7-Eleven, Live Nation Partnership Exemplifies Experiential Marketing

7-Eleven is redefining experiential marketing by embedding its brand into live music culture as it works to appeal to to younger consumers.

Food Delivery Showdown: Mergers, Acquisitions, Repositions

Food delivery giants like DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, and Grubhub are making bold strategic moves – from acquisitions to service diversification – to capture both consumer loyalty and merchant partnerships. As competition heats up, these platforms are doubling down on technology, international expansion, and grocery delivery integration.

NGA Takes Aim at Proposed SNAP Cuts, Industry Concerned

The National Grocers Association recently led efforts to urge Congress to reject a proposal that will slash SNAP funding by 20%.

Industry Shaken: Indie Cafés Outbrew the Big Guys

Independent cafés and mid-sized coffee chains are chipping away at the dominance of Starbucks and Dunkin’, leveraging bold menu experimentation to capture customers. Challenger brands are expanding aggressively, too.

Yogurt Is Having a Moment

Recent moves in the yogurt segment from CPG giants signal a strong category foundation heading into an uncertain economic future—a white horse amid other stagnating retail categories. Danone, for example, beat out analyst expectations with its Q1 sales.

HHS Plans to Remove Synthetic Food Dyes, Industry Responds

Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the FDA took to the stage to outline a plan to phase out eight petroleum-based synthetic dyes as well as take steps to improve the American food supply. The announcement was met with a less-than-enthusiastic industry response.

Retailers, Manufacturers Struggle to Brace for Tariffs

Despite the 90-day pause on many of the reciprocal tariffs impacting the F&B industry, retailers and manufacturers are feeling anything but calm. National Retail Federation data suggests the sector has adopted a conservative approach to the next quarter, with many retailers relying on built-up inventory.

Grubhub Resuscitates Seamless, Bets Big on NYC

Grubhub recently announced it is bringing Seamless back as a standalone brand specifically for the NYC community. The strategy endeavors to target the market as part of the “next chapter” in its partnership with Wonder.

Airlines Look to F&B to Up Their Customer Experience

If you’ve flown in the past few years, you’ve likely run into a poor customer experience on an airline: albeit from overworked staff trying their best, delayed and canceled flights, more turbulence, and smaller seats. …

‘Status Quo’ Wont Cut It: Private Label Market Share Threatened

The battle between private label and name brands has taken a new form as analysts portend a stagnating global own brand market. The path ahead relies on innovation and retail portfolio synergy, NIQ noted.

The Billion (Family) Dollar Question: What Happened to Dollar Stores?

After purchasing discount retailer Family Dollar for roughly $9 billion in 2015, Dollar Tree admitted defeat in a recent sale earlier this month that valued the banner at only $1 billion. Is this a signal …

Salad Chains Diversify As ‘Peak Salad’ Looms

As better-for-you salad chains stagnate, they take on novel growth strategies to complement ambitious expansion strategies. Sweetgreen and Just Salad are two major chains endeavoring to take on new consumer need states.

Plant-Based Braves the Sales Slump

The plant-based food industry may have found a way through its stagnation. A recent report found consumers increased their plant-based purchases throughout 2024, a signal of a healthy year ahead. Nutpods CMO Patrick Coyle recommended brands in the sector strike the right balance between “value” and “values.”

FDA Delays Food Traceability Rule, Industry Rejoices

The FDA recently delayed the compliance date for a fiercely debated section of the Food Safety Modernization Act which requires additional record-keeping requirements for “high-risk” foods. Overall, the industry is pleased with the decision.

Athletic Brewing, AB InBev Wage Battle of the Brews

A recent report from NCS Solutions shows that nearly 50% of Americans are trying to reduce their alcohol consumption in 2025, with Gen Z leading the movement. Bill Shufelt, CEO of Athletic Brewing Company, highlighted the rapid growth of the non-alcoholic sector, driven by health-conscious trends, at the recent UBS Global Consumer and Retail Conference.

Wendy’s Growth Playbook Leans on Careful Innovation

Wendy’s has set aspirational financial goals for the next few years and is leveraging innovative practices to achieve them. Capitalizing on various dayparts with compelling value propositions and tapping collaborations are key tools the brand is using to achieve a new era of growth.

Future of Global Flavors: Carving Out Your Niche, Finding Community

At Natural Products Expo West, panelists noted the need for brands to showcase premium quality when offering products featuring global flavors. Industry experts also said brands must offer authentic yet accessible global cuisine.

3 Key Takeaways From Natural Products Expo West

This week, Natural Products Expo West 2025 showcased trends in the natural and organic sectors from nearly 3,200 exhibitors. The show especially highlighted the impact of GLP-1 drugs on snacking habits.

Coffee for Kids? Kiid Coffee Endeavors to Disrupt Children’s Nutrition

New to the scene, Kiid Coffee is a better-for-you children’s nutrition brand that packs vitamins into a coffee beverage. Its founders will appear on Shark Tank on March 7.

Price: The Elusive Enemy of Food Delivery

Food delivery shoppers are becoming more price sensitive, indicating that platforms will have to get creative to ensure profits. One key growth lever for companies in 2025 is reinforcing their commitments to grocery, the often-overlooked food delivery service next to restaurants.

Walmart Partnership Pushes Fresh Produce Limits

Walmart is partnering with India-based agritech company GreenPod Labs to clean up its supply chain: the tech innovation endeavors to minimize produce spoilage during transportation.

Black History Month: Celebrating Black-Owned Businesses, Industry Advice

February is Black History Month, and industry insiders say it serves as a reminder that there remains a persistent need for industry collaboration to promote diversity and inclusion.

A Fizzy Fiasco – PepsiCo Embroiled in Yet Another Legal Battle

The recent lawsuit in California alleging PepsiCo’s engagement in nefarious pricing practices is the latest in an ongoing movement in food and beverage to leverage the Robinson-Patman Act to strengthen small businesses’ economic autonomy. The act is also a fiercely debated issue in the U.S. government.

F&B Supply Chains Brace for Trump Administration Tariffs

Trump administration tariffs continue to warn the F&B sector; however, there are options to evade its impacts through careful sourcing strategies. Data and new technologies present opportunities for brands to take control of the situation.

Global Street Food Takes Over Frozen Aisle

Global street food is hot: contributing over $543.5 million in frozen aisle CPG sales over the past two years.

Starbucks’ Brian Niccol Really Doesn’t Want Howard Schultz to Save Him

Only a few months into his new role, Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol is laying out a radical plan to curry Americans’ favor with the brand. Tensions are high, as ex-CEO Howard Schultz may not be able to save the café chain if Niccol can’t get it back on track.

Flower Power: Gen Z Craves Floral Menu Innovations

As consumers wish for better spring weather, recent data shows that floral flavors are growing in popularity, particularly among Gen Z and younger consumers. FI spoke with an industry expert about these nascent trends and their deeper implications.

Plant-Based Assessment: Headwinds Harrowing, Future Begets Optimism

The plant-based food industry is at an inflection point: recent data suggests that interest in the lifestyle decreased somewhat in 2024 from the year before. Innovations in the space, however, have given the sector the tools to cater to consumer pain points.

It’s Private Label’s World — On the ‘Cusp of a Super Cycle’

Private label continues to maintain dominance over the CPG sector: in 2024, it grew $9 billion from the year before. As a result, opportunities and innovation abound.

Brewing Gains: ‘Proffee’ Momentum Grows

Consumers are doubling down on their protein intake with a protein-infused coffee trend dubbed “proffee.” CPGs and retailers alike are hopping on to get a bit of the buzz.

Inspiring Supply Chain Resilience: A Farm-to-Fork Approach

Recent supply chain disruptions further prove that operators need to consider ways to integrate resilience into their approach. One key method is through integrating flexibility into shipment processes.

UK-Based PizzaExpress Charts Course for Florida

U.K. darling PizzaExpress is charting a course for a U.S. takeover beginning with locations throughout Florida. The chain offers an affordable escape with a unique twist, including live music.

Beyond Price Hikes: How CPGs Stay Competitive

As CPGs can no longer guarantee price increases as a surefire way to maintain positive margins, they’re looking to other solutions. Premiumization and brand acquisitions are two methods stakeholders will leverage in the coming year.

FDA Red Dye No. 3 Ban One Week Out: What You Need to Know

The FDA’s recent ban on Red Dye No. 3, effective January 2027, marks a significant shift for food manufacturers, as the colorant has been linked to cancer in animal studies. The decision has sparked debate over food safety, consumer pressure, and the influence of international standards.

Cautious Optimism Fuels Retail Boom

As traditional post-pandemic headwinds subside, retailers are ready to meet today’s savvy consumers to inspire growth. To succeed in today’s market, it’s prudent to understand how cautious optimism shapes buying habits.

Consumers Fall in Love with Hawaiian Eats

Hawaiian cuisine is getting more popular on the mainland, with searches for Hawaiian barbecue up 88% from last year and Hawaiian Mac Salad up 523% over the same period. What’s behind this boom?