Agricultural Exports to China Surging

Lately, U.S. farmers are shipping record volumes of crops and meats across the Pacific. A key factor at play: three years after the beginning of a trade war, China is reviving its trade relations with …

Traditional CPGs Can No Longer Use COVID-19 Purchasing Trends as a Crutch for Growth

Throughout the pandemic, consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies benefitted from purchases of classic CPG items like canned vegetables, pasta, and coffee, as consumers stocked up during quarantine. However, as the country opens back up, CPG …

Global Food Prices Hit Six-Year High

Global food prices are the highest they’ve been in six years, with the price of agricultural commodities traded on the global stage rising 50% since the middle of 2020, according to economists at Rabobank. Additionally, …

Consumers Expected to Wake Up to Higher Coffee Prices Soon

U.S. coffee processors are reporting significant cost increases in their operations, mostly related to transportation, and expect to raise retail prices soon. Mid-sized and smaller roasters have been hit hardest, but even larger companies say …

World Celebrates Women’s Day as Gender Equality Lagging in Food Industry

Today is International Women’s Day (IWD), a day created in 1911 to celebrate the achievements of women. These days, IWD is largely viewed as an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of women in areas such …

Narrowing the Divide Between Food Insecurity and Food Waste

While the gap between food insecurity and food waste is significant, increased government, industry and community efforts can narrow the divide. But with global food demand projected to rise anywhere between 59% to 98% by 2050 …

Trying Year Ahead for Texas Farmers After Staggering Storm Damages

Agriculture-related losses from the recent winter storm in Texas are estimated to total at least $600 million, according to the Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension Service, reported The New York Times (March 4). Here’s a breakdown …

Breaking Down Bill Gates’ Synthetic-Beef Climate Solution

Microsoft cofounder and philanthropist Bill Gates recently proposed that shifting beef consumption in wealthier countries to 100% synthetic alternatives could significantly reduce carbon emissions in the long term, reported MIT Technology Review (Feb. 14). But …

Danone Feels Pressure from COVID-19 and Weaker Sales

Danone is being pressured on three fronts: nondairy substitutes are failing to compensate for a slowdown in yogurt consumption, demand for bottled water has wilted, and infant formula sales have weakened due to slowing birthrates. …

Vertical Farming Will Be Key for Supporting Sustainable Produce

Fruit and vegetable production, like all agricultural practices, must adapt to climate change. That is, producers –  already experiencing soil depletion and water supply issues – will also have to contend with severe weather disruptions …

Dairy Farms Decline as Milk Alternatives Go Mainstream

The latest USDA data shows that dairy farms are on the decline, while plant-based milk alternatives are growing in popularity. DAIRY FARM NUMBERS DECLINE USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service’s latest Milk Production report shows another …

Plant-Based Meat Trend Continues to Grow Among Major Industry Players

Plant-based companies are finding a home in fast-food, as demand for meat-free options grows among consumers. About one-third of consumers said their consumption of various meat alternatives has increased over the past year, according to …

New Alternative Proteins Set to Go Mainstream

The combination of wanting to eat a healthier diet and reducing the greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change has led to a meteoric rise in meat alternatives. But while consumers are increasingly incorporating plant-based proteins …

U.S. Seafood Suppliers Facing Major, Problematic Backlog

An influx of imports, plus work forces being affected by the pandemic, are causing backlogs at major U.S. seafood ports leaving stranded containers of frozen fish on ships and docks. Freezers in key port cities …

Consumers Are Turning to Plant-Based Diets, But Are They Eating Enough Produce?

Plant-based diets have grown in popularity in recent years, but new research indicates consumers still aren’t eating enough produce. DECLINING FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONSUMPTION Research from the Produce for Better Health Foundation shows fruit and …

Ag Update: 2021 Projections Largely Encouraging for Farmers

The U.S. could plant 92 million acres of corn, 90 million acres of soybeans, and 45 million acres of wheat in 2021, according to data presented at USDA’s Outlook Forum. That would represent an increase …

Food Industry Part of `SPACtacular’ Shift in Capital Markets

The food industry is one of many accelerating the use of special purpose acquisition companies. But with SPACs positioned to quadruple this year, are these companies poised to become the next Internet bubble or subprime …

Winter Storm Causing Chaos for Food Industry in Texas

Food businesses including grocers, restaurants  and farmers, are faced with major issues due to this week’s severe winter weather in Texas. GROCERS AND RESTAURANTS Power outages and supply problems linked to the nearly unprecedented cold …

The Ongoing Problem with Brand Accelerators in the U.S.

This article is the first in the FI Quarterly Series on Emerging Consumer Brands.  The continuing problem with corporate and independent accelerators is two-fold: the screening process and the mentors available to each cohort. An …

New City Farming Projects Aim to Address Economic, Climate Crises

A new series of projects will build multistory greenhouses inside affordable housing developments to provide jobs that pay $15 an hour. FRESH PRODUCE AND AFFORDABLE LIVING Vertical Harvest, the company behind the affordable housing concept, …

Farmers Likely to Take a Hit Following a Profitable 2020

Prior to this week’s extreme weather in the south, the USDA was already projecting that U.S. farmers wouldn’t see another year as profitable as 2020 for at least a decade. USDA FORECASTS LOWER PROFITS DESPITE …

Nestle’s Sale of Water Brands Signifies Key Change in Philosophy

Nestle has agreed to sell its regional spring water brands, purified water business and beverage delivery service in North America to One Rock Capital Partners, in partnership with Metropoulos & Co., for $4.3 billion. The sale includes …

Rising Costs Pushing Meat Producer Prices Higher

The world will soon pay more for meat as food inflation deepens. Livestock farmers are getting hit with the highest corn and soybean prices in seven years, raising the cost of feeding their herds by …

The Newest Plant-Based Innovation: A Vegan KitKat

Next Valentine’s Day, plant-based consumers will have even more chocolate options, thanks to Nestle’s latest development: a vegan KitKat. NESTLE TAKES PLANT-BASED CHOCOLATE MAINSTREAM A plant-based candy bar, called KitKat V, will be Nestle’s first …

New Bills Could Provide Assistance to Black Farmers

Each February, Black History Month not only celebrates the achievements of African Americans, but also highlights some of the mistreatment African Americans have endured over the course of our history. Perhaps it’s appropriate, then, that …

Shifting Retail Trends Hurting Chocolatiers Despite Strong Chocolate Market

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 …

Sales Data Show Rise in Popularity of Healthier Beverages

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 …

FI Agriculture Round Up: The Dawn of a Commodity ‘Super Cycle’

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 …

Are You Ready for 3-D Printed Steak?

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 …

Why ESG Initiatives Matter for the Food Industry

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 …

Food Companies Push ESG Movement Forward

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, …

Super Bowl Showcases Changing of the Guard for NFL (and Food Industry)

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 …

Supply Chain Pain: Freight Rates, Delivery Delays Frustrate Food Industry

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 …

Report: Hormel in Talks to Buy Planters, Continuing Greater Snack Acquisition Trend

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 …

Can U.S. Retailers Net Record Seafood Sales Again in 2021?

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 …

Did the Meat Industry Do Enough to Protect Workers from COVID?

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 …