The Tent Partnership for Refugees, a nonprofit organization that mobilizes the business community to support refugees, launched UNSTUCK™, an initiative to create job opportunities for people fleeing their homes as a result of violence, war, and persecution. UNSTUCK will do this by partnering with leading brands to make sought-after products with ingredients sourced from suppliers employing refugees. 

Over the past decade, the cheese industry has exploded, with small-batch artisanal cheesemakers popping up in every state and the large cheesemakers increasing the sophistication of their offerings to compete. As specialty cheeses become more popular, their manufacturing processes become more streamlined, mechanized, and efficient.

Sargento Foods launched Sargento® Creamery Sliced and Shredded Cheeses, a line of real, natural cheeses that deliver melting character thanks to the addition of real cream.

The past year has been a rollercoaster ride for the cheese category. While the COVID-19 pandemic drastically reduced demand for cheese in foodservice, the category’s growth at retail was extensive, notes Kelly Slentz, associate brand manager, cheese for La Farge, Wis.-based Organic Valley.

Haagen-Dazs Shoppe Company Inc. launched its Coffee Collection line of beverages and ice creams, featuring a new Chameleon Cold-Brew Float served exclusively at Häagen-Dazs Shops.

Motif will have exclusive access to these food technologies, which hold the promise to address two of the most significant challenges in plant-based foods: achieving melt and stretch in plant-based cheese, and healthier fat that marbleizes in plant-based meat.

The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) announced the return of its annual dairy innovation competition with a new name and increased focus on advancing excellence in functional dairy product development. The Real California Milk Excelerator, the 3rd edition of the CMAB dairy product innovation competition with innovation consultancy VentureFuel, will award up to $650,000 in prizes for new dairy products that support performance and recovery benefits.

Danone North America honored a commitment to science and education through the ninth annual Gut Microbiome, Yogurt and Probiotics Fellowship Grant Program. This year's honorees, selected by a committee of nutrition scientists, are Catherine Shelton of Vanderbilt University and Alice Solomon of the University of Arizona. Winners were chosen based on the quality of their proposals, faculty recommendations and each of their studies' value to human health and wellness.

Totally Unbaked, Ben & Jerry's first Limited Batch flavor of 2021, is a mixture of chocolate and vanilla ice cream that prominently features two unbaked components: chocolate chip cookie dough and brownie batter swirls.

Univar Solutions Inc. and Novozymes announced a new agreement to expand the partnership into the United States and Canadian food ingredients markets. The new food ingredients agreement takes effect May 1, 2021, one month after the companies announced an exclusive agreement expanding the partnership into the United States and Canadian beverage production, homecare, and industrial cleaning markets.