McCormick Flavor Strategy Regaining Sizzle

McCormick’s once faded growth story is regaining heat, as consumer volumes stabilize and younger generations fuel long term demand for bold, global flavors.

Independent Grocers Have a Secret Weapon: Trust

Independent grocers are gaining ground as cost-pressed shoppers place more trust in local stores than national chains. To keep that edge in 2026, independents must pair community credibility with digital convenience, personalized value, and smarter savings tools.

Circana Predicts Slowing F&B Growth in 2026 – But Opportunities Remain

Circana forecasts slower F&B growth in 2026 as economic pressure and supply chain complexity reshape the competitive landscape. Still, experts say brands that balance pricing and evolving consumption “moments” for customers can still thrive.

How Online Grocery Is Getting a Whole Lot Better

Online grocery is accelerating into 2026 as retailers lean into functional beverages, agentic AI, and ever faster fulfillment to boost loyalty. The winners will be those who blend smarter tech with sharper product strategy to meet rising consumer expectations.

4 F&B Trends to Watch in 2026, According to MenuData

MenuData predicts four forces will shape 2026 menus, from texture‑obsessed consumers and nostalgia‑driven LTOs to the resurgence of animal fats and the growing influence of GLP‑1 users. For brands, these shifts signal major opportunities for innovation—and risks for those who fall behind.

The Intersection of Liability and Product Recall

When contamination strikes, having both General Liability and Product Recall Insurance can mean the difference between recovery and ruin. Smart food companies treat them as a dynamic duo – not a redundant expense. Sponsored by Coughlin Insurance Services

Instacart AI Pricing Could Trigger Backlash

Instacart’s AI driven pricing tests are drawing FTC scrutiny and risking a consumer trust meltdown as shoppers balk at higher than expected costs. Experts warn that without transparency, retailers could push customers toward cheaper rivals and curbside alternatives.

Plant-Based Values, Natural Retailers Drive Next-Gen Growth

The next phase of plant-based growth is beginning to take root. New SPINS data, global flavor innovation, and the growing influence of natural retailers suggest 2026 could be a pivotal year – if brands rethink value, positioning, and proof-of-concept strategies.

State of the Consumer: Value Obsession

There is no escaping today’s reality: consumers are stressed. This has made the CPG, grocery, and foodservice value propositions more important than ever. Although a value focus is coming to every consumer, irrespective of socioeconomic ...

Club Stores Get the Modern Consumer

Club stores are surging as inflation weary consumers flock to value, consistency, and private label innovation, leaving traditional grocers fighting for relevance. Costco leads the charge, turning trust and membership loyalty into a growth engine the rest of retail can’t ignore.

Chocolate’s Identity Crisis: Cocoa Is Disappearing

Chocolate makers are scrambling as soaring cocoa costs force reformulations and shrinkflation. With supply pressures mounting, the industry is racing toward alt cocoa, gene-edited crops, and other science-driven solutions.

Fiber, Functionality, and AI: Acosta’s Big Predictions for 2026

Acosta Group expects 2026 to be a breakout year for agentic AI, with shoppers embracing AI “companions” while still wary of automated purchasing. Acosta Group also feels consumers will demand personalized wellness, along with innovation that feels relevant – not just new.

Cooling, Tingling, Other Trigeminal Sensations Deliver ‘Feelable’ Flavor

Consumers are craving “feelable flavor,” driving brands to explore cooling, warming, and tingling trigeminal sensations that deepen emotional and sensory engagement. These effects are quickly becoming powerful tools for innovation in functional, NA, and better‑for‑you products.

Succession Shake-Up: Coke’s Next CEO Enters Beverage Battlefield

Coca-Cola’s steady handoff from James Quincey to Henrique Braun comes as the beverage giant navigates slowing soda demand, political crosswinds, and shifting consumer habits. Quincey proved Coke could thrive amid turbulence; now Braun must do the same.

The ‘Casual Athlete’ – A Culture Shift for F&B

Casual athletes are influencing F&B trends, fueling demand for premium protein, hydration, and functional snacks. With wellness spend rising as other categories pull back, savvy brands must meet this lucrative consumer base where they play.

Has India Become America’s Next Major Trade Partner?

India’s bid to become a U.S. trade powerhouse is colliding with tariffs, infrastructure gaps, and geopolitical juggling. Despite strong growth, stalled negotiations and falling exports signal a tougher road ahead for food-sector trade.

Sheep, Goat Pox Outbreak in Greece Signals a Global Feta Shortage Is Nigh

Greece’s sheep and goat pox outbreak is gutting herds and threatening the feta supply, setting the stage for global price spikes. Importers may soon pivot to substitutes as climate and disease expose the category’s fragility.

The Best Certified Humane Egg Brands

As one of the best Certified Humane egg brands, Sauder’s Eggs partners with local family farms that adhere to strict guidelines for hen care.

What Will Be the Biggest Animal Protein of 2026?

Chicken appears poised to keep its protein crown in 2026, buoyed by strong availability and foodservice versatility. But shifting consumer value dynamics and disease risks could elevate eggs and pork to unexpected growth.

F&B Marketing Playbook: Major Shifts

Coming out of the pandemic, the food and beverage marketing landscape has changed dramatically; plus, technological capabilities have opened doors for personalization and data collection. We are in a new era, and brands need to ...

Paint It Black: One Color Dominates 2026 Flavor Trends Lists

Flavor forecasters say 2026 belongs to the color black—think sesame, currant, garlic, soybeans, and grass jelly. From nutty lattes to bold mixology, these dark-hued trends promise premium appeal and global inspiration for forward-looking food innovators.

Fiber: The Next Billion-Dollar Battleground in Functional Foods

Fiber is rapidly taking protein’s place as the star of functional food. With rising demand for gut health and metabolic support, as well as a massive nationwide fiber gap, CPG brands have a rare opportunity to lead the next wave of nutrition innovation.

Is the $10 Harvest Bowl Sweetgreen’s Last-Ditch Effort to Bring Traffic Back?

After successive quarters of steepening same-store sales declines, Sweetgreen is offering a $10 deal that may turn its luck around. Critiques of the app’s user experience, and friction from tech-enabled back-end efficiencies may be the source of its turmoil.

Premiumization Movement Makes Storytelling, Packaging Important as Ever

In late 2025, premiumization has come to mean clarity, convenience, and storytelling. From blockchain packaging to sashimi-grade salmon, premium brands winning trust are those turning transparency and narratives into irresistible consumer experiences.

Agentic AI Is Here – Are Food and Retail Brands Ready for What’s Next?

Agentic AI is shifting retail from answers to actions – transforming discovery, consideration, and conversion. For food brands, metadata mastery and AI literacy are now imperatives.

Subway’s New Loyalty Program ‘Financial Suicide’ Per Franchisee

Subway’s revived Sub Club promises free subs and flashy perks, but franchisees warn of profit risks. The loyalty gamble highlights the tension between corporate marketing ambitions and operators’ bottom-line realities.

Restaurants Leverage Branded Merch to Generate Income Ahead of the Holidays

Restaurants are cashing in on branded merch this holiday season, with Square data showing strong adoption across breweries, cafés, and bars. Industry pros say the right items and staff incentives can turn T-shirts into high-margin brand builders.

Snacking Success: Americans Still Have Their Sweet Tooth

Americans may be leaning healthier, but indulgent snacking still drives growth – especially chocolate, candy, and protein-packed salty options. Gen Z’s “little treat culture” and afternoon tea trends are fueling innovation.

Survey: Recipe for E-Commerce Success Includes Vivid Photos, Detailed Reviews

These days, online shoppers demand transparency, trust, and precise product details – photos, reviews, and availability drive conversions. Brands that deliver clarity win loyalty, experts note.

Solo Dining, Breakfast Boom: New Restaurant Trends Revealed

Solo diners, weekday reservations, and breakfast/early-bird slots are altering 2025 dining patterns. Restaurants embracing these shifts can tap new demographics, maximize off-peak traffic, and leverage inflation-driven demand for affordable, intentional dining experiences.

F&B Marketing Playbook

The tools in every marketer’s toolbox today boils down to one simple characteristic: understanding your audience. The reality: today’s consumers are in flux. “Many consumers are becoming more value-conscious and brands are forced to rethink ...

3 Key Takeaways from Plant Based World Expo 2025

The Plant Based World Expo 2025 spotlighted snack-driven innovation, protein fortification, and smarter labeling as growth levers. For food leaders, the message was clear: consumer nuance will define the next era in the plant-based sector.

Pizza Hut’s Value Proposition Problem Grows

Pizza Hut’s nostalgia is fading as sales slump and Yum! Brands weighs a possible divestiture. Experts say streamlined delivery, sharper value messaging, and personalized loyalty could be critical to reclaiming ground from Domino’s and rivals.

Dynamic Pricing: Should Some Shoppers Pay More for the Same Goods?

AI-fueled dynamic pricing is sparking legislative battles and consumer backlash, especially around essentials like groceries. Experts warn that retailers risk eroding trust and loyalty if algorithms dictate who pays more for the same goods.

Swine Fever Decimates Spanish Pork Exports

Spain’s first African swine fever outbreak in 30 years has rattled the global pork trade, jeopardizing billions of dollars in exports. With bans from China, Taiwan, Britain, and Mexico, industry leaders face a high-stakes test of market resilience.

3 Key Takeaways from the 2025 PLMA Trade Show

The Private Label Manufacturers Association’s sold-out 2025 showcase spotlighted protein-plus, gut-health sodas, and Dubai-style indulgence. Industry leaders underscored private label as core strategy, urging suppliers to think globally, not locally.