The word ‘sustainability’ has been abused – and we need to see beyond the buzzword to create truly sustainable development, says corporate sustainability director at Nutreco, José Villalon.
The pressures of raising children, juggling work and home life, and other daily responsibilities mean older millennials are increasingly turning to energy drinks, according to a report from Mintel.
Telling a story is important for any brand – even more so when trying to market hemp juice and overcome pre-conceptions about cannabis, according to Sana Hemp Juice.
Special edition: Innovations in better-for-you confectionery
Sustainability in the soy sector is being driven by food companies aiming to mitigate brand risk, according to Europe Outreach Manager for the Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS) Lieven Callewaert.
Mondelez International is on track to meet its goal of sourcing 100% traceable palm oil by the end of the year after reaching 70% traceability in 2014, says global director of sustainability Jonathan Horrell.
Eight out of 10 residents of Fukushima prefecture are comfortable buying local produce four years after the nuclear accident in 2011, according to a survey by local consumer groups.
The European halal market is booming and set to grow – but manufacturers must appeal to Muslims without alienating non-Muslim consumers if they want to maximise sales , say experts.
Many fruit snacks aimed at children contain more sugar than confectionery – but could be misconstrued as ‘healthy’ because of their association with real fruit, according to pressure group Action on Sugar.
After a few years of negativity, the industry has a spring in its step again. But with renewed optimism comes the question of where the future successes lie.
Start-ups have faced tough times along with the rest of the European food industry in recent years as a tight economy and ever tighter regulations have bitten deep.
Free NutraIngredients and FoodNavigator online event - June 3, 14:00 Paris time
As the ‘globesity’ health footprint grows and power weight management brands struggle to stay relevant in an age where smartphone apps deliver personalised solutions, join us next week for a free online event, where key issues will be debated.
Companies are getting better at incorporating sustainability into their marketing strategies – and that’s good for business, says Deloitte Finland’s sustainability manager Riikka Poukka.
Alcohol consumption during bank holidays, celebrations and other special occasions is inadequately measured in normal consumption surveys, according to a study that suggests 12m more bottles of wine a week can be added to consumption in England when festivities...
To sell insects to Western consumers, food manufacturers must create products that align ethical motivations with sensory expectations – meaning cricket-flour cookies will fare better than chocolate-coated crickets.
People around the world significantly underestimate the health impact of obesity, but do support interventions to prevent it, according to two new surveys.
Dispatches from Canadean International Beer Strategies, Amsterdam
Social media strategies need to refrain from insistently pushing brands; but instead add value for consumers, explains Ashley Vinson, head of brand strategy Benelux, Twitter.
Plant waters such as aloe, birch, artichoke, maple, cactus, and almond water are starting to challenge coconut water’s pedestal, with NPD in this emerging category booming, according to Innova Market Insights.
Vegetarians are enjoying a wide range of packaged food– but it's their flexitarian friends who are fuelling innovation in the taste and texture of plant-based meat alternatives.
Swiss fermentation specialist Evolva Holding SA has reached a third milestone in its collaboration with Roquette Frères SA, triggering a payment of “several hundreds of thousands of Swiss Francs” to Evolva, the company has said.
The German Fairtrade market is the most dynamic globally, as growth in certified products spiked by more than a quarter in the past year, says TransFair chief Dieter Overath.
Own-brands have enjoyed a boom in crisis-hit Europe, winning new consumers with both price and quality – but big brands are resorting to aggressive pricing and promotions to win back their old consumer base.
The world’s biggest food firm, Nestlé, has put reducing food waste firmly on its agenda, announcing plans to help further prevent the issue of food losses and waste around the world at the Save Food Congress.
Functional beverages are now less about fortification, and more about honing in on the natural health benefits of their ingredients, according to Innova Market Insights.
Millennials do not succumb to the ‘wooing’ of big brands; rather, they are looking for a niche brand with a story, alongside the chance to engage with other consumers, according to a branding expert.
The Nut Association has filed a paper to Public Health England in the UK calling for nuts to be included in the country’s five-a-day fruit and vegetable recommendations.
Global food import costs are set to reach their lowest level in five years during 2015, even as volumes remain the same or rise slightly, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
The price of vegetables has risen by a whopping 199% in the past 30 years in the UK while the cost of an ice cream has fallen by 50%, driving the UK’s obesity epidemic, a new report has claimed.
Price is arguably the biggest barrier the organic market faces, says Mintel – but retailers are coming up with ways to make organic foods accessible to a wider audience.
The organic sector has cultivated a culture of ethical awareness among consumers that conventional manufacturers are now cashing in on – and new product development is vital for the sector to retain its value, say experts.
With working class households making up nearly one third of sales, organic is no longer a middle-class preserve - and some say it is even fueling Britain's 'foodie' culture.
The Western European packaged food market has grown 5% since 2009, with chilled pasta, sustainable foods and frozen yoghurt leading the way, according to Euromonitor International – but Europe is still a divided market.
Special edition: Beyond 2020 - The future of sustainable cocoa
Rising temperatures could seriously change where cocoa is grown in the next half-century and global output could be threatened if the chocolate industry does nothing to protect its key crop.
The use of certain biotechnologies could support organic production in the future – although the currently approved ‘cross-species’ GM technologies are the biggest threat to the organic food system, says Christopher Stopes.
Coconut oil could be on trend in Europe as saturated fats are no longer regarded to be as harmful for heart health as they were, a Mintel report has said.
Wackaging – using cute and quirky language on a product’s packaging – seems to be everywhere. But with consumers becoming increasingly cynical, should manufacturers stop trying to be cool?
Nearly seven in ten CEOs worldwide see the value of sustainability but only two out of ten (21%) companies are leveraging the full potential of sustainability practices, says a report.
With 93% of consumers saying they don’t trust product health claims, naturally functional foods have instant appeal – but if companies highlight the science and regulation behind claims all stand to benefit, say analysts.
The health halo associated with coconut ingredients could mean coconut vinegar is the next ‘it’ product in Europe -- though its nutritional benefits are to yet be verified.
