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Canadian Cuisine is Gaining Acclaim, from Top Chef to Award-Winning Restaurants
Canadian cuisine is gaining international acclaim, with chefs showcasing The Great White North’s diverse food culture – from Indigenous influences to locally sourced seafood. As culinary innovators tap into Canada’s vast, untapped gastronomic potential, the world is finally taking note.
CPG Shake-Up: Tariffs and GLP-1 Drugs Challenge Brands
With ingredient bans, rising tariffs, and the influence of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, the CPG industry faces a pivotal moment. Forward-thinking brands that embrace strategic supply chain shifts and data-driven consumer insights are most likely to emerge as winners, experts say.
7-Eleven, Live Nation Partnership Exemplifies Experiential Marketing
7-Eleven is redefining experiential marketing by embedding its brand into live music culture as it works to appeal to to younger consumers.
Tomato Tariffs Heat Up, Prices Expected to Surge This Summer
This summer is expected to bring a major shake-up in tomato pricing, as a 17.09% tariff on Mexican imports takes effect, threatening to disrupt a $3 billion market that supplies 70% of U.S. tomatoes. Importers predict higher costs and fewer choices.
All Juice, No Sugar Crash: Raw Generation Debuts Little Sippers Line for Kids
By prioritizing both taste and nutrition, brands like Raw Generation are aiming to solve the age-old challenge of getting children to consume vegetables and setting the stage for nutrient-rich innovations.
Sysco Needs to Play Catch-Up with Foodservice Distributor Peers
Sysco, once a force in foodservice distribution, is now struggling to keep pace with rivals as missed sales expectations raise concerns about its strategies. Competitive weaknesses suggest that, without meaningful change, Sysco’s lackluster stock performance could continue.
New and Next by Nestlé: Seize Upon the Comfort Food Trend
Comfort food remains a powerful force in the food industry, with brands like Stouffer’s leading the way in reinventing beloved classics to align with evolving consumer tastes. As restaurants lean further into “permissible indulgence,” the opportunity to customize and elevate familiar favorites presents a lucrative avenue for operators.
Food Delivery Showdown: Mergers, Acquisitions, Repositions
Food delivery giants like DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, and Grubhub are making bold strategic moves – from acquisitions to service diversification – to capture both consumer loyalty and merchant partnerships. As competition heats up, these platforms are doubling down on technology, international expansion, and grocery delivery integration.
From H Mart to Mainstream: The Rise of Asian Food Brands
Asian food brands are redefining grocery shelves by blending bold cultural identities and playful textures, fueling a culinary movement. With sales skyrocketing and Gen Z embracing authenticity, these brands showcase powerful lessons in modern branding.
Starbucks Bets on a European Aperitivo Menu – Will Gen Z Bite?
Starbucks is betting big on European-style aperitivo culture, launching an afternoon menu of small plates and drinks to boost sluggish post-morning sales. CEO Brian Niccol aims to rekindle the coffee chain’s social ambiance.
Packaging Innovations Help F&B Brands Meet Sustainability Goals
As consumer demand for sustainable packaging increases, brands like Frugalpac and KIND Snacks are making bold moves to redefine industry standards, with Frugal Bottle’s rollout at Target and KIND’s curbside-recyclable wrapper pilot setting new benchmarks for eco-conscious innovation. Other brands are expected to follow their lead.
NGA Takes Aim at Proposed SNAP Cuts, Industry Concerned
The National Grocers Association recently led efforts to urge Congress to reject a proposal that will slash SNAP funding by 20%.
What Moms Really Want for Mother’s Day in 2025
This year, moms are wishing for a “timeout” on Mother’s Day, with 44% of participants wanting someone else to plan the big meal in an OpenTable survey. The research also revealed that nearly a third of moms are considering dining out solo on Mother’s Day in 2025, reflecting an increased desire for “me time.”
Are American Consumers Ready for Alt-Seafood?
The alt-seafood sector has been rife with innovations – from alt-calamari to black cod. However, a wave of recent bankruptcies within the category suggests that consumer adoption rates haven’t quite kept up.
Despite a Rough Q1, Investors Believe Fast Food Will Rebound
Despite sluggish sales and weak traffic in Q1, fast-food giants like McDonald’s and Wendy’s have seen their stocks rebound, reflecting investors’ confidence in pricing adjustments to revitalize the sector. QSRs are positioning themselves for a more efficient, profitable future.
New and Next by Nestlé: Answering Diners’ Call for Adventurous International Flavors
Bold global flavors are captivating the culinary world, with 87% of Gen Z diners craving international tastes like those offered by Minor’s sauces and concentrates. As consumer demand for diverse cuisines surges, such products can help food businesses thrive in the trend-driven market.
Industry Shaken: Indie Cafés Outbrew the Big Guys
Independent cafés and mid-sized coffee chains are chipping away at the dominance of Starbucks and Dunkin’, leveraging bold menu experimentation to capture customers. Challenger brands are expanding aggressively, too.
What’s the New World Screwworm? ‘Flying Piranha’ Alarms Ag Sector
The New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite, is expanding north from South America, posing a significant threat to livestock and even humans. As a result, experts are calling for urgent containment measures.
Brinker’s Spectacular Turnaround Isn’t Over Yet
Brinker International’s unexpected turnaround has propelled Chili’s to stunning same-store sales growth of nearly 26% in fiscal 2025, defying industry trends and revitalizing a brand that seemed stagnant for decades. Chili’s transformation is rewriting the playbook for restaurant chains.
3 Key Trends Displayed at SIAL Canada
This week’s SIAL Canada event showcased the latest cutting-edge food and beverage products, highlighting trends like nutrient-rich “superseeds,” freeze-dried ice cream, and flavorful mocktails.
Yogurt Is Having a Moment
Recent moves in the yogurt segment from CPG giants signal a strong category foundation heading into an uncertain economic future—a white horse amid other stagnating retail categories. Danone, for example, beat out analyst expectations with its Q1 sales.
Coffee: America’s Most Popular Beverage
Daily coffee consumption has increased nearly 7 percent since 2020, partly thanks to the continued interest in specialty brews. FI spoke with several industry professionals about the latest trends, and the impact that tariffs will have on the industry.
For Kraft Heinz, This Isn’t Supposed to Happen
Kraft Heinz’s recent quarterly earnings report posted year-over-year organic volume declines of 7.1% for the period. One potential culprit: the brand’s iconic Mac & Cheese brand is among their weakest performers, per management.
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Grocers’ Gen Z Digital Playbook
Grocers are rethinking the shopping experience to engage with Gen Z, which wields $984 billion in spending power and demands digital-infused interactions.
4 Evolving Nutrition Trends Transforming Health
The latest “What’s Trending in Nutrition Survey” reveals that consumers in 2025 are prioritizing gut health, with fermented foods and superfoods like berries and leafy greens gaining popularity.
CEOs Tighten Belts Amid Tariff Uncertainty
Amid an uncertain economic environment instigated by tariffs, C-suite executives across the U.S. are dialing back business expenditures. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump indicated he may alter course on his economic plan.
New and Next by Nestlé: Serving up the ‘Hottest’ Cold Beverages
The beverage industry is witnessing a seismic shift as younger, socially conscious consumers favor cold drinks, like cold brew coffee and functional juices. Nestlé Professional Solutions has capitalized on this momentum with innovative product launches that expand opportunities for foodservice businesses.
How F&B Companies Can Maximize Return on Tech Investments
Many F&B companies aren’t getting the results they desired from tech investments due to factors ranging from insufficient data to inadequate planning. Industry experts shared actionable strategies with FI to help companies resolve these issues.
SeoulSpice Korean Kitchen: From Family Recipes to Fast-Casual Success
SeoulSpice Korean Kitchen recently expanded into Chicago, opening its first location on March 31. Founded by Eric Shin, principal percussionist of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C., the chain known for its fresh rice and noodle bowls has grown to a total of eight locations across D.C. and Chicago.
Chipotle Gives Reason to React, Not Overreact
Despite Chipotle’s recent sales slump heading into 2025, investors are not worried about the future of the company. Although Chipotle stock has fallen 27% since December 6, its modest performance is peanuts compared to the fast casual sector, and its historic strength signals it can brace the bump.
College Students Look for Better, Tastier Food
College students are doubling down on their nutrient needs, asking for functional dining hall meals to sustain them through their studies.
Strikes Cost Food Industry $145.9 Million in 2024
Strikes cost F&B companies and employees $145.9 million in lost wages and revenue in 2024, according to a review by Noggin. Last year’s strikes were complicated by other issues like supply chain pressures as well, signaling the need for better communication among employees and management to avoid labor strife.
Investors Give Albertsons Another Chance – For Now
Following its earnings call last Tuesday, Albertsons stock finished the week up about 2.5% – but the stock took a winding road to get there. Shares originally fell nearly 8% on Tuesday, the day after the company’s fiscal fourth quarter release, before bouncing back over the next two trading sessions.
HHS Plans to Remove Synthetic Food Dyes, Industry Responds
Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the FDA took to the stage to outline a plan to phase out eight petroleum-based synthetic dyes as well as take steps to improve the American food supply. The announcement was met with a less-than-enthusiastic industry response.
People’s Union USA Kicks Off 7-Day Economic Blackout of General Mills
Recently, People’s Union USA began calling on consumers to boycott products from various businesses in protest of alleged social, economic, and environmental offenses. Monday, participating consumers kicked off a seven-day economic blackout of General Mills.