News Roundup: Little Spoon Expands Offerings; Spice Makers Seek Healthy Cert From FDA

Little Spoon Launches Biteable, Expansion Into Toddler Food

Direct-to-consumer baby and kid food brand Little Spoon is aiming to round out its portfolio with the launch of a new Biteable line intended to help wean babies off purees and introduce small, solid table foods. The line is intended for children between 9 to 16 months.

The new line was developed in response to consumer demand for “stress free” solutions to baby-led weaning, the process of transitioning an infant to table foods, the company said in a release.

“At Little Spoon, we are passionate about creating products that meet the unique needs of modern, well-researched parents who do not make compromises when it comes to feeding their children,” said Angela Vranich, co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Little Spoon, in a press release. “[Biteables] is the perfect balance of convenience and nutrition.”

The new line comes in eight different varieties ranging from Mini Cheesy Pasta to Shredded Fajita Chicken. The nut-free meals also include two sides, either vegetables or beans, and caters to a range of dietary preferences including vegetarian, egg-free, gluten-free and dairy-free. The products can be kept in the refrigerator or frozen and prepared in a microwave in 90 seconds.

Biteables are priced between $5.83 to $7.50 per meal and are available on a subscription basis, with cost depending on the number of meals and ordering frequency. With the new line, Little Spoon has also added a new protein, grass-fed beef, to its biteables and meals. The company first introduced a baby-led weaning offering last year under its pureed line, dubbed transition meals. Little Spoon makes four food formats – purees, biteables, plates and smoothies – intended for kids up to seven years old.

As consumer interest in baby-led weaning has grown, infant meal products have responded by creating more finger-food options. In 2021, organic baby food brand Once Upon A Farm acquired baby and toddler meal provider Raised Real. The move enabled OUAF to move into the frozen aisle by integrating Raised Real’s frozen, chopped fruit and vegetable meals to its core offerings.

Spice Makers Seek Approval To Be Called ‘Healthy’ By FDA

The American Spice Trade Association (ASTA) submitted comments to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week, requesting that spices are included in the new guidance for the use of the word healthy in relation to food products.

Spices and herbs are currently absent from the proposed definition, released in September; however, the ASTA argues that these foods play an essential role in promoting healthy eating habits, claiming that 90 percent of Americans don’t eat enough vegetables and that flavor enhancers like spices and herbs have led to increased vegetable consumption “across various age groups.”

“Beyond improving nutrition, a growing body of research shows that culinary spices and herbs may benefit heart, metabolic, and gut health, cognition, cancer prevention, and weight management,” said ASTA Executive Director, Laura Shumow, in a press release. “Plus, by adding flavor and embodying an important part of cultural and culinary traditions, they promote accessible and inclusive dietary patterns.”

The organization included findings from two separate studies that analyzed the vegetable consumption habits of preschool-aged children and high school students. Results from both studies indicated that the respective age groups consumed more vegetables when they were seasoned or paired with an herb dip.

Kraft Heinz Puts Price Growth On Hold

The Kraft Heinz Company saw a 10% increase in net sales to $7.4 billion, according to the company’s Q4 earnings report this week. The growth was largely driven by price increases, taken to offset rising input costs.

“The results were even more impressive considering the difficult operating environment, with record levels of inflation and supply chain disruptions, to which our teams responded with agility,” said Kraft Heinz CEO and Chair of the Board, Miguel Patricio, in a press release. “I am very proud of the entire Kraft Heinz team for a strong year, while continuing to execute on our long-term strategy.”

Across the full-year Kraft saw a 9.8% jump in sales and expects between 4% to 6% sales growth for the year ahead. The company also said it would forgo additional price increases for the time-being as it expects consumer habits to shift as inflationary pressures in grocery continue to mount. Kraft will focus on driving velocity throughout 2023 in order to maintain growth.

Project Potluck Set To Double Impact

People of color (POC)-run nonprofit organization Project Potluck believes it will nearly double its impact this year by connecting twice as many members with CPG mentors, hosting five times the events as it did in 2022 and growing its membership to approximately 1,500 by year end. This growth was supported by donations from CPG industry leaders including Once Upon a Farm, Chobani, PepsiCo Ventures Group and ForceBrands.

“Today, 40% of the United States population identifies as a Person of Color, but they make up only 16% of leadership teams in Natural CPG,” said Project Potluck Executive Director, Kathleen Casanova, in a press release. “We are looking to change this. With support from DEI-minded companies, Project Potluck is able to grow and continue to provide opportunities for POC to have a seat at the table and enrich the products and brands we all know and love.”