Tag: Better-for-You
Hungryroot – A Master Class in Pivoting
Hungryroot, a survivor of the DTC meal-kit boom, pivoted from a narrow CPG business model to a distributor model with a limited assortment retail interface, leading to significant success. By focusing on a small list of ingredients, Hungryroot transformed into an online grocer that offers personalized meal planning.
Winning Recipe: A Former NFL Star’s Quest for the Perfect Plant-Based Snack
As a retired NFL star with a family full of athletes, Ed McCaffrey understands the ins and outs of sports nutrition firsthand. He’s been on a quest to develop the perfect plant-based, gluten-free snack for athletes for several years and launched McCaffrey Protein Bites this month.
From Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia to Cha-Ching! The Evolution of Chia Seeds
Chia seeds were the most popular functional ingredient on U.S. restaurant menus during Q4 of 2024, according to MenuData, accounting for 38.9% of menu share. A staple in ancient diets for their utility and nutrition, today, the ingredient is gaining momentum with health-conscious consumers.
Mike Tyson Unleashes Plant-Based Ice Cream at ‘Vegan McDonald’s’
Boxer-turned-entrepreneur Mike Tyson recently launched Mr. Fluff-Head at Mr. Charlie’s. The new dessert features a potato-based soft serve topped with a Mike’s Bites vegan chocolate ear and organic strawberry drizzle, celebrating Tyson’s investment in the plant-based QSR chain.
FI Spotlight: How Nordic Culture Inspired This Food Trend
5 Key Ingredients for Healthy Meals in 2025
Chickpeas, miso, and tahini are among the versatile, nutrient-rich ingredients to watch, according to longtime culinary expert Chef Dennis Littley. After all, modern consumers demand dishes that are packed with protein, fiber, and probiotics.
Healthy by Association: How Alt-Meat Brands Are Earning Trust
Alt-meat brands like Beyond and Impossible are launching new and reformulated products to earn the trust of health-conscious consumers and national health organizations. These innovations have enabled the meat alternatives to quality for the nutrition initiatives of both the American Heart and American Diabetes Associations.
GLP-1 Weight-Loss Craze Brightens Outlook for Yogurt
The growing popularity of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs is reshaping the yogurt market, as consumers increasingly seek protein-packed snacks. Multiple brands are innovating with high-protein, low-sugar options.
Driving Profit with the Better-for-You Shopper
The better-for-you shopper has more to spend on groceries every month, attracting grocers and brands to invest in the market. These shoppers are worth an estimated $285 billion each year.
A Seat at the Table: Innovative, Allergen-Free Holiday Treats
F&B brands are embracing inclusivity this year, debuting an array of innovative, allergen-free holiday treats ranging from vegan advent calendars to dairy-free nog.
CPGs Bet Big on Plant-Based Packaging
Plant-based packaging is gaining momentum, prompted by environmental concerns, regulatory pressures, and corporate sustainability efforts. With a projected 9% CAGR in the plant-based packaging market expected through 2032, companies like Califia Farms are innovating with recyclable solutions.
Wellness, Emotions Fuel Snacking Trends
In just a few years, consumer snacking has evolved, driven by a greater focus on nutrient density and one’s emotional connection to food. This shift has accelerated the demand for healthier snacks that offer both pleasure and functionality.
Trust Your Gut: Harken Sweets Goes All in on Superfood Snacks
A health scare inspired CEO Katie Lefkowitz to create gut-friendly snack bars. She ended up with a sweet solution in the form of date caramel candy bars.
Aloha Protein Bar Brand Riding Wellness Wave to Big Growth
Aloha CEO Brad Charron is bullish on plant-based products. And it’s easy to see why, considering his better-for-you protein bar brand experienced 500% growth from 2020 to 2023.
5 Innovations Shifting the Alternative Meat Landscape
In a recent webinar, Food Business News shared emerging data, trends, innovations, and consumer insights impacting the alternative meat, dairy, and seafood markets, a $1.03B industry attempting to recover from a sharp decline beginning in 2018. Here are five key takeaways.
Hummus: The Original Plant-Based Dip
According to Brightfield research group, the top need states searched online with hummus over the past three years are functional health, digestive health, and sustainability, while the top nutrition states are low sugar, low carb, and high protein – all benefits from the humble chickpea.
$85 Million to the Clearance Bin – Is Magic Spoon Done?
Magic Spoon cereal is twice as expensive as most other name brands. Many regard its flavor as questionable and its better-for-you status isn’t as rock solid as consumers would like to believe.
Latin Food Brands Fighting to Stand Out Via Healthier-for-you Products
ANAHEIM, Calif. – American shoppers seeking Latin food demand healthier-for-you items – as well as heat. Those were the common sentiments among Mexican vendors at the recent Expo West 2024 trade show. “People are saying, …
Consumers Award Better-for-You in New Product Survey
Despite some titans of the pantry and cookie jar winning in their categories (Keebler’s Chips Deluxe Fudgy in the Cookie category; Dr. Pepper Strawberries & Cream in Soft Drink), better-for-you offerings not only abounded but won several snacking categories.
Taking Stock of Wellness: Target Launches Wellness Initiative
The least expensive products will start at just $1.99 and range from apparel to supplements, vitamins to technology, and more. Many of the offerings will be exclusive to Target and complement its dedicated online wellness destination that features ideas, meal inspiration, and more.
FI Newscast (December 22, 2023) -How Magic Spoon Evokes “Newstalgia”
Cider is the Next Craft Beer Movement
Like session beers, Guiver said many ciders feature a higher ABV than what many people are used to (or remember!). “We’re seeing more ciders with ABVs of 7% or more as customer trends change,” she added, “and cider is walking this line of tradition as well as approachability and innovation.”
SKU News: Firsts From Maxwell House, Yough!, & Philadelphia
New product launches from Maxwell House, Yough!, and Philadelphia signal important firsts for each of the brands. Designed to be convenient, better-for-you, and plant-based, these new offerings are indicative of the trends defining the food industry right now.
Advertisement
FI-Home-NEW-2020Gaps
Advertisement
Top Trends at the Summer Fancy Food Show
“Companies must stand out,” said Food Institute CEO Brian Choi. “To win in the marketplace, products have to have a differentiated selling point – just being ‘good’ is not good enough in this environment.”
The Better-for-You Blockbuster Snacking Season Has Arrived
As families gear up for movie night across the country and CPG companies figure out how to get their snacks off the shelves and into the hands of consumers before the previews even start, what constitutes a typical movie night snack, for many, is going the way of the dinosaurs.
Boosting the Better-for-You Beverage Offer in Foodservice
Better-for-you beverages are booming, but major foodservice players have been slow to diversify their fountain offerings. Can consumer demand for healthier alternatives turn the tides?
FI Newscast (March 17, 2023) – Featuring Winston Song, PAI Partners
CEO Sees Extensive ‘Runway’ for Healthier Plant-Based Snacks
The founder of That’s it, a functional snack brand, feels that there’s a significant runway within the plant-based category, especially for healthier-for-you snacks.
“Better-For-You” Snacks Blur the Line Between Health and Indulgence
Where is the line between healthy and indulgent? Experts weigh in on the merits of new “better-for-you” snack options that intend to walk it.
FI Fast Break audio news: Oct. 26, 2022
The latest Food Institute news podcast examines the recent growth in functional, better-for-you beverages.
Frozen Yogurt Chains Fighting to Make Comeback
Is frozen yogurt still relevant, or has its time come and gone? It depends who you ask. While major chains’ sales have dipped in recent years, the healthier-for-you dessert still appeals to many consumers.
CPGs Refocusing on Faster-Growing Categories
The pandemic changed a lot of consumers’ attitudes towards foods and snacks, focusing more attention on healthier living and alternatives to traditional foodstuffs. As those trends accelerate, CPG companies are rethinking their structures and offerings …
Solving Taste Challenges with Flavor Modulation
This article is written and sponsored by Kerry. Taste is what drives consumers to purchase their favorite foods and beverages. However, great taste isn’t always easy to achieve. In fact, categories like plant-based meat and dairy …
Analysis: Gummies, TikTok Stole Show in Chicago
CHICAGO – Bright, multi-colored displays of gummies and exhibitors touting their presence on TikTok largely stole the spotlight at the recent National Confectioners Association’s Sweets & Snacks Expo. Gummies are big business, included in the …
Consumers Diving into Frozen Desserts
Consumers’ perpetual sweet tooth for frozen treats continues to drive category sales, despite equally persistent supply chain challenges. In particular, the frozen novelty segment has been a powerhouse over the past few years, with April …