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.
The appeal and potential for vegan products is expanding beyond the small group of people who avoid animal products for ethical reasons to include the much larger base of consumers seeking healthier, cleaner foods, according to an industry expert.
Earth’s Best and Ella’s Kitchen’s partnership with the No Kid Hungry campaign is helping to end childhood hunger in the U.S., while also expanding the organic children’s food brands’ consumer base and relationship with Walmart.
Beyond Meat - the California-based firm that claims to have unlocked the secret to making ‘near-perfect’ replicas of meat from plants – says its latest innovation, the ‘Beast Burger’, has been a hit straight out of the blocks.
While retail sales of packaged bread have been pretty sluggish in recent years, one company that’s bucking the trend is Oregon-based Dave’s Killer Bread.
Digestive issues after drinking milk are often attributed to milk protein allergy (which can be severe) or intolerance to lactose (milk sugars). But what if both of these have been ruled out and you are still experiencing mild digestive discomfort?
Supplementation with Lactobacillus reuteri Prodentis could help to reduce inflammation and other common complications associated with dental implants, according to new RCT data.
From watermelon juice with a dash of lemon; to artichoke water with ginger; maple water; coconut smoothies; caffeine water; protein-packed dairy and non-dairy beverages; and a new wave of turmeric-laced drinks, there was a wealth of beverage innovation...
FoodNavigator-USA editor Elaine Watson talked to three players in the emerging 'plant waters' category at the 2015 Natural Products Expo West trade show to find out whether they have what it takes to claw back some shelf space from coconut water...
Known for its baby carrots and premium juices, Bolthouse Farms is making healthy snacks more fun for children and easier for parents with creative packaging and flavor combinations.
While cricket flour is still something of a novelty, it’s creeping (and crawling) into more snacks as awareness – and the infrastructure to support its commercial-scale production – ramps up. Meanwhile, chia, fruit, peas, beans, ancient grains and protein...
Worldwide demand for aloe means acreage for this important botanical continues to expand in Mexico, one of the main sources of the ingredient. And that demand has been driven largely by products sold through network marketing companies, an expert says.
While ‘legacy’ food and beverage brands are laser focused on price, promotion and placement, no amount of financial clout or merchandising wizardry can mask the fact that smaller, sexier, more disruptive, brands are outpacing them. But are CPG’s biggest...
SERIAL PROTEIN FORTIFICATION RISKS COMMODIFYING CATEGORY, ANALYST WARNS
Protein fortification is here to stay, says Canadean - but analyst Kirsty Nolan warns that brands should resist the impulse to simply add it to everything and commoditize the ingredient.
'Simple Truth has been our most successful brand launch ever'
Kroger’s natural and organics brand Simple Truth notched up sales of $1.2bn in 2014, and continues to generate double digit growth, said CEO and chairman Rodney McMullen at the company’s q4 earnings call last week.
'I wouldn’t say it’s out of the question that we could be a public company'
Multinationals are snapping up smaller, more entrepreneurial brands in the natural or organic food and beverage space faster than you can say ‘because that’s where the growth is’. So will Zevia – one of the fastest-growing non-alcoholic brands in the...
Atkins Nutritionals enters the competitive frozen pizza category with the launch of a high-protein, low-carb option that it says will expand the sluggish category by bringing in consumers who do not currently shop the segment.
Research showing that 99% of sales growth from packaged food from 2008 to 2012 came from lower calorie foods is inspiring major manufacturers to more aggressively promote and launch healthier options, according to company executives and a health policy...
The meat snacks market has become considerably more dynamic lately, with new entrants piling in and existing players revamping their offer, but there’s still room for new players that can bring a fresh twist to the category, says the boss of a brand that...