B&G Foods adds Specialty Brands to acquisitions B&G Foods is acquiring Specialty Brands of America for $155 million, adding to the food group's recent acquisitions of Rickland Orchards, Pirate Brands and TrueNorth. Specialty Brands makes Bear Creek Country Kitchens soups, Canoleo margarine and Spring Tree maple syrup. "These brands complement very well our existing portfolio of brands and we believe that B&G Foods will be able to enhance the growth prospects of these brands," B&G President and CEO David Wenner said. Just-Food.com (free registration) (4/4) Jones Soda's turnaround plan Jones Soda is cutting costs as part of its turnaround plan, which saw net losses shrink to $1.9 million in 2013 from $2.9 million the previous year. The company made an ill-fated move into canned soda in the mid-2000s and is now focusing its efforts on independent stores in the West, Midwest and Canada with plans to develop some lower-calorie options. "We're getting small to get strong again," said CEO Jennifer Cue. Bloomberg Businessweek (4/2) Other News  | Welcome Aboard: A Guide to Small Business Hiring
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 | Report: More consumers are looking for "free-from" foods More than half of American consumers last year chose products free from certain ingredients, such as fat, sugar or gluten, up from 28% in 2004, according to a report from Packaged Facts. Gluten is the top ingredient consumers avoid, but genetically modified ingredients and artificial additives, including artificial sweeteners and colors, are also part of the trend, the report said. "The numbers of consumers with 'free-from' concerns is on the rise but still not a majority by any means," said Howard Waxman, author of the report. FoodProductionDaily.com (France) (4/3) Mintel: Beverage companies need to shake it up Beverage brands could benefit from a little "category blurring" in new product innovations, said Ian Hare, manager of trends for Mintel. In his presentation during Mintel's Big Conversation event in London last week, he referenced Nestle Waters' ready-to-drink Sweet Leaf Coffee Tea Blend that features coffee and rooibos tea. Packaging also can blur the lines like Turbo Tango's aerosol-style spray bottle. "Category blurring innovation can be used on a short-term basis to get attention by using novelty and surprise, but can work in the longer term if a genuine benefit is provided ... to bring people back to the product," Hare said. BeverageDaily.com (France) (4/2) Fake meat could be a real moneymaker, investors say  | | Veggie burger (nito100) | The fake-meat business is coming of age, with plant-based proteins now so convincing that customers at one Whole Foods didn't notice when they were accidentally served chicken salad made with soy-based chicken substitute. Major investors are starting to pay attention to the sector, which could help solve many of the environmental problems associated with animal husbandry. "What we're interested in is big problems needing solutions because they represent big potential markets and strong opportunities for building great returns," says Randy Komisar, a partner at venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caulfield Byers. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (4/2)
Food makers, chefs explore unlikely flavor pairings Food manufacturers are experimenting with unlikely flavor pairings as customer demand ramps up for out-of-the-box foods such as eggs and bacon served on a glazed doughnut or potato chips dipped in chocolate. "This consumer is open to new possibilities," said Agneta Weisz, vice president of flavors and technology for Comax Flavors. "Edgy food and beverages are their way to explore the world. The Internet is their information highway, but chefs, mixologists and food and beverage manufacturers can give them the adventure roadmaps they want to follow." FoodBusinessNews.net (free registration) (4/3) | The ins, outs and benefits of supplier partnerships Coca-Cola's partnership with Rexam last year resulted in eye-catching packaging that built brand buzz and boosted beverage sales, an example that illustrates the wins that can come from partnering with suppliers on new innovations and packaging designs, SCM World's Senior Vice President of Research Geraint John writes. He shares 10 tips for building solid supplier partnerships, including sharing strategic information and settling questions of intellectual property ownership early on. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Food & Beverage (4/4) | The "eyes" have it in the cereal aisle Cereal boxes that are designed to have characters make eye contact with consumers by being placed at eye level on grocery shelves are more likely to build brand loyalty and end up in the consumer's shopping cart, according to a new study from the Cornell Food and Brand Lab. "The takeaway is that these techniques could be used to brand healthier cereals," said Aner Tal, one of the study's researchers. USA Today (4/3) | NPD Group: Consumers looking for more protein A quarter of American consumers are looking for protein on the Nutrition Facts label, up from 20% in 2009, and more than half want to add more protein to their diets, according to NPD Group. "For younger people it's more about energy and weight management, whereas older boomers are looking at maintaining health and staying active," said analyst Darren Seifer. FoodNavigator (4/3) |  | About the only thing that comes to us without effort is old age." -- Gloria Pitzer, American writer | | | Please contact one of our specialists for advertising opportunities, editorial inquiries, job placements, or any other questions. | | Publisher, Food & Beverage: Chris Warne P: 646.462.4647 | | | | |
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