Seven Health and Wellness Trends for Foodservice in the New Year

With the New Year underway, which health and wellness trends are food consumers gravitating towards? Which should the food industry focus on?

Global Cuisines, LTOs to Feature Prominently for Foodservice in 2024

The foodservice industry has endured its fair share of turbulence since the pandemic, but where will things go for the industry in 2024? Lizzy Freier, Director, Menu Research & Insights at Technomic, joined The Food …

Frontline Workers Survey: No End in Sight for ‘Great Resignation’

The Great Resignation may have slowed, but frontline workers still are expressing high levels of dissatisfaction with their jobs, a survey released Wednesday by Beekeeper indicated. The 2024 Global Frontline Workforce Survey, which queried some …

Market Signals: Unpacking the Veggie Grill Acquisition

Plant-based chain Next Level Burger has acquired Veggie Grill from vegan investment fund VegInvest. The Food Institute spoke with industry analysts to unpack the potential ramifications of this transaction amidst ongoing financial challenges for plant-based and the restaurant industry at large.

A Gluten-Free-For-All: Brands Scramble to Make Better GF Products  

When Katie Olesen was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2018, she struggled to find gluten-free items at her grocer. Barely half a decade later, major food companies like King Arthur are producing multiple gluten-free products, …

Report: Restaurant LTOs Forge Long-Term Brand Connections

Limited-time offers (LTOs) significantly impact consumer behavior within the foodservice industry. In fact, 91% percent of consumers are more inclined to visit establishments that provide new items, according to a recent report from Circana.

More Cheese, Please: 2024 Cheese Insights

People eat cheese for all sorts of reasons; this year, however, taste and health were the primary ones as 33% of consumers around the world considered it a necessary staple in their diets.

Technomic: Expect Drive-Thrus, Breakfast Daypart to ‘Boom’ in 2024

America is overflowing with beverage restaurant concepts of late, especially those targeting the breakfast daypart. Utah-based Swig is growing rapidly. Dutch Bros Coffee, founded in Oregon, saw 27% sales growth in 2022. Kung Fu Tea, …

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.