Health and nutritional ingredients

Center store captures health-oriented shoppers’ attention more effectively than fresh dept

31-May-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Consumers interested in health and wellness continue to shop more often for groceries and spend more on food and beverage than all shoppers despite economic headwinds, but the bulk of their investment currently is in the center of the store – not the...

Flashfood’s report addresses food inequity and food waste, offers its discount grocery app to SNAP recipients

24-May-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Flashfood’s State of Food Waste Impact report underscores the link between food waste and food insecurity in the midst of inflation-driven grocery prices and shifting food policies surrounding SNAP benefits and accessibility.

IFIC: Higher food prices push some Americans to select less healthy, socially sustainable options

24-May-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Rising food prices are exacting a higher toll on grocery shoppers than a year ago, with many offsetting increases by choosing less expensive items even if they are less healthy and do not meet their ideal social sustainability values, new research from...

Poll reveals knowledge gap around metabolic health

24-May-2023 By Asia Sherman

SP Nutraceuticals has released the results of a recent poll showing that North Americans know little about metabolic dysfunction but suffer widely from its symptoms. The Canadian company suggests that AvoB, a novel bioactive found only in certain avocados,...

New York City’s adoption of plant-forward menus in hospitals and schools offer insight to replicability for the rest of the country

23-May-2023 By Deniz Ataman

As “New York City’s most famous vegan,” Mayor Eric Adams’ reflected on his administration’s plant-forward initiatives in the city’s 11 hospitals and surrounding public schools during the opening reception of the Vegan Women Summit at the Mayor’s Mansion...

Helaina moves to large-scale commercialization, debuts bioactive protein

18-May-2023 By Danielle Masterson

After founding Helaina in 2019, the company’s CEO said she is building a precision fermentation platform to manufacture bioactive proteins.

Sports performance, natural products providing new opportunities for energy drink market, SPINS finds

17-May-2023 By Ryan Daily

Whether it’s that early morning pick-me-up or pre-workout boost, consumers increasingly turn to the energy drink category for its functional benefits, which is expanding the market and creating opportunities for brands to innovate around sports performance,...

Shroomeats makes the most of mushrooms with whole-food products

16-May-2023 By Ryan Daily

Plant-based, woman-owned company Shroomeatsoffers nutritious, minimally processed foods with its portfolio of shelf-stable shitake mushroom-based patties, meatballs, and crumbles, co-founder and CEO Dissaya Theerakaosal told FoodNavigator-USA.

Daiya taps into demand for savory flavors, allergen-free options with frozen pizzas release

16-May-2023 By Ryan Daily

Plant-based CPG company Daiya Foods seeks to satisfy consumer demand for savory flavor while providing an allergen-free option with a pair of new pizza options, the brand’s CMO Melanie Domer told FoodNaviagtor-USA.

Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee needs to be “free of food industry commercial interest," advocates argue

16-May-2023 By Deniz Ataman

A lack of transparency around 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee members' affiliation with industry trade groups and multinational brands sparked scrutiny by public health advocates after last week's committee meeting.

Joint venture between Cult Foods and Peqish Food Co. focuses on medically tailored food and cellular agriculture

15-May-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Cult Foods, an investor of cellular agriculture technology and products, and Peqish Food Co., a ready-to-eat culinary medicine food brand, are joining forces to develop and commercialize cellular agriculture food products within the medical foods framework.

Generative AI shows potential to streamline marketing and communications for CPG brands, as long as brands oversee its output

15-May-2023 By Deniz Ataman

During “The Promise and Pitfalls of Generative AI for Food and Beverage Operations” webinar, Nick Markman, senior product manager, Evocalize, explained that while the risks of producing misinformation from generative AI are significant, it’s up to brands...

Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee prioritizes eating patterns, nutrient intake for young Americans and caregivers through a health equity lens

12-May-2023 By Deniz Ataman

The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) revealed during a wide-ranging meeting May 10 that it will prioritize eating patterns during pregnancy, childhood and adolescence as well as review the dietary reference intakes for macronutrients and energy....

How alt-protein brands are shifting marketing strategies to keep up with consumer behaviors

08-May-2023 By Ryan Daily

As alt-protein companies respond to changing industry dynamics, many brands are examining how best market products and respond to consumers needs, a panel of experts shared at the Bridge2Food Summit Americas.

Value remains key for e-grocery shoppers across income groups, says Brick Meets Click study

08-May-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Across income groups, shoppers continue to focus on value although retailers have an opportunity to instill a competitive edge by enhancing private label strategy.

Better-for-you Hero Bread lands $15m in series B round by ‘going from pitching a dream to pitching a business’

03-May-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

A “massive” repeat purchase rate of 74% direct-to-consumer and 54% at retail combined with healthy margins and strong “no f***ing way” factor helped food-tech startup Hero Bread secure $15m in series B funding despite the challenging economic environment.

Discount retailers benefit from consumer shift as grocery prices rise

02-May-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Discount stores need to keep a close eye on pricing strategies to remain competitive and balance affordability with product displays and differentiation, advises one industry insider.

EverGrain creates sports nutrition offerings with beer leftovers

01-May-2023 By Danielle Masterson

AB InBev’s sustainable ingredient business, EverGrain, said it’s poised to disrupt the performance beverage category this year with the launch of two products that use EverPro, a barley protein made from upcycled brewer’s spent grain.

The new plant-based reality: Bridge2Food panel discusses market obstacles, opportunities

01-May-2023 By Ryan Daily

Despite several headwinds facing the category, the overall plant-based market is still expanding, though challenges persist in the form of retail and formulation challenges, a panel of industry experts shared during a session titled “The Elephant in the...

Breeding, technological advances enhance taste, texture and nutrition of plant-based protein

01-May-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Plant-based manufacturers and ingredient suppliers are investing heavily in crop development and fractionation as well as technical and mechanical innovations to improve the taste, texture, nutrition and cost of their products in an effort to woo more...

PepsiCo CEO signals softer approach on pricing for 2023, raises full-year guidance on improved productivity, elasticity

25-Apr-2023 By Ryan Daily

PepsiCo beat Wall Street expectations for its first quarter 2023 earnings due to strong margin growth while backing off potential future price increases to combat inflation and other supply chain issues, the company's Chairman and CEO Ramon Laguarta...

Beverage, better-for-you are driving CPG deals in 2023

25-Apr-2023 By Ryan Daily

For all the talk of higher interest rates and tighter capital, large CPG food and beverage brands are still acquiring brands to bolster their portfolios, especially in beverages and the better-for-you category, John Siegler of BMO Capital Markets shared...

Under the sustainable sea(weeds): gimme Seaweed talks eco-friendly and organic snacks

24-Apr-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Organic seaweed snack maker gimme continues sustainable initiatives through its partnerships in Korea and developing bold flavors and new convenience channels with eco-friendly packaging.

Are almond hulls the next big upcycled ingredient? Mattson shares research into potential

24-Apr-2023 By Ryan Daily

Working alongside the Almond Board of California, Mattson is showing the potential of using almond hulls in food and beverage applications, as the upcycling food and beverage trend continues to pick up steam, Al Banisch, chief strategy and client engagement...

Introducing FoodNavigator-USA’s free editorial webinar: Plant-Based Dairy – From Oatmilk to Chickpea Ice Cream on May 17 at 11:30 CT

24-Apr-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Sales of plant-based dairy, including milk, cheese and yogurt, continue to grow at a rapid clip despite challenging macroeconomic and market conditions, but units in some categories are dipping slightly, according to recently released SPINS data, raising...

Multifunctional FiberSMART granted GRAS status as a dietary fiber

21-Apr-2023 By Deniz Ataman

The multifunctional and tolerable prebiotic fiber is resistant dextrin made from tapioca and 20% as sweet as sugar, according to its producer, Anderson Advanced Ingredients.

Zurvita blends brain health, energy benefits with instant coffee drink

18-Apr-2023 By Ryan Daily

Plant-based company Zurvita is blending the energy-boosting properties of coffee with functional brain health benefits in its latest instant coffee Zurge, as the brand looks to expand its presence in both these categories, Ideneth Vega, SVP of strategy,...

Younger consumers lead snack market growth, as shift to private label continues, Circana finds

14-Apr-2023 By Ryan Daily

As consumers look for quick energy boosts or moments of indulgences throughout their day, they are driving the snack market to new heights, while simultaneously becoming more critical of what they buy and trading down from premium brands to smaller sizes,...

Plant-based seafood market continues to swim upstream, but adds variety to consumer diets

13-Apr-2023 By Deniz Ataman

While plant-based seafood represents only a small fraction of the plant-based realm at $12m in revenue in 2022 versus dairy at $2.7b in the same period, according to NielsenIQ, there is still hope for it to make a splash as inflation pushes consumers...

Hello Alice’s Business Health Score helps small CPG companies access capital

13-Apr-2023 By Deniz Ataman

The fintech platform, along with the Global Entrepreneurship Network, intends to help small to medium-sized businesses access capital with the launch of the Equitable Access Program and its first product, the Business Health Score.

Glow Beverages tackles co-packing challenges to fuel retail expansion

12-Apr-2023 By Ryan Daily

Functional beverage brand Glow Beverages is expanding its retail footprint after overcoming initial co-packing challenges, brand Co-founder John Larson told FoodNavigator-USA.

Consumer health and wellness shaped by ‘a desire for quality of life and longevity, resistance to the commercialization of wellness and inflation’

12-Apr-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Navigating a post-pandemic life has pushed consumers towards re-establishing their relationship with their overall health, including mental health, according to Hartman Group’s The Great Wellness Reset survey.

The Good Flour Co. taps into growing demand for allergen-free, nutrition for children

10-Apr-2023 By Ryan Daily

From adults to children, gluten- and allergen-free foods are increasingly becoming a part of living a better-for-you lifestyle, which is growing the gluten-free market and providing The Good Flour Co. opportunities to innovate for the youngest of consumers,...

FDA could permit salt substitutes for standardized foods as part of sodium reduction effort

07-Apr-2023 By Deniz Ataman

The proposal is intended to provide more flexibility for foods with standards of identity where salt is a required or optional ingredient, and “facilitate industry innovation to reduce sodium in standardized foods,” the agency stated.

Searching for synbiotics: ADM, Brightseed partner on next-gen of gut health

06-Apr-2023 By Ryan Daily

Food ingredient company ADM and AI technology company Brightseed are bringing together the benefits of probiotics and prebiotics in the form of synbiotic food and beverage ingredients, Sofia Elizondo, co-founder and COO at Brightseed, told FoodNavigator-USA.

Natural Products Expo West

Dip, savory spread sales surge as consumers shake off pandemic era restrictions

05-Apr-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Once reserved for special occasions and parties, dips are breaking out as an everyday snack – and in some cases meal – to emerge as a fast-growing category driven by pandemic-fatigue, consumer interest in global flavors and an enviable family-friendly...

Natural Products Expo West

Upcycling food ‘is really one of the biggest opportunities facing the food industry’

04-Apr-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Upcycling food, or turning would-be wasted byproducts from one product into something delicious and nutritious for people, has emerged as one of the hottest trends in food and beverage in recent years with the market projected to grow at a compound annual...

Sweet Nothings expands shelf-stable snack portfolio with help of e-com partners

30-Mar-2023 By Ryan Daily

Organic snacking brand Sweet Nothings continues to expand beyond the frozen smoothie segment with the help of two new flavors of its Nut Butter Bites, brand CEO and co-founder Jake Kneller told FoodNavigator-USA.

Health-Ade CMO says kombucha “is here to stay,” ready for growth

30-Mar-2023 By Ryan Daily

With a new can format and marketing campaign geared towards younger consumers, Health-Ade is looking to grow its brand and expand its base by tapping into occasions and capitalizing on greater consumer awareness of gut health, Health-Ade CMO Charlotte...

FDA draft guidance for “healthy” ingredients on food labels triggers concerns over limitations on innovation, consumer autonomy

30-Mar-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Products making dietary guidance statements should contain a meaningful amount of the featured ingredient or food category and not exceed certain amounts of saturated fat, sodium and added sugar, according to FDA’s draft guidance for industry on questions...

What is next for probiotics? Consumers seek transparency, science-backed validation

29-Mar-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Increasing interest in health benefits from probiotics, prebiotics and their synergies is opening new markets for functional foods and beverages, but for products to take full advantage of these opportunities, they must meet consumers’ rising bar for...

Can prebiotics and probiotics beverages grow together? Brew Dr. CEO says yes

24-Mar-2023 By Ryan Daily

Oregon-based organic kombucha brand Brew Dr. is going "a little bit bolder, a little bit bigger" with its new branding and flavors as the company looks to expand household penetration amidst a growing competitive landscape in the functional...

PepsiCo bolsters pep+ framework with $216m investment in regenerative agriculture

23-Mar-2023 By Ryan Daily

PepsiCo is investing $216m in a strategic partnership with three farmer organizations, including the Illinois Corn Growers Association, Practical Farmers of Iowa, and Soil and Water Outcomes Fund, to boost regenerative agriculture practices in the US...

HOP WTR taps into functional benefits, alcohol moderation to grow brand

22-Mar-2023 By Ryan Daily

Non-alcoholic beverage brand HOP WTR is leaning on functional ingredients like ashwagandha and L-Theanine to provide consumers with added mood management benefits, as the brand looks to sustain interest and repeat purchase following a spike in sales from...

AnaBio Technologies unlocks shelf-stable probiotic beverage market with heat-resistant, moisture-stabilizing micro-encapsulation technology

22-Mar-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

A patented micro-encapsulation technology from AnaBio Technologies promises to protect and stabilize probiotic bacteria from short bursts of high temperatures and moisture up to 12 months – unlocking an unmet demand in the fast-growing shelf-stable functional...

Zevia CEO talks rebrand, the “rising tide” for sugar-free sodas

21-Mar-2023 By Ryan Daily

Natural soda brand Zevia is sweetening its branding with a new look as it aims to boost its household penetration and eliminate plastic from its supply chain, company CEO Amy Taylor told FoodNavigator-USA.

Natural Products Expo West

Uncle Matt’s looks to functional innovation in face of “most challenging season” for citrus sourcing

20-Mar-2023 By Ryan Daily

With the increasing demand for functional beverages, Uncle Matt's is preparing for a year of product innovation in the organic juice space at the same time that it navigates another challenging season for citrus sourcing, as brand CEO and founder...

Natural Products Expo West

Sea Monsters invade Expo West, Sprouts with seaweed, sorghum puffs

17-Mar-2023 By Ryan Daily

Kid-friendly snack brand Sea Monsters is expanding into Sprouts, and the brand will have help from some friends – its titular sea monster mascots.

WhatIF targets ‘climate anxious Gen Z’ with bambara groundnut plant-based milk, noodles

17-Mar-2023 By Lauren Nardella

Singapore-based WhatIF Foods looks to bring its line of products derived from the bambara groundnut to a wider audience in the coming year, focusing on educating consumers about the legume’s benefits and appealing to the “climate anxious GenZ consumer,”...

Eat the Change expands Just Ice Tea line, aims to recapture Honest Tea market

16-Mar-2023 By Ryan Daily

Eat the Change co-founder Seth Goldman is continuing to fill the gap left behind by The Coca-Cola Co.'s decision to discontinue Honest Tea by creating a “rhyming copy” of the beloved ready-to-drink brand under his new company, which recently released...