Driving Profit with the Better-for-You Shopper
The better-for-you shopper has more to spend on groceries every month, attracting grocers and brands to invest in the market. These shoppers are worth an estimated $285 billion each year.
Focus Archive
Everyone’s an Expert: How TikTok Democratized the Culinary Scene
TikTok is driving viral food trends while spiking sales for some businesses. For food brands and restaurants, the platform’s unparalleled reach can spark both massive success and unexpected controversy.
Plant-Based 2.0: An Uphill Battle
Despite losing steam in recent years, the plant-based movement is still experiencing pockets of growth, supported by innovation. During the recent FI webinar on the F&B market, industry experts discussed the segment’s future.
GLP-1 Drugs: Food Industry Threat or Dieting Fad?
GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are transforming dieting culture, offering a relatively easy solution to weight loss. While these drugs may disrupt food consumption patterns, their long-term impact hinges on overcoming high dropout rates and premium pricing, one industry insider says.
Concerned About Cybersecurity? Here’s 10 Crucial Tips
Imagine this scenario: it’s a busy Friday wrapping up the quarter. Your accounting department receives an urgent payment request from a key ingredient supplier. The request comes from the usual contact’s email and references a …
Fusion 2.0: ‘Chaos Cooking’ Turns Global Flavors on Their Heads
Chaos cooking, a culinary movement popularized by TikTok, involves combining unexpected ingredients to create bold, experimental dishes like birria ramen. Its playful fusion especially resonates with Gen Z.
5 Keys for Brands When Considering Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing can be highly effective for F&B brands. However, the strategy requires authentic storytelling and carefully crafted content, according to experts.
Brown Butter: A Melt-in-Your-Mouth Trend to Watch in 2025
Brown butter is emerging as a major 2025 flavor trend, according to an Edlong report. Known for its rich, nutty flavor, its versatility and affordability make it a favorite among chefs and young demographics.
Phygital Prowess: 2025’s Recipe for Restaurant Success
As restaurants compete in an increasingly “phygital” world, blending digital and physical experiences is key to meeting consumer expectations in 2025. Restaurant-tech company Tillster expects curbside pickup to ramp up, too.
Kroger-Albertsons Mega-Merger Blocked: Grocery Game Resets
Federal judges on Tuesday blocked the proposed Kroger-Albertsons merger, citing concerns over reduced competition. The ruling presents an opportunity for smaller grocers to leverage personalized customer experiences to compete against retail giants.
Grocers Leverage AI, Retail Media to Enhance Membership Perks
Grocers are upgrading their membership programs by combining retail media strategies with AI-driven personalization, offering targeted ads and perks based on shopping behaviors. This evolution integrates elements like first-party data to maximize ad value.
Flat-Out Innovative: Oat Milk Sheets Require 94% Less Packaging
The new Flat Pack oat milk sheets by milkadamia reportedly reduce packaging waste by 94%. The shelf-stable solution allows consumers to make fresh oat milk in customizable portions, addressing the bulk of the category’s environmental challenges at the source instead of placing the burden on consumers.
BNPL Boom Boosting Holiday Spending
Buy-now-pay-later services are surging in popularity, with Adobe projecting $18.5 billion in holiday purchases this year. While retailers benefit from increased sales and lower fees compared to credit cards, experts warn that BNPL poses risks if not carefully regulated.
Fiber: The Unsung Hero of Athletic Performance, Overall Health
Most Americans fall short of recommended fiber intake levels. Nutrition expert and Olympic cyclist Dotsie Bausch notes there are numerous misconceptions around fiber and its benefits for gut health and disease prevention.
Brooke Rollins, Trump’s Ag Secretary Choice, Targets Foreign Farm Ownership
Donald Trump has nominated Brooke L. Rollins, a farm-raised leader of the America First Policy Institute, as his pick for agriculture secretary. She’s expected to focus on tightening regulations around foreign ownership of U.S. farmland.
Anticipated Tariffs From Trump Administration Could Impact F&B Businesses
Gen Alpha and Gen Z Food Trends to Watch in 2025
Gen Z and Gen Alpha are driving food trends with a focus on health-conscious, yet adventurous eating, according to research by Chartwells Higher Education. Emerging favorites among today’s youth include cottage cheese, as well as miso.
Hacking Humans 2.0: Redefining Health with Gut Bacteria
With dreams of CPG integration, FitBiomics is producing probiotics designed by data mining the gut microbiomes of professional athletes. Is this the next big wellness trend?
Latin American Heritage Diet Called ‘Blueprint’ to Better Health
The Latin American Heritage Diet is helping combat high rates of diabetes among Hispanic Americans, featuring ingredients like vegetables and whole grains. The diet also reconnects Latin Americans with cultural foodways.
Banking on Nostalgia, Chi-Chi’s Mexican Restaurant Eyes Revival
The once-beloved Chi-Chi’s restaurant chain is making a comeback nearly two decades after its last U.S. location closed. Led by the founder’s son, the revival aims to honor its nostalgic charm, with new locations set to open in 2025.
Black Friday 2024 Beneficiaries: Target, Apple, and Shopping Malls
Black Friday 2024 showcased omnichannel’s growing dominance, with online sales surging nearly 15%. Experts noted that while Black Friday has evolved into a season-long event, its role remains pivotal, sparking optimism for a strong holiday shopping season.
Retail Reimagined: Shoppers Skipping Middle Ground for Luxury, Value
Consumers are reshaping retail by prioritizing convenience, with Millennials driving trends like smaller store formats. Meanwhile, shifts in spending patterns reveal a preference for luxury or value over mid-priced options.
Taco Bell Taps Consumers for Ad During NFL Super Bowl
Taco Bell is collaborating with its customer base to create a unique, community-driven ad campaign for its upcoming Super Bowl slot.
A Seat at the Table: Innovative, Allergen-Free Holiday Treats
F&B brands are embracing inclusivity this year, debuting an array of innovative, allergen-free holiday treats ranging from vegan advent calendars to dairy-free nog.
Advertisement
FI-Home-NEW-2020Gaps
Advertisement
AI Beyond the Buzz: 3 Invaluable Food Industry Applications
Coca-Cola’s AI-generated holiday ads sparked backlash for prioritizing spectacle over substance, highlighting a key lesson for food industry players: AI must deliver real-world value to resonate.
Circana: E-commerce, Private Label to Shape F&B in 2025
Circana’s annual F&B industry report highlights growing consumer demand for value, with e-commerce and private label brands driving significant sales growth. However, economic uncertainty will challenge the industry to balance affordability with innovative offerings in 2025.
Value, Value, Value: Cash-Strapped Holiday Shoppers Get Creative
As consumers buckle under the weight of financial pressures, this holiday shopping season will look a bit different than its predecessors.
The Unstoppable Rise of Shrinkflation
Shrinkflation, the practice of reducing product sizes while maintaining prices, has become a common cost-management strategy for manufacturers amid rising costs. Experts predict the tactic is here to stay, for multiple reasons.
Spilling the Beans on America’s Latest Nutrition Obsession
Beans have gained popularity as a cost-effective, nutrient-dense option, supporting gut health and reducing risks of obesity, colon cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Some feel beans are poised to become a staple alternative to meat for many Americans.
3 Key Takeaways From the 2024 Private Label Trade Show
The 2024 PLMA Trade Show showcased private label’s ascent, with U.S. store brand sales projected to surpass $250 billion this year. Trends like globally inspired dips and coffeehouse-style beverages at home captured consumer interest.
Coffee Omakase, Flights Capture Consumer Interest
A recent Trend Tracker report from Yelp found that “coffee omakase” enjoyed a shocking 5,173% rise in searches between Sept. ’23-’24. What’s behind this surge in interest?
Cava’s Secret Sauce: The QSR Is So Hot Right Now
The latest financial data shows Cava is enjoying tremendous success, outpacing the fast-casual dining segment and sustaining jaw-dropping growth. Some of this success is likely thanks to its Gen Z engagement strategy.
Thanksgiving 2024: Surveys Suggest Consumers Will Feast Frugally
A new survey revealed that substituting store brands for name brands can save consumers $17 on a Thanksgiving dinner for 10. Still, many families weigh cost savings against the sentimental value of using specific ingredients tied to cherished holiday recipes.
Is Yogurt Losing its Luster? Campbell’s Sale of Noosa a Call for Brands to Evolve
While industry experts note that yogurt remains popular due to its ties to gut health trends, they emphasize the need for innovation in portable, health-focused products for brands to stay competitive amid shifting consumer preferences.
What’s Up with Airline Food? Shake Shack, Delta Partner on Burgers in the Sky
Delta’s latest partnership with Shake Shack has been met with excitement; however, is it enough to shake the airline’s negative in-flight meal image?
Fish Oil May Reduce Risk of Some Cancers – Without the Fishy Aftertaste
New research suggests higher levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids may reduce the risk of developing several cancers. While omega fatty acids provide health benefits, experts recommend focusing on whole food sources over supplements.