Fruit, vegetable, nut ingredients

Plant-based chicken maker Next Gen Foods expands into non-dairy with Mwah! acquisition

06-Mar-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Up and coming plant-based chicken manufacturer Next Gen Foods is expanding into the non-dairy segment with today’s announced acquisition of Mwah! – a startup it says is leveraging a “cutting-edge methodology” to create “creamy and delicious dairy-inspired...

Soup-To-Nut Podcast: Regenerative organic certification helps Lundberg Family Farms tap into rising demand for sustainability, clarify difference from organic

06-Mar-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Organic rice grower Lundberg Family Farms is on a mission to certify all of its organic rice as regenerative organic by 2027 to better meet growing consumer demand for sustainable food and to “leave the land better.”

Dairy alternatives: General Mills shuts down Bold Cultr, Daiya to invest in fermentation

06-Mar-2023 By Teodora Lyubomirova

We round up some of the latest news in the dairy alternatives sector.

Register today for FoodNavigator-USA’s webinar Plant-Based Meat: Beyond The Honeymoon Period

02-Mar-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

As dollar and unit sales of frozen and refrigerated plant-based meat at retail continue to slide and grocers cut back on their selections of refrigerated meat alternatives, many stakeholders are wondering if the honeymoon period for the category has ended,...

Aloha, Terviva team to launch plant-based protein bar featuring much-anticipated, ‘ultra-sustainable’ Ponova oil

01-Mar-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Ahead of schedule and in partnership with like-minded plant-based protein brand Aloha, California-based Terviva’s much-anticipated, “ultra-sustainable” Ponova oil is debuting in its first commercially available food – a limited edition bar that celebrates...

Happy Viking superfood by Venus Williams packs plant-protein power

23-Feb-2023 By Asia Sherman

The story behind the creation of the Happy Viking superfood nutrition company starts with tennis champion Venus Williams.

FDA proposes plant-based products pair ‘milk’ descriptor with nutrient statement

22-Feb-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

FDA’s proposal that plant-based products can continue to be labeled as ‘milk’ but should also highlight how their nutritional value compares to their dairy counterparts has rankled stakeholders on both sides of the highly contested debate on what products...

Kraft Heinz reaches ‘inflection point’ in transformation with bold goal to capture $2b in sales with innovation in three years

22-Feb-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Kraft Heinz is entering the final stage of its transformation in which it plans to capture $2b in incremental net sales from innovation through 2027 after the company has systematically rebuilt itself following the dramatic fallout of an aggressive cost-cutting...

Upcycling food waste to grow ‘highly nutritious’ mycelium protein

21-Feb-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Israeli food tech start-up Mush Foods claims it is propelling the “meat-plus” movement to the mainstream of foodservice and food retail.

Animal and plant-based meat sales fall as consumer concerns about inflation mount

20-Feb-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Consumers pulled back on animal-based meat purchases in January after a slight uptick in sales and volume in December, likely related to holiday celebrations at home which for many Americans center around fresh meat, according to data from IRI crunched...

Consumers’ ‘taste experience’ falls short for plant-based meats, but there’s room for improvement

17-Feb-2023 By Lauren Nardella

Consumers are demanding that the taste of plant-based meat match or exceed the taste of animal meat, setting a high bar for plant-based meat manufacturers to reach - but those who succeed may have the best chance of capturing the valuable flexitarian...

Devil’s Foot Beverage Co. is ‘doing more good, less harm’ with its Full Fruit Life Program

16-Feb-2023 By Ryan Daily

Devil’s Foot Beverage Company has a simple philosophy: do more good and less harm -- and with its Full Fruit Life Program, the brand is doing just that by maximizing the use of its raw ingredients while providing a byproduct to local brands, company co-found...

Europe’s first gene-edited wheat trial produces up to 45% less acrylamide

14-Feb-2023 By Oliver Morrison

The results of Europe’s first ever field trial of a gene edited (GE) variety of wheat have shown a significant reduction of the potential carcinogen acrylamide when the flour is baked.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: What does plant-based protein need to cross the trough of despair?

13-Feb-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Alongside falling sales, volume and units, plant-based meat has slid into the trough of despair, also known as valley of disillusionment or sorrow, and while it is unclear if the category has hit bottom yet, many stakeholders already are looking for a...

OTA’s Farm Bill wish list focuses on creating responsive organic standards, reinforcing organic supply chains and enhancing conservation

13-Feb-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

The Organic Trade Association is calling for Congress in the next Farm Bill to further strengthen the supply chain and integrity of the organic program and support research and adoption of conservation and climate-smart programs, which it says will help...

Tofurky acquired by Morinaga Nutritional Foods in ‘an expected move’ for plant-based pioneer

11-Feb-2023 By Ryan Daily

Following in the footsteps of its competitors Field Roast and Lightlife, Tofurky announced its acquisition, along with its sister brand Moocho, by US-based tofu manufacturer Morinaga Nutritional Foods. This deal was “an expected move” for the third largest...

Kellogg saves plant-based business from auction block: “We are the best parent for MorningStar Farms’

10-Feb-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Kellogg will keep its iconic plant-based MorningStar Farms brand as part of its global snacking company rather than spin it off as a standalone business or sell it – backtracking on an idea floated by the CPG last summer when it revealed plans to split...

Hooray Foods’ plant-based bacon bucks declines in overall meat alternatives

09-Feb-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Against the grim backdrop of tumbling sales, units and volume for fresh and frozen alternative proteins, plant-based bacon is emerging as a bright spot – with sales inching up, thanks in part to innovative production techniques, like those championed...

The researchers brewing lipids to transform waste into food

07-Feb-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Researchers say they are using ancient technology to turn agricultural waste into fats. They say the approach could help the sustainable protein industry recreate the flavours of meat and has the potential to replace palm oil or other tropical oils.

“Beyond kelp”: USDA, Springtide Seaweed partner to tackle cultivation challenges and boost growth

07-Feb-2023 By Lauren Nardella

A new partnership between a small business funding and research arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Springtide Seaweed will help to address the challenges of broadening seaweed cultivation “beyond kelp” and into other seaweed varieties.

Ugly Co.'s $9m fundraise covers ‘gamble’ of expanding processing capacity to increase distribution of upcycled fruit

07-Feb-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Fourth generation farmer and founder of the upcycled dried fruit snack producer The Ugly Company’s gamble to buy and retrofit an old dehydrating facility against early investors’ advice and despite limited cash and notable debt is now paying off after...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Step One Foods directs consumers, healthcare professionals down food as medicine path

06-Feb-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Most Americans think about food in terms of servings, but Johns Hopkins-trained cardiologist Elizabeth Klodas talks about the snack bars, pancake mix, granola-like sprinkles and packets of oatmeal she offers under her brand Step One Foods’ in terms of...

Kerry’s 2023 Taste & Nutrition charts explore sriracha’s rise & guava, sesame, dulce de leche growth

01-Feb-2023 By Ryan Daily

After nearly two decades of first appearing in fast-food restaurants across the US and becoming a go-to favorite for spicy aficionados, sriracha today is not only an established flavor that many consumers love, but according to Kerry’s Taste & Nutrition...

SimpliiGood, Haifa tie-up will be 'transformative' for sustainable spirulina

01-Feb-2023 By Katy Askew

SimpliiGood by AlgaeCore Technologies is teaming up with international plant nutrition giant Haifa Group to optimize the Israeli food tech innovator’s spirulina supply chain. The partnership shows ‘the maturity and potential of the entire sector’, according...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Frozen pierogi maker Mrs. T’s shares the secret for surviving – and thriving – 70 years

30-Jan-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

As frozen pierogi maker Mrs. T’s celebrates 70 years of tucking ‘the stuff you love’ into a soft pasta pockets shaped ‘like a smile,’ the founder’s son and now company president reflects on what it takes to not only survive but thrive for seven decades...

Alt protein brand Meati Foods spreads its roots, opens ‘Mega Ranch’

26-Jan-2023 By Ryan Daily

With the opening of a new facility, dubbed the “Mega Ranch,” fungi-based startup Meati seeks to place its mushroom-root-based, sliced meat product in “tens of thousands of stores” in 2023, company co-founder and CEO, Tyler Huggins, told FoodNavigator-USA

Westrock Coffee’s investment in RTD, cold coffee beverages could help triple profit

24-Jan-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Private labeler Westrock Coffee expects to triple its profitability over the next three years as it aggressively builds out its flavors, extractions and ingredients business and finishes renovating what will be its largest production facility following...

USDA strengthens organic oversight, transparency to protect against fraud, mishandling

19-Jan-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) will step up oversight and enforcement of the production, handling and sale of organic products at the behest of industry and legislators who worry increasingly complex supply chains paired with the high price premiums...

Will the UK ban dairy descriptors on plant-based products?

16-Jan-2023 By Katy Askew

ProVeg UK claims the British Government is preparing to ban plant-based products from using dairy descriptor names such as ‘m*lk’ and ‘b*tter’, plans that it has branded ‘outrageous and unnecessary’.

Boiled peanuts could help overcome child peanut allergy, clinical trial shows

13-Jan-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Boiling peanuts for up to 12 hours could help overcome children’s allergic reactions, according to the results of a clinical trial at Flinders University and SAHMRI in Australia which found up to 80% of children with peanut allergy became desensitised...

Unilever drives market share up 10pp by pruning innovation pipeline, product portfolio to do more with less

13-Jan-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Unilever is steadily gaining market share, boosting sales in fast-growing categories, lowering the cost of experimentation and improving its consumer engagement by doing more with less, CEO Alan Jope touted during the company’s investor day last month....

Heyday Canning Co secures listings at Whole Foods nationwide, following Sprouts debut

12-Jan-2023 By Elaine Watson

Heyday Canning Co – a startup on a mission to disrupt the ‘tired’ canned food aisle – has secured authorizations at Whole Foods nationwide, a couple of months after debuting at Sprouts stores nationwide.

Meat alternative producer No Meat Factory raises $42m, gears up to open second production facility

12-Jan-2023 By Elaine Watson

Canadian meat alternative producer No Meat Factory has closed a $42m series B round as it gears up to open a second factory, and says it is seeing significant demand for high-quality capacity, despite the recent slowdown in sales at US retail.

Out of the wild: Increase of botanicals in cultivation not linked to conservation status

05-Jan-2023 By Asia Sherman

The number of medicinal and aromatic plant (MAP) species in cultivation is dramatically higher than previously thought, according to a new global estimate, but not because they are all facing extinction in the wild.

Oatly strikes deal with Ya YA Foods as it shifts to hybrid manufacturing model in North America

03-Jan-2023 By Elaine Watson

As part of a pivot to a more asset-light supply chain strategy, Oatly has struck a deal with Toronto-based Ya YA Foods to co-manufacture Oatly products in Utah and Texas in a bid to reduce capex and improve cash flow.

Meat-free: Kinoko harnesses solid state fermentation to offer high-protein, minimally processed center-of-the plate options

01-Jan-2023 By Elaine Watson

While several firms are growing fungi in fermentation tanks to make meat analogs, Israeli startup Kinoko is ditching the stainless steel vessels, adding fungi strains to legumes and grains in stacked trays, and letting them work their magic in a solid...

M&As

Mars snaps up premium whole-fruit snacking brand Trü Frü

21-Dec-2022 By Anthony Myers

Mars, Incorporated has acquired better-for-you, whole-fruit snacking brand Trü Frü for an undisclosed amount, the confectionery giant has announced.

The 'college diet': Soup sales surge as shoppers seek affordable meals and comfort

21-Dec-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Soup season is in full swing as temperatures across the country drop and cold and flu cases rise. But staying warm and reinforcing their reserves when sick aren’t the only reasons sales of soup are up significantly this year over last, according to new...

Nestlé’s budget-friendly innovation strategy: ‘We are faster now than many of the startups”

21-Dec-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

No longer a lumbering giant when it comes to R&D, Nestlé significantly increased its number of new product launches and number of patents in priority areas by simplifying its innovation process, fostering an entrepreneurial culture and collaborating...

Fermented fava: A ‘new ingredient’ to fuel next gen plant-based innovation?

15-Dec-2022 By Katy Askew

Nordic food innovator Foodiq has developed what it describes as a ‘new ingredient’ targeting plant-based products, fermented fava.

Bel Brands, Perfect Day launch animal-free cream cheese to expand exposure, appeal of dairy alternatives to mainstream shoppers

09-Dec-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

While the alternative cheese market remains relatively small and the focus of a niche consumer-base of vegan and lactose-intolerant consumers, a partnership between cheesemaker Bel Brands USA and animal-free dairy protein innovator Perfect Day seeks to...

‘Pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in this category’: DSM launches complete, textured vegetable protein

06-Dec-2022 By Stephen Daniells

Ingredients giant DSM has launched textured vegetable protein that contains necessary levels of all nine essential amino acids to be a complete protein, has unique textural benefits and is soy-free, gluten-free and dairy-free.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Plant-based yogurt sales are dropping – can they be revived?

05-Dec-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Sales of non-dairy yogurt – like those of most plant-based products – have sharply declined in the past year, but a few bright spots revealed by consumer research and recent innovations by players in the space suggest the category could turn around with...

Daring Foods CEO talks plant-based chicken: ‘In every retailer, we’re performing above the category average’

05-Dec-2022 By Elaine Watson

While plant-based meat sales have slowed significantly over the past year with many commentators blaming the inflationary environment, Daring - a premium brand deploying pricy high-moisture extrusion to make its plant-based chicken pieces – is going from...

Pharma-style dispersal technology opens food, bev doors to wide array of botanical ingredients

02-Dec-2022 By Hank Schultz

New food and beverage applications have been demonstrated for a whole host of bioactive botanical ingredients via a new dispersal technology.

Can a rail strike – and by extension food shortages on shelves – be avoided?

29-Nov-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle promise to push forward this week legislation to divert a looming national freight rail strike that threatens significant job and financial losses and which could snarl still fragile supply chains, including...

Holiday grocery shopping: Consumers swap name brands for private label

28-Nov-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

As inflation continues to bite, private label is increasingly becoming a go-to option for shoppers, finds Daymon.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Emerging flavor trends cater to comfort, nostalgia & whimsy

28-Nov-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

The stressful one-two punch of pandemic lockdowns followed by runaway inflation has many consumers looking for comfort and escapism from their food and beverages, which industry leaders say is driving demand for new flavor combinations that are nostalgic,...

Mintel: What will we be eating and drinking in 2023 and beyond?

23-Nov-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Nearing 2023, consumers are increasingly demanding more from food and beverages, seeking out products that provide a personal functional health benefit and added value, according to Mintel's 2023 Global Food & Drink Trends report.