Jacobsen salt did something impressive
removing water is in, Bill Gates on lost grains, and what's going on with almond prices
3-min read
The future is concentrated
Chobani’s new launch, Supermilk, is a concentrated shelf stable milk with 50% more protein than regular milk. The launch is a humanitarian aid product, which is very cool of them.
This launch speaks to an upcoming trend — making everything more dense.
Powders and concentrates will become a CPG right of passage in future innovation, not only for consumer convenience like storage, but because we need to get water out of the supply chain. Water is heavy.
Not only does dense food take up less space, it provides more nutrition in fewer calories. Call it the ozempic effect — consumers now want things like all the protein of a protein shake — without the shake.
This innovation is genius
The limited edition Jacobsen Salt x Oishii Infused Koyo Berry Salt is Out of Stock.
This collab with Oishii, the Japanese luxury fruit brand capitalizes on the recent desire for rare, elusive, perfect fruit. The Koyo Berry is described as having slightly firm texture, bright aroma, an eye-opening flavor, and a refreshing sweetness.
Jacobsen Salt people — I know you are reading — tell me how you did it (also, send me a jar since I can no longer order).
This innovation is also genius because people are obsessed with berries. Berries showed up as the #1 item Americans are eating more of. Thanks to Emily Sundberg for turning me on to The New Consumer’s cool insights.
Almond prices will remain strong
The USDA Almond objective report came out and the crop is forecasted at $2.8b, down -7% from May’s forecast. Last year final was below prediction, let’s see what happens this year. In any case, prices will remain strong.
Can Bill Gates build the local economy in West Africa with fonio?
Bill Gates got inspired on a trip to West Africa. To find out what it would take to build the fonio market I talked to Philip Teverow, who has been championing the ancient grain with his brand Yolélé — which just launched a beer with Brooklyn Brewing (it’s gluten free).
Philip took some time to explain fonio to me at the IFT show in Chicago this week.
Fonio is a drought tolerant crop and super nutritious, but inefficiently farmed and processed. Yields are low and current processing methods experience 50% loss. Philip says to benefit the West African economy, and keep fonio from going the way of quinoa (when investors got into quinoa it did not help South Americans), production needs to scale in West Africa.
Do-gooders like The Gates Foundation could help farmers increase yield and build industrialized production, and hopefully keep supply local and in synch with demand.
Philip’s purpose with Yolélé is pure — to provide income for small farmers in West Africa.
Fonio, like teff, are “lost” grains. I learned about teff, an East African grain and excellent US cover crop, from Claire Smith of Tenera Grains / Teffola. Listen to my interview with Claire on The Future of Agriculture here.
All my best,
Jennifer