Gourmet News

UNFI, GreenChoice Partner on Heathy Shopping App

Published May 5, 2025

United Natural Foods, Inc. has partnered with GreenChoice, PBC, the food intelligence company, to expand its offering of healthy shelf labels and healthy shopping technology, providing independent retailers with plug and play options to improve personalization and transparency on the shelf. GreenChoice’s shelf tags and white-label app enable retailers to help their customers easily find foods that meet their health needs and lifestyle values, which is especially relevant as consumers continue to prioritize health, wellness, and sustainability.

“GreenChoice’s shelf labels not only help shoppers identify and access healthy food options, but they also help retailers increase sales and gain trust and loyalty from their shoppers,” said Matt Eckhouse, President of UNFI Digital and Professional Services. “This is a great addition to our UNFI Digital and Professional Services offering, which helps grocery retailers differentiate their businesses and drive growth.”

GreenChoice, PBC provides nutrition and sustainability data solutions for the grocery industry, giving food retailers instant access to science-based food health and sustainability scores, as well as verified attribute data on over 1 million food products. Through UNFI’s new program, retailers have an easy way to help their shoppers navigate their assortments with shelf tags that highlight key product features, as well as GreenScores – an evidence-based rating system that makes healthy choices easy. The food GreenScore assesses and scores foods across science-based industry standards for nutritional density, ingredient processing, ingredient safety, and climate footprint. By scanning QR codes, shoppers can dig deeper into a food’s GreenScore and get personalized recommendations for healthy alternatives when desired.

In addition to on-the-shelf product information, GreenChoice offers grocers a white-label mobile web application that lets their shoppers scan foods and search a store’s inventory for products that fit their dietary and health requirements.

“Across the United States, shoppers increasingly demand product transparency and healthier options. This is a big opportunity for food retailers to help identify the foods that match shoppers’ health and sustainability needs using a third party like GreenChoice,” said Galen Karlan-Mason, GreenChoice CEO and Founder. “We’re excited for UNFI retail partners to tap into GreenChoice’s food assessment and shopping technology, which has proven to drive measurable sales lifts while improving shopper satisfaction.”

UNFI Digital and Professional Services help grocery retailers differentiate their businesses with a portfolio of services and solutions that enable them to save money, improve operational efficiency, optimize their assortments, and drive sales. Solutions include credit card processing, equipment procurement, coupon processing, in-store shelf management, planograms, point-of-sale and frictionless checkout technology, store remodels, and much more. These offerings help retailers differentiate and compete in a dynamic marketplace.

For more news of interest to the foodservice industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.

Meat Institute Hires Fulton as Director of Animal Health and Welfare

Published May 1, 2025

The Meat Institute has hired Jesse Fulton, M.S., to serve as the director of animal health and welfare.

“Jesse Fulton is an excellent addition to the Meat Institute staff, bringing a wealth of knowledge in the field of animal science and real-world experience working for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance program,” said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. “Jesse oversees our Animal Welfare Guidelines and Audit, as well as key policies and standards that ensure the industry is continuously improving in the areas of animal health, handling and care.”

As the director of animal health and welfare at the Meat Institute, Fulton provides timely assistance, analysis, guidance, and technical support for the meat and poultry packing and processing industry on various topics, including animal production, health, handling, welfare, foreign animal disease, veterinary drugs, and pathology. As the staff liaison to the Animal Welfare Committee, Fulton ensures members have a forum for discussing issues, sharing best practices, and establishing industry-wide positions. He provides technical support to other committees and represents the Meat Institute at external meetings and before government agencies on animal health and welfare issues.

Before joining the Meat Institute, Fulton spent five years with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and nearly five years with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he directed the Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance program.

Fulton received his Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Morehead State University, his Master of Science in Animal Science from South Dakota State University with research focusing on beef cattle fetal programming, and is pursuing his Doctorate of Philosophy in Animal Science from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln with his research focusing on ruminant nutrition.

For more news of interest to the food and beverage industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.

Bobbie Unveils First USDA Organic Whole Milk Formula Made in USA

Published April 25, 2025

Bobbie has announced its fourth infant formula since the company’s launch in 2021: after three years of development, Bobbie Organic Whole Milk Infant Formula is here. As the first and only USDA Organic Whole Milk infant formula manufactured in America, this industry-first product redefines high quality infant nutrition. Developed with the leading science and research and manufactured at the brand’s state-of-the-art facility in the heartland of America, Heath, Ohio, Bobbie Organic Whole Milk infant formula offers quality, safety, and reliability at a time when the U.S. infant formula industry is facing continued uncertainty.

Only 7% of infant formulas sold in the U.S. are Organic and only 5% are certified USDA Organic. Just 4% of formulas sold in the U.S. use whole milk. Bobbie Organic Whole Milk Infant Formula is the ONLY routine infant formula manufactured in the U.S. that is both USDA Organic and made with whole milk.

Bobbie Organic Whole Milk infant formula is available today at hibobbie.com for $28/can and coming to select retailers this summer.

Since its launch four years ago, Bobbie remains dedicated to providing American families with high-quality, Organic infant formula made right here in the US. The research and development arm of the company, Bobbie Labs, spent three years developing Bobbie’s closest-to-breast milk recipe, featuring less vegetable oils, more naturally-occurring milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) from Organic whole milk, choline, and industry leading levels of DHA to support infant brain development. MFGM is a component of milk fat that has been linked to cognitive and immune system support in infants. MFGM is naturally found in breast milk, and research has suggested it can play a role in supporting brain development, immune health, and gut function.

“As a pediatrician, I am always looking for the best options to support infant nutrition, and I’m thrilled to see Bobbie Organic Whole Milk Infant Formula enter the market as the first and only USDA Organic whole milk-based formula manufactured in the U.S. Bobbie continues to set the standard for clean, high-quality infant nutrition by using naturally occurring milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) from whole milk—an essential component of breast milk that supports brain development. Bobbie continues to be a brand I trust and recommend for parents seeking a clean, high-quality, breast milk-inspired formula that prioritizes both safety and science-backed nutrition,” said Lauren Crosby, MD, FAAP.

Bobbie Organic Whole Milk formula undergoes over 2,000 safety and quality checks before release at Bobbie’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Heath, Ohio. Owning end-to-end manufacturing has unlocked innovation on an entirely new level for the industry-disrupting, mom-led brand. With a steady supply of unlimited inventory, manufacturing redundancy, and the ability to produce high quality infant formulas in-house, Bobbie has unlocked the recipe development and manufacturing rigor required to lead the way for the next generation of American infant formula.

Bobbie Organic Whole Milk infant formula is the only USDA Organic whole milk infant formula on the US market, designed to bring parents a first-of-its-kind formulation that is certified Organic to both the USDA and EU Organic standards, and features a no palm oil, no soy fat blend. The groundbreaking recipe is made with USDA Organic whole milk, a critical choice in a formula category flooded with Organic claims that fall short of the USDA Organic seal.

“As a team of parents, we understand first hand the importance of quality and reliability when it comes to feeding our babies. No parent should have to choose between the two and with this product, we can guarantee the best of the best on both fronts,” saidLaura Modi, CEO and Co-Founder of Bobbie and mom of four.“This recipe, the first USDA Organic whole milk infant formula in the world, is the epitome of my why behind Bobbie. It’s a dream formulation that represents much more than what’s inside the can (though I’m very proud of that as well) – it is about pushing the nutritional standards forward, reimagining how we feed babies in the U.S., and making America the gold standard in infant nutrition.”

Bobbie Organic Whole Milk Formula Overview:

Premium USDA Organic Standards: The first certified USDA Organic whole milk infant formula manufactured in America – certified to meet the strictest Organic standards in the world. Made with no synthetic pesticides, chemical contaminants, glyphosates, or GMOs.
Our Closest-to-Breast Milk Recipe – For Smoother Poops: Whole milk fat and fewer added oils means it’s a recipe that closely mimics breast milk and may support softer stools. Less straining means a happier baby – and happier parents.
Premium Brain Support: Featuring the ultimate triple threat – naturally occurring milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) from whole milk, choline, and industry-leading levels of DHA. MFGM supports cognitive development and gives tiny brains a major boost – a smart choice, literally.
Premium Milk Fat; Less Added Oil: The naturally-occurring fat in whole milk provides fatty acids like those found in breast milk. This means less plant-based oils. And never soy or palm oil.
Available Today: Buy Organic Whole Milk infant formula today at hibobbie.com. 14oz cans retail for $28. Find us at select retailers early Summer.

About Bobbie:

Bobbie is the purpose-driven organic infant feeding company that exists to build a parenting culture of confidence, not comparison. Founded in 2018, Bobbie hit the market with its flagship European-inspired formula in 2021 as the first direct-to-consumer, subscription-based infant formula in the U.S. Today, it’s proud to be the only mom-founded and led infant formula brand in the world, and the fastest-growing in the U.S. since the 1980s. Bobbie is focused on providing purposefully sourced, USDA Organic products made with simple ingredients – crafted right here in America, for American families. For more information, visit www.hibobbie.com.

For more news of interest to the food and beverage industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.