Can Vegan Dating Apps Impact the Plant-Based Category?

A growing number of vegan dating apps are putting a social spin on the plant-based movement. But how relevant are these meatless match-making services to the food industry at large?

Impossible Challenge? Are Alt-Meat Company’s Layoffs an Ominous Sign?

Impossible Foods recently laid off 20% of its employees. Is this the beginning of the end for alt-meat?

Free Decatur Supermarket Shuttle Drives Shoppers to Publix

City officials in Decatur, Georgia have partnered with Publix to test out a free electric shuttle that drives shoppers to the supermarket following the closure of a downtown Kroger location.

3 Keys for Employee Retention in 2023

The past few years have presented numerous challenges to business owners, including an ongoing labor shortage. The hospitality industry certainly isn’t immune to the struggles of employee retention. “For a long time, the hospitality industry …

NA Drinks & Wings Win Super Bowl Sunday

Chicken wings are cheap and beer is expensive. Amid inflation, brands need an omnichannel approach to reach consumers, especially as it relates to snacking.

Weakened Chicken Demand Pummels Tyson

Tyson Foods’ first quarter earnings missed Wall Street estimates as improved beef and pork supplies weakened demand for chicken, the company said. And chief financial officer John R. Tyson said the next quarter also will …

The Delicious State of Pizza in 2023

In honor of National Pizza Day, The Food Institute took a deep dive into the state of pizza to see how it may fare in 2023.

Breakfast Costs Continue to Climb

Americans may have to start rethinking breakfast as eggs flirt with $5 a dozen and with orange juice prices set to jump because of a poor Florida citrus crop and low cold storage stocks. “Even …

Are Drive-Thru Grocery Stores the Future of Food Retail?

Addie’s, a new drive-up grocery store, just opened its first location in Norwood, Massachusetts, where shoppers will never need to step foot inside.

Trouble Brewing? Study Shows Coffee Chains’ Huge Differences in Caffeine 

A new study sheds light on alarming caffeine disparities between coffee chains.

Precision Fermentation Promises a More Sustainable Future

Precision fermentation technology makes it possible to create alternative egg and milk proteins identical in taste, texture, and functionality to the traditional stuff—without using any animals.

Taking Stock: The Current State of Plant-Based

This industry review looks back on the major sales figures and trends that shaped the state of plant-based over the past year.

Safeguarding Against Cyberattacks in the F&B Industry

As the post-COVID-19 world embraces digitization, legacy IT systems have become increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks. As the 2022 Marcum Food & Beverage Survey shows, a majority of respondents reported that their technology systems were insufficient …

Food Fraud Awareness Increasing

Whether it be supplements spouting unproven health benefits, or products to which harmful substances have been added, food fraud is a growing problem globally. Fortunately, experts say food companies can take careful steps to avoid the issue.

2023 Cattle Prices Could Reach Records

Fed cattle prices are expected to range from $150 to $172 per hundredweight, averaging $158 for the year, up $14 from last year.

COLUMN: Let’s Learn from the Demise of Freshly

The public markets (and strategic firms) aren’t kind to businesses that don’t make much money and then stop growing. The recent shutdown of Freshly shocked many of its consumers, but not those following the ~$6B …

Canned Seafood Making Serious Comeback

Most canned seafood is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and essential vitamins, adding healthy benefits to nearly any meal.

Study: Portion Control Top of Mind for Many Americans

The goal of Georgetown’s study was to learn whether America’s eating habits have changed lately. Clearly, Americans now want smaller portions.

Upping the Ante: Walmart Joins List of Retailers Increasing Pay

Now that Walmart has joined Target and Costco by raising their minimum pay to about double the federal rate of $7.25 an hour, fast-food outlets may have to consider boosting their minimum to $20 to …

Retail Expert: Proper Forecasting Will be Vital in 2023

A top executive with S&P Global Ratings said proper forecasting will be imperative for retailers this year, as fading uncertainty enables new opportunities.

Report: Gen Z, Millennials Boosting Candy Sales

New research suggests many consumers have an undeniable sweet tooth these days, and candy sales back that up. A report by the National Confectioners Association (NCA) revealed that non-chocolate candy is the second-largest selling confectionery …

Report: Alcohol Increasingly Part of Super Bowl Parties

It appears overall alcohol consumption will be up at Super Bowl parties this year. Research by retail insights company 84.51°, however, shows an eye-opening drop in planned alcohol consumption among younger adults this year.

Plant-Based Meal Kits Keep Growing

As pandemic demand for meal subscription services dwindles, the industry continues to evolve — for better or worse. Could plant-based varieties boost overall market growth in the year ahead?

Could ‘Molecular Farming’ Become a Plant-Based Game-Changer?

Moolec Science is infusing crops with animal genes to create a unique meat alternative, in a process it calls molecular farming. Now, it’s looking to partner with major players in the plant-based category.

America’s Top 3 Grocery Stores Ranked by Consumers

Aldi was named America’s most popular grocery store overall, but it wasn’t the favorite among every demographic, according to a recent poll.

COLUMN: Why Vertical Farming Is the Future of Produce

Vertical farming can play a pivotal role to reduce the carbon footprint and provide a sustainable alternative for consumers.

‘Keto’ Was Most Searched Diet Plan in 2022

Americans searched for “keto diet plan” an average of 52,000 times per month last year, according to a Total Shape report.

What Food Companies Can Do to Mitigate Cyber Risk

The food and beverage industry has proven to be a vulnerable target for cyber criminals this year. At least 40 companies in the sector have suffered cyberattacks, of which ransomware events have been the most …

Expert: Price Hikes Could Moderate this Year

Consumers could be getting a break with companies like Conagra Brands, maker of Hunt’s ketchup and other popular packaged groceries, pulling back on price hikes following last year’s worst inflation in four decades. In its …

Video Analytics Reshaping Supermarket Experience

Experts believe that video analytics will soon define grocery, from checkout-free shopping to efficient stocking.

Chicken or the Egg? HPAI’s Impact on Pricing

On the surface, the appearance of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in 2022 should have pushed prices up for both chicken and eggs at an equal level. But anyone keeping an eye on supermarket shelves …

CEO Sees Extensive ‘Runway’ for Healthier Plant-Based Snacks

The founder of That’s it, a functional snack brand, feels that there’s a significant runway within the plant-based category, especially for healthier-for-you snacks.

Shortages of Potatoes, Onions Send Industry Scrambling

Bad potato and onion crops, coupled with cost and availability issues, may have consumers hearing, “You want zucchini sticks with that burger?” Portillo’s CEO Michael Osanloo said supplies of onion rings and French fries have …

Heavenly Hydration: Drinkable Rainwater on the Rise

As climate concerns continue to shake up the food industry, Richard’s Rainwater is bottling fresh rain with a focus on localized access and sustainability.

Survey: Consumers Already Bracing for Recession

Though experts still are split on whether the U.S. Federal Reserve’s inflation-fighting moves will plunge the economy into a recession, consumers apparently aren’t waiting for the official figures, already trimming their grocery bills and choice …

Future Foods, Flavors & Trends from the Fancy Food Show

This edition of The Weekender is a brief link round-up of some of the best of what we saw and experienced at the Winter Fancy Food Show.