In the most basic sense, a food has value-added when the ingredients have been changed to make it easier for the consumer. Blue Circle Foods value-added seafood features clean labels and products packaged so they're pre-portioned and ready to cook.

Belcampo, pioneer of hyper-sustainable, organic, grass-fed, Certified Humane meats, broths, and jerky, has launched its Seasoned Lemon Pepper Chicken Breast and Seasoned Lemon Pepper Chicken Legs. Lightly seasoned, these new items provide a convenient option for families interested in having access to high-quality, pasture-raised meats in a pre-seasoned format that can be delivered straight to their doors.

Vejii Holdings through its U.S.-based subsidiary, Vejii, an online platform offering thousands of vegan and plant-based products, has launched Vejii Express, which offers guaranteed shipping within two business-days across the U.S. on select products. The website now includes a section that showcases products that are available via Vejii Express. 

Kevin’s Natural Foods, the only natural and health-focused refrigerated entrée brand in the nation, announced the company has experienced exponential growth during its first year of business. Empowering people to eat clean without sacrificing flavor, Kevin’s Natural Foods launched in the fall of 2019 and recorded $4.5 million in sales during its first quarter. Since its inception, the Northern California-based wellness brand has expanded rapidly, adding 6,000 retail locations nationwide in only 12 months. Experiencing a 460% revenue increase in 2020, the company projects to close out the year with $48 million in sales—thanks in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic changing what, how and where consumers are eating.

Swedish-style NICK’S Ice Cream and animal-free dairy innovator Perfect Day have partnered to launch a new line of vegan dairy ice creams. Seven new vegan ice cream flavors, including Swedish Mint Chip, Choklad Choklad and Karamell Swirl, will complement N!CK’S existing light ice cream line.

Ithaca Hummus introduces its new flavor, Buffalo Ranch Hummus. To celebrate the rollout, Ithaca is offering consumers a limited-series Buffalo Ranch Big Game Day Kit, shipped directly to homes nationwide in support of an epic game day spread—no matter who you're rooting for.

Editor-in-Chief Michael Costa looks back at the good and bad of an historic year for the cold chain, and what may lie ahead in 2021.

Freshly, the leading fresh-prepared meal delivery service in the U.S., announced the launch of FreshlyFit, the company's first dedicated product line designed for consumers looking to command their health and fuel active lifestyles. Like Freshly, FreshlyFit's ready-to-eat meals are gluten-free and built on a foundation of clean, whole-food ingredients, but focus on a lower-carb, protein-powered nutritional profile to help fuel workouts, optimize recovery, maintain muscle mass, and support weight management. FreshlyFit meals have an average of 14 grams of net carbs, over 30 grams of protein, and 550 calories or less. More than a third of the meals contain zero added sugars.

Franklin Farms has entered a partnership with Purple Carrot, the 100% plant-based meal kit company. As a consumer brand and leading supplier of meatless offerings, Franklin Farms brings more than twenty years of expertise in plant-based protein foods and innovation to Purple Carrot’s meal kit offerings.

BuzzBallz, a woman-owned, premium, premixed cocktail company, has collaborated with Drunken Cake Pops, a boutique, woman-owned bakery, to create boozy stocking stuffers. The BuzzBallz X Drunken Cake Pops Six Pack includes six cake pops expertly infused with various flavors of BuzzBallz cocktails.