Food Category Research From Nextin, New Funding for Brevel, and More Supplier News

RESEARCH

New Food Category Research From Nextin

Nextin Research, MarketPlace’s proprietary research storefront, has unveiled the results of its Food Category Trends research report, which features data from its survey of 1,235 U.S. consumers. With the aim of connecting the dots between consumer insights and market dynamics to help industry professionals forecast trends and innovate for emerging market opportunities, the research investigates consumer behaviors, preferences, motivations, and unmet needs to identify trends in packaged foods. These insights are applied in innovation, investment, and executive decisions that shape the trajectory of food brands.

For example, 50% of surveyed consumers say they want higher protein in snacks, and the most common protein sources they look for in snacks are chicken, beef, and almonds. In addition to the types of ingredients consumers want, the research also covers the media channels different types of consumers turn to for food information. For example, those aged 18–29 are most likely to get food information from TikTok, and those who are participating in a weight management program or using a GLP-1 are more likely to turn to recipe websites and apps or YouTube.

Nextin is currently conducting research on beverage trends, ultra-processed foods, the influence of ingredients, pet nutrition, and more.

NEW PRODUCTS

In response to rising demand for high-quality protein ingredients, French biotech company Verley has released FermWhey, the world’s first portfolio of functionalized precision fermentation dairy proteins. Unlike traditional dairy proteins, Verley’s patented technology creates stable, highly digestible proteins with superior nutrition, including 11% more leucine than native whey.

By enhancing stability, digestibility, and processing performance, Verley’s technology solves one of the biggest challenges in the food industry: producing dairy proteins that combine high nutritional value with superior taste, texture, and an emphasis on sustainability.

In an effort to transform cheese production, dsm-firmenich introduced MaxirenEVO, a revolutionary coagulant enzyme for enhanced cheese texture, taste, yield, and functionality. Engineered with cutting-edge fermentation technology, MaxirenEVO enhances cheese meltability and also delivers better texture and flavor development, improved yields, and increased processing flexibility. It stimulates flavor formation, contributing to a clean, robust cheese flavor without bitterness. In addition to optimizing cheese quality, MaxirenEVO offers tangible environmental and economic advantages. By increasing moisture retention by up to 1.7%, cheesemakers can produce more cheese from the same amount of milk.

Isobionics, a biotechnology brand of BASF Aroma Ingredients, recently launched two new natural ingredients for the flavor market. Isobionics Natural beta-Sinensal 20 and Isobionics Natural alpha-Humulene 90 are produced using an innovative cutting-edge fermentation process, making them a novelty in the flavor industry.

Isobionics Natural beta-Sinensal 20 has a citrus peel taste and odor with marine and algae notes. It adds juiciness and freshness to any fruit flavor from mango to berry, including all citrus flavors, and shows potent effects in savory formulations such as fish, meat, and tomato flavors. Isobionics Natural alpha-Humulene 90 has a woody cedar, herbal taste and odor. With very high purity, this flavor ingredient is suitable for nonalcoholic and alcoholic beverages—especially for mango, raspberry, mint, and citrus flavors.

As the functional energy beverage market continues its popularity, Imbibe, a leading flavor supplier, introduces NonSense BP-1, a groundbreaking bitter masker specifically designed for highly functional beverages. NonSense BP-1 helps beverage makers to mask the bitter tastes of the energy boosts consumers want. For example, this single ingredient may replace multiple masking agents used previously, simplifying formulation and reducing complexity. Specifically developed for highly caffeinated products with functional attributes, such as energy shots, NonSense BP-1 effectively masks the bitterness of caffeine and other functional ingredients, particularly at high concentrations (up to 300 mg to 400 mg of caffeine per 16 oz serving).

Puratein C has joined with the family of sunflower, pea, hemp, and other plant proteins available from Burcon. Puratein C is a high-purity canola protein isolate that offers a combination of functional, nutritional, and sensory properties. It has high solubility across a broad pH range and the ability to form heat-set gels as well as foam forming and foam stability functionalities. Puratein C has a minimum 90% protein content that contains all essential amino acids, has a PDCAAS score of 1, and offers a mild taste with sweet notes, neutral odor, and a light color. Applications include meat analogues, dairy alternatives, baked goods, nutritional beverages, bars, and meal replacement products.

Nutrition21 recently launched EverZen, a new functional ingredient containing 6-MBOA bioactive, which offers supplement manufacturers a one-of-a-kind alternative to stress-relieving ingredients like ashwagandha. This premium, patent-pending ingredient contains a naturally occurring and potent bioactive and has been clinically shown to promote a positive mood and healthy response to occasional stress, and works through a dual-action approach to ease the mind and balance the body.

6-MBOA is a naturally occurring metabolite found in select plants, which protects them from common environmental stressors like insects, fungi, and bacteria as they grow. In humans, this bioactive may offer similar protective benefits by promoting a healthy stress response and playing a role in supporting a calm and positive mood.

INDUSTRY UPDATE

Climate food-tech company Brevel secured more than $5 million in a seed round of funding, bringing the total investment in the round to $25 million. As a microalgae protein innovator, Brevel will use the funds to accelerate its go-to-market strategy and develop microalgae proteins for multiple food and beverage applications.

The expansion of funding is the result of current investors’ decisions to increase their stakes in the company, as well as multiple new investors.

“Our investors chose to reinvest, based on Brevel’s impressive progress following the last round,” explains Yonatan Golan, cofounder and CEO of Brevel. ”We are dedicated to delivering nutritious protein that can replace animal protein in formulations. Our vision as a climate food-tech startup is to reduce the carbon footprint to a minimum by developing affordable, flavor-neutral flavored and functional microalgae protein at global scales for consumers. It ticks all the boxes: It’s good for the people, good for our customers, and good for the planet.”

Sustainable food packaging pioneer W-Cycle is deepening its alliance with Melhoramentos to answer demand for plastic-free, compostable food containers through its breakthrough packaging formula. Melhoramentos, a publicly traded Brazilian company with activities spanning publishing, renewable forestry, and real estate, has injected fresh investment into W-cycle, propelling itself into the realm of eco-responsible packaging development.

In late 2024, the two entities sealed a $3.4 million strategic partnership to supply Melhoramentos with W-Cycle’s proprietary food-grade packaging composition, with exclusive rights to serve the Latin American market. Together, the two organizations aim to improve the global food packaging value chain to advance sustainability. The fresh financial support provides W-Cycle with significant R&D leverage and acceleration into large-scale commercial deployment with multi-million-dollar revenue.

In April, flavor and fragrance supplier MANE opened its new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Woodlawn, Ohio. The new plant is an expansion of the company’s existing Woodlawn campus and increases MANE’s manufacturing capacity, ensuring a reliable supply of sustainably sourced liquid flavors for various markets, including beverages, dairy, functional nutrition, pharmaceuticals, bakery, and confectionery.

The company invested more than $100 million in the new facility, making it one of MANE’s most significant global initiatives. The new plant will support MANE’s growth ambitions for the next 20 years, allowing the company to meet the rising demand for liquid flavors while ensuring a steady supply of high-quality products for the North American market.

The new 100,000-square-foot plant offers up to 15,000 metric tons of production capability, five times the current capacity. It features an expanded warehouse, with 60,000 square feet for increased ambient, refrigerated, and frozen storage and 25,000 square feet dedicated to production.

Applied Food Sciences has earned the Sello Chakra (Chakra Seal), a certification from the Amazonian Kichwa communities of Ecuador, in recognition of its integral role in sourcing raw material for its guayusa extract. Guayusa is a caffeine-containing holly species native only to the upper Amazon basin of Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru. Applied Food Sciences supplies guayusa to the natural products industry with its patented, organic extract, AmaTea Max. The certification reflects Applied Food Sciences’ commitment to ethical and responsible ingredient sourcing, which includes sustainable growing, socially responsible sourcing, and full traceability.

Bioriginal Food & Science has reintroduced Cyvex Nutrition as a member of the Bioriginal Group of Companies. Originally founded in 1984, Cyvex Nutrition was once a leading provider of proprietary, condition-specific ingredients powered by nature and backed by science. With a legacy of innovation and excellence, Cyvex will now serve as Bioriginal’s exclusive manufacturer and distributor of nutraceutical ingredients and compounds, strengthening the company’s focus in this high-growth segment.

GNT Group has passed the halfway mark in its mission to reduce carbon intensity at its EXBERRY color factories by 50% by 2030. GNT cut carbon emissions at its production sites in the Netherlands, Germany, and the United States by 26% between 2020 and 2024. The company continues to make strides toward many of its sustainability targets for this decade.

In partnership with Florida Polytechnic University, IFF has opened the Citrus Innovation Center in Lakeland, Fla. The 30,000-square-foot facility includes state-of-the-art capabilities in botanical research, informed by IFF’s natural ingredients expertise, as well as capabilities in processing, analytics, and product creation. It also features a 360-degree digital immersion room.

The Citrus Innovation Center will focus on applications in food and beverage, fine fragrance, body care, and
fabric and home care. With the cutting-edge technologies available, IFF customers will access rapid product development, explore innovative citrus applications, and conduct advanced product testing. The facility is designed to foster collaborative innovation partnerships and offers direct access to industry-leading experts,
academics, and on-site prototyping capabilities.ft

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