This latest product line, which includes three caffeine-free SKUs blended to evoke distinct mood-enhancing functionality, is now available on the Numi Website and is available on Amazon and at select retailers, including Sprouts Farmers Market.

Next In Natural, a firm specializing in bespoke operations for emerging organic food and beverage companies, announced the expansion of a new M&A division and the appointment of Ted Tieken as chief future officer at its helm.

A Prepared Foods infographic highlighting 2024 trends in Natural & Organic seen at Natural Products Expo West.

The Sun-Maid Board of Imagination embarked on a top-secret mission to create a new product to captivate taste buds and spark imaginations. These young innovators considered everything from color and texture to taste, using their knowledge of flavor profiles to choose their favorite combination.

Lay's Wavy Tzatziki, Lay's Masala and Lay's Honey Butter flavors, inspired by Greece, India and Korea, are hitting store shelves in the US for a limited time, helping fans experience the tastes of these countries. 

Zapp's, a brand of chips and pretzels inspired by the sights and sounds of New Orleans, added two bold flavors to its bestselling Kettle Potato Chip and Sinfully-Seasoned Pretzel Stix.

Prepared Foods surveys natural sweetener ingredients for use in food and beverage product development.

Sovos Brands announced that Wendy Behr has joined the company as chief research & development (R&D) officer. Behr brings 30 years of experience in lead research and development roles at organizations including Keurig Dr Pepper, WhiteWave and Diageo.

Although there may be a pandemic-related slowdown, there’s no stopping new product development targeted at the commercial and non-commercial foodservice sectors. To better help its readers with new product development strategy, Prepared Foods asked Jeff Miller, founder and CEO of Cutting Edge Innovation, to create a thought leadership series connecting R&D strategy to foodservice sales. Cutting Edge Innovation advises on foodservice strategy, sales, business development, and innovation and Miller also created an online course, “Turbocharge Your Foodservice Sales.” 

To better help its readers with initial new product evaluation and development Prepared Foods asked Nancy Jo Seaton, owner and president of Seaton Food Consultants, to create a thought leadership series.

By expanding its capabilities to address the growing consumer interest in functional beverages, the company is poised to offer partners and customers the opportunity to meet consumer needs and expectations while embracing current food and beverage trends and advancements in the market.

Although there may be a pandemic-related slowdown, there’s no stopping new product development. To better help readers with corporate innovation strategy, Prepared Foods turned to leaders at the Eureka! Ranch and the Innovation Engineering Institute, Cincinnati. Founded in 1986, Eureka! Ranch has become a global think tank and innovation training company. 

Tate & Lyle, a global provider of food and beverage solutions and ingredients, introduced the “Collaborate at Home Kitchen”, a digital engagement hub where food and beverage manufacturers can explore trends, science and solutions that power modern consumer choices. The hub also provides users with access to Tate & Lyle’s experts, as well as additional resources to help them find solutions to their formulation challenges.

Although there may be a pandemic-related slowdown, there’s no stopping new product development activity. To better help its readers with initial new product evaluation and development Prepared Foods asked Nancy Jo Seaton, owner and president of Seaton Food Consultants, to create a thought leadership series. Seaton has more than 30 years of food industry experience and most recently led global product evaluation for the Subway restaurants. She also has worked for such global food brands as Chiquita, Unilever and ConAgra.

Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition North America, Inc., announced the opening of its new North American corporate headquarters at 250 East Devon Avenue in Itasca, Ill. The new space is designed to accelerate Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition's commitment to delivering high-quality ingredient solutions that drive value for customers.

“Last September, an operator approached us to help alleviate some labor challenges they were experiencing,” notes Elise Carlson, CFS, King & Prince senior research and development manager. “They were taking frozen, cellophane-wrapped cod, thawing it and then cutting it into pieces. Kitchen staff then cut the cod by hand so not all pieces were exactly the same, which is a desirable attribute."

COVID-19 has certainly brought an ever changing "new normal" to the food industry but one thing that will be a sure constant in 2022 is that food safety and quality testing will continue to be important for the integrity of the global food chain.

Global bakery manufacturer and ingredients leader Dawn Foods announced Adam Pawlick as the company's new vice president of research & development for North America. Pawlick joined the company in March 2022, and reports to John Schmitz, president of Dawn North America.

Five new types of Tradición tortillas include Fajita, Soft Yellow Corn Tortillas, Soft White Corn Tortillas, Burrito Flour Tortillas and Soft Taco Flour Tortillas

"Bob’s Signature Blends Baking Mixes are a testament to our commitment to combining the wholesome, premium ingredients we are known for with ease of use,” said Blake Issac, director of innovation marketing at Bob’s Red Mill. 

"Our research shows expanding the range of product choices enables us to engage new consumers who crave a selection of delicious, straightforward options crafted with wholesome ingredients," said Krystle Farlow, director of brand management for Nature's Own.

Made for any snacking occasion or in-home entertaining, the crackers pack a bold flavor and are a versatile base to upgrade snacking moments.

With a blend of organic lemons, Brazilian wildflower honey, infused with real Peruvian ginger, Uncle Matt's Organic has produced a blend of better for you organic ingredients without the guilt of calories and sugar.

The study, conducted at the University of Georgia, compared the cumulative impact of daily pecan eating versus not eating pecans on changes in fasting cholesterol levels and responses to a meal higher in saturated fat (meeting 35% of total daily calories). Findings show notable reductions in cholesterol levels with pecan consumption, as well as lower post-meal triglycerides. 

For the second year, respondents ranked “Easy (Under 30 Minutes) Meals” as their top curiosity for the year ahead, once again underscoring that even the most food-forward consumers are craving approachable, simple meal inspiration.

“We were so honored to be invited to the Fancy Food Show this year. It is a great way for our students to see how broad the food industry is and understand the impact of the work we do at the lab,” said Drexel Food Lab Associate Director Chef Rachel Sherman. “I find it encouraging to see what products and trends jump out to them."

Joan Driggs, Circana’s vice president for content and thought leadership, sits down with Prepared Foods to break down trends fueling success for Circana’s top New Product Pacesetters at both the retail and convenience store channels.

We’ve pinpointed four flavors for 2025, each representing opportunity for differentiation while aligning with larger, sustaining trends. As we see them take shape on restaurant menus, each also promises opportunity in the retail space, offering a parallel path for consumer exploration and adoption. 

Whether you are a retail store, manufacturer, ingredient supplier, or a foodservice operator looking to capitalize on the next food or beverage trend, having relevant data allows you to make better decisions that affect your bottom line.

The Whole Foods Market Trends Council – a collective of more than 50 Whole Foods Market team members ranging from foragers and buyers to culinary experts – develop these trend predictions each year through a combination of deep industry experience, keen observation of consumer preferences, and collaborative sessions with emerging and established brands.

Made with Bob’s Red Mill’s signature blends of premium flours and quality pantry staples, each mix delivers light and fluffy pancakes in minutes. And, with home cooks preferring recipes with a short list of ingredients, they’ll become an essential shortcut for easy, convenient breakfasts with scratch-quality homemade taste. 

Founded in 1983, Ancient Harvest pioneered the sale of quinoa in the US and continues to be a leading brand of value-added, plant-based products including gluten-free pasta, polenta and a brand of quinoa. 

Drake's Mini Cake Bites are bite-sized cakes in flavors inspired by classic Drake's varieties: Pound Cake, Coffee Cake and Devils Food with chocolate chips.

This summer’s Sweets & Snack Expo in Indianapolis drew more than 16,000 attendees and 1,000 exhibitors, from 25 countries. The trends I noticed involve lots of activity around texture—including freeze-dried candies and crunchy and chewy protein snacks. There also are intriguing new flavors in snacks and chips. 

Whether only needing a few cupcakes for a friend or a full pan of brownies for a group, Krusteaz Batters meet any occasion and stay fresh for up to seven days in the refrigerator after opening, ready for whenever the baking mood strikes.

The first new flavor innovation since 2022, the addition features berry flavored bite-sized chocolate treats with a smooth peanut butter center that will transport fans to the comforting experience of a PB&J sandwich.

Tate & Lyle will be the exclusive sponsor of the Scientific & Technical Forum: Health & Nutrition, which includes five dynamic and engaging interdisciplinary panel discussions with speakers from across the industry.

Tate & Lyle PLC unveils its new stevia composition, OPTIMIZER STEVIA® 8.10. This innovative ingredient delivers the highly desired premium taste profile closest to sugar, even at high sugar replacement levels, while offering a more cost-effective solution than other premium sweeteners.

Bobo's, known for oat bars, oat bites and baked goods, announced its new partnership with Rabobank's Acorn initiative (Acorn) to help Colorado's snack brand reach its carbon neutrality goals and further invest in a more sustainable future.

This new syrup, developed with Dunkin' culinary experts, mirrors the sweet vanilla flavor notes of a fried glazed donut. 

Each crêpe is crafted using original French recipes and filled with the timeless American combo of creamy peanut butter and sweet grape filling – providing the best of both worlds in each bite.

Individually wrapped and appropriate for grab-and-go snacks between meals, find these new bars on Amazon and in retailers nationwide for an SRP of $7.99-8.99. 

As we move into 2025, the food industry is poised for significant transformations. Reducing sugar in kids' cereals, embracing the snack revolution, and innovating in the bakery sector will shape the future of food. These trends reflect a broader shift towards health, sustainability, and consumer satisfaction, paving the way for a more nutritious and delicious future.

Amy's puts an innovative twist on morning classics, swapping eggs for their signature house-made tofu: a nutritious and protein-packed egg alternative.

With this launch, GoodBelly continues to pioneer thoughtfully crafted beverages that are good for bodies and sustainably sourced. 

According to the survey, conducted by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation and the American Heart Association, almost all Americans (95%) report that they always or sometimes look for healthy options when food shopping.

The popular White Cheddar Mac & Cheese is now available in a new size that offers five different preparation methods to suit kitchens of any size, including boil-in-bag, microwave, pizza oven/impinger, rapid-cook oven, and steamer. 

Smashburger, the better-burger fast casual restaurant with 235 corporate and franchise locations, partnered with jack and annie's to launch a new plant-based burger made from jackfruit in all locations across the US.

Generation Z, known for their substantial spending on dining out and for regularly making dining choices based on social media content2, are influencing dining experiences around the world. The report highlights a demand from this generation for 'flavor Shock', characterized by unexpected flavor combinations and twists on classic dishes such as incorporating Mexican sauces to create modern pastas.

One of my biggest observations of The National Restaurant Show involves the reformulation or “remake” of many products made with familiar ingredients and flavors. Both shows reminded me of elements from my childhood, and particularly how my grandmother cooked. She worked as a cook 41 years for a first-generation family from Italy.