BodyArmor Adds Canned Sports Beverage
Coca‑Cola is rolling out BodyArmor Fit, a new canned sports drink that is sugar‑free and packed with functional ingredients. Each 12‑oz can delivers 290 mg of electrolytes, 60 mg of caffeine, choline and green‑tea extract. The line launches with five fruit‑forward flavors and is slated for nationwide retail distribution. BodyArmor Fit expands the brand’s portfolio into a sparkling format aimed at active consumers.
Blue Bunny Introduces Recipe Reformulations
Wells Enterprises announced that its Blue Bunny Soft and Mini Swirl frozen novelties have been reformulated to use natural colors and flavors while eliminating high‑fructose corn syrup. The company frames the changes as the next phase of its portfolio strategy,...
Lactalis USA Adds Lactose-Free Cheese
Lactalis USA is launching a lactose‑free line of cheeses under the Kraft Natural Cheese brand, adding mild cheddar shredded, mozzarella shredded, and mozzarella string varieties. The products combine dairy with lactase enzyme to break down lactose while preserving taste. They...
IFF to Sell Food Ingredients Unit for $4.3 Billion
International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) agreed to sell its Food Ingredients unit to private‑equity firm CVC Capital Partners for $4.3 billion. IFF will keep a roughly 10% equity stake and a board seat, allowing continued collaboration and upside participation. The divestiture,...
US Dealmaking Weathers Global M&A Slowdown
The first‑quarter 2026 Food & Beverage M&A Pulse shows the United States kept a steady pace with 81 transactions, while global deal volume slipped 14% to 208 deals. PMCF interprets the flat U.S. activity as an early inflection point that...
Slideshow: Firing up the Grill for Summer Product Innovations
As summer grilling season kicks off, major food brands are rolling out limited‑time barbecue‑inspired products. Smithfield Foods launched a line of bratwursts, including a Pabst Blue Ribbon beer‑infused variety, jalapeño‑cheddar, and chipotle‑cheddar. Bush’s Beans introduced three novelty baked‑bean flavors—dill pickle,...
Adding Energy to the Foundation of Functional Foods
Functional‑food makers are intensifying efforts to add energy, with caffeine still dominant but complemented by protein and fiber blends. About 90% of U.S. adults consume caffeine, yet manufacturers are seeking cleaner, sustained‑energy sources such as guarana, green tea, and guayusa....
Prosur Develops Clean Label-Focused Ingredient Toolbox
Prosur unveiled the Get It Natural Toolbox, a suite of clean‑label ingredients designed to eliminate synthetic additives in food and beverage formulations. The portfolio offers chemical elimination, next‑level fermentation, a smarter sweetener system, and a cost‑efficient cocoa alternative with fiber‑driven...
Prodalim Acquires Food Technology Company Better Juice
Prodalim, a global food‑ingredients company, announced the acquisition of Israeli food‑technology firm Better Juice. Better Juice’s patented enzymatic process can reduce sugar in juice by up to 80% while retaining vitamins and enhancing fruit flavor, and the technology is also...
SK Capital Partners Takes Hold of Brothers International
SK Capital Partners has acquired Brothers International Food Holdings from Benford Capital, though financial terms were not disclosed. Founder Travis Betters will stay on as president and CEO while retaining a significant equity stake. The deal positions SK Capital to...
Monster Beverage Updates Innovation Strategy
Monster Beverage Corp. announced a staggered 2026 innovation calendar, rolling out new flavors, a wellness‑focused Storm energy drink, and its first female‑targeted brand FLRT to compete with Alani Nu. The company also introduced limited‑edition anniversary cans across its Juice Monster, Monster...
CPGs Need a New Playbook
Food and beverage CPGs are confronting a prolonged slump, with volume growth stuck under 1% annually and total shareholder return for the sector down about 7% versus a 9% rise in the S&P 500. McKinsey’s April report attributes the decline to...
Island Way Debuts Frozen Novelties
Island Way, the Massachusetts‑based fruit snack maker, announced two new frozen snack lines: Lemonade Bites and Chocolate‑Covered Fruit. Lemonade Bites combine real lemon pieces with flavored variations such as classic, strawberry, and watermelon, while the chocolate‑covered fruit offers mango, orange,...
New Approaches to Texture Innovation
Food and beverage makers can no longer treat texture as an afterthought, according to Ingredion research showing 79% of U.S. consumers tie overall satisfaction to mouthfeel. Texture now rivals flavor as a primary purchase driver, with 53% refusing to eat...
French Fry Startup Raises $10 Million Series A
Washington‑based Jesse & Ben’s announced a $10 million Series A round led by Greycroft, with participation from Rich Product Ventures and other investors. The funding will accelerate retail expansion, supply‑chain scaling, and senior‑team hiring as the brand rolls out new fry varieties. The...