JAMBAR Teams Up with The Armory
For the second year in a row, West Coast based energy bar brand JAMBAR will be sponsoring the JAMBAR Coaches Hall of Fame Invitational at the Nike Track & Field Center in New York City's historic Armory indoor track facility. The company will be onsite for the December 21st event, engaging with coaches, runners, and handing out energy bars to participants. “The Armory is thrilled to have JAMBAR supporting our next track season. The brand has been such a pivotal partner over the past year and JAMBAR organic energy bars are the perfect nutritious snack for our athletes, coaches and spectators,” shared Rita Finkel, co-president of The Armory Foundation.
Each season, The Armory produces the Millrose Games, hosting more 100 track and field meets, and is visited by over 300,000 guests. This year, JAMBAR joins Nike, Columbia University, Irving Medical Center, and KPMG as an official sponsor of the 2024-2025 season. “It’s great to be in partnership with JAMBAR once again for this upcoming indoor season,” shared Jonathan Schindel, co-president of The Armory Foundation. “They are a wonderful partner and have a terrific product for the thousands of athletes of all levels that visit The Armory and will have a huge impact at this year’s JAMBAR Coaches Hall of Fame Invitational on Dec. 21.”
PLMA Declares Store Brands Month
Non-profit trade organization, The Private Label Manufacturers Association, has declared January 2025 as the inaugural Store Brands Month. The direct-to-consumer program will run the entire month and is the result of a partnership between retailers and manufacturers with the goal of increasing consumer trial of store brands by focusing on their positives like quality, digital convenience, ethical considerations, innovation, and value. “Store Brands Month provides an amazing opportunity to elevate the conversation around store brands and encourage more shoppers to explore these valuable options,” explained Pam Ofri, Wakefern Food Corp.’s Director of Product Development and Operations, Own Brands.
With annual sales of store brands having grown by 41% over the last five years, many large national retailers have expressed their approval for the new initiative. “By coming together with our partners during a month-long campaign, we have an opportunity to further expand the presence and strength of the largest CPG brand in the store: private brands," shared PLMA President, Peggy Davies.
Arrabina Receives NutraStrong Certification
Arrabina prebiotic dietary fibers are now NutraStrong Prebiotic Verified. COMET'S proprietary gut health ingredient is an FDA recognized, gluten-free dietary wheat fiber extract made from a natural blend of prebiotics that include arabinoxylans, lignin and polyphenols delivering sustainability, health, and versatility across product formats. "COMET stands for legitimacy in the market and for us, that means continued investment in ongoing research and third-party review that validates the efficacy of our prebiotic ingredients. NutraStrong Prebiotic Verified underscores why Arrabina is an ideal choice for functional foods, beverages, and supplements."
The NutraStrong product certification program classifies products with relevant and specific standards for each product category across the industry. Their prebiotic verification process consists of verified testing standards, Good Manufacturing Quality (GMP), Labeling regulatory compliance, and verification of corporate stewardship. By receiving Prebiotic Verified status, COMET confirms its brand quality and transparency amongst consumers.
Kerry Group Enters Agreement to Sell Kerry Dairy Holdings
Kerry Group plc has agreed to sell Kerry Dairy Holdings (Ireland) Limited to Kerry Co-Operative Creameries Limited (the "Co-Op") for 500 million Euros. The sale will include cheese, cheese snacks, dairy snacks, and dairy spreads from the company's Dairy Consumer Products and Dairy Ingredients business, which provides Irish dairy ingredients including functional dairy proteins, nutritional dairy bases and cheese systems, as well as the provision of related agribusiness products and services.
Chief Executive Officer of Kerry Group, Edmond Scanlon, spoke on importance of the deal: "The proposed transaction represents a significant step in Kerry’s 50 year journey. Our strategy of continuous business development and portfolio evolution aligned to our customers has been a key underpin of Kerry’s success over the years. The proposed transaction will result in a global leader in taste & nutrition solutions and an end-to-end industry leader in dairy. Both businesses are perfectly positioned for success, thanks to the dedication and extraordinary contribution of our people over the years. On completion, Kerry will become a pure play global business to business taste & nutrition company, with sustainable nutrition at its core, while also supporting our financial objectives of continued market outperformance, strong margin progression, and delivering greater returns for our shareholders.”
Details of the transaction: the Co-Op will initially acquire a 70% interest in Kerry Dairy Ireland (the “Phase 1 Transaction”), while Kerry will retain a 30% interest. Both parties have agreed to certain call-put option arrangements which will transfer the remaining 30% in Kerry Dairy Ireland to the Co-Op in the forthcoming years (the “Phase 2 Transaction”). Find more details regarding the acquisition on Kerry Group's website.
Consumers Approve Balchem's Winning Health Formula
New consumer research is showing strong purchase interest in Balchem's Vital Trio Concept, the company reported. The key finding: 74% of participants stated that the 3-in-1 formula, which combines K2VITAL DELTA and Albion Minerals chelated magnesium bisglycinate and vitamin D3 for immune, cardiovascular and bone health, addresses unmet needs by providing a convenient way to promote holistic wellbeing.
“Magnesium is the fastest growing mineral in U.S. retail, gaining attention and popularity for its sleep, relaxation and mood-boosting benefits. At the same time, demand for vitamin D continues to grow steadily, especially during the winter seasons. The challenge is the sensitive nature of vitamin K2 can present stability issues when combining it with minerals. But thanks to K2VITAL DELTA’s advanced and patented microencapsulation technology, which offers enhanced stability and bioavailability in all environments, the Vital Trio successfully overcomes this problem," shared Thies Ripcke, Director Business Development and Strategic Marketing, K2VITAL, Balchem Human Nutrition and Health.
The first consumer feedback survey was conduct in North America in December 2023. This year, the company surveyed 841 health-conscious participants between the ages of 25-55 in Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom who had purchased vitamins, minerals or supplements in the previous six months. The latest survey revealed:
- Purchase interest reached 78%, matching the control concepts, while the Vital Trio scored higher than control for uniqueness (59% versus 48%) and perceived health benefits (72% versus 67%).
- Consumer sentiment was very positive, with 74% of respondents stating that Vital Trio addresses unmet needs.
- Over 50% of participants expressed an inclination to pay a premium for its high quality.
- 85% also appreciated its benefits for bone, heart and immune health.
SunOpta Shares Q3 Results
SunOpta Inc. has published the financial results of its third quarter fiscal 2024 which ended on September 28, 2024. The reports highlights include:
- Revenues increased 15.5% to $176.2 million compared to $152.5 million in the year earlier period, driven by 20.6% volume growth partially offset by a 2.8% price reduction for pass-through commodity pricing
- Gross profit increased 16.4% to $23.6 million compared to $20.3 million in the prior year period
- Loss from continuing operations was $5.5 million compared to a loss of $5.7 million in the prior year period
- Adjusted earnings¹ from continuing operations was $2.5 million compared to $0.5 million in the prior year period
- Adjusted EBITDA¹ from continuing operations increased 12.6% to $21.5 million, compared to $19.1 million in the prior year period.
Chief Executive Officer Brian Kocher reflected on the company's growth: "Volume again drove our revenue growth reflecting the strength of our competitive position. Our growth remains broad based across our customers, channels and product portfolio and we continue to have a substantial pipeline of new business opportunities. We continue to make short-term investments in our supply chain to support our growth and implement processes and controls. Those productivity initiatives are gaining traction and creating a long runway for significant future incremental capacity within our existing asset base which will drive sustainable gross margin expansion. We remain confident in the direction of our business and steadfast in our focus on driving increasing returns on our invested capital and generating long-term value for shareholders.”
Demand Increases for Naturally Derived Sugar Alternatives
Seven out of 10 consumers of non-caloric, naturally derived sweeteners reported an interest in new options. This is according to new research commissioned by food and beverage ingredient creator, MycoTechnology, Inc. In collaboration with Brightfield Group, the recent U.S. adult consumer research report examined consumers attitudes towards sugar reduction and high-intensity sweeteners finding:
- Sugar reduction ranked highest amongst consumers diet goals
- 75% of consumers would prefer better-tasting non-caloric options
- 71% of participants reported they actively reduce their sugar intake by eating fewer sweet foods
- 31% say they use products with non-caloric sweeteners
- There is a widespread interest in clean label ingredients, combined with negative perceptions of artificial sweeteners
“This research demonstrates clear demand in the market for new, appealing sweeteners that are derived from nature,” said Caroline Schwarzman, MycoTechnology’s Head of Business Development. “Sugar reduction is top of mind for consumers, but many feel that achieving this goal requires sacrifice—on taste, price or perceived health risks. This trade-off is preventing the reduced sugar market from reaching its full potential.”
Schwarzman and the MycoTechnology team will be presenting all of the findings from their research report when they host an upcoming workshop at BevNET Live on December 9 in Marina del Rey, California. Attendees will also have an exclusive tasting of the company's new Honey Truffle Sweetener, the first ever sweet protein from honey truffles offering a unique solution for sugar reduction.
Baker Dillon Group Enters Affiliation Agreement
California-based nutraceutical brand marketing firm, Baker Dillon Group, has entered into an affiliation agreement with PTG, Inc. Consulting. The Tokyo, Japan-based firm will work with Baker Dillon and provide small- and medium-sized Japanese health and food companies with brand marketing, advertising, public relations consultation, and regulatory guidance as they look to enter and build recognition within the U.S. marketplace. Nori Shirai, PTG Executive Director, spoke on his personal history with Baker Dillon, "I've known Baker Dillon Group for many years as they represented my former company, Daiwa Health Development, in the U.S. They did an amazing job developing our brand strategy and introducing products to the supplement industry and health professional categories."
Better Balance Expands Footprint
Global plant-based food brand, Better Balance, is now the first plant-based partner of Los Angeles' Crypto.com Arena. This achievement highlights the company's mission of expanding its footprint across the United States with new partnership and retail opportunities. Through AEG Global Partnerships, Better Balance was able to collaborate with the arena and introduce its Better Dog product to a wider audience. "Our expanded U.S. presence reflects our commitment to making delicious and nutritious plant-based options accessible in every day dining experiences,” said Ana Guerra, Head of U.S. for Better Balance. “As demand for Better Dog continues to grow, we’re excited to bring more consumers the plant-based quality, taste and experience they deserve, whether they’re cheering at a game or enjoying a meal at home.”
Next month the company will be partnering with East Coast fast-casual chain restaurant, PLNT Burger, to release a plant-based hot dog with over the top toppings. Fans of the Better Dog brand will also now be able to purchase their Better Dog Classic Pack from select Giant and Martin's grocery stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.
