The Future of AI and the Food Industry

The future of the food industry is coming into focus as artificial intelligence (AI) grows increasingly popular.

Report: Latest Fast-Food Innovation Paced by Taco Bell

At 2023’s outset, several restaurant chains have been innovating their dine-in experience to stay relevant and competitive; some with great success. A recent report by Placer.ai noted that some chains are making waves with consumers …

Q&A: Nestlé Targets Plant-Based at University Dining Halls

The success of plant-based in food service will come down to making foods “attractive and craveable so that they are the choice and not the compromise to a meal experience,” according to one Nestlé executive.

Texas Roadhouse: A Blueprint for Success

Texas Roadhouse is defying the odds and welcoming more guests than ever, even as other establishments have been forced to scale back.

The Food Industry’s ‘Unique Vulnerabilities’ to Cyberattacks

Cyberattacks at food companies have sounded alarms throughout the industry, leaving many businesses wondering when they will be attacked.

C-stores Innovating Foodservice Offerings

  Convenience-store operators are embracing creativity. According to the National Association of Convenience Stores, 70% of C-store leaders say innovating foodservice offerings is a top priority. C-store customers seem ready for the innovation as well. …

Fast Food Tech Evolves

The biggest names in global fast food are adjusting to the new market realities by innovating with cutting-edge technology.

Game On: Restaurants Use Gaming Tech to Boost Efficiency

Restaurants are a tricky business and the competition is fierce. That’s one reason why it’s imperative to set yourself apart and find ways to attract and retain high-quality employees. In that spirit, Perfect Company recently …

Foodservice Distributors Continue to Prosper

2022 was a strong year for food and beverage stocks – and particularly the biggest manufacturers in the industry. On average, including dividends, General Mills, Kraft Heinz, Campbell Soup, Kellogg, and Conagra Brands returned 22.6%. …

Report: CAVA & Chicken Salad Chick Earn Rave Reviews

As inflation persists, it becomes more challenging for restaurants to lure customers. Nevertheless, new research shows a few chains are making strides when it comes to winning guests. Merchant Centric, a data analytics and reputation …

The Kids Aren’t Alright: Restaurant Bans Children Under 10

You’re sitting at the table in a moderately priced restaurant, and the 9-year-old twins at the next table are throwing rolls at each other, or the 5-year-old behind you is having a melt-down because he …

3 Keys for Employee Retention in 2023

The past few years have presented numerous challenges to business owners, including an ongoing labor shortage. The hospitality industry certainly isn’t immune to the struggles of employee retention. “For a long time, the hospitality industry …

NA Drinks & Wings Win Super Bowl Sunday

Chicken wings are cheap and beer is expensive. Amid inflation, brands need an omnichannel approach to reach consumers, especially as it relates to snacking.

The Delicious State of Pizza in 2023

In honor of National Pizza Day, The Food Institute took a deep dive into the state of pizza to see how it may fare in 2023.

Breakfast Costs Continue to Climb

Americans may have to start rethinking breakfast as eggs flirt with $5 a dozen and with orange juice prices set to jump because of a poor Florida citrus crop and low cold storage stocks. “Even …

Trouble Brewing? Study Shows Coffee Chains’ Huge Differences in Caffeine 

A new study sheds light on alarming caffeine disparities between coffee chains.

Taking Stock: The Current State of Plant-Based

This industry review looks back on the major sales figures and trends that shaped the state of plant-based over the past year.

COLUMN: Let’s Learn from the Demise of Freshly

The public markets (and strategic firms) aren’t kind to businesses that don’t make much money and then stop growing. The recent shutdown of Freshly shocked many of its consumers, but not those following the ~$6B …

Expert: Price Hikes Could Moderate this Year

Consumers could be getting a break with companies like Conagra Brands, maker of Hunt’s ketchup and other popular packaged groceries, pulling back on price hikes following last year’s worst inflation in four decades. In its …

Chicken or the Egg? HPAI’s Impact on Pricing

On the surface, the appearance of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in 2022 should have pushed prices up for both chicken and eggs at an equal level. But anyone keeping an eye on supermarket shelves …

Shortages of Potatoes, Onions Send Industry Scrambling

Bad potato and onion crops, coupled with cost and availability issues, may have consumers hearing, “You want zucchini sticks with that burger?” Portillo’s CEO Michael Osanloo said supplies of onion rings and French fries have …

Survey: Consumers Already Bracing for Recession

Though experts still are split on whether the U.S. Federal Reserve’s inflation-fighting moves will plunge the economy into a recession, consumers apparently aren’t waiting for the official figures, already trimming their grocery bills and choice …

Trials Show Workers Love Condensed Workweeks

Restaurant owners are following the corporate world’s lead in having employees test the four-day workweek – but a south Florida Chick-fil-A owner has gone further by having employees in his fast-food establishment work 13 to …

Experts: ‘Veganuary’ Offers Big Opportunity for Food Businesses

Experts say restaurants and food manufacturers can capitalize on the “Veganuary” movement even without making significant investments.

Blaze Pizza Favorite QSR Among Gen Z

Blaze Pizza, in the opinion of college kids, is “lit.” And sandwiches from Five Guys and Jersey Mike’s, apparently, “just hit different.”

QSRs’ Chicken Sandwich Wars Reignited

Experts are predicting chicken sandwiches will dominate menus in 2023. According to a survey conducted by the National Restaurant Association, which polled over 500 industry experts, chicken sandwiches – both classic and new variations – …

Consumers’ Top 10 Craveable Coffee Chains

Technomic polled consumers to rank their top coffee chains, finding consumers valued taste, specialty flavors, and high-quality beans.

Smart-Voice Technology: Coming Soon, to a Drive-Thru Near You

In a world of fast-changing consumer demands, the classic fast-food drive-thru window is evolving. From doubling lanes to fully digital menu boards, restaurants have made all kinds of improvements to the drive-thru service. With technology …

Placer.ai Exec: How Grocers Must Evolve in 2023

The grocery space has been upended over the past three years and leaders must face new challenges with patience, according to Placer.ai’s Retail Trends Forecast 2023 report.

Holiday Spending Rises as Consumers Show Appetite for Experiences

This holiday retail season looked different than years past, industry experts noted. Retailers discounted heavily but consumers diversified their holiday spending to accommodate rising prices.

How Coca-Cola and PepsiCo Have Defied Market Downturn

For Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, 2022 seems like it should have been a difficult year. As we discussed just a couple months ago, the challenges facing the food and beverage industry are numerous. Inflation continues to …

Experts Predict Asian Food Boom in 2023

To hear experts tell it, an Asian food boom has begun in America. During Tuesday’s Food Institute webinar – “What’s Ahead in 2023?” –Solomon Choi, CEO of Jabba Brands, noted that internationally-inspired hard seltzers and …

2023 Flavor Forecast: Expect Influx of French Cuisine

When it comes to classical cooking and decadent flavors, look no further than France. With centuries of tradition and innovation, excellent French cuisine is some of the most celebrated and sought after. Flavor giant McCormick …

‘Tipflation’ Leaving Consumers Confounded

To tip or not to tip? Ultimately, it’s up to the consumer, but let’s be honest, society judges bad tippers. However, in this economy, shelling out extra cash, however well-warranted, is becoming more and more …

Does the Restaurant CPG Trend Have Staying Power?

Despite higher grocery inflation, consumers continue to splurge on their favorite restaurant brands at retail, fueling a trend that has gained significant momentum in recent years. “Restaurants are looking to exploit brand loyalty that really …

Analysis: the Most Innovative LTOs of the Year

Restaurants are getting rather creative with their limited-time offers, or LTOs, lately. “LTOs can be a great way to drive business, but you have to know your audience and what appeals to them,” Leith Steel, …