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 …

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 …

Coffee Shops Embracing Plant-based Options

CHICAGO – Oat milk and other plant-based milks were in abundance at Coffee Fest Chicago recently. Today’s coffee shop consumers want plant-based options to address their concerns about health, animal welfare, and the environment. While …

Delivery Robots Hit College Campuses

Universities across the U.S. are tapping delivery robots to address the labor shortage and explore new business opportunities such as ghost kitchens, reported TechCrunch. Ohio State University became one of the first colleges to test …

Some Pandemic Food Tech Here to Stay

An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll of U.S. adults released July 5 reveals nearly half of U.S. adults want to ditch virtual activities and ordering groceries online – but they’d still like …

Amazon Expands Food Operations with Grubhub Deal

Amazon.com is expanding its food-related operations. The online commerce giant agreed to add Grubhub to its suite of Prime services in the U.S., in a deal aimed at expanding the food-ordering company’s reach by tapping …

Report: Modern Consumers Snacking with a Purpose

Earlier in the pandemic, snacking complemented remote work and supplemented restaurant dining and continues to replace meals with added bonuses. This year, Grubhub’s infamous lunch promotion was prompted by 69% of New Yorkers surveyed saying …

Millennials Favoring Energy Drinks with Functional Claims

CHICAGO – At Coffee Fest Chicago recently, business owners and various industry reps gathered to take note of new products, as well as learn how to increase sales. As much as anything, the event suggested …

Analysis: Why Dieting is on the Rise

Roughly 52 percent of respondents in The International Food Information Council’s (IFIC) Food & Health Survey 2022 said they followed a diet or eating pattern in the last year — up 13% from the year …

Has Chick-fil-A Unveiled the Drive-Thru of the Future?

Chick-fil-A is testing an express drive-thru lane to speed up mobile order pick-up. The company calls its Express Drive-Thru model a “game changer” that will streamline the experience for its nearly 50 million mobile app …

Recession Fears May Slow Great Resignation

More than four million Americans are quitting their jobs every month, but the so-called Great Resignation could slow soon amid fears of a recession. The latest Labor Department figures showed 4.3 million Americans quit their …

Why Agility Should Be Top-of-Mind for Both CPGs and Retailers

Amid rising demand for fresher food products, companies need to ensure their inventory is data-driven, with technology and procedures in place to adapt to a rapidly-changing market, according to Venky Ramesh, head of strategic business advisory …

Traceability Key to Avoiding Daily Harvest-Type Recalls

Meal kit service Daily Harvest’s recall of its French Lentils + Leek Crumbles product, which allegedly sickened more than 470 people, highlights the food industry’s need for high-tech improvements in the traceability chain, an industry …

Innovation Continues to Drive Beverage Category Growth

From bottled water and better-for-you bubblies to convenient coffees and cocktails, the beverage market is booming. Total sales for center store beverages reached $86 billion in the 52-week period ending June 12, per IRI, making …

Unpacking the World’s First Plant-Based ETF

In December 2021, the VegTech Plant-based Innovation & Climate Exchange-traded Fund (NYSE ticker: EATV) made history as the world’s first plant-based ETF. VegTech Invest CEO Elysabeth Alfano recently joined The Food Institute Podcast to discuss …

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 …

Packaging Manufacturers Continue to Make Progress on Sustainability

Containers and packaging clog municipal waste streams with the Environmental Protection Agency estimating the load at 82.2 million tons in 2018 – more than 28% of all waste produced. At the same time, the USDA …

Cold Beverages Red Hot at Coffee Fest 2022

CHICAGO – While coffee shops had previously been viewed as a “third place” to hang out and meet friends over a cup of hot java, shops are evolving to offer more cold beverages along with …

Supply Chain Pain Now Seen Stretching to mid-2023

Supply chain pain could extend well into next year, industry experts said recently, further straining the U.S. food industry and other businesses. That’s according to Camerican International President Josh Gellert, who told The Food Institute …

Consumer Survey: Delivery Apps Often Fail to Deliver

Nine out of 10 customers have had a food delivery order go wrong, according to a recent survey by Circuit, a route-planning app for delivery drivers. In fact, the survey of 1,066 American consumers who …

Ingredient Shortages Hampering New Food Product Development

Research and development divisions at food companies report shortages of ingredients like MSG, sweeteners and soluble fiber are handicapping product development. Additionally, predictions indicate the problem could last well into the next decade. The 2022 …