One of the key challenges in achieving ‘equitable working conditions’ throughout the international wholesaler’s procurement channels lies in the complexity of METRO’s supply chain, explains Public Policy Manager Illa Brockmeyer.
Meat and dairy are regularly targeted for their environmental impact. In the UK, for example, the government’s Committee on Climate Change has recommended a 20% cut in meat and dairy by 2030, rising to 35% by 2050 for meat only. Sugar may be next, warns...
Wasteless, which uses dynamic pricing in supermarkets to incentivise consumers to buy soon-to-expire products and thus help cut down on food waste, has recently reported a nearly 40% reduction in food waste at hundreds of test stores and now claims it...
By René Floris, NIZO Food Research Division Manager
In this series of articles, NIZO Food Research Division Manager and FoodNavigator advisory panel member René Floris discusses some of the big issues in today’s food industry. This month, he continues his exploration of the protein transition by looking...
Brazilian meat giant JBS has entered into a deal to acquire Vivera, Europe’s third-largest plant-based food company. The agreement is an ‘important step’ in its efforts to expand in the plant-based protein and value-added food segments, FoodNavigator...
Microbes are used by food companies for a variety of functions – from improved process efficiency to shelf life and flavour development. But an examination of patent filings over the last 20 years shows the food industry is prioritising one area above...
As a new fund announces it will invest up to €30 million in the most promising companies over a span of up to four years, EIT Food identifies to FoodNavigor the problems for which it is seeking solutions.
The use of PEF plastic – which is made entirely from plants, is fully recyclable and which degrades in nature much faster than normal plastics -- has the potential to become the standard in the food and drink industry, claims the company attempting to...
Focus on quality for the year ahead is at its highest level recorded, driven by higher earners who have the disposable income to “trade up”, according to IGD’s latest Shopper Confidence Index.
‘Significant proportions’ of the older population in the UK are lacking in required intakes of energy, protein, dietary fibre, vitamin A, vitamin D, riboflavin, folate, magnesium, potassium, selenium, iron, calcium, iodine and zinc, according to the British...
With restaurants, bars and pubs in England now open for outdoor drinking and dining and preparing to resume indoor service from 17 May, a host of new technologies have been released promising to ensure customers feel safe and protected in busy venues...
Germany’s voluntary code governing marketing food to children has been updated. “Advertising must not induce children to eat unhealthily,” Federal Minister of Food Julia Klöckner stressed. What are the changes and do they go far enough?
Nactarome, an ingredient supplier majority-owned by private equity investor Ambienta, has completed its fourth bolt-on acquisition in three years with a deal to take control of the UK’s TasteConnection. FoodNavigator hears from Hans Udo Wenzel, Nactarome's...
Europe’s olive oil industry is railing against the ‘unfair’ Nutri-Score algorithm and has launched the first international awards to assess the health benefits and flavour of olive oils in the hope the food labelling scheme will review its assessment...
Eco-Score is a front-of-pack labelling system developed in France to communicate the environmental footprint of food in much the same way Nutri-Score informs consumers about nutrition. Launched at the beginning of this year, recent months have seen some...
Eating traditions must be preserved in order to maintain the benefits of the Mediterranean diet and promote the health of the younger generations, according to Spanish research.
The companies have tasked start-ups, via the next Future Food-Tech innovation challenge, to make products that can mimic whole meat cuts and deliver newer gastronomic experiences to consumers.
A new frozen ingredients supply venture in the UK will import frozen food ingredients from around the world, specialising in Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) fruit, vegetables, spices and herbs for further processing by UK and Irish food and eventually...
Unilever has some ambitious goals on food waste. The multinational wants to halve waste from its direct operations by 2025 and is working with suppliers and customers to reduce waste across the food chain. It also hopes to tackle one of the trickiest...
Current food classification systems for ‘processed’ food are confusing and can be misleading, a new study argues. “It is over simplistic to assume that processed equals unhealthy,” the research’s lead author tells FoodNavigator.
No, according to panellists at the FoodNavigator 2021 Digital Summit: Positive Nutrition, who say more people accept that healthier choices mean higher prices.
Mars Edge – the segment of Mars Incorporated dedicated to supporting human health through nutrition – is on a mission to reconcile the nutrition that consumers need with the food they want, it tells FoodNavigator.
A glimmer of light is appearing at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel. As we prepare to move into the ‘new normal’, how can food and beverage brands deliver a clean conscience to consumers?
Nestlé has claimed it has completed the majority of its public commitments with the release of its 2020 Creating Shared Value (CSV) and Sustainability Report.
COVID-19 has boosted interest in functional foods that deliver wellbeing benefits like immunity and stress management. But while the pandemic may have accelerated this trend, functional foods are no flash in the pan, experts insisted at FoodNavigator’s...
With industry feedback indicating that meat reduction and flexitarianism has slowed amid the ongoing pandemic, we talk to Eshchar Ben-Shitrit, CEO and Co-Founder of meat alternative innovators, Redefine Meat, on the landscape, present challenges and growth...
The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), representing some of the world’s largest food makers and retailers, has launched a new framework for the implementation of human rights due diligence systems. This aligned approach is a ‘major victory’ in the fight against...
Early life nutrition is of vital importance to the healthy development of children – and the first 1000 days can influence health outcomes for a lifetime. But young children ‘are not mini adults’ and nutritional strategies have to be tailored to their...
Dutch cell-cultured meat startup Meatable - which is working with porcine and bovine induced pluripotent stem cells [iPSCs] – has closed a $47m Series A round (bringing its total funding to $60m) to advance small-scale production at the Biotech Campus...
By René Floris, NIZO Food Research Division Manager
In his latest column, NIZO Food Research Division Manager and FoodNavigator advisory panel member René Floris explores the role of in-vitro studies in substantiating health benefits of food products.
For the first time in history, across the globe people aged over 65 now outnumber children under five, according to the UN. By the middle of this century there will be more than twice as many. In Europe, the population of over 65s is expected to reach...
Global investment in alternative proteins was the highest ever in 2020 and three times the capital invested in 2019 – signalling growing momentum for sustainable alternatives.
Frozen food company Nomad Foods has announced a partnership with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) that aims to reduce the environmental footprint of farming, with new on-pack communication rolling out in Belgium, Portugal and Spain next month.
Fonterra’s dairy ingredient business, NZMP, is launching a new carbonzero certified organic butter. Hans Huistra, Fonterra president of Europe and Africa, speaks to FoodNavigator about the launch and the drive to low-carbon dairy.
Nut and dried fruit supplier Importaco is leveraging innovation and deep consumer insight to build a portfolio of products targeting older people. We spoke to Teresa Cercós (PhD), Director General of Quality, Environment and Innovation, to learn more...
Plant-based foods formulated with more wheat gluten was found to exhibit softer and less chewy texture compared to commercial tofu, mock meat and animal meat products.
FoodNavigator hears from agri-food players – sitting at both extremes of farm-to-fork – and an MEP, who make the case for enforcing indication laws across the bloc.
To support new and emerging start-up companies developing dairy-alternative products, and to create further collaboration opportunities with the food industry, AAK AB is investing in Big Idea Ventures’ (BIV) New Protein Fund I.
[UPDATE NOV 22, 2021: The authors of this report have just issued a corrigendum*] Cell-cultured meat could be cost competitive with some forms of conventional meat within a decade, according to two new studies from Dutch consultancy CE Delft using data...
Danone’s board of directors bowed to pressure from activist investors and announced that Emmanuel Faber – Chairman and former CEO – will leave the company with immediate effect.
Parents of children with food allergies face ‘significant worry, severe anxiety and post-traumatic stress’, according to new research from the University of East Anglia.
Who are the winners and losers of mandatory country of origin labelling? FoodNavigator hears from supporters and sceptics of the initiative less than two years out from the European Commission’s proposal.
Organic sales are on the rise in Europe. But, for some consumers, the price premium charged by the sector acts as a barrier. According to Alara Wholefoods founder Alex Smith, organic manufacturers need to make ‘affordability part of the conversation’.
Researchers at Action on Salt are demanding a restriction on the use of what it calls misleading nutrition claims on HFSS products after its new data revealed seemingly ‘healthy’ snacks contain often higher salt levels than crisps and flavoured nuts.