Fruit, vegetable, nut ingredients

Asda’s vegan butcher counter: ‘We have seen a surge in people seeking out ways to easily enjoy a plant-based lifestyle’

05-Jan-2021 By Katy Askew

Asda is trialling a vegan butcher counter concept, Veelicious, in a bid to enhance its plant-based offering.

Lindt tackles coconut oil sustainability: ‘In the consumer’s mind, palm oil is still the bad guy’

05-Jan-2021 By Flora Southey

Despite coconut oil being just a minor ingredient in some of Lindt & Sprüngli’s products, a raw material risk assessment highlighting sustainability challenges has prompted the chocolate maker to act.

Organic supporters dispute study questioning organic meat’s environmental impact

05-Jan-2021 By Oliver Morrison

Organic experts have hit back after a study claimed that organic meat produces the same amount of greenhouse gas emissions as regular meat.

Most consumers ‘unlikely’ to adopt plant-based diet

04-Jan-2021 By Oliver Morrison

As a host of food manufacturers attempt to take advantage of Veganuary, which encourages people to follow a vegan lifestyle for the month of January, research from the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) has revealed over 60% of people say they are unlikely...

Shea growers celebrate latest US green light

21-Dec-2020 By Oliver Morrison

Approval for a second shea ingredient could boost the West African economy by over $8.5 million a year.

Nut supplier Importaco leverages insight into the future 'nutsumer' to double its market share

18-Dec-2020 By Katy Askew

Spanish nut supplier Importaco Group has signalled its intention to double its share of the food ingredients market by 2024. It will achieve this through a customer-centric approach that puts the future ‘nutsumer’ at the heart of innovation.

Nestlé, McCain and Lidl assess soil health in France to ‘create systemic change’

16-Dec-2020 By Flora Southey

Several brands, retailers and cooperatives in France are backing a soil health initiative led by Earthworm Foundation. By bringing these players together, Earthworm hopes to ‘create systemic change when it comes to supply chain challenges’, the NGO’s...

Consumers associate plant-based with clean label: There is a ‘disconnect’ between perception and reality

16-Dec-2020 By Katy Askew

Demand for plant-based products is booming and many consumers identify the sector as being ‘natural’, ‘healthy’ and ‘artisan’, new research reveals. “There is an apparent disconnect between the consumer understanding of natural products and the reality...

Ocean Spray taps Amai’s ‘hyper-sweet’ protein to cut 40% sugar from cranberry juice

14-Dec-2020 By Flora Southey

Developer of ‘hyper-sweet designer proteins’, Amai Proteins, is teeing up with Ocean Spray to create a reduced sugar cranberry juice product – without compromising its ‘bold’ taste.

Plant & Bean opens Europe’s 'largest' plant-based meat factory: 'To make an impact you have to drive scale'

09-Dec-2020 By Katy Askew

Plant & Bean, a UK-based contract manufacturer, has opened Europe’s largest plant-based meat production facility. The investment is an important milestone on its strategic journey to establish what it says would be an ‘industry-first’: a global plant-based...

Meet NoCOé: Mondelez’s first carbon neutral snack brand

08-Dec-2020 By Katy Askew

Mondelez International’s innovation hub, SnackFutures, has developed NoCOé – a French cracker brand that the company says is both carbon neutral and nutritious. “Snackers, especially the younger generation, are looking for values or purpose in brands,”...

'Shea is a uniquely sustainable and healthy crop': Bunge Loders Croklaan on its latest cocoa butter equivalent

04-Dec-2020 By Oliver Morrison

BLC has launched a shea-based premium cocoa butter equivalent. It says the nutritionally balanced ingredient will support food manufacturers to meet consumer demand for health-conscious and sustainable options that don’t compromise on taste and quality.

Nestlé’s net zero roadmap: ‘We have no time to lose’

04-Dec-2020 By Katy Askew

Swiss food giant Nestlé wants to halve its emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050. “We have no time to lose,” CEO Mark Schneider told journalists at an event detailing how the company plans to get there.

Good Catch plant-based seafood expands in Europe, eyes innovation: 'There is an opportunity to be wildly creative from a culinary and technology standpoint'

03-Dec-2020 By Katy Askew

US plant-based seafood brand Good Catch is expanding in Europe, having secured listings in the Netherlands and Spain. “We have a passion for the culinary arts, for saving our oceans and for providing craveable plant-based products for consumers that believe...

France launches €100m plant protein strategy: ‘We must regain agri-food sovereignty’

02-Dec-2020 By Katy Askew

France has unveiled a national plant protein strategy that aims to increase domestic production of vegetable proteins for feed and human nutrition, boosting agri-food sovereignty and sustainability. However, in failing to address what campaigners say...

Swapping out meat and dairy for soy poses possible health risk for kids

01-Dec-2020 By Flora Southey

Researchers in Denmark cannot rule out the potential for health risk if meat and dairy products are replaced with soy-based alternatives in children’s diets.

Knorr launches the Good Food Lab: ‘An engine room, driven by insights and founded in academic rigour’

30-Nov-2020 By Katy Askew

Unilever’s Knorr brand is teaming up with Wageningen University to launch the Good Food Lab. “The Good Food Lab is an opportunity to build an engine room, driven by insights and founded in academic rigour,” April Redmond, Knorr Vice President, tells FoodNavigator.

‘They’re good for us, the planet and farmers’: Millets tipped for mass appeal from 2023

30-Nov-2020 By Oliver Morrison

With 2023 likely to be designated the International Year of Millet by the UN, the ancient grain is hoping to surpass the quinoa boom to soon become part of everyday diets across the world.

Ancient grains and forgotten crops: the food of the future?

27-Nov-2020 By Oliver Morrison

Millet, sorghum, buckwheat, amaranth… Are these exotic sounding crops a realistic solution to the world’s food crisis?

From crop to cup: UCC Coffee boosts traceability with Farmer Connect

27-Nov-2020 By Flora Southey

UCC is the first operator in the UK to partner with the IBM Blockchain-powered platform, which aims to enhance traceability, efficiency, and sustainability in coffee and cacao supply chains.

What makes a vegan frozen pizza start-up ‘investable’?

26-Nov-2020 By Flora Southey

Why did VC fund Veg Capital invest in a plant-based pizza disruptor? Investor relations chief Simi Valecha Johnson reveals what got One Planet Pizza across the line.

Duckweed and green tea found to boost health benefits of Med diet

25-Nov-2020 By Oliver Morrison

A ‘greener’ Mediterranean diet consisting of more vegetables, less meat and topped up with water lentils, walnuts and green tea, may be even better for cardiovascular and metabolic health than the traditional version, suggests research.

‘Milk without the bad’: Start-up taps faba protein and algae to ‘ease next-gen switch’ to dairy alternatives

24-Nov-2020 By Flora Southey

Frustrated at the range of dairy alternatives currently on-shelf, a French start-up has developed a plant-based milk made from faba protein and algae. “Its advantages in comparison to conventional dairy are almost outrageous,” Update Foods CEO Clémence...

Banana wars: Growers slam ‘hypocrisy’ of Aldi and Rainforest Alliance in pricing and standards spat

24-Nov-2020 By Katy Askew

A coalition of South American banana growers have warned that the price they receive from European retailers is unsustainable after it emerged Aldi will cut the amount it pays for the fruit next year.

Six plant-based trends for food and beverage firms to exploit in 2021

23-Nov-2020 By Oliver Morrison

Plant-based foods have shot up in popularity over the last couple of years with the numbers of vegans, vegetarians, and flexitarians increasing rapidly, although from a small base since 2016.

Nestlé Breakfast Cereals and General Mills JV issues worldwide governments with three-pronged strategy to champion whole grains

20-Nov-2020 By Gill Hyslop

To mark Whole Grain Day (19 November), Cereal Partners Worldwide (CPW) has again called on governments and policymakers to recognise the contribution of whole grains and help their nation make it a priority inclusion in their diets.

Barry Callebaut wants to crack the plant-based market with global expansion of La Morella Nuts

19-Nov-2020 By Katy Askew

Barry Callebaut is planning a global push for its La Morella Nuts business as it works to tap into growing demand for plant-based products and consumer interest in health and sustainability.

Meet the ‘unbelievably creamy’ vegan chocolate brand paying cocoa farmers 60% more than Fairtrade

19-Nov-2020 By Flora Southey

UK start-up Fellow Creatures has developed a plant-based chocolate its founder says is a far cry from the ‘sickly sweet’ vegan offerings currently on-shelf.

Unilever eyes €1bn plant-based sales and ‘positive nutrition’ push

19-Nov-2020 By Katy Askew

Unilever has said that it wants to increase its plant-based sales to €1bn and double the number of its products that deliver ‘positive nutrition’.

‘Instagrammable shades’ amongst the hottest trends in natural colours

18-Nov-2020 By Flora Southey

Ahead of Fi Europe CONNECT 2020, FoodNavigator takes a look at the latest trends in natural colours – some which suggest that the brightest hues are amongst the most popular.

Chickpeas: a rising star of the starch market?

18-Nov-2020 By Oliver Morrison

Israeli food-tech start-up ChickP is aiming to reinvigorate the starch market with a chickpea-based product.

From immunity and sustainability to plant-based and clean label: Top trends out in force at Fi Europe CONNECT 2020

18-Nov-2020 By Katy Askew

Fi Europe is a red-letter event for the European food sector. This year, COVID-19 means things will be a little different. But the need to share ideas and innovation – as well as networking and business opportunities – has ‘never been more important’.

Vegan sausages made from upcycled juice pulp achieve skin-free ‘snap’

17-Nov-2020 By Flora Southey

Researchers in Denmark have helped a start-up develop a recipe for plant-based skinless sausages that deliver that ‘snap feeling’ when bitten into.

‘Bridging the gap between food and drink’: Behind BOL Foods’ foray into the meal replacement category

17-Nov-2020 By Flora Southey

Plant-based ready meal company BOL Foods is joining the likes of Huel and Soylent in the meal replacement market with its newly launched Power Shakes. FoodNavigator catches up with founder Paul Brown to find out how his range sets itself apart in the...

Quorn eyes ‘the next big product opportunities’ in plant-based

13-Nov-2020 By Katy Askew

Quorn Foods, a pioneer in the plant-based category, is expanding its culinary innovation team. Tim Ingmire, Head of Research, Development & Quality, tells FoodNavigator the investment will help ‘identify the next big product opportunities’.

One-in-three consumers want ‘tastier’ plant-based choices

11-Nov-2020 By Katy Askew

As the plant-based boom continues apace, a majority of consumers are looking for ‘tastier’ plant-based options.

Supplier spots opportunity for healthier ready meals

10-Nov-2020 By Oliver Morrison

Cham Foods believes the ready meal sector is ripe for innovation.

‘It’s easy to say it but it’s very difficult to actually do it’: Griffith Foods on its health and sustainability goals

06-Nov-2020 By Oliver Morrison

Griffith Foods’ quest for 'purpose-driven' growth illustrates the health, nutrition and sustainability drive among ingredient suppliers as they pivot towards the demands of manufacturers and end consumers.

Climate change will offset CO2 crop yield gains: ‘We need to breed and engineer future-proof crops’

04-Nov-2020 By Katy Askew

The expected future increase in crop yields due to higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will be offset by stressors linked to climate change. Now is the time to prepare by developing future-proof varieties, researchers urge.

Alland & Robert to ‘massively increase’ acacia gum production following spike in demand

03-Nov-2020 By Flora Southey

COVID-19 has accelerated demand for FMCG, and with that, acacia gum, Alland & Robert tells FoodNavigator.

SweeGen starts commercial production of Reb I stevia sweetener

02-Nov-2020 By Elaine Watson

Stevia specialist SweeGen has started commercial production of Reb I, a lesser-known steviol glycoside “with its own unique and distinct taste” that works well in a wide range of food and beverage applications.

Between ‘good’ and ‘f**king fearless’: Behind Oatly’s launch of a 20-year-old ‘rocket ship’

02-Nov-2020 By Flora Southey

Within just a few years, the ‘relatively small’ SME Oatly has transformed into a global dairy alternative brand valued at $2bn. UK General Manager Ishen Paran shares the disruptor’s ‘rocket ship’ journey.

How Tony’s Chocolonely plans to disrupt ‘the big seven’ in chocolate

29-Oct-2020 By Flora Southey

From humble beginnings as a PR stunt, to becoming the biggest chocolate brand in the Netherlands, Tony’s Chocolonely is moving closer to its goal of disrupting ‘the big seven’ in chocolate. FoodNavigator hears how.

Kaffe Bueno to scale upcycled coffee grounds business with seed boost

29-Oct-2020 By Flora Southey

The Danish biotech making upcycled flour from spent coffee grounds is preparing to scale up production having secured €1.1m in seed funding, co-founder and CCO Alejandro Franco tells FoodNavigator.

'Vegan cheese' banned but 'veggie burger' still on the table, votes European Parliament

23-Oct-2020 By Flora Southey

The European Parliament has voted to ban dairy-related terms for plant-based alternatives. An amendment proposing to ban ‘meaty’ terms for vegan products, however, has not passed – much to the sector’s delight.

How safe is your sage? Study uncovers high levels of adulteration

23-Oct-2020 By Katy Askew

A fresh study looking at the authenticity of popular herb sage finds that more than a quarter of products sampled in the UK are adulterated. The results, the researchers say, emphasise that global herb supply chains are susceptible to food fraud.

Fava bean innovation opens new avenue for plant-based product development: ‘We are thrilled to imagine where this will lead us’

22-Oct-2020 By Katy Askew

Verso Food has secured a patent covering its fava bean processing technology for plant-based foods and meat analogues. FoodNavigator hears from the company's CEO Tomi Järvenpää about the product development opportunities it could unlock, the group’s...

Ajinomoto talks ‘nutrition without compromise’ and 'first mover advantage' in healthy ageing

21-Oct-2020 By Katy Askew

Ajinomoto has launched a nutrition strategy that the company believes will enable it to leverage its unique expertise in amino acids to deliver solutions that meet its two global strategic priorities: salt reduction and optimal protein intake for the...

Meet the 7 brands promising to disrupt the healthy snacking space

21-Oct-2020 By Oliver Morrison

A business accelerator fund has handpicked a group of start-ups it believes can help tackle the UK’s childhood obesity problem.

AI tech offers food brands a finger on the pulse of trends

16-Oct-2020 By Oliver Morrison

An Israeli start-up has launched its AI-powered food intelligence platform in the UK. The company – called Tastewise – says it can offer real-time industry insights on how consumers order, cook, and eat, to help brands with product innovation.