Specialty Food Magazine is the leading publication for retailers, manufacturers and foodservice professionals in the specialty food trade. It provides news, trends and business-building insights that help readers keep their businesses competitive.
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/623506
& A look at the events, issues, and innovations shaping specialty food, plus industry news, trends, and more. trends happenings Edible Glassware This will make clean-up a breeze: Edible glassware, created by two Parsons School of Design graduates. You may have seen Loliware on television's "Shark Tank" in fall of 2015, when it landed a $600,000 investment from Mark Cuban and Barbara Corcoran. How did Loliware attract both sharks? The billion-dollar bioplastics industry is fore- casted to grow to $30.8 billion by 2020, according to Allied Market Research. Loliware products are 100-percent all natural, non-GMO, gelatin-free, gluten-free, plastic-free, BPA-free, non-toxic, and FDA approved, and are available in a variety of flavors: Yuzu Citrus, Tart Cherry, Matcha Green Tea, Vanilla Bean, and an unflavored clear. The con- tainers are made from seaweed, organic sweeteners, and flavors and colors derived from fruits and vegetables, and work with foods that range from room temperature to fro- zen. Tableware and packaging are in the works, as are one- ounce taster and foodservice size cups.—D.S. Beer with a Punch Mighty Squirrel, the first beer packed with up to five grams of pro- tein per serving, has been gaining in popularity since its debut last June. Founders Henry Manice and Naveen Pawar use whey to add protein, but Manice notes, "It's a unique whey that doesn't impact the taste or clarity of the beer, and the lactose has been removed." In conjunction with their recent expansion throughout Massachusetts, Manice and Pawar launched Mighty Squirrel Hopstonian, an India Pale Lager, which is joining Original, a Vienna lager, and Light, an American lager. In addition, each of Mighty Squirrel's six-packs, bottle labels, and tap handles prominently displays nutrition facts. "People welcome that we're transparent, which is basically non- existent in the beer industry today," Manice adds. While it grows its business, Mighty Squirrel is producing the beer at the von Trapp family's craft brewery in Vermont.—D.S. PHOTO: NOAH'S SPRING WATER IT'S ALL ABOUT TRUST, BABY Here's some good news for the small guys: Millennials are twice as likely as previous generations to not trust major food companies, with 43 percent reporting distrust versus only 18 percent of older adults, according to Mintel. Nearly three out of four millennials surveyed said they want food companies to be more transpar- ent about how they make their products. They're more inclined to make multiple trips to the grocery store instead of going once a week, and when they shop, they focus on freshness and buy less processed foods. They also are partial to products that are GMO-free, and consider animal welfare and antibiotic use before purchasing. Most importantly, 59 percent of millennials will stop buying a brand's products if they believe the company is unethical, while 58 percent agree that where you buy your groceries refects your personal values.—Denise Shoukas P H O T O : N O A H ' S S P R I N G W A T E R 14 ❘ SPECIALTY FOOD MAGAZINE specialtyfood.com