Dairy-based ingredients

USDA approves RTE meal box delivery for children in rural Alaska

20-Feb-2024 By Deniz Ataman

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) approved the demonstration project, Alaska Meals to You (M2Y), for the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (AK DEED), to help find an effective way to provide meals to children in rural Alaska during...

Animal-free dairy round-up: Vivici, TurtleTree and New Culture

19-Feb-2024 By Teodora Lyubomirova

What's new in precision fermentation dairy?

Egg prices drag down dairy again, prepared meats remain strong in deli, Circana reports

19-Feb-2024 By Ryan Daily

After a challenging year, dairy and deli markets are starting 2024 with unit growth, as egg prices rise once again as a result of avian flu, Jonna Parker, principal of fresh foods team lead at Circana, shared during an International Dairy Deli Bakery...

USDA pushes for more timely SNAP payments that account for a third of retail grocery sales

12-Feb-2024 By Deniz Ataman

SNAP households are a major contributor to F&B sales, with 70% of SNAP dollars going towards food and beverages, according to Circana data, yet problems with late and inaccurate payments by states hinder access to food for the 42 million participants...

Hungryroot grows 40% YoY, expands curation of healthy foods

09-Feb-2024 By Deniz Ataman

Generating $333m in net revenue and more than $9m in profit, Hungryroot attributes its growth to its AI-driven “core personalization” of users’ food preferences and an expanded inventory in its three facilities, explained Alex Weinstein, the company’s...

Super Bowl ranks high among holiday weekends, snacks take center stage

08-Feb-2024 By Deniz Ataman

As Las Vegas prepares for the estimated $215bn economic growth from the additional 215,00 visitors for the Super Bowl, CPG companies and retailers have a significant opportunity to feature value-added offerings for viewers across the country, according...

Once Upon a Farm unveils new dairy lineup, embraces regenerative farming

31-Jan-2024 By Deniz Ataman

Children's food brand Once Upon A Farm launches its A2/A2 whole milk shakes “to fill the gap no for added sugar dairy snacks” with milk sourced from grass-fed cows on regenerative farms, company CEO John Foraker told FoodNavigator-USA.

Regenerative agriculture, renewable energy is ‘best path forward’ for reducing Scope 3 emissions

31-Jan-2024 By Deniz Ataman

Upstream and downstream activities that indirectly impact a company’s Scope 3 emissions may be difficult to measure, but a collaborative investment between stakeholders will help improve environmental impacts long-term, Brian Nash, vice president of corporate...

Winter Fancy Food Show

Milkadamia’s Artisan plant-based milks launch in refrigerated set, show ‘less is more’

29-Jan-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

Plant-based milk brand milkadamia moves into the refrigerated set and proves “less is more” with the debut of its organic Artisan macadamia milk and blends line that skips the fillers and gums common in many non-dairy beverages and responds to a growing...

Regenivore movement pushes dairy industry to adopt regenerative agriculture practices

26-Jan-2024 By Deniz Ataman

Dairy brands are shifting their sustainability initiatives to cater to the Regenivore movement—a conscious consumption of sustainably produced foods—through regenerative practices that promote animal and soil health. The shift highlights a significant...

Startup Spotlight: Armored Fresh brings ‘new enthusiasm’ to vegan cheese category with taste, price, new flavors

25-Jan-2024 By Ryan Daily

While the vegan cheese category continues to face headwinds in the market, South Korea-based startup Armored Fresh is turning to its technology to address taste and price challenges, company VP Andrew Yu told FoodNavigator-USA in a Startup Spotlight video...

Mentorship

NCA announces its 2024 Future Leaders class

24-Jan-2024 By Anthony Myers

The National Confectioners Association (NCA) has announced the eight confectionery industry professionals selected for its 2024 Future Leadership Programme.

Kroger reformulates prepared foods, hones in on private label products

23-Jan-2024 By Deniz Ataman

As grocery prices are predicted to decelerate, with an expected increase of 1.2% this year, Kroger’s strategic reformulation of its deli and bakery goods is focused on expanding value and convenience for its shoppers with a focus on flavor, quality and...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: How willing are Americans to try animal-free dairy?

22-Jan-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

Historically, most Americans have liked to keep their food and tech separate, as in the case of genetic modification, but research from animal-free dairy company New Culture suggests the majority of consumers will accept technology or unfamiliar production...

US: Whole and lactose-free milk sales grow as plant-based alternatives dip

21-Jan-2024 By Teodora Lyubomirova

While the annual fluid milk consumption continues to decline, some categories have bucked the trend with growing retail sales in 2023, according to newly-released data.

Grocery stores lose sales share to value-focused retailers as consumers continue to seek deals

19-Jan-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

Traditional grocery stores lost sales across categories to value-focused retailers in 2023 as most consumers sought deals to offset higher prices even as inflation steadily slowed over the year and many acclimated to prices and felt better about their...

Egglife Foods launches exclusive variety pack for Sam’s Club, expands club channel presence

17-Jan-2024 By Deniz Ataman

Egglife launched exclusively at Sam's Club a two-flavor variety pack that feature its original and sweet cinnamon wraps -- a strategy that allows the brand to expand in the club channel and “drive trial with new consumers at Sam’s Club locations...

News in brief

Imagindairy receives GRAS nod from FDA, acquires industrial-scale precision fermentation lines

17-Jan-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

Israeli-based food-tech startup Imagindairy expects products made with its animal-free dairy protein to launch in the US within the year after it says it received from FDA a letter of no objection for the ingredient’s GRAS status and the subsequent acquisition...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: From women’s health to guajillo peppers, Tastewise reveals food trends to watch in 2024

15-Jan-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

Once considered taboo and woefully underfunded in terms of research and product development, women’s health will continue to emerge as a major growth opportunity for food and beverage brands in 2024 as hormonal health and menopause rise to the top of...

Kabrita USA latest to launch goat-milk infant formula, leans on science to educate parents on health benefits

12-Jan-2024 By Ryan Daily

Kabrita USA launches a goat-milk infant formula following a lengthy process to determine its whey protein concentrate and non-fat dry goat milk as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for infants, the brand’s director of medical and scientific affairs...

Can Oatly reinvigorate slowing oatmilk category sales with launch unsweetened, clean-label options?

11-Jan-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

Oatmilk pioneer Oatly’s new Unsweetened Oatmilk and Super Basic Oatmilk, which launched this week, respond to rising consumer concerns about plant-based milks, including their nutritional value and, for some, long lists of unfamiliar ingredients, which...

Egg prices jump as avian flu spreads, pushing up overall food prices, CPI reveals

11-Jan-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

The Consumer Price Index released today shows the price of eggs is climbing again as producers scramble to contain a highly contagious outbreak of avian flu that the US Department of Agriculture estimates has infected more than 50 flocks in the last 30...

Planet Oat releases ‘milkiest’ product yet with Barista Lovers, oat milk starts 'treading water'

10-Jan-2024 By Ryan Daily

Planet Oat is responding to consumer demands for multi-purpose products with the release of its non-dairy Barista Lovers products, as the company focuses on innovation to spur growth in the stalled plant-based market, brand’s senior VP of marketing, Chris...

Precision versus personalization: AHARA explores a “new frontier” in nutrition

10-Jan-2024 By Deniz Ataman

With the rising popularity of personalized nutrition plans, AHARA’s app takes personalization one step further through precision nutrition, a combination of machine-learning, evidence-based nutrition science and an international advisory board to verify...

Danone, JM Smucker divestments & Cal-Maine acquisition reflect push to reshape, rebuild portfolios as industry stocks struggle

03-Jan-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

A trio of acquisitions and divestments in the packaged food industry at the turn of the new year suggest companies are taking a proactive and aggressive approach to rebuilding their businesses by reshaping their portfolios after industry stocks overall...

FDA downplays impact on US infant formula supply in light of Reckitt/Mead Johnson recall

03-Jan-2024 By Teodora Lyubomirova

The manufacturer recalled more than 670,000 cans of Nutramigen infant formula after a finished product sampled outside the US tested positive for Cronobacter.

Anyone for cheese? Wisconsin Cheese reveals top five trends for 2024

21-Dec-2023 By Teodora Lyubomirova

From flavor innovation to mindful indulgence, Wisconsin Cheese pin-points the top five trends most likely to rule consumer decisions in 2024.

ADM acquires Revela Foods, expands dairy flavor capabilities

20-Dec-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Revela's dairy flavor ingredients and solutions will add new capabilities to Archer-Daniels-Midland's existing global dairy and savory flavors portfolio. With Revela’s projected sales of almost $240m in 2023, the acquisition will strengthen...

Cottage cheese has a moment in dairy, prepared items heat up deli category, Circana data shows

18-Dec-2023 By Ryan Daily

The dairy market lifted slightly in units in November thanks to cottage cheeses growth, as deli slumped slightly in units and dollars month-over-mont but had gains from prepared items like pizza, Anne-Marie Roerink, president of 210 Analytics, shared...

Chobani re-enters coffee category with $900m acquisition of La Colombe

18-Dec-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Greek yogurt behemoth Chobani is taking another shot at the coffee category as part of broader, yet hit-and-miss strategy to diversify beyond yogurt, with the acquisition of La Colombe for $900m, announced Friday.

Congress passes Whole Milk Act but sparks inequality fears

18-Dec-2023 By Teodora Lyubomirova

The House of Representatives passed a bill that could reinstate whole and reduced fat milk on school menus – but lobby groups say the change would spark racial inequalities.

AHARA partners with Instacart to streamline shopping for personalized nutrition

15-Dec-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Precision nutrition and food-tech platform AHARA's integration with Instacart allows users to easily add nutritionist-recommended items to their grocery lists on the food delivery platform.

‘Strikingly low’: FAO condemns ‘diminishing’ funding for agrifood systems amid slow climate change progress

12-Dec-2023 By Teodora Lyubomirova

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has warned that funding to support climate-smart agrifood systems is ‘strikingly low’ and has plummeted in the past year despite the growing urgency to stave off climate change.

Will whole milk return to US schools? Congress set to vote on bill that enjoys 'strong bipartisan support'

11-Dec-2023 By Teodora Lyubomirova

Congress is expected to debate and vote on a bill that could bring whole milk back on school menus, in contravention with Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The bill has bipartisan support of 134 co-sponsors in the House, according to the International...

Daiya Foods embraces dairy-like culturing methods as it unleashes reformulated plant-based cheese

11-Dec-2023 By Teodora Lyubomirova

The company tells us more about its reformulation process and the key to achieving ‘smooth, creamy texture and dairy-like melt’.

Infants fed on novel milk formula have BMI, blood pressure similar to breastfed infants – Danone-funded five-year study

11-Dec-2023 By Tingmin Koe

Infants who were fed on a novel milk formula containing large milk phospholipids coated droplets in the first four months of life were found to have a body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure that were similar to breastfed infants, according to a five-year...

Changing menus, focus on sustainable production: COP28 focuses more on food

30-Nov-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

The food and beverage industry is inherently linked to the climate crisis, responsible for at least a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions. The COP28 summit, held this year in Dubai, UAE, focuses more significantly on food than in previous years.

Vivici partners with Ginkgo Bioworks to create new range of animal-free dairy proteins with precision fermentation

29-Nov-2023 By Ryan Daily

Food ingredient company Vivici has partnered with Ginkgo Bioworks to develop a range of new alternative dairy proteins created through precision fermentation, as biotechnology can help create a more sustainable dairy market, Dena Strehlow, senior director...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Snacking increases but innovation needed for long-term growth

29-Nov-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Snacking in the US continues to climb, according to data from Circana, despite predictions that a surge in the frequency and sales of snacks during the pandemic was unsustainable and would revert to pre-COVID levels as consumers returned to in-person...

FDA publishes SME-friendly compliance guide on new yogurt standard

28-Nov-2023 By Teodora Lyubomirova

As the implementation date nears, the FDA has released an easy-to-digest guide to help small businesses prepare for the new requirements for yogurt – from information about additives to labeling rules and beyond.

Scientists find nutrient in meat and dairy that helps fight cancer

28-Nov-2023 By Flora Southey

Fresh research reveals a fatty acid in meat and dairy products improves the ability of immune cells to fight tumours.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Winners of Real California Milk Excelerator Open Innovation competition shines light on dairy’s growth potential

27-Nov-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Nearly 150 dairy industry stakeholders, including producers, entrepreneurs and investors, gathered at a winery in idyllic Livermore, Cali., earlier this month to celebrate the winners of the 5th Real California Milk Excelerator competition, which scoured...

Heali’s food-as-medicine platform to improve nutrition, food access for consumers, businesses

21-Nov-2023 By Deniz Ataman

With $3M in seed funding from Astanor Ventures, Heali plans to expand its personalized nutrition services for consumers and patients with chronic illnesses through its database of evidence-based nutrition research, while developing a larger presence with...

‘Our goal is to see a bigger shift across our industry’: Unilever bids to solve ice cream's last-mile problem by sharing reformulation patents

13-Nov-2023 By Teodora Lyubomirova

The CPG giant is sharing 12 reformulation patents with the wider ice cream manufacturing industry as it looks to lead the way in reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions from the last mile of the supply chain.

Futureproofing the Food System

Watch this week: FoodNavigator-USA’s digital summit explores trends in food-tech, food as medicine and the circular economy

13-Nov-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

This week, join FoodNavigator-USA and stakeholders across the supply chain, including Eat Just, The Hartman Group, Oishii, NotCo, Instacart, NIQ, Consumer Brands Association, FMI – The Food Industry Association, Cargill and more for our three-day Futureproofing...

Consumers expect to pay more for holiday meals, continue seeking convenience from grocery retailers

10-Nov-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Thanksgiving retail is expected to see a more judicious consumer who expects to pay more this year and will seek more deals while retailers can expand food service departments with semi and fully-prepared meals to complement the majority of consumers...

Danone, Keurig Dr Pepper tell FDA that sugar reduction requires a different playbook from sodium reduction

09-Nov-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Research showing consumer preferences for sweetness intensity may not be as easy to reduce as their preferences for sodium suggests a “stealth health” approach of slowly lowering added sugar across the food supply may not be an effective strategy for...

US butterfat is experiencing a resurgence – and trade opportunities await

09-Nov-2023 By Teodora Lyubomirova

CoBank lead economist for dairy Corey Geiger believes the ‘butterfat boom’ is set to provide exciting opportunities for dairy producers and consumers alike.

Food remains an issue of concern globally as food insecurity persists, suggests survey

03-Nov-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Food insecurity persists as a major problem around the world. A survey conducted by Stack Data Strategy on behalf of campaign Hungry for Action shows that concerns about the ‘supply and price of food’ consistently remains a priority among the population...

Kraft-Heinz focuses on building value through packaging, external partnerships

03-Nov-2023 By Deniz Ataman

In the wake of Kraft-Heinz's earning results, the company reported a 3.5 percentage point increase in its stocks with double digit growth in emerging markets. Carlos Abrams-Rivera, incoming CEO, Kraft-Heinz, discussed during CNBC’s Evolve Global...