Prepared Foods Editorial Staff

Wet Hydration is expanding beyond wellness water with its first Protein Water, formulated with 10g of protein and added electrolytes for everyday use. The RTD product will roll out online and to national retailers, with more flavors planned.

Impossible Foods’ plant-based beef and burgers are now NSF Certified for Sport — the first fresh or plant-based foods to receive the designation. The products deliver 19g of complete protein with less fat and no cholesterol, and will appear in NSF’s certified listings and app.

Kellanova has introduced several new Pringles flavors for Away From Home channels, including Hot Ones–inspired Classic Hot Sauce and Los Calientes Barbacoa. Smoky Bacon and Smoky Cheddar are also hitting convenience stores, with select grocery availability to follow.

Ingredion has appointed Patrick Kalotis as executive vice president of its global texture and healthful solutions segment, effective Dec. 1, 2025. He will oversee strategy, performance and growth in partnership with innovation and commercial teams.

With bacon now a top mix-in for macaroni and cheese, Bob Evans is leaning into the trend with a hickory-smoked, microwave-ready option. The launch targets shoppers seeking flavor upgrades without added prep time.

Strategic moves across the food and beverage sector—from testing and dairy-free innovation to new leadership, market research and manufacturing scale-ups—signal where growth is headed next. Developers, retailers and suppliers now face a market reshaped by wellness trends, shifting consumer trust and rising expectations around functionality and speed.

Jarritos is bringing its top-selling Mandarin flavor to market in a zero-calorie format after consumers in blind taste tests couldn’t tell it apart from the original. The rollout spans major national and Hispanic retailers, with additional expansion ahead.

A massive transfer of buying power is underway, and the next generation of consumers won’t shop—or spend—the way their parents do. Brands that fail to realign now risk losing relevance as millennials, Gen Z and even Gen Alpha gain economic control.

The company will be presenting Harvest Bark concepts that showcase how indulgent treats can be made better-for-you while delivering bold visual appeal.

This strategic alliance combines AFS' expertise in market development and formulation with OleoLive’s proprietary and patented extraction technology to provide a premium, USA-based solution for brands seeking to capitalize on the growing demand for science-backed longevity and mobility ingredients.