Although there may be a pandemic-related slowdown, there’s no stopping new product development activity. To better help its readers with initial new product evaluation and development Prepared Foods asked Nancy Jo Seaton, owner and president of Seaton Food Consultants, to create a thought leadership series. Seaton has more than 30 years of food industry experience and most recently led global product evaluation for the Subway restaurants. She also has worked for such global food brands as Chiquita, Unilever and ConAgra.

Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition North America, Inc., announced the opening of its new North American corporate headquarters at 250 East Devon Avenue in Itasca, Ill. The new space is designed to accelerate Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition's commitment to delivering high-quality ingredient solutions that drive value for customers.

“Last September, an operator approached us to help alleviate some labor challenges they were experiencing,” notes Elise Carlson, CFS, King & Prince senior research and development manager. “They were taking frozen, cellophane-wrapped cod, thawing it and then cutting it into pieces. Kitchen staff then cut the cod by hand so not all pieces were exactly the same, which is a desirable attribute."

Global bakery manufacturer and ingredients leader Dawn Foods announced Adam Pawlick as the company's new vice president of research & development for North America. Pawlick joined the company in March 2022, and reports to John Schmitz, president of Dawn North America.

"Bob’s Signature Blends Baking Mixes are a testament to our commitment to combining the wholesome, premium ingredients we are known for with ease of use,” said Blake Issac, director of innovation marketing at Bob’s Red Mill. 

"Our research shows expanding the range of product choices enables us to engage new consumers who crave a selection of delicious, straightforward options crafted with wholesome ingredients," said Krystle Farlow, director of brand management for Nature's Own.

Made for any snacking occasion or in-home entertaining, the crackers pack a bold flavor and are a versatile base to upgrade snacking moments.

Fruit Punch and Pineapple Coconut are joining the party alongside the classics, Citrus and Island. All four offerings of TAMPICO Hard Punch feature a smoother, more flavorful experience thanks to a new, lower 5% ABV, and for the first time are now available in a six-pack format.

“We were so honored to be invited to the Fancy Food Show this year. It is a great way for our students to see how broad the food industry is and understand the impact of the work we do at the lab,” said Drexel Food Lab Associate Director Chef Rachel Sherman. “I find it encouraging to see what products and trends jump out to them."

Joan Driggs, Circana’s vice president for content and thought leadership, sits down with Prepared Foods to break down trends fueling success for Circana’s top New Product Pacesetters at both the retail and convenience store channels.

We’ve pinpointed four flavors for 2025, each representing opportunity for differentiation while aligning with larger, sustaining trends. As we see them take shape on restaurant menus, each also promises opportunity in the retail space, offering a parallel path for consumer exploration and adoption. 

Each year, the fall season ushers in hundreds of new and limited-time offer introductions to retail and foodservice channels. It would be a fool's errand to list all of the products featuring fall flavors in 2024, but Prepared Foods has compiled a list of some of the most compelling examples.

Whether you are a retail store, manufacturer, ingredient supplier, or a foodservice operator looking to capitalize on the next food or beverage trend, having relevant data allows you to make better decisions that affect your bottom line.

The Whole Foods Market Trends Council – a collective of more than 50 Whole Foods Market team members ranging from foragers and buyers to culinary experts – develop these trend predictions each year through a combination of deep industry experience, keen observation of consumer preferences, and collaborative sessions with emerging and established brands.

Made with Bob’s Red Mill’s signature blends of premium flours and quality pantry staples, each mix delivers light and fluffy pancakes in minutes. And, with home cooks preferring recipes with a short list of ingredients, they’ll become an essential shortcut for easy, convenient breakfasts with scratch-quality homemade taste. 

This summer’s Sweets & Snack Expo in Indianapolis drew more than 16,000 attendees and 1,000 exhibitors, from 25 countries. The trends I noticed involve lots of activity around texture—including freeze-dried candies and crunchy and chewy protein snacks. There also are intriguing new flavors in snacks and chips. 

Whether only needing a few cupcakes for a friend or a full pan of brownies for a group, Krusteaz Batters meet any occasion and stay fresh for up to seven days in the refrigerator after opening, ready for whenever the baking mood strikes.

The first new flavor innovation since 2022, the addition features berry flavored bite-sized chocolate treats with a smooth peanut butter center that will transport fans to the comforting experience of a PB&J sandwich.

Students Anandu Chandra Khanashyam, Abrielle Schnurr, Nghi Huynh and Suchismita Roy are studying food science and earned the first-place prize of $10,000. 

Tate & Lyle will be the exclusive sponsor of the Scientific & Technical Forum: Health & Nutrition, which includes five dynamic and engaging interdisciplinary panel discussions with speakers from across the industry.

Tate & Lyle PLC unveils its new stevia composition, OPTIMIZER STEVIA® 8.10. This innovative ingredient delivers the highly desired premium taste profile closest to sugar, even at high sugar replacement levels, while offering a more cost-effective solution than other premium sweeteners.

The latest product innovation showcases the just-baked texture, organic ingredients, and whole grain nutrition that consumers know paired with plant-based protein for that extra boost.

Deemed by the company as a morning chaos-solver, Eggo Coffee, made its trade debut at the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York.

Individually wrapped and appropriate for grab-and-go snacks between meals, find these new bars on Amazon and in retailers nationwide for an SRP of $7.99-8.99. 

Initially available on soylent.com and amazon.com in both Chocolate and Vanilla, Soylent Complete Protein Powder levels up the protein shake category by offering a nutritious blend.

According to the survey, conducted by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation and the American Heart Association, almost all Americans (95%) report that they always or sometimes look for healthy options when food shopping.

While the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends an intake of added sugar of less than 10% of daily calories, only 42% of Americans are meeting this guideline.

The US Food and Drug Administration launched an initiative to help consumers use the new Nutrition Facts label that appears on packaged foods to maintain healthy dietary practices.

The popular White Cheddar Mac & Cheese is now available in a new size that offers five different preparation methods to suit kitchens of any size, including boil-in-bag, microwave, pizza oven/impinger, rapid-cook oven, and steamer. 

Smashburger, the better-burger fast casual restaurant with 235 corporate and franchise locations, partnered with jack and annie's to launch a new plant-based burger made from jackfruit in all locations across the US.

One of my biggest observations of The National Restaurant Show involves the reformulation or “remake” of many products made with familiar ingredients and flavors. Both shows reminded me of elements from my childhood, and particularly how my grandmother cooked. She worked as a cook 41 years for a first-generation family from Italy. 

Prepared Foods gets the inside scoop on foodservice new product development in an interview with Michael S. Zeller, Senior Corporate Executive Chef, R&D, at Simplot Food Group.

Every step of the production process and the supply chain is under scrutiny. Filling equipment is not exempt.

How do you implement a sensor-based IIoT system that can fulfill your needs now and into the future?

Three companies are using interesting methods to keep refrigerated and frozen foods at just the right temperature.

Temperature is that one measurement that’s dictated by governmental regulations to prove that you have a kill step in your process. Beyond that, there are rules for keeping fresh food under a certain temperature to keep it safe both in transit and storage, and—just as important—maintain its quality so you don’t have to throw it out prematurely.

If your food or beverage operation isn’t making widespread use of sensors to monitor your process, you can’t expect to remain competitive for long.

A leader in the tomato processing industry, The Morning Star Company is looking at new AI agriculture technologies in extensive field settings that can help to achieve this goal.

This year’s contest theme aligns with checkoff-led insights that show consumers are seeking dairy products that deliver health-related benefits.

"I would like to thank the Wisconsin Dairy Products Association for hosting the World Dairy Expo competition platform. Winning 65 awards is a great honor, and not only did we top last year's number of WDE awards, but we also retained our place as the competition's most-awarded dairy," said Matt McClelland, Prairie Farms CEO/EVP. 

BACARDÍ Mixed with Coca-Cola RTD will be available in several markets around the world, with the initial launch planned for select European markets and Mexico in 2025.

Stash Tea’s new Tea Latte Concentrates offer teaheads a bold and unique way to enjoy café-quality lattes at home, catering to the growing consumer trend of at-home tea consumption which amounted to $2.92 billion in sales in 2024. 

SupplySide West attendees are encouraged to visit booth #1973 and learn more about how Amano Enzyme’s high-quality microbial enzymes can help provide the optimal texture, taste and overall performance for a variety of applications including plant-based food products, functional beverages and dietary supplements.

Introducing a new super brand dedicated to all things flooring: FLOOR Trends & Installation.

Metroflor recently released the Dr. Russ video campaign to communicate one of the company's core values, "Take fun seriously," to customers.

Women in the Floorcovering Industry (WIFI) is accepting applications for its second round of scholarships until July 10, 2024.

What's happening in the residential and commercial flooring markets? While the flooring and interiors market remained challenged in the first half of 2024, there are modest signs of an impending recovery. 

Simplot Maple City Waffle line transforms popular menu entrée into a versatile, on-the-go option for operators, consumers.

The dumplings are filled with a mix of tender chicken, savory broth, scallions, and ginger, delivering a comforting, bold flavor. Crafted with no artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners, they provide a wholesome, allergen-friendly option.

Inspired by the classic Tex-Mex dish, Bob Evans Queso Macaroni & Cheese features a rich queso flavor, hints of spice and fresh green and red peppers to bring bold, authentic flavors to gatherings.