3 Key Themes for Foodservice from DMA Live in Texas

Labor challenges, diverging dining hours, and burgeoning menus were among the foodservice themes explored at DMA’s event in Texas.

Study: Eating Red Meat Increases Type 2 Diabetes Risk

Eating red meat just twice a week may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a new Harvard University study. Meanwhile, data shows that a relatively small percentage of people eat a …

Consumer Pulse: Who’s Drinking Alternative Milk — and Why?

Milk alternatives are a key growth driver for the plant-based industry. What keeps shoppers coming back for more?

The Future of Restaurants: Data and Insights for 2024 and Beyond

What do consumers desire in 2024 when they eat out? Value and convenience, mostly, and though those are universal qualities most any time, an uncertain economic outlook and increased food prices have seen consumers slowly …

Sugar Alcohols Are Everywhere—What Are They?

Sugar alcohols, found in many processed foods, have long been an enigma for many consumers. Commonly listed under the “total carbohydrate” header on a nutrition facts label, sugar alcohols are actually neither sugar nor alcohol—despite …

When Costing Mistakes Eat into Food Business Margins

To thrive in today’s highly competitive market, food and beverage businesses need to understand exactly where they make money—and where they don’t. While that might sound obvious, for many businesses pinpointing which products, services, and ...

Cider is the Next Craft Beer Movement

Like session beers, Guiver said many ciders feature a higher ABV than what many people are used to (or remember!). “We’re seeing more ciders with ABVs of 7% or more as customer trends change,” she added, “and cider is walking this line of tradition as well as approachability and innovation.”

Expect Surging Beef Prices to Continue

It is an expensive time to be a carnivore with beef prices surging. Retail beef prices are sizzling despite an overall (and very much welcomed) downturn in the overall prices of food as the holidays …

Peru Filling Gap in Grape Demand

Extreme weather in California this year has had a negative impact on the grape crop, forcing buyers to shift their attention to growing regions in South America, affecting stocks left for that market. “California, a …

A Weighty Issue: Ozempic, Wegovy Versions Considered for Kids

With 17% of children ages 10 to 17 considered obese, consideration is being given to whether diabetes drugs like Ozempic should be made available to kids. Health experts have concerns.

Caffeine Craze Reaches Chewing Gum Aisle

If you have a difficult time starting your day unless you’ve had your morning cup (or three) of coffee, you’re not alone. Roughly 90 percent of Americans consume caffeine regularly, according to the United Brain …

Top 5 Things Grocery Shoppers Look For on Food Labels

Today’s shoppers care about what’s in their food, and they are not afraid to check the label—but what exactly are they looking for? Standing in the grocery aisle, squinting at the product in hand, there …

Halloween ’23 Update: Expect Tons of Taylor Swift Costumes, Demands for Chocolate

Brace yourself for a sea of Swifties, Barbies, Spider-Men…and many requests for peanut butter cups. According to new research from Acosta Group, Halloween 2023 appears likely to feature tons of Taylor Swift costumes and bulk …

Can In-Store Marketing Boost Plant-Based Sales?

As the plant-based industry grapples with plateauing sales at retail, company leaders from alt-meat to tofu are turning a critical eye toward in-store marketing to boost household penetration.

‘Sweet Heat’ Trend on Full Display at Food Supplier Event

MINNEAPOLIS – Chef Jeff Baker’s average customer is getting more adventurous – even in the Upper Midwest, where ketchup and black pepper qualify as “spicy” in some circles. The evolution of the American consumer’s palate …

Retail Theft is a Growing Problem – Can the Tide Be Turned?

Major retailers including Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, Walgreens, and CVS have all recently decided to close locations across major US cities, raising concerns about the future of retail in some of the most distinguished business …

California Wage Law: The Dominos Are Poised to Fall

QSR jobs will be in high demand once the law passes as workers try to reduce their dining expenses in lieu of high food costs and an inflationary environment. More importantly, however, California just bolstered the prospects of hundreds of thousands of current and (more importantly) future fast-food workers.

Study: Food is Medicine Initiatives Improve Health, Reduce Spend

The costs of suboptimal diets in the U.S. due to health care spending and lost productivity are estimated at $1.1 trillion each year — equaling the economic output of the entire food sector.

Analysis: How to Manage Risk in Food Supply Chains Moving Forward

The food industry relies on stable and safe supply chains to operate unhindered, but there is inherent risk in the transportation and handling of foodstuffs. If the supply chain breaks down in any way, business …

Whole Foods Market’s Top 10 Food Trends for 2024

As 2023 winds down, Whole Foods Market has released its top 10 anticipated food trends for 2024 – including whole cacao, buckwheat, and more.

How In-Store Restaurants Can Boost Business

The lines between grocery store and restaurant have been blurring for some time now as retailers offer more takeout options for busy shoppers, but the concept can go beyond grabbing dinner while picking up groceries. …

Food Could Upend Upcoming Elections

Voters will be listening closely to what candidates say in addressing inflation and food supply challenges in upcoming elections worldwide.

Corporate Transparency Act Bringing Big Change to F&B Businesses

Add “Compliance with Corporate Transparency Act” to your New Year’s resolution list. Beginning on Jan. 1, 2024, businesses across all industries will need to file a Beneficial Ownership Information Report (BOI Report) with the U.S. …

Is Plant-Based Entering a New Era of Growth?

Is all the hype surrounding plant-based meat overblown, or is this just the proverbial eye of the storm? The Food Institute sat down with Elysabeth Alfano, CEO of VegTech Invest to discuss why she believes the industry is on the verge of something big.

The Early Bird Dinner Trend Is Sweeping the Nation

Consumers across the country are going out to dinner more often—and much earlier—than they were before the pandemic. Turns out, being an early bird isn’t all that special anymore. “Our data indicates that fine-dining customers …

Food & Beverage Manufacturing M&A Quarterly Report: Q3 2023

This article is sponsored and written by CohnReznick. While deal volumes and total capital invested have leveled off in 2023 for the F&B sector, numerous food and beverage deals were also announced during Q3 and should ...

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.