As consumers become increasingly concerned about food safety, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare, organic products have seen a steady rise in demand. Organic September helps bridge the gap between consumers and the farming community by offering insights into the farming practices behind organic certification and providing access to organic products.

Stellar Pretzel Thins marks a launch for the vegan and peanut-free pretzel company as the brand becomes even more inclusive to the everyday consumer, especially those with gluten allergies and health-restrictions.

"We're so excited to bring a flavor that is loved by so many to our Blue Diamond snack portfolio," said Maya Erwin, vice president, Marketing & Innovation, Blue Diamond Growers. "We’re always looking for new ways to incorporate trending flavors into our products, and with Ranch, we hope our customers feel inspired to take their taste buds to a new level of deliciousness.”

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.

The new Smoothie Pops line includes three varieties: Organic Acai & Blueberry, Organic Dragon Fruit & Mango, and Organic Passion Fruit & Peach. The new Organic Smoothie Pops are both health-forward and tasty.

Farm Rich added four new snacks to its product lineup: Stuffed Buffalo Crunchers with Frank’s RedHot® Sauce, Spinach Artichoke Dip Bites, Grilled Cheese Bites and the return of a fan favorite, Pepperoni Pizza Roll-Ups.

The new co-manufacturing division of BumbleBar, Inc. recently recruited its quality food safety manager from Archer Daniels Midland, one of the world’s largest food processing companies.

Aleph Farms Ltd. and its research partner at the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, cultivated a slaughter-free ribeye steak, using three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting technology and natural building blocks of meat – real cow cells, without genetic engineering and immortalization.

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.

Silicon Valley-based cellular agriculture company Mission Barns announced a $24M Series A to scale up its cultivated fat technology and build a pilot manufacturing plant in the Bay Area.

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.

Mars Wrigley broke ground on a new, best-in-class, global research and development hub adjacent to the company's existing Global Innovation Center on Goose Island. Leaders from Mars as well as key Chicago stakeholders, including Michael Fassnacht, CEO, World Business Chicago, and Alderman Walter Burnett Jr., gathered together to commemorate the milestone for the company.

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

With zero sugar and zero BS, Main Character 5-hour ENERGY® gives you zero reasons not to bring it to every room, every Friday, and every moment of the summer.

Fruit Punch and Pineapple Coconut are joining the party alongside the classics, Citrus and Island. All four offerings of TAMPICO Hard Punch feature a smoother, more flavorful experience thanks to a new, lower 5% ABV, and for the first time are now available in a six-pack format.

The new varieties will join the original Red Bull Sugarfree and Red Bull Zero in this expansion of zero sugar options.

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.

With 88 calories per 12oz serving, the new Lime, Cranberry, and Pineapple flavors are made up of real fruit, and premium spirits with ultra-purified water at an ABV (alcohol by volume) of just 4.5%.

The addition of Park 100 will complement OSI’s existing business while providing a significant presence in the attractive soup, sauce, and macaroni and cheese categories.

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.

The new facility is located adjacent to The Mart Group’s headquarters, bringing the company’s total employment in Rupert to more than 230 people. The new Mart Frozen Foods facility will directly create 80 full-time jobs, and have an estimated annual economic impact of $11.15 million.  

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.

The report, “Tapping Into the Global Consumer Well-Being Opportunity,” reveals the complexity of personal well-being, with consumers turning to solutions as varied as physical activity, social media, food, pet ownership, beauty, and books, among many other products and services, to harmonize their physical, mental, and social well-being.

Parents care about health and wellness for their children, and their purchasing patterns drive innovation toward healthier children’s food and beverage products. We see growth in numerous categories in children’s products that are positioned as healthy and better-for-you, including dairy alternatives as well as new items in the sweet and savory bakery, and confectionery categories.  

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. 

Like all YumEarth treats, the sour bites are free from of the top 9 allergens (peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, fish, gluten, shellfish, soy, and sesame), contain no artificial dyes, are non- GMO, and made with organic and simple ingredients.

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.

Dr. Wagoner brings more than 10 years of experience in dairy products research and innovation to the role. He got his start as a trained chef at the California School of Culinary Arts before obtaining his BS, MS, and PhD in Food Science from North Carolina State University. 

Combined, McEvoy and Jankowski bring more than 50 years of exceptional contributions to Sargento. They will continue to provide strategic counsel by staying on as advisors to the senior leadership team through the end of the year.

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.

The Frozen Greek Yogurt Bars are inspired by Snoop Cereal flavors, this partnership symbolizes a fusion of culinary creativity and a joint commitment to quality and community empowerment.

Kantha Shelke, PhD, CFS principal of Corvus Blue, LLC, shares effective ways to lower sugar content in RTE and heat-&-eat cereal products through both technical means as well as using alternatives to the refined sugars still predominant in these most popular breakfast products.

Trends and innovations that took place in the cereals and bars market for 2023, and what formulators can look for going into 2024.

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.

Javid brings more than three decades of experience in the food and beverage industry to his new role at Atlas. 

OPTIBAR® allows more protein to be delivered in functional bars with a long-lasting, soft and indulgent texture. It also acts as a sugar-free binder, enabling “low sugar” and “no sugar” claims in cereal bars.

The latest product innovation showcases the just-baked texture, organic ingredients, and whole grain nutrition that consumers know paired with plant-based protein for that extra boost.

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.

Each carton contains eight, individually-wrapped chewy granola bars for on-the-go snacking, entertaining, and lunchbox pairings. 

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. 

According to the company, 58% of people believe there are better flavors than pumpkin spice during the fall? In a ranking of fall flavors, Salted Caramel came in as a second favorite among fans, the company says.

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.

Korea Ginseng Corp. US announced the introduction of the six-year-old Korean Red Ginseng-infused sparkling herbal drink HSW to the health-conscious consumers of WaBa Grill, a healthy rice bowl chain.

heywell's functional beverages are made with adaptogens, antioxidants and organic caffeine to support energy, immunity, focus, hydration and stress.

The vitamin and electrolyte-packed drink mix, made for on-the-go convenience with added immunity-boosting ingredients like additional Vitamin C, Zinc and Elderberry, boasts only 2g of sugar and 20 calories per single-serve stick.

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

Hain featured Garden Veggie™ Flavor Burst™ Tortilla Chips, as well as highlighting Earth's Best® Organic Support Smoothies and new sustainable packaging solutions from the Ella's Kitchen® & Celestial Seasonings® brands.

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.