The latest food and beverage industry news and trend analysis

Function, the health platform co-founded by Dr. Mark Hyman, has announced a strategic partnership with luxury grocer Erewhon to launch a new functional beverage concept: "The World's Healthiest Smoothie?".

The launch signals the food giant's intent to capitalise on the demographic shift towards an ageing global population, projecting that nearly half of the world’s citizens will be over 40 by 2040.

Scott's Protein Balls, a fast-growing challenger brand in the better-for-you snacking sector, has announced a significant retail expansion with its launch into select Target stores along the East Coast.

Launching in time for the Valentine's Day trading period, the new line marks a strategic pivot from the brand's traditional unsweetened mineral water roots into the high-growth functional beverage category.

Purely Elizabeth, the natural foods brand specialising in nutrient-dense granola, has announced its entry into the "nutricosmetic" food segment with the launch of Purely Glow Salted Vanilla Pistachio Granola.

The launch addresses a critical challenge in the school foodservice market: balancing strict sugar reduction mandates with student acceptance. The grō™ line is the utilisation of NewTree’s patented De-Sugaring technology.

By utilising a cottage cheese base for the crust, the brand claims to achieve a crisp texture often lacking in cauliflower or alternative-flour bases, while delivering up to 23 grams of protein per serving.

The launch is strategically timed to address escalating concerns within the global beverage industry regarding the stability and ethics of sourcing acacia gum from the conflict-ridden Sudan region.