Fruit, vegetable, nut ingredients

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.

Cargill appoints new CEO: 'He’s a person of action and results...'

23-Nov-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Cargill has elevated its chief operating officer (COO), Brian Sikes, to CEO effective Jan. 1, 2023.

From ube to gulab jamun... Gen Z and Millennials embrace 'diverse, unusual flavors' in desserts and confections

22-Nov-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Moving on from the comfort and nostalgic flavors that grounded consumers during the pandemic, consumer interest in more diverse and unexpected flavors within dessert categories is on the rise, according to consumer research from T. Hasegawa.

Consumers turn to mass, club as they seek lower grocery prices amid rising inflation

21-Nov-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Consumers feeling pinched by rising inflation are shifting where they shop for food, what they buy and how many items they place in their carts – prompting retailers to rethink and often reduce their product mix, reveals IRI sales data crunched by 210...

Target deals with an increasingly price sensitive shopper: 'We see our guests holding out for and expecting promotions more than ever,' says EVP

21-Nov-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Caught between providing value for its increasingly price sensitive shopper and generating healthy profit margins, Target is identifying new ways to optimize and simplify its business to drive positive long-term growth.

‘We want to move snacks from candy to food…’ Torr FoodTech raises $12m to form snack bars using compression and ultrasonic waves instead of sugary binders

21-Nov-2022 By Elaine Watson

Torr FoodTech - an Israeli startup deploying an intriguing new approach to creating snack bars by deploying pressure and ultrasonic energy instead of sugary binders to ‘weld’ natural ingredients together - has raised $12m in a series A round as it expands...

Many US adults misjudge the quality of their diets, study finds

17-Nov-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

While most adults are aware of the importance of fruits and vegetables in their diets, many individuals overestimate the quality of their daily diets, new research from the American Heart Association has found.

Coffee minus the beans? Minus Coffee reverse engineers coffee to create a beanless cold brew

16-Nov-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Instead of coffee beans, Minus Coffee is taking ingredients such as chicory root, dates, and lentils, which undergo a fermentation process that its founder claims precisely replicates the taste and aroma of cold brew coffee, but in a much more sustainable...

Poppilu acquired by Juicy Juice and SUNNYD parent company to fuel growth of better-for-you kids lemonade category

15-Nov-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Chicago-based kids lemonade brand Poppilu has been acquired by American Beverage Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harvest Hill Beverage Company (makers of Juicy Juice and SUNNYD), to build upon the brand's success of establishing the kids...

Nutrition: Plant-based drinks ‘not real alternatives’ to dairy milk – study

14-Nov-2022 By Teodora Lyubomirova

Nutrient quality in plant-based beverages should be considered on a par with sustainability credentials, researchers say as they assessed the quality as well as quantity of micronutrients in common plant-based drinks.

Soup-to-Nuts Podcast: How are US eating patterns evolving and what opportunities are emerging?

14-Nov-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Between Americans’ hectic on-the-go lifestyles pre-COVID, the pandemic prompting everyone to hit pause followed by hybrid work schedules, inflation rates at 40-year highs, and increased expectations that food not only nourish the body but also the soul,...

Square Roots teams up with UNFI to expand access to locally-grown leafy greens: 'We have the shortest supply chain possible'

10-Nov-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Square Roots is expanding its indoor farming footprint of teched-out converted shipping containers by co-locating one of its new farms at grocery wholesaler UNFI's distribution center near the Twin Cities where frigid winters reduce access to fresh,...

'Unbelievably convenient' Proper Good lands $3.5m in seed funding to fuel retail expansion of shelf-stable meals

08-Nov-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Proper Good, a shelf-stable meal solutions company, has raised $3.5m in seed funding to fuel its retail expansion and new product innovation.

New marketing chief for steadily-growing Impossible Foods to ‘carry the torch’ for otherwise slowing plant-based protein industry

08-Nov-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

While the high-single to double-digit drop in plant-based meat sales over the past year has prompted significant handwringing among investors, retailers and other stakeholders, category front-runner Impossible Foods is neither surprised about the segment’s...

NEWS IN BRIEF

Ingredion doubles down on specialty starches investment

07-Nov-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Ingredion has completed one-third of its planned $160m capital investment into expanding capacity for its clean label specialty starches to improve its operational flexibility amid ongoing supply chain disruptions.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Fruit checks boxes for sweet and healthy, so why is consumption so stubbornly low?

07-Nov-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Despite efforts to brand fruit ‘as nature’s candy,’ celebrity endorsements by the likes of Jessica Alba designed to make vegetables ‘sexy,’ and many retailers selling fresh produce at a loss to improve access and drive foot traffic – the vast majority...

Kroger-Albertsons merger hits roadblock in Washington state, Albertsons challenges 'meritless' anti-competitive claims

04-Nov-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

A Washington state court has granted a temporary restraining order to block dividend payments to Albertsons investors related to the $24.6bn merger with Kroger announced in October 2022.

Mondelēz plans for December price increases but sees strong consumer brand loyalty

03-Nov-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

While consumers are tightening their purse strings and cutting down on many discretionary purchases, snacking is one area many are not, according to Mondelēz International, which continues to see consumers opt for name brands over private label and value-priced...

Better Juice opens full-scale manufacturing plant to tackle sugar content in fruit juice

02-Nov-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Food tech startup Better Juice has opened its first full-scale manufacturing plant to enable commercial production of its patented sugar reduction technology, which can reduce sugar content in juice products by 30-80%.

What happened to drinkable soup? 'It wasn’t the category, it was the product-market fit'

01-Nov-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Chilled drinkable soup had a moment five to six years ago with a flurry of brands entering the niche segment attracting excited investors who backed brands positioning themselves as a fresh meal on the go that consumers could drink like a juice. But what’s...

Natural Products Expo East

Strong Roots expands into frozen meals – one of the few bright spots in plant-based

01-Nov-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

While sales of plant-based products across the board continue to slide, consumer data from Evergi shows at least one segment is bucking the trend – frozen meals and bowls – an area into which the fast-growing vegan brand Strong Roots is eagerly expanding...

Hundreds of lawsuits were filed vs baby food companies last year over heavy metals… So what happened next?

31-Oct-2022 By Elaine Watson

A tsunami of lawsuits was filed vs food manufacturers last year following a Congressional report alleging ‘dangerous’ levels of heavy metals in leading baby food brands. So how have judges determined if these complaints have legs, and whether the FDA,...

Is baby food with pureed fruits & veggies too sugary? Judge tosses ‘mushy’ and ‘speculative’ lawsuit vs Sprout Foods

31-Oct-2022 By Elaine Watson

How much sugar is too much, and do pouches for babies and young kids containing pureed fruits and vegetables present long-term health risks, even if they don’t contain any added sugars?

What does the Kroger-Albertsons merger mean for brands? 'It's a double-edged sword...'

28-Oct-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

While the industry waits to see if the $24.6bn mega merger of Kroger and Albertsons will hold up against scrutiny from regulators, brands and suppliers are also standing by to see what the consolidation of the second-largest and fourth-largest US supermarket...

Don Lee Farms vs Beyond Meat protein claims case dismissed, three related suits from different plaintiffs still moving through courts

27-Oct-2022 By Elaine Watson

Six days after settling their lengthy legal dispute over the early termination of a supply contact, Don Lee Farms and Beyond Meat have resolved their differences over a separate lawsuit* in which Don Lee accused Beyond Meat of over-stating the protein...

Suja Life and Vive Organic form wellness shots powerhouse: 'We believe both brands will continue to grow at a double-digit pace'

27-Oct-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Suja Life's recent acquisition of cold-pressed juices shots brand Vive Organic brings together the No. 1 and No. 2 brands in the category to accelerate and scale the still-niche wellness shots segment.

Beyond Meat rolls out Beyond Steak plant-based seared tips to Kroger and Walmart nationwide

24-Oct-2022 By Elaine Watson

Beyond Meat is rolling out its latest innovation - Beyond Steak - at Kroger and Walmart stores nationwide, as well as at select Albertsons and Ahold divisions and other retailers across the country.

Local Bounti secures $23.3m investment to meet robust consumer demand and improve unit economics

24-Oct-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Indoor farming company Local Bounti has secured a $23.3m private investment in public equity (PIPE) investment to scale up its proprietary Stack & Flow Technology, which the company argues leads to improved superior unit economics.

Plant-based cheese by numbers: Small declines in dollars and units overall, but big variations within category

24-Oct-2022 By Elaine Watson

SPINS data shared with FoodNavigator-USA ahead of our Futureproofing the Food System virtual summit (Nov 15-17) shows a mixed picture for US retail sales of plant-based cheese, with overall dollar sales down -2.3% to $218.94m and unit sales down -3.6%...

Futureproofing the food system: How are food insecurity and health outcomes connected and what benefits do produce prescriptions, medically tailored meals and personalized nutrition offer?

21-Oct-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Researchers are calling on clinicians and the healthcare system to screen for food insecurity and better promote food access programs after discovering that Americans with limited or uncertain access to adequate food is on the rise and they are more likely...

Nestlé plans further price increases, 'Pricing will need to continue,' says CEO

21-Oct-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Nestlé is continuing to fine tune its portfolio through ongoing SKU rationalization paired with an increased focus on high-growth segments of coffee and its Nestlé Health Sciences division with plans to introduce additional pricing actions to keep up...

Frozen food prices up 17% vs. 2021, but consumers still believe it provides good value, says Acosta

19-Oct-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Seen as the economical and convenient option for preparing meals at home during the height of the pandemic, the affordability of frozen food has slipped with the average per unit price up 17% vs. one year ago. But consumers still believe it provides good...

Kraft Heinz outlines progress towards sustainability goals: 'It is during these challenging moments when true innovation happens'

18-Oct-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Kraft Heinz is making progress towards several of its environmental and sustainability goals including cutting the amount of waste sent to landfill by 15% in 2021 and converting 84% of its global packaging portfolio to fully recyclable materials.

Plant-based, fortified nutrition, and e-commerce: Euromonitor talks trends to watch in baby food

17-Oct-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

The baby food landscape has changed drastically in recent years with an emphasis on fresh products and a flurry of DTC brands coming to market. So which trends present the biggest growth opportunities for brands and manufacturers?

Kroger to acquire Albertsons for $24.6bn solidifying its position as #2 grocery retailer with 11.8% market share

14-Oct-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Supermarket giant Kroger is merging with Albertsons Companies Inc. (Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco), bolstering its position as the second largest food retailer in the US with an estimated 11.8% market share behind Walmart at 17.1%.

Innova: Consumers redefine value by seeking brands that 'listen, understand, and respond to their core values'

12-Oct-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

While consumers today are exploring more money-saving strategies such as choosing lower-cost items and cooking from scratch, their personal values around health and well-being and the planet have not wavered, according to research from Innova Market Insights.

Animal-free egg protein powers ‘world’s first protein-boosted hard juice’ from The EVERY Co and Pulp Culture

12-Oct-2022 By Elaine Watson

Billed as the “world’s first protein-boosted hard juice,” BUILD by Pulp Culture adds an intriguing new twist to the functional beverage space with a 4.9% ABV fermented juice laced with adaptogens, probiotics,* and a highly-soluble, ‘near invisible’ animal-free...

Nature’s Fynd dairy-free cream cheese hits Sprouts stores nationwide

12-Oct-2022 By Elaine Watson

Nature’s Fynd - a startup growing protein-packed food from microbes with a fraction of the environmental footprint of meat or dairy – is rolling out dairy-free cream cheeses to Sprouts nationwide.

Nestlé moves smoothies beyond ‘niche channels’ with blender-free option for masses

12-Oct-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Nestlé is expanding its toehold in the highly fragmented but fast-growing smoothie category with the launch of Outshine Smoothie Cubes, which it says will stand apart from the competition by offering added convenience in both format and distribution....

Revol Greens doubles romaine lettuce production footprint

11-Oct-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Indoor farming company Revol Greens is doubling its romaine lettuce production footprint by 2023, supported by its recent expansion at its Texas growing facility, making it the largest greenhouse lettuce grower in North America.

Sweeteners from citrus? Researchers find sweetness-enhancing compounds from citrus cultivars

10-Oct-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) have found eight new sweetness-enhancing compounds in 11 citrus cultivars that could offer improved palatability and lower sugar content in food and beverage...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: From food as medicine to sustainable packaging – trendspotting at Expo East

10-Oct-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Natural Products Expo East may not be as big as its West Coast counterpart, but the 18,500 registered attendees and more than 1,200 exhibitors who convened in Philadelphia earlier this month for the annual conference were just as enthusiastic and the...

Conagra sees 'benign' impact from pricing: 'The volume effect is quite modest compared to anything we've seen historically'

07-Oct-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Multiple rounds of pricing actions taken by Conagra over the past several quarters have not deterred consumers from buying the company's products, as it reports "limited" elasticities across its portfolio.

Walmart bolsters e-grocery automation efforts with Alert Innovation acquisition

07-Oct-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

In its pursuit to become a top player in the grocery e-commerce space, Walmart has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire grocery automation firm, Alert Innovation.

Allergy-friendly brand Partake Foods raises $11.5m to scale business and make snacking 'worry-free'

04-Oct-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Allergy-friendly (free of the top nine allergens) cookie and baking mix brand Partake Foods has raised $11.5m in Series B funding to scale its business and social impact to reach more diverse consumer audiences.

Introducing the FoodNavigator-USA digital summit: Futureproofing the Food System Nov 15-17

01-Oct-2022 By Elaine Watson

The western diet – and the food system that underpins it – is becoming increasingly unsustainable, for the health of humans and the planet. So how do we futureproof the food system to deliver healthier, more sustainable products that nourish our bodies...