Is microwave popcorn ready for disruption? Opopop thinks so Opopop is innovating in the microwavable popcorn market and recently got a boost through a partnership with Walmart.

Pre-popped popcorn has flooded the market for more than a decade with the rise of well-known brands like SkinnyPop and BOOMCHICKAPOP, but a relatively new popcorn disruptor says it’s time for innovation in microwaveable popcorn. - FoodNavigator
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GLP-1 ‘Halo effect’: Users positively impact household eating habits Acosta Group reports GLP-1 users are driving healthier eating, new product demand and labeling challenges, reshaping food, beverage and wellness categories.

GLP-1s are helping users achieve their health goals, but the popular weight-loss drugs are also manifesting unanticipated positive health trends, creating new opportunities and challenges for CPG, according to a report by Acosta Group. - FoodNavigator

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USDA creates Office of Seafood to boost US seafood competitiveness USDA launches the Office of Seafood to streamline access to federal programs, support American fishermen and strengthen the U.S. seafood supply chain.

A new USDA Office of Seafood aims to better integrate the fishing industry into federal food policy as US leaders look to shore up domestic production and reduce the country’s multibillion dollar seafood trade deficit. - FoodNavigator

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From Reese’s PB&J cups to Jolt root beer, nostalgia is driving CPG’s latest launches Recent launches spotlight how CPG brands are reworking classic flavors and heritage packaging to capture consumers’ emotional connection to childhood foods and drinks.

Eating habits are undergoing a metamorphosis, but nostalgia remains a constant as consumers make their way through the grocery aisle and CPG brands are paying attention. - FoodNavigator

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Walmart’s ecommerce, fulfillment and advertising business offset flat in-store sales Walmart faces challenges from skyrocketing fuel costs, but the war in Iran has yet to impact product prices.

Walmart is thriving in grocery and attracting next generation consumers, despite the headwinds of tariffs, geopolitical strife and inflation, according to John Rainey, executive vice president and chief financial officer. - FoodNavigator

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Global lipids, fats and oils manufacturer Alianza Team quietly opened its $36.4 million processing facility in Goldsboro, NC, in mid-March, marking the Colombian company’s first US facility. - FoodNavigator

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Private-label consolidation continues with CK Snacks’ purchase of Keystone Food Products The Grand Rapids snack maker adds Easton‑based Keystone to its lineup, strengthening its presence in private‑label production as competition intensifies in 2026.

Consolidation in the private-label manufacturing sector remains hot in 2026 with CK Snacks acquiring Keystone Food Products, Inc. for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition follows some big deals in the private-label sector earlier this year. - FoodNavigator
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How the Swedish candy craze helped save a San Francisco sweets shop San Francisco’s Candy’s store bounced back after a 2025 fire. Owner Max Kolegue scaled online sales and tapped booming demand for Swedish gummies.

Entrepreneur Max Kolegue saved his San Francisco candy store – located in the historic Haight Street shopping district – a year after it caught fire, thanks to booming online sales and a surge in Swedish candy purchases. - FoodNavigator

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Cacao pods and ‘ugly’ potatoes powering the upcycled foods movement As the global upcycled food market grows, brands like Blue Stripes and Seven Sundays are innovating with sustainable snacks and cereal options.

Upcycled foods – made from food supply chain byproducts that would otherwise go to landfills – are rapidly growing in popularity and bringing about innovation in consumer packaged goods. The global market is projected to reach $124B by 2034.
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Circana: Private label takes different paths in the US and Europe Circana data shows private-label growth outpacing brands worldwide. Learn how club, mass and discounter channels are reshaping pricing, premium tiers and sustainability.

Private-label brands continue growing, even as inflation cools and pressure from national food and beverage manufacturers intensifies, according to data analytics company Circana. The challenge to national brands is playing out differently across the globe.
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It’s time to use the Robinson-Patman Act to tackle high food prices The little-known Robinson-Patman Act celebrates its 90th birthday in June, and the reason you might not have heard of it is because it has been largely ignored over the last four decades.

The government’s refusal to enforce Robinson-Patman has had devastating consequences in the US. Opening the floodgate of anticompetitive pricing has been among the biggest contributors to the decimation of independent businesses for nearly a half century.

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Hershey courts Gen Z with premium, better-for-you snacking playbook Hershey projects 2% to 4% organic revenue growth and 6% to 8% EPS gains by 2028, leaning on permissible snacking, premiumization and global expansion.

The Hershey Company’s leadership outlined a long-term and far-reaching growth strategy at its annual Investor Day on Tuesday, addressing headwinds such as volatile commodity markets, surging GLP-1 use and evolving consumer snacking habits. - FoodNavigator

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AI assists, but active ingredients still lead in wellness innovation Experts at Future Food Tech San Francisco discussed how AI helps communicate the value of functional ingredients while science continues to drive product credibility and growth.

Better-for-you food & beverage innovators are betting big on AI to help drive product development, but active ingredients – a different kind of AI – are still steering the ship, according to industry leaders at Future Food Tech San Francisco.
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From climate shocks to GLP-1 impacts: Why the food chain must adapt now Experts urge collaboration, AI insights and policy reform to safeguard the global food supply amid climate risk and demographic change.

Building a healthier food system while balancing the challenges of an increasingly volatile world - from the increase of climate shocks to the rise of GLP-1 drugs - demands greater cooperation between up- and downstream stakeholders. - FoodNavigator

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Barbecue season heats up with swicy sauces and bold brand collaborations Mission BBQ sauces from McCormick, Spam’s Japanese BBQ flavor made with Bachan’s and Big Tree Farms’ Naughty Bali swicy line expand barbecue options across US retailers.

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Barbecue season heats up with swicy sauces and bold brand collaborations Mission BBQ sauces from McCormick, Spam’s Japanese BBQ flavor made with Bachan’s and Big Tree Farms’ Naughty Bali swicy line expand barbecue options across US retailers.

Backyard barbecue season is rapidly approaching, and the market already is brimming with bold, new sauce flavors and varieties out this spring and late last year. - @foodnavigator.bsky.social
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Seed oils are out, avocado oil is in – and snack brands are leading the switch Snack brands like Xochitl and Jackson’s are shifting from vegetable and seed oils to avocado oil to meet clean-label demand and consumer perception of health.

The negative association surrounding vegetable and seed oils, even if based on a misperception, has become a boon for the #avocado oil industry. - @foodnavigator.bsky.social

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St. Patrick’s Day product promotions push CPG brands into the spotlight From green milk cereal and ice cream collabs to Guinness schmear and Kerrygold’s crisp sandwich, CPG brands are turning St. Patrick’s Day into a retail event.

St. Patrick’s Day is here, and while food and beverage manufacturers tend to take a back seat to restaurants on shamrock day deals, some brands are perfectly positioned to cash in on the luck o’ the Irish. - FoodNavigator

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Relaxation drinks boom as consumers seek calm Adaptogen-fueled brands like Recess, Hiyo, Brēz and Trip are competing for dominance in the fast-growing relaxation beverage market.

Relaxation beverages may promise calm, but the category’s race for dominance in an overcrowded market was anything but serene at Natural Products Expo West in early March. - FoodNavigator

Recess, hiyo, TRIP, BRĒZ

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Rooted in Chicago and Nepal, two pet food brands share a strategy with simple ingredients Clean‑label pet treats are booming as owners demand short, simple ingredient lists. See how Nak Chews and Ava’s Pet Palace turn “better‑for‑you” into a growth strategy.

It’s a family affair for Nak Chews & Ava's Pet Palace. Though their clean-label pet treats are developed on opposite sides of the globe, the companies share a common non-negotiable: no mystery chemicals in the bowl. - @foodnavigator.bsky.social

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Whole Foods’ small-format stores could boost CPG startups Whole Foods’ US accelerators and UK Brand Pitch Days give startup CPG companies clearer paths to get on shelves as the grocer rolls out new small-format stores.

The six-store expansion of Whole Foods Market in the UK, announced Thursday, marks a new era for the Amazon-owned health food grocery retailer and could be a boon for upstart food and beverage companies. - @foodnavigator.bsky.social

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High-fiber konjac could be the next big competitor in better-for-you foods Konjac products are reshaping the functional food category with plant-based, high-fiber innovation appealing to health-conscious US consumers and younger demographics.

VIDEO: Food and drink manufacturers might be unfamiliar with hashtag#konjac, but products containing the root could be their next competitor. - @foodnavigator.bsky.social
Check out our interviews with Miracle Noodle, EVERYDAZE and It's That Simple
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“Forty percent of folks told us they’re still really not sure what it means to be natural and organic,” said Ashley Roehm, president of Acosta Sales. - FoodNavigator

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Wisecode gives brands a new way to claim they’re non-UPF Wisecode analyzes more than 840,000 products to flag ultra-processed foods, verify non-UPF items for $200 per SKU and give emerging brands a new way to stand out.

Wisecode, a consumer-focused mobile app that launched in late 2024, is providing food and beverage manufacturers a new method for establishing their clean-label bona fides. - @foodnavigator.bsky.social

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Private equity doubles down on private label with launch of Keep It Real Foods CIC Partners establishes Keep It Real Foods, integrating Oakhouse Bakery, RIND Snacks, and others into a unified private-label food manufacturing platform serving major retailers and brands.

Private-label food manufacturing has a new contender with the debut of Keep It Real Foods, LLC, a CIC Partners-backed platform that further expands both the private-label landscape and private equity’s role in the category.
- @foodnavigator.bsky.social

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Celsius’ $722M Q4 signals surging energy drink growth as Alani Nu, Rockstar join PepsiCo network With Alani Nu and Rockstar now in PepsiCo’s system, Celsius posts a strong Q4, grows shelf and cooler space.

Better-for-you energy drink makers can expect greater competition from category giants CELSIUS and Alani Nu this summer, as the market leader expands rapidly across the country. - @foodnavigator.bsky.social

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Archer accelerates meat snack growth with $100M from JPMorgan Chase Better-for-you brand Archer Meat Snacks boosts US production with a new Los Angeles plant, $100M in financing and surging meat stick sales across 30,000+ stores.

Archer Meat Snacks is accelerating its national expansion, securing a $100 million credit line from JPMorganChase to help fuel growth following the opening of its new manufacturing facility in November. - @foodnavigator.bsky.social

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Smucker sues Trader Joe’s, as Uncrustables shifts from freezer to fridge JM Smucker defends its $1B Uncrustables brand from imitators and unveils a fridge‑friendly formula to eliminate thaw time for consumers.

Uncrustables enjoys a massive 20% compound annual growth rate and is expected to reach $1B for Smucker. The success has not gone unnoticed by rivals aiming to get in on the frozen PB&J business, and that’s keeping Smucker on its toes. - FoodNavigator

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Supreme Court strikes down Trump’s tariff policy The Supreme Court has overturned Trump’s IEEPA tariffs in a 6–3 ruling, opening the door to refund fights and new lawsuits from food and beverage companies and other importers.

BREAKING: SCOTUS struck down the Trump administration’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose global tariffs, ruling 6–3 that the move exceeded presidential authority. - @foodnavigator.bsky.social
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FDA greenlights plant-based egg protein as industry rebuilds after bird flu FDA grants Plantible Foods a “no questions” letter for its Lemna-derived Rubi protein, clearing the RuBisCO ingredient for food use and large-scale production.

The FDA issued a “No Questions” letter to Plantible Foods for its flagship Lemna-derived egg alternative, Rubi Protein, acknowledging that the ingredient is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) and greenlighting isolated RuBisCO for use in food applications.

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