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Report: Unruly Customers on the Rise; Restaurants Pushing Back

Restaurants and hotels are pushing back against unruly customers and eschewing the adage “the customer is always right.” Some 60% of restaurant workers said they had suffered from emotional abuse and disrespect from customers, and …

California Ports Take Different Approaches to Backlogs

The backlog of ships off the coast of California has become so dire that the Biden Administration has gotten involved. Additionally, the two primary ports are exploring different strategies in trying to alleviate issues. As …

Major Retailers Begin Intense Hiring Push

The retail industry is hiring at a record pace. In June, the industry saw 1.1 million job openings even after more than 1.1 million workers got hired in a massive hiring spree, reported NPR (Aug. 26). Still, employment …

Albertsons Launches Shoppable Videos with Firework

Albertsons Cos. has entered the shoppable media space in a new collaboration with video platform Firework. Through the partnership, the grocer aims to transform its digital offerings with community-oriented experiences led by interactive short-form and …

How Misfits Market Doubled its Valuation Overnight

Online grocer Misfits Market Inc. nearly doubled its valuation in just five months, making it a unicorn twice over. The direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform buys so-called “ugly” produce from farmers that cannot be sold to stores for aesthetic reasons …

PREVIEW FOCUS: America’s Growing Food Waste Problem

Food waste has become a significant issue around the world, but nowhere more so than in America. In fact, about $161 billion of food is wasted in the U.S. every year, per Rubicon research. In …

Labor Union Influence Rising in Fulfillment Facilities

As the pandemic continues to impact U.S. frontline workers, union activity is growing across major companies like Mondelez and HelloFresh. Furthermore, labor unions are increasingly seeking to organize workers in fulfillment facilities as brands add …

How Amazon is Changing the Grocery Landscape

A detour to the grocery store on the way home from work used to be just part of the daily grind, but all that has changed, and Amazon’s entry into the grocery business is moving …

Italy to Require COVID-19 Pass for Workers

Italian workers in public and private sectors must display a health pass to access their workplaces starting October 15, a move prompted by the fact the Delta coronavirus variant continues to surge across much of …

Higher Food Prices, Lower Inventory Expected Through Holidays

According to industry experts, consumers can expect to see higher prices in the last quarter of this year in several grocery categories. Ingredient suppliers are seeing longer lead times because of issues like labor shortages …

U.S. Median Household Income Drops in 2020

The economic impacts of the pandemic took a significant toll on the financial stability of American households last year. U.S. median household income fell 2.9% to $67,500 between 2019 and 2020, according to new data from the …

Report: Plant-based Menu Items Skyrocketing at U.S. Restaurants

With what seems like a new plant-based development each week, it’s no surprise that meat alternatives are now a $14 billion market, according to Tastewise’s new Q3 Market Report: Alternative Proteins. The Food Institute reviewed …

Shoppable Content: The Next Chapter in Digital Advertising

As competition intensifies across the media advertising landscape, major retail players are differentiating themselves with technologically-optimized content that advances the omnichannel purchasing experience. The recent partnership between Walmart and media corporation Meredith has upped the …

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By Sea, Rail, or Road: Supply Chain Update

Whether by sea, by rail, or by highway, the nation’s supply chain has never been more complicated. Here’s a quick roundup of recent supply chain developments, in what has become a year loaded with slowdowns. …

How Much is Theft Impacting Retail Shrink?

Retail theft accounts for about $45 billion in annual losses for retailers these days, according to The Coalition of Law Enforcement and Retail. That figure is up $15 billion from a decade ago and has …

Coffee Innovations Hitting Higher Gear

Coffee’s popularity in the U.S. shows no signs of slowing. More than half of Americans over 18 years old drink coffee daily, with the average coffee drinker consuming three cups of coffee per day, as …

Teatime and Beyond: A Look at the Future of Tea

Unilever Plc has reportedly kicked off the sale of large parts of its tea business, which begs the question: What’s next for the traditional drink, which has a history that dates back nearly 5,000 years …

Ag Update: Tesla-like Tractors Coming Soon

A number of startups are ready to unleash a new crop of electric tractors designed to revolutionize field production and help with other tasks. Bloomberg reported (Aug. 18) a pair of Monarch 12-foot, self-driving tractors …