Plant-Based Meal Kits Keep Growing

As pandemic demand for meal subscription services dwindles, the industry continues to evolve — for better or worse. Could plant-based varieties boost overall market growth in the year ahead?

America’s Top 3 Grocery Stores Ranked by Consumers

Aldi was named America’s most popular grocery store overall, but it wasn’t the favorite among every demographic, according to a recent poll.

Expert: Price Hikes Could Moderate this Year

Consumers could be getting a break with companies like Conagra Brands, maker of Hunt’s ketchup and other popular packaged groceries, pulling back on price hikes following last year’s worst inflation in four decades. In its …

Video Analytics Reshaping Supermarket Experience

Experts believe that video analytics will soon define grocery, from checkout-free shopping to efficient stocking.

CEO Sees Extensive ‘Runway’ for Healthier Plant-Based Snacks

The founder of That’s it, a functional snack brand, feels that there’s a significant runway within the plant-based category, especially for healthier-for-you snacks.

Survey: Consumers Already Bracing for Recession

Though experts still are split on whether the U.S. Federal Reserve’s inflation-fighting moves will plunge the economy into a recession, consumers apparently aren’t waiting for the official figures, already trimming their grocery bills and choice …

3 Keys to Discount Grocers’ Recent Success

Mainstream grocers can learn priceless lessons from successful off-price brands like Aldi, according to one industry analyst. Chief among those lessons is the value of growing private-label offerings.

In-Store Bakeries Offer Opportunities for Sweet Success

In-store bakery performance is on the rise, with a whopping 95% of shoppers eating a bakery item at least occasionally and 63% doing so weekly, according to a new FMI report. The report, which explored …

Experts: ‘Veganuary’ Offers Big Opportunity for Food Businesses

Experts say restaurants and food manufacturers can capitalize on the “Veganuary” movement even without making significant investments.

Schnucks’ ‘Flexforce’ Answers Gen Z’s Calls for Flexibility

Schnucks is giving workers the flexibility to choose shifts at a time and store location that works for them with the expansion of its “Flexforce” employment option.

How Brands’ Online Content Sways Consumers

Roughly 82% of shoppers feel product content online is more important than brand names. One executive notes how brands and retailers can deliver ideal information.

Challenges Ahead for Plant-Based Innovation

Innovation continues to play a critical role in plant-based product advancement, but significant challenges remain in the year ahead.

Placer.ai Analysis Notes 10 Retail Brands on the Rise

New analysis from Placer.ai suggests Whataburger, Wawa, and Dave & Buster’s are among the top brands to watch in 2023, with all three gaining traction through expansion. 

CEO: Grocers Benefit from Sharing Key Data with CPG Partners

Both grocers and their CPG partners are feeling the impact of an uncertain economy and sharing data can be mutually beneficial.

Plant-Based Lamb: The Next Big Thing in Alt-Meat?

Food-tech startup Black Sheep Foods is hoping to reignite interest in plant-based meat with its lamb alternative.

Placer.ai Exec: How Grocers Must Evolve in 2023

The grocery space has been upended over the past three years and leaders must face new challenges with patience, according to Placer.ai’s Retail Trends Forecast 2023 report.

Plant-Based Trends to Watch in 2023

What will 2023 hold for plant-based? The Food Institute spoke with several industry analysts to explore what’s in store for the year ahead.

Danone Predicts Uptick in QR Codes on Consumer Goods Packaging

In the new year, some industry experts predict increased utilization of QR (quick response) codes on consumer goods packaging, as the industry attempts to provide improved transparency about elements like product ingredients.

How Coca-Cola and PepsiCo Have Defied Market Downturn

For Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, 2022 seems like it should have been a difficult year. As we discussed just a couple months ago, the challenges facing the food and beverage industry are numerous. Inflation continues to …

CFO Notes Costco’s Secrets to Customer Service Success

Costco CFO Richard Galanti reveals the formula for Costco’s lofty customer service score: keeping members happy, especially during inflation.

Experts Predict Asian Food Boom in 2023

To hear experts tell it, an Asian food boom has begun in America. During Tuesday’s Food Institute webinar – “What’s Ahead in 2023?” –Solomon Choi, CEO of Jabba Brands, noted that internationally-inspired hard seltzers and …

Outlook Sizzling for Plant-Based Deli Meats

Lunch meats were a star player at retail throughout the pandemic and that trend is retaining its momentum. But can this boon boost demand for plant-based deli cuts?

Column: Kroger-Albertsons Merger Spells Doom, Gloom and Boom

Kroger and Albertsons are planning a merger that would create a superstore second in scale only to Walmart. The combination of the two U.S. supermarket giants could have a three-pronged effect, resulting in doom for …

2023 Flavor Forecast: Expect Influx of French Cuisine

When it comes to classical cooking and decadent flavors, look no further than France. With centuries of tradition and innovation, excellent French cuisine is some of the most celebrated and sought after. Flavor giant McCormick …

Self-Checkouts Often Inaccessible to Disabled Shoppers

Disability-advocacy groups are calling upon retailers to address the issue of inaccessible self-checkout lanes.

Major CPG Players Fueling Alt Cream Cheese Innovation

Amidst the booming cultured dairy market, major food manufacturers are taking plant-based cream cheese to the next level.

Diverse Offerings Will Be Key to Grocery Success in 2023

Grocers need to prepare for a changing environment as they head into 2023, and bringing in new products will give them a competitive edge.

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.

Grocers Taking In-Store Experience to Next Level

Grocers can enable greater media partnerships by improving their in-store experience, according to one top industry executive.

Plant-Based Innovation Abounds at Private Label Trade Show

The Plant-Based Foods pavilion at the recent Private Label Trade Show hosted numerous exhibitors offering plant-based products to address consumer concerns about health, the environment, and animal welfare.

Grocery Predictions for 2023: Delivery, Loyalty Could Look Different

The coming year could be a turbulent one as grocers navigate economic uncertainty while also benefiting from shoppers’ return to stores in a post-pandemic environment.

Divergent Consumer Groups Influence Holiday Spending

While worries over inflation and the economy take precedent for a leading percentage of consumers, a sizable number are approaching the holiday season with a desire to live sustainable lives or have rewarding experiences.

High Tolerance: How Functional THC-infused Drinks & Snacks Could Alter the Industry

THC is one of the fastest growing ingredients in foodservice, increasingly legal, and visible amid a key demo—the millennials.

Thanksgiving 2022: Cost to Dine Out Versus Eat In Shrinking

The common wisdom is that it’s cheaper to eat a home-cooked meal than to dine out or order in, but with dining-out prices increasing at a slower rate than grocery prices, that old adage may …

How Data Builds Brand Loyalty

The inflationary environment means grocers need to fight hard to retain their customers, and data is one of the most important marketing tools at their fingertips.

Case Study: Dom’s Unveils ‘Next-Generation’ Supermarket Concept

Dom’s Kitchen & Market recently unveiled what it describes as a next-generation omni-channel local food “emporium.”