The salty snacks category is notoriously competitive, but as Hippeas has proved, you can cut through the noise if you have a distinct proposition coupled with bold, fun and impactful packaging, says Greenwave Foods president and CEO Raymond Chung, who...
Attorney: 'I would be surprised if the USDA acts on this petition'
Producing ‘clean’ meat by culturing cells – instead of raising or slaughtering animals - is a new frontier in food production that will require consumer education and transparent labeling. But should regulators prevent pioneers in this space from using...
'The shoulders of the Kite Hill brand can hold many product platforms'
Almondmilk-fueled brand Kite Hill could potentially play in multiple categories in the ambient, chilled and frozen aisles of the store, says new CEO Rob Leibowitz , who plans to sit down with co-founder Tal Ronnen in the weeks ahead to explore opportunities...
“So the ketogenic diet, sure, it will cause you to lose weight in the short term. So would cholera, or a cocaine binge, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea,” observed Dr David Katz at the 7th International Congress on Vegetarian Nutrition (ICVN) this...
A new marketing campaign from Chosen Foods aims to change the way Americans think about health and wellness from an all-or-nothing mentality to one that values small but sustainable changes, such as using the company’s avocado oils as a better-for-you...
Cellular agriculture start-up Perfect Day – which is creating ‘vegan’ dairy proteins without cows – has raised $24.7m in a Series A funding round led by Singapore state-owned investment company Temasek.
People on a primarily plant-based diet are consistently slimmer and healthier than meat eaters, with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers and type 2 diabetes, according to research unveiled at the 7th International Congress on Vegetarian...
Novel ‘grape-like’ refrigerated fruit bites made from fruit and veggie purees held together with fibers will start shipping to the produce section of 500+ stores in New England in April, says brand owner Incredible Foods, the firm behind allergy-friendly...
Preparing delicious healthy home cooked meals every night requires inspiration, time and energy: things most working people are short of, hence, the growth of meal kits. But not everyone can afford them, is comfortable with the amount of packaging they...
Rules governing which foods and beverages are credited under child nutrition programs* need updating to reflect changing eating habits and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, says the Good Food Institute (GFI), which wants schools to have the option...
'No one wants to pay more than they have to for groceries...'
Consumers are tired of cavernous stores with “90 different jars of pasta sauce,” said Tom Cindel, director of operations at ALDI’s Moreno Valley, CA, division, pointing to a shelf at the recently opened store in Monrovia, CA. “We just buy this one, it’s...
With today’s launch of a new line of dairy-free, probiotic yogurt drinks, Califia Farms hopes to repeat the success it had when it entered the nut-milk category, and at the same time increase the transparency of marketing probiotics.
The steady growth of Kashi’s Certified Transitional program in the past two years along with positive consumer and retailer response to the protocol shows how paying more for ingredients from farms in the process of becoming certified organic can also...
“At the beginning I thought our audience would be mostly vegans, but what I’ve realized is that a lot of people are just looking to try new things, especially high-quality alternative, premium, or gourmet food products,” says the chef behind dairy-free...
Love and passion, not a bottomless bank account and fierce competitive spirit, are the cornerstones for Bob’s Red Mill’s longevity and success, according to founder Bob Moore, who recently celebrated his 89th birthday and has overseen operations at the...
Responding to consumers’ increasingly fragmented dietary preferences, GoMacro revamps the packaging for its low-sugar Thrive bars to better communicate “how accommodating” the protein bars are for a variety of restrictions and needs, according to the...
Insufficient funds may have forced entrepreneur Scott Joseph to pull his beverage brand Chimp Food from store shelves just as large orders were starting to come in, but he isn’t giving up – rather he says he is ready to come back stronger with new branding...
Natural and organic products specialist Hain Celestial is expecting to “double or even triple” ecommerce sales over the next two to three years as it dedicates more resources to boosting online sales.
Significant percentage of consumers buy plant-based dairy alternatives because they think they are healthier, reveals Comax study
While flavor is still the most important attribute, consumer research from Comax Flavors reveals that a significant percentage of shoppers (36%) regularly consuming plant-based dairy alternatives cite health benefits as a key purchase driver, results...
A highly functional, neutral-tasting chickpea flour that mimics the functionality of wheat flour but also “behaves like modified starch in some applications” could significantly improve the organoleptic and nutritional profile of gluten-free pastas, baked...
Creamier than a sorbet, but far lower in fat and calories than dairy ice cream and most dairy-free alternatives, Hakuna Banana is seeking to carve a novel niche in the frozen desserts aisle, co-founder Hannah Hong told Elaine Watson at the Specialty Food...
An infusion of $30 million into Harmless Harvest’s coffers by strategic investors who believe in “constructive capitalism” will help the refrigerated coconut water manufacturer expand production and distribution in a way that also benefits the Thai communities...
First peanut milk... next protein shakes and ice cream? 'The sky is really the limit...'
Elmhurst Milked peanut milk - which has the protein content and creamy mouthfeel of dairy milk without the thickeners, emulsifiers and stabilizers deployed in most plant-based beverages - could form a base ingredient in protein shakes, yogurts and frozen...
Register now for our FREE-to-attend online beverage innovation summit Feb 21
Could cold brew tea be as big as cold brew coffee? Is there a legal definition of kombucha… and a ‘correct’ way to manufacture it? Are consumers paying attention to the debate over the nutritional merits of plant-based versus dairy milks?
To standout in an increasingly crowded category and manage rising consumer concerns about sugar, juice manufacturers are incorporating more exotic ingredients while also streamlining formulas and playing with new formats, according to one industry player.
A new study from McGill University in Canada compared four of the most commonly consumed dairy alternative beverages (almond, soy, rice, and coconut) and determined that soy was the most comparable substitute to cow’s milk in terms of nutrition.
Formulations have undeniably improved, but some plant-based yogurts still have a “gelatinous” and “weird” quality, observed Ripple Foods founder Neil Renninger last year (“Let’s not mince words… some of these products are terrible…”). So can new market...
Ridged plantain chips – Barnana’s first foray into the large, but notoriously competitive salty snacks aisle – are a logical adjacency for the banana-obsessed brand that will take it further into the snacking mainstream, says CMO and co-founder Nik Ingersöll.
Pique Tea’s clean sweep of gold medals in all three categories of the Global Tea Championships that it entered validates the company’s effort to elevate the quality of instant tea, which often is derided as the lowest class, to that of the industry’s...
The current rollout of national hummus brand Tribe’s new packaging featuring more white space, simplistic designs and fewer claims reflects the manufacturer’s recent commitment to clean label, including a reformulation to remove artificial ingredients,...
If some commentators are predicting a pitched battle between plant-based, animal-based, and cellular agriculture, Tyson Foods - the largest meat-packer in the US is clearly more agnostic about its protein sources – with its venture arm taking a minority...
Despite downward price pressure in the nutrition bar category, Bobo’s continues to sell its organic oat bars for nearly three times as much as its competitors – helping it curry favor with retailers and earn prime in-store positioning that further boosts...
The plant-based creamer category has grown considerably more competitive since nutpods launched in early 2015 with its coconut-and-almond-based wares, but revenues surged 500% in 2017 for the Bellevue, WA-based brand, which has just completed a series...
Moringa, turmeric, mushrooms, coconuts, pulses, ‘alternative’ flours (cassava, nuts) and sweeteners (maguey sap, yacon syrup), were given top billing in a flurry of new products at the 2018 Winter Fancy Food Show, where trend-spotters also got to taste...
Consumer demand for products that are healthier for them is quickly expanding to include those that also are better for the environment – creating new opportunities for companies that strive to be more sustainable and barriers for those that do not, according...
Faba Butter uses aquafaba – the viscous liquid left over from cooking chickpeas – to bind water, coconut oil and a plant-based liquid oil to create a vegan buttery spread claimed to blow rivals out of the water. Elaine Watson caught up with brand owner...
For the first time, Generation Z is emerging as an influencer in grocery spending and early indications suggests that they will favor more organic, healthy products as well as authentic and multicultural offerings, according to new research from Acosta....
The nut butter aisle has expanded well beyond the humble peanut in recent years, with almond, cashew and hazelnut options in many retailers. But walnuts present more of a challenge, says new market entrant Wellnut Farms.
What are the key beverage trends - and companies - to watch in 2018?
One of the most exciting players in the fast-growing meal replacement space, Soylent built its business – and a highly engaged community – online, first on its own website, and later on Amazon, but has recently ventured into the bricks and mortar space...
Busy parents who don’t have time to chop & puree food for their babies and who distrust premade food in jars, pouches or HPP tubs, now have another option that meets them half way: Raised Real offers subscription flash frozen meal kits for children...
‘Stealth nutrition’ brand Sneakz Organic – best known for its veggie puree-infused milkshakes - is entering a new category with the launch of vegan protein powders for kids, which will be followed by a dairy-free ready-to-drink shake, and new products...
As a newcomer to the highly competitive and increasingly crowded plant-based non-dairy category, Oatly stands out for its nutrition, function, flavor and fun packaging, according to consumers who tried the beverage ahead of its US launch compliments of...
Hoping to overcome sales-limiting stereotypes about prunes and expand when and how people consume them, the California Dried Plum Board is teaming with the meal kit provider Chef’d to showcase the dried fruit’s diverse uses and benefits in three new meals...
From cannabis cuisine - Jeff Sessions’ recent interventions notwithstanding - to ‘intrinsic nutrition' (a renewed focus on nutrient-dense foods naturally rich in healthy fats, protein, fiber, and other nutrients), here are 10 macro trends to watch...
Urban Remedy, a plant-based food company specializing in organic ready-to-eat meals, snacks, and cold pressed juices, has closed a $17m series B fundraising round with lead investment from 301 INC, General Mills’ venture arm, and attracted natural products...
A joint venture between ingredient suppliers Cargill and PURIS announced today will allow for the significant expansion of pea protein production at a time when more consumers are looking for plant-based options that deliver health benefits, are sustainable...
For all the strides plant-based diets made in 2017, including the growing popularity of veggie burgers that bleed, cauliflower rice and zucchini noodles, new cuts of meat is predicted to be the number one food trend to watch in 2018, according to the...
Most food and beverage startups dream of expanding from a local brand serving only a handful of stores to one that is nationally distributed to hundreds or thousands of retailers, but the logistics of getting there can be a nightmare if not carefully...
The FDA has signaled its intent to “modernize certain standards of identity” in its 2018 strategic roadmap, suggesting that it might, after all, weigh into the plant-based ‘milk’ and ‘cheese’ debate in 2018, although it has not clarified which standards...
An estimated 70% of purchasers of the plant-based Beyond Burger are flexitarians - meat eaters that are cutting down on meat – as opposed to hardcore vegans or vegetarians, validating the initially controversial decision to merchandise the product in...