Report Reveals Scarcity of Retail Innovation

From number-crunching untold volumes of data to helping streamline inventory, supply chain, and predictive market trends, there is no digital limit to what AI can help operators achieve.

Beyond Meat Unveils “Beyond IV” Beef Boasting Clean Label Certification

Beyond Meat has announced its latest innovation, Beyond IV, the fourth generation of the company’s core beef platform. The new recipes are the result of a multi-year research effort to improve the taste and nutritional quality of Beyond Burger and Beyond Beef.

How Post Holdings Claimed the Best Packaged Food Stock in the Market

Since its spin-off from Ralcorp, Post has spent over $10 billion on acquisitions. It has taken impairment changes relative to acquired assets of less than $300 million. Meanwhile, off a cereal business worth about $2 billion, Post and Bellring are now worth over $20 billion combined (including the respective companies’ debt).

‘Rufus, Fetch My Next Outfit’: Amazon Unveils AI Shopping Assistant

Critics and analysts alike are keen to understand who stands to benefit most from this technology – whether it will primarily serve Amazon’s interests by increasing sales and customer retention, or genuinely improve the consumer experience by offering more personalized and convenient shopping solutions.

Tasting the Future: Food Fermentation Breakthroughs

From regulatory approvals in animal-free dairy, to a new snack made with air protein, fermentation is making major moves in the new year. What could the recent headlines signal for the future of food?

Pork Oversupply Possible Threat to U.S. Economy

Eggs and bacon or sausage: The traditional American breakfast – or at least it used to be. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the pork industry currently is so efficient, it’s producing more meat …

Consumers Award Better-for-You in New Product Survey

Despite some titans of the pantry and cookie jar winning in their categories (Keebler’s Chips Deluxe Fudgy in the Cookie category; Dr. Pepper Strawberries & Cream in Soft Drink), better-for-you offerings not only abounded but won several snacking categories.

Taking Stock of Wellness: Target Launches Wellness Initiative

The least expensive products will start at just $1.99 and range from apparel to supplements, vitamins to technology, and more. Many of the offerings will be exclusive to Target and complement its dedicated online wellness destination that features ideas, meal inspiration, and more.

Why Legacy Beverage Brands are Revamping Their Image

Dunkin’ Donuts’ shift to simply Dunkin’ serves as the gold standard in the contemporary rebranding landscape.

Debunking the Myths Surrounding Gen Z Consumers

Many brands miss the mark when they attempt to connect with Gen Z – a cohort that’s now coming into economic power.

Consumer Buzz: Top 3 Wellness Trends

Across the U.S, social chatter is shaping wellness conversations and boosting demand for related ingredients. Here are three wellness trends to watch, according to a new report from Brightfield Group. Immunity Now Within Brightfield’s Wellness …

Ketching Love: Understanding #TheKetchupChallenge

For ketchup manufacturers, #TheKetchupChallenge is a welcome crimson blip on the mid-winter radar. Ketchup sales are up 7.6% in the 12 weeks ending February 2, 2024, outpacing mustard, jams, honey – even mayonnaise – as unit sales are also up 2.0% during the same period.

The Fiercest Battle in Retail: Foot Traffic, Trips, and Loyalty

EV charging stations outside, stores within stores inside, sprawling beauty sections, niche products, reimagined loyalty programs – the battle for foot traffic is cutthroat as the economy roars to life.

Report: Global Seafood Production Could Rise 20% to 2050

Global seafood demand per capita is expected to grow through 2050 according to a new Seafood Forecast report from Norwegian risk management firm Det Norske Veritas (DNV). The firm expects annual seafood production to reach 160 million …

Dark Chocolate Outlook: Soaring Cost of Cocoa Challenges Candy Makers

Cocoa prices are nearly 65% higher than they were one year ago, and New York futures prices have hit a 46-year high.

Milk Wars: Labeling Battles Escalate

Dairy producers are ramping up their efforts to scrub ‘milk’ from the labels of alternatives. How critical is the term in plant-based marketing? Could waging “milk wars” significantly improve traditional dairy’s bottom line?

Key Takeaways from the Fruit Logistica Event

Thousands of people just recently descended upon Berlin, Germany for the world’s largest produce show – Fruit Logistica – upstaging even Fashion Week taking place that week as well.

Dunkin’ and Reese’s Among Super Bowl 58 Ad Winners

What is the alchemy for an effective Super Bowl commercial? According to experts, for an ad to stick in football fans’ memory, it needs to feature a few key elements.

Chick-fil-A is the Fast-Food Customer Service King

Employees at Chick-fil-A’s 3,000-plus locations “are trained to genuinely care about the customer’s experience,” said Courtney Haywood, a brand manager and the CEO of Courtney Haywood Agency Partners.

PepsiCo Execs Express Optimism in Earnings Call

PepsiCo’s latest earnings call revealed net revenue of $91.5 billion for the fiscal year and $27.9 billion in Q4.

Understanding the Current Blood-Sugar Monitoring Craze

Recent diet “hacks” to minimize blood sugar spikes are inspiring perfectly healthy consumers to start glucose monitoring.

Ascending Italian Cuisine: Restaurants Swim in Revenue with Pescaria Sandwiches

The Pescaria’s signature dish is a fish sandwich composed of one thick slice of partially hollowed-out round bread, two pestos/oils/mayonnaises, a cheese, a fish, some vegetables (raw and cooked), and a smaller slice of bread on top with a tortoiseshell pattern. The bread’s texture is crispy on the outside and pleasantly chewy on the inside.

Organic Growth Continues, Even Amidst Inflation

Though the cost of many grocery items – like beef and poultry – continues to increase, organic food sales continue to rise.

Do Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs) Cause Anxiety?

What came first – the Cheeto or the existential crisis? That’s the question a recent story in The New York Times hoped to answer. Though a definitive answer remains elusive, many scientists, nutritionists, and more …

How Meijer Saved 10 Millions Pounds of Food

Through its partnership with Flashfood, an app which offers steep discounts on groceries nearing their sell-by dates, Meijer has become the first American retailer to save 10 million pounds of potentially wasted food. To put …

Poultry Power Meets Global Flavor

Chicken listings on restaurant menus have grown 6.4% in the past five years, outpacing the 4.7% of burgers and other beef-based items.

Unilever is a Cautionary Tale for U.S. Food Companies

On July 1, Hein Schumacher took over as chief executive officer of Unilever. His appointment followed a long search that brought him into the company from Dutch dairy co-op Royal FrieslandCampina, and his immediate mandate …

The Most Popular Candy and Snack Flavors Worldwide

While flavors like truffle mushroom and habanero chili have gained momentum the last few years, Kerry identified coffee, sweet heat, and jalapeno as emerging in recent months.

FI Spotlight: Navigating the Employer-Employee Relationship

Significant rises in both union election petitions and widespread strikes underscore a stark disconnect between employers and employees.

Adapting to Ashwagandha

The Indian herbal supplement Ashwagandha gaining ground in the West these days as a dietary supplement for a variety of uses.

Lead with Delicious: How Plant-Based Thrives

How will plant-based evolve in the year ahead? In this industry outlook, analysts weigh in on economic challenges, the financial landscape, and consumer adoption strategies for 2024.

Ag Disputes Rage Involving ESG Complaints, EU Protests

State agriculture officials are warning U.S. banks their emphasis on policies to reduce climate change threatens the U.S. food supply.

Grocery Prices, But Not Restaurant Meals, Predicted Lower in 2024

Beleaguered consumers received some good news last week with the USDA predicting reductions in grocery prices in 2024 and the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization announcing its food price index is at the lowest level …

The Food as Medicine Conundrum

Like many diets, indulgences, and vices, “everything in moderation” is a good rubric by which to evaluate one’s actions if implementing a food-as-medicine nutritional plan.

Google Reveals Most Popular Diet Foods

New research from Personal Trainer Pioneer has revealed the top ten diet foods in the U.S. based on their popularity in online searches.

Let’s Get Nuts: Macadamia Mania Has Arrived

The macadamia nut market is growing at a CAGR of 11.2%, and experts believe macadamias may soon move to the center of the premium nut mix category.