back after slowing early in the pandemic when fewer people bought on-the-go products, reflecting increased consumer mobility, rising interest in food as medicine and innovation that resonates with health-focused...

Scientists hail long-awaited discovery of naturally derived cyan blue colourant

02-Jun-2021 By Oliver Morrison

After nearly two decades of research an international team claims to have found a naturally derived cyan blue colour extracted from red cabbage that could replace synthetic blue dye often used in the food industry.

Doozy Pots hemp and oat gelato drives next generation of plant-based frozen desserts

28-May-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Doozy Pots – a plant-based gelato made from organic hemp and oat ingredients and the brainchild of a former Ben & Jerry's product developer – is injecting some differentiation and innovation into the plant-based ice cream and frozen desserts...

Hint CEO Kara Goldin on managing ‘crazy growth,’ CPG suitors, and SPACs: ‘I think it's kind of buyer beware…’

27-May-2021 By Elaine Watson

After 16 years of blood, sweat and tears building a consumer brand, Hint Inc founder Kara Goldin has been through some ups and downs, and 2020 offered up both in equal measure. But while many beverage brands struggled to adapt in a rollercoaster year,...

Oatly goes public, opens Utah factory: ‘We are going to prioritize growth over profit,’ says CEO

20-May-2021 By Elaine Watson

Oatly – which made its debut as a public company today (Nasdaq ticker: 'OTLY') after an IPO that raised $1.4bn – has started producing its first products from its new plant in Ogden, Utah, this month, opening up new capacity to meet surging...

Plant-based innovation: Terviva raises $54m, collaborates with Danone on foods using oils, proteins, from Pongamia trees

20-May-2021 By Elaine Watson

Terviva – a California-based firm commercializing ingredients from low-input, high-yielding Pongamia trees – has raised $54m in equity capital,* with an additional $24m in equity and debt capital to follow this quarter, and announced a collaboration with...

No sugar added: Hershey signals commitment to low sugar confectionery with acquisition of Lily’s

18-May-2021 By Elaine Watson

Hershey - which recently outlined a strategy to expand its reduced sugar offerings via in-house R&D, acquisitions, and licensing or partnership deals - has struck a deal to acquire fast-growing ‘no sugar added’ chocolate brand Lily's Sweets for...

Gatorade introduces Gatorlyte designed for elite athletes and weekend warriors

14-May-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

PepsiCo's Gatorade is rolling out its newest brand, Gatorlyte, featuring a five-electrolyte blend to promote "rapid rehydration" and give athletes another option to fuel their workout, said Gatorade's head of brand strategy, Carolyn...

Food colors: How will EFSA’s decision on titanium dioxide safety impact the US market?

13-May-2021 By Elaine Watson

On May 6, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued a scientific opinion concluding that titanium dioxide (E171), a whitening pigment used to color everything from gum to sauces, “can no longer be considered safe as a food additive.” So what does...

Eat Beyond invests in hemp and adaptogen-infused sparkling water brand Daydream

13-May-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Eat Beyond Global Holdings, which has acquired a slew of alternative protein food brands in the past year, has made an investment in Daydream Drinks, a hemp and adaptogen-infused sparkling water brand based in Canada.

Both sides claim victory in latest installment of bitter legal dispute between Beyond Meat and former co-manufacturer Don Lee Farms

11-May-2021 By Elaine Watson

Both sides have claimed victory in the latest installment of an increasingly acrimonious legal dispute* between Beyond Meat and its former co-manufacturer Don Lee Farms triggered by the early termination of an exclusive five-year supply agreement the...

'Millennials think about frozen as fresh...' Baby & toddler food brand Raised Real launches in frozen food aisle at Super Target nationwide

11-May-2021 By Elaine Watson

Baby and toddler food brand Raised Real – which has built a loyal following with its direct-to-consumer subscription business – is making its first move into bricks & mortar retail via a deal with Target, which is stocking six SKUs in its freezer...

DSM teams up with Debut Biotech on next generation ‘cell-free’ biomanufacturing

06-May-2021 By Elaine Watson

Ingredients giant DSM has teamed up with San Diego-based startup Debut Biotech to explore the potential of its ‘cell-free’ biomanufacturing platform, a next-generation manufacturing process it claims could unlock new opportunities to biosynthesize a far...

Impossible Foods targets K-12 foodservice market after securing USDA Child Nutrition Label for its plant-based meat

06-May-2021 By Elaine Watson

Impossible Foods is heading into K-12 schools across the US this month via pilot programs in California, Washington, and Oklahoma ahead of a wider K-12 market entry in the fall, after securing a Child Nutrition Label for its burgers from the USDA's...

Pots & Co accelerates US expansion plans with General Mills 301 INC backing: ‘We’re on a mission to rescue people from bland, uninspiring food’

30-Apr-2021 By Elaine Watson

“There's no way we could have launched 10 years ago in America,” observes Julian Dyer, stockbroker-turned chef, turned-founder of London-based Pots & Co, which is looking to make a splash this side of the Atlantic with his upmarket desserts.

The days of relying on historical use of herbals are over – consumers demand scientific proof of benefits

29-Apr-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

Relying on historical usage of botanicals to help sell functional foods and beverages is no longer enough as consumers become increasingly sophisticated in how they approach and vet products to help boost their immunity, provide stress relief and reinforce...

Beyond Meat unveils the Beyond Burger 3.0 with likeability scoring ‘on-par with 80/20 ground beef burgers’

27-Apr-2021 By Elaine Watson

The next iteration of the Beyond Burger - featuring 35% less saturated fat and 75% more iron than 80/20 beef burgers, a comparable level of B vitamins, and a meatier flavor – will hit grocery stores next week and restaurants in June, with a leaner version...

McCormick highlights trending flavors from underwater plants to mind-body eating

22-Apr-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

In its 2021 Flavor Forecast, global flavors company McCormick identified four pandemic-influenced flavors ranging from nutritious to indulgent that it believes will grow in awareness and popularity in the year to come.

‘In a tumultuous 2020, one thing stayed the same…’ Record number of class action suits filed vs food and beverage brands, says Perkins Coie

20-Apr-2021 By Elaine Watson

Despite the interruption in civil litigation prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, “more new class action lawsuits were filed against the food and beverage industry—220* cases [+23% vs 2019]—than in any other year of the past decade,” according to an analysis...

New DRY Botanical Bitters & Soda line helps DRY Soda Co. return to zero-proof lifestyle mission

20-Apr-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

With the upcoming launch of a line of DRY Botanical Bitters & Soda, the Dry Soda Co. returns to its roots as a zero-proof lifestyle pioneer at a time when the sober-curious and reduced-sugar movements are gaining momentum and consumers increasingly...

Flavored water false ad lawsuit vs Whole Foods strains credulity, say attorneys: ‘We assumed it was a poorly executed April Fool’s prank’

19-Apr-2021 By Elaine Watson

Spencer Sheehan – a prolific plaintiff’s attorney in food litigation circles most recently making waves with a flurry of lawsuits over vanilla labeling – has turned his attention to flavored water, with a proposed class action alleging Whole Foods Market...

PepsiCo Q1 sales clear last year’s pandemic-inspired surge with innovations in snacks, energy drinks

15-Apr-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

PepsiCo sales during the first three months of the year sailed passed the high bar set last year when the pandemic inspired pantry loading, despite challenges during the quarter, including temporary business disruptions due to the severe winter storms...

Tofurky CEO on double-digit growth, fighting state labeling laws, and fat in plant-based meat: ‘There’s a juiciness problem…’

09-Apr-2021 By Elaine Watson

With VC-backed food tech startups deploying molecular biologists and astrophysicists now competing for shelf space in the red-hot meat and dairy alternatives market with equally deep-pocketed multinational meat and CPG companies, where do independent...

Should FDA require front of pack disclosures for sweeteners, juice content on children’s beverages?

08-Apr-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

Public health advocates are calling on FDA to require all children’s beverages to clearly label on the front of pack the amount of added sugar, non-nutritive sweeteners and juice in each product after research published today in Pediatric Obesity revealed...

British invasion: Michelin-starred chef enters CBD-infused beverage space with elevated flavor profiles

02-Apr-2021 By Elaine Watson

The CBD beverages space is not for the faint-hearted given the regulatory minefield brands have to navigate, but Isca is hoping to bring a more culinary twist to the nascent category with the assistance of British Michelin-starred Chef Michael Caines.

Balance consumer demand for innovation & authenticity by providing cultural context for new offerings

02-Apr-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

As concerns about cultural appropriation and misrepresentation bubble up alongside the push for social equity, food and beverage industry stakeholders are delicately navigating consumers’ sometimes-conflicting demands for authenticity and innovation.

Sodium reduction: When it comes to salt perception, size matters, says MicroSalt

01-Apr-2021 By Elaine Watson

It’s well-known that the smaller the salt crystals, the saltier they taste, which means less is more, an enticing proposition for snack makers looking to reduce sodium. However, simply finely grinding table salt and sprinkling it on potato chips won’t...

Plant-based dairy in focus: 'Cheese is the most technically challenging space in dairy alternatives...'

30-Mar-2021 By Elaine Watson

US retail sales of plant-based milk surged 21.9% to $2.542bn in measured channels in the year to Jan. 24, 2021, while sales of plant-based cheese and yogurt (far smaller categories) were up 43.6% to $233.9m and 16.4% to $346.2m respectively in the year...

Givaudan crowdsources preference for ‘flavour first’ products with Aroma Kiosk

29-Mar-2021 By Flora Southey

The Swiss flavours and fragrances company is launching a digital sensory tool to help crowdsource preference for ‘flavour first’ products, whereby the aroma from flavour helps to drive purchasing decision, Rahul Siva, research investigator, Taste &...

PepsiCo relaunches EVOLVE plant-based protein brand with new formulations, packaging

24-Mar-2021 By Elaine Watson

Two years after acquiring it as part of its $465m deal to buy CytoSport, PepsiCo has embarked on a refresh of plant-based protein brand EVOLVE with new packaging and formulations to help it stand out in a category “experiencing broader acceptance.”

Next gen cell-free biomanufacturing could unlock opportunities to biosynthesize far wider set of natural ingredients, claims startup

23-Mar-2021 By Elaine Watson

Armies of microscopic single-celled microbial food factories (yeast, bacteria, fungi, algae) are now routinely deployed to produce high-value food ingredients more efficiently than plants or animals. But next-generation ‘cell-free’ biomanufacturing processes...

Functional Beverages Webinar Available On Demand Now

Rising demand for functional benefits will help beverage segment hit hard by pandemic to recover

19-Mar-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

Shifting shopping habits and channel preferences due to the pandemic hit the non-alcoholic beverage industry hard last year, leading to an overall decline in volume and value, but rising consumer interest in functional options could be a key driver in...

PepsiCo launches Keto-friendly almond flour tortilla chips to counteract ‘noshtalgia’

19-Mar-2021 By Gill Hyslop

Hilo Life is extending its Keto-friendly offering with tortilla chips made from defatted almond flour.

Go big or go home… Flow Water gears up for going-public transaction

18-Mar-2021 By Elaine Watson

Flow Water founder Nicholas Reichenbach launched with some pretty lofty ambitions (cue comparisons to Fiji, Evian, building the ‘Tesla of water’ and becoming an ‘iconic’ brand). But if you’re going to get into a business as capital intensive as bottled...

Register now: Free webinar Wednesday explores the future of the functional beverage market

15-Mar-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

Sales of functional beverages are rebounding and have a bright future despite the pandemic shutting down for most of 2020 in-person impulse purchases and food service sales which previously drove the category’s fast growth, according to market research...

'The sparkling water category is still in its infancy,' says Nixie Sparkling Water founder

09-Mar-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

The sparkling water category may seem crowded with products made by CPG giants and offerings from smaller, independently-owned brands, but the reality is that sparkling water is still just a small piece of the overall carbonated beverage category, says...

Target launches premium, indulgent Favorite Day private label line

09-Mar-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

In early April, Target Corp. will introduce Favorite Day, its latest private label food line focused on affordable, sweet and savory indulgence.

FARE hails Senate vote on adding sesame to ‘big 8’ allergen list, accelerating process it claims might otherwise take ‘years’

09-Mar-2021 By Elaine Watson

Under a bill just passed in the US Senate, sesame would become the 9th food subject to mandatory allergen labeling in the US from January 1, 2023, accelerating a process already set in motion by the FDA that food allergy advocacy groups claim would have...