FoodNavigator-USA Podcast

A landmark federal court decision to block mandatory cancer warnings for dietary acrylamide under California's controversial Prop 65 is a major win for food manufacturers – and could offer protective precedence for compelling warnings based on shaky science in violation of First Amendment rights

Consumers want more than a long life – they want a good one, and to get it they are changing what and how they eat, including adding or avoiding specific nutrients, seeking products that support health conditions and foods and beverages that ‘nourish, heal, indulge and connect,' according to new research

CPG founders must think on their feet to work around tariff-induced supply chain disruptions, collaborating with co-manufacturers and ingredient suppliers on innovative solutions to business obstacles

CPG sales and volumes are slipping among persistent inflation and tariff fears, but Circana uncovers how food and beverage manufacturers are maintaining – and gaining – share despite the shaky market

FDA's sweeping plan to eliminate synthetic colors from the US food system announced last week marks a turning point in the war on food dyes that has long been fought at the state level and which before that pitted big food against outspoken consumer advocates who often relied on passion and fearmongering more than science

CPG founders on the hunt for venture capital should consult a lawyer first to ensure they get the best possible deal, without giving too much of their company away

Consumers increasingly are unwilling to compromise taste or health when buying beverages – opening the door for innovative brands that deliver both functional benefits and refreshing experiences

Up and coming chocolate brands are rethinking how they make – and package – chocolate to meet rising consumer demand for better-for-you and clean-label options, while simultaneously navigating rising costs

Startups should carefully consider regenerative agriculture certifications and how to use sustainable messaging to enhance their core value proposition

Consumers say they want adventurous new flavors and international cuisine, but many are hesitant to try something unfamiliar – creating a ‘conundrum' for manufacturers and marketers introducing global flavors

Spins and NielsenIQ representatives shared strategies for retail success, including boosting velocities, utilizing data efficiently and developing an omnichannel strategy that inserts a brand into a consumers' everyday life

CPG companies must focus on the three C's (credibility, capability and cash) and the four P's (product, packaging, positioning and pricing) retail growth

Consumer awareness and interest in regenerative agriculture is exponentially increasing - placing pressure on farmers, manufacturers and retailers to work together to boost supply

Under John Krzywicki's leadership, US-based biotech company Checkerspot will refine its focus on using microalgae and precision fermentation to develop sustainable high value triglyceride fats and oils not easily sourced from nature at commercially relevant scale and cost

Consumer flavor preferences are all over the map, literally, as they seek adventure, authenticity and cultural connection through globally and locally inspired food and beverage – but all too often they lack the confidence, knowledge and ingredients to recreate at home international and regional dishes with diverse flavor profiles

Sales of plant-based milk have slowed in the past year, but Silk and So Delicious maker Danone still sees significant potential by focusing on fun in addition to function

Founders and startups are on the hunt for retail buyers and possible investors at one of the largest food and beverages shows in North America, so entrepreneurs will need to hone their pitches and networking skills to breakthrough the noise

As the Whole Grain Stamp celebrates its 20th anniversary, Oldways Whole Grain Council considers where there is room for innovation and how to overcome barriers blocking product development and consumption of whole grains

Beverage veteran Danny Stepper shared his thoughts on what it takes to create an iconic drink brand during the 10th episode of the Founders' Fundamentals podcast

An advertising watchdog lists ‘better-for-you' claims as a potential enforcement area for 2025 amid concerns that marketers may not be able to support implied health claims

Emotional wellbeing is emerging as a top health concern for consumers across the generations, according to new research by the Hartman Group, which also found an increasing portion of people prefer to manage their moods with food, beverages and supplements than over-the-counter and non-prescription medications.

Delivering on whitespace innovation can propel a CPG food and beverage startup into mainstream success, and filling a gap in the market might be simpler than some startups think, explained Karen Anderson, CEO of Purple Peak Marketing, during a recent Founders' Fundamentals podcast.

Emotional wellbeing is emerging as a top health concern for consumers across the generations, according to new research by the Hartman Group, which also found an increasing portion of people prefer to manage their moods with food, beverages and supplements than over-the-counter and non-prescription medications.

A broadly-supported new definition for “pasture-raised” poultry proposed by USDA this fall could help level the playing field for small, independent farms and brands competing in the increasingly important, crowded and confusing humanely-raised chicken category.

Research and advocates for 100% grass-fed dairy suggest the practice is better for people, the planet and animals – but is it better for business?

After a year of “unapologetically” embracing luxury, indulgence and whimsy through vivid colors and unexpected flavor combinations, consumers will rediscover and recenter themselves in 2025 by choosing taste profiles and hues that more realistically represent their individual needs and support their emotional wellbeing, according to tastemakers at the nutrition and ingredient giant ADM.

Successful CPG startups not only strike the right balance between delivering on product claims and branding aesthetics — the head and heart of building a food and beverage business — but also provide consumers easy ways to learn about their brand when they spot the product on shelf, Christy Lebor, partner and director of brand development at SmashBrand, told FoodNavigator-USA.

Consumer interest in products made with ingredients from regional smallholder farmers or those practicing regenerative agriculture is on the rise, but CPG companies and suppliers are struggling to meet their demand in part because most farmers are unable to access sufficient capital on their own to scale specialty crops and sustainable growing practices.

Food and beverage industry stakeholders and consumer advocates are lauding FDA's commitment to enhance its post-market assessment of chemicals in food, but they worry the agency's proposed process is “thin on details,” including lacking sufficient transparency about how it would select ingredients for review, how it will assess their safety and the extent to which the public can contribute.

As US consumers embrace a wider variety of seasonings to flavor their food they increasingly want to know where spices come from, their safety profile and environmental and social impact – prompting the industry stakeholders to rethink spice supply chains, which historically have been purposefully opaque to hide widespread inequity and exploitation.

Food and beverage CPG startups can set themselves up for long-term business success by slowly and strategically growing their retail footprint, focusing first on product-market fit, unique branding and wisely allocating marketing dollars to build loyalty with customers, Jordan Buckner, founder of online CPG food and beverage community Foodbevy, shared on a recent episode of FoodNavigator-USA's Founders' Fundamental podcast.