Flavors and colors

Illinois proposes to ban five food additives

01-Feb-2024 By Deniz Ataman

Introduced by Sen. Willie Preston, D-Chicago, the Illinois Food Safety Act (SB 2637) would ban brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, red dye No.3 and titanium dioxide from retail food products -- potentially making it the strictest...

Startup Spotlight

Harken Sweets reimagines ‘what a candy bar can be using the power of date fruit’

01-Feb-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

The founder of startup Harken Sweets, which launched earlier this month, wants to “nutritionally overhaul” the candy bar category by using “the power of the date fruit,” like how she helped Caulipower reinvigorate the pizza category with the “power of...

Why Coca-Cola is betting on water security innovation

31-Jan-2024 By Flora Southey

With climate change exacerbating water stress and scarcity, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners is backing new tech solutions to help future-proof the beverage industry.

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...

Winter Fancy Food Show

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Trendspotting at the Winter Fancy Food Show reveals ‘better’ breakfasts, snacks, flavors and more

29-Jan-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

A resounding theme of “better” emerged at the Winter Fancy Food Show in Las Vegas last week, where more than 1,200 specialty food companies came together to showcase the latest innovations in cheese, condiments, baked goods, snacks and more.

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...

NPD Trend Tracker: From Deliciously Ella-inspired recipe boxes to menopause tea

22-Jan-2024 By Flora Southey

Which new products are hitting the shelves? In our latest NPD round-up, look at a new menopause infusion made with hibiscus, rosehip and passion flower; a ‘veggie spin’ on the classic macaroni cheese and bacon dish; and a flavour mashup between Baileys...

Startup Spotlight

[Video] ELAVI's journey to Costco and reinvigorating its brand

18-Jan-2024 By Deniz Ataman

Participating in Costco’s RoadShow and interacting directly with consumers to sample its gut-friendly, cashew dessert spreads gave WOC-founded startup ELAVI insights that would have “cost thousands of dollars” to acquire elsewhere, allowing it to make...

HI-CHEW turns to DTC, pop-up experiences to engage Gen-Z consumers

18-Jan-2024 By Ryan Daily

Japanese candy brand HI-CHEW launched a direct-to-consumer (DTC) website as part of a broader strategy to appeal to Gen Z consumers, Joanne Hsu, senior brand marketing manager at Morinaga America, told FoodNavigator-USA.

Unilever, IFF & Wageningen University tackle flavor challenges in plant-based meat

15-Jan-2024 By Deniz Ataman

A four-year research project between IFF and Unilever, along with Wageningen University & Research (WUR) scientists in the Netherlands, will focus on how flavors bind to protein molecules “with the goal of recommending novel flavoring strategies that...

My Drynuary: ‘Our customers are our main source of inspiration'

15-Jan-2024 By Rachel Arthur

Canadian non-alcoholic beer Partake Brewing was launched in 2017: and now sells its brews across Canada and the US. Evan Cohen, President and Chief Commercial Officer, looks at the two markets in this series on innovators in the low/no alcohol industry....

Chilau Foods turns to crowdfunding to expand distribution, cracks lid on packaging innovation

12-Jan-2024 By Ryan Daily

Southern-inspired stew and flavor-base company Chilau Foods launched Wefunder crowdfunding campaign to fuel its retail expansion, as the company leverages packaging innovation to create a more accessible product, company founder Michael Anderson told...

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...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Tea sales rise, but volume flattens as brands explore how to boost consumption

08-Jan-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

Tea’s inherent functional benefits, positive sustainability messaging and diverse usage occasions, formats and flavor profiles should make it a shoe-in for US consumers searching for healthier options that don’t compromise taste or convenience, and yet...

What’s stirring this Dry January? Canned mocktails, extra hoppy beverages, functional drinks

05-Jan-2024 By Ryan Daily

Non-alcoholic beverages continue to gain a foothold, cutting into the overall alcohol market, as brands like Longbottom, HOP WTR, and hiyo tap into consumer demands for quality, functionality, and health.

Researchers teach tech to taste in 'first step' towards accurate flavour modelling

05-Jan-2024 By Natasha Spencer-Joilliffe

Danish researchers and industry professionals design an algorithm to help personalise consumer purchases and optimise the retail environment.

Mountain Dew Baja Blast splashes into new year with year-round availability, but will it undercut LTO appeal?

04-Jan-2024 By Ryan Daily

PepsiCo is celebrating 20 years of its fan-favorite Mountain Dew Baja Blast flavor by making it available in retail locations year-round in 2024, a first for the beverage that originated as a foodservice exclusive.

Campbell Soup Co plans ‘DSD transformation’ to fuel snack growth amid consumer demand ‘bifurcation’

07-Dec-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Campbell Soup Co. is embracing a direct store and integrated project delivery model to “unlock the full potential” of its iconic snack brands, including Goldfish, Lance and Late July, at a time when some Americans’ enthusiasm for snacking may be slowing....

Oterra, Ecoflora ‘complete the full spectrum of natural colors’ with FDA approval of Jagua Blue

05-Dec-2023 By Ryan Daily

FDA has approved the use of Oterra's and Ecoflora's natural blue color created from the fruit of Colombian jagua trees for use in foods and beverages, Nicolás Cock Duque, executive chair for Ecoflora, told FoodNavigator-USA.

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...

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...

FDA proposes banning brominated vegetable oil in food

06-Nov-2023 By Deniz Ataman

The agency concluded that BVO is no longer safe for human consumption, citing new toxicological evidence of its potential health risks.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: From healthy to ‘hedonistic’ and affordable to luxurious, 4 trends influencing colors, flavors in 2024

26-Oct-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

According to tastemakers at the nutrition and ingredient giant ADM, consumers are ready to “unapologetically” embrace luxurious, indulgent flavors and whimsical, vivid colors in their foods and beverages after years of holding back due to limited options...

Are natural sweeteners the next evolution of better-for-you energy drinks? SPINS shares insights

26-Oct-2023 By Ryan Daily

Energy drinks might be on the cusp of the next better-for-you evolution, which will see natural sweeteners gain over sugar and artificial alternatives, as the market overall continues to see high demand and strong unit growth, Scott Dicker, market insight...

GUEST ARTICLE

Industry Insights from NIZO: Great flavour without compromise for plant-based food

26-Oct-2023 By René Floris, NIZO Food Research Division Manager

To successfully launch a plant-based product onto the market today, businesses have to go above and beyond in flavour to stand out. How can a new, more holistic flavour approach put an end to organoleptic compromise?

Burlap & Barrel’s direct sourcing model, single origin spices offer unexpected and regional twists on familiar flavors that appeal to new & established home cooks

26-Oct-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

While Burlap & Barrel’s farm to kitchen model for its single origin spices may appear simple compared to traditional spice supply chains that are peppered with middlemen zig-zagging across regions and cultures, the process of establishing a direct...

Sensegen looks for 'the next big pumpkin spice' with Fall flavors collection

26-Oct-2023 By Ryan Daily

Flavor and fragrance company Sensegen, a division of Blue California, is using consumer data and biotech to create on-trend tastes, Natasha D’Souza, VP of flavors and consumer experience at Sensegen, told FoodNavigator-USA.

Bell shares how flavor enhancers can address tomato, orange shortages

26-Oct-2023 By Ryan Daily

CPG companies facing supply-chain disruptions like a poor crop yield can leverage flavor enhancers to deliver great tasting, cheaper, and more sustainable products, Joan Harvey, company senior VP commercial GM of flavor division at Bell, told Food Navigator-USA....

Sweet and spicy flavors are driving consumers’ global food and beverage exploration

26-Oct-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Consumers across generations continue to explore global cultures through food, and international flavors that range from sweet to heat offer an opportunity for CPG brands to develop food and beverage products that expand consumers’ palettes and curiosities,...

Strengthening vanilla's supply chain through its farmers

26-Oct-2023 By Deniz Ataman

While the vanilla industry is seeing low prices and low demand this year, Virginia Dare’s partnerships with 1,300 growers in Madagascar are focused on fortifying communities’ livelihoods through social, environmental and economic initiatives that help...

Monster bolsters zero-sugar portfolio with Bang acquisition, expands Java line

25-Oct-2023 By Ryan Daily

Energy drink giant Monster more aggressively is going after the better-for-you beverage space through its Bang acquisition, and zero-sugar and coffee innovation, representatives told FoodNavigator-USA.

California Food Safety Act “sets a dangerous precedent,” food policy experts say

24-Oct-2023 By Deniz Ataman

California’s Food Safety Act (AB 418) bans the inclusion of four food additives—propyl paraben, brominated vegetable oil, Red Dye No. 3 and potassium bromate—in food and beverages, a landmark state-wide law highlighting the potentially widening gap between...

FoodPairing shares how AI can speed up product development

20-Oct-2023 By Ryan Daily

Food and beverage companies increasingly are leveraging AI tools to streamline product development and launch products to stay ahead of consumer trends and challenges, Bernard Lahousse, co-founder and go-to-market lead for FoodPairing, said during a webinar.

National Association for Convenience Stores

Blending convenience, novelty and flavors at NACS’ Cool New Products snack showcase

18-Oct-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Never-before-seen alternative snacks, energy drinks and frozen packaged snacks dubuted at the National Association for Convenience Stores’ Cool New Products expo Oct. 3-6 in Atlanta, Ga.

Futureproofing the Food System: What will it take to deliver on the promise of alternative proteins?

17-Oct-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Between FDA and USDA greenlighting the sale of cultivated chicken in the US, the ground-breaking of a large-scale precision fermentation facilities and advances in molecular farming, 2023 has been a banner year for novel protein production. But the path...

Natural Products Expo East

Non-alcoholic industry shakes off stereotypes, embraces new merchandizing strategies to drive 30% yoy growth

16-Oct-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Once relegated to the bottom shelf in the back corner of a store or hidden among the sparkling water or cocktail mixers, non-alcoholic beer, wine and spirits are breaking free from the stereotypes of who drinks them and when, and in doing so are setting...

Can 'girl dinners' save the cheese plate? Datassential shares insight into hot flavor, food trends

13-Oct-2023 By Ryan Daily

Cheeses might receive a boost from viral and divisive food trends like 'girl dinners,' as global and regional bold flavors like chili crisp, zhug, and Carolina Gold BBQ remain red hot, Claire Conaghan, associate director of publications at Datassential,...

California Food Safety Act signed into law, bans four food additives by Jan. 2027

10-Oct-2023 By Deniz Ataman

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the California Food Safety Act on Oct. 7, 2023. The statewide legislation, the first of its kind in the US, “will prohibit any food product manufactured, sold, delivered, distributed, held or offered for sale in...

STōK Cold Brew is 'on the leading edge' of Danone North America’s growth strategy

05-Oct-2023 By Ryan Daily

STōK Cold Brew is tapping into the growing trend of at-home coffee shop experience with limited-time-offering flavors, as Danone North America makes the brand a crucial part of its growth strategy, company VP of ready-to-drink beverages Brittney Polka...

Lenny & Larry’s taps into consumer demand for more protein with Big Bar

04-Oct-2023 By Ryan Daily

Lenny & Larry’s is expanding its portfolio of cookie snack bars with a bigger format to tap into the increased demand for a variety of better-for-you claims, the company's senior VP of marketing and innovation Chris Cook told FoodNavigator-USA.

McCormick’s stock drops despite improved profit forecast, positive response to innovation

04-Oct-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Spice and flavor giant McCormick & Co.’s stock tumbled double-digits yesterday despite beating analyst expectations during its third quarter and laying out a solid multi-prong plan to drive volume and engage consumers going forward as investors became...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Most consumers don’t want sugar or artificial sweeteners – but what do they want instead?

28-Sep-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

More than fat or calories, the nutritional information consumers are most likely to look for on food and beverage packages is sugar, with a survey conducted by Cargill finding nearly two out of three consumers aiming to avoid it and the majority also...

Natural Products Expo East

Cedar’s Foods takes dip beyond snacks with labne launch

28-Sep-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Sitting between Greek yogurt and soft cheese, labne (sometimes spelled labneh) has the potential to be the next big dip in the US – potentially rivaling long-time creamy favorites Ranch and French Onion but with a better-for-you positioning – but first,...

‘Pumpkin spice everywhere,’ NIQ’s Sherry Frey unpacks LTO trends for fall, winter

27-Sep-2023 By Ryan Daily

Consumers tapping into the autumn and winter festivities are turning to flavors like pumpkin, eggnog, and peppermint, while they look for more natural products and brush aside inflation to enjoy their favorite seasonal flavors, Sherry Frey, VP of Total...

Rebbl reduces ‘ambiguity’ in branding with a rebranded focus on occasions, ingredients

25-Sep-2023 By Ryan Daily

Plant-based beverage brand Rebbl rebranded its line of drinks with a focus on occasions and conveying to consumers how to use the product, as the company looks to LTO flavors to grow trial, brand CMO, Mike Quinones, told FoodNavigator-USA.

On-demand webinar: Functional drinks 'account for the value growth' in US beverage market

21-Sep-2023 By Ryan Daily

Blending convenience, flavor, and health benefits, the functional drinks have emerged as a key area of growth for the US beverage industry, as consumers continue to demand more out of their products than ever before, a panel of industry experts shared...

Bibigo spices up frozen offerings with Crispy Dumpling Bites

20-Sep-2023 By Ryan Daily

Asian food brand Bibigo is expanding its portfolio of frozen products with new Crispy Dumpling Bites to meet growing demand for Korean flavors in the US, Megan Elliott, marketing director at Schwan's, told FoodNavigator-USA.

Pitaya Foods moves beyond frozen fruits with ready-to-eat smoothie bowls

19-Sep-2023 By Ryan Daily

Pitaya Foods is taking its first step outside of the frozen fruit category with the launch of ready-to-eat smoothie bowls that will open doors in new channels, like convenience stores, company CEO and founder Chuck Casano told FoodNavigator-USA.

[Video] Fila Manila focuses on SKUs, sustainable packaging to grow brand

18-Sep-2023 By Ryan Daily

Fila Manila is transforming its business through packaging innovation as it delivers authentic Filipino tastes to meet the growing demand for global flavors, the brand's founder and CEO Jake Deleon shared with FoodNavigator-USA.