US Treasury Cuts Costs by Axing the Penny: What it Means for Retailers

The penny’s swan song – likely to occur next year – may save millions, but it won’t shake 99-cent psychology in retail pricing.

CPG Giants Pledge to Remove Food Dyes

Over the past few weeks, CPG giants have pledged their support in removing select artificial food dyes in an apparent bid to align their practices with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and …

Crunch Time: How Do Your Road Trip Snacks Stack Up?

Sour is trending, chocolate is complicated, and regional quirks abound: Kellanova’s new data reveals how generational tastes shape road-trip snacking – and what that means for category innovation. Nostalgia, “swalty,” and convenience drive the ride.

EY: CPG Brand Relevance Faces ‘Negative Drift’

Legacy CPGs are losing consumer relevance to agile upstarts – but AI, innovation, and a shift to “disruptive optimism” offer hope. EY’s latest report calls on brands to earn loyalty daily or drift into obscurity.

Smucker Becomes the Poster Child for Packaged Food

Smucker stock has plunged to decade-lows after a bruising earnings miss and nearly $2B in impairment charges tied to its Hostess buy. With profits set to drop again, investors are questioning the company’s strategy.

Tariff Tactics: How Food Brands Are Battling Rising Costs

Food and beverage businesses have begun to feel the impact of tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. Some have absorbed the blow. Others were left staggering. When the U.S. raised steel and aluminum tariffs to …

Amazon Prime Day Expansion May Dilute Sales

Amazon is doubling down on Prime Day, stretching it to four days in a bid to woo deal-hungry Gen Z and millennial shoppers. But with cart abandonment rising, will lessened urgency hurt results? Industry opinions vary.

Top 5 Healthiest Ice Creams

Once dismissed as an oxymoron, healthier ice cream is now a booming category. From high-protein formulas to cutting-edge fat replacers, brands are rethinking indulgence without sacrificing texture.

Raising Smart Capital in the Food Space: Navigating Today’s Challenges

Investor enthusiasm for food brands is strong, but securing capital has never been more challenging. Amid market volatility and heightened scrutiny, only the most strategic and well-prepared companies will land the funding needed to thrive.

BMO 2025: Plant-Based Folds into Macro Environment

At the recent 2025 BMO Farm to Market Conference, consumer interest in personal wellness created plant-based tailwinds. Kroger, SunOpta, and Remedy Organics were among businesses weighing in on the future of the sector.

Euphoric Beverages: Threading the Needle Between Functional Energy and Non-Alcoholic Products

Euphoric beverages are emerging as a new category that blends functional ingredients like adaptogens, nootropics, and botanicals to offer mood-enhancing effects, potentially competing with both caffeinated drinks and alcohol. With a growing Gen Z consumer base seeking alcohol alternatives, the sector is poised for growth.

U.S. Brands in Canada: A Trade War is On, But the Market’s Not Closed

Despite escalating trade tensions and a growing Canadian consumer boycott of American products, U.S. brands still have opportunities in Canada, particularly in resilient categories like soft drinks. A poll by Leo & Dragon revealed that Millennials and Gen Z consumers remain open to purchasing American goods.

Food Dye Update: Natural Dyes Approved, Industry Responds

The FDA recently announced that three additional natural dyes have been approved for use in food and beverage products. While some stakeholders are quick to change their formulations, others are hesitant.

Olipop Vs. Poppi: The First Social Media Driven Arms Race in The Beverage World

Olipop and Poppi’s social media arms race is a powerful reminder for founders of new brands that an energetic face-off competitor only energizes the entire space, according to FI’s resident CPG industry expert, Dr. James Richardson.

2D Barcodes: What They Are and Why They Matter for F&B Companies

In this increasingly digital landscape, it’s become crucial for F&B companies to not only gather data but also to glean insights from it that they can leverage to stay ahead of the curve. Anyone who’s …

Scaling Smarter: Land O’Frost’s Automation Blueprint for the Future of Food Manufacturing

Deli meat manufacturer Land O’Frost partnered with Formic to implement Full Service Automation, deploying five gantry-style palletizing systems. The move allowed the manufacturer to overcome labor shortages, streamline product changeovers, and achieve operational savings without capital investment, freeing up valuable resources for revenue-generating projects.

Forget Inflation and Tariffs. Summer is Party Time!

Despite economic uncertainty, consumers appear determined to celebrate this summer, adapting their spending by embracing private-label brands, and potlucks while seeking affordable luxuries like indulgent snacks. Shoppers seek indulgence with a focus on emotional value.

CPG Shake-Up: Tariffs and GLP-1 Drugs Challenge Brands

With ingredient bans, rising tariffs, and the influence of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, the CPG industry faces a pivotal moment. Forward-thinking brands that embrace strategic supply chain shifts and data-driven consumer insights are most likely to emerge as winners, experts say.

New and Next by Nestlé: Seize Upon the Comfort Food Trend

Comfort food remains a powerful force in the food industry, with brands like Stouffer’s leading the way in reinventing beloved classics to align with evolving consumer tastes. As restaurants lean further into “permissible indulgence,” the opportunity to customize and elevate familiar favorites presents a lucrative avenue for operators.

From H Mart to Mainstream: The Rise of Asian Food Brands

Asian food brands are redefining grocery shelves by blending bold cultural identities and playful textures, fueling a culinary movement. With sales skyrocketing and Gen Z embracing authenticity, these brands showcase powerful lessons in modern branding.

Packaging Innovations Help F&B Brands Meet Sustainability Goals

As consumer demand for sustainable packaging increases, brands like Frugalpac and KIND Snacks are making bold moves to redefine industry standards, with Frugal Bottle’s rollout at Target and KIND’s curbside-recyclable wrapper pilot setting new benchmarks for eco-conscious innovation. Other brands are expected to follow their lead.

NGA Takes Aim at Proposed SNAP Cuts, Industry Concerned

The National Grocers Association recently led efforts to urge Congress to reject a proposal that will slash SNAP funding by 20%.

New and Next by Nestlé: Answering Diners’ Call for Adventurous International Flavors

Bold global flavors are captivating the culinary world, with 87% of Gen Z diners craving international tastes like those offered by Minor’s sauces and concentrates. As consumer demand for diverse cuisines surges, such products can help food businesses thrive in the trend-driven market.

3 Key Trends Displayed at SIAL Canada

This week’s SIAL Canada event showcased the latest cutting-edge food and beverage products, highlighting trends like nutrient-rich “superseeds,” freeze-dried ice cream, and flavorful mocktails.

CEOs Tighten Belts Amid Tariff Uncertainty

Amid an uncertain economic environment instigated by tariffs, C-suite executives across the U.S. are dialing back business expenditures. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump indicated he may alter course on his economic plan.

People’s Union USA Kicks Off 7-Day Economic Blackout of General Mills

Recently, People’s Union USA began calling on consumers to boycott products from various businesses in protest of alleged social, economic, and environmental offenses. Monday, participating consumers kicked off a seven-day economic blackout of General Mills.

General Mills Sounds Short-, Long-Term Alarms

General Mills faces mounting challenges such as market volatility and cautious consumer behavior, as tariff pressures also begin to weigh on its performance. It begs the question: Can legacy brands reclaim their once-unshakable dominance?

CPG Brands Eye Success by Connecting Data Sets

Consumer price sensitivities, plus tariff uncertainty, have added up to tumult for CPG brands in 2025. “Whether it’s tariffs or the tightening of consumer wallets, CPG brands are trying to figure out how to get …

Power Players of the Aisle: CPG’s Fastest-Growing Brands Revealed

The Circana CPG Growth Leaders report revealed how top-performing brands like Constellation Brands and Celsius energy drinks leverage innovation, personalization, and exclusive partnerships to drive consumer loyalty. The research underscores the importance of authentic connections for sustained growth.

Hot is Hot: Spicy Beverage Flavors Taking Center Stage

The spicy flavor trend is setting the F&B world ablaze, with bold innovations such as hot honey sausage for pizzas and chili-infused ice cream captivating adventurous consumers. These days, the innovation even extends into drink aisles.

Policy Heats Up: Hot Foods Act Poised to Modernize SNAP

The bipartisan reintroduction of the Hot Foods Act aims to modernize SNAP policies by allowing participants to purchase hot, prepared meals. This legislative change, strongly backed by industry leaders, could open new avenues for the food sector to meet the evolving needs of over 42 million Americans.

Fewer, Better, Smarter: The Shift in Specialty Food Purchasing Habits

While inflation and global trade challenges have pressured the grocery market, specialty foods remain resilient.

Airlines Look to F&B to Up Their Customer Experience

If you’ve flown in the past few years, you’ve likely run into a poor customer experience on an airline: albeit from overworked staff trying their best, delayed and canceled flights, more turbulence, and smaller seats. …

SunnyD Highlights Castillo Hermanos’ Bold Move in Beverages

Castillo Hermanos has made a bold $1.5 billion move to acquire Harvest Hill Beverage Company, home to brands like SunnyD. While SunnyD’s surprising sales growth defies health-conscious trends, Castillo Hermanos plans to leverage evolving consumer needs and Harvest Hill’s infrastructure to unlock growth opportunities.

‘Status Quo’ Wont Cut It: Private Label Market Share Threatened

The battle between private label and name brands has taken a new form as analysts portend a stagnating global own brand market. The path ahead relies on innovation and retail portfolio synergy, NIQ noted.

3 Key Themes from the International Pizza Expo

The Las Vegas Convention Center became the epicenter of the pizza world this week, as it hosted the International Pizza Expo. The event highlighted the latest, greatest, and most innovative pizza ingredients.