Fruit, vegetable, nut ingredients

Costco sees uptick in store traffic and membership renewals as shoppers realize value of mass & club channel

26-Sep-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

With many consumers fixated on the price of their grocery bill amid ongoing inflation, mass and club channel retailers such as Costco are seeing increased foot traffic and higher shopper spending at its stores.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: ‘There hasn’t been a better time for small brands to help transform the CPG industry’

26-Sep-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

As consumers navigate rising inflation, out-of-stocks due to lingering supply chain and labor challenges and contemplate the potential impact of their purchases on the environment and workers, they are more willing to push aside old loyalties and try...

SPECIAL REPORT: Bioengineered food labeling: ‘They kind of shot in the middle and missed every constituency’

23-Sep-2022 By Elaine Watson

Advocates arguing for greater transparency about the use of GMOs in food scored a minor victory this month after a district court told USDA to re-work the digital disclosure portions of the bioengineered food labeling law, which came into effect in January....

Mondelēz International’s SnackFutures seeks 'disruptively delicious' snack brands

22-Sep-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Mondelēz SnackFutures is looking for its next class of disruptive snack brands to join its CoLab 2023 startup engagement program.

General Mills’ new digital rewards program, marketing drive sales, consumer loyalty

21-Sep-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

General Mills is gaining market share and driving higher sales despite ongoing supply chain challenges and price hikes thanks in part to strategic investments in brand building and digital consumer engagement, including through a new rewards program,...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: How can plant-based protein overcome sliding sales, better meet consumer demand?

19-Sep-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Plant-based meat alternatives continue their downward slide with sales, units and volume all dropping in July from a year ago – a trajectory that IRI data crunched by 210 Analytics shows was set in motion months ago, but which doesn't shake at least...

Kraft Heinz is ready to move beyond ‘good’ to ‘great,’ which ‘is a very different game’

16-Sep-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

After previous plans to boost Kraft Heinz’s profit margins and add value by aggressively cutting costs and practicing zero-based budgeting went awry and caused the company’s stock and consumer trust to plummet, Miguel Patricio was focused on the basics...

'Yellow pea is full of promise and potential': Equinom and AGT partner to commercialize ultra-high yellow pea protein

14-Sep-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Equinom has partnered with AGT Food and Ingredients Inc. to bring commercial quantities of its non-GMO ultra-high protein yellow pea protein ingredients to market and co-create a portfolio of functional plant-based ingredients.

Gotham Greens raises $310m in series E: ‘Our greenhouses are profitable… We’ve demonstrated we can be really efficient stewards of our investors’ capital’

13-Sep-2022 By Elaine Watson

New York-based indoor farming firm Gotham Greens has raised $310m in a series E round* bringing its cumulative funding to $440m since 2009. While the sums are pretty jaw-dropping, the hydroponics firm has demonstrated it can make money and deploy its...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Brazi Bites’ Latino Entrepreneur Accelerator Program offers helping hand during ‘tough times’

12-Sep-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Knowing entrepreneurs often dramatically underestimate the time it takes to validate their business models, are more likely to lose money or break even than make a profit and face abysmal failure rates, one successful founder is offering a helping hand...

General Mills, Orgain seek to ease nutrition concerns as kids return to schools where universal free meals may no longer be available

06-Sep-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

As children nationwide return to the classroom this week, many caregivers are worried about providing them nutritious food amid rising inflation and the expiration of pandemic-era waivers for universal free school meals – prompting General Mills, Orgain...

Conagra Brands (Gardein) talks alt meat: ‘There's no way the space supports 20 manufacturers making plant-based burger patties’

06-Sep-2022 By Elaine Watson

“12-18 months ago, refrigerated plant-based meat was growing at three times frozen and we were thinking should we try and jump into that?” recalls Bob Nolan, SVP demand science at Conagra Brands, which acquired alt meat brand Gardein in 2018 via the acquisition...

Campbell Soup Co. sees more consumers switch to private label in condensed soup and broths

03-Sep-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Campbell Soup Co. reported a 6% net sales increase to $2bn in Q4 2022 (three months ended July 31, 2022) vs. the prior year, while volumes declined (-4%) for the quarter, revealing consumers may be rethinking some of their name brand purchases in favor...

Shroom boom! Medicinal mushrooms in focus: ‘As COVID hit, people were stuck at home and started searching for immune health ingredients…’

31-Aug-2022 By Elaine Watson

From Reishi to Lion’s Mane, medicinal mushrooms are gaining traction in foods, beverages and supplements, buoyed by interest in ingredients that may support immunity, mood and cognition. FoodNavigator-USA caught up with California-based organic mushroom...

'We've only really just hit our stride,' Sacred Serve takes 'coconut meat' non-dairy gelato to Whole Foods stores nationwide

30-Aug-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Sacred Serve, a Chicago startup making non-dairy gelato using upcycled coconut meat as its star ingredient, is expanding to Whole Foods stores nationwide where it aims to set a new standard for the category.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Hot and cold coffee trends from upcycling to cold brew to energy drinks

29-Aug-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Every day Americans drink an estimated 517 million cups of coffee, according to the most recent consumer research from the National Coffee Association, which found that while nearly one in five savor a classic black cup with no adornments, the percentage...

Heyday Canning Co: Ex Clif Bar, Sweet Earth execs aim to disrupt ‘tired’ canned food category

29-Aug-2022 By Elaine Watson

Offering great value for money and some sustainability bona fides (low food waste/easy recycling), the canned food aisle has obvious attractions, especially if you're on a tight budget. But it’s not exactly the place you go to discover exciting new...

Hain Celestial CEO reflects on difficult fiscal year but points to stronger performance ahead

26-Aug-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Hain Celestial had a tough fiscal 2022 year but has a positive outlook on its North American business as supply chain disruptions abate and consumers remain loyal to the natural and organic segment.

WATCH: Square Roots CEO talks future of indoor vertical farming, 'The demand for local food is undeniable'

25-Aug-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Indoor vertical farming company Square Roots is rapidly scaling up its modular, smart-farms to address demand for locally-grown food.

Inflation disproportionately impacts lower-priced items, finds Euromonitor

23-Aug-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

While inflation has impacted the entire food and beverage industry, recent data from Euromonitor shows that in certain categories the price of lower-priced items has increased exponentially compared to more modest price increases on higher-priced premium...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Where will plant-based go next as it pushes past a sales dip in select segments?

22-Aug-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

While sales of refrigerated plant-based meat may be slowing, shares of some plant-based milk brands are slipping and consumer response to a handful of new products are tepid at best, industry leaders argue the party is far from over for the overall plant-based...

Target cuts overloaded inventory levels to refocus on high-growth categories

19-Aug-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Target has cut its inventory levels by 20% in the last two months in a conscious effort to streamline its business and set the company up for improved long-term growth, shared chairman and CEO Brian Cornell.

Lavva CEO and founder talk mainstream potential of plant-based yogurt: 'The growth is very analogous to Greek yogurt'

18-Aug-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Still a niche segment within the plant-based food category, plant-based yogurt is poised to become a much larger piece of the chilled dairy set as consumers find products that can closely mimic the taste and mouthfeel of its conventional dairy counterparts,...

Food as medicine continues to gain traction and inspire innovation post-pandemic

18-Aug-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

The acute health threat of COVID-19 may be ebbing for most Americans, but the desire it instilled in many to bolster their physical and mental wellbeing continues to push consumers to seek food as medicine, according to industry insiders.

SunOpta CEO: ‘We’re selling every drop of oatmilk we can make’

17-Aug-2022 By Elaine Watson

The “huge bet” SunOpta has placed on oatmilk through an aggressive series of investments in production capacity “has absolutely paid off,” says CEO Joe Ennen as the firm gears up to open a new aseptic production facility in Midlothian, Texas and expand...

Botanical yields fall as climate change affects harvests

17-Aug-2022 By Stephen Daniells

Extreme weather events from heat waves and droughts to ‘hundred-year storms’ happening every two years, the impact of climate change is obvious. And few industries are witnessing the impact as much as botanical supply chain.

Broccoli compound may boost cognitive function and mood in older adults: RCT

16-Aug-2022 By Stephen Daniells

Sulforaphane, a compound derived from broccoli, may boost processing speed and mood in healthy older adults, says a new study from Japan.

Phyll enters evolving smoothie category to help fill void as big-name brands exit, shift

16-Aug-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

At a time when pushback against sugar is spurring large CPG players to exit the ready-to-drink smoothie and juice market by off-loading well-known brands, two best friends see an opening for a new line of produce-packed beverages positioned as having...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Mintel shares areas ripe for innovation that balance post-pandemic and tighter financial needs

15-Aug-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

As Americans continue to adjust to post-pandemic life and mounting economic uncertainty, consumer research from Mintel shows that many believe there is no going ‘back to normal’ and as such are changing the way they think about, budget and shop for, and...

Why are food prices continuing to go up while inflation eases in other categories?

15-Aug-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Notoriously thin operating margins in the food supply chain will likely keep manufacturers and retailers from incrementally lowering prices even as input costs begin to come down – preferring instead to wait until the economic landscape stabilizes and...

Prices for key food commodities remain high even as overall wholesale costs dip

12-Aug-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

In another sign that inflation may be peaking, wholesale prices fell month-over-month for the first time in July since April 2020, but commodities remain significantly higher than last year, suggesting it may be well into next year before food manufacturers...

IFT FIRST

Plant-based pain points: Solutions for cleaner labels, improved moisture retention and a better bite

11-Aug-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

As consumers become more familiar with plant-based alternatives to animal products they are becoming more sophisticated in how they evaluate their options and less willing to compromise on nutrition, taste, texture and variety – pushing industry to find...

Food prices continue to climb, prompting some shoppers to rethink grocery budgets

11-Aug-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

While overall inflation in the US cooled slightly in July, giving hope to some economists that financial pressures may be peaking, food prices continue to climb at their fastest rate in more than 40 years – suggesting the economic recovery still has a...

Plant-based yogurt brand Lavva acquired by Next in Natural, appoints new CEO

10-Aug-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Plant-based yogurt brand, Lavva, has been acquired by Brooklyn-based venture firm Next in Natural and has appointed a new CEO, Jeff Lichtenstein, to help the brand keep up with consumer demand and produce additional innovation.

Rao's Homemade sauces 'well on track' to become a $1bn brand, says Sovos Brands CEO

08-Aug-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Well represented in key at-home eating categories of sauces (Rao's Homemade), yogurt (Noosa Yoghurt), and frozen entrees (Michael Angelo's and Rao's), Sovos Brands highlighted the performance of the company's largest brand Rao's...

Sustainability in focus at IFT First 2022: ‘We don’t want regenerative ag to become the next ‘natural’ because then it doesn’t mean anything’

07-Aug-2022 By Elaine Watson

Sustainability “is probably on slide two or three of every customer presentation now,” notes Ingredion, but how can consumers cut through the PR noise to make meaningful comparisons between brands? Checkout our final gallery of trends at IFT FIRST exploring...

Revol Greens to double indoor farming footprint: 'Indoor-grown lettuce will overtake field-grown'

04-Aug-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Revol Greens, the largest greenhouse lettuce grower in North America, is growing from 30 to nearly 50 acres of indoor farming space with the opening of a new facility in Texas and plans to double operations at its three other existing facilities to eventually...

Loss-making Oatly raises prices by double-digits in US, increases fill rates as new capacity comes online

03-Aug-2022 By Elaine Watson

Oatly posted a $72m net loss on net revenues up 21.8% to $178m in the second quarter of 2022, slightly under analysts’ expectations, with gross profit margins of 15.8%, a figure CEO Toni Petersson insisted would rise over time as the Malmö-based oatmilk...

IFT FIRST

Investors zero in on recession-resistant foods, strong track records as economy resets

02-Aug-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Despite the difficult economic reset underway in the capital markets and lingering supply chain challenges, rising inflation and the growing threat of a recession, investors are still interested in the food and beverage space, according to one investment...

There’s more than one way to make meat from mycelium, says MyForest CEO: ‘What we’re doing is far cheaper than building fermenters’

02-Aug-2022 By Elaine Watson

Fungi-fueled startup firm MyForest Foods (formerly Atlast Food Co) has started commissioning ‘Swersey Silos,’ a new production facility in Green Island, New York, which will start churning out meaningful quantities of mycelium-based meat by the end of...

Congress explores how Farm Bill could hasten CBD regulations, market development

02-Aug-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

On Capitol Hill last week, hemp industry stakeholders and Congressional leaders frustrated by FDA’s lack of regulations for CBD and other hemp-derived compounds since the 2018 Farm Bill authorized commercial production of the crop, explored how the 2023...

Amazon brick-and-mortar sales up double digits, 'We continue to improve the customer experience,' says CEO

01-Aug-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Net sales in Amazon's physical stores - Whole Foods Market, Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go - grew 12.5% year-on-year to $4.72bn in Q2 2022 and grew 2.8% vs Q1, 2022.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: What does ‘plant-based’ mean to consumers? FMI investigates

01-Aug-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

As consumer interest in ‘plant-based’ products has grown in recent years, so too have products proudly proclaiming their status as such – but what does the term actually mean, and how influential is it really?

Plant-based creamers on fire with oat and blends leading the pack

28-Jul-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Dollar sales of refrigerated liquid plant-based creams and creamers were up +25.8% year-on-year to $527.4m in measured US retail channels* in the year to July 10, 2022, while unit sales were up +16.1%, led by strong growth in blends and ‘other’ (which...

Plant-based milk for kids: Kiki Milk taps into unmet market need

28-Jul-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

When it comes to plant-based milks for kids, the options are few and far between, say Alex and Lauren Abelin, founders of Kiki Milk, which is made with organic oats, hemp seeds, sprouted pumpkin seeds, coconut, and other “whole food ingredients.”

Unilever trades market share for dollar sales growth to fund reinvestment in brands

27-Jul-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Unilever isn’t worried about losing market share or volume as it pushes through aggressive price hikes to offset inflation and build reserves that it can use to invest in advertising, R&D and capital expenditure for long-term gains, according to company...

Gavan’s zero waste continuous extraction platform: ‘No part of the plant is left out’

26-Jul-2022 By Katy Askew

Israeli start-up Gavan Technologies has developed a novel continuous extraction method that utilises the entire plant. FoodNavigator caught up with CEO Itai Cohen to learn more.

IFT First

Spoonshot: ‘The need for seafood alternatives has become absolutely vital’

26-Jul-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Two incompatible trends – increasing interest in seafood and climate change – are opening the door for the alternative seafood market, but for this emerging segment to reach its full potential, stakeholders must better align their go-to ingredients with...

Merit unveils 'grit-free' pea protein for RTD protein beverages

25-Jul-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Canada-based Merit Functional Foods says it has overcome one of the biggest hurdles facing plant-based protein in ready-to-drink protein beverages: sediment and grittiness.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Riff turns coffee’s ‘not so little dirty secret’ into energetic success

25-Jul-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Something is rotten in the coffee industry, and it is holding back the crop from reaching its full potential and contributing to the climate change that threatens future production of the popular beverage and the economic livelihoods of the farmers who...