Meat, fish and savory ingredients

The ‘world’s first’ alt seafood association wants to close the protein, omega gap

13-Nov-2023 By Flora Southey

The Future Ocean Foods association has several activities on the agenda, including improving the nutritional profile of alternative seafood, with a particular focus on protein and omegas.

Circana shows dollar sales up in fresh-food categories, predicts 2024 will be "year of the chicken"

13-Nov-2023 By Ryan Daily

Consumers are pushing dollar growth across bakery, deli, and produce and away from meat and seafood, but chicken might be a bright spot in 2024, Jonna Parker, principal II of fresh food at Circana, shared during a webinar.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: How plant-based players can ensure steady, long-term growth

13-Nov-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Contrary to high-profile headlines about sliding sales of meat alternatives, consumer demand for plant-based products across categories continues to climb, but for the segment to reach its full potential – and continue expanding its consumer base – new...

Futureproofing the Food System

Watch this week: FoodNavigator-USA’s digital summit explores trends in food-tech, food as medicine and the circular economy

13-Nov-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

This week, join FoodNavigator-USA and stakeholders across the supply chain, including Eat Just, The Hartman Group, Oishii, NotCo, Instacart, NIQ, Consumer Brands Association, FMI – The Food Industry Association, Cargill and more for our three-day Futureproofing...

Beyond Meat struggles continue in US, doubles down on EU expansion

10-Nov-2023 By Flora Southey

According to analysts, Beyond Meat is in ‘survival mode’, as the plant-based meat maker continues to lose share in US retail. At the same time, the company is increasing distribution across the pond, where it has observed a faster-growing market.

Consumers expect to pay more for holiday meals, continue seeking convenience from grocery retailers

10-Nov-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Thanksgiving retail is expected to see a more judicious consumer who expects to pay more this year and will seek more deals while retailers can expand food service departments with semi and fully-prepared meals to complement the majority of consumers...

Omeat completes pilot plant, moves towards cultivated meat commercialization

08-Nov-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Located in Thousand Oaks, Ca., the 15,000 square-foot pilot plant has the capacity to produce up to 400 tons of product, strengthening Omeat's path towards regulatory review and approval for a growing demand of sustainable alternative proteins.

WATCH – Down on the cultured meat farm with Ivy Farm Technologies

06-Nov-2023 By Flora Southey

Ivy Farm Technologies invites FoodNavigator to its pilot plant in Oxford, UK, to talk cultivated meat production, sustainability credentials, and plans for regulatory approval.

Food remains an issue of concern globally as food insecurity persists, suggests survey

03-Nov-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Food insecurity persists as a major problem around the world. A survey conducted by Stack Data Strategy on behalf of campaign Hungry for Action shows that concerns about the ‘supply and price of food’ consistently remains a priority among the population...

Kraft-Heinz focuses on building value through packaging, external partnerships

03-Nov-2023 By Deniz Ataman

In the wake of Kraft-Heinz's earning results, the company reported a 3.5 percentage point increase in its stocks with double digit growth in emerging markets. Carlos Abrams-Rivera, incoming CEO, Kraft-Heinz, discussed during CNBC’s Evolve Global...

Futureproofing the Food System

Exploring how consumers define ‘healthy’ through dietary patterns

02-Nov-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Consumers’ relationship with food continues to evolve through diets that target more specific needs while simultaneously shifting how they define healthy, according to results from the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Food and Health survey.

Futureproofing the Food System

What are the benefits of using data to improve nutrition and food accessibility?

01-Nov-2023 By Deniz Ataman

The food industry uses a variety of data collection methods to improve the food system and reduce diet-related illnesses by providing access to fresh and healthy food.

‘A defining feature of stem cells is that they can become other cells’: Strategies for the use of stem cells in cultivated meat production

30-Oct-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

The production of cultivated meat will need stable cell lines from multiple different species to be successful. It is produced from stem cells, which are highly flexible and can create yields with the potential to be far greater in volume than the meat...

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.

Consumers remain cautious on alt meat, as at-home food spending continues to rise, Purdue University finds

28-Aug-2023 By Ryan Daily

Consumers are opting for animal-based beef over alternatives as they face pressures from higher grocery bills and spend less on eating out, according to a recent report from Purdue University’s Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability (CFDAS)....

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...