Cepham Issues Call to Action
Cepham wants the natural products industry to expand the conversation regarding men's health beyond the topics of testosterone and prostate health. The male consumer goes through many life stages, in their 20's and 30's fertility and mental health concerns are dominant. 40 and 50 year old's are faced with hormone shifts, prostate concerns, and muscle loss. Individuals over the age of 50 tend to focus on longevity improvements. With so many different priorities, Cepham has identified that the need for innovation is greater than ever. With their latest Life Phases and Stages (LPAS) Blends, Cepham is able to provide dietary supplement brands with pre-formulated ingredient systems designed to support critical health milestones for men—from reproductive health and metabolism in early adulthood, to sarcopenia, cardiovascular resilience, and cognitive preservation in later years.
“Men’s health today must go beyond the outdated methods their fathers likely experienced,” said Anand Swaroop, Ph.D., Founder and President of Cepham. “We’ve moved past the mindset of ‘just endure’ and annual checkups as the only defense. Precision wellness—driven by biomarkers, neuro-optimization, and endocrine disruption insights—offers men the chance to optimize, not just survive.”
SPINS Partners with Seed Oil Free Certified on Latest Report
The industry's first certification for products made without seed oils, Seed Oil Free Certified, has partnered with global data and analytics provider, SPINS, to report on the rapidly growing demand for industrial seed oil free products. Consumers are increasingly seeking out Seed Oil Free Certified products, according to the newly published data. SPINS has also reported that during the first quarter of 2025, Seed Oil Free Certified products have experienced:
- +216% average sales growth compared to Q1 2024
- +410% growth over the most recent 12-week period
- Strong performance across both natural retail (+124%) and conventional retail (+225%) channels
The dramatic increase in demand reflects a major shift within the marketplace. As consumers continue to demand greater transparency in product formulation, third-party certifications are more important than ever when it comes to building brand trust. "Consumers are making increasingly deliberate decisions about the food they buy, supporting brands that are transparent, mission-driven, and aligned with their values,” commented Jonathan Rubin, Founder and CEO of the Seed Oil Free Alliance. “Seed Oil Free Certification is resonating with today’s values-oriented shopper. We’re seeing strong growth across certified brands, and it’s clear this is a trend to watch as more companies prioritize straightforward, minimally processed ingredients."
Unilever Acquires Dr. Squatch
Unilever continues to expand its family of premium and high growth brands with its latest acquisition of personal care brand, Dr. Squatch. Expected to be finalized later this year and subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions, the agreement transfers the brand from growth equity firm Summit Partners to Unilever. “I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Squatch into the Unilever family. Dr. Squatch has built a solid foundation and loyal following with highly desirable products and clever digital engagement strategies. Building on its success in the US, we are excited to scale the brand internationally and complement our offering in the fast-growing men’s personal care segment," shared Fabian Garcia, President of Unilever Personal Care.
Dr. Squatch is a retail and direct-to-consumer brand with natural, high-performance personal care products that range from natural soaps to body washes, deodorants, hair care, skin care, and various other men's grooming products featuring quality ingredients and unique scents. The brand is well known amongst consumers for its viral social-first marketing campaigns and strategic partnerships with influencers and celebrities. “I am incredibly proud of what the Dr. Squatch team has achieved thus far. Our mission at Dr. Squatch is to inspire and educate men to be happier and healthier, and we’re excited about our ability to amplify our brand and mission in this next chapter with Unilever. We’re just getting started at Dr. Squatch, and we are thrilled about the opportunity to advance the brand’s scale, reach new heights internationally, and entertain and positively connect with more consumers seeking high-quality, natural products around the world," commented Josh Friedman, CEO of Dr. Squatch.
New Bell Flavors Facility Opens in Sri City, India
Bell Flavors & Fragrances EMEAI has officially opened its new state-of-the-art application laboratories at its Sri City production facility in India. Established in January 2023, the company's Sri City plant has been important for producing customized flavors and fragrances for clients in India and the surround region. The new facility will feature the latest industry technology and deliver customer-focused flavor solutions in food and beverage categories including baked goods, confectionery, and soft drinks. "With this expansion, we continue to reinforce our position in the flavors industry, delivering high-quality solutions tailored to regional consumer preferences," explained Bell EMEAI CEO, Holger Wetzler.
An inaugural event was heled for the labs opening bringing together customers, partners, and key stakeholders. "Our application specialists are excited to bring these new resources to life. With this state-of-the-art environment, we are well-positioned to drive innovation and deliver even greater value to our customers," shared Murali Krishnan, Director of Operations in Sri City.
Beneve Embraces a People-First Approach
Purpose-driven, premium dietary supplement, wellness brand, Beneve, is adjusting the standard Multi-Level-Marketing model with a more people, purpose, and product integrity approach. Committed to providing consumers with premium wellness products made with clinically-studied, branded ingredients, Beneve fully understands how impactful the tremendous amount of support from their social media influencers has been in driving awareness and growth for their products. Because of that, they have established the Influencer Bill of Rights—a framework designed to protect and empower its community by ensuring fair compensation, transparency, and long-term opportunity.
“Beneve is more than a company—we’re building a community rooted in trust, transparency, and real impact,” said Judy Willodson, Beneve’s Founder and CEO. “We believe in rewarding people fairly, empowering them with purpose and delivering products that make a difference in the wellness space. Our Influencer Bill of Rights sets a new standard in the MLM space, because success should never come at the cost of integrity.”
Laird Co-Founder Stars in New Documentary
Laird Superfood Co-Founder, Laird Hamilton is staring alongside military jet fighter pilot Daniel Robinson in a new award-winning, independent documentary short film, DAWN READY. Hamilton is a well-respected American big-wave surfer known for his fitness and nutrition expertise. The film, crated by William and Jennifer Cawley, explores the similarities between the two modern-day heroes, from their unique views of life, processes, to their stronger than average drive to keep pushing the boundaries. DAWN READY has been featured at several film festivals, including the California International Short Film Festival (where it won Best Documentary Short and Best Cinematography), Indie Short Fest (nominated for Best Short Documentary), Berlin Short Film Festival. The film is available to stream at DawnReady.com
Gearing Up for NY NOW 2025
Wholesale Suppliers and Buyers are getting ready to attend the upcoming NY NOW 2025 Summer Market B2B Trade Event in New York City. From August 3-5, buyers representing large and small retailers will be heading to the Javits Center to meet with over 500 exhibitors including major US-based B2B wholesale agency Harper Group, as they showcase the latest trends in gift, accessory, and lifestyle brand products. Dealings from the annual event not only impact retailer inventories but their supply chain management ahead of the holiday shopping season as well.
“The lineup of both exhibiting suppliers and buyers that have already committed to NY NOW Summer 2025 is indicative of the success we expect in August in bringing these groups together in forming key supply chain relationships,” shared Matthew Mathiasen, Show Director of NY NOW. “As always, what NY NOW does best is to create an unparalleled sourcing experience featuring thousands of the most trending products while helping buyers and suppliers maintain and strengthen those relationships that are the lifeline of their business.”
MoonBrew Undergoes Rebranding
Direct-to-consumer sleep drink brand, MoonBrew, has unveiled the results of its rebranding initiative as a design-forward, shelf-ready functional beverage. Known for their magnesium-based cocoa blends, the rebrand features:
- Sleek, premium jars replacing soft pouches
- A bold visual refresh anchored by its new mascot, Astro the astronaut
- Messaging that leans into ritual-building, sleep hygiene, and clean-label functionality over quick fixes
On a mission to expand into retail and more CPG-friendly channels, MoonBrew has also debuted a new Sleepy Coffee Vanilla Latte product. Sleepy Coffee is a caffeine-free Vanilla Latte flavored nighttime beverage specifically for coffee enthusiasts looking for a more soothing, bedtime-friendly beverage. The new product features:
- Magnesium (for nervous system regulation)
- L-theanine & Chamomile Extract (to promote calm and relaxation)
- Jujube seed & Adaptogens (for gentle stress support and sleep quality)
- Just 5g of cane sugar per serving
For more on the rebranding and their latest products, please visit moonbrew.co
Kraft Heinz Removing FD&C Colors Before End of 2027
On June 17th the Kraft Heinz Company announced that as of that date, any products launched in the United States will not contain Food, Drug & Cosmetic (FD&C) colors. Additionally, the company will remove the remaining FD&C colors from its U.S. product portfolio before the end of 2027. These decisions are part of the company's continued mission of making high-quality, great-tasting food that is affordable and accessible to all and their three-pronged approach (3Rs):
- Removing colors where it is not critical to the consumer experience; or
- Replacing FD&C colors with natural colors; or
- Reinventing new colors and shades where matching natural replacements are not available.
“As a food company with a 150+ year heritage, we are continuously evolving our recipes, products, and portfolio to deliver superiority to consumers and customers,” said Pedro Navio, North America President at Kraft Heinz. “The vast majority of our products use natural or no colors, and we’ve been on a journey to reduce our use of FD&C colors across the remainder of our portfolio. In fact, we removed artificial colors, preservatives, and flavors from our beloved Kraft Mac & Cheese back in 2016. Our iconic Heinz Tomato Ketchup has never had artificial dyes – the red color comes simply from the world’s best tomatoes. Above all, we are focused on providing nutritious, affordable, and great-tasting food for Americans and this is a privilege we don’t take lightly.”
Balchem to Showcase Latest Innovations at IFT First 2025
Specialty ingredients manufacturer, Balchem, has announced they will be displaying their latest cutting-edge technologies providing food and beverage solutions that help streamline product development at this year's IFT First show in Chicago. From July 13-16, guests who stop by Booth 3418 can sample the company's latest prototypes including INjoy-powered beverage systems, MeatShure-enabled snack sticks and a delicious, high-protein chocolate oat soft serve concept. Members of the Balchem team will also be on hand discussing the latest industry trends and how they are helping brands meeting the constantly changing demands from consumers.
"Despite wanting to lose weight, people don’t want to lose the joy of eating. Our chocolate oat soft serve is a creamy, plant-based frozen dessert that combines deep cocoa richness with the natural sweetness of oats. In fact, Balchem's VitalBlend oat creamer base adds a very mild undertone of oats, which you might miss if you aren't looking for it,” explained Kavya Dileep, Prototype Developer & Food Scientist at Balchem. “This is just one example of how our VitalBlend base offers a multifunctional, premium creamer option with enhanced cold-water solubility and clean flavor. It’s an excellent choice for frozen treats too."
Lemme & iHerb Partner to Expand Product Availability
Science-backed supplement brand, Lemme, is broadening its global reach by partnering with health and wellness product online retailer, iHerb, to bring their line of Lemme Sleep, Lemme Debloat, and Lemme GLP-1 Daily products to 180 countries across the world. Founded and owned by Kourtney Kardashian, the vitamin and supplement company will look to iHerb's elevated global logistics network, facilitated by seven climate-controlled fulfillment centers located in the U.S. and Asia, to make their products available to customers in 22 languages with free shipping to over 80 countries. Customers will have access to:
- Lemme Sleep - for falling asleep, staying asleep and waking up refreshed
- Lemme Purr - for vaginal freshness and pH balance
- Lemme Debloat - for daily digestive and bloating support
- Lemme Tone - for metabolism and lean body mass
- Lemme GLP-1 Daily* - for GLP-1 support, reduced cravings and visceral fat loss
- Lemme Chill - for reducing stress and promoting relaxation
- Lemme Burn - for AMPK activation and belly fat reduction
- Lemme Grow - for longer, stronger hair and reduced shedding
- Lemme Matcha - for sustained energy and antioxidant support
- Lemme Focus - for improved concentration and attention
“We’re thrilled to bring Lemme to customers worldwide,” said Lindsey Wiefels, SVP of Merchandising at iHerb. “Kourtney and her team have created a standout brand that blends luxury, wellness, and science. We are confident our global shoppers will love adding Lemme to their daily routines.”
