5 Plant-Forward Alt-Meat Innovations

Innovators are shaking up the alt-meat category with plant-forward creations that contain more whole foods and less processed ingredients. Here are five companies to watch.

5 Healthy Alt-Meat Products

The Food Institute spoke with two dietitians to outline some of the healthiest alt-meat products available today and break down best practices for reading nutrition labels.

Deep Dive: The State of Alternative Milk

Alternative milks remain the darling of plant-based growth. Record high dairy inflation and a deluge of new alternatives, however, are putting the brakes on product movement.

Boosting the Better-for-You Beverage Offer in Foodservice

Better-for-you beverages are booming, but major foodservice players have been slow to diversify their fountain offerings. Can consumer demand for healthier alternatives turn the tides?

Taking Sustainable Snacks “Beyond the Plant”

Plant-based snacks can be a confusing category for consumers to navigate. The Food Institute spoke with Nora Witt, VP of Marketing at Dole Packaged Foods, about the evolution and key elements of plant-forward snacks across the supply chain.

Survey: Boosting Alt-Meat Adoption

A new survey by Sweet Earth explores the decline in alt-meat adoption to source potential solutions to reignite consumer interest.

CPG: Economic Pressure Impacting All Consumer Groups

Economic pressure continues to put a squeeze on consumers across all income tiers, leaving them vulnerable to further downturns in the year ahead.

Q&A: Nestlé Targets Plant-Based at University Dining Halls

The success of plant-based in food service will come down to making foods “attractive and craveable so that they are the choice and not the compromise to a meal experience,” according to one Nestlé executive.

Cell-Cultured Snapshot: How to “Make” Meat

Cell-cultured meat continues to expand on a global scale as start-ups and major meat producers target the category. But how exactly are cuts of cultivated meat created — and how soon can consumers purchase these products?

Can Vegan Dating Apps Impact the Plant-Based Category?

A growing number of vegan dating apps are putting a social spin on the plant-based movement. But how relevant are these meatless match-making services to the food industry at large?

Taking Stock: The Current State of Plant-Based

This industry review looks back on the major sales figures and trends that shaped the state of plant-based over the past year.

Plant-Based Meal Kits Keep Growing

As pandemic demand for meal subscription services dwindles, the industry continues to evolve — for better or worse. Could plant-based varieties boost overall market growth in the year ahead?

Heavenly Hydration: Drinkable Rainwater on the Rise

As climate concerns continue to shake up the food industry, Richard’s Rainwater is bottling fresh rain with a focus on localized access and sustainability.

Challenges Ahead for Plant-Based Innovation

Innovation continues to play a critical role in plant-based product advancement, but significant challenges remain in the year ahead.

Report: CPGs Tap into Multi-Sensory Experiences

From fragrance-driven LTOs to shopping in the metaverse, consumers will be seeking multi-sensory experiences in 2023, according to a new report by Trendincite LLC.

Functional Health, Global Flavors Driving Ingredient Trends

Consumers are redefining healthy eating with a growing taste for functional, authentic, and adventurous ingredients, according to a new report from Tastewise.

Plant-Based Trends to Watch in 2023

What will 2023 hold for plant-based? The Food Institute spoke with several industry analysts to explore what’s in store for the year ahead.

Outlook Sizzling for Plant-Based Deli Meats

Lunch meats were a star player at retail throughout the pandemic and that trend is retaining its momentum. But can this boon boost demand for plant-based deli cuts?

Does the Restaurant CPG Trend Have Staying Power?

Despite higher grocery inflation, consumers continue to splurge on their favorite restaurant brands at retail, fueling a trend that has gained significant momentum in recent years. “Restaurants are looking to exploit brand loyalty that really …

Major CPG Players Fueling Alt Cream Cheese Innovation

Amidst the booming cultured dairy market, major food manufacturers are taking plant-based cream cheese to the next level.

Is Plant-Based Still a Powerhouse?

Plant-based products continue to proliferate across the industry despite significant barriers to adoption, including taste and affordability.

Divergent Consumer Groups Influence Holiday Spending

While worries over inflation and the economy take precedent for a leading percentage of consumers, a sizable number are approaching the holiday season with a desire to live sustainable lives or have rewarding experiences.

FDA Issues First Approval for Cell-Cultured Chicken

Cultivated meat producer Upside Foods received regulatory approval from the FDA, making it the first company to reach this milestone in the U.S. While not a green light for the industry at large, the decision opens the door to more approvals

Analysis: Could ‘Hybrid’ Meat be a Plant-Based Breakthrough?

As an expanding number of startups pursue the commercialization of cultivated meat, a select few are targeting the hybrid approach — blending small quantities of lab-grown cells into primarily plant-based products. While affordable, 100% cultivated …

Demand for Plant-Based Mayo Spreading

Demand for plant-based condiments is spreading in the U.S., and The Kraft Heinz Not Company is zeroing in on plant-based mayo. In late October, Kraft Heinz and NotCo unveiled their first collaborative offerings — plant-based cheese …

Whole Foods Top Trends Highlight Brands on a Mission

What are Whole Foods top trends for food in 2023? Brands with a mission ranked highly in this year’s report.

Plant-Based QSRs Boosting Consumer Trial

A growing number of plant-based burger chains are cropping up across the country as more younger consumers flock to quick service restaurants

Survey: Tracking Gen Z Food Preferences

Here are key stats on what, and where, Gen Z is eating these days, according to Piper Sandler’s Fall Taking Stock with Teens survey.

Report: Loyalty Members Defying Inflation with Higher Spending

Loyalty spending reached the highest point on record across all restaurant and convenience store concepts in 2021. This traction reflects the value of loyalty programs as a source of revenue during inflationary periods. According to …

Millennials, Gen Z Key to Plant-Based Advancement

Despite industry-wide challenges, both dairy and meat plant-based alternatives are forecast to grow through 2024, driven almost entirely by Millennials and Gen Zers. According to a recent report by The NPD Group, these plant-based consumers …

IRI: 5 Keys to Drive CPG Growth in 2023

As inflation continues, consumers are responding by shopping value channels more and buying fewer premium meals and snacks, according to IRI.

Breaking Down Plant-Based Egg Advancements

The projected size of the plant-based egg market continues to rise. Here are a few noteworthy advancements across this emerging segment.

Sugar Reduction Trend Sweetening Candy Sales

The sugar reduction trend is growing in candy and confectionary, boosted by broader product assortments and new innovations. A recent IRI report on sugar-free chocolate and candy explores this market and highlights opportunities for continued …

How Inflation’s Impacting Plant-Based Meat Sales

As a variety of factors aggravate the downward trajectory of alternative meat sales at retail, refrigerated varieties continue to fuel the category’s deceleration.

Q&A: Top Trends at 2022 Plant-Based World Expo

Culinary creativity was booming at the Plant-Based World Expo on September 8 in New York City. In this Q&A, Ben Davis, VP of Content at Plant Based World unpacks expo trends and key developments across the plant-based industry.

CEO: Consumers Adopting ‘Drastic’ Lifestyle Changes, ‘Inflation Diet’

With August food prices increasing 11.4% year-over-year, Americans are experiencing a fundamental shift in their everyday patterns, with some even adopting an “inflation diet.” A recent survey by consumer research platform Attest took a closer …