The Future of Frozen Food: a Q&A with AFFI’s Dr. Sanjay Gummalla

With nearly every household in the U.S. purchasing frozen food and $74 billion in sales, the frozen food category plays a pivotal role in the food industry.

How Much Does Sustainability Influence Consumer Shopping Habits?

Consumers in the U.S. and Canada say that they are willing to pay more for products that practice eco-friendly sustainability and ethics in their development, packaging, and sale of products, particularly around animal cruelty and ocean pollution.

Ag Disputes Rage Involving ESG Complaints, EU Protests

State agriculture officials are warning U.S. banks their emphasis on policies to reduce climate change threatens the U.S. food supply.

Walmart Commits to Reducing Food Waste

In an era of increased greenwashing and many companies abandoning once-ambitious ESG plans altogether, Walmart appears to be making real strides toward helping reduce food waste, solve food deserts, and burnishing its worldwide brand a little more.

Is the Greenwashing Wave Crashing?

In the age of transparency, nearly half (45%) of shoppers have heard of greenwashing and one-third (33%) are skeptical of green labels and sustainability claims.

Is Sustainable Superfood Kelp About To Make Waves?

Kelp is a sustainable superfood with all the qualities that appeal to today’s consumer, but it hasn’t really hit the mainstream—at least, not yet.

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.

CPG Companies Increasing use of Eco-Friendly Packaging

Food manufacturers are working on eco-friendly packaging – made out of materials such as corn starch, cane sugar pulp and calcium carbonate – to cut down on waste.

CEO: Supply Chain Transparency Key in 2023

After countless supply chain disruptions, and with a potential recession on the horizon, 2023 is set to be a transformative year for the grocery store segment. With that in mind, here are a few key …

The Zero-e Pineapple Has Arrived

Produce is a low-margin, high-risk industry. Hans Sauter would know – he’s been in the produce game for over 35 years. He’s not only Senior Vice President of Research and Development for Fresh Del Monte, …

Is Plant-Based Still a Powerhouse?

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

Conservation Could Soon Take Center Stage for Many F&B Companies

Food and beverage companies are finding water and energy conservation practices are not only good for the planet, but good for the bottom line. Intense drought is making finding fresh water more difficult while Russia’s …

Understanding the Snow Crab Crisis

The cancelation of the Alaskan snow crab season has upended an entire chain of fishing, restaurant, grocery, and wholesale industries with one of its seasonal (and most delicious) mainstays.

Sustainable Packaging Goals Must Be Aspirational and Achievable

As consumers are starting to demand more sustainable packaging solutions for foodservice products, operators, suppliers, and distributors must make sound business choices in their sustainability journeys.

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.

Survey: Purpose-led Brands See Far Higher Revenue Growth than Incumbents

A new survey shows the value that having a clear sustainability mission can have for purpose-led brands in the CPG space.

LA Adopts Plant-Based Treaty to Fight Climate Change

With climate change threatening major changes that will affect food production, activists are promoting the Plant-Based Treaty.

Cultured Meat Growth Poised to Accelerate

Cultured meat – meat produced by growing animal muscle cells in a culture medium – currently represents a tiny share of the global food dollar, but growing concern about the impact of raising animals for …

Trends Impacting the Dairy Industry

Jennifer Pricco Braasch is a managing director with City National Bank’s Food & Beverage Group. Based in Milwaukee, she supports industry executives with creative financing solutions and industry intelligence. The Food Institute recently asked her …

Boost Food Safety While Reducing Waste

This article is written and sponsored by Kerry. Amanda McNeely, Kerry’s marketing expert for food protection and preservation, talks about Kerry ingredient solutions that boost food safety and reduce waste, and her views on the outlook …

Is Wegmans Leading the Charge to Ban Plastic Bags?

Regional grocer Wegmans will complete its mission to eliminate plastic bags companywide by the end of the year. Now, the question remains: Will other U.S. grocers follow suit?

6 Flavor-forward Plant-based Dairy Trends

This article is written and sponsored by Kerry. When it comes to plant-based dairy, consumers want an authentic dairy experience. Whether it’s plant-based cheese, yogurt, ice cream or vegan snacks, the expectation is that the alternative …

‘Locavorism’ Trend Gaining Steam Despite Misconceptions

Eating local has developed a connotation for positive impact, from ethics to environment and even health, but how does the practice actually affect food systems, human systems and the planet? “There is not much evidence …

Report: Modern Consumers Snacking with a Purpose

Earlier in the pandemic, snacking complemented remote work and supplemented restaurant dining and continues to replace meals with added bonuses. This year, Grubhub’s infamous lunch promotion was prompted by 69% of New Yorkers surveyed saying …

Key Takeaways from 2022 Food Waste Solutions Summit

MINNEAPOLIS – As he gazed out at the sizable gathering at the University of Minnesota on Wednesday, Pete Pearson didn’t mince words. Pearson, senior director of food waste at the World Wildlife Fund, asked the …

Food Businesses Step Up Sustainability Efforts

For Earth Day, The Food Institute takes a closer look at recent industry efforts to meet the growing sustainability expectations of consumers. RETAILERS Sam’s Club recently revealed new sustainability efforts for its Member’s Mark private-label …

The Rise of Food Packaging Sustainability

From antiquity’s gourd shells to modernity’s plastic soda bottles, humanity has created numerous ways to store food and beverages. In 2022, consumers are on the lookout for the most sustainable food containers possible. The Freedonia …

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 …

Inaugural Protein & Plant Evolution™ Conference Announced

Interactive & Educational Conference Designed to Meet the Needs of Retailers, Foodservice Operators, Food Manufacturers, Investors, Financial Services and Policy Makers, Scheduled for June 1-3 February 16, 2022/FI Newswire/ – The Food Institute and The Lempert …

Analysis: Why the ‘Regenuary’ Movement is Taking Root

By now, you’re likely familiar with Veganuary, which promotes adopting a vegan lifestyle throughout the month of January. In 2022, though, the so-called Regenuary movement is also taking root. Regenuary is a sustainable eating movement …

Chocolate Industry Observers Eye Lab-Grown and Single-Origin Products

First there was lab-grown meat. Then, lab-grown dairy came along. Now, it appears chocolate is next. LAB-GROWN CHOCOLATE GETS CLOSER TO REALITY California Cultured, the U.S. company making lab-grown chocolate, has raised $4 million in …

Report: Upcycling Ingredients Gains Traction on ESG Benefits

The adoption of upcycling continues to spread across the food industry as companies large and small explore innovative ways to repurpose ingredients that would otherwise go to waste. While the process remains a niche concept …

Meat-Tax Debate Percolates During COP26 Summit

The idea of a meat tax has been in the spotlight as of late to reduce consumption of beef due to its effects on climate change. The United Nations said that emissions from livestock account …

What’s Fueling the Alternative Seafood Investment Boom?

Alternatives to traditional seafood continue to diversify through plant-based, cultivated, and fermentation-derived production methods, and investors are casting their bets accordingly. According to a recent Good Food Institute (GFI) State of the Industry report, alternative …

Big Food Companies See ESG ‘Halo’ as Key to Building Brands

In recent years, the uptick in consumer demand for purpose-driven brands has been profound, and food and beverage companies are no exception to the rule. “Consumers under 35 want companies to be a force for …

Study: Compostable Packaging Matches Shelf Life of Plastic

As more food companies prioritize ESG initiatives, the use of compostable packaging continues to gain traction as an earth-friendly alternative to plastic. In the first half of 2021, major players like Chipotle, Taco Bell, and …