Better-for-you gummy maker, Smart Sweets, launched its new and improved formula across its portfolio, including five new SKUs, catering to consumers seeking healthier candy for nearly any type of occasion, Katrina Hahn, Smart Sweets’ co-CEO, told FoodNavigator-USA...
Upcycling would-be wasted food or side streams from manufacturing into nutritious and sustainable products for human consumption continues to gain traction with more companies calling out the claim and sales of Upcycled Certified products overall growing...
Many CPG brands eager to grow their retail footprint often rely on the expertise of brokerage firms. However, finding the right partner can be a nuanced challenge that requires founders to have a detailed growth strategy down to specific channels and...
The protein transition is often viewed as the path to a sustainable food system. How can circularity complement it in reducing emissions and land use in food?
Side Project Jerky, founded by Marcos Espinoza in 2012 as a testament to his connections in Philadelphia's culinary industry and his interest in the small-batch artisan movement, has expanded to six flavors with nationwide retail distribution in...
Regulatory approval for cultivated meat products is rigorous but possible – as seen with GOOD Meat and UPSIDE Foods – and FDA is streamlining the regulatory pathway for cultivated meat and encourages companies seeking approval to engage with it “early...
Pasta is evolving to fit consumer preferences for convenient and accessible cooking at home, while creating improved taste, texture and packaging, according to category players showcasing at the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City last month.
Food ingredient company GNT is demonstrating the full range of its natural color capabilities at IFT FIRST next week, as CPG companies continue to assess the impact food dye regulations might have on their need to reformulate, Alice Lee, technical marketing...
In an era where money is tight for consumers and companies alike, and leeway for new products to fall short of expectations is even tighter, many CPG companies are rethinking their innovation investment strategy to make fewer but bigger bets – a strategy...
Despite a shared commitment to domestic aquaculture, non-profit North Star Caviar carves a unique niche with its focus on sustainable paddlefish caviar, contrasting with Marky's sturgeon farm’s dedication to producing the US's only beluga and...
Professionals tasked with creating the future of online shopping experience are facing technology budget cuts, underscoring the need to justify the return on investment of new and enhanced omnichannel capabilities, experts shared at the Digital Food &...
At the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City last week, health claims were downplayed and flavor came first – for real – followed by personalization with more brands offering consumers ways to dial up or down the heat, tang, funk and other characteristics...
50/50 Foods' Both Burgers with a 50/50 beef and veggie blend target flexitarians who love meat but want more plants, while also addressing water scarcity caused by traditional agriculture, according to CEO Drew Arentowicz at the Future Food Tech...
Gluten free may not be as trendy as it once was, but the call-out continues to resonate with consumers as the quality, quantity and variety of products making the claim continue to improve – as showcased by brands across categories at the Summer Fancy...
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans Advisory Committee is considering how the industry should approach ultra processed foods (UPFs) – including nomenclature and infrastructure.
Equitea, maker of cold brewed USDA organic teas, wants to destigmatize mental health and improve access to wellness products, the company’s co-founder and CEO Quentin Vennie told FoodNavigator-USA during BevNet Live in New York earlier this month.
In seeking nutrition information, many consumers have fallen victim to harmful food myths — including embracing a diet of raw meat and avoiding healthy foods because they have "chemicals" — according to a new report from food ingredient company...
Granola and breakfast brand Purely Elizabeth premiered its large-scale advertising campaign around wholesome nutrition last month following a 56% sales growth rate YoY during its first quarter, the company’s CEO and Founder, Elizabeth Stein, told FoodNavigator-USA.
Taking nods from his career as director of performance for the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers, Mubarak Malik developed sports drink brand Barcode with a formulation that aligns with fitness and recovery, and includes vitamin D3, an uncommon...
Gut health is proving to be hugely popular with consumers and enormously profitable for food and beverage manufacturers. In financial terms, it’s the gift that keeps on giving.
As the media landscape has become more fragmented in the past ten years, social media has emerged as one of the most influential sources of information on the consumer path to purchase and many companies are shifting advertising dollars accordingly –...
USDA is working through a backlog of much-needed updates to labels for meat and poultry, and anticipates publishing this year or early next several proposed rules, including for uncured and cultivated products, according to an agency official.
Colourful and classy vegetable crisps are often sought after as a ‘better-for-you’ alternative to ordinary crisps. But how accurate is this perception?
A class action lawsuit accusing better-for-you soda maker Poppi of misleading consumers about the prebiotic benefits of its beverages could force the industry to standardize marketing for these ingredients, according to one industry player.
Despite the prevalence of pesticide use in farming, recent research from Consumer Reports has raised health concerns and sparked conversations about the varying practices in pesticide management within the industry, while indoor farming companies like...
Coca-Cola has solidified its status as the world’s most chosen FMCG brand with a staggering global reach. But other beverages have also seen standout performances this year...
Kraft Heinz will continue to innovate and actively promote its Oscar Mayer brand, which has a “role to play in the scale of the company,” CEO Carlos Abrams-Rivera told investors last week when asked about rumors that the company could divest the iconic...
Colour plays a key role in how consumers see products. Should plant-based companies use red to evoke flavour, or green to evoke sustainability, with their offerings?
Sweet butter is creating a ‘new standard’ for the category, we’re told. And that’s not the only sweet NPD for the month. What’s the latest in sweet (and savoury) innovations?
Sweet and spicy (swicy) play into consumers’ ongoing pursuit of diverse, globally inspired taste experiences, and are reflected in recent brand ad campaigns.
While luxury brands in beverage have been highly successful, luxury food brands are, as of yet, less prominent. What foods have the potential to be luxurious?
CPG brands are retooling its marketing strategies as younger consumers shift more of their spending to social-media platforms like TikTok, Kenny Juskowiak, managing director of emerging brands for NIQ, shared during a recent webinar.
Full volume recovery for packaged food could take upwards of 18 months as consumers struggle to adjust to higher prices due to inflation – requiring CPG companies to be more flexible and reinvest in their brands as they did during the pandemic, and forcing...
Today's niche diets, social media blips and internet search spikes could be tomorrow's must-have functional ingredients, breakout snacks or new kitchen staples -- the trick is spotting them early and knowing whether they represent long-term...
CVS is putting the ‘fun’ in functional food with the launch of more than 40 snacks, beverages and grocery items with trendy flavors and ingredients consumers want, including probiotics, fiber, protein and superfoods like turmeric and goji berries under...
Gen Z consumers prefer new snacking experiences "that are talking to them in an authentic way," Mike Gilroy, the Mars-Wrigley’s VP of trade development and sponsorship, told FoodNavigator-USA at the Sweets & Snacks Expo earlier this month.
Americans are more likely to choose the healthiest food when calories and dietary fiber are included along with nutrients-to-limit on the front of the package and when interpretive language – but not colors – provide extra context, according to research...
Nearly two-thirds of Americans are willing to swap meat for plant-based alternatives, and more than half have tried an alternative protein – but of those that have tried, nearly a quarter have not done so a second time, according to research cited by...
RollinGreens expands it plant-based meat portfolio with the launch of shelf-stable bowls featuring the company’s flagship M’EAT and CHIC’Ken protein, Lindsey Cunningham, co-founder and CEO, told FoodNavigator-USA
Confectionery and snack brands can stay head of the curve by offering layered flavors and textures inspired from other food and beverage categories, tapping into nostalgic tastes and international cuisines that consumers gravitate towards, Alice Mintz,...
The food-as-medicine movement is gaining momentum across industries, as health and nutrition advocates attempt to reverse worsening obesity, heart disease and diabetes trends by providing accessible, nutritious and culturally relevant foods, experts shared...
USDA Certified Organic has taken a defensive position in recent years against the proliferation of eco-claims, many of which are not as comprehensive, clearly defined or held as rigorously accountable, but which nonetheless influence consumers’ purchase...
With more than 40 meat snack brands exhibiting during the Sweets & Snacks Expo, the protein-packed and portable food category is surging in popularity due to its alignment with consumers seeking convenient, satiating snacks to replace meals on-the-go.
Recent survey data from Purdue University that found one-third of Americans are unwilling to try cultivated chicken or cow prepared in a restaurant underscores the extent of the category’s "consumer acceptance problem,” despite efforts by industry...
From data to legislation, advertising is changing. This provides challenges for food companies but, with their abundance of first-hand consumer data, opportunities as well.
While intense sour and bold fruity flavors have helped brands carve out a space in the crowded gummy category, brands look towards variety mixes and cross-brand partnerships to attract ongoing retailer and consumer attention, according to several segment...
Rivalz’s stuffed, vegan snacks could deliver the satiety effects of GLP-1 medications and meets USDA guidelines for healthy snacks distributed in schools thanks to patented extrusion technology that creates vegan fillings packed with protein and fiber,...