Sales of organic and Fairtrade certified products continued to shine in 2020 as concerns over the climate impact of food production and the COVID-19 crisis put ethical consumerism in the spotlight.
The rapid expansion of online grocery shopping is set to continue post pandemic to become a driving force in consumer loyalty, according to Ocado CEO Mel Smith.
Coca-Cola has been streamlining its portfolio: cutting down from 400 to 200 master brands. This doesn’t mean the company has abandoned NPD, says CEO James Quincey – rather, he sees the strategy as clearing the way for the ‘next generation of innovation’.
Tesco has come under fire from a group of investors for what they characterise as the supermarket’s ‘role in the UK obesity crisis’. However, the retailer hit back, insisting it has ‘strong plans’ to make it ‘the easiest place to shop for healthy and...
German biotech LegenDairy is bringing together precision fermentation and the heritage of European cheese making to develop ‘stretchable, meltable and delicious’ cheese alternatives.
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed consumer behaviour in retail, according to Steve Challouma, General Manager UK at Nomad Foods-owned Birds Eye. “We’ve observed an acceleration of growth in the frozen category, of which frozen fish is a...
To celebrate its 20th anniversary, UK artisan chocolate brand Montezuma’s commissioned food anthropologist Caroline Hobkinson to predict food industry trends over the next two decades with a specific focus on chocolate.
South African scientists have warned that rising demand for affordable meat and the expansion of intensive animal agriculture creates the ‘perfect breeding ground’ for the development of viruses that could spark future pandemics.
Customers expect companies to ‘act with purpose’ beyond the pandemic, according to market research company Euromonitor. How can food and beverage brands respond?
Finnish online food delivery platform Wolt has raised over $500m from global investors in news that illustrates continued growth in home delivery for food and drink products is set to be one of the biggest trends of this year.
SwissDeCode has closed its first venture round. The funds will be used to accelerate development of its technology for real-time certification of food authenticity and quality. We caught up with the start-up’s co-founders to learn about the company’s...
Plant-based food manufacturer Quorn Foods is facing strike action at its Billingham factory over a pay dispute. As union officials warn this could lead to supermarket shortages, the company says continued supply is of the ‘utmost importance’.
Whisk, an app that allows consumers to turn recipes into shopping lists, has added UK supermarket Sainsbury’s to its list of partner companies as retailers and CPGs seek to take full advantage of the growth in online shopping.
Pasta giant Barilla has taken a majority stake in UK meal kit start-up Pasta Evangelists. The investment also marks the Italian firm’s foray into fresh pasta.
The seismic events of 2020 have shaped consumer behaviours and expectations. The COVID-19 pandemic has reached every part of our lives – and the flavours we crave are no exception. Here’s our round-up of the flavour trends we can expect to tickle out...
What key challenges are in store for supermarket retailers as we move into 2021? Will bricks-and-mortar continue to play an important role? Do experts predict e-commerce to continue its unprecedented boom?
COVID-19 has accelerated interest in the role that automation, robotics and data can play in food and agricultural production. We speak to industry leaders to learn about the latest developments.
Beneo predicts to see significant growth in the market for chicory root, sugar beet, wheat and rice starches as consumers in 2021 demand cleaner but also natural easily recognisable ‘cupboard ingredients’.
Ingredient supplier Kalsec recently achieved B Corp Certification, meaning that it operates a ‘rigorous’ set of environmental and social standards. These values are part of Kalsec’s ‘DNA’, chief executive Dr Scott Nykaza says. But B Corp certification...
Almost a year since the start of the pandemic in Europe, many of those infected who reported losing their sense of smell and consequently taste -- even without displaying other symptoms -- still haven’t recovered these senses. What implications could...
Tech companies have long been developing methods for a faster and more efficient shopping experience for consumers. These are all gaining traction in a new world of social distancing and sanitation, says Will Broome, CEO of retail tech app Ubamarket.
The trend of consumers seeking out foods as medicine, one accelerated by the pandemic, is set to blossom in 2021, as is demand for locally-sourced food and beverages, believes the AI-powered food intelligence start-up Tastewise.
Frozen food specialist Nomad Foods has entered into ‘exclusive negotiations’ to acquire the frozen food business of Croatia’s Fortenova Group. The move demonstrates Nomad’s ambition to expand in what it describes as ‘developing’ European markets and deliver...
The Spanish National Center for Food Technology and Safety (CNTA) has issued a report looking at the trends that shaped R&D in 2020 and how it expects these to define the sector in 2021.
Organic and ethical food business Alara Wholefoods has secured what it claims is a ‘world first’: it will become the first cereal manufacturer to declare Scope 3 CO2e – the most demanding measure of carbon emissions. We hear from Founding Director Alex...
Operations expert Victoria Cobos joined General Mills in early November, as the company grappled with the challenges of COVID-19 and the fast-approaching Brexit deadline. We caught up with her to learn what the Supply Chain Director’s priorities are moving...
The BEAMitup project, funded by the European consortium EIT Food, has launched a survey to collect the experiences and needs of agri-food companies, identify best practices and develop new solutions that allow the sector to work safely during and after...
The food industry should do more to meet the nutritional needs of the ageing population, according to new research out from Barclays. This is, after all, a demographic that is only going to grow.
Britain is heading towards international isolation as several Member States impose travel restrictions on UK travellers and France suspends freight traffic across the Channel.
The emotional and physical strains caused by events in 2020 have shined a light on the need for and accelerated development of foods and beverages that not only nourish consumers’ physical bodies, but their mental health as well, according to Rabobank...
Trade buyers and private equity funds are flush with funds and eyeing interesting players to invest in, says a bullish Andreas Kulcsar, Executive Director at investment bank DC Advisory.
Louie D’Amico, President Taste & Wellbeing of Givaudan, was elected President of International Organization of the Flavor Industry (IOFI) in October. FoodNavigator caught up with him to hear about the challenges and opportunities he sees ahead for...
The Kraft Heinz Company’s recently released ‘transformation plan’ detailed the group’s strategy to deliver consistent growth, with top line gains led by its international business. FoodNavigator speaks to International Zone President, Rafa Oliveira, to...
In the short-term, JollyGut aims to simplify and personalise the shopping experience for consumers both in-store and online. In the long-term, CMO Dmitry Dubovik says the start-up is setting its sights further afield: “We want to become an Amazon for...
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...
An unprecedented shortage of meat production, prompted by the COVID-19 outbreak, is driving up the risk of meat fraud – particularly in species substitution.
The Coca-Cola Co. is trying to make the best of a bad situation by using the pandemic, which had decimated its revenues with the closure of public places, as a “catalyst for change” to “drive out some of the bureaucracy,” refocus on local opportunities...
The pandemic presents an exciting opportunity for food manufacturers to innovate products targeting consumers who believe access to affordable food should not come at the cost of health and good nutrition.
For today’s consumers ‘clean label’ is less about the ingredients featured back-of-pack and more about what isn’t listed, be it preservatives, genetically modified ingredients or artificial sweeteners, according to L.E.K. Consulting.
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...
DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences is advancing its innovation strategy through a partnership with non-profit research organisation the Institute for the Future (IFTF). The collaboration targets ‘far sighted’ innovation and will allow the company to ‘better...
Danone has said it wants to slash €1bn from its cost base, an effort that will cost up to 2% of its workforce, as it responds to the business challenges of COVID-19. But can the French Activia-to-Alpro manufacturer cut its way to growth?
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has warned that bird flu is spreading ‘rapidly’ across Europe. What impact will this have on European poultry processors and consumers?
Reports that COVID-19 has been detected on frozen food packaging and products, including on pork knuckles coming from Germany, have prompted import bans in China. However, Germany’s BfR says infection via pork meat is ‘unlikely’.
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’.
Where are the opportunities for new suppliers in retail? Category buyers at three of the UK’s biggest supermarkets talk ‘eye-catching’ innovation, burgeoning trends, and whether having an already established following matters.
