Moonstone Nutrition, a Pittsburgh-based startup that has developed products to prevent kidney stone formation and promote overall kidney health, announced receipt of an investment from the Accelerator Fund II, LLC., an organization sponsored and managed by the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse that makes early stage investments in life sciences companies located in western Pennsylvania and outside the region.  

Conagra Brands announced new products featuring bowls made from plant-based fibers for Healthy Choice Power Bowls, new Hungry-Man Double Meat Bowls and P.F. Chang's Ramen single-serve meals. By using plant-based fibers instead of plastic, the carbon footprint of manufacturing the bowls is reduced by 50 to 70% across select product lines.

MGP Ingredients, Inc. has named Yvette Hirang its new culinary chef, an integral role as the company addresses the plant-based foods trend with its recently launched ProTerra® textured wheat and pea proteins. She joins the R&D team at MGP’s technical center in Atchison.

A specialist for stabilizing and texturing systems, the company quickly has grown to become one of the key players in the burgeoning market for plant-based alternatives. Its product portfolio has expanded enormously, and last year this expertise was bundled in the newly founded “Plant Based Competence Center.”

Cargill’s line of BatterCrisp® starches are the backbone of breadings and batters that deliver the crispy, crunchy textures consumers’ desire. 

Prepared Foods talks consumer insights with Lesle Na, Director of Business Development with Ibotta Insights. It is a consumer research agency under the umbrella of Ibotta, whose smartphone app lets consumers earn cash back on in-store, mobile app, and online purchases with receipt submission, linked retailer loyalty accounts, payments, and/or purchase verification. 

Recent ADM OutsideVoice℠ research shows that 77% of consumers intend to make more attempts to stay healthy in the future. Food and beverage manufacturers who successfully balance consumer health concerns with affordability are most likely to win with consumers.

Prepared Foods talks innovation strategy with Galit Feinreich founder and principal consultant at Little Wave Co., Los Angeles. Feinreich’s 20+ year career spans a range of companies from start-ups to multinationals across industries from enterprise software to sports nutrition and food. Current and recent clients to her consulting practice include Dole Packaged Foods, Nature’s Bakery and Cremo Company.

The Brenntag Food & Nutrition business unit in North America, part of the Brenntag Group, signs a new agreement with Vitalus Nutrition Inc. for the distribution of VITAGOS™ in the United States and Canada.

Thanks to a partnership with Food Innovation Center at Rutgers University (FIC), the Specialty Food Association (SFA) persevered, and produced its 48th annual sofi™ Awards competition, resulting in 157 winners across 49 categories from around the world.