TikTok is Becoming a Food Industry Influencer

Users sharing their food on social media is nothing new, but TikTok is taking the phenomenon to new heights. Earlier this week, the hashtag for “food” had garnered a whopping 268 billion views on the …

As Masks Come Off, Restaurant Industry Outlook Tempered by Labor Shortage

With masks coming off, restaurants are bracing for a surge in business, evidenced by increased job posting for servers, bartenders and a host of other rolls, reports PeopleReady, an on-demand labor company. Unfortunately, many of …

Can Indulgent Treats Improve Health and Wellness?

The pandemic era strengthened food and beverage trends like health, wellness and nostalgic indulgence. While contradictory at first glance, these behaviors are finding alignment as consumers redefine what constitutes “healthy” behavior. Health and wellness are …

Can Plant-Based Innovation Boost Store Brand Sales?

On the heels of a stagnant sales year for store brands, Amazon and Kroger are bulking up their private label portfolios with plant-based products. Is category innovation on the horizon? The Food Institute Podcast · …

Poll: Most Americans Have ‘Trust Gap’ Over Food-Source Information

According to a new poll, less than 25% of U.S. adults strongly trust information about where their food is grown and how it’s produced. The recent University of Minnesota survey of 1,022 Americans revealed that …

Does the Keto Diet Have Staying Power?

The keto diet is still making headlines after surging in popularity several years ago. Food sensitivity specialist YorkTest researched the most viewed diet-related hashtags on TikTok and found that Americans can’t get enough of the …

Is There an Inflation Tipping Point for Restaurant Spending?

Are consumers willing to shell out $20 for a cheeseburger, fries, and a milkshake at their favorite fast-casual restaurant? As inflation and gas prices soar, we’re likely to find out soon. In fact, consumers appear …

Why Functional Ingredients Have Consumers Hooked

It doesn’t look like the health and wellness trend is going anywhere – and functional food ingredients are sure to benefit from it. So much so, that the market is projected to reach $118.4 billion …

Nestlé Boosts Dairy Alternatives Investment with New Arizona Beverage Facility

As Americans grow ever more enamored with alternatives to milk, cream and other dairy-based items, Nestlé USA has decided to make a major investment in the sector with a $675 million beverage facility in Glendale, …

Analysis: Companies stand to lose millions in pulling out of Russia

Burger giant McDonald’s led the way among fast-food chains, suspending operations in Russia less than two weeks after the Kremlin began its invasion of Ukraine and the West began imposing sanctions on Moscow. The likes …

Agriculture: Deere Sparks Controversy; Bird Flu Spreads to North

Farmers and advocates have filed a 40-page complaint with the Federal Trade Commission demanding that the agency end Deere & Co.’s efforts to prevent farmers and independent dealers from repairing Deere’s equipment. The National Farmers …

Why Food Brands Should be Targeting Gamers

Gamers are proving to be an influential demographic in the food industry. In fact, research from Wunderman Thompson Commerce’s Future Shopper Report 2021 shows that globally, 84% of online shoppers are gamers. With this in …

How Americans are Combatting Meal Prep Fatigue

After two years of more cooking at home, it looks like Americans are getting tired of meal prep. A survey by OnePoll on behalf of Jennie-O found that six in 10 respondents admitted feeling “burnt …

5 Takeaways From Natural Products Expo West 2022

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Natural Products Expo West 2022 was a welcome moment of normalcy for the food industry. The Anaheim Convention Center buzzed with an energy that hadn’t been felt since 2019 – when the …

The Restaurant ‘Experience’ Returns

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.  After nearly two years of intermittent pandemic-related lockdowns, consumers are seeking …

UPDATE: Global Food Supply Concerns Intensify Amid Ukraine Crisis

The conflict in Ukraine could cause food and feed prices to rise up to 20%, according to the United Nations food agency. The Food and Agriculture Organization said it was unclear whether Ukraine would be …

Is Plant-Based Meat at a Retail Crossroads?

Alternative meat sales continue to plateau at retail following strong performance in recent years. Has plant-based meat reached its peak, or is this just a lengthy chapter in the emerging category’s evolutionary process? According to …

Webinar Recap: Health Remains Top Reason for Consuming Probiotics

With consumers prioritizing health more than ever, food makers are turning to functional ingredients like probiotics to provide documented health benefits in food and beverages. In an exclusive Food Institute webinar, bioscience company Chr. Hansen …

Experts Offer Solutions for Surviving the Labor Shortage

As the labor shortage rages on, Andrew Lokenauth can’t help but think it’s time for many U.S. businesses to rethink their hiring strategies. After all, Lokenauth – a hiring manager who has held senior positions at institutions from Goldman …

The Toll of Rising Inflation and Gas Prices for Consumers

The one-two punch of soaring inflation and record-breaking gasoline prices is likely to have an increasingly painful impact on consumers. In fact, the Labor Department reported Thursday that the Consumer Price Index, or CPI — …

Baby Boomers Eager to Eat Healthy and Dine Out in 2022

Bracha Goetz is as active as ever at the age of 66, and she’d like to keep it that way. That’s why the Harvard-educated author – like many baby boomers – is eating as healthily …

Drive-Thrus Could Give Full-Service Chains New Opportunities for Growth

The drive-thru lane is no longer exclusive to fast-food chains. Applebee’s recently revealed it would be “aggressively” leaning into drive-thrus as it gets back to new unit growth, reported Forbes (March 3). The chain will …

Can Meat Industry Maintain Record-Setting Sales?

The recently released 2022 Power of Meat report indicated pandemic-induced inflation sent meat prices soaring, with sales hitting a record $81.8 billion in 2021, an increase of 0.3% from the previous year. Those record sales …

Food Product Placements Increasingly Supplant Traditional Ads

Can the sight of a strategically placed bag of chips on-screen cause consumers to crave the snack? Companies using product placement in advertising are betting on it—and they’re usually right, experts said. BEN, a product …

Analysis: Putting the ‘Pegan’ Diet Craze Under the Microscope

In recent years, many diets have become popular for anticipated benefits and attractive trade-offs, as people try to balance proper nutrition with habits that align with their lifestyle values. In today’s market, methods of food …

Restaurant Sales Improve Following January Slump

After ten consecutive months of traffic gains, the U.S. restaurant industry’s recovery slowed in January, according to The NPD Group. However, things are looking up. OMICRON-INDUCED SLOW DOWN IN JANUARY The surge of the COVID-19 …

From Kimchi to Bulgogi, Korean Cuisine Gaining Steam

Korean cuisine had its moment in 2021, and all indications suggest that popularity could last for the foreseeable future. According to new data from analytics company Spoonshot, interest in Korean cuisine spiked nearly 90% in …

CPG Companies Eye Plant-Based Market with Different Goals

More major CPG companies are playing in plant-based, flagging the alt-protein category as a potential catalyst for growth. But industrywide, the depth of that value is not easily measured in broad strokes. “When you factor …

Ultrafast Food Delivery May Be Slowing Down

For some time, it seemed like there was a new app every week promising New Yorkers food and other deliveries in 15 minutes or less. Now, it looks like there could be a bump in …

Inflation Is Surging and Dollar Store Sales are Too

With inflation running at its highest level in four decades, consumers are pinching their pennies and looking to dollar stores to stretch tightening budgets. With inflation currently running at 7.5%, consumers are getting nervous about …

Grain Markets Monitor Russia-Ukraine Conflict

U.S. consumer support for domestic agriculture has grown stronger, according to a  new survey from the United Soybean Board. In fact, 78% of respondents said it’s important to purchase U.S.-grown food, an 8% increase from a …

Analysis: What are the Benefits of Precision Fermentation?

The process used to create precision fermentation is akin to alchemists transforming basic metals into gold. In this case, however, scientists are transforming sugar and fungus into hamburgers. According to RethinkX, a think tank that …

What’s Next in Pizza?

Consumers are getting more adventurous with their pizza. In fact, Slice’s 2022 Slice of The Union report indicates that three types of not-so-traditional pizza had their best year ever: Dairy-free pizza was 333% more popular New …

Why Are Private Label Products Not Thriving Amidst Inflation?

Shoppers have historically gravitated to store brands when economic times get tough. But despite record-high prices, private label food and beverage sales continue to dip below their national counterparts at retail. Overall, store brand dollar …

Port Delays Continue to Pile Up

Global shipping is likely to take another hit in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The invasion adds a level of complexity to an industry already navigating changing consumer demand, inflation, and the ongoing effects …

Will New Hemp-Infused Drink be a Trendsetter Among Big Brands?

These days, non-alcoholic beverage manufacturers, like PepsiCo and Coke, are seeking to expand their production amid shrinking soda consumption. And, taking that strategy a step further, Pepsi is now hoping to attract younger female consumers …