The hemp-derived CBD market is growing rapidly, although many CPG brands and retailers are waiting for clarity from the FDA on the regulatory path forward for cannabidiol before piling in, but what will distinguish the winners from the losers in this...
New research from strategic marketing and communications Charleston|Orwig firm suggests that younger consumers are open to the idea of cell-cultured meat, and milk and ice cream made from microbes rather than cows, even when they are described with far-from-neutral...
Xoca (pronounced sho’ka) is hoping to stand out in the notoriously competitive functional beverage set with a new line of sparkling, “slightly fermented” drinks made with 50% juice from cacao fruit, the nutrient-rich pulp surrounding cocoa beans that...
The buzz around fresh, healthy and sustainable eating is so intense it is easy to think that everyone now eats this way – but the reality is the premium prices and extra time often needed to prepare these on-trend items place them out of reach of millions...
Agriculture accounts for approximately a quarter of annual greenhouse gas emissions, but rather than scapegoat farmers for climate change Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine wants stakeholders across the supply chain, along with legislators and consumers, to...
Packaging doesn’t need to be the enemy of food and beverage brands striving to meet ambitious self-set goals to reduce plastic by fast-approaching deadlines, argues an associate analyst with the global food and agriculture bank Rabobank.
Deepening political and social fissures in America are increasingly polarizing consumers in every facet of their lives, including their approach to diet and what flavors and experiences they will seek in the coming years in foods and beverages, suggests...
PepsiCo is seeking 10 purpose-driven start-ups to participate in its second North American Greenhouse program and to compete for a shot at $100,000 in funding beyond a guaranteed $20,000 grant and mentorship.
We know the plant-based alternatives trend is strong with adult consumers, but what about kids? Linkage Research & Consulting sees an immense untapped opportunity in plant-based food and drink products targeted towards kids.
The grocery retail landscape is hyper competitive with conventional and discount retailers stocking organic and natural options, yet Whole Foods Market continues to push the envelope in terms of product quality, particularly in the area of sustainability...
Gotham Greens has opened another indoor hydroponic greenhouse, this time in Providence, Rhode Island, marking the company's move into the New England market.
Beverage development and innovation company Imbibe predicts 2020 will bring to the beverage market a 'return to basics' in terms of nutrition and flavors as well as 'next-level' functional beverages that answer several needs for consumers...
Consumers are increasingly factoring in a product's sustainability attributes into their purchasing behavior and 73% of consumers surveyed by Nielsen say they are willing to change their consumption habits to reduce their environmental impact.
As older members of Generation Z begin to strike out on their own and those still at home gather more influence over household grocery purchases, food and beverage manufacturers increasingly are asking what do 7- to 20-year-olds want to eat and drink?
In recent years, food manufacturers have elevated the connection between the health of their business and the health of the planet through increased investments in environmental sustainability – a move that has generated significant consumer interest,...
The Specialty Food Association (SFA) predicts a 'meat replacement pushback' after a year of multiple plant-based meat product launches as well as consumer demand for 'fun' and functional foods and beverages in its 2020 food and beverage...
Despite consumer demand for new eating experiences, we currently rely on only 1% of edible plants and a whopping 60% of our calories come from just four crops – a disjoint that experts say represents a missed marketing opportunity and a threat to the...
Recognizing that feeding a growing population sustainably will “require the talent and energy of all,” PepsiCo is working closely with global partners to uplift and better leverage the agricultural contribution of women, many of whom work without the...
Perfect Day, a startup producing milk proteins via microbial fermentation (minus the cows) plans to expand into animal-free milk fat and other new-to-the-world fats that could replace coconut and palm oil in plant-based burgers and other products.
When it comes to the health of the planet and social wellbeing of the population, consumers feel they have less of an impact as an individual and that large companies and government organizations have a bigger role to play, according to new research from...
Uncomfortable with the idea that agriculture is a necessary evil with the demand for food outweighing the negative environmental impact of traditional farming and ranching, the co-founder and CEO of Bowery is expanding his revolutionary approach to food...
Algae has not – yet – gained much traction in the ‘alternative’ protein market. However, things could be about to change following a deal between Corbion (which acquired assets from algae ingredients pioneer Terravia in 2017) and Nestlé to develop the...
Keeping up with demand for locally-grown produce, Gotham Greens has opened its largest greenhouse in Chicago, which will more than double the company's Midwest supply to 11 million heads of lettuce annually.
Merit Functional Foods has received a letter from the FDA saying the agency has no objections to its GRAS (generally recognized as safe) determination for its specialty pea proteins.
Avansya - a joint venture between Cargill and DSM - has opened the first commercial-scale facility in the US producing stevia sweeteners via microbial fermentation.
Entrepreneurs hoping to disrupt an established category dominated by large companies and well-known brands could gain a significant strategic advantage by launching first online where they can leverage positive consumer reviews and social media, advises...
At the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo in Philadelphia late last month, more than 10,000 registered dietitians, nutritionists and industry stakeholders joined to discuss emerging health and diet trends in America. The expo floor featured more...
Layn Corp. has registered its hemp-derived CBD business based in Indiana as HempRise LLC, which will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the global botanical extracts and plant-based ingredients company.
Concerns over climate change have jumped up the agenda and sustainability experts at Corbion believe the topic will continue to gain momentum. The bio-based ingredient supplier recently announced an ‘ambitious carbon footprint reduction target’ in response.
As part of Nestlé’s goal to make 100% of its packaging recyclable or reusable in the next five years, baby food giant Gerber is teaming with TerraCycle to collect, clean and remold hard-to-recycle but extremely popular single-use containers, including...
After entering 450 US Whole Foods locations across 43 US states earlier this year, UK-based The Meatless Farm Co, has launched its meat-free products at New York City restaurant, Pomodoro Rosso.
Sacha Inchi could be the next hot plant-based superfood, but how much is known about its nutrient content? And can the supply keep up with future demand as the ingredient takes off in popularity?
Applied Food Sciences has launched CoffeeProtein, which the company says offers clear sensory and consumer-friendly advantages over the rest of the plant-based protein competition.
From a rise in interest in essential oil copaiba, which is claimed to have similar benefits to CBD (although it lacks clinical data to prove it), to a resurgence of enthusiasm for carob, food trend watcher Liz Moskow has identified eight culinary trends...
Debuting at the SupplySide West show in Las Vegas last week, Merit Functional Foods introduced its portfolio of pea and canola protein ingredients, which the company claims exceed industry standards for purity, solubility, taste, and other key attributes.
Concerns about the negative impact of deteriorating soil health on food quality and quantity have prompted a fast-paced hunt for new ways to regenerate the land, and while many techniques are promising they often come with long return returns on investment...
The fact that ‘foods from West Africa’ hit Whole Foods’ list of the top 10 food trends to watch in 2020 shows foodies are interested in broadening their culinary horizons, says Vancouver-based Farafena. But incorporating ingredients from fonio and moringa...
When it comes to buying seafood, consumers are most concerned about where it is sourced and how much it costs, according to new research by Blue Circle Foods, which is why the company strives to be transparent about where its fish comes from and price...
West African foods from the ancient grain fonio to tigernuts and moringa; to refrigerated protein-packed snacks; chickpea butter; and more imaginative food for kids will all gain traction in 2020 according to buyers, product developers, category managers...
Vietnamese edible insect startup Cricket One – which processes crickets raised by local cassava farmers in abandoned shipping containers that have been kitted out as intensive breeding units - has closed a seed round led by VC firm 500 Startups and Singapore-based...
Could a suite of microscopic microbial factories (yeast, bacteria, fungi, algae) churning out protein in huge fermentation tanks prompt the collapse of the meat and dairy industry as we know it, or are proponents of this view living in some kind of ‘vegan...
Geltor - a San Leandro-based startup producing collagen proteins via microbial fermentation (without animals) – has struck a deal with collagen maker GELITA to commercialize the world’s first animal-free ‘biodesigned’ collagen for dietary supplements...
An increasing proportion of US consumers (between 18- and 44-years-old) claim to be factoring in the environmental impact before purchasing a food or beverage product, according to NPD Group.
Most people approach negotiations hoping their request will be granted, and walk away with a lesser compromise. Very few, however, strike a better deal than they originally sought as happened to the founder of TaDah Foods on season premier of Shark Tank...
Even as food and beverage brands are starting to look more closely at Gen Z shoppers to determine what they want and what makes them tick, many are still struggling to pinpoint how best to engage with millennials who Goldman Sachs has dubbed “the most...
As the race to expand protein options for plant-based meats heats up, Colorado-based MycoTechnology has thrown its hat into the ring with a texturized version of PureTaste, a vegetable protein produced via the fermentation of pea and rice proteins with...
Private equity firm VMG Partners is betting big on the snacks category with the formation of a new division – Velocity Snack Brands (VSB) – set up to buy, incubate and grow snack brands, beginning with the acquisition of the popchips* brand from majority...
In 2020, diners ordering Nestlé's plant-based Awesome Burger (in the US) or Incredible Burger (in Europe) will be able to pair it with plant-based cheese and bacon via the 'PB triple play’: a "no-compromise plant-based bacon cheeseburger."
Large food and beverage suppliers and manufacturers are aggressively reducing their use of plastic in response to rising concerns about the material’s negative environmental impact by consumers who increasingly shop based on their values.
One of 15 companies selected to pitch at Rabobank’s FoodBytes! competition in Chicago last month, Yolélé Foods is on a mission to introduce Americans to a nutrient-packed, gluten-free ancient African grain called fonio. But is this a niche opportunity...
