The Prepared Foods Podcast

Natural products industry sales were expected to hit nearly $320B in 2024 with growth across virtually very department. In advance of Natural Products Expo West, Prepared Foods covers everything from innovation to ingredients with Scott Dicker, market insights director at SPINS LLC, Chicago.

How does the nation’s largest refrigerated foods processor mine the relationship between culinary inspiration and R&D innovation? Prepared Foods talks trends and tastes with Reser’s Fine Foods executives Chef Sean Dwigans, Culinary Business Development Manager; and Chef Todd Ketterman, Culinary Manager.

The replacement for Natural Products Expo East, Newtopia Now, launched in the center of the country, kicked off last August in Denver, Colorado. Prepared Foods’ contributing editor Kerry Hughes, MS, ethnobotanist and principal for EthnoPharm covered the inaugural show, sharing highlights of the botanical ingredients as well as other ingredients and CPG products showcased there in the Mile-High Cit...

Trends in ethnic flavors and flavor fusion in new product development continue to grow and expand as we move deeper into the 2020s. We seem to be entering a period of culinary development when the flavors and culinary traditions from more countries and regions than ever before are making their way into America's culinary patois. This presents opportunities as well as challenges for the research ch...

Interview with Adam Maxwell, CEO and Founder of Voyage Foods, Inc., and Kelsey Tenney, founding team member and VP of R &D of Voyage on their creation of a cocoa-free, allergen-free chocolate analog that perfectly recreates the flavor and organoleptic qualities of real chocolate.

Naturally Colorado supports connection, community to help processors drive natural, organic product innovation.

Prepared Foods talks with Atomo Coffee Founder & CEO Andy Kleitsch about Atomo’s upcycled beanless coffee.

In this episode of Reasoned Opinion, Executive Editor–Technical David Feder’s editorial series on trends in the food beverage, nutrition, and ingredient industries, he subjectively discusses half a dozen trending whiskey spirits and what they bring to holiday tables. And, of course, he reminds those involved with the consumption of alcohol beverages to encourage responsible drinking. 

Interview with Dr. Miguel Freitas, Vice President of Health and Scientific Affairs for Danone North America, and Dr. Dana McCurdy, Dairy Fermentation Scientist

Prepared Foods talks sustainability with packaging designer Tom Newmaster, owner and partner at FORCEpkg, Lancaster, Pa.

Prepared Foods talks off-premise foodservice trends and consumer eating patterns—with Faye Schoenherr, McCain Foods’ North American Senior Brand Manager for SureCrisp French fries. 

To define some core trends in Asian and Asian -inspired sauces and ingredients, Prepared Foods turned to regular contributor and research chef Robert Danhi. Danhi, the award-winning author of “Southeast Asian Flavors” (Mortar & Press, 2008) and host of the TV show Taste of Vietnam, is one of the leading experts on Asian cuisine, and as a “curator of cultures,” he leverages his deep knowledge a...

Prepared Foods discusses clean label shelf life preservation strategies and ingredient options with Zal Taleyarkhan, Director of Innovation and Corporate Research Chef at Charlie Baggs Culinary Innovations, Chicago. Brought to you by Kalsec

Prepared Foods recently welcomed Pam Smith, Culinary Innovator and Leader of Food Service Outreach for the Mushroom Council to walk us through some quick mushroom trends and discuss the rapidly growing use of mushrooms in foods and beverage formulations for flavor, nutrition, and health.

What do top-selling new foods and beverages have in common? Prepared Foods breaks it down with Joan Driggs, Circana’s vice president for content and thought leadership. Driggs identifies trends fueling success for Circana’s top New Product Pacesetters at both the retail and convenience store channels.

Mayana Chocolate Owner and Chief Chocolatier Daniel Herskovic joins Prepared Foods Executive Editor-Technical David Feder for a chocolate chat that looks at the global favorite flavor in its traditional role as the king of candy and confections as well as its uses in savory and other uncommon formulations.

The Institute of Food Technologists’ IFT FIRST 2024 conference and expo was one of the organization’s best shows ever. Immunity and Dairy Fermentation scientist Dr. Dana McCurdy shares with the Prepared Foods’ audience highlights of the show.

Prepared Foods talks food and beverage tree nut ingredient applications with Robin Puskas, chief innovation officer at JPG Resources.

Prepared Foods interviews Rachel Yarcony, founder and CEO of myAir, Ltd. Yarcony pioneered the myAir system, an AI-driven personalized platform that combines advanced technology with functional ingredients to offer tailor-made nutrition that “enhances stress resilience.”

Prepared Foods explores sustainability and ingredient “upcycling” with Amanda Oenbring, new CEO of the Upcycled Food Association.

Last year saw DayDayCook acquire two leading consumer brands in the US Asian foods market: Nona Lim and Yai’s Thai. Listen in as Prepared Foods talks Asian food trends and tastes with DDC Founder & CEO Norma Chu.

There’s no putting out the fire on the hot and spicy food trend. Prepared Foods' Executive Editor–Technical David Feder interviews Frito Lay Co.’s Sr. Executive research chef Jody Denton for some inside expert insight into the latest in hot sauces and hot and spicy food products. In this interview, he shares with the Prepared Foods' audience the ins and outs of designing the next generation of hot...

Prepared Foods discusses plant protein ingredients and formulation strategies with Charlie Baggs, president, founder and executive chef at Charlie Baggs Culinary Innovations, Chicago.

Prepared Foods' Executive Editor–Technical David Feder interviews ethnobotanist and regular contributor to Prepared Foods Kerry Hughes. She discusses the trending foods, beverages, and ingredients using botanicals that caught her attention at the 2024 Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, California. Among specific better-for-you and botanical ingredients Hughes notes are: aloe, ashwagandha, cran...

In this episode of Reasoned Opinion, Executive Editor–Technical David Feder’s editorial series on trends in the food beverage, nutrition, and ingredient industries, he presents the more interesting ingredients, foods, and beverages that caught his eye at the 2024 Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, California.