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Loitering Encouraged: Have a Seat at the C-Store
The contemporary C-store is not just a place of commerce and connection, but community and expanded food/bev services. No Loitering signs are giving way to invitations to pull up, sit down, and stay a while.
Analysis: Beyond Meat Bit Off More Than it Can Chew
When Beyond Meat went public in May 2019, investors went a little crazy. On its first day of trading, the company’s stock rose 163%. That was the kind of move that hadn’t been seen since …
Goodles: Brave New Mac-n-Cheese Segment or Celebrity Fad?
Correction: Gooder Foods notes that the Goodles’ retail distribution is 35,000 distribution points, not store locations. This means their brand velocities are most likely higher than depicted below in the original piece. If Gooder Foods …
The Secrets to Successful Modern Marketing
Shorter attention spans and higher expectations have made it harder for retailers across the industry—grocers included—to capture the interest of the modern consumer. While it can be tricky to connect with today’s busy, price-conscious shopper, …
Interest in Alternative Energy Drinks Surging
Across the U.S., consumers continue to seek out energy-boosting beverages. This persistent demand, coupled with a broader exploration of ingredients, is transforming the energy drink landscape.
A New Blue Wave: Explaining the Blue Zone Diet Craze
The Blue Zone Diet has become part of the national lexicon of late. So, what exactly is this new craze?
Are U.S. Coffee Drinkers Addicted to Their Morning Brew?
For most American coffee drinkers—cue the old Folgers jingle—the best part of waking up really is the coffee in their cup. According to new research conducted by OnePoll on behalf of BUNN, four in five …
Expert: TikTok Shop Offers Huge Opportunity for CPG Companies
In September, TikTok became more than a video sharing social media platform. The app known for dance fads, cooking demos, viral challenges and conversation duets is taking on e-commerce. TikTok Shop, which launched for all …
American Restaurant Chains Thriving in India
While 40% of India’s residents are vegetarian, there’s still a large addressable market open to omnivore cuisine. Plus, much of the country is infatuated with western culture – a fact QSRs are taking note of.
How the Pandemic Reshaped Restaurant Real Estate
There has been a sizable population shift to America’s Sun Belt as well as its suburbs and rural areas in recent years. That fact has reshaped the nation’s commercial real estate, experts say.
Ozempic’s Business Impact: Weight Loss Drug Could Make Snack-Makers Tighten Belts
Blockbuster diabetes drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, which have become the darlings of the weight-loss industry, could have an unintended side-effect: shrinking the bottom lines of major snack-making companies. Junk food has been widely blamed …
Why Phantom Inventory Harms Loyalty — and How Grocers Can Fight Back
The biggest supply chain disruptions in recent memory have passed but their impacts are still being felt by cautious consumers. According to a recent Ipsos poll, nearly two-thirds (65%) of Americans say that grocery stock …
AI, Automation and Growth Mindset Key to 2024 Plans
What do food companies need to do to ensure growth in 2024? While there’s no clear-cut answer, many appear focused on deploying artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, automating processes where possible, and maintaining an agile growth …
Just Egg CRO: College Students ‘Bullseye Target’ for Plant-Based
A recent confluence of headlines reporting a shift in sales and venture-backed capitalism indicate a change in consumer mindsets surrounding alt meat products and their pseudo-competitors – particularly seafood, fungi, and the versatile mushroom.
Sugar Production Isn’t Looking So Sweet
Global sugar prices are up, and sugar production isn’t looking so sweet as we move into a new crop year starting Oct. 1.
L’Eggo My Waffle-flavored Adult Beverage
Mountain Dew, Simply Orange, and SunnyD have all launched alcohol products recently which have drawn the ire of consumer advocates.
Health and Wellness Movement Remains Fertile Ground for F&B Brands
Companies like Grand View Research and Future Market Insights have produced a host of health and wellness reports recently. The reports noted, for example, that the global prebiotics market size is valued at nearly $6 …
Is the Greenwashing Wave Crashing?
In the age of transparency, nearly half (45%) of shoppers have heard of greenwashing and one-third (33%) are skeptical of green labels and sustainability claims.
Top Trends at Expo East 2023
What are the major trends shaping the natural and organic products industry today? The Food Institute checked in with industry analysts on the floor at Expo East 2023 to glean the top trends and takeaways …
Latam Food Week Highlights Region’s Healthy Cuisine
Experts note that Latin foods, which rely mostly on plant-based ingredients, can be quite healthy, playing to many consumers’ current focus on wellness. That was a key point of emphasis earlier this week during Latam …
What Consumers Really Think About Artificial Sweeteners
In mid-July, the World Health Organization (WHO) flagged aspartame, an artificial sweetener frequently used in diet sodas, as a possible carcinogen. Consumers responded to the news with a resounding shrug.
Game On: Gamification Rewards Grocers Who Think Outside the Box
Grocers are always looking for ways to encourage larger baskets and build loyalty, and one potential avenue is looking outside the usual incentives to explore the possibilities of gamification. Fun, simple activities can be more …
The Rise of Gen H: Hispanic Culture’s Influential Young Adults
On Day 2 of The Food Institute’s Latam Food Week, a new generation was coined: Generation H. “Think of it as Gen Z meets Hispanic culture,” said Hunter Thurman, president of Alpha-Diver, “a high-sensory, emotion-first …
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Alt Meat No Longer Sizzles While Plants & Fungi Grow
A recent confluence of headlines reporting a shift in sales and venture-backed capitalism indicate a change in consumer mindsets surrounding alt meat products and their pseudo-competitors – particularly seafood, fungi, and the versatile mushroom.
Latam Food Week: 3 Key Takeaways from Opening Day
Ivonne Kinser kicked off the inaugural Latam Food Week with a rather bold statement. “When we look at the nomadic [nature of] Latin American culinary culture, there’s unlimited sources of flavors,” the food industry insider …
Three Consumer Mindsets Driving Fresh Grocery Sales
Despite easing inflation concerns, consumers are still preparing 85% of meals at home, which presents significant sales opportunities. In a recent webinar, Circana and FMI unpacked the three major mindsets driving today’s fresh grocery shoppers.
How F&B Companies Can Leverage Generative AI
Generative AI burst onto the scene this year as programs like ChatGPT, Bard, and Midjourney demonstrated the vast potential of this emerging technology. Many experts predict that generative AI will soon transform how businesses operate, making right now the perfect time to get ahead of the competition.
Making LTOs Permanent: When Fans Influence Brands
Sometimes fans get the best of their preferred brands and flavors by creating demand for a once-unthinkable product or simply demanding the return of favorite LTOs.
Split Decision: Kellogg’s Future Murky After Morphing into Two Companies
During the financial crisis of 2008-09, the idea of a “bad bank” came into vogue. With financial institutions worldwide weighed down by non-performing mortgages, industry professionals argued that the proper path was to simply move …
Albertsons’ New 30-minute Grocery Delivery Met with Industry Skepticism
The pandemic saw an explosion in grocery delivery and pickup options but now that things have gone back to near normal, the question is whether such services can distinguish grocery chains and satisfy consumers’ desire …
Analysis: Why Web 3.0 Could Reshape the Food Industry
Web 3.0 could revolutionize business practices, including the food industry, but how does it differ from the versions that came before it?
How Can Startups Stand Out in Plant-Based?
What strategies can emerging companies employ to distinguish themselves in the teeming plant-based market? FI unpacked this question with Chelsie Hodge, founder and CEO of frozen functional beverage company, Blender Bites.
Candy & Spice and Everything Nice: Holiday Hits Retail Earlier Than Ever as Spending Shrinks
It’s not just the days that are getting shorter – the amount of time between glimpsing ghouls and buying roof clips for Rudolph is shrinking, too. Home Depot sold out of its first run of …
Candy & Confections Are Killin’ It in 2023
What if candy were associated more with a lifestyle and not with high-sugar, indulgence-driven snacking? That’s how the Swedes do it. In the 1970s, a Swedish dentist created a campaign suggesting children only eat candy …
Top Trends at the Plant Based World Expo 2023
The Food Institute was on the scene at the 2023 Plant Based World Expo taking in the sights, sounds, and most importantly—tastes—while chatting with exhibitors about their offerings. Here are the top trends we spotted: