| Prepared Foods

It's Innovation month at Prepared Foods! Innovation Month was created specifically for product developers as a hub providing actionable knowledge in order to stay ahead in a fast-moving marketplace. Get ready for a dynamic collection of articles, infographics, videos, podcasts and more—all curated to spotlight the ideas, ingredients and technologies driving the future of food and beverage.

INNOVATION MONTH

Formulating the Future of Sweet: Solving Sugar’s Replacement Puzzle

Food scientists explore new ingredient systems to match the flavor, texture and function of sucrose in modern formulations

David Feder , RDN

October 29, 2025

Replacing sugar isn’t just about cutting calories—it’s about replicating sweetness, texture, color, and mouthfeel. Experts highlight how allulose, erythritol, stevia, and tagatose are redefining sugar reduction, offering clean-label solutions that bridge indulgence and health.

INNOVATION MONTH

Prepared Foods Honors 2025 Spirit of Innovation Award Winners

Annual awards celebrate standout food and beverage innovations and the teams behind them

Robert Garrison

November 11, 2025

Prepared Foods’ 2025 Spirit of Innovation Awards recognize excellence in new product development across retail, foodservice, and alternative channels. From authentic flavors to functional benefits, this year’s winners exemplify how trend insight, creativity, and collaboration drive industry innovation.

Sargento’s Natural American cheese slices

INNOVATION MONTH

Sargento Ages Innovation with Natural American Cheese

A decade of R&D delivers a clean-label breakthrough in natural cheesemaking

Robert Garrison

November 21, 2025

After more than 10 years of experimentation and technical refinement, Sargento has unveiled a natural version of American cheese that melts and tastes like the classic. The launch highlights how patient R&D and process innovation can reshape a traditional category.

INNOVATION MONTH

Floura Turns Fruit Waste Into Functional Fiber

Jeni Britton’s latest venture reimagines upcycled produce as a flavorful source of prebiotic nutrition

Robert Garrison

November 20, 2025

Known for redefining ice cream, Jeni Britton now brings her creative spirit to gut health with Floura Fruit Crush Bars. Made from upcycled melon and tropical fruit rinds, the bars deliver delicious sustainability with a diverse fiber boost.

INNOVATION MONTH

Pop Oats Brings Crunch to the Oat Aisle

A USDA partnership helps reinvent oats as a bold, ready-to-eat snack with patented roasting technology

David Feder , RDN Rodger Morris

November 19, 2025

Pop Oats transforms the humble oat into a craveable, crunchy snack that goes far beyond breakfast. With USDA-backed innovation, the brand aims to launch oats into the snacking universe.

INNOVATION MONTH

Jurgielewicz & Son Wins Innovation Honors for Duck Carnitas

Fourth-generation processor delivers chef-inspired, ready-to-serve duck for foodservice menus

Robert Garrison

November 18, 2025

Joe Jurgielewicz & Son earned Prepared Foods’ Spirit of Innovation award for its fully cooked Duck Carnitas, designed to bring authentic flavor and kitchen efficiency to foodservice. The shredded, seasoned duck offers chefs a versatile, premium protein for creative menu applications.

INNOVATION MONTH

Fermenting a First: How Fermenteria Brewed a Better Buzz

San Antonio start-up pioneers the nation’s first dedicated kefir brewery—crafting probiotic beverages that balance science, flavor and fun

David Feder , RDN

November 17, 2025

From a single sip in Nicaragua to a full-scale brewery in Texas, Fermenteria’s founders reimagined fermentation with both hard and alcohol-free kefirs. The result? A bright, bubbly drink built on passion, persistence, and probiotic innovation.

INNOVATION MONTH

Eli’s S’Mores Cheesecake Fires Up Food Innovation

From marshmallow science to “newstalgic” flavor trends, Eli’s Cheesecake brings R&D artistry to a childhood classic

Robert Garrison

November 14, 2025

What happens when four T’s—trends, technology, taste, and texture—come together in dessert form? Eli’s S’Mores Cheesecake transforms campfire nostalgia into an award-winning indulgence that’s as smart as it is sweet.

INNOVATION MONTH

Sous Vide Meets Southern Comfort: Biscuits & Gravy Reinvented

Cuisine Solutions turns a diner classic into an on-the-go breakfast innovation with its new sous vide biscuit and sausage gravy bites

Robert Garrison

November 13, 2025

What happens when culinary creativity and food science collide? For Cuisine Solutions, it meant transforming one of breakfast’s messiest favorites into a handheld, protein-packed success story now heating up Costco shelves.

Mexican-Style Hot Chocolate Rolled Tacos

INNOVATION MONTH

Ajinomoto Turns Trend Insight Into Innovation

Mexican-Style Hot Chocolate Rolled Tacos bring a sweet-and-spicy twist to handheld snacking

Robert Garrison

November 12, 2025

By blending consumer insight with culinary creativity, Ajinomoto transforms an emerging menu trend into an award-winning product. The result: a craveable, on-the-go snack that delivers comfort, texture, and cross-cultural flavor appeal.

INNOVATION MONTH

Five Shifts Defining Food and Beverage Success in 2026

From AI-driven innovation to brand clarity, strategic agility will separate the leaders from the laggards

Mario DiFalco

October 30, 2025

As 2026 approaches, food and beverage brands face rising pressure from inflation, tariffs, and tightening competition. Discover five decisive shifts that can help your brand move faster, think clearer, and lead with confidence.

INNOVATION MONTH

Functional Fungi Fuel Next Wave of Food Innovation

Mushroom and mycelium ingredients gain traction for mental wellness, texture, and sustainability in new product launches

Lu Ann Williams

October 30, 2025

As consumers seek mental wellness and sustainable nutrition, brands are turning to these versatile ingredients for their functional and sensory appeal.

INNOVATION MONTH

Rethinking Innovation: The Power of Revisiting 'Old' Ideas

Food and beverage brands are rediscovering value in shelved concepts as shifting markets and new tools reshape what’s possible

Glenn Pappalardo

October 31, 2025

In a landscape where most new launches fail, innovation doesn’t always mean starting from scratch. By revisiting past ideas with fresh data and intent, brands can uncover faster, lower-risk paths to growth and renewed relevance.

INNOVATION MONTH

Three Ways to Build a Stronger Edge in 2026 Innovation

Early trend detection, nuanced consumer insights, and unified processes can help food and beverage brands outpace competitors

Veronica Lehman

November 3, 2025

In an era of data overload, real advantage comes from clarity, not volume. By spotting trends early, uncovering the details that drive them, and integrating teams from insight to execution, brands can innovate faster and smarter in 2026.

INNOVATION MONTH

Five Ways to Jumpstart Food & Beverage Innovation

Mattson shares insights on rethinking product development after a sluggish year for new launches

Emily Auerbach

November 4, 2025

After a slower year for innovation, food and beverage R&D teams have a fresh opportunity to reset their approach. Mattson outlines five proven strategies—from looking beyond the aisle to building for scale—that help brands launch products that last.

INNOVATION MONTH

Innovation: The Why Behind the Buy

How cultural insight, purpose and collaboration drive transformative product development—not just the next “new thing.”

Amy Shipley

November 5, 2025

Great innovators look beyond trends to uncover the deeper “why” behind consumer behavior. At SRG, that means blending cultural immersion, emotional insight and AI-powered tools to turn inspiration into lasting impact.

Organic Herbal Tea Concentrates for iced tea

INNOVATION MONTH

Tea Brands Brew Up Wellness and Innovation

From functional blends to sustainable packaging, tea makers tap health, heritage and better-for-you trends to refresh the category

Prepared Foods Editorial Staff

November 7, 2025

Tea innovation continues to flourish with functional benefits, lower sugar and mindful sourcing. From Yogi’s wellness concentrates to Milo’s growth push and Celestial’s anytime offerings, brands are steeping wellness into every cup.

Bullet Proof High Protein Iced Coffee blends

INNOVATION MONTH

Brands Brew Up New Coffee Innovations

From protein-powered lattes to instant café kits, beverage makers tap cold brew culture and functional trends to energize the category

Prepared Foods Editorial Staff

November 6, 2025

Coffee innovation continues to heat up as brands blend protein, mushrooms and better-for-you ingredients into the cold and ready-to-drink space. From Bulletproof’s High Protein Iced Coffee to Daily Harvest’s cleaner PSL, functionality meets flavor in every sip.

ON DEMAND: Whether you're in R&D, formulation, or innovation, this session will provide enzyme-driven insights to improve your plant-based dairy portfolio.

ON DEMAND: Once targeted at athletes, active nutrition products with benefits like energy, focus, hydration, and protein are now winning over everyday consumers seeking support for their busy lifestyles.

Prepared Foods

November 2025

Cover Story

Formulating the Future of Sweet: Solving Sugar’s Replacement Puzzle

Prepared Foods Honors 2025 Spirit of Innovation Award Winners

Features

Sargento Ages Innovation with Natural American Cheese

Floura Turns Fruit Waste Into Functional Fiber

Pop Oats Brings Crunch to the Oat Aisle

Jurgielewicz & Son Wins Innovation Honors for Duck Carnitas

Fermenting a First: How Fermenteria Brewed a Better Buzz

Eli’s S’Mores Cheesecake Fires Up Food Innovation

Sous Vide Meets Southern Comfort: Biscuits & Gravy Reinvented

Ajinomoto Turns Trend Insight Into Innovation

Five Shifts Defining Food and Beverage Success in 2026

Functional Fungi Fuel Next Wave of Food Innovation

Rethinking Innovation: The Power of Revisiting 'Old' Ideas

Three Ways to Build a Stronger Edge in 2026 Innovation

Five Ways to Jumpstart Food & Beverage Innovation

Innovation: The Why Behind the Buy

Products

Tea Brands Brew Up Wellness and Innovation

Brands Brew Up New Coffee Innovations

Unlock the Future of Food and Beverage Innovation

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