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 …

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:

Coca-Cola Finds Marketing Success by Sidestepping Controversy

When was the last time you heard “controversy” and “Coca-Cola” in the same sentence? Not in recent months. The venerable company has made a concerted effort to avoid culture wars and political stances while also …

Driving Sales with America’s Most Polarizing Foods 

Polarizing foods can generate criticism, curiosity, and engagement among consumers. But who are the leading offenders in this category, and can food industry operators leverage this love/hate relationship to drive engagement?

The Slow, Rewarding, Delicious Business of Branded Apples

The American apple harvest could reach 250 million bushels this year, a 1.5% increase from 2022. Branded apple varieties account for 15% to 20% of apple sales.

Beef Prices Hitting New Highs at Retail and Restaurants

Domestic beef prices continue to reach new highs. Retail beef prices hit another record high in August, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting a price of $8.31 per lb., according to Wells Fargo analysis …

Outlook for Meal Kits Murky

Meal-kit companies are delivering mixed results in 2023. The difference between the category’s “haves” and “have-nots” appears to be widening. “There’s a broad range of what’s considered a ‘meal kit’ today, reflective of rapidly changing …

The Top 5 Food as Medicine Functional Ingredients

Everything you eat affects your chemistry, and scientists have long recognized that certain foods contain healing substances. From customized nutrition to treating specific disorders, the concept of “food as medicine” is nothing new. Yet, some …

What Can Supermarkets Learn from the Success of ‘Extreme Value’ Retailers?

Continued economic pressure has led to growing sales at “extreme value” retailers like Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings—including in food, according to President and CEO John Swygert on a call with investors. Ollie’s strong performance in …

Packaged Foods Stocks Struggle with Inflation—and Investors

Packaged food stocks experienced a banner year in 2022. The five biggest manufacturers—General Mills, Kraft Heinz, Campbell Soup, Kellogg, and Conagra Brands—on average returned 22% including dividends. On the same basis, the Standard & Poor’s …

What Do Plant-Based Consumers Want Most?

Curiosity is the number one reason consumers try plant-based foods, but what will keep them coming back for more? At the Plant Based World Expo in New York City last week, Steve Markenson, VP of Research & Insights at The Food Industry Association, addressed this essential question.

Drought Sending Pasta Prices Soaring

Pasta, that quick, go-to meal for hungry and cash-strapped college students and busy parents, is no longer the inexpensive choice it once was, with prices for noodles up 8% in the U.S. and 12% in …