Dr Pepper Snapple Group has invested $15m in a minority stake in Bai Brands, which has generated explosive growth in multiple retail channels with its 'antioxidant infusion' low-calorie Bai5 beverages.
It’s no secret that smaller, emerging brands are winning the battle for consumers’ hearts, minds and wallets from larger, established players in the US food and beverage industry, but which ‘challenger’ brands really stand out in the crowd? And what are...
Several well-established manufacturers are stepping out of their comfort zones and expanding into new categories or updating iconic brands to meet consumers’ ostensibly insatiable desire for protein-packed snacks.
While Trader Joe’s gets plenty of plaudits, its German parent company ALDI – which operates nearly 1,400 stores in 32 US states - is probably “the most underestimated grocery retailer” in the nation, according to a new report from market researcher Hartman...
From the purveyors of banana flour to chickpea pasta, barrel-aged tea, chilled nutrition bars, gourmet oatmeal and upmarket cottage cheese, here's FoodNavigator-USA's latest pick of entrepreneurs to watch in the US food and beverage market.
While their sophisticated flavor profile and branding might seem a natural fit for Whole Foods Market, Brewla gourmet ice pops – made from brewed tea, coffee and root beer – are also on sale at Walmart, proving that the brand has broad appeal, say co-founders...
A new form of non-GMO plant-based protein boasting an amino acid profile comparable to whey, plus high levels of calcium and other nutrients, is now available in commercial quantities from Parabel Ltd, which has developed a proprietary process for producing...
Manufacturers are cautiously reinvesting in tempeh, which is well-positioned to capitalize on multiple growing consumer trends, but they realize that before it can take-off it must clear a major hurdle: Most consumers have never heard of it.
US sales of specialty foods blasted through the $100bn barrier in 2014, with retail ($85.5bn) and foodservice sales ($24bn) combined hitting $109.5bn, up 10.3% on 2013 sales of $99.3bn, according to a new report from the Specialty Food Association using...
Analysis of dietary intake data* in the USA, Mexico, the UK and France has revealed that meeting World Health Organization (WHO) targets for potassium and sodium - but at the same time complying with government healthy eating guidelines - is virtually...
Subscription snack box company Love With Food helps natural snack manufacturers drive brand awareness and sales by sampling their products directly to consumers’ doors for a fraction of the cost and labor of in-store demonstrations, according to the company’s...
Nutrigenomics – the idea of optimising nutrition via individualised and/or pooled genetic data – is one that has long promised to revolutionise how we eat – not to mention keeping us healthy and out of hospitals. Are converging technologies about to deliver...
From obesity to malnutrition and water scarcity, the world is facing an ever-growing number of food-related problems. But how responsible is the food industry for fighting back against these issues?
60-second interview: Lisa Andrews, research & development assistant, Wixon
Edible insects - crickets in particular – have picked up a lot of positive PR lately as firms look for alternative sources of protein. But what is cricket flour like to work with? FoodNavigator-USA caught up with Lisa Andrews (LA), research & development...
“Bamboo Water can reach the amazing eco and health conscious movement on our planet”
Bamboo Water could harness the neglected nutritional properties of bamboo leaves to create a drink that is both healthy and ecologically sustainable, says the co-founder of Bamboo Beverages.
Choice in the modern food system is something of a two edged sword. More options are available now than ever, but this abundance can also create more stress for consumers or manufacturers seeking a particular type of product. A new data service called...
Fruits and vegetables are “hot” right now,but sales do not have to be restricted to the produce section of the grocery store thanks in part to innovations from Taura Natural Ingredients that allow shelf stable foods and snacks in the center of the store...
A study that claimed men who eat fruits and vegetables with higher levels of pesticide residues could have lower sperm count should be interpreted with caution, said health professionals.
Bursting with nutrients and boasting an impressive growth rate, the future of hemp seed is bright– but what’s the best way for manufacturers to cash in on a product that is connected – mistakenly but understandably – with an illegal drug?
The proliferation of snacks along with the growing number of ways to get them has created too many options for consumers who, above all else, like a limited variety to suit their needs, says David Calabrese, founder of San Francisco-based HealthyCheats,...
Fig Food Inc.’s low-sodium, locally-sourced, vegan soups and cooked beans are not only healthy for consumers, but thanks to their eye-catching, BPA-free pouches they also are healthy for the earth and the business’ bottom line, the company founder said.
Yogurt manufacturers are rolling out a wide variety of new products to drive consumer interest in and consumption of the dairy product in an attempt to boost sales, which have slowed in recent years after experiencing astronomical growth for several years...
Long before “gluten-free,” “sustainable” and “organic” held the marketing sway they do now, Liz Ward wanted to channel her passion for organic agriculture and social justice into a naturally nutritionally dense food product by creating BumbleBar, an all...
Washington, D.C.-based startup Undone Chocolate is on a mission to combine flavor and health and to succeed it is willing to pay three times more than the premium price for Fair Trade to secure the highest quality cacao beans farm direct.
New research suggesting sourcing recipes online, in print and in person may be healthier than from television could shed light on marketing opportunities for food and beverage companies with healthier or better-for-you options.
Cereal fiber has a ‘potentially protective’ role, say US researchers, after a study showed that people with the highest intake of cereal fiber had a 19% lower risk of death.
The recommended daily fiber intake is 25-30g, but most Americans get only about half that amount, according to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, which notes that aside from gut health benefits, fiber may also “play a role in preventing coronary...
Two months following the premiere of the first-ever fresh produce TV advertisement during the Super Bowl as part of a $46 million marketing campaign, Avocados From Mexico (AFM) says its big investment is paying off as avocado imports are up by record...
Banza chickpea pasta has twice the protein and four times the fiber of regular wheat pasta
While a lot of the sexy stuff in grocery is happening in snacks and beverages, Detroit-based start-up Banza is on a mission to disrupt a mature, shelf-stable category bang in the center of the store: pasta.
Natural flavoring manufacturer Blue Pacific Flavors will distribute MycoTechnology Inc.’s full food technology portfolio as part of a global strategic partnership announced this month.
Consumers may be seeking more healthy and fresh foods in general, but when it comes to snacks, more people want an indulgent treat than something good for them, according to marketing data from IRI.
Ginger, turmeric and sprouted grains are hot, while kale and Greek yogurt are cooling off, according to trend watchers at Rabobank International who walked the floor at the 2015 Natural Products Expo West show in Anaheim earlier this month.
While multiple factors from price to functionality determine which fiber is best for any given application, chicory root fiber (inulin) is gaining ground with many food formulators owing to its non-GMO credentials and the fact that consumers see it as...
Trans-fat bans, and limiting the availability of sugary and fatty foods are the best ways to battle obesity, while nutrition information fails to deliver benefits, says a new review of anti-obesity policies.
A judge in Illinois has thrown out a class action lawsuit against KIND LLC over “no refined sugars” claim on its Healthy Grains products, which contain evaporated cane juice, a form of sugar, and molasses.
Manufacturers are rolling out a vast array of new oatmeal products in an effort to meet consumers’ growing demand for healthier fiber- and protein-packed breakfasts and to offset declines in cold cereal sales in the U.S.
Food giant General Mills is tearing a page from the playbook of the start-ups and small brands with which it competes to change how it develops and markets new products.
Ready-to-eat popcorn sales surged 60% to $750m between 2012 and 2014, while microwave popcorn sales dropped 8% to $830m, so what lessons can we learn from all this?
The beauty-from-within market is one of those that is perennially not quite ready for prime time, at least in North America. But officials at Taiyo International believe that’s about to change, and the company stands ready to benefit with a green tea...
As consumers’ understanding of food as a health management tool expands, retailers nationwide are changing how they stock and promote products to better drive sales and be considered a wellness destination, a recent survey reveals.
From all-day grazing to the 20% YoY growth in meat-based snacks, the merits of cricket flour, when and how to raise capital, nutrient density and guerrilla marketing, the FoodNavigator-USA Snacking Trends Forum covered a lot of ground. Here are some of...
Balancing protein intake throughout the day - rather than having the bulk as part of an evening meal - helped participants in a study to boost muscle gain by nearly 20% and lose weight, Nestlé researchers have found.
Two or three years ago, you could count the number of US firms using cricket flour in food products on the fingers of one hand; today there are more than 30 companies making everything from bars to cookies.
One out of 13 children in North America has food allergies today compared with one in 50 in 1990, and in the next couple of years, it’s going to be about one in 10, according to allergen-friendly foods brand Enjoy Life Foods.