Greenleaf Foods Inks Deal with Whole Foods Market to Become Exclusive Plant-Based Chicken Provider 

Greenleaf Foods, SPC, owner of Lightlife® and Field Roast™, is now the exclusive un-breaded, plant-based chicken provider for all Whole Foods Market prepared foods departments across North America. Whole Foods Market will be the first national retailer to offer Lightlife’s newest plant-based chicken product—an un-breaded, whole-muscle, plant-based chicken made from pea protein that’s versatile for a variety of recipes—at over 500 prepared foods departments in the United States and Canada...

Amazon Prime Members will Soon Pay Fee for All Whole Foods Deliveries

Amazon is phasing out free deliveries from Whole Foods Market for Amazon Prime members.

Free online deliveries from Whole Foods are coming to an end for members of the Amazon Prime paid loyalty program.

Starting Monday, Oct. 25, 2021, all online delivery orders placed through the Amazon Prime membership service will carry a $9.95 delivery fee. Amazon Prime members, who up until now received free delivery for Whole Foods orders over $35, have been paying the fee in the for Whole Foods delivery orders in the...

Whole Foods Market Releases First-Ever Plant-Based Trend Predictions

Whole Foods Market revealed its first-ever plant-based trend predictions, with nut-based cheese alternatives, banana blossoms and creamy cashew dips topping the list. Looking ahead to summer and beyond, the grocer’s Trends Council pooled members’ industry knowledge, product-sourcing expertise and hands-on work with emerging and existing plant-forward brands to inform the predictions.

The choice to highlight plant-based predictions comes at a time when shoppers are focusing on eating more plants. According to a recent study by The Hartman Group, nearly half (48%) of consumers look for products labeled as...

Sweet Earth Foods Launches New Plant-Based Products for Grilling Season 

Plant-based foods innovator Sweet Earth Foods is announcing the release of their first ever Vegan Jumbo Hot Dogs and the reformulation of the Sweet Earth Awesome Burger 2.0 just in time for the kick off of grilling season.

The new Vegan Jumbo Hot Dogs are available now at select Ahold grocery stores in the U.S., including FreshDirect, with greater availability at Kroger stores in August. The new Awesome Burger 2.0 will be available nationally this summer at Target, Whole Foods, H-E-B, Sprouts, Amazon Fresh, and more...

Amazon Expands In-Garage Grocery Delivery to Prime Members

Amazon announced that Key by Amazon In-Garage Grocery Delivery is expanding to everywhere grocery delivery from Amazon is available, providing service to more than 5,000 U.S. cities and towns. Originally launched in five cities last November, Key In-Garage Grocery Delivery can now be used by millions of eligible Prime members to have their Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market groceries delivered securely and conveniently inside their garage.

Customers Seek Convenience

Customers relied on online grocery delivery services as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s clear they’ll continue to use grocery delivery because of the convenience it provides. In a recent survey by Morning Consult commissioned by Amazon, nearly 70% of Americans report that grocery delivery is...

Dr. Praeger’s Launches New Cauliflower Veggie Burger

Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods has announced the latest addition to their famous line of veggie burgers – the Cauliflower Veggie Burger.

The Cauliflower Veggie Burger contains six different vegetables including cauliflower, zucchini and peas, and offers 9g of protein per serving. The new burgers are non-GMO, certified gluten-free, vegan, kosher and soy free.

In their continued mission to support local and sustainable agriculture, Dr. Praeger’s is donating a percentage of sales of the Cauliflower Burger to Farmers Against Hunger. Since 1996, Farmers Against Hunger has been...

Greenleaf Foods Expands Field Roast and Lightlife Plant-Based Products at Whole Foods Market Stores

Greenleaf Foods, SPC, owner of leading plant-based brands Lightlife and Field Roast, announced that it is significantly expanding its distribution at Whole Foods Market stores to meet increasing consumer demand for plant-based protein. Whole Foods Market will be the first retailer to sell the Field Roast Signature Stadium Dog and will expand its Lightlife offerings to include Lightlife Plant-Based Italian Sausages and Plant-Based Breakfast Patties in all regions nationwide.

“Whole Foods is known for its commitment to quality, wellness and sustainability, which closely aligns with our portfolio, so we’re incredibly excited and proud to...

Plant-Based Food Sales Surpass $7 Billion, Sales Up 27% in 2020

According to the Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA), U.S. retail sales of plant-based foods continued to increase by double digits in 2020, growing 27% and bringing the total market value to $7 billion. This sales growth was consistent across the country, with more than 25% growth in every U.S. census region.

In the past two years, plant-based food sales have grown 43%, which is nine times faster than total food sales. In 2020, about 57% of all U.S. households purchased plant-based foods, up from 53% in 2019 totaling 71 million households.

PBFA also found that the value of plant-based meat, while the second-largest plant-based category, hit $1.4 billion in 2020. That represents sales growth of 45% from 2019. The plant-based meat category grew twice as fast as...

Foodservice and Retail Get Creative for an Unprecedented Valentine’s Day 

While the pandemic has caused disruptions to gatherings and going out, there remains a special significance around Valentine’s Day. Consumers are committed to celebrating the holiday, even if traditional celebrations must be altered. According to the National Retail Federation, about 52% of adults plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, spending a total of $21.8 billon.

Nearly three-quarters of consumers celebrating the holiday this year feel it is important to do so given the current state of the pandemic. The virus is still a focus, with 74% indicating it will directly impact their plans for the holiday. About 24% of consumers plan to gift their loved one with an evening out, the lowest in...

KIND Snacks Founder Daniel Lubetzky Invests in Quevos Following Shark Tank Deal

KIND Snacks Founder Daniel Lubetzky has invested in Quevos, a brand of fun and flavorful snacks whose first ingredient is egg whites. As announced on ABC's Shark Tank, Lubetzky will partner with budding entrepreneurs, Quevos Founders Nick Hamburger and Zack Schreier, to help more people discover their introductory line of high protein, high fiber, low carb snacks in bold flavors including Honey Mustard, Cheddar, Sour Cream & Onion, Sweet Barbecue, Quevos Rancheros, Dill Pickle, and Mesquite BBQ.

Lubetzky's investment is a vote of confidence for both Quevos' snacks and co-founders Hamburger and Schreier, who impressed Lubetzky with their entrepreneurial spirit and life-long friendship turned partnership. Leveraging his experience growing KIND from...

FDA Warns Whole Foods Market After Repeated Food Recalls for Undeclared Allergens

Today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) posted a warning letter issued to Whole Foods Market for a pattern of receiving and offering for sale misbranded food products necessitating a series of food recalls for allergens. In the last year, Whole Foods Market has recalled more than 30 food products because the presence of major food allergens was not listed on the finished product labels. The FDA noticed similar patterns of numerous recalls by Whole Foods Market for undeclared allergens in previous years as well. These products included...

COVID-19 Impacts the Turkey Market this Thanksgiving 

As coronavirus restrictions continue to impact our daily lives, it seems the holidays will be no exception. Retail and foodservice attempted to adapt to these unprecedented changes this Thanksgiving, by promoting deals with smaller birds or meals that feature turkey items instead of a whole bird.

Restaurants like Denny’s brought back its family-style Turkey and Dressing Dinner Pack, which included a carved turkey breast and sides portioned for four people. Cracker Barrel added multiple holiday meal options to the menu, with Thanksgiving meal offerings that serve...

Retailers Prepare for Thanksgiving and Unprecedented Holiday Shopping Season 

As consumers prepare for smaller gatherings at Thanksgiving and an unusual holiday season, retailers are providing increased safety and convenience measures to offer an ideal shopping experience. 

For example, Meijer is encouraging customers to shop in whatever way fits their lives, offering delivery services and free pickup on orders over $50 online. The retailer is also adding more available time slots for pickup. Stores will be rolling out new hand sanitizer stations over the course of the holiday season and will install eight stations near high-traffic travel paths including entrances, pharmacies, produce areas, and check lanes. Meijer announced it will be extending...

Prime Roots Launches Meals Featuring Plant-Based Proteins at Whole Foods 

Prime Roots, a plant-based meat producer will bring high quality, meat-free meals to eaters through their latest partnership with Whole Foods. Fresh off their sold-out bacon launch, Prime Roots understands that their community of eaters crave clean plant-based alternatives to their favorite meats, and the company is excited to showcase and let consumer try their Koji-based chicken, beef, and bacon in chef-prepared, convenient fresh plant-based meals. Customers can look forward to flavorful, protein-packed meals ranging from comforting classics like "Bacon" Mac and Cheese to exciting, unique flavors and dishes like their Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken.

Prime Roots leverages their natural Koji-based platform technology to create minimally-processed meals. Prime Roots meats are gluten-free and soy-free and are made with...

Whole Foods Market Forecasts Top 10 Food Trends for 2021

Whole Foods Market global buyers and experts unveiled their top 10 anticipated food trends for 2021 in the retailer’s sixth annual trends predictions. Hard kombucha, upcycled foods, leveled-up breakfasts and jerky made from produce are among the food influences expected to take off in the next year.

Each year, a Trends Council of more than 50 Whole Foods Market team members, including local foragers, regional and global buyers and culinary experts, compile trend predictions based on decades of experience and expertise in product sourcing, studying consumer preferences and being on the frontlines with...