Under the Influence: Protecting Business from Poor Influencers

It’s the influencers’ world and we’re just living in it. Here’s how to avoid the next Fyre Festival with your brand.

Late-Night Fast Food Making a Comeback

After-bar snackers rejoice! Late night is back. With the resurgence of late-night activities, such as concerts and sporting events as the Covid pandemic eases, people are out and about later and looking to snack – …

Beliv Exec: Innovation, Sustainability Key to Growing Brands in Latin America

The non-alcoholic, ready-to-drink beverage category appears poised for significant growth. Consider: in 2023 the revenue in the non-alcoholic drinks market amounts to $53.1 billion dollars. Beliv, a fast-growing, better-for-you beverage brand, is eager to seize …

More Diners Looking for Sushi Fix at Grocery Stores

Consumers are turning toward grocery store sushi when looking for a healthier snack or quick meal but don’t want to pay restaurant prices.

Analysis: Aldi’s Ascent Rolls on with Winn-Dixie, Harvey’s Acquisitions

Aldi’s acquisition of the Winn-Dixie and Harvey’s banners from Southeastern Grocers is set to shake up the grocery industry, as the off-price retailer gains access to 400 stores in five states.

Recent Spate of Restaurant Closures Confounds Industry

Despite major restaurant chains enjoying increased spending from consumers, a spate of closures have hit smaller restaurants.

What’s Next in Precision Fermentation?

The global precision fermentation market is predicted to grow at a compound annual rate (CAGR) of 40.5% between 2022 – 2031. The dairy sub-segment is expected to dominate, while increasing consumer preference for plant-based meat is anticipated to fuel growth over the long-term.

Analysis: Why History Colors Campbell’s Sovos Deal

Across the 1980s and 1990s, Campbell Soup was one of the best stocks not only in the food industry, but the entire market. Including dividends, CPB returned 2,700%, or about 18%, on an annualized basis. …

What Will 100% Digital Sales at Fast-Food Chains Look Like?

On a recent earnings call, Yum Brands announced its goal to make 100% of its global system sales digital transactions.

What Do Americans Think ‘Natural’ Foods Are?

When a food says “natural” on it, 51% of U.S. adults assume the product is made entirely of whole ingredients and 49% believe there are no preservatives.

Trending Fall Flavors Beyond Pumpkin Spice

As the days get shorter and the sound of each crisp breeze rustling through the trees seems to whisper, “pumpkin spice,” it’s time to shine a light on the other fall flavors that consumers crave. …

Analysis: Is Tattooed Chef a Cautionary Tale for Plant-Based Brands?

The global plant-based meat market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.3% through 2030, but recent struggles could complicate the market.

FI First Look: Revolutionary New Tech in Egg Production; Midwest Farms Endure Heatwave

In-ovo sexing, a technology that promises to make egg production more efficient, has been rolled out in Europe and Innovate Animal Ag is pushing for its adoption in the U.S. Innovate Animal Ag, a nonprofit …

Growing Up – CEA & The Future of Indoor Farming

What’s next for the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) space after a spate of bankruptcies and rising inflation?

The Champagne Party Is Over. Or Is It?

According to media reports, the “party” may be over in champagne. After two years of record sales, France’s Comite Champagne announced in late July that 2023 champagne sales will be down to about 314 million …

State of the Industry: Snack & Bakery

The American Bakers Association (ABA) and SNAC International recently hosted a webinar describing the current state of the snack and bakery industry. Presented in partnership with Circana (formerly IRI), the webinar featured a slew of …

Plant-Based Sweetener Innovations to Watch

The plant-based category is humming with natural sweetener innovation as artificial alternatives face mounting scrutiny from both consumers and government regulators.

Retail Media Networks Are Poised to Explode

Believe the hype – major American retailers and grocers are spending big money on retail media networks (RMNs). Walmart has Walmart Connect. Target reaches consumers using Roundel. Kroger has its Precision Marketing network, Albertsons its …

Starbucks Has Big Plans for Smalltown America

Starbucks appears poised to overtake Subway as America’s most prolific QSR. Smalltown locations could be key in helping the coffee chain reach its goals.

Value-added Proteins Gaining Steam at Grocery Stores

Grocery stores are attempting to give customers a taste of convenience with value-added proteins like meat and seafood.

Top 5 Highest-Grossing U.S. Fast-Food Chains

Average unit volume (AUV) speaks to a chain’s operational efficiency and overall success, indicating the average annual sales that a brand earns per restaurant—a reflection of how consumers feel about the brand itself. These are the top five highest-grossing fast-food chains in the U.S. by AUV.

Go with Your Gut: Marketing Advice for the ‘Gut Health Boom’

Gut health has become the latest health obsession for consumers, and medical professionals and brand marketers are taking note.

CPG Brands Adapting Marketing Messages to Reach Latin Consumers

According to a recent Kantar report, Latin America is home to nearly 40% of the global CPG and FMCG brands that are growing. Here’s a look at the most popular CPG brands in Latin America, …

Snack 50: The Surprising WHYs Behind Gen Z’s Snack Decisions

Earlier this summer, market research company Alpha-Diver and The Food Institute released the first ever Snack 50 report, the industry’s first measure of the psychological drivers of real-world consumer decision-making as it relates to snacking. …

What Target’s ‘Drive Up with Starbucks’ Signals For Curbside Pickup

While the mid-pandemic rush around curbside pickup has cooled off, the potential benefits for consumers and retailers alike are still shaping the grocery landscape. The number of shoppers opting in for the convenience of in-car …

The 15 Healthiest Low-Carb Foods

The low-carb foods market might be bloated, but opportunities remain for food and beverage companies to take advantage.

Global Expansion Tips for Plant-Based Businesses

Worldwide demand for animal and dairy protein is slated to reach $1.2 trillion by 2030, reflecting significant opportunities for plant-based brands eyeing global expansion.

Report: Convenience Still Fueling Prepared Food Sales

Despite persistent inflation and cost-of-living concerns, consumers continue to seek out prepared foods for their ease and convenience. In a new survey from good natured, 72% of respondents claimed they have consistently purchased or increased …

Analysis: Why Sam’s Club and H-E-B Dominate Pharmacy Customer Service

The J.D. Power 2023 Pharmacy Study finds consumers prefer Sam’s Club to Costco when it comes to brick-and-mortar mass merchandiser pharmacies, and H-E-B to Wegmans and Publix when it comes to supermarket pharmacies. “As pharmacies …

Why Inventory Distortion Costs Retailers Trillions

Inventory distortion due to out-of-stocks and overstocks is projected to cost retailers $1.77 trillion worldwide this year.

Will the Government’s New Farm Relief Bill Function?

In the past, the sheer bureaucracy of requesting emergency relief has led to several administrative changes, causing delays, confusion, and more than a little fiscal frustration for those providing many of the common produce staples in grocery and retail.

The Consumer Curiosity Report Reveals Future Food Trends

The Consumer Curiosity Report was the first inaugural report developed by Curious Plot to not only learn how food-forward consumers think and behave, but to help establish, foster, and share new food trends from home to aisle, retail to restaurant.

Column: Leaders Must Prepare for The Great Separation in 2023

What companies need in 2023 are strategic leaders that can challenge the status quo and aren’t institutionalized by conventional wisdom.

Americans Avoid Businesses Without a Drive-Thru

No drive-thru? For nearly half of Americans, that’s a deal-breaker. New research shows that 47% of U.S. consumers would simply avoid going to a store that doesn’t have a drive-thru. And twice as many people …

The High-Tech Future of Food Production

The world is getting hotter, impacting every aspect of food production. Animals are overheating. Extreme temperatures are scorching crops. Does the future of food depend on high-tech solutions? How sows and cows stay cool Livestock …

Scientists Fear Next Pandemic Could Come from Pigs, Hogs

Americans may think the dangers of a COVID-like pandemic originating in the U.S. are remote, but scientists warn that may not be the case since the U.S. boasts the largest number of human cases of …