The innovation enhances the quality and functionality of clean-label foods, while reducing production costs, making healthier food options more accessible to consumers.

Nutiva launched Organic MCT Protein, a line of plant-based powders made with fast-burning medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) and plant protein to boost energy. The powders increase endurance, aid in weight loss and management, and support brain health.

Using the top 2023 trends as your innovation guide is a way to overcome the overwhelm. Plus, keeping current trends in the food and beverage industry top of mind can help you create products that satisfy shifting consumer wants and needs.

Americans still are not meeting the recommended intake levels for dietary fiber, a nutritional failure that can lead to the development of a number of health issues down the road. The shortfall is so critical that the new “Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025” has designated dietary fiber as “a dietary component of public health concern.”

Tate & Lyle, a leading global provider of food and beverage ingredients and solutions, invites Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) FIRST attendees to experience its full suite of ingredients and solutions by visiting the Interactive Kitchen experience located at booth #S-0600.

Tate & Lyle's presence at the IFT FIRST Conference will be marked by several exciting initiatives, reflecting the company's commitment to scientific expertise and innovative ingredient solutions. 

Inspired to create something unique and extraordinary, this start-up’s vision stems from passion to bring a heart healthy beverages to the masses.

The idea of “calm” resonates with consumers of products for cardiovascular wellness, research has shown. Lycored surveyed 505 men and women in the US and the UK All were over the age of 50, the age group most likely to purchase supplements for cardiovascular wellness.

Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., the agricultural cooperative owned by more than 700 farmer families, and Canomiks, a startup technology company transforming the functional food and beverage industry, announced research leveraging Canomiks' A.I. based technology platform to test and certify the biological efficacy of the cranberry. 

Farbest is already known for its robust portfolio of plant and dairy proteins, gums, natural colors, sweeteners, and more to meet customer needs.

ZenoBars remain unique among energy bars through the use of the sweetener allulose and a resistant dextrin binder made from organic tapioca.

Balchem will showcase its latest ingredients at this year's SupplySide West exhibition and focus on three key pillars: innovate, integrate and illuminate.

Power Life™ by Tony Horton launched its latest flavor of protein powders: Strawberry Vanilla High Impact Whey Protein and Strawberry Vanilla High Impact Plant Protein.

DripDrop®, the electrolyte drink mix that offers a fast way to hydrate, announced the launch of three new offerings for its Zero Sugar lineup: Zero Sugar Peach, Zero Sugar Watermelon, and a 4 flavor Zero Sugar Variety Pack.

GNC is highlighting Nirvana Super Electrolyte Drinks and Energy Seltzers as a resource to support GLP-1 users maintain muscle mass as they lose weight during and after taking those medications.

Kanna, known for its traditional use in South Africa, adds a unique dimension to Mitra9's expanding portfolio of botanical wellness solutions.

From lactic acid fermentations of produce (such as kimchi and sauerkraut), to fermenting of dairy (cheese, yogurt, etc.), to the curing and smoking of fish and meat are all proven, effective methods and technologies humans have relied on through the ages to alter the intrinsic properties of foods and extend their consumability.

The facility spans as many as 50 acres of land and is expected to not only generate more employment but also more indirect opportunities for others, including farmers.

Prepared Foods discusses clean label shelf life preservation strategies and ingredient options with Zal Taleyarkhan, Director of Innovation and Corporate Research Chef at Charlie Baggs Culinary Innovations, Chicago.

Van Drunen Farms welcomes NatExpo West attendees to Booth 4082 to discover its latest on-trend fruit, vegetable, and grain ingredients. The company also will exhibit at Booth F79 in the Fresh Ideas Organic Marketplace.

QUINN announced its participation in the Soil Carbon Initiative (SCI). Since 2020, QUINN has worked with Nebraska sorghum grower Steve Tucker, an SCI farmer partner, as he transitions to regenerative practices. Sorghum, a nutrient-dense and inherently sustainable crop, has been a crucial ingredient for Quinn’s supply chain since the company debuted whole-grain, gluten-free pretzels in 2016.

Surthrival launched Black Walnut Protein Powder, a sustainable, wild-crafted protein powder sourced from black walnuts collected by foragers in the American Midwest. 

The Brain Omega 3 Bar® features naturally occurring flavonoids and 8g of protein to offer better bioavailability of ingredients to nourish both the brain and body.

Grown in Colorado, Nutiva USA-Grown Organic Hempseed is USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified and vegan. It also contains 10 grams of protein, three grams of omega-3s, and 500 milligrams of omega GLA, plus 50% of the recommended daily value of magnesium and 20% of the recommended daily value of iron per serving. USA-Grown Organic Hempseed can be added to smoothies, hummus, yogurt, pesto, salad dressings and more.

PROBAR® offers a robust line of plant-based performance foods, including Meal On-the-Go, Protein (formerly Base), Bite, Bolt Energy Chews, Nut Butters and live Probiotic Bars.

ActivatedYou Morning Complete is a daily dietary supplement beverage that embodies "wellness in a glass."  In addition to the new Mixed Berry flavor, Morning Complete comes in two other flavors: Apple Cinnamon and Citrus Medley. 

Crafted with Nutiva Organic MCT Powder, coconut milk powder and a touch of coconut sugar, Nutiva Organic MCT Creamer contains three grams of MCTs and only one gram of sugar per tablespoon.

Nutiva, pioneer of organic plant-based food, supplements and body care products that nurture vitality, debuted a new line of Organic Avocado Oils. Available in three varieties – Organic 100% Pure Avocado Oil, Organic MCT Oil Blend Avocado Oil and Organic Extra Virgin Avocado Oil – the new products are available in 12oz pouches and are easy to incorporate into recipes.

The company's latest formula innovations – Kate Farms Pediatric Peptide 1.0 Vanilla and Kate Farms Standard 1.4 Vanilla and Plain – are now listed in the approved Medi-Cal Rx List of Enteral Nutrition Products for children and adult recipients.

Premixes range from the mandated vitamins and minerals for addressing nutrient shortfalls to trendy ingredients like turmeric, ginger, activated charcoal, collagen, and botanical bioactives that consumers believe are healthier for them.

Soylent's Complete Protein Shakes are made with 30g of complete plant protein, 28 immune supporting vitamins & minerals, zero sugar, 1,000mg Omega-3, 250 calories of slow-burning carbs, and 60% of the daily recommended value of protein.

Every serving of Ka'Chava contains a blend of superfoods, protein, essential vitamins, minerals, greens, probiotics, prebiotic fiber, adaptogens, antioxidants, omegas, MCTs, digestive enzymes and more.

GELITA will be live at SupplySide West, Booth #4665, to present its roster of Bioactive Collagen Peptides (BCP®) and the GELITA Controlled Release Portfolio. Gelita’s team strategists will help formulators discover solutions for health and nutrition formulations.

Z Natural Foods, a provider of natural and organic foods, announced the launch of its latest innovation: Vitality Blend, a vanilla-flavored natural coffee creamer.

"We're thrilled to showcase our new booth design, which reflects the evolution of Virginia Dare and our dedication to being a flavor-first innovator,” says Philip Caputo, Virginia Dare’s marketing & consumer insights manager. “Our new facility has significantly expanded our capabilities, and we can't wait to give visitors a taste of what we can achieve together."

For a supplier’s perspective—and potential industry solutions—on the impacts of soaring cocoa prices,Prepared Foods interviewed PROVA’s President & CEO Muriel Acat and Senior Product Manager Marie Le Beller.

Mama’s Creations—company on the grow targets consumers on the go.

Last year, New Hope Media and SPINS representatives estimated packaged natural and organic product sales in 2022 hit $111.5 billion in sales, a 7.2% year-over-year increase according to SPINS data. Meanwhile, total related sales—including supplements and functional foods and beverages—were projected to surpass more than $300 billion in 2023.

Butter Buds Inc., a global leader in dairy and non-dairy concentrates, is showcasing its real dairy, dairy alternative and on-trend specialty ingredient solutions at the Institute of Food Technologists 2024 Annual Event and Expo (IFT FIRST), July 14-17, at McCormick Place in Chicago.

The Sun-Maid Board of Imagination embarked on a top-secret mission to create a new product to captivate taste buds and spark imaginations. These young innovators considered everything from color and texture to taste, using their knowledge of flavor profiles to choose their favorite combination.

Campbell’s extends popular Goldfish platform with “mash-up” of crackers and potato chips.

Motif FoodWorks, the ingredient innovation company on a mission to make plant-based food taste better and more nutritious, announced the grand opening of its new lab and office space in the Boston Seaport neighborhood, a growing hub for science and technology innovation.

Aleph Farms Ltd. and its research partner at the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, cultivated a slaughter-free ribeye steak, using three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting technology and natural building blocks of meat – real cow cells, without genetic engineering and immortalization.

The Institute for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences (IAFNS), is a new 501(c)(3) organization focused on catalyzing science for the benefit of public health.

Although there may be a pandemic-related slowdown, there’s no stopping new product development. To better help readers with corporate innovation strategy, Prepared Foods turned to leaders at the Eureka! Ranch and the Innovation Engineering Institute, Cincinnati. Founded in 1986, Eureka! Ranch has become a global think tank and innovation training company. 

Silicon Valley-based cellular agriculture company Mission Barns announced a $24M Series A to scale up its cultivated fat technology and build a pilot manufacturing plant in the Bay Area.

Although there may be a pandemic-related slowdown, there’s no stopping new product development. To better help readers with corporate innovation strategy, Prepared Foods turned to leaders at the Eureka! Ranch and the Innovation Engineering Institute, Cincinnati. Founded in 1986, Eureka! Ranch has become a global think tank and innovation training company. 

Danone North America honored a commitment to science and education through the ninth annual Gut Microbiome, Yogurt and Probiotics Fellowship Grant Program. This year's honorees, selected by a committee of nutrition scientists, are Catherine Shelton of Vanderbilt University and Alice Solomon of the University of Arizona. Winners were chosen based on the quality of their proposals, faculty recommendations and each of their studies' value to human health and wellness.

CP Kelco, a leader of nature-based ingredient solutions, launched a new global innovation center, adding to the company’s growing network of innovation and technical support facilities around the world. The Atlanta-based innovation center is designed as an open, collaborative space for scientists and customers alike to engage in ingredient research, problem-solving, development and pilot plant scale-up of food, beverage, home care, personal care and other consumer and industrial products.

In conjunction with its February profile of new sports foods and drinks, Prepared Foods interviewed Scott Peters, director of product development at 3i Solutions, Wooster, Ohio.