Xtalks Food Industry Podcast

Online Food Trade Shows and E-Commerce + Vegan Casein

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, food trade shows helped small and large businesses alike attract new buyers and customers. In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney talks about how food trade shows pivoted online during the ongoing pandemic and found success thanks to e-commerce. Since going digital, many food and beverage buyers have found it more convenient and saved money by attending online food trade shows. The team discusses whether the benefits of online trade shows outweigh the disadvantages and suggests that many people are still eager to get back to in-person industry events.Also, in this episode, Sydney introduces the team to vegan casein from plant-based ingredients manufacturer Fooditive Group. Casein is a naturally occurring protein found in milk that gives it its white color, flavor and creamy texture, and it is also responsible for giving cheese its meltable quality. Now, Fooditive created a vegan version of the protein that can be used for a variety of applications from milk to creams, yogurt and cheeses. The team wonders whether the casein can truly be considered vegan, but is excited to see the heights this innovative ingredient will reach in the coming the years.  Read the full articles here:How Online Food Trade Shows and E-Commerce Boosted the Food and Beverage IndustryIs Vegan Casein the Next Big Plant-Based Innovation?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

New Biodegradable, Antibacterial Food Packaging + Plantish Unveils Whole-Cut Plant-Based Salmon

A group of scientists recently unveiled a new type of food packaging that has the potential to prevent food and packaging waste. In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney talks about a new biodegradable, antibacterial food packaging made from a type of corn protein called zein, starch and other naturally-derived biopolymers. It also releases natural antimicrobial compounds that can kill common fungi such as E. Coli or Listeria. The team applauds the scientists for this innovative new food packaging and discusses how, if widely adopted, it could prevent consumers from improperly recycling food packaging while lengthening the freshness of foods. Also, in this episode, Sydney introduces the team to the world’s first whole-cut plant-based salmon filet from Israeli startup Plantish. The company claims that the analogue delivers the same taste, texture and nutritional profile as real salmon without harming any fish. It was also designed to mimic its fish counterpart in every way, including a flakey texture, fibrous structure and buttery mouthfeel. The team discusses whether they would try Plantish salmon and whether it has the potential to compete in the $50 billion salmon industry.Read the full articles here: Scientists Unveil Biodegradable, Antibacterial Food PackagingIsraeli Startup Plantish Debuts Whole-Cut Plant-Based Salmon FiletsFor 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

The History and Significance of Veganuary + Noodles & Company’s LEANguini

Veganuary, which combines the words “vegan” and “January,” is an annual challenge that encourages people to go vegan for the month. In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney talks about how the Veganuary movement got started in 2014 and how far it has come since then. She also discusses what some major food and beverage brands are doing for Veganuary 2022. The team discusses whether they would participate in the challenge and how difficult it could be depending on one’s access to vegan food.  Also, in this episode, Sydney introduces the team to a new better-for-you pasta called LEANguini. Introduced by fast-casual pasta chain Noodles & Company, LEANguini has far fewer carbs and far more protein than traditional wheat noodles, all while maintaining the same taste and appearance as traditional linguine. Noodles & Company created three signature dishes with the new pasta, and it can be substituted in any made-to-order dish. The team expresses their desire to try the better-for-you pasta, but wonders whether the $8 to $10 surcharge would discourage others from doing so. Read the full articles here: Veganuary 2022: History and Significance of the Vegan MovementNoodles & Company Debuts Low-Carb, High Protein LinguiniFor 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

Top 3 Food and Beverage Industry Predictions for 2022

As 2021 came to an end, many of the lessons learned and habits formed will continue to shape the food and beverage industry in the coming year. In the first episode of the Xtalks Food podcast in 2022, Sydney discusses the top three food and beverage trends to look out for this year. She spoke to a variety of food and beverage experts, including Nil Zacharias, CEO of Plantega and author of Eat for the Planet; Lara Ramdin, Chief Innovation Officer at Dole; and Carla King, senior marketing manager at Mary’s Gone Crackers, Inc., to hear their insights, expectations and predictionsThe predictions include getting back to the basics in the plant-based industry, upholding sustainability practices in all areas of the industry and managing continuous supply chain issues and inflation. The team gives their insights on these predictions, positing that they are all interconnected and largely driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. The team also looks forward to all the exciting food and beverage innovation to come in 2022.Read the full articles here: 3 Food and Beverage Industry Predictions for 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

Cambya Sugar Substitute + Tcho Chocolate Going Fully Plant-Based

An Israeli food tech startup called B.T. Sweet recently unveiled a plant-based, one-to-one drop-in sugar substitute called Cambya. In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney talks about Cambya’s potential to replace traditional sugar in a multitude of baking applications as well as its advantaged over other sugar substitutes. She discusses the sugar substitute market and the growing need for consumers to cut down on sugar intake. The team wonders about the science behind Cambya and whether sugar substitutes are healthier than traditional sugar.Also, in this episode, Mira talks about Tcho, one of the first chocolate companies to fully transition to plant-based ingredients. The California-based brand will introduce a new line of six chocolate bars and remove all products from its lineup that contain dairy by 2023. The company will also be adapting its packaging to be as environmentally friendly as possible. The team praises Tcho for the bold decision and wonders about its target audience and whether parents would place their children on a plant-based diet. Read the full articles here: Cambya Sugar Substitute Lets People Have Their Cake and Eat it TooTcho, One of The First Chocolate Companies to go Fully Plant-BasedFor 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

Flashfood Grocery App + Mooless Animal-Free Whey Protein

Would you take an extra step to browse through an app to save money on groceries and help cut down on food waste? In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney talks about Flashfood, an app that allows users to shop for soon-to-expire groceries at a discount and divert food waste from landfills. The startup has partnered with around 1,200 grocery stores across the US and Canada and has plans to expand next year. The team discusses why they value convenience over cost-saving, but applaud the app for helping put a dent in the growing food waste problem. Also, in this episode, Mira talks about Mooless, the first animal-free whey protein powder. It offers the same taste, texture and nutritional benefits of whey protein, just without the animal components. Mooless targets consumers who want a protein powder that elevates their wellness journey while meeting their environmental and health principles. The team discusses the growth of the animal-free food industry in the last few years and commends the company for fitting into a variety of markets, including the plant-based and whey protein categories.Read the full articles here: Flashfood App Helps Users Save on Groceries and Keep Food Out of LandfillsMooless: The Newest Animal-Free Whey Protein Competing in the MarketFor 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

Study Finds Food Solution to Climate Problem + Nowadays Plant-Based Chicken Nuggets

A new study from Stanford University suggests one greenhouse gas can be captured and transformed into feed for farmed fish. In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney talks about a recent study that unveils a cost-effective method of producing fishmeal from methane, a greenhouse gas emitted and flared from industrial sources across the US. The team wonders whether this sustainable solution can be used to produce other animal feeds and how farmed fish produced with this method will be marketed to consumers. Also, in this episode, Mira talks about Nowadays, a plant-based chicken nugget maker that found a way to reduce the number of ingredients and produce a healthier chicken nugget alternative. The GMO- and soy-free nuggets do not need to use any binders, thickeners or artificial ingredients and contain only seven, easy-to-pronounce ingredients. The team commends Nowadays for creating a healthier plant-based product than many of its alternatives and wonders whether the product will come down in price over time.Read the full articles here: New Stanford Study Finds a Food Solution to a Climate ProblemNowadays Brings Healthy Chicken Nuggets to The Plant-Based CategoryFor 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

Food Companies on TIME’s Best 100 Inventions List + Starbucks New Concept Store

Each year, TIME Magazine releases a list of its Best 100 Inventions, and this year, several food companies made the list. In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney talks about three food companies that TIME deemed innovations in their sectors. The list includes a new pasta shape called Cascatelli, a packet that absorbs moisture and keeps delivered foods from getting soggy called SAVRPak and a plant-based fish startup called Kuleana. The team wonders how a low-tech invention like a new pasta shape made the list and shares their thoughts on the future of food innovation.Also, in this episode, Mira talks about Starbucks’ new concept store in New York City that makes use of Amazon Go’s ‘Just Walk Out’ technology. Besides the easy check-out experience and reduced wait times, the coffee shop will offer modernized lounge seating, including individual workspaces, expanded tables, power outlets and USB ports. The team asks how the new concept store differs from other Starbucks locations with mobile ordering and wonders how Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology works.Read the full articles here: Here are the Food Companies that Made TIME’s Best 100 Inventions of 2021 ListNew Starbucks Concept Store Uses Amazon Go’s ‘Just Walk Out’ TechnologyFor 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

How Food Companies Obtain Consumer Data + Mariah Carey’s 12 Days of (McDonald’s) Christmas

Did you know that major food companies are using marketing tactics to obtain valuable consumer data? In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney explains how major food and beverage brands, including Mondelez, PepsiCo and McDonald’s, are obtaining first-party data from consumers through personalized offerings or limited-edition products available online. The team discuss whether consumers have become desensitized to giving away personal information and whether it is ethical for big food and beverage brands to use marketing tactics to obtain it, since they are relatively new to the e-commerce and DTC space.Also, in this episode, Mira talks about Mariah Carey McDonald’s collaboration that gives customers a different menu item for free each day from the Mariah Menu. The deal will be available in US McDonald’s restaurants between December 13th and 24th, the 12 days before Christmas. She also discusses Justin Beiber’s upcoming collaboration with Tim Hortons, and several other celebrity fast-food partnerships. The team wonder whether celebrities have a genuine connection to the brands they partner with, and why celebrity power is so strong in the fast-food world.Read the full articles here: These Big Food Brands Are Using Marketing Tactics to Gain First-Party DataAll Mariah Wants for Christmas is for Fans to Try the Mariah Menu at McDonald’sFor 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

The Rise of Food Delivery Robots + GTFO It’s Vegan’s Sashimi

Are food delivery robots just a trend, or do they have the potential to replace humans in the future? In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney discusses the slow and steady rise of food delivery robots, and how the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the demand for contactless delivery. She talks about their features, limitations and some of the companies that have ventured into the space. The team share their thoughts about whether they will replace humans and posit that the four-to-six wheeled robots are not just a passing trend. Also, in this episode, Mira talks about a new line of vegan sashimi from the online retailer, distributor and wholesaler, GTFO It’s Vegan. Available on the company’s website, the new line includes tuna, salmon, sailfish and calamari — just without the fish. While it is not the first vegan sashimi, the company says it has the most extensive line of offerings in the US market. The team wonder who the vegan sashimi’s target audience is and whether they would try it.Read the full articles here: How COVID-19 Gave Rise to Food Delivery RobotsGTFO It’s Vegan Introduces the Most Extensive Line of Vegan SashimiFor 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