Powdered beverage brand TRUWILD’s growing pains and path forward
Rapid growth and supply chain hurdles prompt the outdoor-focused brand to consider new strategies and possibly investors
Health, wellness & nutrition
GLP-1-friendly snacks: protein-packed NPD
Weightloss drugs are changing the way people snack and brands are answering with protein-packed launches designed to keep cravings at bay while delivering serious flavor.
Oobli builds out sweet protein platform with third FDA ‘no questions’ letter
FDA acknowledges brazzein-54, advancing Oobli’s nature-identical sweet protein toolkit to reduce sugar
Inside Danone’s new OneBiome Lab in Paris
We take a sneak peek inside Danone’s brand-new laboratory and find out why it’s wholly focused on one area of research
September Launch Pad: Women’s health, hydration and longevity lead the way
This month highlights a particular focus on women’s hormonal health, sports nutrition, hydration, gut health and beauty-from-within.
Activia’s ‘glow up’: How Danone is modernizing a legacy brand for the next generation
The brand is betting on a “gut health glow-up,” refreshing its brand and product lineup to win over the next generation of wellness-minded consumers
Healthy snacking surges – Conagra and Mondelēz taking notice
Savvy consumers are seeking better-for-you options with functional benefits, according to Spate
Healthy snacking trends
Släcka aims to redefine healthy snacking with ‘snack in a can’
Within the saturated functional beverage market, Släcka is betting on cravings instead of energy to stand out
Healthy Snacking
Wild Fox Foods brings bold flavor and clean labels to nuts, trail mix and protein bars
The team behind Kevin’s Natural Foods aims for the snack aisle with a line up of protein bars, roasted nuts and trail mixes
How Gen Z made Free From the flavor of modern wellness
Forget bland gluten-free loaves and chalky sugar-free chocolate. For Gen Z, Free From is culture, not compromise and it’s rewriting what health and indulgence look like
From Oreos to Ozempic: Inside the $100bn Free From race
Gluten-free cookies, sugar-free chocolate and GLP-1 diets are colliding. The world’s biggest food makers are scrambling to stay relevant
ADM fast-tracks regenerative ag with farmer-first, manufacturer-backed strategies
Clear definitions, financial incentives and collaboration with stakeholders across the value chain helped ADM expand regenerative agriculture practices from hundreds of growers to more than 28,000 farmers on more than 5 million acres globally
Why General Mills is cheering on the GLP-1 boom
Weight-loss drugs threaten to cut calorie consumption, but General Mills sees opportunity in a leaner consumer, betting big on protein, fiber and smarter supply chains
Huel raises the bar for functional beverages with Daily Greens RTD
Product launch taps surging demand for convenient, benefit-focused drinks with proven results
Whole Foods Market shoppers are changing – here is what it means for brands
A senior leader at Whole Foods Market shares how the retailer’s shopper demographics and psychographics are evolving – from lapsed holiday buyers to aspirational Gen Z – and what that means for product placement and marketing opportunities
Diet emerges as a key driver for healthy aging – revealing challenges and opportunities for food and beverage brands
A US News & World Report survey shows nearly half of health professionals rank diet over exercise and sleep as a contributor to aging well, signaling a chance for food and beverage brands to showcase nutrient-dense and clean-label products
Purged NIH scientist: America sees historic reduction in biomedical research support
Kevin Hall, a former senior investigator at NIH, says MAHA children’s report fails to address ultra-processed food threat
California’s UPF school ban heads to Gov. Newsom’s desk, sparks divided reactions
The legislation received bipartisan support to ban ultra-processed foods in California public schools and is on its way to Gov. Gavin Newsom, while industry stakeholders express mixed support on economy, school infrastructure and nutrition
FDA’s ‘Stork Speed’ initiative draws both praise and skepticism from formula stakeholders
Can FDA move at ‘Stork Speed?’ Industry voices support – and doubt
Hydration powders quench consumer demand
Category growth fuels retail wins as DryWater scales to 6,000 Walgreens locations
MAHA child health report calls for reforms, lacks specifics
RFK unveils sweeping plan targeting ultra-processed foods and pesticides, while critics call the proposal toothless
Stakeholders agree that nutrition belongs in medicine - the debate is how
While the link between diet and health outcomes is indisputable, the question of how nutrition knowledge should be integrated into medical training remains contested
From field to aisle: Regenerative won’t work without supply chain buy-in
Heartland Craft Grains’ pact with Grown Climate Smart proves regenerative certification is becoming a supply-chain movement
News Bites
Energy drinks, snack trends and a big split
Energy drinks, snacking behaviors and corporate restructuring made headlines this week, underscoring how rapidly the food and beverage landscape is shifting under competitive and consumer pressures
Why the refrigerated aisle is ripe for cpg innovation
Data from NFRA and case studies from brands like GoodBelly and Egglife highlight how chilled formats meet consumer demand for freshness and wellness
Meat stick brand Singing Pastures leans into clean nutrition and joy
The company’s storytelling piques the interest of consumers who crave ethical protein and expands appeal to women consumers
News Bites: Beef tallow surge, fall flavors beyond pumpkin spice and SNAP impact
This week’s top stories explore beef tallow’s viral rise, new fall flavor trends and how SNAP policy changes are reshaping value-driven innovation
Have children’s cereals quietly turned into empty calories?
Forget sugar for a moment. A new analysis shows kids’ cereals are steadily losing the very nutrients that once made them worth eating at all
RFK Jr. and social media drive beef tallow market surge
Beef tallow’s resurgence signals broader shock in the edible oils market with many CPG brands rethinking marketing messaging around fats and replacing seed oils
Levelle Nutrition pioneers Cycle-Syncing Protein Powder for women: ‘Being first-to-market comes with responsibility’
Co-founder and CEO Linda Alvarez discusses the timely launch of Cycle Syncing Protein and its broader cultural and scientific significance for women’s nutrition
Beyond pumpkin spice: The emerging fall flavors brewing in 2025
For years, pumpkin spice has ruled the autumn beverage scene – the undisputed seasonal champion. But this year, it’s facing new contenders that are stirring up excitement among consumers and brands alike
Why manufacturers should note rising PCOS levels
With 1 in 10 women affected by polycystic ovary syndrome, savvy brands can fill a growing dietary need, but solutions need scientific support
What makes a GLP-1-friendly yogurt drink? Danone tells all
By formulating a dairy drink that specifically caters for weight loss medication users, Danone has set a new standard with Oikos Fusion
Water kefir: A new gut-health growth opportunity?
Kefir’s dairy-free twin has enormous growth potential
Leaked MAHA draft promotes deregulation and voluntary compliance
Critics warn the Trump administration’s deregulatory approach and preference for voluntary change, reflected in the second draft of t Make America Healthy Again report, could make America ‘sicker, hungrier and more at risk from unsafe food
Summer Fancy Food Show 2025
What makes charcuterie premium?
From sourcing and ingredients to production methods, Marco Ortolani, CEO of Italian cured meat producer Rovagnati North America, shares the key elements the company prioritizes for its Italian and North American markets
Top proteins trends in 2025: From cell cultivated to plant-based
A deep dive into the consumer shifts, ingredient innovations and market opportunities redefining the global protein landscape
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
5 trends driving specialty cheese sales towards $9.2 billion by 2030
Friesland Campina, Cypress Grove and The Melting Pot unpack how they balance consumer demand for health, indulgence and value to drive sales of specialty cheese, despite its premium pricing, in a difficult economy
Longevity bars may signal what’s next in functional snacking
Ingredient innovation and demand for preventive health drive growth in the nutrition and snack bar category
A turning point for ultra-processed foods?
A CDC report reveals a dip in calories consumed from ultra-processed foods, but highlights five categories that are sticking points for most Americans and which could represent white space for clean-label innovation
Are superfoods the next jam in preserves?
While blueberries, strawberries, oranges and raspberries offer notable health benefits, preserves made from these sweet and tart varieties often lag in nutritional value - largely due to added sugars, which have become a source of consumer skepticism
The state of menopause: Report highlights miseducation, lack of support, opportunities
The 5th Annual State of Menopause study found that many perimenopausal women were left feeling misunderstood, misdiagnosed and unclear about her options.
August Launch Pad
Pumpkins, packed lunches and collaborations: CPGs usher in fall
Summer may be in full swing still, but food and beverage companies are ready to usher in fall with an array of pumpkin spiced and seasonal treats, lunchbox-ready solutions for back-to-school and creative collaborations that celebrate the season’s...
Sprouts Farmers Market’s strong sales reveal top attributes consumers want in food & bev
The retailer’s 17% increase in sales in the second quarter reinforces its strategy of offering attribute-focused products and reveals emerging consumer trends to watch across categories
IFT FIRST 2025
4 trends at IFT FIRST sending food formulators back to the drawing board
Consumers want it all – nutrient-density, satiety, clean-label and fun – and ingredient innovators at IFT FIRST are helping brands meet their myriad demands with new options and boosted production
ADM reveals what drives functional food & beverage innovation
Consumers are prioritizing wellness through everyday foods and drinks – ADM’s latest insights show how sensory cues like flavor and color are shaping the next wave of functional innovation
Graasí’s organic barley water taps into the functional beverage boom
Founder Chris LaCorata shares how Graasí evolved from a community revitalization effort into an organic barley-based wellness drink built for today’s health-conscious consumer
5 trends powering the wellness market to reach $9 trillion
The future of wellness is personal, science-backed and value-driven
Summer Fancy Food Show
Olive oil advocates double down on education and federal promotion to drive US consumption
As US olive oil consumption inches forward, industry leaders see untapped potential in foodservice, storytelling and a federally supported promotional campaign
Danone-owned Kate Farms shakes up high-protein space with GLP-1 drinks
The company’s new range promises to elevate nutritional support for consumers on weight management medications