Is the Trucking Demand Slowdown a Bellwether for the Economy?

The U.S. Federal Reserve’s effort to slow the economy by raising interest rates without triggering a recession may have failed if conditions in the trucking industry are any indication.

3 Key Takeaways from the 2023 Sweets & Snacks Expo

CHICAGO – Nearly 18,000 people attended the National Confectioners Association’s 2023 Sweets & Snacks Expo recently, the final show to be held in Chicago before moving to Indianapolis (2024, 2025) and Las Vegas (2026). At …

Exec: Upcycled Food Movement Set to Gain Major Momentum

As consumers exhibit growing interest in waste and sustainability, companies are looking at taking what would once have been discarded and creating a new product – and the food industry is part of this approach, …

Study: Plant-Based Attains Popularity with Gen Z

An eye-opening 81% of college students will choose a plant-based food offering when it’s the default option, according to a recent study led by foodservice provider Sodexo. And these Gen Zers are more interested in …

Study: Lab-Grown Meat Potentially Worse for Environment than Retail Beef

If proper technology and facilities can be developed to lessen the current emissions costs of lab-grown products, then yes, the research team found cultured meat to be much more environmentally competitive and with a potential wide range of applications. Today, though, the scientific/environmental/cultural jump “from pharma to food” remains an expensive and taxing endeavor for mother Earth.

Analysis: The Healthiest Superfoods

Eat a balanced diet. We’ve heard that edict since we were children, but now all the shouting is about superfoods and supplements that can do everything from lower blood pressure to improve gut health to …

Groundbreaking Consumer Insight: The Snack 50 Psychological Ranking

According to Circana Group and reported by The Wall Street Journal, nearly half of American consumers snack three times or more every day, a figure up 8% in the past two years. Last year, U.S. snack sales soared to over $180 billion, up 11% from the previous year.

American Jerk: The Salty, Smoky, Spicy, and Thriving Business of Jerky

There are many notable jerky and meat snack companies out there and most are thriving as the snackification of America continues apace. Jerky in any form has been a staple snack since navigators used sextets to sail the seven seas and discover more jerky, as John Smith is purported to have in the early 1600s when he marked a map of Virginia and wrote, “as drie as their jerkin beefe in the West Indies.”

COLUMN: For Tyson and JBS, the Problem is Not Just the Cycle

Input costs are up, prices are falling, volumes are down. It’s an unprecedented environment.

Top Candy Innovations of 2023

This is fastly becoming the year of functional confectionery and “super sour” candy. Manufacturers are taking note in an era in which consumers are receptive to brief indulgences.

OPINION: Beyond Predictable – The Perils of Losing Focus After Initial Success

Why is Beyond Meat struggling? What will last in the plant-based category, and will it ever grow again? And what can other founders learn from this classic case of irrational exuberance? The answers may still surprise you.

Future of Soda: Less Sugar, More Influencers

The global carbonated soft drink market size is expected to grow at a modest CAGR of 4.7% through 2028, and industry experts say consumers demand more creative products like craft sodas.

Why Lemon8 May Replace TikTok as Top Marketing App

As Congress considers a ban on the social media platform TikTok due to questions about the privacy of data, online safety concerns and connections with the Chinese Communist Party, many individuals and businesses alike are …

Food Waste: Investment in Upcycled Food Gaining Steam

The process of upcycling food – finding new, higher-value uses for items that would otherwise go to waste – appears to boast untapped potential for businesses these days.

How to Win in the 2023 Snacking Universe

“Snacking is still a lifestyle in the U.S., fueled by the younger generation,” Wyatt began. “We’re in an unprecedented situation as price hikes in this category are outpacing other food/bev categories.”

COLUMN: Resilient Consumers Aren’t Going Anywhere – Yet

With price hikes easing and food company earnings strong, it appears resilient consumers aren’t going anywhere – yet.

How to Reduce Waste While Monetizing Your Side Streams

This article is sponsored and written by GTF Technologies. By now, everyone in the food industry knows that 30-40% of food produced1 and almost half of all fruits and vegetables grown worldwide2 go to waste. …

Report: ‘Shrinkflation’ Top of Mind for Consumers

Shrinkflation is hitting Americans – hard. Almost three out of four consumers are concerned about the trend of shrinkflation – when companies keep their prices the same, yet give customers less of their products – …

Analysts: Global Rice Shortage Likely to Last for Months

The ramifications of weather and war have resulted in a global rice shortage, which could be among the worst in nearly a quarter century. Rice production for 2023 appears destined for a severe shortfall. “The …

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.

8 Common Food Sickness Culprits

Most consumers are aware that products like deli meat trigger occasional foodborne illness outbreaks. Those same people might be surprised, however, to find that items like onions, peaches, and flour are also common culprits of …

What the Health Star Rating (HSR) System Reveals

Nestle SA recently announced that only 30% of its portfolio is considered healthy after conducting a self-assessment using the Health Star Rating (HSR) system. The rating test also showed that a third of Nestle’s sales …

Food & Beverage Manufacturing M&A Quarterly Report: Q1 2023

This article is sponsored and written by CohnReznick. Following broader market trends, food and beverage M&A slowed during Q1 while external forces like inflation, rising interest rates, recessionary fears, and a banking crisis all took center ...

Frozen Pizza’s Popularity Spikes Amid Inflation

A new report by Vericast illustrated the lengths consumers are going to save amid inflation. More than anything, many consumers are bypassing restaurants in favor of cooking frozen pizza at home. Vericast’s 2023 Restaurant TrendWatch …

The Food Institute Launches FI Latam Content Platform

NEW YORK, April 13, 2023/FINewswire/– The Food Institute, the leading source for food industry news, data, and trends, announced today the official launch of “FI Latam” – The Food Institute’s Latin America-focused content platform. Elements …

Treat Yourself: 2023 is the Year of Record-setting Candy Consumption

Even amid inflation, candy consumption is occurring at a record-setting pace. Confectionery shoppers are looking for deals, but they remain committed to their candy consumption. According to the National Confectioners Association’s recently released 2023 State …

Survey: Boosting Alt-Meat Adoption

A new survey by Sweet Earth explores the decline in alt-meat adoption to source potential solutions to reignite consumer interest.

5 Food Trends Displayed at CHFA NOW Event

VANCOUVER – Canada has, historically, been a follower when it comes to food industry innovation. Clearly, however, times are starting to change. In recent years we have seen many innovative brands, product concepts, and progressive …

Webinar Shows ‘Healthy’ Top of Mind for Consumers

The Food Institute was recently joined by two registered dieticians to discuss the state of wellness for the Food Industry. Marie Molde (MBA, RD) from Datassential and Barbara Ruhs (MS, RDN, RD) from Avocados from …

Basket Case: Consumers’ Top 10 Easter Candies

Easter is right around the corner on April 9, and with that comes baskets and egg hunts filled with oodles of candy. Roughly 85% of consumers plan to celebrate Easter this year, and 50% of …

FI First Look: Plant-Based Whole-Cut Loin

European brand Juicy Marbles aims to disrupt the alt-meat category by focusing on whole cuts. Will its competitors follow suit?

Food and Beverage Becomes Top Target for Cargo Thefts

As cargo thefts surge around the U.S., food and beverage commodities have become the top target, according to the latest CargoNet data. And the trend doesn’t show signs of slowing. CargoNet’s theft report revealed an …

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.

Execs Offer 4 Steps to Survive a Recession

With some financial experts predicting a fairly significant downturn soon, here’s advice for recession-proofing your business.

The Future of 3D-Printed Food Looks Sweet

Engineers at Columbia University have demonstrated the future of digital cooking by 3D printing a seven-ingredient slice of cheesecake.

Natural, Organic Food Sales on the Rise

Once was a niche product category, natural and organic foods have now become a thriving sector.