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.

As Consumers Seek Meals with Homemade Feel, Retailers Can Capitalize

Store-brand baking mix sales are on the rise, as shoppers seek “from-scratch” taste without time-consuming work.

Halloween Havoc: Why Kit Kats Could Be Hard to Find This Fall

Hershey is in store for a Halloween nightmare of sorts, saying it won’t be able to meet consumer demand this October.

Analysis: After McPlant Struggles, What’s Next for Beyond Meat?

Beyond Meat shares made a slight recovery after falling on news McDonald’s may ditch its McPlant burger amid tepid results.

The Plunge in Plant-Based Stocks is All About Expectations

What the stock market is indicating in 2022 is that plant-based stocks aren’t likely to displace traditional offerings – only complement them.

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.

Restaurant Tech Firms Adjust Amid Economic Uncertainty

A slowdown in venture capital funding and growing prospects for a recession has restaurant tech firms tightening their belts.

Is Plant-Based Meat Ripe for Expansion?

While sales of plant-based meats have slowed, the category could be ripe for expansion as pricing moves closer to that of traditional meats.

Concerns About Discretionary Spending Jolt Coffee Chains

Consumer concerns about discretionary spending pushed Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks traffic lower in June, new data show.

Survey: Amid Inflation, Consumers Changing Deep-Seated Habits

Sixty-one percent of shoppers in a Vericast survey said that one of their biggest challenges this year is rising price.

Why the Regenerative Ag Movement is Seeing Deepened Roots

Many food companies are embracing regenerative ag to aid the environment – a movement that’s increasingly extending into aquaculture.

AI Predicts 3 Food Trends for 2023

Food and beverage intelligence company Spoonshot has released its AI-generated list of food trends for 2023.

CEO: Recipes are Key to Private Label Success

Private label is arguably more important than ever in the face of inflation, and digital recipes tend to get those products onto consumers’ plates.

Investment in Lab-Grown Meat Intensifying

Investments in plant-based meats have cooled off in the last year with many venture capitalists turning their attention to lab-grown meat.

Case Study: How Stuckey’s Revived its Company Brand

Stuckey’s CEO Stephanie Stuckey has learned a lot about social media over the last three years, like the importance of telling compelling and sometimes personal stories.

Key Plant-based Takeaways from IFT FIRST Conference

Plant-based was the primary theme among ingredient companies exhibiting at the IFT FIRST annual meeting

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.”

De-Platforming Your Brand for Exponential Growth

The Problem Top two investor questions for a consumer startup? 1) Do you have product-market fit yet? And 2) What is the platform? Building a platform brand right from the start is the strategy equivalent …

Upcycling Gains Traction as Key Sustainability Initiative

Ingredient upcycling for food products is gaining traction among consumers.

Amid Labor Shortage, Michigan Allows Self-Service Alcohol Taps

After more than a decade of rapid growth, Starbucks is retrenching and closing several U.S. outlets due to security concerns.

Is Starbucks Retrenching Ahead of Recession or Are There Bigger Issues?

After more than a decade of rapid growth, Starbucks is retrenching and closing several U.S. outlets due to security concerns.

A Look at Award-Winning Innovation on Display at IFT FIRST

Looking to meet rising consumer demand for sustainability, food and beverage companies are focusing on making their packaging more recyclable.

Experts: Sustainable Packaging Can Pay Dividends for Food Companies

Looking to meet rising consumer demand for sustainability, food and beverage companies are focusing on making their packaging more recyclable.

Case Study: Schnucks Using Prepared Food to Enhance Delivery Options

Time-sensitive customers want their food faster than ever, and Schnucks Markets is responding to that need by expanding its offerings.

Latest Cost-Saving Solutions Unveiled at IFT Event

Exhibitors at the IFT FIRST event offered a range of cost-saving solutions in areas like cheese, egg replacements, and yeast products.

Wheat Update: Will a Russia-Ukraine Agreement be Reached?

The global wheat outlook may be improving after the United Nations reported that Russia and Ukraine took a “critical step forward.”

New Plant-Based Egg Challengers Enter the Market

While plant-based egg products are hitting the market, it remains to be seen whether consumers will adopt these products en masse.

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 …

Grocery Stores Diversify Pizza Offerings to Stay Competitive

As Americans aim to save on dining out amid inflation and restaurants battle labor and supply shortages, grocery stores strategize to please consumers’ pizza palates with frozen variety to deli and delivery convenience. Deli pizza …

‘Locavorism’ Trend Gaining Steam Despite Misconceptions

Eating local has developed a connotation for positive impact, from ethics to environment and even health, but how does the practice actually affect food systems, human systems and the planet? “There is not much evidence …

Amazon’s Grubhub+ Offering Signals New Approach to Loyalty

Food-based add-ins are playing a larger part in Amazon’s subscription plan, as retailers across the industry seek ways to combat fading customer loyalty and reduced spending. The addition of a year of Grubhub+ to Prime …

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 …