To no one’s surprise, the consumption of chocolate and other comfort food is on the rise as consumers lean more on guilty pleasures to cope with pandemic-related anxiety. In fact, the stress of 2020 coupled …
While sales data show beverage companies, like many other businesses, are struggling because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are signs that consumers are making healthier choices about what they drink. And that offers opportunity for …
COMMODITIES SUPERCYCLE U.S. agriculture is at the beginning of a commodity “super cycle,” according to Brett Stuart, CEO of Global AgriTrends. He said China is driving markets for beef, pork, poultry and corn, and that …
Lab-grown meat is getting closer to reaching consumers, and it looks like the world’s first 3-D printed ribeye is up next. Here’s a look at how we got to this point. ISRAEL: A MAJOR INNOVATOR …
Historically, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors have taken a back seat to financial performance in the corporate world. And in the interest of performance measurement, companies have often made short-term profit decisions at the …
Major food companies are increasingly placing importance on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices. Corporations like Nestle, Danone, and McDonald’s have found that ESG initiatives are necessary to meet the demands of today’s consumers. Nestle, …
While Sunday’s Super Bowl will be the perfect platform to highlight the changing of the guard between superstar NFL quarterbacks Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes, the food industry will also have some significant changes on …
Food businesses are facing logistics issues regarding rising freight costs on top of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Rising freight rates and delivery delays have led to global backlash from companies frustrated about the mix of …
Hormel is reportedly in talks to buy Planters from Kraft Heinz for approximately $3 billion. Citing people familiar with the matter, The Wall Street Journal said the deal could be announced as early as next …
Retailers across the U.S. posted record seafood sales in 2020, according to data presented at the National Fisheries Institute’s Global Seafood Marketing Conference. Sales rose across all categories. Frozen seafood sales soared 35% to $7 …
About 270 workers have died in meatpacking plants since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and research from the CDC suggests plants at times served as transmitters to spread the virus in surrounding communities. Cold temperatures, cramped …
With the pandemic keeping consumers away from restaurants, bars and other establishments, the growth in at-home alcohol consumption continues. When the pandemic began, Americans turned to convenient, familiar alcohol and bought name brand items in …
As the demand for alternative meat products continues to grow, companies are cutting prices to keep up with competition and to become more accessible to all consumers. PLANT-BASED MEAT REDUCES RETAIL PRICES Impossible Foods recently …
The number of people aged 65 years or older has surpassed those under five globally for the first time since 2018, according to United Nations data. The number of countries with over 20% of the …
We’ve come a long way from fighting off a cold with grandma’s chicken soup. From the healthier products touted by food and beverage companies to the renewed focus of consumers on better nutrition and wellness …
Big CPG companies did well in the first half of 2020, but they failed to meet consumer demand in the year’s second half, giving way, to an extent, to upstart CPGs. CPG sales increased by …
Super Bowl parties may look different this year, but food will still be a major part of them. Frito-Lay estimates a 21% increase in snacking vs. previous Super Bowls as more consumers plan to watch …
As consumers largely continue to stay home during the COVID-19 pandemic, several food brands have shifted to a direct-to-consumer (DTC) model. Bimbo Bakeries USA was one such brand who recently launched a DTC platform. And, …
Archer-Daniels-Midland Company reported fourth quarter earnings of $687 million. Here are some highlights from the report: NUTRITION ADM’s Nutrition business delivered 24% year-over-year operating profit growth. “Our Nutrition business continued to harvest investments, lead in …
The plant-based protein trend continued to gather momentum this week, when Beyond Meat and PepsiCo announced a joint venture to sell snacks and drinks made from plant-based protein. A WIN-WIN FOR TWO MAJOR PLAYERS The …
Some upstart brands that saw strong sales in 2020 will keep the momentum going by airing Super Bowl advertisements for the very first time. Other, more established brands are directing traditional ad budgets for the …
Soybeans and other commodities are seeing a jump in prices due to dry weather and strong export demand from China. Could this lead to higher prices for consumers? RISING COMMODITY PRICES Prices for corn, soybeans, …
Tom Vilsack, President Joe Biden’s nominee for U.S. agriculture secretary, pledged this week to increase USDA programs to combat climate change, expressing confidence that farmers will embrace the chance to make money by sequestering carbon within …
The meal kit and fresh food segments have experienced tremendous growth over the course of the pandemic on a combination of limited dining-out options, families with little time to spare for preparing and cooking food, …
Could pea protein be the next big plant-based alternative? One major food company appears to be banking on it. WORLD’S LARGEST PEA PROTEIN PLANT BEGINS OPERATIONS Roquette, a France-based food ingredient company, has begun operations …
More consumers are trying hemp-derived CBD products, inspiring supermarket chains like Fresh Thyme Farmers Market to increase CBD offerings, reported Forbes (Jan. 18). PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET Brightfield Group estimates the total U.S. CBD market …
A record 54% of Americans between the ages of 24-39 are incorporating more plant-based foods into their diets this year, according to a survey commissioned by Sprouts Farmers Market. WHY ARE CONSUMERS ALIGNING WITH THE …
First came plant-based seafood. Now, cell-based seafood is riding a wave of momentum. Cell-based, or lab-grown, meat is produced by harvesting animal stem cells in nutrient-dense bioreactors. Startups like Mosa Meat, Aleph Farms, and BlueNalu …
Editor’s Note: This article was excerpted from the January 2021 edition of the Food Institute Report. To read more articles regarding food industry news, leadership, markets, commodities, and regulatory issues, consider a membership with the …
At least five other nations are moving toward gene editing hogs, which could put them miles ahead of the U.S. in producing disease-resistant and faster-growing hogs that cost less to grow, the National Pork Producers …
The citrus market is on the rise, as consumers look to get their vitamin C fix. New data show the citrus category across all varieties saw increased demand in 2020, with more than 20% increases …
Editor’s note: Leah Zitter is a longtime Food Tech/Agri Tech writer with a PhD in Research. Welcome to our Food Tech news roundup! Given that recent days have dished up slathers of technology news within …
An estimated one-third of all the food produced in the world goes to waste, likely enough calories to feed every undernourished person on the planet. But wasted food isn’t just about food insecurity. It’s also …
New stats suggest consumer eating habits are shifting away from the traditional three meals per day toward more frequent snacking. Over the past five years, Americans added 25 between-meal snacking occasions per capita, from 505 …
New data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics note that food prices are up due to demand. The food index rose in December, as both food at home and the food away from …
Multiple protein producers are agreeing to settle in various legal battles regarding price fixing and anticompetitive activity. TYSON, PILGRIM’S PRIDE Tyson Foods Inc. and Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. both struck agreements on Jan. 11 to help …
