Driverless Delivery Trucks Quickly Becoming a Reality

Autonomous trucks with an empty driver’s seat may sound futuristic and far-off, but they’re already on the roads making deliveries in Arkansas and Ontario. Next stop? Kroger, in Dallas.

America’s Top 5 Grocery Loyalty Programs in 2023

As food prices continue to rise in these economically uncertain times, value is at the forefront of many consumers’ minds and grocery loyalty programs are more important than ever. But which grocery loyalty programs do consumers value most?

The Food Industry’s ‘Unique Vulnerabilities’ to Cyberattacks

Cyberattacks at food companies have sounded alarms throughout the industry, leaving many businesses wondering when they will be attacked.

Report: Less Than Half of Consumers Grocery Shop In-Store

Walking into a grocery store used to be how most people bought groceries, but now only 44% of consumers do most of their shopping on premises.

How Bioprotection Naturally Prevents Moldy Yogurt

Bioprotection prevents yeast and mold from growing, extending the shelf life of fermented foods and the manufacturer’s bottom line.

Another City Bans Junk Food at Supermarket Checkout

Perris, California has become the second U.S. city to ban junk food at supermarket checkouts, replacing sugary snacks with healthier alternatives.

Study: Consumers Crave Instantly Edible Foods Most

Instantly edible food that does not need to be cooked, peeled, or unwrapped is around 15% more appealing than food that requires any form of preparation, according to a new study.

3 Emerging Technologies About to Reshape Food Retail

Tech companies are transforming grocery retail with innovative solutions to common problems in the checkout aisle, on store shelves, and beyond.

Free Decatur Supermarket Shuttle Drives Shoppers to Publix

City officials in Decatur, Georgia have partnered with Publix to test out a free electric shuttle that drives shoppers to the supermarket following the closure of a downtown Kroger location.

Are Drive-Thru Grocery Stores the Future of Food Retail?

Addie’s, a new drive-up grocery store, just opened its first location in Norwood, Massachusetts, where shoppers will never need to step foot inside.

Precision Fermentation Promises a More Sustainable Future

Precision fermentation technology makes it possible to create alternative egg and milk proteins identical in taste, texture, and functionality to the traditional stuff—without using any animals.

America’s Top 3 Grocery Stores Ranked by Consumers

Aldi was named America’s most popular grocery store overall, but it wasn’t the favorite among every demographic, according to a recent poll.

‘Keto’ Was Most Searched Diet Plan in 2022

Americans searched for “keto diet plan” an average of 52,000 times per month last year, according to a Total Shape report.

Drinking Less Isn’t Reserved for ‘Dry January’ Anymore

Less people are participating in Dry January this year, but data suggests that’s because drinking less alcohol is now on-trend year round.

In-Store Bakeries Offer Opportunities for Sweet Success

In-store bakery performance is on the rise, with a whopping 95% of shoppers eating a bakery item at least occasionally and 63% doing so weekly, according to a new FMI report. The report, which explored …

Schnucks’ ‘Flexforce’ Answers Gen Z’s Calls for Flexibility

Schnucks is giving workers the flexibility to choose shifts at a time and store location that works for them with the expansion of its “Flexforce” employment option.

Can Climate Labels on Fast-Food Menus Change Consumer Behavior?

Climate labels on fast-food menus can influence consumers to order less beef and opt for a more sustainable meal instead.

Consumers’ Top 10 Craveable Coffee Chains

Technomic polled consumers to rank their top coffee chains, finding consumers valued taste, specialty flavors, and high-quality beans.

“Better-For-You” Snacks Blur the Line Between Health and Indulgence

Where is the line between healthy and indulgent? Experts weigh in on the merits of new “better-for-you” snack options that intend to walk it.

Self-Checkouts Often Inaccessible to Disabled Shoppers

Disability-advocacy groups are calling upon retailers to address the issue of inaccessible self-checkout lanes.

Infarm Grows Wheat Indoors in Food Security Breakthrough

Amsterdam-based startup Infarm has become the first vertical farming company to successfully grow wheat indoors.

‘Restaurant Venture Capital’ Doesn’t Mean What it Used To

The meaning of “restaurant venture capital” is changing. While the term has historically referred to funding for brick-and-mortar restaurants, the restaurant venture capitalists of today have shifted their focus to investing in foodservice technology. Last …

Case Study: How Seth Goldman Built Just Ice Tea in 3 Months

When the Coca-Cola Co. announced it was discontinuing Honest Tea, co-founder Seth Goldman jumped into action. In a recent episode of The Food Institute Podcast, Goldman discussed his decision to launch Just Ice Tea and …

Will Instant Delivery Survive Post-Covid?

Inflation is on the rise, the economy is in a downturn, and consumers have returned to shopping in-person in pursuit of discounts—all of which spells trouble for instant-delivery companies.

Experts’ Top 3 Flavor Trends to Watch in 2023

New flavor trends are emerging at the intersection of persistent food inflation and pent-up consumer demand leftover from COVID lockdowns.

Food Prices Negatively Impacting Consumers’ Outlook on Inflation

Food inflation has been a major contributor to CP’s steady climb, and is negatively impacting consumers’ outlooks on inflation in the future.

Manufacturers Cut Costs with ‘Skimpflation’ – and Savvy Consumers Take Note

Some food brands have reformulated their products using cheaper ingredients – a tactic some refer to as “skimpflation.”

Analysis: Why World Hunger is Worsening

World hunger has gotten significantly worse in recent years, with the World Food Program reporting 345 million people suffering from it.

Analysis: Why Consumers Crave Pumpkin Spice

Almost as ubiquitous as the changing colors of the leaves or a crisp chill in the air, the arrival of pumpkin-spice-flavored everything signals that fall is here. Ever since Starbucks introduced the pumpkin spice latte …

Walmart Shoppable Livestreams: a New Era in Digital Marketing?

As retailers seek to increase sales via digital channels, Walmart will use livestream video to create immersive shoppable experiences.

Is Wegmans Leading the Charge to Ban Plastic Bags?

Regional grocer Wegmans will complete its mission to eliminate plastic bags companywide by the end of the year. Now, the question remains: Will other U.S. grocers follow suit?

New Social Media App Could Reshape Food Shopping

The latest social media network just launched, and it’s exclusively for foodies. The Flavrs app provides a feed of cooking videos, recipe tutorials and meal-planning content with a shoppable integration that enables users to instantly …

Predictive-Maintenance Tech Aiding Manufacturers’ Efficiency

Predictive-maintenance technology – smart software that listens to machines to predict equipment failures before they happen – could prove to be a valuable service, especially as manufacturers grapple with supply chain disruptions and labor shortages. …

Starbucks Plots a Revival

A wave of unionization efforts spurred by frustrated workers and outdated systems are signs that Starbucks must plot a revival. At this pivotal moment for the coffee giant, what exactly needs to change? Let’s take …

Instacart Aims to Broaden Grocery Delivery’s Appeal

Instacart has launched several new features, including shoppable carts curated by celebrities, in an effort to broaden the appeal of the grocery delivery platform. Could these new features signal a transitional period for the grocery …

Will AI Ordering Go Mainstream at Restaurants?

In response to labor shortages, some restaurants are turning to AI-powered bots that answer phones and communicate with customers.