Food and Beverage Top Stories

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“Sustainability is at the core of Restaurant Technologies, and creating a better world for all of us to live in is a foundational part of our values,” said Diana Geseking, general counsel and chair of Restaurant Technologies’ ESG Committee. “We are grateful for our renewable energy partners, and our diverse customer base across industries who share our commitment to sustainability. With their continued support, we look to build upon our success and reach new heights in the years ahead.” 

Listen to a new Prepared Foods interview with Editor Bob Garrison and Carolina Sasson, Chief Operating Officer at Mission Field, recapping trends, tastes and technologies seen at Natural Products Expo West.

Today, it’s hard to keep up with the dramatic evolution of protein ingredients that fall under the umbrella of plant-based. This includes the growing numbers of ingredients that are not even based on plants. Here’s a brief look at current trends that help define movement in plant-based ingredients, followed by predictions for the future of alternative proteins.

Earlier this year, the Oregon cheesemakers at Tillamook released a comprehensive trend report on new ways consumers are finding to enjoy cheese. Two intriguing pairings revealed by the report included matching artisanal honeys with artisanal cheeses, and what the trend-spotters called “the cheddar plunge”.

Prepared Foods has selected six new food and beverage products introduced in March 2024. Vote to let us know which new product is your favorite!

The top snacking drivers are to “prevent feeling hungry” followed by “rewarding oneself” according to Innova Market Insights’ 2023 Snacking & Healthy Snacking survey.

Common technical challenges that arise when formulating with natural colors in bakery applications include color degradation during processing, color bleeding, and color fading over the product’s shelf life. “When selecting natural colors for bakery items with longer shelf lives, developers must consider various factors to maintain product quality,” explains Nidhi Jaiswal, MS, a food scientist specializing in human nutrition.

The good news for sauce, dressing, and marinade makers is that their category tends to be the top destination for consumers seeking to experiment with flavors.

Negative farm-level margins in mid-2023, along with some adverse weather, pulled US milk production below year-ago levels and dairy farmers have been reducing the size of their herds. US milk production in 2024 is expected to increase 0.8%, with most of the growth coming in the second half.

The founder of Justin's and the former CEO of Rudi's and Lily's joined forces last year to reinvent Rudi's Organic Bakery—and give this nearly 50-year-old company the mentality of a start-up! Jane Miller was CEO at Rudi’s from 2008 to 2014.