Two industry innovators are joining forces to shake up the $6 billion U.S. fruit snack category: and the timing couldn’t be better for health-conscious consumers and food service professionals alike.
The food and beverage industry just witnessed a partnership that could reshape how Americans snack on fruit and protein. Foodberry, the Boston-based B2B innovation company known for its proprietary plant-based coating technology, has officially announced a strategic partnership with Bel US, a division of the global food powerhouse Bel Group. Together, they’re developing a new generation of bite-sized snacks that combine real fruit and protein in convenient, portion-controlled formats.
The first products from this collaboration are expected to hit select U.S. markets in 2026, and if early details are any indication, the snacking aisle is about to get a lot more interesting.
Why This Partnership Matters for the Food and Beverage Industry
Let’s face it: snacking habits have evolved dramatically over the past few years. Consumers aren’t just reaching for something tasty anymore; they want snacks that deliver nutritional value, align with sustainability goals, and fit seamlessly into busy lifestyles. This partnership directly addresses those demands.
Bel Group brings serious brand muscle to the table. As the parent company behind beloved names like Babybel®, GoGo squeeZ®, The Laughing Cow®, and Boursin®, Bel has spent 160 years perfecting the art of portion-sized snacking. Their expertise in go-to-market strategy and distribution is virtually unmatched in the category.
Foodberry, on the other hand, brings cutting-edge food technology that’s genuinely novel. Their platform transforms real fruit purée into plant-based coatings that can encapsulate everything from nut butters and cheese to ice cream and yogurt. The result? Mess-free, bite-sized snacks that feel like something straight out of a food innovation lab: because they are.
The Technology Behind the Innovation
Here’s where things get really exciting for anyone tracking food and beverage trends.
Foodberry’s technology platform was inspired by nature itself: specifically, how fruits and vegetables naturally wrap and protect themselves. The company has developed a proprietary process that turns real fruit purée into flexible, edible coatings. These coatings can encapsulate fresh, frozen, or shelf-stable products, creating entirely new snack formats that didn’t exist before.
What makes this particularly impressive is the science backing it up. Foodberry’s platform is supported by more than 20 issued utility patents, with technology developed through labs at Harvard and MIT. Their current commercial product lines include real fruit bites, fruit-coated ice cream bites, and fruit-and-nut-butter bites: all produced at their custom-built R&D and manufacturing facility in Boston, Massachusetts.
“Bel’s commitment to accessible, nutritious food mirrors our own mission at Foodberry – to contribute to a healthier world by creating new snacks that taste great and make choosing better options easier,” said Marty Kolewe, CEO of Foodberry. “Our work together is reimagining what’s possible in the snacking category and beyond, bringing real fruit and functional ingredients to consumers in convenient, portionable new formats.”
Addressing a Real Nutrition Gap
This partnership isn’t just about creating trendy new products: it’s tackling a genuine public health challenge. According to dietary data, approximately 80% of the U.S. population consumes less fruit than recommended by federal guidelines. At the same time, protein consumption remains a key focus for consumers looking to support balanced diets and active lifestyles.
The inaugural product from this collaboration will combine real fruit and protein in individually portioned snack formats. It’s a direct response to what the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans emphasize: the importance of both fruit and protein for overall health.
For food service professionals, this presents an interesting opportunity. As menu innovation continues to drive competitive advantage in restaurants and hospitality settings, having access to convenient, portion-controlled snacks that deliver on both taste and nutrition could open new doors for grab-and-go offerings, catering menus, and healthier kids’ options.
What Industry Leaders Are Saying
The executives behind this deal aren’t shy about their ambitions.
“Bel is strengthening its leadership in portion-sized snacks with quality ingredients, and Foodberry has made it possible to offer fruit and protein in a completely new and delicious bite-sized, mess-free format,” said Caroline Sorlin, Chief Venture Officer at Bel Group. “We’re proud to partner with an innovative company that aligns with our values around quality ingredients and our mission to provide healthier and accessible food for all.”
Carolina Cespedes Virguez, General Manager of GoGo squeeZ at Bel US, echoed that sentiment: “This partnership will help bring our mission to life: making fruits, veggies, and dairy more accessible for Americans through delicious, convenient, and nutritious snacks created in partnership with Foodberry. Together, we’re reimagining snacking to bring unique propositions to the market.”
Sustainability and Responsible Food Systems
Beyond the nutritional angle, both companies share a commitment to sustainability and responsible food systems. This alignment isn’t just marketing speak: it’s increasingly what consumers demand and what the hospitality industry needs to deliver.
Bel Group has been vocal about its “For All, For Good” mission, focusing on nourishment, joy, and building more sustainable food systems. Foodberry’s plant-based coating technology inherently supports these goals by utilizing fruit in innovative ways that reduce waste and create shelf-stable options without artificial preservatives.
For procurement directors and institutional buyers in the food service industry, partnerships like this signal where the market is heading. Sustainable food brands with genuine innovation credentials are becoming the go-to choices for organizations looking to modernize their offerings while meeting increasingly stringent sustainability standards.
What This Means for Hospitality and Food Service Professionals
If you’re a food and beverage manager, restaurant owner, or hospitality executive, here’s why you should pay attention to this partnership:
New Product Formats: Bite-sized, portion-controlled snacks that combine fruit and protein could fit perfectly into grab-and-go displays, healthy snack menus, and catering packages.
Health-Forward Positioning: As consumers continue prioritizing health, having access to innovative snacks that deliver real nutritional value helps differentiate your offerings.
Sustainability Credentials: Partnering with or featuring products from brands committed to responsible food systems strengthens your own sustainability story.
Menu Innovation Opportunities: Novel formats like fruit-coated protein bites open creative possibilities for desserts, appetizers, and kids’ menus.
For more insights on how food and beverage trends are shaping the industry, check out our coverage of ECRM Foodservice Sessions spotlighting top innovators and brands and explore how executive chef appointments are driving innovation at leading hospitality properties.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Launch and Beyond
The first products from the Foodberry and Bel partnership are slated to launch in select U.S. markets in 2026. While specific details about flavors, formats, and retail distribution remain under wraps, the companies have made clear that this is just the beginning of a broader collaboration.
Given the $6+ billion size of the U.S. fruit snack category and the growing consumer appetite for functional, better-for-you options, the stakes are high: and the potential rewards even higher.
The Bottom Line
The Foodberry and Bel Group partnership represents exactly the kind of strategic collaboration the food and beverage industry needs more of: bringing together established brand power with genuine technological innovation to solve real consumer problems.
For food service professionals, hospitality leaders, and anyone tracking the evolution of snacking, this is a partnership worth watching closely. The fusion of real fruit, protein, and cutting-edge food technology in convenient, portion-controlled formats isn’t just a trend: it’s the future of how Americans will fuel their busy lives.
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Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40” for founding American Wholesale Floral. Politz is also the founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
