10/22/2021 By Jeannie SwedbergPet owners are influenced by consumer trends – after all they’re consumers – and many of those same consumer trends flow right into the pet food segment. Good gut health is one of those consumer trends bridging the people food/pet food gap. Over the past decade or so, the food industry has done a great job communicating the benefits of good digestive health. So now people have an understanding that their gut health is important to their overall wellbeing. And in another case of ‘what’s good for me is good for my pet...READ MORE
9/15/2021 By Jeannie SwedbergDog treats have come a long way over the past few decades just in sheer number and variety. During the same period, treats moved from being an occasional indulgence or training aid to a daily functional delivery system. This change has come as people’s attitudes toward pets shifted towards more humanization. Pets are more often valued family members and COVID coworkers than working animals or guardians. All this preamble is to say -- the dog treat segment of the petfood market is dynamic and enjoying brisk sales...READ MORE
9/13/2021 By Kristine McDonaldHow to successfully create a 'food safety culture': During the past two years, the FDA has been cultivating a new initiative in the food manufacturing industry focused on establishing a ‘food safety culture.’ To further strengthen this initiative, the Global Food Safety Initiative (GSFI) certifying bodies, such as the Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI) have implemented ‘food safety culture’ in their code of requirements. You may be asking – why. Why with all the food safety rules, regulations and procedures already in place are we talking about food safety culture? It comes down to this. In reality, no facility can afford not to develop a healthy food safety culture...READ MORE
8/23/2021 By Jeannie SwedbergI’m delighted to see sustainability coming to the forefront in our industry rather than remaining an afterthought. Frankly, it’s been a long time coming. In its recently released Sustainability in Motion white paper, global ingredient supplier, Kerry says sustainability “has moved from an emerging trend to a mainstay table stake.” In fact according to market research firm, Innova, 75% of global consumers expect companies to invest in sustainability. Also Kerry reported nearly half of global consumers prioritize sustainability at various levels. These heightened consumer expectations are what’s making sustainability a priority for companies...READ MORE
8/12/2021 By Kjersten BraatenMeeting consumer sensory expectations of meat with regards to appearance, texture, and flavor is crucial to the success of plant-based meat analogs. Tree Top fruit ingredients offer a clean label solution that can help improve taste, provide texture, and deliver color in plant-based meat applications...READ MORE