Functional food brands face a range of challenges, from taste to health claims, in order to get their products to appeal to consumers, and educate them about product potential.
Celsius has inked two distribution deals to expand the reach of its energy drink: extending a partnership with PepsiCo to take in the Canadian market and teaming up with Suntory for the brand in the UK and Ireland.
By Luca Bucchini, Chairman, European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA)
Over the last few years, as part of the EU Green Deal, policy makers have focused their efforts on introducing a series of highly ambitious regulations that mean to bring sustainability to every step of the food chain. Among others, a legislative file...
The functional and perceived health benefits of tea and coffee paired with their familiarity and diverse usage occasions across dayparts make them ideal platforms for beverage manufacturers to meet consumers’ evolving preferences for indulgence, health...
There has been a rising consumer demand for functional drinks promoting relaxation and wellbeing over boosting energy following the COVID-19 pandemic, but an expert says a ‘hero ingredient’ and ‘hero brand’ are needed to propel the category into the spotlight.
Drinking beer could be good for your gut and immunity, stimulating healthy microbiota diversity thanks to the beneficial brew of compounds found in the fermented beverage.
The climate-resilient Yaupon crop, with leaves rich in theobromine, polyphenols, and 30% less caffeine than coffee, has been growing in popularity for use within holistic health-promoting beverages.
Colostrum BioTec GmbH says more should be done to educate consumers about the virtues of bovine colostrum, the nutrient-rich fluid that’s making waves in the nutraceutical industry.
Following an increasing popularity and a heightened influx of brands promoting the CBD and coffee pairing, touting an ability to reduce side effects associated with caffeine, a regulatory expert has warned the research backing the benefits is inconclusive.
The new cross-sectional study analysing the bacterial abundance and compositions of healthy adult microbiomes, observed that higher levels of Erysipelatoclostridium were associated with lower caffeine intakes.
The leader of the Welsh government funded Future Foods programme at Aberystwyth University, discussed his mission to collaborate with brands to optimise food functionality, during the Positive Nutrition Summit last week (March 30th)
Sports beverages are the most popular vehicle for functional ingredients across the globe as an increasingly wide range of consumers look to support their physical and mental health through convenient everyday nutrition.
Functional beverages are a thriving category – but what exactly are consumers looking for in their drinks? From cannabis beverages to ‘think drinks’, hear from a panel of experts as this free-to-attend webinar explores the potential of the category.
Supporting gut bacteria and bowel health may not be the most appealing claims to market on-pack, but ingredients experts say consumer perceptions can be changed – if they haven't already.
The increased demand for functional food and drink is anticipated to boost sports drinks sales – and yet, at the same time, growing functional claims across neighboring categories is likely to stiffen competition. How should sports drinks navigate this...
Elevated coffee consumption was consistently associated with a lower risk of significant liver fibrosis, as assessed by three non-invasive markers in treated chronic HBV patients, a study has found.
Israeli start-up Maolac is leveraging artificial intelligence to develop human milk proteins for the food industry, with an initial focus on sports nutrition.
New 'vegan collagen' brand VeCollal, in collaboration with AminoLabs, has created an ingredient which claims to mimic the amino acid profile of human collagen exactly.
Huel has set its sights high for on-the-go sales as it announces the inception of its own vending machines in the UK's biggest airport as well as the launch of its products across 500 major supermarkets.
Lallemand has successfully expanded the permitted categories of use for its vitamin D yeast in the EU after gaining favourable opinion from the EFSA for the use in 32 additional food categories.
Artificial sweeteners may turn healthy gut bacteria into harmful microbes that can damage the intestine and cause a number of infections including blood poisoning, according to UK scientists.
Spain’s Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) has reiterated advice to reduce energy drink consumption especially among minors due to caffeine’s effect on sleep and the cardiovascular system.
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...
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.
Consumer demand for functional products is rising. SōRSE Technology’s Director of Research and Analytics, Donna Wamsley, speaks to FoodNavigator about the ingredients that are poised to benefit.
New consumer research carried out by Kerry, the world’s leading taste and nutrition company, reveals that 65% of functional beverage consumers are more worried about their health since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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.
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...
Kombucha offers drinkers more complexity than your average alcohol-free alternative, writes Emma Thackray, co-founder of Booch & Brew, in this guest article.
While the US is the most developed market for kombucha, the category is growing in Europe with the drink’s natural and functional positioning ready to tap into health and wellness trends. But the evolution of the French, German and UK markets shows the...
The functional beverage sector is expected to gain traction as more ‘lifestyle consumers’ are attracted to the category, according to Kerry Taste and Nutrition.
Health experts have stressed that the current advice given to woman to avoid high doses of caffeine during pregnancy is not likely to be altered after new research claimed there was ‘no safe level of caffeine consumption for pregnant women and would-be...
Kombucha Brewers International (KBI), the trade association committed to promoting and protecting commercial kombucha brewers around the world, has released the industry’s first Code of Practice, a food safety and quality standard for kombucha producers...
New research from Unilever highlights the growing importance of health, wellness and immunity for consumers. “Our Foods and Refreshment business is uniquely positioned to lead purposefully in the space of holistic health and immunity,” nutrition R&D...
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased demand for local products in France and could have a positive effect on the development of functional foods, according to Mintel.
CBD innovation is in a bottleneck and poised to burst onto the mainstream, believes the Co-owner and Managing Director of Bravura Foods, Lisa Gawthorne. The only delay, she tells FoodNavigator, is a reluctance on the part of big retailers to make the...
A mega-merger between International Flavors & Fragrances Inc (IFF) and DuPont nutrition & biosciences unit will create a new industry giant worth more than $45 billion (€40.4 billion), say those involved in the deal.
With an ambitious mission to give consumers what their bodies need “in the most bioavailable form possible,” and in a way that they “will actually enjoy,” the functional beverage company Drink Nutrient is entering the marketplace with a trio of vitamin-packed,...
The ingredients manufacturer has launched a stabiliser made from fermented bio-based raw materials that caters to the surging plant-based trend, DuPont tells FoodNavigator.
A startup founder who battled to bring his brand from near failure to international success in just three years has revealed his insight into the world of health food and drink entrepreneurship.
A Spanish start-up has formulated a recovery drink made from 20% seawater that it says is designed to replenish stores following intense exercise or after “a crazy night out”.
A UK start-up blurring the lines between ‘classic matcha’ and ‘energy drink’ has developed a caffeinated beverage for millennials. FoodNavigator spoke to Matcha Works co-founder Harvey Hodd to find out how the sparkling drink sets itself apart in both...
