More than half of all participants in a recent survey report actively reducing their sugar consumption. US consumers also try to limit or reduce purchases of high sugar ingredients. Interestingly, consumers are unwilling to give up indulgences and they also look for healthier versions of indulgent foods.

As we look toward 2025, the focus on sugar reduction will only intensify. Consumer demand for healthier, lower-sugar options is driving innovation at an unprecedented pace, and ingredient suppliers are responding with increasingly sophisticated solutions. From new plant-based sweeteners to advanced blended systems, the future of sugar reduction is bright—and product developers have more tools than ever to meet these evolving needs.

In the rush to eliminate these sugars, developers often overlook the variety, richness, and culinary versatility that natural caloric sweeteners provide. Such sugars—also termed “nutritive sweeteners”—not only offer sweetness but can add layers of flavor, color, and even nutritional benefits, all in a clean-label format. 

Konscious Foods™, a plant-based seafood brand, announced its plan to expand its foodservice offerings across North America in 2024. The brand is now officially entering the US foodservice market, while appointing Affinity Group Canada as broker for the Canadian market.

Food and beverage intelligence company Datassential enhanced its limited-time offer (LTO) and item launches solution, allowing users to seamlessly track new menu items and LTOs at nearly 300 top chains through an easy-to-use user interface (UI), enhanced analytics, and ability to overlay consumer ratings.

Technomic released its Beverage Global Menu Category Report, which explores foodservice category sizing by country, outlook and expectations, consumer patronage and preferences, menu trends, global and local chains, and brands to watch.

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.

The International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA) released its final 2023 estimates and its latest 2024 Food Away-From-Home (FAFH) Industry and Segment Projections.

At NRA, Cuisine Solutions will feature an ever-changing menu, with options ranging from breakfast offerings like the company’s industry-shifting Sous Vide Egg Bites, as well as Chia Pudding Parfait with Berry Coulis and Fresh Berries, produced by the company’s chefs in Thailand. 

In partnership with PepsiCo, a global leader in convenient foods and beverages, the thirst-stop destination will bring the storm with the exclusive and limited-edition flavor, Gatorade Lightning Blast. 

The sofi Gold Award-winning products represent the best of the best in each of 48 specialty food and beverage categories, from Appetizers & Snacks to Meat & Poultry to Water & Functional Beverages. 

The company had a new product on hand, which was a large slab of plant-based meat; and a cubed product specifically geared toward fast-casual restaurants. 

The Future Menus North America Trends 2024 report identifies top menu trends predicted to influence the restaurant industry in the coming years.

Quemada (ke-mada) translates literally to “burnt” in Spanish, but in English refers to the deeply charred ingredients used in the salsas. Charring the ingredients adds depth and complexity to foods, especially salsas

The Verona facility has the capacity to produce more than 100,000 pounds of product a day using high-pressure processing, a cold pasteurization technology that retains the flavor and nutritional benefits of CAVA’s fresh ingredients, with no preservatives.

Prepared Foods gets the inside scoop on new product development from Stacey Kinkaid, US Foods vice president of product development & innovation.

Founded by Kevin Eve and Jacob Conway who had a passion to provide consumers with healthy plant-based beverages, Uproot provides a convenient solution while increasing sustainability through packaging reduction. 

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.

Collegiate Hospitality’s campus partnership is not only about nutritious meals and warm dining experiences, but it is also about providing potentially life-shaping programs that help campus programs to shine. 

Dane Wigand is responsible for driving sales through Foodservice and wholesale customers while implementing new business strategies in these channels. 

Developed in collaboration with Japan's renowned Yamazaki Baking, these breads seamlessly merge authentic Japanese baking traditions with Tom Cat's American artisan standards.

Prepared Foods talks off-premise foodservice trends and consumer eating patterns—with Faye Schoenherr, McCain Foods’ North American Senior Brand Manager for SureCrisp French fries.

Earlier this year, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that spending on food-ordering apps for deliveries from full-service restaurants quadrupled between pre-pandemic months and 2022. 

In a few weeks, we will begin publishing predictions for 2025. Prior to sharing our outlook for the year ahead, we wanted to review the predictions we made for 2024 to determine what we got right and what might not have fully taken shape.

SWAP's 'Umisation' protein platform employs a technique to transform plant proteins into structured fibers without high heat or pressure. The approach uses just eight familiar ingredients and no artificial flavors, colorants, or texturizers.

The addition of AAK Foodservice, Hillside aligns with Stratas Foods’ long-term growth objectives, particularly within the value-added oils, dressings, sauces, and mayonnaise (DSM) categories.

Receiving a FABI Award places recipients in the spotlight at the industry’s premier event—the 2025 National Restaurant Association Show, May 17-20, 2025, at McCormick Place in Chicago. Attendees will experience these standout products firsthand, positioning awardees in front of thousands of industry leaders and decision-makers eager to discover the next big trend.

I am finding some of my aging family members are increasingly in need of guardrails where their Android phones and tablets are concerned as they keep downloading shady apps and falling for fake virus ads and fake shopify hosted stores that pollute...

So currently (excuse the terrible schematic graphics) this is what I have: FIOS Router -----[WIRED via Ethernet] ----> Netgear Orbi Mesh ---------> Apple TV box wifi'ed to Netgear Orbi FIOS's new "cable box" wifi'ed to Netgear Orbi (or maybe...

A couple of my family members were shutout of their online banking last week when their bank dropped support Android 11 and earlier, their Moto One Action devices are stranded at Android 11. Neither are particularly demanding users and use little...

does anybody use Eufy SmartTrack devices? are they any good?! Image: Business Traveller magazine

I have no Apple device and only have an Android phone; can I use an Aoole Air tag to track my checked airline luggage?

Automation of batch processing isn’t new, but as more companies move beyond the basics of automation, they are finding that new technology brings big rewards—as well as big challenges.

The United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) reports several CPU hardware implementations are vulnerable to side-channel attacks, being referred to as Meltdown and Spectre (also KAISER and KPTI).

A dedicated warehouse management system can not only manage recalls, but it can also manage a fully automated warehouse automation system.

Both X-ray and metal detection machines can prevent a lot of headaches. But if this is your first time purchasing a system, determining which is right for your operations can be confusing.

Environmental demands, allergen control, acoustics, cleaning and production needs all help define what you need from floors, doors and ceilings, and shape the evaluation process for identifying and installing the right ones.

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

In every food plant, there are gears and bearings that need grease, machines that need oil changes and components that need regular lubrication to continue performing at their best.

Meat processors are increasingly turning to newer, higher speed packaging solu­tions that include dedicated interleav­ers and card dispensers that maximize throughput of raw bacon.

Motors and drives run the food and packaging production lines that processors rely on, and they are a major consideration of any automation strategy.

Many foodborne illnesses occur because a link in the cold food chain was weak or broken, with temperature inconsistencies that allowed pathogens to begin growing.

Robots in picking, packing and palletizing applications have performed some new feats—thanks to clever system integrators who have given them sensitive touch, better grips and keen vision.

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.

A wide variety of machines can help ensure that foreign matter doesn't slip into your product.

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.

Robots and cobots can help when your food or beverage has workers out sick with COVID-19 or needs to implement social distancing.