Ultra-Processed Foods: Harmful vs. Helpful
Americans get over half their calories from ultra-processed foods. New research, guidelines, and expert advice offer a roadmap for healthier eating habits.
Americans get over half their calories from ultra-processed foods. New research, guidelines, and expert advice offer a roadmap for healthier eating habits.
Tariffs are rattling global supply chains and inflating costs across the food industry, with India boycotts and U.S. shoppers trading down. As inflation bites, legacy brands brace for deeper margin pressure.
Climate change is fueling banana crop diseases like Fusarium and Black Sigatoka, slashing exports and threatening global food security. Fresh Del Monte feels gene-edited resistance is a game-changing lifeline for the $25 billion banana industry.
Halal certification is gradually becoming a coveted recognition as the population of Muslim consumers continues to grow globally. The secular business case for the certification, however, is equally as compelling, as shoppers care more about the traceability and humane standards of the products in their cart.
According to a new report, among sit-down restaurant chains, Outback leads in experience, Cheesecake Factory impresses with its menu, and Chili’s wins on value. Yet, few chains excel across the board. Olive Garden’s comeback proves that simplicity, smart promos, and operational focus drive success.
Within the grocery environment, fresh grocers in the first half of the year greatly outperformed their competitors, thanks to industry tailwinds prioritizing unique offerings and healthy food. In a recent webinar, two industry powerhouses discussed the implications of these macrotrends on the F&B landscape.
Latin American consumers are reshaping the U.S. food landscape, driving flavor trends and outpacing growth across F&B sectors. Their cultural influence is now a bottom-line opportunity businesses can’t afford to overlook
PepsiCo’s launch of Pepsi Prebiotic and its acquisition of Poppi reveal a defensive strategy to plug volume leaks in its aging beverage portfolio. Gut health is the latest attribute leveraged to stabilize declining legacy brands.
Post-pandemic consumers crave mental clarity, but trendy snacks often miss the mark. Experts urge F&B brands to spotlight whole foods, omega-3s, and gut-friendly nutrients to support brain health.
Millennials and Gen Z are snacking with style – treating pantry items as identity statements and status symbols. Brands that blend bold packaging with shared values are seizing this flavorful form of modern self-expression.
Nutrition labels are under fire, and the Good Food Collective is offering what it feels is a smarter, QR-powered alternative. The fast-growing coalition aims to rewrite food transparency and challenge outdated FDA standards.
This article is sponsored and written by Formic. ALTA Foods has been at the forefront of automation for a long time. The 18-year-old tortilla manufacturer has embraced automation as a way to boost throughput, reduce labor …
Amazon has ramped up its grocery game with faster delivery, Whole Foods synergy, and a “One Grocery” strategy aimed at efficiency and scale. Meanwhile, emerging players like Temu are stirring up fresh competition in global fulfillment.
Once untouchable, Domino’s now finds itself battling market stagnation and an identity crisis in a delivery world reshaped by apps. Even winning in pizza no longer guarantees growth, according to FI’s resident stock expert.
Honeycrisp apple prices have surged 160% amid crop shortages, rising labor costs, and limited imports. Retailers are pivoting to Cosmic Crisp, frozen produce, and private labels as shoppers seek relief from premium fruit sticker shock.
Walmart is going all-in on agentic AI, launching super agents that act autonomously to streamline everything from customer service to supply chain ops. For food businesses, this tech could mean fewer errors and sharper margins.
Multiple pro athletes have either invested in plant-based foodservice and food retail brands or launched their own brands in recent years, including John Salley, Tom Brady, Chris Paul, Ed McCaffrey, and Mike Tyson. Let’s take a look at a few of these business ventures – and the motivators behind them.
McDonald’s stock has fared well lately, though its value edge has fizzled. Consumers are hungry for more than just $5 deals. History suggests resilience, but can the golden arches glitter amid rising costs and shrinking sales?
The recent IFT FIRST event spotlighted how food makers are shifting toward natural colors, sugar stealth, and GLP-1-driven formulation. Regulatory winds and wellness trends are rewriting the color, taste, and portion playbook.
Conagra’s stock plunge reveals deep investor doubts about the packaged food sector’s ability to navigate inflation, tariffs, and margin pressure. With volume and pricing power eroding, the industry may be facing a new, uncomfortable normal.
Squid – a domestic, nutrient-rich, and eco-friendly protein – is largely overlooked in America’s protein lineup. The Hermit brand of calamari jerky challenges food leaders to rethink underutilized ocean fare before reaching for lab-grown innovations. (Sponsored Content)
Online grocery sales jumped by an eye-opening 28% YoY in June. However, experts feel barriers like fees, low personalization, and loyalty gaps leave growth on the table.
For Gen Z, eating and drinking are multi-sensory experiences – and texture is just as important as taste. Here are three textures the demographic can’t seem to get enough of.
A 17% tariff on Mexican tomatoes may shake up a $3.1 billion import market, as domestic growers cheer and supply chain leaders brace for impact. The squeeze could spark opportunity – or send prices surging.
Michelob Ultra is winning over wellness-minded drinkers by positioning beer as a lifestyle choice, not just a weekend indulgence. Its low-cal, fitness-friendly appeal offers a playbook for beer brands attempting to stay relevant.
Chinese café disruptors Luckin and Cotti are muscling into the U.S. market with tech-driven formats and inventive drinks, challenging Starbucks’ experience-first playbook. Can hyper-local pricing and automation rewrite America’s morning routine?
Functional chocolate is on the rise, boasting add-ins like mushrooms and collagen. Experts weigh in on the science, the strategy, and whether it’s more hype than health.
Amid deepening tariff fatigue, F&B leaders brace for prolonged disruption while rethinking sourcing and private-label strategy. With costs rising and margins thinning, industry players are innovating, deploying strategies like alternative sourcing. FI recently gleaned business tips from dozens of industry leaders regarding tariffs.
When asked which foods and drinks Gen Zers wanted to experience in sauce form, 10% of survey respondents referenced a soda – some by its brand name; others by its flavor profile. Here are their top flavor choices.
Retail media is booming, with CPGs pouring billions into data-driven platforms like Walmart Connect, Instacart, and DoorDash. The result: high-margin ad revenue is reshaping profit models and investor expectations across grocery and delivery.
RBC’s Nik Modi breaks down how inflation, debt, and economic pressures are shaping grocery shopping habits and consumer behavior in the food industry.
Amazon Prime Day 2025 smashed records with over $24 billion in sales, fueled by influencer-led campaigns and F&B category dominance. Grocery deals drove traffic, while Premier Protein Shakes emerged as the event’s MVP.
Gen Z and Millennials are fueling “Summerween,” sparking early seasonal candy sales and viral Halloween-themed celebrations. Brands tapping into this cultural moment are winning attention with creative campaigns and shareable experiences.
AI is now the sous-chef behind food innovation, reshaping R&D from lab bench to market shelf. As illustrated by this week’s IFT FIRST event in Chicago, platforms like Tastewise are accelerating product timelines, predicting consumer trends, and leveling the playing field for brands big and small.
KFC’s Saucy spinoff flips fast food on its head, making sauce the star with various flavor combos and a vibe-forward experience. Gen Z diners, after all, are chasing chicken these days.
JBS says its stock could quadruple if markets re-rate it closer to peers like Tyson and Hormel – but a history of scandals still weighs heavily. With ESG scrutiny fading, JBS bets low drama could mean high returns.