Focus Archive
Regional Indian Cuisines: The Next Big Global Flavor Trend
Regional Indian cuisines are quickly becoming America’s next big flavor wave, with soaring Yelp searches, viral tiffin videos, and high-profile restaurant openings shining a spotlight on Kerala, Goa, Nagaland, the Himalayas, and beyond.
Tariff Rollbacks Give F&B a Breath
Tariff rollbacks on over 200 food items, including coffee and beef, promise relief for grocers and manufacturers alike. Industry leaders cheer the move as a win for affordability, supply chains, and global trade ties.
Preparing for the Worst: What F&B Leaders Can Learn From ByHeart Recall
The ByHeart recall is a stark reminder that crisis readiness isn’t optional – it’s a brand imperative. F&B leaders must treat recalls as enterprise-wide events and build muscle memory through proactive, AI-augmented preparedness.
Black Friday Fatigue? Consumers Shop Early, Skip the Frenzy
Inflation-weary consumers are fueling a shift from value meals to value-driven holiday shopping, with retailers responding through bundled bargains. Convenience and cost-consciousness are redefining seasonal food strategies and gift spending.
Surprise, Surprise: Buc-ee’s Ranked #1 in Fast Food
According to a new report, Buc-ee’s has surprisingly worked its way to the top of the quick-service charts, redefining fast food with convenience and cult-like appeal. As nontraditional players surge, legacy brands must rethink speed, snacking, and breakfast.
Harry Davis & Company Facilitates Strategic Acquisition of Manna Beverages’ West Sacramento Facility by Redwood Beverage Group
Transaction enables reemployment opportunities for local workforce and supports continued beverage production in the region PITTSBURGH., November 17, 2025 (FI NEWSWIRE) –Harry Davis & Company (HDC), a third-generation advisory firm specializing in the food and …
2026 Innovative Trends: AI, A Best Friend
Restaurants’ 3 Key Challenges for 2026
In late 2025, margins are getting squeezed from every direction – ingredients, wages, tariffs – and restaurants are feeling the burn. As costs climb, adaptability isn’t optional; it’s the only way to stay on the menu.
The Return to Real: Authenticity Is Redefining the Food Industry
In The Food Institute’s latest Food for Thought Leadership episode, Robyn Carter of Jump Rope Innovation explains how consumers’ demand for authenticity and simplicity is reshaping food retail, restaurants, and wellness, and why “real” is the future of food.
Red Cup Reckoning: Unionized Starbucks Baristas Strike Ahead of Holiday Rush
More than 1,000 unionized Starbucks baristas will walk out on the job in over 40 U.S. cities in an open-ended strike. Starbucks Workers United, which represents employees at more than 550 U.S. Starbucks stores, said the strike will begin at 4 p.m. local time.
Gen X: the New Powerhouse in Food Spending
Gen X is entering its peak spending years, favoring branded, practical food products that deliver real value. F&B leaders should act fast, because this discerning, high-ROI cohort won’t wait for promises to pan out.
Investors Urge Food Companies to Diversify with Alt-Protein Sources
As investors managing $11.5 trillion push food giants like Danone, Walmart, and Amazon to diversify their protein portfolios, the message is clear: Sustainability and resilience depend on innovation. From mycelium to electro-fermented proteins, emerging alt-protein technologies are reshaping the future of food production, and investors are hoping to fund it.
The Business Case for Agentic AI Domination
Agentic AI is reshaping food tech, driving smarter service and explosive growth. But as automation deepens, legal battles and leadership shakeups hint at a turbulent future.
Target Slashes Prices on 3,000 SKUs, Including Grocery Price Cuts
Target is slashing prices on 3,000 grocery and essentials SKUs ahead of a shaky holiday season, reigniting retail’s value wars. As inflation-weary consumers hunt for deals, global grocers are racing to stay in their baskets.
For Hain Celestial, The Debt Has Come Due
Once a natural foods juggernaut, Hain Celestial is now a cautionary tale of over-acquisition and underperformance. After a decade of turnarounds, the cupboard of fixes appears bare, and time is running out.
Cold, Deadly, and Hard to Kill: Listeria Outbreak Exposes Industry Gaps
A deadly Listeria outbreak tied to ready-to-eat pasta has triggered massive recalls and renewed scrutiny of sanitation lapses. Experts warn that cold-loving pathogens and hyper-efficient supply chains are a recipe for cross-brand disaster.
Fiber’s Metamorphosis From Metamucil to Mega Trend
Fiber is shedding its stodgy image and emerging as a gut-health powerhouse, flavor-forward snack hero, and even a microplastic-fighting ally. From baby formula to seaweed chips, it’s the next big thing in functional food.
From Nightlife to ‘Daylife’: Coffee Raves Redefine Social Gathering
Coffee raves are transforming cafés into wellness-driven, daytime social hubs and boosting margins in the process. As Gen Z redefines nightlife, savvy operators are brewing community, culture, and commerce, all in one.
2026 Innovative Trends: Value-Obsessed Shopper
3 Innovations Fueling the Growth of the Ice Cream Market
Plant-based brands, unique textures, and bold global flavors are reshaping the ice cream category. As billion-dollar deals churn, brands are focused on innovation in a competitive, sensory-driven market.
‘Managed Services’ Represent Retail Media’s Next Big Shift
Retail media is evolving fast, and streaming platforms are the new battleground. With managed services and precision targeting, even small food brands can now play big in the personalized, data-driven media landscape of 2025.
The AI Kitchen Revolution Starts Here: Inside Gambit Robotics’ Vision
Two AI experts just made their boldest move yet: launching Gambit, a kitchen assistant that automates cooking with precision. It’s a game-changer for food technology innovation. Sponsored by Gambit Robotics.
McDonald’s Looks Backwards to Move Forward
McDonald’s is betting on nostalgia to reignite value leadership, reviving Snack Wraps and Extra Value Meals. But the real play is digital: boosting app usage to drive traffic and reshape consumer perception.
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Plant-Based Faces Headwinds, Yet Pockets of Growth Persist
Now that the plant-based market has matured, it must contend with many of the same problems as the meat industry, including eking out margins as consumers tighten their wallets. However, dairy alternatives continue to be a bright spot for the sector.
The Strategic Case for the Grubhub, Instacart Team Up
Grubhub and Instacart’s unlikely alliance fills strategic gaps for both, fueling Wonder’s super app ambitions. It’s a calculated surrender on grocery that unlocks possibilities for a full-spectrum mealtime dominance.
KFC Struggles to Stop Its Multi-Decade U.S. Slide
KFC’s U.S. sales are in free fall, even as chicken sizzles across the industry. Yum! Brands’ bold pivot to “Saucy” signals a reinvention, but is it too late for KFC’s comeback?
Thanksgiving Preview: Connection, Cost-Consciousness Define 2025 Holiday
Consumers are craving connection and comfort as Thanksgiving approaches, but inflation is reshaping how they celebrate. Value-driven choices are influencing holiday traditions, resulting in predictions for pared-down menus.
Diners Demand Deals: Why ‘Worth It’ Is the New Must-Have
As diners tighten their belts, value-driven promotions and loyalty perks are proving key to filling restaurant seats. With rising costs and waning confidence, restaurants must deliver far more than just a meal.
3 Tips for Job Seekers in Light of Major F&B Layoffs
As automation and cost-cutting drive sweeping F&B layoffs, experts urge job seekers to sharpen their networking, recruiter outreach, and LinkedIn tactics. Even execs must rethink how they navigate today’s volatile hiring landscape.
2026 Innovative Trends: Geopolitical Impact
GLP-1 Drugs Have Inspired Precision Eating: What F&B Leaders Need to Know
GLP-1 drugs are shrinking appetites and supercharging demand for nutrient-dense, snackable formats. Precision eating is rewriting menus and appears to be reshaping the future of food, drink, and wellness.
The Easiest Meals to Eat on the Go, According to Kelley Blue Book
Kelley Blue Book’s “Fork in the Road” guide spotlights the top car-friendly fast-food picks for mess-free mobile dining. Boneless bites are on the rise, highlighting shifting consumer preferences in QSR innovation.
The New America: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
Political perceptions are shaping how Americans define value – and it’s not just about price. Today’s consumers demand empathy, convenience, and strategic engagement across life stages.
The Fresh Frontier: How Augmented Reality is Transforming Grocery Execution
GoSpotCheck by FORM brings real-time visibility and control to produce and meat departments – helping grocers reduce shrink, optimize labor, and improve margins through data-driven execution.
Beyond Meat Joins the Bizarre World of Meme Stocks
Beyond Meat’s financial struggles haven’t stopped retail traders from sending its stock soaring more than 600% in a week. As the plant-based pioneer swaps debt for equity, it’s become the latest unlikely star in the bizarre saga of meme stocks.