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.
The Cannes Lions 2025 event crowned campaigns that blurred the lines between storytelling and shopping, proving that creativity at the point of sale is now imperative. From sonic branding to shoppable receipts, food marketing has gone full-experiential.
Walmart is dominating the grocery sector with unmatched pricing, delivery speed, and scale – and its lead is widening. As rivals chase value-conscious consumers, Walmart is already monetizing convenience.
The restaurant industry’s mental health crisis is finally in the spotlight, and Chef Chris Aquilino is leading the charge for change. Through advocacy, he’s helping kitchens shift from burnout to balance, one step at a time.
Baby Boomers offer restaurants a loyal customer who tends to be more resilient compared to younger cohorts. Contrary to popular belief, data suggests that this cohort is excited by innovative dishes, particularly those that invoke nostalgia, comfort, or function.
At the 2025 Digital Food and Beverage show, industry leaders tackled topics like agility, as well as Gen Z’s love for raw, creator-led content. The takeaway? Adapt fast – or risk becoming a relic in the digital age.
Consumers are ditching brand loyalty in favor of value, leaving food businesses scrambling to win repeat visits. Upside’s latest report reveals that personalized incentives – not traditional marketing – are the key to turning uncommitted customers into habitual buyers.
Viral social media trends can often translate to real-time impacts for brands – and TikTok’s algorithmic pull is particularly strong.
Plant-based heavy cream alternatives are on the rise as food scientists develop more realistic, whip-ready options using oats, legumes, and oils. Chef Jason Wrobel of Switch4Good shared his take regarding the latest innovations and the science behind replicating the taste and texture of traditional heavy whipping cream.
Energy drinks hit turbulence in 2024, with Celsius and Monster both facing unexpected sales slowdowns. While stock prices have rebounded, lingering consumer uncertainty raises questions about the sector’s long-term prospects.
Sauces are no longer just a sidekick – they’re driving one of 2025’s biggest food trends, blending bold flavors with convenience and versatility. Food businesses that embrace this shift can captivate consumers and boost sales, according to both chefs and CEOs.
Retailers are bracing for a summer cargo surge, but tariffs and cautious consumer spending may temper volume. With air freight disrupting traditional shipping channels, supply chains are scrambling to adapt before the holiday rush hits full speed.
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.
McDonald’s is bringing back its Snack Wrap after a nine-year hiatus, tapping into the booming demand for portable, boneless chicken options. With major chains embracing the wrap resurgence, savvy restaurant operators will leverage the trend for easy, profitable menu innovation.
Peach-enhanced menu items are growing in popularity, now on 19.8% of foodservice menus, according to one report. The fruit has found its stride in beverage innovation, with legacy brands experimenting with the flavor.
Despite rising costs, 2025 is shaping up to be a fairly strong year for many restaurant chains, with top players like Cava and Chick-fil-A thriving by mastering efficiency, marketing, and customer experience. The smartest brands are pricing strategically and leveraging technology to drive success.
As retail shelves continue to overflow with healthier-for-you snacks, KIND has launched new branding, with a new packaging initiative looming. One KIND executive told FI the brand aims to evolve to meet consumers’ growing demands for sustainability and health-claims such as “high-protein.”
Despite wage gains, food inflation continues to outpace earnings, leaving consumers increasingly anxious about grocery costs. Meanwhile, new tariffs threaten to disrupt the food industry, with stakeholders bracing for volatile pricing and potential shifts in shopper loyalty.
At the 2025 National Restaurant Association Show, plant-based innovation moved beyond burgers and nuggets. Mushrooms, mycelium, and globally inspired bites took center stage, offering foodservice operators bold, flexitarian-friendly options.
Roark Capital has built a restaurant empire rivaling McDonald’s in system-wide sales, yet questions linger over its investment strategy. With limited financial transparency and stalled IPOs, has Roark’s aggressive approach truly paid off for investors?
Amazon is reportedly developing humanoid robots to streamline delivery operations, testing them in a “humanoid park” obstacle course. Experts remain skeptical, citing previous automation failures and questioning whether the hype will ever translate into real-world efficiency.
Meat is reclaiming its spot on consumers’ plates as the benefits of protein-heavy diets are noted on social media. With fresh meat sales projected to surpass $137 billion this year, the industry is sizzling.
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.
Steel and aluminum tariffs have risen significantly, and grocery prices may soon follow suit. From canned goods to premium imports, food brands face tough choices – shrinkflation, price hikes, or packaging pivots – to absorb escalating costs.
GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic are reshaping consumer appetites, with nearly half of users eating less beef. As this trend accelerates, meat producers face a challenge, while plant-based brands are presented with an opportunity.
Gen Alpha’s distinct food and beverage preferences, coupled with its astonishing $5.5 trillion global market share by 2029, shape it up to drive a sustained impact on the food and beverage industry. Learn about why some are calling them “the foodie generation.”
Chicken QSRs are dominating, with chains like Dave’s Hot Chicken expanding rapidly to meet surging demand. The secret? Bold flavors, strong branding, and a winning suburban strategy that keeps customers flocking in droves.
With Father’s Day spending projected to hit new heights, consumers are looking past the uncertain state of the economy to celebrate with their loved ones. Analysis of industry reports suggests that food and beverage industry experiences will take center stage during the holiday.
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.
Despite consumer cost-consciousness in 2025, third-party delivery giants Uber, DoorDash, and Instacart have defied expectations with double-digit order growth. Now, investors are betting big on a future in which streamlined logistics keep customers engaged.
The growing demand for diabetes-friendly snacks presents a lucrative opportunity for the food industry to merge taste with nutritional balance. With consumers increasingly seeking blood sugar-friendly options, a new movement related to snacking has taken root.
Casual-dining stocks have significantly outperformed the market over the past three years, with Brinker International especially posting eye-opening returns, while chains such as Applebee’s continue to struggle. Clearly, consumers are rewarding brands that offer differentiated experiences.
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.
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.
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.
Amid the latest round of tariffs, global retailers like Walmart are weighing controversial price hikes beyond the U.S., a move that could shake consumer trust. Experts warn that spreading costs globally may backfire, leading to unintended economic fallout.
