Meat, fish and savory ingredients

How cultivated meat could be the key to avoiding the development of antimicrobial resistance

30-Oct-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

While the ‘routine use’ of antibiotics in animal agriculture is banned in the EU, increasing globalisation can make it difficult to avoid imported meat reared in this way. While the routine use of antibiotics can increase the risk of antimicrobial resistance,...

More than half of consumers are ‘climatarians’ and show concern for environment, Tetra Pak Index suggests

30-Oct-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Consumers are adapting their attitudes about food to a changing climate and aiming for more sustainable eating habits, research in Tetra Pak’s 2023 Index suggests. The research also indicated that consumers are gravitating towards healthier products,...

‘We want happy pigs’… welfare and health outweigh climate concerns for consumers

25-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Focusing solely on climate improvements in pork production is not what consumers care most about when buying pork, two studies reveal.

National Association for Convenience Stores

How brands and c-stores can drive sales and in-store experiences through promotions

25-Oct-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Convenience stores are evolving into experiential destinations driven by consumers’ diverse usage occasions while brands have an opportunity to bundle their top sellers with retailers’ prepared foods, driving relevance for consumers, executives at Mars...

MyFoodPlanit's all-in-one meal planning addresses nutrition customization

24-Oct-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Driven by a growing number of consumers addressing their specific and changing nutrition concerns, MyFoodPlanit launched its all-in-one meal planning and nutrition tracking platform earlier this month, Ryan Chapman, CEO and founder, told FoodNavigator-USA...

ICL, Plantible launch clean label methylcellulose alternative with high protein, strong sustainability profile

23-Oct-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Functional ingredient supplier ICL Food Specialties and Plantible Foods join the race to replace the widely used but increasingly unpopular binding and gelling ingredient methylcellulose in plant-based protein with today’s launch of ROVITARIS Binding...

National Association for Convenience Stores

Blending convenience, novelty and flavors at NACS’ Cool New Products snack showcase

18-Oct-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Never-before-seen alternative snacks, energy drinks and frozen packaged snacks dubuted at the National Association for Convenience Stores’ Cool New Products expo Oct. 3-6 in Atlanta, Ga.

Greenridge starts production facility upgrades to go after pre-sliced meat market

18-Oct-2023 By Ryan Daily

Midwest meat producer Greenridge is expanding into the pre-sliced segment with new production capacity and a new brand identity, company SVP of sales and marketing Mike Shannon, told FoodNavigator-USA.

Futureproofing the Food System: What will it take to deliver on the promise of alternative proteins?

17-Oct-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Between FDA and USDA greenlighting the sale of cultivated chicken in the US, the ground-breaking of a large-scale precision fermentation facilities and advances in molecular farming, 2023 has been a banner year for novel protein production. But the path...

Tyson Foods expands into insect protein production with Protix partnership

17-Oct-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Meat-packing giant Tyson Foods is teaming with Dutch-based insect protein player Protix to expand production and use of more sustainable proteins and lipids from Black Soldier Fly Larva, including building a first of its kind, at-scale insect ingredient...

Willingness to pay more for fresh food could hinge on health, sustainability beneits

12-Oct-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Consumers are willing to pay a premium for fresh food to reap perceived health benefits, but rumblings from shoppers and retailers alike that suppliers have raised prices higher than necessary to offset inflation could portend a negative shift in elasticity...

Meati lays down roots in snack category, recalibrates $1b in sales by 2025 goal

11-Oct-2023 By Ryan Daily

Alternative protein player Meati is taking its patented MushroomRoot ingredient to the shelf-stable snack aisle with more product innovation on the way, as the brand adjusts its growth strategy with a keen focus on profitability, the company’s VP of marketing...

Poultry market comes 'through a pretty challenging year,’ as 2024 rebound remains uncertain

10-Oct-2023 By Ryan Daily

The US poultry market is facing several headwinds between higher cost of retailer inputs and lighter demand as it closes out 2023, while 2024 is shaping up to be a continuation of many of the trends the industry has experienced this year, Christine McCracken,...

LocalCoho expands its NY pilot facility with funding from Cuna del Mar

09-Oct-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Coho salmon aquaculture start-up, LocalCoho, is set to expand production in upstate New York after securing funding from Cuna del Mar, with a goal of securing an additional $4 million by the end of 2023.

Natural Products Expo East

Plant Based Foods Association launches consumer marketing initiative to fuel growth, address ‘considerable challenges’

05-Oct-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

The diversity, availability and sales of plant-based foods continue to grow, despite the high-profile struggles of meat alternatives, and as they do, the Plant Based Foods Association is preparing to lead stakeholders into the next phase of the industry’s...

Join us next week for FoodNavigator-USA's digital Futureproofing the Food System Nov. 14-16

03-Oct-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

To feed a global population of 10bn people by 2050 we need to produce more food in the next 40 years than we have in the past 8,000 years, but as illustrated by the Green Revolution simply increasing available calories isn’t the answer – they need to...

Drop in egg price drives down dollars sales in dairy for August 2023, Circana finds

27-Sep-2023 By Ryan Daily

Dollar growth declined and unit sales were flat in the dairy category in August, as prepared meals and entertaining products are bright spots in the deli counters, according to Circana data shared in a recent IDBBA webinar.

Bridging the gap between conventional meat and alternative proteins

27-Sep-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Alternative proteins offer myriad potential solutions to curb the effects of climate change and public health risks, while creating space for partnerships with corporate meat producers, panelists said during the Good Food Conference last week in a session...

Season Health brings prescription food services to health care plans across the country

26-Sep-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Following his experience witnessing the effects of ingredient-and-recipe meal kit services on consumer health during his tenure as Plated's former CEO, Josh Hix now leads Season Health as its CEO. The company collaborates with health plan benefits...

Pavle Stojkovic to serve as chief strategy officer, Omeat

26-Sep-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Following the release of Omeat’s fetal bovine serum (FBS) replacement, Plenty, the company appointed Pavle Stojkovic to chief strategy officer, who will “focus on internal operational excellence” to continue its path towards scalable and sustainable cultivated...

Cultivated meat ‘breakthrough’: Media supplement achieves full muscle maturation on scaffold within 48 hours.

26-Sep-2023 By Flora Southey

Having achieved muscle and protein gains in 2D environments, Profuse Technology is celebrating a ‘breakthrough’ in cultivated meat growth within 3D environments, CEO Guy Nevo Michrowski explains.

Bibigo spices up frozen offerings with Crispy Dumpling Bites

20-Sep-2023 By Ryan Daily

Asian food brand Bibigo is expanding its portfolio of frozen products with new Crispy Dumpling Bites to meet growing demand for Korean flavors in the US, Megan Elliott, marketing director at Schwan's, told FoodNavigator-USA.

Nourish Ingredients teams with Boston Bioprocess to scale animal-free specialty fats

20-Sep-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Nourish Ingredients, a frontrunner in the burgeoning ‘animal-free’ specialty fat segment, is teaming with Boston Bioprocess to efficiently scale the most “potent fat molecules” responsible for replicating the “animalic” aroma, flavor and taste of meat...

Alternative protein segment diverges as more plant-base players shutter, cultured meat passes milestones

18-Sep-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

The plant-based protein industry continues to suffer losses with two well-funded companies closing their doors, while the cultured meat segment steadily checks milestones and tackles hurdles as it prepares for broader distribution and consumer adoption....

Threats mount against nearly-finalized proposed update to organic animal welfare standards

15-Sep-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Hard-fought for and nearly finalized regulations that would strengthen animal welfare standards under the USDA Organic program are at risk of becoming collateral damage from a growing political fight about the ripple effects of regulations and legislation...

Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee

Health Equity Working Group provides framework for Dietary Guidelines for Americans protocols

14-Sep-2023 By Deniz Ataman

A Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) working group shared this week refined protocols for systematic reviews, food pattern modeling and committee evidence review which will shape the committee’s recommendations for the Dietary Guidelines for...

Cultivated meat researchers get €1.2 million to solve commercialisation barriers

14-Sep-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Researchers from Germany, Israel and the UK have been given €1.2 million in funding to work on solving the barriers to creating cultivated meat at scale, and thus to provide it on a commercial basis.

Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee

Consumer Brands Association urges DGAC to develop more research on ultra-processed foods

13-Sep-2023 By Deniz Ataman

The Consumer Brands Association is pushing back against the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s intention to explore the health impact and future role of ultra-processed foods in the American diet, noting at a meeting hosted by HHS and USDA yesterday...

Eat Just raises funds to continue 'intense focus on profitability'

01-Sep-2023 By Ryan Daily

Plant-based and alt-protein company Eat Just has completed its latest rounding of funding, which will support the company’s goal of profitability, as it continues to grow the distribution of its Just Egg and scale up its cultivated meat capabilities,...

Hormel Foods steps up promotions, advertising & innovation to hold market share

01-Sep-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Hormel Foods trimmed its sales outlook for the full-year after missing third-quarter expectations amid increased competitive pressure that pushed it to cut prices and increase promotions and advertising at retail.

Melt&Marble creates animal-free fats to help close taste gap between alternative, animal proteins

31-Aug-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

To help close the taste-gap between alternative proteins and their animal-based counterparts, food-tech startup Melt&Marble is expanding and improving the selection and performance of available animal-free fats, which it says ultimately will help...

Omeat launches potent and cost-effective FBS alternative

30-Aug-2023 By Deniz Ataman

After launching out of stealth mode in June, Omeat continues to improve price points for cultivated meat with the recent development of its fetal bovine serum (FBS) replacement, Plenty, Ali Khademhosseini, Ph.D., founder and CEO, Omeat, explained to...

Hungryroot's personalized grocery service hits $182 million in revenue

29-Aug-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Hungryroot's transition to an AI-driven, personalized grocery and recipe service has resulted in a 67% YoY revenue growth to $182 million in 1H 2023, Alex Weinstein, chief digital officer, Hungryroot, told FoodNavigator-USA.

Nissin Foods goes to the flavor extreme with chili-infused Geki noodle launch

29-Aug-2023 By Ryan Daily

Just in time for its 65th anniversary, Nissin Foods is going to the flavors extreme with its new Geki line of chili-infused noodles, as the company readies for more product innovation, the company’s senior VP of marketing, Priscila Stanton, told FoodNavigator-USA....

A ‘pioneering’ process for spent cell culture media: Rejuvenation tech expected to bring down price of cultivated meat

29-Aug-2023 By Flora Southey

Bioprocessing company CellRev has signed a joint development agreement with fluid management-focused Saint-Gobain Life Sciences to rejuvenate spent cell culture media for the cultivated meat sector.

WILDE Protein Chips expand its retail distribution and production, launching new flavor

25-Aug-2023 By Deniz Ataman

From its initial beginnings as a meat-based protein snack bar, WILDE quickly pivoted into the chip category where the brand saw demand for its flavored chicken-based protein chips in Whole Foods, Sprouts and Costco with a recent expansion into Target...

Birdzi to power Berkot’s loyalty program

23-Aug-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Berkot’s Super Foods will implement Birdzi’s comprehensive customer intelligence and engagement system across its 17 grocery locations in Wisconsin and Illinois.

Blank Slate Kitchen spices up at-home cooking with line of Sichuan chili oil, zhug

23-Aug-2023 By Ryan Daily

Amid rising demand for spicy global flavors, Blank Slate Kitchen is looking to tap into the growing demand for natural Sichuan chili oils, while also raising awareness around zhug hot sauce, brand founder and owner Alex Sorenson told FoodNavigator-USA....

Schweid & Sons launches USDA-approved climate-friendly burgers with Tyson Foods for retail distribution

22-Aug-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Part of Tyson Foods' Brazen line, the climate-friendly ground beef is produced from cattle enrolled in Tyson's Climate-Smart beef program, and exhibits a 10% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions according to Schweid & Sons’ press release.

The canned seafood craze continues: EcoFish plans Freshé brand growth with DTC’s help

21-Aug-2023 By Ryan Daily

With canned seafood having a moment on TikTok and on charcuterie boards, EcoFish is tapping into the growing awareness and usage of canned seafood as it doubles down on its efforts to grow its e-commerce business in the face of retail challenges, Henry...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: TiNDLE sees long-term growth in plant-based despite current downturn

19-Aug-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Even though plant-based protein sales continued to slide in July, prompting retailers to slim down and shift offerings from the more premium placement in the refrigerated section to the freezer aisle, startup TiNDLE Foods still sees significant opportunity...

Rebellyous Foods overcomes ‘quality at scale’ challenges for plant-based protein production to close supply-demand gap

15-Aug-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

For the plant-based meat industry to close the supply and demand gap and reduce prices it must overcome what Rebellyous Foods CEO and Founder Christie Lagally describes as a “quality at scale” challenge, in which limited access to the “right tools” drives...

A temporary blip or a sign of oversaturation? Beyond Meat’s woes and the future of plant-based meat

11-Aug-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

This week, it was announced that revenue for plant-based meat brand Beyond Meat had fallen by more than 30%. Does this say more about Beyond Meat or the plant-based sector in general? Why are some consumers rejecting plant-based meat?

“Consumers abandon” plant-based meat category citing taste, nutrition, price concerns, Mintel finds

08-Aug-2023 By Ryan Daily

Between recent acquisition and slumping unit sales, the plant-based meat alternative (PBMA) market faces headwinds as consumers shift to less expensive proteins in the face of economic pressure, though all might not be lost for the category, Mintel shared...

Walmart, Amazon set for fiercer digital rivalry, as Gen Z gets critical on tech, Euromonitor finds

08-Aug-2023 By Ryan Daily

The online grocery channel is facing several headwinds in 2023, as macro-economic factors are influencing where and how consumer shop, Gen Z consumers become weary of tech, and two key market players - Walmart and Amazon - intensify their rivalry, Matthew...

Tyson Foods to close four more chicken plants to cut costs as sales continue to slip

08-Aug-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Tyson Foods will shutter four more chicken facilities as part of a “bold,” multi-point plan to improve its performance, which has struggled for years to balance supply and demand and navigate falling prices and higher costs.

Is it ‘shakedown’ time for the plant-based sector? Meat-free innovators weigh in

07-Aug-2023 By Flora Southey

With signs some plant-based makers are struggling, we ask innovators whether the meat alternative category is experiencing a slowdown, a ‘shakedown’, or other?

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: ProducePay matches grocers, growers for better supply, price stability

07-Aug-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Offering an abundant selection of fresh, high-quality, diverse fruits and vegetables is a top priority for most grocers given the produce section is often a key driver for overall store foot traffic – but according to a recent survey staying stocked is...

Is Alpha Foods’ acquisition a sign that the plant-based meat market is reaching maturity?

03-Aug-2023 By Ryan Daily

Consolidation in the plant-based meat market -- like in the case of Alpha Foods (Alpha) this week -- will likely continue into the foreseeable future, Miri Eliyahu, senior research analyst at Euromonitor, told FoodNavigator-USA.

Kraft Heinz's volumes sag after price hikes, but 4-prong plan to recapture share taking hold

03-Aug-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Despite losing market share in recent months due to higher prices and increased promotional activity by competitors, Kraft Heinz CEO Miguel Patricio says he is confident the company will meet its full year net sales targets and exceed previous gross profit...