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.

Danone North America honored a commitment to science and education through the ninth annual Gut Microbiome, Yogurt and Probiotics Fellowship Grant Program. This year's honorees, selected by a committee of nutrition scientists, are Catherine Shelton of Vanderbilt University and Alice Solomon of the University of Arizona. Winners were chosen based on the quality of their proposals, faculty recommendations and each of their studies' value to human health and wellness.

Although there may be a pandemic-related slowdown, there’s no stopping new product development. To help readers with new product development strategy, Prepared Foods asked Dave Lundahl, founder of InsightsNow, to create a thought leadership series connecting R&D with consumer insights. 

CP Kelco, a leader of nature-based ingredient solutions, launched a new global innovation center, adding to the company’s growing network of innovation and technical support facilities around the world. The Atlanta-based innovation center is designed as an open, collaborative space for scientists and customers alike to engage in ingredient research, problem-solving, development and pilot plant scale-up of food, beverage, home care, personal care and other consumer and industrial products.

“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."

In conjunction with its February profile of new sports foods and drinks, Prepared Foods interviewed Scott Peters, director of product development at 3i Solutions, Wooster, Ohio. 

Stellex’s partnership with J. Skinner will support investment into production capacity expansion, increased automation, and new product development. 

Attendees are invited to visit booth #S412 where Kemin is introducing the Virtual Shelf—a new interactive tool, and team experts will discuss the company’s ever-expanding suite of ingredient solutions that can help manufacturers keep foods fresher, safer, for longer.

Formulated with healthy ingredients, including 180mg of natural caffeine from coffee bean extract, prebiotic fiber and functional ingredients, like lychee extract, apple cider vinegar, l-theanine and B vitamins, each can of Bloom Sparkling Energy delivers on taste  and clean energy, with just 10 calories and zero grams of sugar.

his collaboration will drive advancements in bioreactor technology, perfusion systems, and media rejuvenation while reducing environmental impact through optimized water usage, power consumption, and circular economy initiatives like waste stream utilization.

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.

Physically active consumers want convenient, protein-packed options to fit into their on-the-go routine. “Plant-powered” ready-to-drink (RTD) and ready-to-mix (RTM) protein beverages are emerging as a perfect solution to fill this niche nutrition category and grow into the mainstream market.

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.

“Consumers are looking for wellness across every aspect of their lives, and food and beverages are playing a critical role in this transformation,” said Sally Lyons Wyatt, global executive vice president and chief advisor at Circana. 

The 169,000sq-ft facility is an expansion of Ferrero's existing manufacturing campus in Bloomington. CRUNCH, 100 Grand, Raisinets, and other chocolate products are made at the campus, and it is also now home to the company's first-ever chocolate factory outside of Europe. 

A pilot program brings together financial support from Kellanova, Ahold Delhaize USA, and Bartlett to aid wheat farmers in North Carolina who are adopting regenerative agricultural methods. The wheat from these farms will be combined with conventionally grown wheat to produce Cheez-It® crackers.

Mars knows that c-store shoppers and those on the go are adventurous with their purchases, making variety key to winning in the c-store space. The latest Mars Wrigley innovations and offerings aim to fuel category growth and provide new options to consumers.

“If your company manufactures yogurt or other cultured dairy products—such as frozen yogurt and kefir—and you are interested in using the LAC Seal on your products, IDFA is now making it easier than ever to obtain the seal for use on product packaging and labels, demonstrating to consumers and other customers that your products contain valuable live and active yogurt cultures,” said John Allan, IDFA vice president of regulatory affairs and administrator of the IDFA’s LAC Seal program. “The LAC Seal is the best way to reach consumers with this unique health and wellness attribute.”

“Truffle is a beloved flavor that provides decadent luxury; combining with our rich and bold White Cheddar delivers the best of both worlds,” said Amanda Vaal, brand director at Cracker Barrel Cheese. “Dill also continues to be high in demand, delivering a sharp and savory twist to a snacking classic.”

Students Anandu Chandra Khanashyam, Abrielle Schnurr, Nghi Huynh and Suchismita Roy are studying food science and earned the first-place prize of $10,000. 

Amano Enzyme experts are also presenting as part of the official IFT FIRST 2024 education program. Monica Henry, Scientist at Amano Enzyme, is presenting the session, “Improvement of Physical Properties in High Protein Plant-Based Cheese with Enzymatic Treatment,” on Tuesday, July 16, at 12:00 p.m. CDT. 

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.

International Delight rolled out its latest holiday flavor edition, new Hot Chocolate Marshmallow Creamer, along with returning favorites Frosted Sugar Cookie Creamer, Peppermint Mocha Creamer, Peppermint Mocha Zero Sugar Creamer and Peppermint Mocha Iced Coffee.

The everything bagel flavor category is growing 20 times faster than other cheese flavors, however, most everything bagel flavored products on the market are limited to the cracker, chip and pretzel categories. The Laughing Cow Everything Bagel Style is a unique option for fans to enjoy the cheese wedges in a new way.

This innovative product provides consumers with a rich and creamy texture, similar to Icelandic Provisions traditional dairy skyr, with 12g of protein and simple plant-based ingredients.

Tropical Trio is JAMBAR’s fifth flavor, and its first new flavor since the company launched in late 2021. In addition to the three vegan fruit flavors, JAMBAR also offers two bars that contain whey protein – Chocolate Cha Cha and Malt Nut Melody.

Post Consumer Brands launched three new cereals and two size extensions.

Officials praise the new location as more efficient with state-of-the-art equipment upgrades. Moreover, they said it’s designed to accommodate future growth, expansion, and increased output—all without sacrificing lead times.

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.

HealthTech BioActives (HTBA), a global leader in natural flavonoids and B12 derivatives, invited SupplySide West 2023 attendees to discover a portfolio of consumer-centric functional health ingredients for cardiovascular health, sports performance and more. Visitors to booth SSW #5081 can also learn more about QuerceClean®, HTBA’s latest functional health innovation for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support.

Consumer interest in the role of functional foods that help support immunity is still foremost in the “Better For You” category, and forecast to continue at the very least for another 5-7 years.

Inflammation was already a concern for consumers as research established systemic inflammation as a significant participant in disease states ranging from obesity, diabetes, and CVD to infirmities of aging and even declines in energy and cognition. Then the global pandemic hit and the perils of inflammation moved further into the spotlight.

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

Functional mushroom coffee brand, Four Sigmatic announced that it will debut a new line of organic instant teas. Each tea is infused with functional mushrooms and adaptogens for focus, calm, positive mood, and immune and gut support.

From immunity and cognition to sleep, vision, beauty from within, weight management, and gut health, the Kemin Human Nutrition and Health business unit can help brands elevate, differentiate, and deliver a variety of health benefits for functional beverages, food, and supplements.

The company’s products, which include its new Gut Healthy GLP-1 Booster (an unflavored prebiotic fiber mix that can be added to any food or beverage), award-winning snack bars, and meal-replacement shakes, were available exclusively online until the company launched in bricks-and-mortar stores early 2024.

The impact of yogurt, probiotics and the gut microbiome can be linked to several health benefits including those relating to brain, digestive and immune function.

Kate Farms prioritizes high-quality ingredients to provide nutrition, and believes that a shake doesn't need to be pink to enjoy an organic natural strawberry flavor.

It has been well established that long-term nutritional imbalance due to low-fiber diets leads to increased incidence of noncommunicable diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, gut dysbiosis, cancer, metabolic syndrome, allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, and autoimmune diseases. 

Gut Goodness, a ready-to-drink prebiotic supplement derived from the fruit and bark pulp of the Baobab Tree and the brainchild of former collegiate athlete and beverage branding expert Mo Harruna. 

As the season shifts, consumer preferences evolve, creating a valuable opportunity for food and beverage product developers to tap into fall-themed flavors. Whether your target market prefers to savor the last hints of summer or eagerly anticipates fall, now is the time to introduce innovative, seasonal products that align with both consumer health trends and seasonal nostalgia.

Enriching the diet with regimens of prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, and other ingredients can establish greater microbial diversity in the gut and has been reported to improve immune function in the aging population.

Fermented foods other than dairy are trending, with sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles, and other vegetables; kombucha; sourdough; natto and tempeh leading the pack. Yet with cultured dairy still at the forefront, there are multiple fermented dairy products that offer benefits besides the immunity support of probiotics.

While the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends an intake of added sugar of less than 10% of daily calories, only 42% of Americans are meeting this guideline.

As of December 27, 2019, organic certified flavors will be required in all organic food and beverage products, unless the flavor is not commercially available as organic.

The US Food and Drug Administration launched an initiative to help consumers use the new Nutrition Facts label that appears on packaged foods to maintain healthy dietary practices.

GMO is a common term used by consumers to describe foods that have been created through genetic engineering. While GMOs have been available to consumers since the early 1990s and are a common part of today's food supply, research shows consumers have limited knowledge and understanding about what GMOs are, why they are used, and how they are made.

More than 80% of people in the US aren’t eating enough vegetables, fruit and dairy. And most people consume too much added sugars, saturated fat and sodium. The proposed rule is part of the agency’s ongoing commitment to helping consumers improve nutrition and dietary patterns to help reduce the burden of chronic disease and advance health equity. 

By acknowledging the feelings of isolation and frustrations that many experience, Atkins Way offers a better way, providing freedom from a lifetime of dieting through a joyful approach to eating, says the brand.