SMARTCHAIN, a three-year EU-funded project, is developing a roadmap to support the extension of Short Food Supply Chains (SFSCs). This will deliver a number of ‘socio-economic benefits’, the researchers claim.
Israeli start-up Vanilla Vida is leveraging smart farming to overcome the ‘biggest pain point’ for flavour houses in the natural vanilla market: an unstable supply chain.
Scientists have devised a novel way of tackling the mounting issue of plastic pollution… by using bacteria to transform plastic waste into vanilla flavouring.
COVID-19 changed how consumers eat and shop. But as much of the world unlocks and we emerge into the ‘new normal’ of a post-COVID era, what trends will stick?
A team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, the University of Naples Federico II, the Weizmann Institute of Science and the Porter School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, compared the efficiency of growing...
Barry Callebaut brand Cabosse Naturals is launching a line of ‘next gen’ ingredients for snacks, drinks and ice cream that utilise the whole cacao fruit, while Cacao Barry, also part of Barry Callebaut, is rolling out a WholeFruit chocolate offering....
Emissions from food production are vastly underestimated, claims a new study. But its lead author is ultimately optimistic the industry can address its environmental problems.
Mars is backing a new coalition that aims to support climate action through global supply chains. Kevin Rabinovitch, VP Global Sustainability, tells us that procurement is one of the most powerful tools in the company’s arsenal in the fight against climate...
Water scarcity is the most important environmental concern in the consumer staples sector, which includes food, ingredients, agribusiness, meat and beverages, warn market analysts at Barclays Capital.
Even in the face of rising inflation and ostensibly competing financial priorities, Mondelez’s multi-year shopping spree shows no sign of slowing as executives last week touted the steady “high-single digit” returns from recent acquisitions that are part...
As the G7 summit draws to its end and groundwork commences for COP 26, world leaders have been urged to look at the food system to deliver progress on COVID-19, economic security, climate change and health.
French investment firm Roquette Ventures (part of ingredients company Roquette Group), which supports start-ups in the food, nutrition, and health markets, is looking to scale up production of plant protein sweeteners made using precision fermentation.
As the UK government launches a new mentorship programme to encourage more food and beverage producers to boost their exports, British companies have a golden opportunity to expand overseas, companies say.
Verlinvest tells FoodNavigator it is doubling down on the consumer shift towards sustainability, ethics and health. ‘This is where the growth is coming from’, it says.
Ferrero has updated its Palm Oil Charter to ‘go beyond’ what it says is a ‘baseline’ for sustainable palm oil sourcing. This means new commitments on human rights, environmental protection and supplier transparency.
Food safety is a business-critical issue. People worry about food safety and security as much as global warming, pollution and poverty, research from confectionery giant Mars reveals. FoodNavigator hears from Dr Guangtao Zhang, director of the Mars Global...
The trend of people consuming 'less but better' in their homes opens up exciting innovation opportunities for food NPD and products that pair well with beer and other alcohol, say firms.
Variety for end-consumers holds the key to improving the taste, texture, format and nutritional challenges of the next generation of alternative food and beverages.
The Swiss food giant has confirmed it will update its nutrition and health strategy after British newspaper the Financial Times published leaked internal documents acknowledging that nearly 70% of its main food and drinks products, making up about half...
After nearly two decades of research an international team claims to have found a naturally derived cyan blue colour extracted from red cabbage that could replace synthetic blue dye often used in the food industry.
Italian confectionery giant Ferrero says it is looking to enlarge its product offering in the sweet biscuit market after acquiring the UK’s second-largest biscuit manufacturer Burton’s from former owner Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board for an undisclosed...
Exploring unique food pairings offers food brands the chance to tap into consumer desire to improve immunity via functional food, according to a report.
Food businesses must be prepared for enforcement action from regulators to tackle the issue of greenwashing, it has been warned, as the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority publishes draft guidance for companies about ‘green’ claims.
New rules on organic farming and production in the EU are set to come into effect at the beginning of 2022. In the second in a series of articles examining the update, legal experts Katia Merten-Lentz, partner at international law firm Keller and Heckman,...
The new ‘Cadbury Farmer Resilience Fund’ designed to protect cocoa farmer livelihoods during the COVID-19 pandemic is providing grants that will empower thousands of women farmers to start small businesses and earn a decent living.
Regular chocolate consumption may lower Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) risk, according to a study, which identifies cocoa content and flavonoid amounts in chocolate types as possible reasons for this link.
Nestlé has announced it has joined other business leaders across the food industry to support ambitious action by the European Union (EU) to increase supply chain transparency and traceability for commodities that may be linked to deforestation.
Zurich-based EggField is working to disrupt the conventional egg ingredient sector with alternatives that ‘use very few ingredients’. “Functionality comes before everything,” co-founder Silvan Leibacher tells FoodNavigator.
Consumers are increasingly reading product labels and searching out ‘clean’ ingredients lists that are shorter and feature recognisable ingredients that are sourced from nature. Artificial or chemical ingredients are the main undesirables, while there...
UK food brands are currently digesting planned government legislation coming next year which will prevent marketing and advertising of HFSS being shown on TV (pre-9pm) and online from 2022 and limit where these products can be placed in bricks and mortar...
With calls to reformulate food and drink products to reduce fat, sugar and salt, we explore: What influences prompt brands to reformulate? What does the process really entail? And can it be done successfully during a global pandemic?
By Hannah Pearse, Head of Nutrition and Scientific Affairs at IGD
With the impending publication of part two of the National Food Strategy in the UK, IGD convened major retailers, manufacturers, food service companies and members of the National Food Strategy team to discuss reformulation, the challenges, and opportunities....
Fibre and next-generation stevia are expected to play key roles in sugar reduction as a growing number of manufacturers seek out ‘no added sugar’ claims, according to Mintel.
A group of 11 food businesses including Nestlé, Danone, Carrefour Group, Barry Callebaut, Tesco and Sainsbury’s have announced their support for European Union plans to increase supply chain transparency and traceability for commodities that may be linked...
The world's largest Agrifood Innovation Ecosystem, supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, says regenerative agriculture is vital in helping the world’s biggest foods brands achieve their net zero plans and meeting consumer...
Israeli seed specialist Equinom says its new variety of protein-rich sesame seed could help the solve the taste and texture challenges of plant-based food and beverages.
Carbon labeling for food and beverage may be coming faster than originally predicted, and soon may hold more sway with consumers than other popular certifications as the ongoing pandemic accelerates consumer interest in sustainable diets, predict industry...
The Food and Drink Federation says UK plans to restrict in-store promotions of foods high in fat, salt and sugar will deter companies from developing lower sugar and fat alternatives.
Last year was the biggest to date for sustainable protein company launches, private investments, and retail sales, according to the Good Food Institute, which has just released its annual State of the Industry reports covering the plant-based, cellular...
Food brands have an opportunity to diversify their online shopping experiences to better meet quicky shifting consumer demands, according to a new report.
Cargill has acquired Leman Decoration Group in a deal that the company said represents a win-win: It will enhance Leman’s chocolate expertise and expand Cargill’s overing in the decorations space.
EFSA has updated its safety assessment of controversial food additive titanium dioxide, E171. The verdict: “Titanium dioxide can no longer be considered safe as a food additive.”
Consumer demand for CBD products has soared during lockdown, according to the Association for the Cannabinoid Industry (ACI), which estimates the sector will generate £690 million in annual sales this year, above a previous forecast of £526 million.
