Emphasizing the value of exisiting products appeared to trump breakthrough innovation this year at Natural Products Expo West where many companies either introduced smaller sizes of existing SKUs to lower the entry point or more prominently called out functional ingredients or product purity as a stand-in for safety to justify premium prices... Read

Feel Good Foods, Schär, Brazi Bites, and other gluten-free brands showcased breakfast items, pizzas, breads, and other products at Natural Products Expo West last week, as companies lean on innovation to grow the category... Read

Nearly nine out of 10 consumers snack daily to fuel their busy days, carve out a mindful moment of ‘me time,’ and connect with family and friends – but according to Mondelez International’s recently released 5th State of Snacking report, what they are reaching for is changing... Watch now

Through its patented technology that both replicates the delicate microalgae environment and extract its bioactive compounds from biomass, Microphyt is able to produce microalgae at scale in its Montpelier, France facility for a range of food and beverage applications including RTD beverages and protein bars, Vincent Usache, CEO, Microphyt, explained to FoodNavigator-USA during the Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, Calif. earlier this month... Watch now

Through its TRENDfinder events and ELEVATE program, KeHE is helping CPG brands achieve their retail goals, but startups seeking a distribution deal must first ensure that they meet specific requirements, Tabitha Sewell, director of category management at KeHE, told FoodNavigator-USA during at Natural Products Expo West... Watch now

Sales of plant-based products are “where they are supposed to be” despite a post-pandemic slowdown, but to reinvigorate growth and expand appeal “beyond the hardcore” consumers, stakeholders should adopt a more flexible “piece of the plate” approach and share the spotlight with complementary claims, diets and products, advised the CEO of SPINS... Read

Meaningful innovation in the consumer packaged goods industry has ground nearly to a halt post-pandemic for all but an “elite 20%” of companies, according to the Boston Consulting Group’s latest Build for the Future Survey, which analyzes insights from more than 1,000 C-suite executives, including from 68 CPG companies, about their ability to harness their “innovation vision” to accelerate growth, enhance operations and compete effectively... Listen now

Canned seafood brand, Safe Catch, initially began as a technology company that tested and analyzed fish tissue samples for heavy metals within seconds, which was later implemented into the brand’s standard that contained metals “10 times below the FDA standards,” Sean Wittenberg, Safe Catch’s CEO explained to FoodNavigator-USA during Natural Products Expo West last month... Read

CPG startups that have adjusted to a new reality of lower funding and focusing on profitability might have reason to be optimistic about the future of raising money, as two venture-capital investors told FoodNavigator-USA in separate interviews during the Natural Products Expo West last week... Read

As consumer concerns rise over a variety of food ingredients and food additive bans increase, the non-profit Clean Label Project is helping brands make sense of it all, the organization’s executive director Jaclyn Bowen told FoodNavigator-USA in an interview during Natural Products Expo West earlier this month... Watch now

Despite buckwheat’s status as a superfood staple in many parts of the world, including as the base for soba noodles in Japan and in kasha in Ukraine, the protein- and fiber-packed pyramid-shaped seed has struggled to secure a stable spot in the US diet – until now... Listen now

Seaweed’s versatility as a regenerative crop was on display at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, Calif., last week, with brands highlighting its nutrition, texture and environmental benefits in products ranging from seaweed bacon to kelp puffs... Read

Japan’s 2foods sets itself apart in the American market and meets consumer demand for plant-based products with a clean label and a unique taste and texture profile with the US debut of its three-in-one dessert Gâteau Chocolate at Natural Products Expo West last month... Watch now

Consumers increasingly want food that is not only good for them, but also good for the planet and those who work the land, which is why Daily Harvest is teaming with industry leaders and USDA to help more farmers – including small-scale BIPOC farmers – transition to organic, adopt regenerative agriculture practices... Watch now

Bananas offer flavor and nutrition to consumers, and Banana Water is tapping into its global popularity through its RTD beverage using only the fruit, Rich Roth, operations assistant, FruitaBio, explained to FoodNavigator-USA at Natural Products Expo West earlier this month... Read

With the launch of a lower-priced but still premium Essential Infant Formula at Natural Products Expo West last week, Australian-made infant and toddler nutrition company Aussie Bubs also revealed a new look designed to better appeal to the American consumer... Read

Women’s health issues that have long been taboo are starting to come to the forefront of marketing, research and innovation, but many brands still do not know how to talk about them – a challenge that NielsenIQ is addressing with the help of neuroscientists... Watch now

Goodles is shaking up the mac and cheese shelf with colorful branding, playful product names and better-for-you options, including a new gluten-free option sampled at the recent Natural Products Expo West event... Watch now

Launching its premium extra virgin olive oil in 2023, Heraclea Food Co. has focused its efforts on raising consumer awareness on transparency and both environmental and social responsibility within the olive oil industry, Berk Bahceci, founder, Heraclea, explained to FoodNavigator-USA during the Natural Products Expo West earlier this month... Read

Brand building platform Spring Foods is on a mission to revive what it says is the lost flavor, nutrition and virtue of bread with the launch of Essential – a certified organic, ready-to-bake bread line that is building on the success of the company’s low-carb, low-sugar bread, bagel and bun brand Sola... Watch now

Cows are often the posterchild for the negative environmental impacts of farming or ranching, but what if they could be a force for good in the fight against climate change?.. Watch now