Retail media is booming, with CPGs pouring billions into data-driven platforms like Walmart Connect, Instacart, and DoorDash. The result: high-margin ad revenue is reshaping profit models and investor expectations across grocery and delivery.
RBC’s Nik Modi breaks down how inflation, debt, and economic pressures are shaping grocery shopping habits and consumer behavior in the food industry.
Amazon Prime Day 2025 smashed records with over $24 billion in sales, fueled by influencer-led campaigns and F&B category dominance. Grocery deals drove traffic, while Premier Protein Shakes emerged as the event’s MVP.
Gen Z and Millennials are fueling “Summerween,” sparking early seasonal candy sales and viral Halloween-themed celebrations. Brands tapping into this cultural moment are winning attention with creative campaigns and shareable experiences.
AI is now the sous-chef behind food innovation, reshaping R&D from lab bench to market shelf. As illustrated by this week’s IFT FIRST event in Chicago, platforms like Tastewise are accelerating product timelines, predicting consumer trends, and leveling the playing field for brands big and small.
KFC’s Saucy spinoff flips fast food on its head, making sauce the star with various flavor combos and a vibe-forward experience. Gen Z diners, after all, are chasing chicken these days.
JBS says its stock could quadruple if markets re-rate it closer to peers like Tyson and Hormel – but a history of scandals still weighs heavily. With ESG scrutiny fading, JBS bets low drama could mean high returns.
While protein remains a top nutrition trend, health experts argue it’s often overhyped. Many Americans already get enough, and whole food sources may be healthier than processed protein products.
Even in a retail-first world, a brand’s website serves as its frontline storyteller. Smart, intentional updates of a brand’s website – not perfection – keep customers engaged and connected across the digital shelf, according to the CEO of BARREL.
Kraft Heinz is considering splitting into separate companies to unlock shareholder value following a series of unsuccessful strategies. While the move follows the successful Kellogg split, skeptics argue it may not fix the deeper issues of weak execution and an underperforming brand portfolio.
At the recent Summer Fancy Food Show, industry leaders discussed the promising future for specialty food makers. Despite economic headwinds, consumers are expected to largely increase or maintain their consumption in many key categories.
Facing record-high beef prices, restaurants are reworking menus and investing in vertical supply chains to stay afloat. Some are rebranding leaner protein choices as “wellness-driven,” while giants like Walmart cut out the middleman entirely.
US Foods is eyeing a blockbuster merger with Performance Food Group, aiming to dominate the independent restaurant channel and outpace Sysco. But with steep costs and FTC hurdles, the deal’s anything but a sure thing.
Cracker Barrel is attempting to modernize its brand with sleeker decor, streamlined retail, and booze on the menu. CEO Julie Felss Masino faces the challenge of evolution without eroding identity.
Banana milk is swinging into the coffee scene, turning nostalgic flavor into a retail phenomenon. Fueled by K-pop, global influence, and social media buzz, it’s reshaping what “comfort coffee” means for consumers.
Ferrero’s $3.1B bid for WK Kellogg Co. signals bold ambition amid cereal’s slump and health backlash. As big brands consolidate, legacy CPGs chase reinvention and reformulation in a shifting consumer wellness landscape.
Today’s consumers are seeking more nuanced, complex spice experiences – and brands are delivering them. For example, Arkay Beverages leverages capsaicin in its non-alcoholic spirits to replicate the kick of standard liquor, adding sensory thrills and functional perks to zero-proof cocktails in the process.
Recently, the F&B industry has seen an uptick in hybrid plant-based products, which blend standard meat and dairy with meatless and dairy-free versions. But will consumers embrace them?
Amid inflation’s shake-up, niche grocers like Sprouts and Natural Grocers have defied expectations with explosive growth. Turns out, health-conscious loyalty and savvy execution are worth their weight in organic chia seeds.
Texas grocery chain H-E-B mobilized swiftly after deadly Texas floods, delivering supplies and meals to devastated communities. Their boots-on-the-ground relief shows how brand loyalty and corporate responsibility often go hand in hand.
From protein-packed desserts to gourmet tallow chips, the 2025 Summer Fancy Food Show dished out indulgence with purpose. Tradition and global ingredients were also notably in the spotlight at the event.
Tough immigration enforcement is squeezing farms as migrant workers fear ICE raids – meaning some crops are going unpicked overnight. With labor shortages surging, industry insiders warn of price hikes, food waste, and a looming agricultural breaking point.
Venus Wafers is modernizing food manufacturing with automation to boost efficiency, enhance safety, and maintain product quality—all while investing in its workforce and long-standing legacy.
Vertical farming isn’t dead – rather, the wheat is being separated from the chaff. As hype fades, smart capital is shifting, and survival now hinges on strategy, scale discipline, and true consumer alignment.
Tariffs are reshaping supply chains, squeezing margins, and testing consumer loyalty. In the weeks ahead, food industry leaders will need to pivot quickly, CEOs note.
At the recent Summer Fancy Food Show (SFFS) in NYC, protein candy, international convenience, and beverage innovations were among key trends. Learn about the cutting-edge brands supporting the future of food.
Beverage giants appear to be losing their buzz. Investors are signaling deeper concerns despite steady profits. As GLP-1s and shifting health sentiments rise, the sector’s long-term resilience may be entering a new taste test.
A new bipartisan bill approved by the Senate Ag Committee aims to expand access to plant-based milk in schools, offering relief to millions of lactose-intolerant students. If passed, it would require schools to provide non-dairy alternatives to students when requested by a parent, no doctor’s note needed.
Minimum wage hikes took effect starting today across the U.S., leaving restaurants and grocers bracing for ripple effects. Business leaders warn of closures, while advocates say fair pay is overdue in a shifting labor landscape.
The penny’s swan song – likely to occur next year – may save millions, but it won’t shake 99-cent psychology in retail pricing.
Over the past few weeks, CPG giants have pledged their support in removing select artificial food dyes in an apparent bid to align their practices with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and …
Sour is trending, chocolate is complicated, and regional quirks abound: Kellanova’s new data reveals how generational tastes shape road-trip snacking – and what that means for category innovation. Nostalgia, “swalty,” and convenience drive the ride.
Legacy CPGs are losing consumer relevance to agile upstarts – but AI, innovation, and a shift to “disruptive optimism” offer hope. EY’s latest report calls on brands to earn loyalty daily or drift into obscurity.
Once rooted in Filipino comfort food, ube is now infusing menus and retail shelves with color and cultural depth. F&B leaders are embracing it as both a flavor trend and storytelling vehicle.
Smucker stock has plunged to decade-lows after a bruising earnings miss and nearly $2B in impairment charges tied to its Hostess buy. With profits set to drop again, investors are questioning the company’s strategy.
Legacy chains like Chick-fil-A are seeing customer satisfaction scores hold even as growth slows, opening doors for challenger QSRs. Meanwhile, full-service dining has largely stumbled amid rising prices.
