How Much Inflation Can Consumers Handle?

Inflation at the grocery store continues to rise — and consumers are noticing. In fact, the CPI food at home index rose 7.4 percent over the last 12 months, according to The Bureau of Labor …

Zeroing In on Rising Egg Prices

It’s clear that egg prices rose in the first month of 2022, but determining a definitive cause is a bit more elusive. The price of a dozen large white eggs rose to a national average of $2.08 on Feb. 9, representing a 22.5% increase month-over-month.

What Will the Key Restaurant Tech Investments Be in 2022?

From robots to scheduling software, restaurants are implementing all types of new technology into their operations of late. With so many new developments this year, The Food Institute decided to take a closer look at …

Inaugural Protein & Plant Evolution™ Conference Announced

Interactive & Educational Conference Designed to Meet the Needs of Retailers, Foodservice Operators, Food Manufacturers, Investors, Financial Services and Policy Makers, Scheduled for June 1-3 February 16, 2022/FI Newswire/ – The Food Institute and The Lempert …

Column: Attendees Welcomed Fancy Food Show’s In-Person Element

LAS VEGAS – With excitement – and a bit of COVID-related anxiety – thousands attended the Winter Fancy Food Show February 6-8. It was the first in-person Fancy Food Show in two years, and the …

Experts: Plant-Based Segment Poised for Significant Growth

While it’s still in its growth stage, the plant-based food category has, undeniably, taken root. Consider: according to a report by Bloomberg Intelligence, global retail sales of plant-based food alternatives may reach $162 billion by …

New, Traditional Companies Pushing Innovation in Plant-Based

Omnivores dabbling in plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy products are expected to propel these substitutes into a $162 billion global industry within the decade. With that much money at stake, major food companies, including …

As Covid Restrictions Ease, What Should Restaurants Expect?

As states ease mask mandates, consumers remain wary of omicron and future variants. At the same, experts say businesses need to brace for an expected surge in demand in the second quarter. With that, the …

Functional Ingredients Move to the Forefront

Editor’s note: This article is a free, one-time preview of The Food Institute’s new Premium articles, which will be available to members. To join FI, click here.  Dr. Kellyann Petrucci, a New York Times best-selling …

US Bird Flu Outbreak has Poultry Operators on Edge

An avian influenza outbreak at a turkey growing operation in Dubois County, Indiana, has Midwest poultry operations on edge with the annual migration of wild birds about to begin in earnest. The outbreak is the …

Can the Seafood Supply Chain Hold as Demand Rises?

While the seafood sector appears well positioned for growth, can the supply chain hold as demand rises? The Food Institute takes a closer look at some of the category’s recent developments. Supply chain implications as …

IRI Report: Versatility Key to Winning Breakfast Category

Breakfast occasions were big business for retailers in 2021, with at home consumption remaining above pre-pandemic levels. However, many traditional breakfast categories saw mixed sales results. In a new report, Winning Breakfast, Generation by Generation, …

EXCLUSIVE: OLIPOP CEO on Latest Funding Round, New Products

Functional soda brand OLIPOP recently raised $30 million in a financing round that included several celebrity investors. The Food Institute spoke with co-founder and CEO Ben Goodwin to learn more about the company’s product development …

Analysis: How Will Canadian Trucker Protests Impact America?

What started as a trucker protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates has grown to include many Canadians who are also pushing back against the rules, and resulting blockages could threaten an already-strained supply chain. In January, …

Market Prospects for Energy Supplements

This article is written and sponsored by Transparency Market Research. Consumers are turning more to energy supplements to regain strength after exercise, taking advantage of their nutritional benefits and ease of use. In fact, the U.S. …

Why Consumers are Still Buying in Bulk

Nearly two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers are still buying in bulk. Following over 20 years of steady but slow sales growth, sales at bulk retailers Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale Club, rose 26.6% …

Hot Wings Hotter than Ever as Super Bowl Approaches

The Los Angeles Rams have won eight of their last nine games, the Cincinnati Bengals six of their last seven. As impressive as that is, the teams aren’t nearly as hot as one Super Bowl …

Amazon Reports Higher Sales and Prime Membership Price Hike

Amazon sales continue to rise, with the e-commerce giant reporting fourth-quarter sales grew 9.4% to $137.4 billion. Notably, Amazon had its biggest-ever Black Friday to Cyber Monday holiday shopping weekend. Further, during the holiday season, …

Study Illustrates Snacking’s Expanding Role in Consumers’ Lives

The definition of what a snack can be is broadening, and so is the role snacks play in consumers’ lives, according to Mondelēz International’s State of Snacking 2021 study. Seventy-nine percent of global consumers say …

Plant-Based Chocolate Emerging as Consumer Sweet Spot

Consumers’ perception of chocolate as a functional indulgence has made it a growing target for plant-based exploration. The global vegan chocolate confectionery market is expected to reach $1.41 billion by 2028, registering a compound annual …

School Lunch Rules Updated Amid Supply Chain Disruptions

The Biden administration has issued transitional standards for school lunches to get cafeterias back on a healthier course as they recover from the pandemic. Here’s what to expect: WHAT IS CHANGING? During the pandemic, schools …

UPDATE: Logistics Companies Accelerating Hiring

A new report shows logistics companies accelerated hiring in January. Trucking, parcel-delivery and warehousing companies added a combined 42,100 jobs last month, according to seasonally adjusted preliminary employment data released by The U.S. Bureau of …

Can Beef Prices Moderate Amid Recent Developments?

Beef prices are up, but relief could be on the way. Retail beef prices rose 30% from the beginning of 2020, before pandemic lockdowns started, to a peak of $7.90 per pound in October, before …

New Findings Show Gen Z Researches Brands Extensively

New Qualtrics research shows that Gen Z consumers are more digitally connected, more socially conscious and willing to do more research before making purchases than other generational cohorts. In a Food Institute article from late …

Some Like It Hot: Spicy Snacks and Hot Sauce on the Rise

Recent polls suggest Americans are adding a little spice to their lives. An Instacart survey of over 2,000 U.S. adults found that 74% of Americans eat hot sauce with their food, and nearly half (45%) said …

Exclusive Interview: What Are the Latest Developments in Online Grocery Delivery and Pick-Up?

While the food delivery market has garnered its fair share of headlines in recent months, pick-up remains a powerhouse for grocery e-commerce. That’s according to Brick Meets Click partner David Bishop, who recently joined The Food …

Restaurant Sales Expected to Exceed Pre-Pandemic Levels in 2022

Things are looking up in the world of foodservice. Restaurant industry sales are expected to hit $898 billion this year, up from $864 billion in 2019, according to the National Restaurant Association’s State of the …

WATCH: Cutting Edge Food Tech Displayed at Winter Olympics

With the Winter Olympics underway this week, we’ve been getting a glimpse at some technological innovations used to feed the thousands of athletes in attendance. Robotic technology is helping serve athletes in Beijing, for example. …

Great Resignation Now Giving Way to Great Sabbatical

The so-called Great Resignation has led companies to reconsider employee retention programs with many now offering sabbaticals as a means of keeping their most qualified workers in the fold. The Society for Human Resource Management …

New GMO Labeling Rules Spark Debate

The food industry is grappling with questions on how to comply with the new labeling rules for genetically modified foods, experts said. The new rules are Congress’s answer to confusion created by states’ varying legislation …

FDA: Blockchain-Based Food Tracking Bound for Widespread Adoption

A new rule could boost blockchain-based food tracking. The rule, expected next November, would require the food industry to maintain records associated with the critical tracking events on the supply chain, according to Frank Yiannas, …

Assessing the Plant-Based Landscape for 2022

Pandemic challenges in 2021 impacted the plant-based industry in divergent ways, as more consumers experimented at home and operators across restaurants and retail prioritized inventory over innovation. “At retail, we are seeing the biggest [plant-based] …

Meatpacking Consolidation Concerns Democrats

Democrats are raising antitrust concerns related to the meatpacking industry, accusing major players of profiteering and contributing to inflation. At a recent House Judiciary antitrust subcommittee hearing, Chairman David Cicilline, D-R.I., argued poultry integrators and …

Is MrBeast Changing the Game in Food Marketing?

YouTube star Jimmy Donaldson – better known as MrBeast – is getting back into the food space with a better-for-you snack brand. Following the success of his virtual restaurant brand, MrBeast Burger, Donaldson is introducing …

How Calif. Animal Welfare Legislation is Reshaping Meat Industry

Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley has called on the U.S. Supreme Court to review California’s Proposition 12, which prohibits farm animals from being raised under cruel conditions. The rule applies to chickens, eggs, veal and pork …

Poll: Americans Bracing for More Inflation as CPG Prices Rise

Nearly eight in 10 Americans expect inflation to persist over the next six months—and they’re probably right. Half even anticipate it to increase “a lot,” while 78% expect interest rates to rise, according to a …