Xtalks Food Industry Podcast

FDA’s New Food Traceability Rule + Potential Food IPOs in 2022

A strict new food traceability rule is set to become official on November 7, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), that will make it easier to trace foods that are often linked to foodborne illnesses. In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney talks about which foods are considered high risk, the details of the new rule and the barcoding technology required to follow it. To make foods safer, the rule requires a detailed account of food origins and movements throughout production, processing and shipping, even as these foods are transformed into other food products or as other foods are added to them. The team wonder whether food producers still use old-fashioned paper-and-pencil methods of record keeping and whether this rule will be effective in preventing foodborne illness outbreaks. Also, in this episode, Sydney talks about some potential initial public offerings (IPOs) from food and beverage companies. While there have been far fewer IPOs this year compared to last year, several private food and beverage companies have been prepping to go public, and some may still do so in the second half of this year. She discusses three potential food IPOs, including Impossible Foods, Instacart and Chobani, as well as how some of last year’s food IPOs have been performing. All three companies have delayed their IPOs due to market volatility, inflation and/or rising interest rates, but hope to become public by the end of the year or the beginning of next year. The team wonder whether Instacart has passed its pandemic peak and discuss the risks of going public versus remaining private. Read the full articles here:Here’s How the FDA is Making it Easier to Trace FoodsPotential Food IPOs to Look Out For in 2022For more food and beverage industry content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage.Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: @XtalksFood Instagram: @Xtalks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

FIJI Water Shifts to Recyclable Bottles + What you Need to Know About Cell-Based Chocolate

FIJI Water bottles, which feature an iconic square shape and vibrant branding, are now made from 100 percent recycled plastic and are also fully recyclable. In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney talks about FIJI’s 100 percent recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) bottles that replaced its virgin rPET 500-milliliter and 330-milliliter bottles throughout the US. However, the water business in Fiji has brought some dissent. While the export of mineral water added more than $100 million to Fiji’s economy, the company churns out bottles of water in a country where citizens don’t have access to drinking water. The team wonders whether bottled water will ever become a thing of the past and commends FIJI for making the switch.Also, in this episode, Sydney talks about cell-based chocolate, which is made by growing cells in a similar way to cultured meat and seafood. To make cell-based chocolate, cells must be sampled through cocoa beans that are selected for their taste, smell, melt and performance. A part of the bean is incubated at a certain temperature in a completely dark environment. After several weeks in bioreactor tanks, the cocoa cells ferment and achieve a rich flavor, resulting in cell-cultured cocoa nibs. Several companies, including California Cultured and Fazer, have already entered the cell-based chocolate space, but they are far from commercialization. The team discuss whether they would try cell-based chocolate and whether consumer reception would be positive. Read the full articles here:Fiji Water Bottles are Now Made From 100 Percent Recycled PlasticIs Cell-Based Chocolate the Next Big Food Trend?For more food and beverage industry content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage.Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: @XtalksFood Instagram: @Xtalks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

What you Need to Know About Food Clinical Trials + Why Babybels Are Wrapped in Wax

Clinical trials are the primary way that researchers find out if a new drug or medical device is safe and effective in humans, so why don’t food and beverage products that make specific health claims go through the same process? In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney talks about the burgeoning food clinical trial space, which tend to be more pragmatic and exploratory since they document human experiences with specific foods in the context of the human diet. Food clinical trials are often designed to evaluate specific marketing claims needing scientific substantiation, which increase trust among consumers as well as market value. The team wonder how long food clinical trials have been around for and are looking forward to seeing the space grow.Also, in this episode, Sydney talks about why Babybel cheese, among other food products, are wrapped in wax. Second to its cheese, Babybel is known for its packaging, consisting of a netted bag in which each piece of cheese is encased in a colored natural paraffin wax skin. However, this red coating isn’t unique to Babybel cheese. Coating cheese using food-grade wax is often a method used on other hard and semi-hard cheeses that only need a few months to age. Wax can also be found on fruit snacks, Skittles, M&Ms, fruits and vegetables to keep them looking and tasting fresh. The team is surprised to hear that wax is used for more than just cheese and wonder whether Babybel wax can be recycled or composted. Read the full articles here:What are Food Clinical Trials and What Purpose do They Serve?Why Babybel Cheese and Other Food Products are Wrapped in WaxFor more food and beverage industry content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage.Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: @XtalksFood Instagram: @Xtalks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

New Palm Oil Alternative + Monster Enters Alcohol with Beast Unleashed

Clean Food Group, a food tech company based in the UK, plans to commercialize a yeast-based palm oil alternative that could reduce global deforestation. In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney talks about a palm oil alternative that uses fermentation technology to grow yeast in tanks while using lignocellulosic waste as a feedstock and renewable energy as an energy source. The sustainable alternative can be used in all products that currently require palm oil and may also reach price parity with conventional palm oil. The team wonders why palm oil is so ubiquitous in food production and discuss why a multi-faceted approach is needed to address all the negative environmental impacts of palm oil production.Also, in this episode, Sydney talks about Monster Energy’s entrance into the alcoholic beverage category with Beast Unleashed. It will be the energy drink brand’s first new alcoholic beverage since the beverage maker acquired CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective for $330 million in early 2022. Beast Unleashed will also be the first time Monster has leveraged its namesake brand in the alcohol space. Since alcohol remains a small but growing segment for Monster Beverage, the company has been exploring other avenues for growth, including releasing a 100 percent vegan energy drink and a zero-sugar beverage. The team wonders whether Monster will find success in alcohol in such a crowded market and whether the branding will confuse consumers. Read the full articles here:New Palm Oil Alternative Receives $2.2 Million InvestmentBeast Unleashed: Monster Energy’s Long-Awaited Alcoholic BeverageFor more food and beverage industry content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage.Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: @XtalksFood Instagram: @Xtalks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

What You Need to Know About Pink Sauce + Fastest Growing Beverage Companies in 2022

Pink Sauce, a product created and marketed by a woman who goes by Chef Pii on TikTok, has gone viral for all the wrong reasons. In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney talks about the social media-based food scandal, from Pink Sauce’s ingredients to packaging and marketing. Concerns arose when TikTok users noticed an inconsistency in the product’s color and many reviewers had trouble placing the exact flavor. In addition to several label misprints and an impossible number of servings per bottle, several customers said they received leaking bottles of rotten-smelling sauce in the mail. The team discuss why it shouldn’t be so easy to start a food business, using Pink Sauce as an example, and wonder why food is not as heavily regulated by the FDA as drugs.Also, in this episode, Sydney gives a list of the top five fastest growing beverage companies in 2022. The first two, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, come as no surprise, with PepsiCo’s growth partly attributed to its diversification into food and snacks and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar being the fastest-growing soft drink in the US. Third and fourth on the list were Monster Beverage and Celsius Holdings, two energy drink brands. While Monster Energy generated about $3.24 billion in sales in 2021, Celsius Holdings’ sales jumped over 1,000 percent last year on the back of breakout growth. Finally, the list of fastest growing beverage companies would be incomplete without an alcoholic beverage maker, Boston Beer Company. The team talk about the important role of startups and all the innovation they have brought to the beverage industry. Read the full articles here:Pink Sauce: Everything You Need to Know About TikTok’s Controversial CondimentTop Five Fastest Growing Beverage Companies in 2022For more food and beverage industry content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage.Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: @XtalksFood Instagram: @Xtalks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

What is Quark Cheese? + Is Probiotic Soda Actually Healthy?

Quark cheese is a high-protein, low-fat alternative to soft cheese and yogurt that can be used for baking, cooking and blending. In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney talks about quark, which traces back to the 14th century where it was popular throughout Europe, and still is to this day. She clarifies that it is in fact classified as a cheese, although it features a super-thick consistency, which is a cross between cottage cheese and Greek yogurt. Quark cheese is multifaceted in the kitchen and is very popular countries like Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, but it is rare in the US, with only a handful of dairies producing the cheese. The team wonder why they had never heard of this cheese before and whether it has the potential to become more popular among US consumers. Also, in this episode, Sydney discusses the probiotic soda trend and whether these beverages are actually healthy. Simply put, probiotic sodas are carbonated drinks that contain one or more probiotic ingredient(s). Some research shows that probiotics can help maintain a balanced gut microbiome, which supports gastrointestinal health and function. While probiotics can be found in fermented foods, dietary supplements and beauty products, sodas containing probiotics are increasing in popularity. Some companies in the probiotic soda space include Culture Pop, Live and Loop, which uses produce that would otherwise be discarded and gives it a second life in its sodas and other products. The team critically analyze whether probiotics are effective in maintaining gut health and what claims companies can make when advertising probiotic sodas. Read the full articles here:What is Quark Cheese and Why is it Rare to Find in the US?Is Probiotic Soda Actually Healthy and Which Companies Produce It?For more food and beverage industry content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage.Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: @XtalksFood Instagram: @Xtalks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

Interview with Co-Founder of Swoon Cristina Ros Blankfein

This episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast features an interview with Cristina Ros Blankfein, the co-founder of the zero-sugar, low-calorie beverage company, Swoon. Hear about how the brand was conceptualized, its line of lemonades and iced teas, the R&D process and the ingredients that make Swoon zero-sugar. She discusses the importance of having a social media presence in today’s marketing world as well as an exciting collaboration with influencer Emma Chamberlain. Hear about Ros Blankfein’s day-to-day schedule as a co-founder and some advice she has for aspiring food business owners. Prior to Swoon, she was a co-founder and board member at Circle of Women, a student-run non-profit that builds schools for girls.Read the related story here:Six Women-Owned Food Brands to Support Beyond International Women’s Day 2022 For more food and beverage industry content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage.Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: @XtalksFood Instagram: @Xtalks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

Interview with Co-Founder of Beckon Ice Cream Gwen Burlingame

This episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast features an interview with Gwen Burlingame, the co-founder of premium lactose-free ice cream brand Beckon Ice Cream. Hear about how the brand was conceptualized, its start at a Boston farmers market, the R&D process and the ingredients that make Beckon a premium lactose-free ice cream. She discusses the challenges she and co-founder Katy Flannery encountered throughout the COVID-19 pandemic as well as what it means to run a women-owned business. Hear about Burlingame’s day-to-day schedule as a co-founder and some advice she has for aspiring food business owners. Prior to Beckon, Burlingame held roles at L’Oreal USA and Kiehl’s Since 1851 in e-commerce, digital strategy, global brand marketing and product portfolio management.Read the related story here:Six Women-Owned Food Brands to Support Beyond International Women’s Day 2022 For more food and beverage industry content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage.Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: @XtalksFood Instagram: @Xtalks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

Little Leaf Farms Raises $300 Million + Whole Foods’ Best Condiments List

Little Leaf Farms recently secured $300 million in capital investment to help the hydroponic lettuce company further expand its operations. In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney talks about Little Leaf Farms’ use of advanced greenhouse technologies, including data analytics and hands-free automated grow systems, as well as its plans to open a new hydroponic greenhouse on 180 acres in Pennsylvania. She also discusses how hydroponic growers like Little Leaf Farms are helping to reduce the global lettuce shortage, which began in 2020 when California lettuce growers faced hotter-than-average temperatures and crop diseases. The team wonders whether lettuce grown with hydroponics will ever replace traditionally grown produce, but commend the technology for enhancing food security despite weather conditions and supply chain disruptions. Also, in this episode, Sydney discusses the best condiments according to the Whole Foods Market Trends Council. With the condiment, marinade and dressing category expected to hit $2.9 billion by 2024 according to a Mintel report, the Council noted that consumer desire to experiment will support the sales growth. She talks about the five best condiments that made the list, including BBQ sauce, hot chili sauce, ketchup and mustard, fermented condiments and ranch, and provides examples of products on store shelves that represent these trends. The team is surprised by how many different varieties of condiments are on the market, but praise the Whole Foods Market Trends Council for including condiments from all over the world.Read the full articles here:Hydroponic Lettuce Grower Little Leaf Farms Raises $300 MillionThese are the Best Condiments According to Whole Foods Market Trends CouncilFor more food and beverage industry content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage.Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: @XtalksFood Instagram: @Xtalks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured

New Jack and Coke in a Can + Mars’ Animal-Free, Planet-Friendly Chocolate Bar

The Coca-Cola Company and Jack Daniel’s recently announced that they plan to start selling a ready-to-drink (RTD) Jack and Coke in a can. In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney talks about the new product launch, which marks the fourth new alcoholic drink in Coke’s portfolio in less than two years, but the first pairing for its namesake soda. The launch of the Jack and Coke comes amid strong global sales of RTD alcoholic beverages, including hard seltzers like White Claw. Brown-Forman, the owner of Jack Daniel’s has been making RTD cocktails since 1994, Coca-Cola has been slower to add alcoholic drinks to its portfolio of 200 brands. The team wonders whether the new RTD beverage will replace the classic bar cocktail and why this partnership didn’t happen sooner. Also, in this episode, Sydney introduces the team to CO2COA, an animal-free, lactose-free and earth-friendly chocolate bar from Mars. Partnering with Perfect Day to swap regular milk for animal-free dairy, CO2COA promises to deliver the same taste and texture of traditional chocolate, but without the downsides of factory farming cattle. As for the name, CO2COA is meant to invoke the fact that Mars reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (CO2) when sourcing ingredients. While CO2COA is not Mars’ first venture into vegan chocolate, it is the first to rely on animal-free protein. The team wonders whether Mars should have released vegan versions of its popular chocolate bars or whether CO2COA was a good way to trial its animal-free chocolate. Read the full articles here:A Jack and Coke Canned Cocktail is Entering the Ready-to-Drink Alcoholic Beverage MarketCO2COA is Mars’ Latest Animal-Free, Planet-Friendly Chocolate BarFor more food and beverage industry content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage.Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: @XtalksFood Instagram: @Xtalks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xtalks.Webinars/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtalks-webconferences YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/XtalksWebinars/featured