Understanding Gen Z’s ‘Menu Anxiety’

Gen Z reportedly suffers from “menu anxiety,” and some young people are scared to order their own food at restaurants, according to a study by Prezzo Italian Restaurant. The idea of paralyzing menu anxiety may …

Preparing for Launch: CosMc’s and the Next Wave of Beverage Chains

In terms of the beverage industry overall, this is a very smart play for McDonald’s and other brands will follow.

How Small Coffee Chains Can Compete

“We focus on listening to our customers as well as being the best version of ourselves. Being intentional every day with how you approach your customers is key.”

Plant-Based Trends to Watch in 2024

What key topics will drive plant-based evolution in the year ahead? The Food Institute spoke with several industry analysts and thought leaders to outline major trends to watch in 2024 — and beyond.

Will Beef Prices Stay Elevated into 2024?

Looking ahead, Zimmerman noted that prices would likely increase in the new year, but the magnitude of that increase would likely be more subtle in 2024.

AI Predicts 2024 FoodBev Trends

2023 was a big year for artificial intelligence in the food industry, and generative AI is slated to dominate the 2024 food and beverage marketing scene. “The emergence of generative AI offers a new reality …

Column: How to Retain Restaurant Workers in 2024

Scrolling through Indeed.com is an eye-opening experience. Every employer is trying to find workers because employees have a ton of options in 2023. I’ve worked with franchises for nearly 30 years, and labor has always …

What Dishes are Winning at Plant-Based QSRs?

Plant-based restaurants are experiencing a shakeout as operators recalibrate their menus to address economic challenges. FI checked in with T.K. Pillan, CEO of Veggie Grill, to explore how the vegan QSR is streamlining its offerings to meet evolving consumer demands.

Analysis: Are Ghost Kitchens Getting ‘Ghosted’?

Ghost kitchens – restaurants without seating or even take-out counters – proliferated during the pandemic when people were virtually trapped in their homes, afraid to enter confined spaces packed by strangers and, as a result, …

CEOs’ Secrets to Success in the New Year

“Remember that running a food and beverage business can sometimes be akin to ‘buying yourself a job;’ it may not always guarantee immediate or substantial returns on investment.”

‘Gen Z’s Most Magnetic Brands’ Report Praises McDonald’s, Starbucks

McDonald’s has nearly as much brand magnetism with Gen Z as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson or Ariana Grande. And in 2023, the purple-hued force of attraction that connected the burger giant with young consumers was …

Teens’ Top 5 Restaurant Chains

Teens are trendsetters. They are typically early to the next big thing and most of their spending is discretionary, making them a lucrative demographic to study.

Peppermint Becomes Ubiquitous Flavor of the Season

Move over, pumpkin spice: ’tis the season to deck the halls and sprinkle a little peppermint in every item possible.

Collaboration and Transparency Showcased at IFMA Presidents Conference

Blumenthal said one of the major positive shifts he had seen since the pandemic was an increased focus on collaboration across the foodservice continuum.

Global Plant-Based Products Gain Traction in America

Among the plant-based options highlighted at a recent PLMA event were convenient, handheld snacks such as porkless carnitas and alternative chicken fries.

A Roadmap for Entrepreneurs: Navigating Business Growth with Insights from “The State of Food, Beverage & Beauty”

Anchin, a premier accounting, tax, and advisory firm serving the Food & Beverage and Beauty, Health and Wellness industries, hosted its “State of Food, Beverage and Beauty” in November.

Specialty Food Trends to Watch in 2024

The Specialty Food Association recently unveiled its trends to watch for in 2024, and international flavors were a prominent theme. Clearly, the fact many consumers are working from home these days has sparked a sense …

Understanding the Climate Change Paradigm: A Guide for the F&B Industry

Climate change is shifting from being a looming threat to an active influencer of consumer choices. The most recent EY Future Consumer Index offers a deep dive into the ways climate change is starting to …

Four Areas of Innovation Featured at the 2023 IFMA Presidents Conference

Innovation was on the menu at the 2023 IFMA Presidents Conference – including new technology, emerging international flavors, and more.

Rash of Restaurant Bankruptcies Festers

Fast-food businesses that focus on creating a positive workplace culture, improving the overall employee experience, and nurturing strong employer-employee relationships are better positioned to attract and retain top talent.

Collaboration and Actionable Data are Key for Foodservice Success

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Finding actionable data in the foodservice space requires true collaboration among stakeholders. That was one of the major points Tom Hannon, president of Sky Co-op, shared with The Food Institute at the …

Mimicking Meat Not Winning Strategy for Fast-Food

Plant-based fast-food restaurants that try to mimic the McDonalds’ and Burger Kings of the world may be missing the point that true vegetarians and vegans have little interest in meat-like offerings.

Survey: Restaurants Face Labor Challenges Amid an Uncertain Economy

According to a new survey, many restaurant operators view changing macroeconomic conditions, labor challenges, and evolving guest demands among their top current pain points. Earlier this year, Toast polled 847 restaurant decision-makers for its annual …

IFMA Presidents Conference Recap: Imagination, Collaboration, and a New Vision

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. –  For the food-away-from-home (FAFH) ecosystem to succeed, stakeholders including operators, manufacturers, distributors, and service providers will need to work more closely than ever before. That was one of the major themes on …

Mallwalking, Food Courts, and Retail Are Back

E-commerce has not only failed to kill the great American retail experience but is helping it thrive as sales associates and vendors large and small are using the omnichannel to attract customers, enhance sales, and reduce customer acquisition costs.

Top 8 Food and Beverage Trends According to Dietitians

About 8,000 registered dietitians recently attended the the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo in Denver.

Pizza Trends for 2024: Artisan, Crustless and Value Pies

Americans’ appetite for pizza has reached eye-opening proportions. Consider: A survey by Caulipower Pizza indicated 98% of Americans eat pizza. Meanwhile, a recent poll produced by talker.news revealed 74% of Americans would be satisfied eating …

3 Key Themes for Foodservice from DMA Live in Texas

Labor challenges, diverging dining hours, and burgeoning menus were among the foodservice themes explored at DMA’s event in Texas.

The Future of Restaurants: Data and Insights for 2024 and Beyond

What do consumers desire in 2024 when they eat out? Value and convenience, mostly, and though those are universal qualities most any time, an uncertain economic outlook and increased food prices have seen consumers slowly …

California Wage Law: The Dominos Are Poised to Fall

QSR jobs will be in high demand once the law passes as workers try to reduce their dining expenses in lieu of high food costs and an inflationary environment. More importantly, however, California just bolstered the prospects of hundreds of thousands of current and (more importantly) future fast-food workers.

How In-Store Restaurants Can Boost Business

The lines between grocery store and restaurant have been blurring for some time now as retailers offer more takeout options for busy shoppers, but the concept can go beyond grabbing dinner while picking up groceries. …

The Early Bird Dinner Trend Is Sweeping the Nation

Consumers across the country are going out to dinner more often—and much earlier—than they were before the pandemic. Turns out, being an early bird isn’t all that special anymore. “Our data indicates that fine-dining customers …

Loitering Encouraged: Have a Seat at the C-Store

The contemporary C-store is not just a place of commerce and connection, but community and expanded food/bev services. No Loitering signs are giving way to invitations to pull up, sit down, and stay a while.

American Restaurant Chains Thriving in India


While 40% of India’s residents are vegetarian, there’s still a large addressable market open to omnivore cuisine. Plus, much of the country is infatuated with western culture – a fact QSRs are taking note of.

How the Pandemic Reshaped Restaurant Real Estate

There has been a sizable population shift to America’s Sun Belt as well as its suburbs and rural areas in recent years. That fact has reshaped the nation’s commercial real estate, experts say.

Just Egg CRO: College Students ‘Bullseye Target’ for Plant-Based

A recent confluence of headlines reporting a shift in sales and venture-backed capitalism indicate a change in consumer mindsets surrounding alt meat products and their pseudo-competitors – particularly seafood, fungi, and the versatile mushroom.