The specialty food and beverage market has consistently outpaced the growth rate of conventional grocery for the past decade, says the Specialty Foods Association (SFA), but the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly altered this growth trend, reports SFA in its annual report... Read

After helping to build a category for biltong – jerky’s less-processed, softer and often healthier cousin – the founders of Kalahari Snacks believe the “next evolution” in the meat snack segment is a trio of crunchy beef crisps that it launched online this week and which will roll out in Sprouts and on Amazon later this summer... Read

In a move that may not come as a huge surprise given executives' recent hints about “pruning” the portfolio, Coca-Cola is discontinuing the Odwalla juice brand and the refrigerated network of trucks supplying it to stores. So was the 40-year-old brand just past its sell-by date, or are there wider lessons here about how 'Big Food' handles ‘challenger’ brands?.. Read

Singapore-based TurtleTree Labs is in talks with leading dairy and infant formula brands to license its technology for the production of cell-cultured human breastmilk, and has articulated a longer-term mission to produce cow's milk as well... Read

Plant-based snack brand Outstanding Foods, maker of PigOut Pigless Pork Rinds, has closed a $5m round of financing led by SternAegis Ventures to propel the snack brand into its next phase of growth... Read

Experts from academia and industry have reacted strongly to a TV segment aired on CBS’ 60 Minutes that sought to answer the question, “Do Probiotics Actually Do Anything?”.. Read

From September this year, Rainforest Alliance will start rolling out the 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Standard worldwide. How does this newly enhanced standard set itself apart in the field? FoodNavigator speaks with the NGO’s director of standards and assurance, Ruth Rennie, to find out... Read

A firm believer that you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, the founder of Holmes Made Foods not only seized every chance he was offered to build his all-natural applesauce company, but he also unabashedly created his own opportunities through persistence and by pursuing what appeared impossible... Watch now

Plant-based meat manufacturers can more easily mimic the texture, appearance and flavor of animal products while simultaneously simplifying their ingredient decks with the help of two new ingredients that Florida Food Products will unveil at the Institute of Food Technologists’ virtual SHIFT20 meeting and expo in mid-July... Read

E-commerce sales at Conagra Brands surged by 89.7% in the year ending May 31 compared to same time last year, as more consumers opted for the convenience (and perceived safety) of click-and-collect and at-home grocery delivery services... Read

Redefine Meat today unveiled its trade-marked Alt-Steak, a plant-based 3D printed steak, with consumer testing to kick off in high-end restaurants this year. FoodNavigator speaks to co-founder and CEO Eshchar Ben-Shitrit to learn more about the path to market... Read

Once primarily restricted to dietary supplements or powders used primarily by the most dedicated fans for at-home DIY smoothies or drink enhancers, collagen is now one of the fastest growing ingredients in the functional food space with countless applications and significant potential in protein bars, RTD beverages and yogurts, according to Gelita, a leading collagen protein manufacturer... Read

To keep consumers who discovered center-of-the-store products during the early pantry-stocking days of the pandemic from reverting to their pre-coronavirus shopping preferences, brands that have not already done so should update formulas and labels quickly with natural, consumer-friendly ingredients, advises an expert with the color house DDW... Read

Often called the “Swiss Army knife of food formulators’ toolbox for their versatility,” eggs can help brands meet Generation Z’s, sometimes contradictory, demand for experimental flavors, elevated eating experiences and, yet, still comforting foods, according to the American Egg Board... Read

Hard boiling an egg may seem basic, but according to the American Egg Board it is one of the most frequent questions asked of the checkoff marketing group – revealing a deep need for education and inspiring the commodity board to launch an online egg science curriculum for the food industry... Read

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced it is allowing the use of milk protein concentrate (MPC), milk protein isolate (MPI) and whey protein concentrate (WPC) in products labeled "high protein milk.".. Read

Health-Ade – the fastest-growing brand in the $1bn kombucha market – is hoping to capture a slice of the $35bn soda category with the launch of Health-Ade Booch Pop, a sparkling organic beverage made with a base of kombucha and cold pressed juice, unlocking incremental growth opportunities for the eight-year-old brand... Read

Giant Food is merging its Giantfood.com and Peapod.com sites to create a simplified grocery e-commerce site for customers at Giantfood.com... Read

With the launch of its frozen meals line last month and growing demand for its frozen sustainable meat and seafood line, Thrive Market has its eye on expanding and strengthening its frozen food portfolio which is seeing strong and sustained consumer interest, says the online retailer's chief merchandising officer... Read

COVID-19 has impacted everything from how, when, and where we buy groceries (spoiler alert, online is gaining share), to consumers' health priorities (immunity is rapidly gaining traction), but what, if anything, does this mean for food innovation and product development?.. Read

As consumers concerned by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic continue to seek immunity-boosting foods and beverages, manufacturers can magnify the appeal of their fortified and naturally nutritious products with the addition of flavors long-associated with health benefits, according to an expert with the flavor and seasoning company Wixon... Read

For emerging brands or companies with unfamiliar products that relied on chefs to introduce their food or beverages to mainstream consumers, the shuttering of restaurants during the pandemic has been especially devasting, but, according to the co-founder of the tahini brand Soom Foods, creating a new category and building a successful CPG business is still possible... Listen now

Meati Foods (formerly Emergy Foods) is gearing up for the direct-to-consumer launch of protein- and fiber-packed fungi-based ‘steaks’ in Q4 after a successful debut in foodservice, carving out new territory in an alternative meat category that remains dominated by processed products such as burgers and nuggets... Read

Daring Foods – a startup seeking to punch above its weight in the plant-based chicken category via a lower calorie product with a shorter, cleaner, ingredients list and bold branding – says it’s enjoying an above average sell-through rate in Sprouts, despite its novelty and premium price tag... Read

A majority (81%) of consumers say transparency is ‘important’ or ‘extremely important’ to them when shopping online and in-store, according to a new report by The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and Chicago-based Label Insight... Read

Miyoko's has won round one in its legal fight with the State of California over its use of the term 'butter' on a plant-based product after a court rejected the State's bid to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the brand in February... Read

After years of steady decline, sales of cereal have rebounded dramatically during the coronavirus pandemic as consumers sheltering in place who once skipped breakfast in the face of long commutes now have time – and no other options – to eat at home... Read

The Rainforest Alliance has said it is ready to fully support Nestlé in its mission to improve sustainability in the cocoa sector, after it was announced the confectionery giant and maker of KitKats is to expand its in-house Cocoa Plan certification scheme in partnership with the organization after dropping Fairtrade... Read

To support increased online shopping demand, Stop & Shop (part of Ahold Delhaize USA) is expanding same-day delivery, opening new warerooms (small fulfillment locations to serve online grocery customers), and adding more store pickup locations by the end of the year... Read

Mediterranean Umami – a clean-label sodium reduction ingredient combining sea salt, tomato concentrates, mushroom and seaweed extracts – is gaining traction in the plant-based meat space as firms come under increasing pressure to reduce sodium, says Israeli firm Salt of the Earth, which will be showcasing the ingredient at the virtual IFT show... Read

From plant-based protein trends to sustainable packaging, managing food waste, using artificial intelligence to track consumer sentiment, and the latest developments in cell-cultured meat and keto diet trends, here are some of the education sessions that caught our eye at SHIFT20, the virtual IFT show (July 13-15)... Read

Confused about navigating the virtual IFT show (Institute of Food Technologists' annual meeting and expo) next month (July 13-15)? FoodNavigator-USA caught up with Corrine Calice, senior director, knowledge and learning experiences; and Susan Young, director of sales, to get a quick guide to how it will work... Read

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), has sent a letter to the United States Trade Representative (USTR), which is thankful for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), but also expresses concern about Canadian dairy compliance... Read

Women are encouraged to look after their physical health during pregnancy, but mental health may be just as important. When babies are exposed to prenatal stress, they may be predisposed to various adverse health outcomes... Read