Food and Beverage Top Stories

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Last year, New Hope Media and SPINS representatives estimated packaged natural and organic product sales in 2022 hit $111.5 billion in sales, a 7.2% year-over-year increase according to SPINS data. Meanwhile, total related sales—including supplements and functional foods and beverages—were projected to surpass more than $300 billion in 2023.

At the top of the trends hierarchy are five macro forces that impact consumer needs and behavior: focus on health, increased cost of living, potential political and global threats, technology transformations, and health of the planet. This last force, health of the planet, inspires consumers to do what they can to manage their impact on the environment. Sustainable packaging is essential to health of the planet because it allows consumers to take action in a tangible way.

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

Dry January is drawing to a close, but for makers of cannabis spirits, offering consumers an alternative to alcohol is a priority all year long.

Ongoing studies focusing on the human microbiome reveal novel insights into the diverse applications of probiotics beyond gut health. Emerging research explores the intricate connection between microbiota and various health conditions, propelling innovative probiotic solutions targeting specific health concerns.

Meat alternatives could be developed in future iterations to gain nutritional value that matches or exceeds that of traditional meat.

In this interview with Prepared Foods, Renewal Mill co-founder and COO Caroline Cotto describes how Renewal Mill converts the byproducts of grain, seed, and legume food and ingredient processing into a retail line of clean label, organic specialty flours and baking mixes.

In this podcast, Scott Dicker, market insights director at SPINS LLC, discusses those natural and organic categories that are doing well (think global flavors, at-home meals) and he shares an inside look at SPINS’ top trends for 2024!

Bobo's, known for oat bars, oat bites and baked goods, announced its new partnership with Rabobank's Acorn initiative to help the snack brand reach its carbon neutrality goals and further invest in a more sustainable future. The amount of carbon captured by the trees and plants planted as part of Acorn's agroforestry program is monitored with remote sensing techniques. Each ton of captured carbon represents one carbon removal unit (CRU). These CRU's, which are traceable, certified and nature based, are sold to responsible companies like Bobo's.

Bulking sweeteners, such as sugar alcohols and the newer, rare sugars allulose and tagatose, can require usage levels that are not commercially viable. Plus, parents might be hesitant to purchase cereals with these sucrose substitutes because of a lack of familiarity. Meanwhile, high-intensity sweeteners lack the multifaceted functionality and taste of sucrose and fructose and are not suitable for children whose sweet tooth could use subduing towards lower levels of sweetness in foods.