Focus Archive > Page 21

Protein Bars Proliferate, Yet they Confuse Consumers

Amid the health and wellness movement, protein bars are flying off grocery shelves. Yet, it’s debatable how healthy many of these protein snacks actually are in 2023. The protein bar market has become massive. According …

What’s Up with Watermelon? Prices, for Starters

While food inflation seems to be cooling in the aggregate, watermelon prices remain red hot. That’s according to Mintec, a market intelligence company, which recently reported prices had surged 49% in mid-July when compared to …

The Grimace Effect – How Marketing & Memes Drive Sales

Audacious, sublime, organic – these are the hallmarks of profit for brands wise enough to be confident in their values and lucky enough to thread the needle between quality-controlled seriousness and edge-of-the-internet frivolity.

Emergent Functional Foods Are Flooding the Market

Cereal, by most conventions, is a breakfast food. Yes, cereal can also make a great snack, and has been snackified for decades as a familiar and kids-friendly alternative to vegetables and other foods with more …

Why Mixed Reality Could be a Business Game-Changer

When Apple unveiled its Vision Pro headset in June, tech experts reacted with hyperbole. Optimists claimed the mixed reality device is likely to replace smartphones someday. Cynics, on the other hand, scoffed at the product’s …

The Summer of Butter

Every dairy category has seen positive growth, from milk, natural cheese, and eggs to yogurt, cream cheese, dairy processed cheese, and whipped toppings, all helping power the #SummerOfButter.

3 Key Takeaways from IFT FIRST 2023

CHICAGO – Product developers and food scientists from over 70 countries learned about the latest in food ingredients and technologies recently at the IFT FIRST 2023: Annual Event and Conference. The Institute of Food Technologists …

SKU News: Firsts From Maxwell House, Yough!, & Philadelphia

New product launches from Maxwell House, Yough!, and Philadelphia signal important firsts for each of the brands. Designed to be convenient, better-for-you, and plant-based, these new offerings are indicative of the trends defining the food industry right now.

Locally Sourced Produce Can Boost Summer Sales

Summer offers the perfect opportunity for grocers to offer locally grown produce to differentiate themselves from the competition. Shoppers are looking for fresh foods for all occasions, from morning meals to barbecues, and positioning the …

How Soon Will Cultured Meat Impact Plant-Based Sales?

As the gate to cell-cultured meat sales swings open in the U.S., what’s in store for the alt-meat sector? The Food Institute checked in with Jennifer Bartashus at Bloomberg Intelligence to discuss potential market implications in the months ahead.

Food & Beverage Manufacturing M&A Quarterly Report: Q2 2023

This article is sponsored and written by CohnReznick. Transaction activity in the food and beverage space in Q2 2023 was relatively flat as compared to Q1 2023. Still, some significant food and beverage transactions have already ...

Easing Grocery Prices Pose Threat to Restaurants

To cook or not to cook, that is the question. But with grocery prices slowing their increase and restaurant prices rising at a faster pace, the question becomes whether consumers will opt to hone their …

What Does Wellness Mean to Consumers?

Although the terms “health” and “wellness” are often lumped together or used interchangeably, there is an important distinction between the two. Understanding this difference is essential to understanding the modern consumer.

Sugarflation Frustration

The term “sugarflation” could soon become part of the global lexicon. Everything from candy and soft drinks to baked goods are likely to become more expensive in the second half of 2023 – sugar prices …

Regionality Sparks Sizzling Summer Food Trends

Summer travel in 2023 is more localized as attendance at recreational venues is up significantly across the country, from stadiums and amusement parks to local fairs and movie theaters. The elevated foot traffic is also boosting food sales and driving innovation in the space.

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Analysis: Has Aspartame Gotten an Unfair Rap?

By now, you’ve likely seen the ominous headlines about aspartame being deemed carcinogenic. The news about the sweetener – which is commonly used in sodas – was met with alarm by many consumers. But what …

High-Protein Products as Popular as Ever

If online conversations are any indication, consumer interest in high-protein products is soaring. According to a recent report by Brandwatch, online search interest for the term “high protein” reached a five-year high in early 2023 …

How Grocers Can Sway Cash-Strapped Consumers

Low-income shoppers are more cautious than ever when choosing a grocer—companies that can meet their needs have an opportunity to develop relationships that last a lifetime.

Six Steps to Appealing to Gen Z Consumers

As a consumer group, Gen Z has very specific preferences and expectations – and the cohort’s young members aren’t afraid to let businesses know exactly how they feel. This tech-savvy and socially conscious generation has …

Top 4 Cereal Trends Redefining the Category

The cereal aisle isn’t what it used to be. Instead, brands are innovating, collaborating, and developing healthier options to reimagine what cereal means to the modern consumer, for breakfast and beyond. These are the top …

Consumers Scoop Up Classic Ice Cream Flavors, Pails

Almost 95% of shoppers are purchasing ice cream in stores this summer according to retail data science company and Kroger insights partner, 84.51°. Here are some ice cream trends for the 2023 summer season…and beyond. …

Costco Clamps Down on Membership Abuse

It’s unusual for a retailer to make it more difficult for consumers to shop at its stores. But membership fees are the key to Costco’s business. In fiscal 2022 (ending August 28), membership fees accounted for 54% of the company’s operating profit; the figure has risen to 58% in the first three quarters of fiscal 2023.

Analyzing the Dairy Industry’s Imbalance Issue

Demand for fluid milk continues to drop, forcing dairy farmers to dump milk, some of it winding up in the Milwaukee sewer system. Food Processing recently reported truckloads of milk were dumped into the Milwaukee …