Tea-Infused Cocktails Take TikTok by Storm

Tea-infused cocktails are the latest drink trend on TikTok, signaling that healthy, affordable beverages resonate with consumers.

Placer.ai Exec Notes Retailers Becoming Media Networks

Retail media networks are emerging as inflation, shifts in consumer behavior, and increasing cost pressures change the future of food retail.

Analysis: 2022’s Top Upcycled Food Innovations

Food manufacturers are looking to ingredient suppliers to provide sustainable options with the use of upcycling and regenerative agriculture.

Amid Inflation, Consumers Have a Beef with Beef Prices

Beef eaters have a tough choice to make these days: switch to cheaper proteins or swallow the more than 11% increase in prices from 2020 levels, averaging $5.40 a pound in June.

Why Allulose Could be the Next Big Thing in Sweeteners

The twin crop production enemies, drought and excessive heat, are putting unprecedented pressure on the global food supply via “heatflation.”

Analysis: How ‘Heatflation’ is Heating up Food Prices

The twin crop production enemies, drought and excessive heat, are putting unprecedented pressure on the global food supply via “heatflation.”

Wow Bao Chain Continues Expansion Via Vending Machines

Chicago-based Asian chain Wow Bao is exploring a new avenue as it continues its growth: vending machines. Wow Bao, which began as a fast-casual concept specializing in steamed buns and has since expanded as a …

Restaurants Grow More Concerned About Economy

Despite some positive indicators, an increasing number of restaurant operators are growing more concerned about inflation and the prospects for the economy. Employment in the restaurant industry and overall economy continued to rise at a …

Gen Z Among the Hardest Hit By Food Insecurity

Food insecurity is a growing global problem, and within the U.S., Gen Z is among the hardest hit. That’s according to Purdue University’s Consumer Foods Insight report, which reported 30% of Gen Z adults had …

High Food Prices Could Persist for Three More Years

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, fertilizer shortages, and poor weather conditions across the globe, are playing havoc with global food supplies, leading to projections that food prices will remain high for years. Additionally, global food security …

Column: Future for Casual Dining Stocks Could be Grim

The near-term pressures on casual dining operators right now are obvious. Fears of a recession are rising. Consumer confidence is falling. Labor shortages have driven up wages and in some cases forced operators to limit …

Rising Inflation Inspires C-Store Innovation

Add convenience stores to the growing list of businesses slammed by skyrocketing gasoline prices. Fifty-nine percent of convenience retailers say customer traffic has decreased in stores over the past three months, according to the Q3 2022 …

Inflation Pushing Up Costs for Independence Day Cookouts

The price for a typical Fourth of July cookout could be 11% to 17% higher than a year ago, depending on what’s in your basket. That’s according to recent reports from Wells Fargo and the …

Rising Gas Prices Prompt Changes in Shopping Habits

With gasoline prices topping $6 a gallon in some parts of the U.S., consumers have been rethinking their shopping habits, opting against multiple trips and turning to superstores and online solutions to cut down on …

Analysts: Expect Continued Demand for Eggs Despite High Prices

Consumer demand for shell eggs should remain strong in the near-term despite year-over-year price increases, due in part to the value proposition eggs provide for consumers searching for protein options, according to industry analysts. Eggs …

Building Private Label Value Beyond the Price Tag

As consumer spending buckles under the weight of inflation, store brands must work harder than ever to capture market share. In first quarter of 2022, consumers across all outlets were spending more but buying less …

Consumer Spending Shifts as Recession Warnings Loom

With COVID and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine buffeting supply chains, food availability and energy prices, economists are warning of dire times ahead as consumers shift spending patterns to cope with inflation. JPMorgan Chase & Co. …

Dollar Stores Cashing in Amid Inflation

Price-squeezed Americans are increasingly turning to discount stores, leading Dollar Tree and Dollar General to increase sales forecasts for the year. Dollar General even plans to open 1,110 new stores during the 2022 fiscal year, …

3 Tips for Grocers on Beating Inflationary Heat This Summer

From center store basics to fresh perimeter, inflation is high and holding across retail grocery. The price per unit across all foods and beverages in the IRI-measured multi-outlet stores increased to 10.7% in the four …

Analysis: How Severely Will Inflation Impact Small Restaurants?

Half of all small business owners and nearly three-quarters of restaurateurs fear inflation will drive them out of business this year, the Alignable Small Business Inflation Poll indicates. “It’s the mom-and-pop diners and the small, …

Predicted Increase in Travel Could Benefit QSRs

U.S. gas prices breached $4 per gallon in every state in March, according to AAA, while JP Morgan predicts they could surpass $6 by the end of the summer. Regardless, after two years of COVID …

Keys to Combatting Inflation for Grocers

Inflation is causing shoppers to rethink their buying journeys, which has made price a more important factor than ever. That is affecting how shoppers both plan and execute their supermarket trips, and grocers must start …

To Inflate or Not to Inflate Your Pricing

The best time to measure the privilege of being an iconic brand is any period of rapidly spiking inflation. The Consumer Price Index has jumped 8.5% in the last year alone. And the country’s most …

Restaurants Grapple with Rising Chicken Prices

Chicken is not as cheap as it used to be. USDA reported prices for skinned boneless chicken breasts in the Northeast region were ranging between $3.30 and $3.35 per lb. on May 4. Food Institute …

Fresh Berry Category Ripe for Summertime Success

Berries were a powerhouse throughout the pandemic and the category continues to thrive as convenience and nutritional appeal keep consumers coming back for more. According to an April report by IRI, fresh berries are the …

Expert: Brands Must Consider Emotional Factors of Inflation

How will consumer behavior shift as prices climb amid inflation? Most c-suites – in food business, and beyond – are inadvertently approaching this question with a purely rational framing, evaluating the marketplace as if every …

As Inflation Rises, Consumers and Food Companies Pivot

It’s been four decades since consumers were slapped with a double whammy of rapidly rising food and gas prices. In the 1970s and early 1980s consumers coped by switching to generics, changing their diets, and …

Bacon Battles Soaring Inflation with Innovation

As record high prices put a damper on bacon sales, retailers and producers are leveraging innovation to help drive consumer engagement. Per IRI data, dollar sales for bacon totaled $6.4 billion in the week ending …

How Restaurants Can Retain Price-Conscious Consumers

A recent survey of middle-income households shows 57% anticipate buying fewer takeout and dine-in meals, reported Restaurant Business (April 20). At the same time, restaurants are struggling to keep prices in check. With these factors in …

Analyst: Expect Higher Egg Prices Through 2022

(Editor’s Note 6/15/2022: For updated coverage on the shell egg market, please read “Analysts: Expect Continued Demand for Eggs Despite High Prices“) Egg buyers may have found some relief in March as prices moderated, but …

3 Strategies for CPG Success During a Recession

During the Great Recession, consumers spent less, traded down, and cut back on many CPG purchases. A recent report from the IRI Recession-Proof Your Business series explored these behaviors to glean strategies for success in …

Analyzing Whole Foods Foot Traffic

A new report from Placer.ai, titled Placer Spotlight: Whole Foods’ Journey Since the Amazon Deal, takes a closer look at Whole Foods foot traffic data over the past several years. Here are some key takeaways: …

When Will Perfect Storm of Food Inflation Subside?

Call it a perfect storm: COVID led to labor shortages and supply chain issues and to fuel shortages, all of which contributed to inflation. Factor in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and unpredictable weather, and food …

Deli Prepared Foods Thriving Despite Inflationary Squeeze

As rampant inflation tightens its grip across the food industry, many consumers are cutting back on grocery staples and trading down to cheaper items. All the while, higher-ticket prepared food sales are soaring. Comparative unit …

CPG Food Brand Loyalty Taking Hit Amid Rising Inflation

With inflation raging, consumers are beginning to cut costs on everyday CPG food items. And as a result, brand loyalty is taking a hit. Private-label brands, after two pandemic years in which they lost market …

As Bird Flu Outbreak Grows, Egg Prices Spike

In the last week, the USDA has added six states to the list where highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been detected. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed the presence of bird flu …