Sweeteners (intense, bulk, polyols)

New DRY Botanical Bitters & Soda line helps DRY Soda Co. return to zero-proof lifestyle mission

20-Apr-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

With the upcoming launch of a line of DRY Botanical Bitters & Soda, the Dry Soda Co. returns to its roots as a zero-proof lifestyle pioneer at a time when the sober-curious and reduced-sugar movements are gaining momentum and consumers increasingly...

Coca-Cola Co. weighs price increases as part of ‘holistic’ inflation management to offset rising commodity costs

20-Apr-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

While the Coca-Cola Co. is protected against rising commodity costs for now, it could raise prices next year or late this year as part of a multi-prong approach to manage inflation of key ingredients and packaging materials, according to executives.

PepsiCo Q1 sales clear last year’s pandemic-inspired surge with innovations in snacks, energy drinks

15-Apr-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

PepsiCo sales during the first three months of the year sailed passed the high bar set last year when the pandemic inspired pantry loading, despite challenges during the quarter, including temporary business disruptions due to the severe winter storms...

‘The biggest challenge is communication through the supply chain…’ Many stakeholders not yet up to speed on National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard, say experts

13-Apr-2021 By Elaine Watson

Compliance with the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (NBFDS) – which requires firms with annual sales of >$2.5m to label ‘bioengineered’ foods, beverages, and supplements – is mandatory from January 1, 2022. So is the industry up to...

Should FDA require front of pack disclosures for sweeteners, juice content on children’s beverages?

08-Apr-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

Public health advocates are calling on FDA to require all children’s beverages to clearly label on the front of pack the amount of added sugar, non-nutritive sweeteners and juice in each product after research published today in Pediatric Obesity revealed...

Ingredients

Everything you needed to know about ruby chocolate, but 'were afraid to ask' …

07-Apr-2021 By Anthony Myers

Built like a handbook, The Ruby Encyclopedia from Barry Callebaut is a multi-asset tool to help US and Canada chefs explore and dive deeper into the possibilities of the latest innovation in chocolate creation.

Ingredion expands texture, stabilization capabilities, with acquisition of KaTech

01-Apr-2021 By Elaine Watson

Ingredion has acquired KaTech - a privately held company headquartered in Lübeck, Germany that provides advanced texture and stabilization solutions to the food and beverage industry - for an undisclosed sum.

‘Real honey, without bees...’ Vegan honey startup MeliBio raises pre-seed round, gears up for soft launch

30-Mar-2021 By Elaine Watson

MeliBio, the Berkeley-based startup claiming to make real honey without bees, has closed $850,000 in pre-seed funding as it gears up for a soft launch supplying food service companies with its vegan honey as a branded ingredient later this year.

Quantum Energy Squares raises $2.5m funding to become leader in energy bar category

25-Mar-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Plant-based energy bar brand Quantum Energy Squares has closed $2.5m in funding to ramp up brand awareness, and has brought on Major League Soccer (MLS) All-Star, US Soccer Male Athlete of the Year, and MLS Cup MVP, Jozy Altidore as an investor.

PepsiCo relaunches EVOLVE plant-based protein brand with new formulations, packaging

24-Mar-2021 By Elaine Watson

Two years after acquiring it as part of its $465m deal to buy CytoSport, PepsiCo has embarked on a refresh of plant-based protein brand EVOLVE with new packaging and formulations to help it stand out in a category “experiencing broader acceptance.”

Functional Beverages Webinar Available On Demand Now

Rising demand for functional benefits will help beverage segment hit hard by pandemic to recover

19-Mar-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

Shifting shopping habits and channel preferences due to the pandemic hit the non-alcoholic beverage industry hard last year, leading to an overall decline in volume and value, but rising consumer interest in functional options could be a key driver in...

SweeGen obtains GRAS status for Reb B stevia sweetener

16-Mar-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

SweeGen Bestevia Reb B steviol glycoside (stevia sweetener) has received a GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) Letter of No Objection from the FDA for use in food and beverage formulations.

GoodSport seeks to disrupt sports beverages category by ‘unlocking the power of milk’

12-Mar-2021 By Elaine Watson

It’s milk, but not as we know it, Jim… To be precise, GoodSport is dairy milk, but with the protein and fat removed via ultra-filtration, leaving a clear sugary fluid loaded with electrolytes and vitamins. But does this upcycled elixir (better known as...

‘The Cadillac of fibers…’ Upcycled ingredients startup Comet Bio gears up for commercial launch of arabinoxylan prebiotic fiber

10-Mar-2021 By Elaine Watson

Clinical data suggests that arabinoxylan – a fiber found in the cell walls of several plants – has a range of benefits from prebiotic effects to blood glucose control and immune health support. But no one has found a cost-effective way to isolate and...

'Lightly caffeinated': New caffeinated waters offer refreshing afternoon pick-me-up

05-Mar-2021 By Rachel Arthur

Free from added sugar, artificial flavors and with around half the amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee, Ocean Spray Wave – a caffeinated sparkling water with real fruit juice – is the latest drink meeting a trio of consumer demands of refreshment, energy,...

Danone North America CEO on plant-based trends, why soymilk is back in growth, and the Follow Your Heart deal

03-Mar-2021 By Elaine Watson

US retail sales of soymilk - which have declined precipitously over the past decade – have started to grow again, says Danone North America, which is spearheading the turnaround with its Silk brand, the leading player in the soymilk segment.

Chocolate milk brand Slate Milk raises $1.7m, expands distribution to 3,000 stores

18-Feb-2021 By Elaine Watson

Boston-based startup Slate Milk – which gives adults permission to keep drinking chocolate milk by dialing down the sugar, increasing the protein and packaging it as a functional beverage in shelf-stable cans - has raised $1.7m in a seed round (taking...

Ingredion signs joint venture with Grupo Arcor in South America

12-Feb-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Ingredion and Grupo Arcor -- a leading confectionery exporter in South America -- have signed a joint venture agreement to broaden food and beverage ingredient offerings in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay.

Frutly ‘teen’ beverage fills white space in ambient juice category, says PepsiCo

12-Feb-2021 By Elaine Watson

While there are plenty of beverages targeting young children, with recent launches from Kraft Heinz (Creative Roots) and Nestlé (Fruity Water) offering low or no-sugar options, there is a gap in the market for teens, claims PepsiCo, which says new launch...

Knowde launches food & nutrition online marketplace: ‘This is a massive market that is ripe for change’

10-Feb-2021 By Elaine Watson

San Jose-based Knowde – a b2b online marketplace for chemicals, ingredients and polymers - is moving into the food and nutrition industry, enabling R&D and procurement professionals to research and compare products, connect with suppliers, request...

Talking Rain talks sustainability efforts and 'extremely big expectations' for 2021

02-Feb-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Addressing its natural gas use and fleet emissions, Talking Rain (maker of Sparkling ICE) is funding over 28,000 metric tons of carbon reduction offsets through taking on ownership of three land projects in need of environmental clean up. But what significance...

Mondelēz predicts solid growth in 2021 as it gradually revs up in-house product innovation

29-Jan-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

In a challenging environment for all of the food industry, Mondelēz International posted net revenue growth of 5.6% and increased gross profit by $113m for the full year ended Dec. 31, 2020.

SimplyProtein CEO: ‘We’re aspiring to be a $100m brand in the next five years’

28-Jan-2021 By Elaine Watson

SimplyProtein – a snacking brand acquired from The Simply Good Foods Company by Toronto-based Wellness Natural last September – is generating double digit growth in the US market and has the potential to grow from a $20m to a $100m brand within five years,...

Siggi’s makes sugar reduction fun, inspirational & convenient with Palate Training Kit

27-Jan-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

A limited-supply Palate Training Kits released today from Icelandic skyr brand siggi’s takes an innovative approach to sugar reduction, which has gained prominence among consumers during the pandemic, but which continues to be stymied by taste and convenience...

Roquette and BRAIN Group to scale-up protein sweetener production

26-Jan-2021 By Jim Cornall

Roquette, a producer of plant-based ingredients for food, nutrition and health markets, biotech company BRAIN AG, and BRAIN Group company AnalytiCon Discovery have completed the R&D phase for the development of protein sweetener brazzein.

‘Sorta sweet’ does not imply low sugar, argues Snapple Beverage Corp as it urges court to toss ‘fanciful’ lawsuit

21-Jan-2021 By Elaine Watson

Does ‘sorta sweet’ imply that a product is low in sugar? Or does it simply mean that it tastes ‘kind of sweet’ (as the maker of StraightUp Tea asserts in a bid to fend off a false advertising lawsuit)?

NEWS IN BRIEF

Tate & Lyle receives Non-GMO Project Verification for crystalline allulose ingredient

20-Jan-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Tate & Lyle has received Non-GMO Project Verification for the crystalline form of its DOLCIA PRIMA Allulose sweetening ingredient.

Researchers find no short-term link between saccharin and development of diabetes

18-Jan-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

New research findings from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center found that the artificial sweetener saccharin did not alter the gut microbiota or induce glucose intolerance (an indicator of the development of diabetes) in healthy adults as...

BeyondBrands enters sugar-free chocolate category with launch of GoodSam Foods

13-Jan-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

GoodSam Foods, a new brand of no-sugar-added, direct-trade chocolate launched by BeyondBrands, has entered the sugar-free chocolate confectionery category with products sweetened with emerging sweetener allulose.

SweeGen announces successful scale-up of Reb N stevia sweetener

13-Jan-2021 By Elaine Watson

Stevia specialist SweeGen has commercialized Reb N, a lesser-known steviol glycoside “with a unique sensory profile… that makes it especially attractive for beverage applications.”

Calypso’s turnaround: New flavors, low-sugar line & fresh look lift King Juice Co.’s flavored lemonade brand

05-Jan-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

Despite category-leading velocities and strong heritage branding, sales of King Juice Company’s flavored lemonade brand Calypso were declining mid-single digits when David Klavsons became the new CEO in 2017 -- months after the original founder sold the...

2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans 'miss the mark' on added sugar, suggest “shifts” in protein consumption to “add variety"

29-Dec-2020 By Elaine Watson

The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines advise Americans to watch their sugar and alcohol consumption but fall short of recommending the drastic cuts recently suggested by the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC).

Whole Earth Brands acquires Wholesome Sweeteners in $180m deal

17-Dec-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Whole Earth Brands (parent company to Equal and Pure Via sweetener brands) has entered a definitive agreement to acquire Wholesome Sweeteners, the No. 1 organic sweetener brand by share in the organic and natural channel.

Firmenich spotlights ginger and yuzu as flavors that 'embody the spirit of the times'

16-Dec-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

This past year consumers have changed their eating and drinking habits, opting for products and ingredients they believe provide physical and emotional strength, says fragrance and taste company, Firmenich, which has recently selected ginger and yuzu...

Ocean Spray taps Amai’s ‘hyper-sweet’ protein to cut 40% sugar from cranberry juice

14-Dec-2020 By Flora Southey

Developer of ‘hyper-sweet designer proteins’, Amai Proteins, is teeing up with Ocean Spray to create a reduced sugar cranberry juice product – without compromising its ‘bold’ taste.

Could warning labels on soda reduce consumption?

08-Dec-2020 By Rachel Arthur

Displaying health warnings on sugar-sweetened drinks could be an effective way of reducing consumption, suggest US researchers, who found a 14.5% decline in consumption among students when warning labels were displayed on drinks in a college cafeteria....

What's the difference between plant-based and vegan? Foodchain ID unveils new certification schemes

07-Dec-2020 By Elaine Watson

While the terms 'plant-based' and 'vegan' might appear to be interchangeable (they both exclude animal products), consumers do not view them in quite the same way, claims Foodchain ID, which has just launched separate 'vegan,'...

GALLERY: Plant-based brands and innovations to watch in 2021

04-Dec-2020 By Elaine Watson

Plant-based eggs, bacon, and everything inbetween… check out our gallery of plant-based brands and innovations to watch in 2021, from NotCo and Black Sheep Foods to Gold & Green. There are of course SCORES of exciting brands not covered here; this...

NEWS IN BRIEF

Tate & Lyle acquires US-based stevia supplier Sweet Green Fields

01-Dec-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Tate & Lyle has acquired Washington state-based stevia supplier Sweet Green Fields (SGF), strengthening the global ingredients company’s stevia solutions and capabilities by creating a fully-integrated supply chain along with unified research and...

Eclipse Foods moves into retail, raises $12m Series A: ‘We’re following the Beyond Meat playbook’

17-Nov-2020 By Elaine Watson

Many plant-based dairy brands are built around ‘hero’ ingredients such as almond or coconut. At Eclipse Foods, by contrast, the mission is to replicate the taste and functionality of real dairy, and the brand, which could span multiple dairy platforms,...

Webinar Tomorrow: Meeting Children’s Nutritional Needs from conception through the teenage years

17-Nov-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Children’s dietary patterns are mostly set by the time they turn 2 years old, which doesn’t leave a lot of wiggle room for indulging picky eaters if caregivers want their kids to grow up eating – and liking – a wide variety of healthy, nutrient-dense...

Rip Van rides e-commerce wave: 'We’re one of the fastest-growing brands on Amazon within grocery'

16-Nov-2020 By Elaine Watson

Rip Van Winkle* slept for 20 years and woke up to find the world had completely changed. The founders of Rip Van came up with a snack while studying at Brown University in 2010 (inspired by Washington Irving’s famous fictional slumberer), worked like...

NERD rebrands and expands as nootropics beverage trend gains steam

11-Nov-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Following its acquisition by Beverage USA Holdings Inc. (BevUSA) earlier this year, mental acuity beverage company NERD is on track to become a nationally-recognized brand with new retail distribution, an expanded direct-to-consumer business, and refreshed...

Kaylee’s Culture builds test market for kids bubbly probiotic water: ‘It’s not another juicebox’

03-Nov-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

The market for functional yet fun drinks that parents feel good about giving their kids – and that kids want to drink – is narrow, and a pain point for many parents combing store shelves looking for something other than a juice, water, or milk product,...

SweeGen starts commercial production of Reb I stevia sweetener

02-Nov-2020 By Elaine Watson

Stevia specialist SweeGen has started commercial production of Reb I, a lesser-known steviol glycoside “with its own unique and distinct taste” that works well in a wide range of food and beverage applications.

WEBINAR Nov. 4: FOOD FOR KIDS Beverage Trends

28-Oct-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Kids are drinking less milk and juice as they get older, but what are they drinking instead, and is it good for them? How do parents evaluate what types of drinks are good for kids? What are parents looking for on food labels?

DouxMatok partners with Canadian sugar refiner Lantic to take next-gen enhanced sugar to North American market

28-Oct-2020 By Elaine Watson

DouxMatok, the Israeli firm behind patented technology that makes sugar taste sweeter, has struck a deal with Canadian sugar refiner Rogers Sugar, parent of Lantic, to manufacture commercial quantities of its ‘enhanced’ sugar, with the first products...

ADM shares top 5 food trends for 2021: ‘It’s going to be a year of innovation, marked by significant breakthroughs in nutrition’

27-Oct-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Influenced by feelings of stress and anxiety, shifting priorities caused by the ongoing pandemic, and changes in social connectivity, consumers are taking a more holistic and proactive approach to health and wellness, according to a new report from ADM....

FDA invites comment on nutrition labeling of sugars that are metabolized differently than traditional sugars

19-Oct-2020 By Elaine Watson

The FDA – which recently said allulose does not have to be listed as added or total sugar on food labels – is now inviting comment on whether other sugars that are not metabolized in the same way as traditional sugars (such as isomaltulose and D-tagatose)...

Whole Foods reveals top 10 food trends for 2021

19-Oct-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Heavily influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, Whole Foods Market has unveiled its top 10 food trends for 2021, which include revitalized “epic” breakfast meals and culinary-inspired baby food, to growing consumer adoption of fringe cooking oils and food...