Meet Spot: Cargill’s new robotic watchdog
Cargill’s Amsterdam facility has a new member that’s turning heads - and maybe wagging a few tails
Videos
Why CPGs are back-sliding on sustainability – and why it matters
The food industry made bold promises – on health, on sustainability, on transparency. But now, under pressure, many of those pledges are quietly being shelved. Editor-in-chief Jess Spiring exposes the rollback and explores what this retreat means for the...
Future Food-Tech Chicago
Investors’ appetite for food-tech enters new era with shifting interest in alternative ingredients
The investment landscape for food-tech remains chilly, but there are bright spots for alternative fats and oils and some appetite for sweeteners as well as alt protein with proven business models
High-protein: Why are consumers so obsessed?
Protein consumption through enriched functional foods is on the rise as consumers seek to boost intake levels
Future Food Tech San Francisco
NotCo opens access to its game-changing AI technology to speed product innovation
Innovating packaged foods and beverages traditionally takes two to three years from concept to shelf, but companies are under pressure to launch products more quickly and with lower costs, a challenge NotCo says its AI technology can solve
Natural Products Expo West
Mondelez SnackFutures’ investments reveal playbook to tackle snack industry’s biggest challenges
Snacking may be here to stay, but what consumers want - and how companies source it - are evolving quickly, prompting Mondelez to narrow the aperture of its investment strategy
EXCLUSIVE
The ‘Cocoa Chanel’ effect: Salon du Chocolat woos Paris with mix of high fashion, taste and the best in bean-to-bar chocolate - WATCH!
This year, the chocolate industry’s most glamorous trade fair spanned five days and commanded two floors of the Paris Porte de Versailles exhibition centre, engaging and delighting the general public and attracting chocolatiers and chefs from across the...
Special report
'A higher purpose' - Cordillera Chocolates launches new sustainability initiative for female cocoa farmers in Colombia
The importance to the cocoa sector of female farmers has been increasingly recognised in the past decade with the introduction of specific support for female-led Fairtrade cooperatives in West Africa, along with initiatives from other actors in different...
Special report
How one Swiss company set the standard for Fairtrade organic cocoa production - WATCH
PRONATEC, an owner-run Swiss family company that maintains long-standing partnerships with cooperatives in the countries of origin, has been a pioneer in the global organic and Fairtrade movement for 45 years. In 2022, it opened its own impressive and...
Investing in the Future of Food
Danone: "There has been a massive shift in how consumers are shopping and their adoption of digital commerce is significant'
With digital commerce sales accelerating during the pandemic and expected to climb from $35 billion to more than $250 billion by 2025, Danone North America is reallocating traditional marketing dollars to online in a bid to better drive consumer...
WATCH
Make way for maqui: Could Patagonia’s native berry be South America’s next superfruit?
Native to Patagonia, maqui berries are packed with polyphenols, have a ‘rounded’ flavour and definite superfruit potential, says freeze-dry specialist SouthAm.
WATCH
Soy tacos, pea burgers and jackfruit burritos: How Mexican demand for vegetarian is evolving
Mexican food is traditionally very meat-based but this means there are many dishes where plant-based proteins can be added. We spoke to market analysts and ingredient suppliers to find out more about the market potential.
WATCH
NotCo business chief talks artificial intelligence, new products and LATAM expansion challenges
We talk to the head of business development at plant-based start-up NotCo about artificial intelligence-driven NPD, challenges in expanding to Brazil and which categories it plans to launch.
WATCH
IFT cannabis expert's warning: Over-sell CBD and risk the same backlash as sugar
Cannabis edibles are a uniquely novel category for food manufacturers to exploit. But with this market opportunity comes a huge social responsibility, warns one expert. His advice? Don't over-sell, overdose or over-market.
Flavor pairing for multi-sensory products with 'an emotional design'
We know what emotions feel like – but what do they taste like? Consumers associate specific feelings with certain flavors, which can help manufacturers make multi-sensory products with 'an emotional design'.
WATCH
‘We're popularizing healthy in an industry dominated by artificial’: BioZen launches kefir in Brazil
BioZen, which claims to be the first company to make kombucha in Brazil, is launching fruit kefir. We talked to its co-founder about low-sugar drinks, gut health and reaching male consumers.
WATCH
From purple sweet potato to black garlic: Natural powders boost nutrients and color
Dried fruit and vegetable powders allow manufacturers to add extra nutrients and color to food and drink products, says Brazilian supplier Sylvestre Natural Ingredients.
WATCH: São Paulo start-up brings fermented protein tempeh to Brazil
São Paulo start-up Mun is bringing tempeh - a protein made from whole, fermented pulses that originates from Indonesia - to Brazil. We caught up with the co-founder at BioBrazil last week.
WATCH
Traditional product, modern process: Beam Suntory’s Casa Sauza on how hydrolysis improves tequila’s taste and sustainability
Using hydrolysis to produce tequila allows Beam Suntory-owned Casa Sauza to save energy, waste less agave and improve the tequila’s flavor. We traveled to the town of Tequila to find out more.
THE INGREDIENTS SHOW
Growing single origin trend to ‘transform Colombia through chocolate’
Single origin chocolate is attracting strong sales and high product satisfaction among consumers. For ingredient suppliers, this presents an opportunity to give back to the rural communities growing the commodity. FoodNavigator caught up with an analyst,...
WATCH
Some like it hot: How to stand out in Mexico's crowded hot sauce category
Chili peppers are an essential part of Mexican cuisine, and the country's hot sauce category is a very busy space. So how can products stand out? We spoke to some companies that claim to be doing things differently.
WATCH
How Mexico's cinnamon-spiked hot chocolate mirrors the country's history
Bean-to-bar chocolate supplier Alerlit talks to FoodNavigator-LATAM about the origins of Mexican-style hot chocolate, the country's 'floral' cocoa flavor and its production process.
WATCH
Bio B on its 'artisan' products made with local superfoods
Mexican start-up Bio B uses locally-sourced ingredients in smoothie mixes and protein bars, such as inulin from agave cacti, cocoa from Tabasco, and Mexican-grown moringa.
WATCH
Healthy innovation: Coco Colima on turning coconuts into everyday consumer products
Mexico's leading coconut milk brand talks about new product development and how healthy drinks can compete with soda. "Coconuts have been popular in Mexico since forever. It's just that now companies are transforming them into everyday consumer products.”
WATCH
'Preserving the flavor of the land': Maza Real on growing ancestral criollo corn
Maza Real is creating a market for native, Mexican-grown maize by buying red, blue and white criollo varieties from farmers. Consumers want to go "back to natural and back to their roots”, it says.
Authentic, native, and natural: What Latin Americans want from processed food in 2019
From jabuticaba-flavored yogurt to guacamole mayonnaise, processed food firms are catering to Latin Americans demand for natural, healthy, and authentic foods, according to a survey by ingredient supplier Kerry.
Academic food experts voice support for warning labels in Brazil
Internationally recognized academic experts are calling for Brazil to adopt the warning sign system pioneered by neighboring Chile, and not traffic light labels favored by many industry groups.
Regenerative Agriculture, Part III
Enhancing cacao production through regenerative agriculture
Regenerative farming is said to enhance crops and make the most of limited land resources while reducing the use of chemicals. In the third part of this series we look at how this translates into cacao production, and other crops.
Macha, yogurts, and gelatin-free gummies: CP Kelco showcases innovation at FiSA
There was a lot of innovation on show at the recent Fi South America event in Sao Paulo. FoodNavigator-LATAM caught up with hydrocolloids supplier CP Kelco to find out how their ingredients can provide solutions to some of the region’s big trends.
Regenerative Agriculture Part II
Why soil health is pivotal to producing the highest grade crops
Regenerative agriculture is slowly making inroads into the consumer mindset but still remains a mystery to most. To get to grips with the concept this article takes a look at the most important element: the soil.
Regenerative Agriculture Part I
Costa Rica regenerative farm paves the way for better crops
The rise and rise of the organic and naturals trend in the food and health and wellness industry is putting increasing pressure on farmers to produce pesticide-free, sustainable and efficient crops for raw materials.
Dispatches from Fi South America
Brazilian consumers seeking healthier products, but not necessarily from supermarkets: Mintel
Consumers in Brazil are trying to consume less sugar and more protein, but food and beverage brands need to ensure that taste and texture are not detrimentally affected while also boosting the perception of ‘freshness’ for their products, according to a...
Brazil’s organic sector: Multinationals and supermarkets getting into the business is ‘significant’
The Brazilian retail market for organic food and beverages is growing at 20-25%, and the imminent entry of some of the world’s biggest food companies is “huge”, says the executive director of the Brazilian Council for Organic and Sustainable Production.
Ingredion’s Idea Labs coming soon to LATAM food and beverage formulators
For companies with limited R&D budgets or for those seeking some external help to speed up a developmental pipeline, Ingredion has launched a free to access virtual lab, and it’s coming soon to formulators across Latin America.
Hydrocolloids offer solutions for sugar reduction, ambient drinking yogurts, and more: CP Kelco
Sugar reduction and ambient drinking yogurt are two of the most interesting trends in Latin America at the moment, but both present technical challenges to food and beverage companies. Hydrocolloids are part of the solution, explains CP Kelco’s regional...
'A beautiful white page': Consumer demand for palm oil in Latin America
Colombia and Ecuador currently export most of their palm oil but demand in Latin American is growing, and the oil crop has the advantage that consumers' minds are "a beautiful white page", according to trade group Fedepalma.
Brazil holds significant export potential for US companies, but some barriers must be addressed first
Brazil’s fast growth in the past 20 years makes it an ideal target for exporting US crops and products, and with values that closely align to those of the US it also is an ideal strategic partner to help open new markets in third countries, according to...