Why the Digital Shelf Label Backlash is History Repeating Itself
Walmart’s sweeping digital shelf label rollout has sparked a familiar debate. The last time retail faced this much resistance to a shelf-level technology, it was called the barcode.
Focus Archive
3 Berries Brightening Seasonal Menus
Menu revamps are putting seasonal berries at the center of innovation. Health halo effects, vivid colors, and nostalgic flavors are fueling this trend.
Foodservice Battle: Channel Deep Dive
Circana: Consumers Look to Supplements to Reduce Stress
Consumers are leaning into supplements and “functional indulgence” as they look for stress relief and mood support. Food and beverage brands that spotlight credible adaptogens and familiar flavors can take advantage of the wellness trend.
Mother’s Day 2026 Spending Predicted to Break Record
Mother’s Day spending is set to break records as consumers lean into premium treats and experience driven celebrations. Chocolate emerges as the emotional anchor of the holiday, with dark varieties surging as shoppers seek meaningful yet affordable indulgence.
Pesticide Concerns Grow Ahead of Supreme Court’s Ruling on Roundup
Bayer’s Roundup faced a pivotal Supreme Court showdown on April 27 amid intensifying concerns over cancer-causing pesticides and many produce items showing high levels of pesticide residue, including PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” in a recent report. However, the court was divided on the issue, with a final ruling expected by the end of June.
Why 2026 Could Include the Summer of the Staycation
With gas prices surging past $4 per gallon in many states and the U.S. engaged in a heated conflict with Iran, this could be the summer of the staycation.
BMO: M&A Opportunities Abound in F&B
Coming off a year where food and beverage M&A activity remained relatively stable, 2026 is shaping up to be a strong year for dealmakers. The current market is characterized by fewer, higher transaction deals, with an appetite for disruptive brands.
3 Emerging Innovations in Eco-Friendly Packaging
Sustainable packaging materials are moving from concept to real-world testing as scrutiny of microplastics intensifies. Explore three emerging solutions that show promise, though experts say scalability and cost remain barriers to widespread adoption.
Why the Jersey Mike’s IPO Might Be a Challenge
Jersey Mike’s is gearing up for a splashy IPO as Blackstone seeks a lofty valuation that tests whether investors still crave fast-casual growth stories. Strong unit expansion and a proven operator have converged with a market growing more selective.
The 3 Most Popular Fast-Food Chains in 2026
McDonald’s, Starbucks, and Chick-fil-A dominate U.S. traffic by pairing speed and consistency with sharp cultural relevance, as detailed in a new report. Their mix of operational precision, value messaging, and viral marketing are strengthening customer loyalty even as inflation pressures diners.
Savory = Premium: 3 Flavor Profiles Surpassing Sweetness on Drink Menus
Savory flavors are emerging as a premium signal in beverages, as consumers tire of predictable sweetness and seek layered flavors. Spicy, smoky, and umami profiles are elevating both alcoholic and non alcoholic menus and opening fresh innovation territory for brands.
Foodservice Battle: The Landscape
The ‘Restaurant 2.0’ Shift Reveals a Fractured Dining Landscape
Restaurant loyalty is dwindling as consumers trade brand allegiance for food quality, convenience and a frictionless experience. Tillster’s new survey shows diners are shifting spend to grocery and C stores, signaling that restaurants must elevate experience fast.
Lamb Weston Is Not the Typical Food Story
Lamb Weston’s current slump stems from a painful mix of commodity style cyclicality and self inflicted operational stumbles. The company is now cutting costs and is focused on fixing execution.
New Tech Driving Food Plant Closures Amid Market Transition
Legacy food factories have been closing as automation, AI, and new compliance demands make older facilities inefficient and costly to operate. Companies are shifting toward contract manufacturing and tech‑enabled, specialized sites to stay flexible.
Restaurant Coffee Prices Jolt Up 5.4 Percent
Coffee prices are climbing faster than the rest of foodservice as weather shocks, labor pressures and commodity speculation squeeze operators. Even premium brews are hitting eye opening levels, signaling more menu inflation ahead for restaurants.
3 Summer Retail Trends to Watch in 2026
Lower income consumers are pulling back from fast food as years of price hikes push QSRs past their affordability threshold. Brands are scrambling to win them back with sharper value plays.
FAO Warns of Global Agrifood Catastrophe
Global fertilizer chokepoints tied to the Strait of Hormuz crisis are putting 2026 crop yields and food inflation at real risk. Industry leaders are being urged to secure inputs early and rethink supply chains before the squeeze truly tightens.
Digital Twins: Agri-Tech’s Secret Weapon
Biofilms rarely make headlines on their own, but the contamination, spoilage, and recalls that they contribute to are part of the roughly $75B that the U.S. loses to foodborne illness every year, according to USDA estimates. Now, food producers are turning to digital twins to identify risks earlier – before they escalate into costly problems.
Big CPG in Big Trouble: Private-Label Gap Is Unsustainable
National brands are becoming more strategic in their battle to reclaim market share from private label and challenger brands. Meanwhile, as store brands capture 24% of the market, they’re leaning on some tactics of their own to support bottom lines.
From Aisles to Appetites: Global Flavors, Authenticity Redefine Grocery Growth
Global flavors are moving from niche to mainstream as shoppers reward retailers that deliver culturally authentic products with real stories and ingredient integrity. Grocers that pair local insight with true global depth are capturing the next wave of growth. Sponsored content from Forvis Mazars.
7-Eleven Learns the Lesson of Economic History
7-Eleven’s new CEO is racing to modernize a sluggish convenience giant while rivals move ahead with fresher food and bigger formats. Store closures and a delayed IPO indicate a deeper overhaul than leadership first expected.
Possible ‘Super El Niño’ Could Further Threaten Food Supply
A potential “Super El Niño” is raising alarms, as experts warn that extreme weather layered onto war-driven energy and fertilizer shocks could squeeze global food supplies. Analysts say even normal U.S. yields may not prevent pricing volatility as climate issues ripple through sourcing and manufacturing.
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Mountain Dew Bets on ‘Dirty Soda’ as Brand Expansion Continues
Mountain Dew jumped into the dirty soda craze with a creamy new line aimed at boosting relevance as traditional soda volumes slip. PepsiCo is also doubling down on Baja Blast as a year round sub brand. Will the investments pay off long term?
Food Safety Advocates Demand Faster Recalls
Food safety advocates warn that recalls are slowing even as illness outbreaks tied to raw dairy and other products grow more contentious. With delayed traceability rules and rising corporate pushback, regulators face mounting pressure to modernize oversight.
GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drugs Spurring Dairy Industry Gains
GLP 1 users are shrinking grocery baskets and pushing dairy makers to reinvent products that feel indulgent yet deliver protein, fiber, and metabolic support. Brands are now in a fight to meet demand for smaller, nutrient dense formats.
Snacking: The Hidden Cost of NBA Game Night
The cost of snacking while watching the latest NBA game is getting expensive, averaging as much as $44 dollars in select major cities. Using a basket of game-day essentials, Action Network developed a benchmark for hidden costs to basketball viewing.
QSRs Confront a New Reality: Fast Food is No Longer Viewed as Affordable
Lower income consumers are pulling back from fast food as years of price hikes push QSRs past their affordability threshold. Brands are scrambling to win them back with sharper value plays.
Sponsorship Risk Intensifies After Kanye West Festival Fallout
Ye (fka Kanye West) stoked controversy that led PepsiCo and Diageo to pull out as sponsors of a U.K. music festival that was canceled shortly thereafter. Morality clauses are becoming more commonplace in contracts to protect brands from reputational damage.
Why More Women, GLP-1 Users, and Seniors Are Taking Creatine
Creatine appears to be more than a fitness fad, with new formats and use cases fueling its growth. Though men still account for the majority of usage, other demographics have begun taking the supplement to prevent muscle loss, support hormonal health, and more.
Report: New Dietary Guidelines Place $1000+ Burden on Households
Affordability is one of the top barriers preventing Americans from adhering to the dietary guidelines laid out in the new food pyramid. For the average household, it would lead to a 32% increase in annual spending.
Pet-Food Investments Surge as Gen Z, Millennials Drive Humanization Trend
Pet food demand is surging as Millennials and Gen Zers treat nutrition for their animals like nutrition for themselves, driving investment from major manufacturers. Brands that can prove true health benefits and ingredient transparency can seize upon the movement.
Breakfast for Champions? QSRs Invest in Morning Daypart
Menu penetration for breakfast meals is up 6.5% as QSR chains invest in the breakfast daypart to gain foot traffic. McDonald’s recent morning value menu goes toe-to-toe with Dunkin’s recent revamp.
Why Is Gen Alpha So Obsessed with Sushi?
Gen Alpha’s sushi fixation has become quite expensive for parents, though many appreciate that the cuisine is healthier than kid-friendly favorites like chicken nuggets or pizza. So, where did the obsession come from? And how can food industry leaders capitalize on the craze?
Fuel Cost Surcharges Like ‘Tariffs 2.0’ for Food Industry
Fuel surcharges are pressuring already thin food industry margins, as carriers tack on steep new fees. Business leaders should brace for shrinkflation, higher shelf prices and tougher cost decisions as fuel volatility ripples through the entire supply chain.