Walmart’s Innovation Center Unveils the Future: Cleaner Labels and Exciting New Flavors
FOX Business’ Kelly Saberi joins ‘The Claman Countdown’ with an inside look at Walmart’s sweeping effort to eliminate synthetic dyes and artificial ingredients from its foods without raising costs for shoppers.
Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, is committed to maintaining low prices while removing synthetic dyes and over 30 other artificial ingredients from its private-label brands by January 2027.
Walmart boasts 18 of its own brands, with seven lines alone generating approximately $1 billion annually. Scott Morris, senior vice president of private brands for food and consumables, recently provided FOX Business Network with a tour of Walmart’s expansive 23,000-square-foot Culinary and Innovation Center, showcasing how the company develops its products.
“Customers are turning over that package, that bag, or looking digitally at those ingredients more than they ever have,” said Morris. “More than half of the customers are actually very in tune and looking at those ingredient labels. They want simplicity, transparency, and ingredients they can pronounce and understand.”
The entrance to Walmart’s Culinary and Innovation Center in Bentonville, Arkansas. (Walmart Inc. / Fox News)
WALMART ELIMINATING SYNTHETIC DYES FROM ITS PRIVATE-LABEL FOOD BRANDS
Currently, Walmart’s private-branded products are already 90% free of synthetic dyes, with lines like Bettergoods being entirely devoid of artificial ingredients. This initiative includes the removal of artificial dyes, flavors, certain preservatives, artificial sweeteners, and fat substitutes.
Walmart launches a new private food label that doesn’t mirror any national brands. (Walmart)
This initiative aligns with similar commitments made by other major companies like Kraft Heinz, PepsiCo, and General Mills. As the nation’s most ubiquitous grocer, Walmart executives emphasize that they are responding to consumer demand.
The company is actively researching the latest food trends. New offerings include innovative items such as stuffed pastry bread with raspberry rose and cardamom jam, ube dinner rolls, chicken wings with spicy dill dry rub, and cacio e pepe arancini.
While these products may seem elevated, Morris insists they are designed to be accessible for all consumers.
A box of Great Value Berry Crunch cereal at Walmart’s Culinary and Innovation Center in Bentonville, Arkansas. (Walmart Inc. / Fox News)
WALMART’S STRONG QUARTER SHOWS AMERICANS ARE STILL SPENDING
“We’re well over 450 items to date, and the reception of the brand has been outstanding,” said Morris. “We’ve had a very high return and repeat rate, but more importantly, we brought 60% of people into private brands that weren’t there yesterday.”
The latest consumer price index data indicates that overall food prices rose roughly three percent in September compared to the previous year. Notably, 70% of Bettergoods products are priced at $5 or less.
Walmart’s private-label food brand, Bettergoods. (Walmart)
Walmart is also introducing a variety of holiday items, including cakes priced under $20. Some of these baked goods feature interactive elements, such as a Dr. Seuss-themed cake that opens to reveal candy and gumballs pouring out like a piñata when cut.
WHO IS JOHN FURNER, WALMART’S NEWLY NAMED CEO?
Katie Miles, the senior product development manager for bakery, is behind the store’s innovative sweet treats. Her team has created a Dubai-style chocolate cake, inspired by a viral 2024 social media trend. Miles emphasizes that every family should have access to a special cake for holiday celebrations while staying within budget.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMT | WALMART INC. | 115.66 | +0.24 | +0.21% |
“We’re trying to make entertaining easy, and dessert is no exception,” said Miles. “When you’re doing your holiday spread, you’re going to have leftovers. We want to ensure those leftovers are utilized, so there’s no waste.”
A cake at Walmart’s Culinary and Innovation Center in Bentonville, Arkansas. | Fox News
Her team is also exploring creative ways for customers to entertain using leftovers. For instance, Miles transformed a leftover pumpkin pie into a hushpuppy dish with pancake batter, served with caramel sauce.
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“The [holiday] season can be very overwhelming for people sometimes,” said Denise Wright, Walmart’s vice president of private brands in food. “Our goal is to solve problems for our customers and reduce that stress level.”
FOX Business’ Kelly Saberi joins ‘The Claman Countdown’ with an inside look at Walmart’s sweeping effort to eliminate synthetic dyes and artificial ingredients from its foods without raising costs for shoppers.
Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, is committed to maintaining low prices while removing synthetic dyes and over 30 other artificial ingredients from its private-label brands by January 2027.
Walmart boasts 18 of its own brands, with seven lines alone generating approximately $1 billion annually. Scott Morris, senior vice president of private brands for food and consumables, recently provided FOX Business Network with a tour of Walmart’s expansive 23,000-square-foot Culinary and Innovation Center, showcasing how the company develops its products.
“Customers are turning over that package, that bag, or looking digitally at those ingredients more than they ever have,” said Morris. “More than half of the customers are actually very in tune and looking at those ingredient labels. They want simplicity, transparency, and ingredients they can pronounce and understand.”
The entrance to Walmart’s Culinary and Innovation Center in Bentonville, Arkansas. (Walmart Inc. / Fox News)
WALMART ELIMINATING SYNTHETIC DYES FROM ITS PRIVATE-LABEL FOOD BRANDS
Currently, Walmart’s private-branded products are already 90% free of synthetic dyes, with lines like Bettergoods being entirely devoid of artificial ingredients. This initiative includes the removal of artificial dyes, flavors, certain preservatives, artificial sweeteners, and fat substitutes.
Walmart launches a new private food label that doesn’t mirror any national brands. (Walmart)
This initiative aligns with similar commitments made by other major companies like Kraft Heinz, PepsiCo, and General Mills. As the nation’s most ubiquitous grocer, Walmart executives emphasize that they are responding to consumer demand.
The company is actively researching the latest food trends. New offerings include innovative items such as stuffed pastry bread with raspberry rose and cardamom jam, ube dinner rolls, chicken wings with spicy dill dry rub, and cacio e pepe arancini.
While these products may seem elevated, Morris insists they are designed to be accessible for all consumers.
A box of Great Value Berry Crunch cereal at Walmart’s Culinary and Innovation Center in Bentonville, Arkansas. (Walmart Inc. / Fox News)
WALMART’S STRONG QUARTER SHOWS AMERICANS ARE STILL SPENDING
“We’re well over 450 items to date, and the reception of the brand has been outstanding,” said Morris. “We’ve had a very high return and repeat rate, but more importantly, we brought 60% of people into private brands that weren’t there yesterday.”
The latest consumer price index data indicates that overall food prices rose roughly three percent in September compared to the previous year. Notably, 70% of Bettergoods products are priced at $5 or less.
Walmart’s private-label food brand, Bettergoods. (Walmart)
Walmart is also introducing a variety of holiday items, including cakes priced under $20. Some of these baked goods feature interactive elements, such as a Dr. Seuss-themed cake that opens to reveal candy and gumballs pouring out like a piñata when cut.
WHO IS JOHN FURNER, WALMART’S NEWLY NAMED CEO?
Katie Miles, the senior product development manager for bakery, is behind the store’s innovative sweet treats. Her team has created a Dubai-style chocolate cake, inspired by a viral 2024 social media trend. Miles emphasizes that every family should have access to a special cake for holiday celebrations while staying within budget.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMT | WALMART INC. | 115.66 | +0.24 | +0.21% |
“We’re trying to make entertaining easy, and dessert is no exception,” said Miles. “When you’re doing your holiday spread, you’re going to have leftovers. We want to ensure those leftovers are utilized, so there’s no waste.”
A cake at Walmart’s Culinary and Innovation Center in Bentonville, Arkansas. | Fox News
Her team is also exploring creative ways for customers to entertain using leftovers. For instance, Miles transformed a leftover pumpkin pie into a hushpuppy dish with pancake batter, served with caramel sauce.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
“The [holiday] season can be very overwhelming for people sometimes,” said Denise Wright, Walmart’s vice president of private brands in food. “Our goal is to solve problems for our customers and reduce that stress level.”
