Weekly Product News Digest for Global Food and Flavor Industry: March 15–20, 2026
Major Product News in the North American Food & Flavor Industry: March 15–20, 2026
Between March 15 and March 20, 2026, the North American food and flavor industry saw significant activity—from prestigious awards recognizing innovative products to major new launches and a significant recall. Below is a roundup of the most important announcements.
🏆 FABI Awards 2026: 28 Products Honored for Innovation
On March 18, the National Restaurant Association Show announced the 28 recipients of its 2026 Food and Beverage (FABI) Awards, with 10 products earning the "FABI Favorites" distinction—the program's highest honor .
🏅 FABI Favorites (Top 10)
| Product | Company |
|---|---|
| Dairy Free Single-Serve Cream Cheese | Daiya Foods Inc. |
| Original egglife Egg White Wraps | Egglife Foods, Inc. |
| Elote Butter | Epicurean Butter |
| Perfect Kebabs™ Halal Beef Kefta Links | Grecian Delight Kronos |
| Churro Chata Dairy-Free Ice Cream Sandwich | Klimon |
| Mini Waffle | Overseas Food Trading |
| Maple Granules | Roland Foods |
| Calabrian Truffle Crunch | Sabatino Truffles |
| Plum Gochu Syrup | The Perfect Purée of Napa Valley |
| Citrus Ginger Organic Craft Haymaker | Tractor Beverage Co. |
🌟 Additional FABI Awardees (Selected)
- Fred's Salt & Vinegar Cheese Curds – Ajinomoto Foods North America
- Tiramisu Cheesecake-Style Danish – Bridor USA
- Moroccan Spice Cubes – Chunk Foods
- Roth Shredded 3 Chile Pepper Gouda – Emmi Roth
- iHOLA® Churros Birthday Cake Filled Churro Bites – J & J Snack Foods Corp.
- Beetroot Habanero Sauce – Querendona
- Garlic Confit, Gluten-Free Crispy Garlic Chips – Roland Foods
- Tropics Soft Serve & Ice Cream Mix – Sunny Sky Products
- Three Organic Craft Haymakers – Tractor Beverage Co. (Apricot Peach, DragonBerry, PassionMango)
🚀 Major New Product Launches
🧀 Kraft Mac & Cheese Debuts "PowerMac"
On March 18, Kraft Mac & Cheese announced the launch of PowerMac, a new product designed to meet consumer demand for added nutrition. It delivers 17g of protein and 6g of fiber per serving by combining a proprietary protein-and-fiber-enriched pasta with the brand's iconic cheese sauce .
🥓 Herr Foods Launches Sour Cream & Onion Products
Herr Foods Inc. expanded its snack lineup with new Sour Cream & French Onion Flavored Potato Chips and Sour Cream & Onion Flavored Popcorn. The company also filed a proclamation request with Pennsylvania's Governor to declare an official "Herr’s Sour Cream & Onion Day" .
🍦 Baileys Enters the Freezer Aisle
Rich Products Corporation partnered with Baileys to launch a non-alcoholic Baileys Cream Ice Cream Cake, debuting nationwide at Walmart. This move represents a significant brand extension into the frozen dessert category .
🍯 Ducktrap Brings "Swicy" to Premium Seafood
Ducktrap (a Mowi brand) launched a new Hot Honey Smoked Salmon range, available in both Cold Smoked and Smoke Roasted formats. This product brings the "swicy" (sweet and spicy) flavor trend to the premium seafood category .
🍯 The Perfect Purée Launches Shelf-Stable Syrups
Building on its FABI Favorite win for Plum Gochu Syrup, The Perfect Purée of Napa Valley launched a full line of bespoke shelf-stable syrups on March 16. The six culinary-inspired flavors include :
- Plum Gochu
- Yuzu Juniper Thyme
- Honeysuckle Orange Blossom
- Chai Cardamom
- Passion Fruit
- Blood Orange
🍴 US Foods Unveils Spring 2026 Scoop Lineup
On March 17, US Foods announced its Spring 2026 Scoop lineup, featuring 19 exclusive brand products designed to help operators capitalize on trends while saving labor. Highlights include :
- Molly's Kitchen Dill Pickle Cream Cheese Bombs
- Chef's Line Crispy Carrot Fries (imported from France)
- Devonshire Dubai-Style Chocolate Torte (capitalizing on the viral Dubai chocolate trend)
- Patuxent Farms Gluten-Free Shatter Crisp Breaded Jumbo Chicken Wings (Korean-style)
- Chef's Line All Natural Mojo Seasoned Pork Shoulder
📊 Industry Trends & Flavor Forecasts
🔥 Hormel Foods' 2026 Pizza Trends
Ahead of the International Pizza Expo, Hormel Foods released its Top 5 Pizza Trends for 2026, spotlighting:
- The rise of Calabrian chili (with a reported 59% growth in consumer interest)
- Premium brisket
- Global fusion "Passport Pies"
🧬 AI-Driven Sugar Reduction Solutions
Samyang showcased its AI-driven "3S Sugar Reduction Solution" at Natural Products Expo West (March 4–6), targeting the U.S. market with allulose-based formulations. The system uses AI to recommend optimal ingredient blends to meet sugar-reduction targets .
🚨 Recall Alert
⚠️ Ajinomoto Foods Expands Recall
On March 2, Ajinomoto Foods North America expanded a recall for chicken and pork fried rice, ramen, and shu mai products due to possible glass contamination originating from carrots used as an ingredient .
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Products Affected | 16 products under brands Ajinomoto, Kroger, Ling Ling, Tai Pei, and Trader Joe's |
| Production Dates | October 21, 2024 – February 26, 2026 |
| Best-By Dates | February 28, 2026 – August 19, 2027 |
| Distribution | Nationwide in the U.S., with some items exported to Canada and Mexico |
| Action | Consumers should not consume the products; throw away or return to place of purchase |
📈 What This Means for the Industry
The major themes from this week's news point to several clear industry directions:
| Trend | Examples |
|---|---|
| Better-for-You Innovation | Kraft PowerMac (protein/fiber), Daiya Dairy-Free Cream Cheese, gluten-free offerings |
| Flavor Migration | "Swicy" moving from wings to seafood, Calabrian chili into pizza, Korean-style wings going mainstream |
| Brand Extensions | Baileys into ice cream, Herr's into popcorn, Perfect Purée into syrups |
| Cross-Category Licensing | Spirit brands monetizing flavor IP in non-alcoholic formats |
| Operational Efficiency | US Foods Scoop products focused on labor savings and menu versatility |
| Global & Regional Flavors | Dubai chocolate, mojo pork, gochu (Korean chili), yuzu, harissa |
*Sources: PRNewswire, Food Infotech, Prepared Foods, Source86, USDA FSIS, Dairy Business MEA *