Feeling the Squeeze: Orange Juice Prices Continue to Climb

Orange juice futures are up more than 400% since 2020, and the rising prices have consumers wondering if the juice is truly worth the squeeze.

Gut Feelings: Experts Largely Bullish on Prebiotic Sodas

Many industry experts believe prebiotic sodas represent a gut-health trend with real staying power as major soda brands appear poised to respond.

Prognosis Positive: Dr Pepper Overtakes Pepsi as No. 2 Soda in America

Dr. Pepper: call it soda or call it pop, but either way, there’s a new no. 2 soda in America, and it isn’t Pepsi.

Top Trends to Spice Up Summer Grilling Sales

One in five consumers plan on grilling more this summer according to new shopper survey insights from Acosta Group.

Chef Robert Irvine’s 4 Pillars to Business Leadership

Despite his unrivaled work ethic, celebrity chef Robert Irvine has learned the value of delegating, and listening to, employees. “I learned to listen, because you get more from listening,” he told FI.

The Food Dye Dilemma: Manufacturers Navigate New Regulations

Are the days of artificial red coloring numbered? Perhaps, judging by recent regulations and subsequent moves by major food manufacturers.

Private Label Drives Summer Growth

For many major retailers, the latest quarterly results tell a familiar tale: consumers are fed up with high prices, spending less, and commodifying their loyalty by taking the best deal right now, regardless of whose logo adorns their grocery bag or shopping cart. 

Investors See Cava as the “Next Chipotle”

Cava has intrigued investors, as CEO Brett Schulman has argued that Mediterranean food is the “next large-scale cultural cuisine category.”

A Fork in the Road to Sustainability: Nestlé’s New Plant-Based Fork

The innovation is a key part of its commitment to eliminate or reduce plastics in packaging while scaling reusable and refillable systems.

Bird Flu Approaching Danger Point

The USDA is ramping up efforts to stem H5N1 avian influenza as the virus has spread to a third worker, and cattle in at least nine states,

The Age of Discontent: Gen Z is Frustrated At Work

Gen Z workers reported being less engaged with their jobs than all workers (81% versus 88%) and continue to drive the “quiet quitting” trend according to new research.

BellRing, Simply Good Brands Illustrate Boundless Opportunities Within ‘Active Nutrition’ Category

Active nutrition brands BellRing and Simply Good Foods are thriving after acquisitions, providing a roadmap to success for other brands, too.

Tapping Out: 2024 is Mocktail Time for Gen Z

“Gen Z is tapped in, and they see the negative impact alcohol can have on their lives,” said Michelle Houston, founder of the To Be Honest Beverage Company.

Certified Organic Products Break U.S. Sales Record in 2023

U.S. dollar sales for organic products approached $70 billion in 2023, marking a 3.4% increase YoY and setting a record for the sector.

Breaking the Ice: The Chill, Crunch, and Pleasure of Freeze-Dried Candy

When scanning a candy store in 2024, customers will notice a developing trend: freeze-dried products, apparently, are the coolest. Candies like Skittles and Jolly Ranchers can now be found in freeze-dried variations.

Fast-Food Chains Racing to the Bottom to Attract Inflation-Weary Consumers

All of a sudden, $5 value meals are everywhere, from fast-food chains to major retailers. Industry insiders say the deals are simply a short-term solution, however.

Drinks Catering to Gen Z Steal the Show in Chicago

The event’s exhibitors focused on foods, drinks, and equipment designed to help foodservice operators create unique taste experiences. Beyond offering crave-worthy fusion dishes and fun iced beverages, exhibitors offered a wide array of vending machines on the show floor.

Seafood Restaurant Outlook: Lessons Learned from Red Lobster’s Demise

What can seafood restaurant operators learn from the demise of Red Lobster? Andy Diamond, president of seafood franchise Angry Crab Shack, recently noted how operators can stay ahead of volatile market pricing to deliver value.

Falling Stars: Inflation Cuts Into Retailers’ Ratings

The most recent rising trend in retail is lowering one’s expectations of retail. This year, clothing companies tended to fall the worst, followed closely by QSRs, big box stores, and grocers, in that order.

Three Key Trends from NRA 2024

The food-away-from home industry gathered in Chicago between May 18 and May 21 for the 2024 National Restaurant Association Show (NRA 2024).

Consumers Have Forced the Value Wars

Food prices are up; consumer confidence is down. Many QSRs and retail outlets reported losses in the last quarter. The Value Wars are here.

Anti-Diet Movement: Marketing Ploy or Healthier Relationship with Food?

The so-called “anti-diet” movement aims to move people away from an obsession with weight loss and toward a healthier relationship with food.

Cooking Up a Storm: Gen Alpha Kids Have Become Tiny Tastemakers

Don’t look now, but Gen Alpha’s influence in the food industry is rising due to its increasing interest in cooking.

Walmart Earnings Seem Optimistic for The Food Industry. Its Strategy Might Not Be

Retail giant Walmart is hardly moving like a lumbering incumbent, but rather at a pace more like that of a startup. That seems a terrifying prospect for the rest of the industry, said FI’s resident stock analyst.

Key Takeaways from The NGA Show 2024: Improving Shopper Experience

Shopper experience in the physical store is often what truly differentiates the independent grocer from brick-and-mortar chain stores and online e-commerce competitors like Amazon.  The right mix of products, priced right, offered in the right place, and services delivered by welcoming staff in a pleasant environment are essential to building sales and customer loyalty.

In Today’s Market, What Defines Value?

Many consumers feel they can’t win on cost alone – they also need an experience, or at least a decent reason to visit a brick-and-mortar store.

To Many Americans, Eating Fast Food is Now a Luxury

According to a new survey from Lending Tree, a staggering 80% of consumers now consider fast food a luxury because it’s so expensive.

Behold, ‘Kitchen Table Travelers’: Ajvar Is Spreading

Ajvar is a Yugoslavian relish that became popular after World War II. Made primarily from sweet bell peppers and eggplants, ajvar can be sweet (traditional), piquant (common), or scorching hot. Ajvar can be spread on bread or enjoyed as a side dish due to its thicker and more viscous texture.

Four Key Themes from the 2024 BMO Farm to Market Conference

At the 2024 BMO Farm to Market Conference, a few key themes emerged for the food, beverage, and agriculture sectors.

Sweet Sustainability: How 3D-printed Cookies Are Made From Waste

Researchers have created a way to make 3D-printed food, including cookies, out of plastic waste. It could be the answer to multiple global issues.

Opinion: Automation Serving up Invaluable Efficiency for Restaurants

Restaurant automation reduces service time, increases consistency, and eliminates labor from the restaurants that use it.

Sweetgreen Positions New Steak Offering as Sustainable, Rooted in Regenerative Grazing Practices

Sweetgreen is leveraging regenerative agriculture to position its new grass-fed steak offering as climate-friendly. Can expanding these agricultural practices offset beef’s massive carbon footprint?

Choc Full of Benefits: Functional Chocolate Has Arrived

Functional chocolate is becoming a staple of health-conscious diets. Manufacturing the healthier-for-you chocolate often requires much trial and error, however.

Gen Z’s ‘Little Treat Culture’ Especially Apparent in Coffee Category

Young adults are turning to drinks like cold brews and ube lattes as they seek self-care while partaking in “little treat culture.”

Weather and War are Threatening Wheat Supplies

Soggy fields in western Europe and drought in Australia, Ukraine and Russia, coupled with Russia’s continued war on Ukraine, are curbing wheat production and shrinking global stocks to their lowest level in decades.

Food Meets Fashion in NYC

On Thursday, May 16, The Food Institute is taking over the headquarters of Hugo Boss in downtown Manhattan to discuss food, finance, and fashion.