Goat Milk Gaining Steam, Due to Versatility

We might be seeing more goat milk products in the near future. The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.6% and reach $17.9 billion by 2030, according to a new report by …

3 Keys for Successful Social Media Marketing

Food businesses are losing faith in Instagram following a change in its algorithm. The social media platform’s choice to prioritize videos over photos has created unforeseen costs for small businesses, leaving many owners frustrated, reported …

The 5 Healthiest Yogurts Currently on Store Shelves

With so many yogurt brands and styles to choose from these days, it can be confusing to determine the best option in the dairy aisle. From Greek to Icelandic, full-fat to fat-free, and a plethora …

Analysis: Is There Too Much Plant-Based Competition?

Seemingly any product you can think of has a plant-based alternative these days. When The Food Institute attended this years’ Natural Products Expo West, we found a plethora of plant-based brands with items like alt-chicken …

TikTok is Becoming a Food Industry Influencer

Users sharing their food on social media is nothing new, but TikTok is taking the phenomenon to new heights. Earlier this week, the hashtag for “food” had garnered a whopping 268 billion views on the …

Does the Keto Diet Have Staying Power?

The keto diet is still making headlines after surging in popularity several years ago. Food sensitivity specialist YorkTest researched the most viewed diet-related hashtags on TikTok and found that Americans can’t get enough of the …

Why Functional Ingredients Have Consumers Hooked

It doesn’t look like the health and wellness trend is going anywhere – and functional food ingredients are sure to benefit from it. So much so, that the market is projected to reach $118.4 billion …

Why Food Brands Should be Targeting Gamers

Gamers are proving to be an influential demographic in the food industry. In fact, research from Wunderman Thompson Commerce’s Future Shopper Report 2021 shows that globally, 84% of online shoppers are gamers. With this in …

How Americans are Combatting Meal Prep Fatigue

After two years of more cooking at home, it looks like Americans are getting tired of meal prep. A survey by OnePoll on behalf of Jennie-O found that six in 10 respondents admitted feeling “burnt …

UPDATE: Global Food Supply Concerns Intensify Amid Ukraine Crisis

The conflict in Ukraine could cause food and feed prices to rise up to 20%, according to the United Nations food agency. The Food and Agriculture Organization said it was unclear whether Ukraine would be …

Webinar Recap: Health Remains Top Reason for Consuming Probiotics

With consumers prioritizing health more than ever, food makers are turning to functional ingredients like probiotics to provide documented health benefits in food and beverages. In an exclusive Food Institute webinar, bioscience company Chr. Hansen …

Drive-Thrus Could Give Full-Service Chains New Opportunities for Growth

The drive-thru lane is no longer exclusive to fast-food chains. Applebee’s recently revealed it would be “aggressively” leaning into drive-thrus as it gets back to new unit growth, reported Forbes (March 3). The chain will …

Restaurant Sales Improve Following January Slump

After ten consecutive months of traffic gains, the U.S. restaurant industry’s recovery slowed in January, according to The NPD Group. However, things are looking up. OMICRON-INDUCED SLOW DOWN IN JANUARY The surge of the COVID-19 …

Ultrafast Food Delivery May Be Slowing Down

For some time, it seemed like there was a new app every week promising New Yorkers food and other deliveries in 15 minutes or less. Now, it looks like there could be a bump in …

What’s Next in Pizza?

Consumers are getting more adventurous with their pizza. In fact, Slice’s 2022 Slice of The Union report indicates that three types of not-so-traditional pizza had their best year ever: Dairy-free pizza was 333% more popular New …

Grocery Stores Have More Work to Do on Sustainability Efforts

Consumers think grocery stores have a lot more work to do on sustainability, according to a recent survey from Retail Insight. More than half of respondents said grocery stores must improve their sustainability claims and …

What Do Consumers Want from Loyalty Programs?

Newsweek recently released its America’s Best Loyalty Programs 2022 list and several food brands stood out. In the grocery category, Kroger, Sprouts Farmers Market and Publix Super Markets landed the top spots, while Jersey Mike’s …

Consumer Purchasing Behavior Appears to Be Unchanged Despite Inflation Woes

Inflation is still a major concern for consumers, but it’s not stopping them from spending. INFLATION A CONCERN FOR 9 OF 10 AMERICANS Almost 90 percent of all adults in the U.S. are concerned about …

How Food Companies Can Prepare for Retaliatory Cyberattacks from Russia

U.S. companies should be prepared for retaliatory cyberattacks following Biden Administration sanctions against Russia for invading Ukraine. U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, said private companies should be …

UPDATED: How Will Global Food Supply Chain Be Affected by Russia-Ukraine Crisis?

Editor’s note: This report was updated Thursday to reflect the Russian invasion of Ukraine the night prior, as Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a military operation in eastern Ukraine. Below, FI looks at certain ramifications …

Nutrition vs. Weight Loss: Consumers Shifting Away from Diet Culture

U.S. consumer attitudes about health and wellness are shifting. People have stopped focusing on diets and “can’t haves” and are instead paying attention to whole-body health and lifestyle changes they feel will be long-lasting, according …

How Much Inflation Can Consumers Handle?

Inflation at the grocery store continues to rise — and consumers are noticing. In fact, the CPI food at home index rose 7.4 percent over the last 12 months, according to The Bureau of Labor …

What Will the Key Restaurant Tech Investments Be in 2022?

From robots to scheduling software, restaurants are implementing all types of new technology into their operations of late. With so many new developments this year, The Food Institute decided to take a closer look at …

EXCLUSIVE: OLIPOP CEO on Latest Funding Round, New Products

Functional soda brand OLIPOP recently raised $30 million in a financing round that included several celebrity investors. The Food Institute spoke with co-founder and CEO Ben Goodwin to learn more about the company’s product development …

Why Consumers are Still Buying in Bulk

Nearly two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers are still buying in bulk. Following over 20 years of steady but slow sales growth, sales at bulk retailers Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale Club, rose 26.6% …

Amazon Reports Higher Sales and Prime Membership Price Hike

Amazon sales continue to rise, with the e-commerce giant reporting fourth-quarter sales grew 9.4% to $137.4 billion. Notably, Amazon had its biggest-ever Black Friday to Cyber Monday holiday shopping weekend. Further, during the holiday season, …

Study Illustrates Snacking’s Expanding Role in Consumers’ Lives

The definition of what a snack can be is broadening, and so is the role snacks play in consumers’ lives, according to Mondelēz International’s State of Snacking 2021 study. Seventy-nine percent of global consumers say …

School Lunch Rules Updated Amid Supply Chain Disruptions

The Biden administration has issued transitional standards for school lunches to get cafeterias back on a healthier course as they recover from the pandemic. Here’s what to expect: WHAT IS CHANGING? During the pandemic, schools …

UPDATE: Logistics Companies Accelerating Hiring

A new report shows logistics companies accelerated hiring in January. Trucking, parcel-delivery and warehousing companies added a combined 42,100 jobs last month, according to seasonally adjusted preliminary employment data released by The U.S. Bureau of …

New Findings Show Gen Z Researches Brands Extensively

New Qualtrics research shows that Gen Z consumers are more digitally connected, more socially conscious and willing to do more research before making purchases than other generational cohorts. In a Food Institute article from late …

Some Like It Hot: Spicy Snacks and Hot Sauce on the Rise

Recent polls suggest Americans are adding a little spice to their lives. An Instacart survey of over 2,000 U.S. adults found that 74% of Americans eat hot sauce with their food, and nearly half (45%) said …

Restaurant Sales Expected to Exceed Pre-Pandemic Levels in 2022

Things are looking up in the world of foodservice. Restaurant industry sales are expected to hit $898 billion this year, up from $864 billion in 2019, according to the National Restaurant Association’s State of the …

WATCH: Cutting Edge Food Tech Displayed at Winter Olympics

With the Winter Olympics underway this week, we’ve been getting a glimpse at some technological innovations used to feed the thousands of athletes in attendance. Robotic technology is helping serve athletes in Beijing, for example. …

FDA: Blockchain-Based Food Tracking Bound for Widespread Adoption

A new rule could boost blockchain-based food tracking. The rule, expected next November, would require the food industry to maintain records associated with the critical tracking events on the supply chain, according to Frank Yiannas, …

Is MrBeast Changing the Game in Food Marketing?

YouTube star Jimmy Donaldson – better known as MrBeast – is getting back into the food space with a better-for-you snack brand. Following the success of his virtual restaurant brand, MrBeast Burger, Donaldson is introducing …

Poll: Americans Bracing for More Inflation as CPG Prices Rise

Nearly eight in 10 Americans expect inflation to persist over the next six months—and they’re probably right. Half even anticipate it to increase “a lot,” while 78% expect interest rates to rise, according to a …