From savory yogurt and seaweed chips to healthy vending and protein-packed frozen yogurt, here's FoodNavigator-USA's pick of 10 entrepreneurs and CEOs to watch in food and beverage in 2014.
Super Bowl parties are communal snacking events where consumers are open to trying new products, giving smaller brands a fighting chance, says Euromonitor.
Many big brands are “playing a waiting game” right now to see whether moves by General Mills and Post Foods to axe GMOs from iconic brands (Cheerios and Grape Nuts) will have a domino effect, say analysts at Euromonitor International.
It takes no genius to realize that if you deliver ready-made, healthy, portion-controlled snacks to the millennial snacker they’ll gobble the concept right up. What it does take a genius to do is to give that concept legs.
General Mills has filed a patent for salt-flavored fat particles that enable cost effective sodium reduction and fat replacement in baked dough products.
If its ‘sprouted’ form, non-GMO, non-allergenic and vegan credentials give consumers a warm and fuzzy feeling; its low price, amino acid profile and smooth texture are also winning over formulators, claims one firm promoting the latest plant protein on...
Cereals giant Post Foods has unveiled non-GMO verified Original Grape Nuts, just days after General Mills announced it had reformulated Original Cheerios to remove GMOs.
Mondelez International reached its 2015 goal of sourcing 100% RSPO-certified palm oil for all its purchases last year – two years ahead of schedule, the company has said.
Stabilized rice bran ingredients specialist RiceBran Technologies has struck a multi-year distribution and supply agreement with Hela Spice Canada Inc. to sell its products in Canada.
While federal GMO labeling bills introduced to the House of Representatives and the Senate last year are still gaining co-sponsors, Congress does not need to pass them for the FDA to take action and fulfil a pledge Barack Obama made on the campaign trail...
THE FOODNAVIGATOR-USA BUSINESS LEADERS ROUND TABLE DEBATE
Some people are repulsed by the idea of eating insects – but those aren’t the people to target when trying to introduce insect consumption to the mainstream, says edible insect expert Professor Arnold van Huis.
Smart Balance, best known for its heart-healthier buttery spreads, sticks and other products, has made a move into the snacks category with the launch of Smart Balance Peanut Butter Popcorn Nuggets.
Bell Flavors & Fragrances has unveiled its annual list of the top flavor trends to watch in the next 12 months, from a new wave of Asian flavors to aromatic herbs used in traditional Andean dishes.
The manufacturers of a soy-, nut-, dairy- and gluten-free protein bar are hoping to make allergy-friendly products more accessible for on-the-go consumers with national distribution on Amazon.com and a strong community of backers who helped the bar launch...
Olam Spices & Vegetable Ingredients (SVI) - the world’s leading supplier of dehydrated onion, garlic, and capsicums and a leading player in tomatoes - has expanded and upgraded its 85,300sq ft spice processing facility in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
The FDA’s proposal to revoke the GRAS status of partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) in a bid to oust artificial trans fats from the US diet “is extreme… and other options should be explored”, says soybean industry collaborative Qualisoy.
Anti-GMO activists have reacted with fury to leaked proposals by the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) to develop federal rules governing GMO labeling that would pre-empt state-driven initiatives.
The entrepreneur who proved that vending machines can dispense more than candy and soda and still make a decent return has taken the H.U.M.A.N. Healthy Vending concept to the next level with the launch of a new breed of self-service ‘micro markets’.
General Mills is experimenting with a concept that ships snacks directly to consumers through a subscription service. Called Nibblr, the service offers four small boxes of various snacks for $6.
Industry attempts to self-regulate the advertising of food and drinks on children's television programs are ‘unsuccessful’ and ‘ineffective’, says a new study from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
The debate rages on over whether government should have a say in what consumers eat and drink, as the high-profile proposed cap on soda sizes brought the issue into the limelight in 2013. For the trade associations representing the beverage and snack...
Trans fats have been discussed for nearly two decades rendering the FDA’s extended comment period trivial in the grand scheme of things, says the innovation insights director at Datamonitor Consumer.
Achieving salt intakes in line with the recommendations may reduce stroke cases by 6%, but many consuming are still consuming way too much, says a new analysis from The Netherlands.
The University of Florida will further research to develop drought resistant peanuts – a big need for industry in light of extreme weather conditions, its lead crop physiologist says.
Corn - and more specifically high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) - has a “very serious image problem”, says Corn Refiners Association (CRA) president and CEO John Bode, and he’s on a mission to do something about it.
What are food manufacturers looking for? Plentiful supplies of water, great transport links, a skilled workforce, low-taxes, easy access to raw materials?
Fiery flavors, popped chips and retail-ready pack designs were some of the biggest trends for snack makers this year, according to trade heads in Europe and the US.
A broad and mixed range of healthy and traditional snacks is important as snacking becomes a way of life for Americans, the CEO of the Snack Food Association (SFA) says.
Fed up with the day job? Looking to kickstart your career as you enter 2014? In the spirit of Christmas, we've rounded up the hottest new roles in food and beverage on FoodNavigatorJobs, the first global job portal dedicated to the food and beverage...
The FoodNavigator-USA business leaders round table debate
What are the hottest trends in food and beverage? And are the big bucks really in blue-sky innovation, or have the most successful firms played with an existing concept and just done a better job at executing, marketing and selling it?
What might give the food and beverage industry's regulatory affairs teams sleepless nights in 2014? From more evaporated cane juice lawsuits to proposed changes to the Nutrition Facts panel, stay up to date with this FoodNavigator-USA gallery…
Consumer packaged goods companies are underestimating the growth potential of online sales and still lack clear e-commerce strategies, according to a new study from consulting firm Deloitte LLP.
Amid mounting false advertising lawsuits and increased pressure from consumer advocacy groups, the future of the historically vague marketing term "natural" is in question.
From maple water to ‘brogurt’, posh jerky, seaweed chips, purple corn, gourmet popcorn and non-GMO labels; what were the hottest trends of 2013, and what’s on the menu for 2014?
Packaged food companies continue to see mid-range market share stolen from an increasingly sophisticated store brand segment. So they’ll look to stay relevant with continued focus on convenience and popular messaging like high protein.