As pandemic restrictions eased, pent-up consumer demand kept inflation elevated. In July, the overall consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.5%, a somewhat moderate gain relative to recent increases. Yet, over the past 12 months, price …
With signs of the beer industry slowing and hard seltzer fizzling out, what’s the next big thing for the alcoholic beverage market? It might be hard cider. Made from the fermented juice of apples, hard …
Mac ‘n cheese ice cream and baked bean smoothies? Yes, believe it or not, those food items have become realities in 2021. And those are just a couple of the unusual food mashups that are …
Restaurant menus – like so much of society amid the pandemic – have undergone a whirlwind of change in recent months. The coronavirus has required as much, with restaurants having to deal with supply uncertainties …
The Specialty Food Association (SFA) has canceled the in-person component of this year’s Fancy Food Show, which was scheduled for September in New York City, due to concerns about the Delta coronavirus variant. Fancy Food …
It’s a simple, two-part question, but it begs a complicated answer: Why are global shipping costs so high, and when will they moderate? While the rest of the U.S. economy seemed to hum in a …
When it comes to sustainable food sources, kelp checks all the right boxes. But are U.S. consumers ready to embrace it as a main course? Courtney Boyd Myers, CEO of alt-meat food tech company AKUA, …
While climate and animal welfare advocates are encouraging less meat consumption, consumer demand continues to rise. With that, some are going on the offensive through legislative efforts. And the battle, it seems, will likely continue …
Encapsulation of flavors and fragrances is widely popular in the consumer goods and food and beverage industries. The technique aids in minimizing degradation or loss of fragrance and flavor during the process of production and …
Legumes have long been a staple in human diets, and they’re getting new life in the form of pasta. These alternative pastas are made from a range of lentils/beans including edamame, red lentils, fava beans, …
One of America’s favorite sodas is getting a boozy makeover. The Boston Beer Company and PepsiCo are teaming up to produce an alcoholic version of Mountain Dew called HARD MTN DEW. The new drink will …
Hiring and retaining employees has been a battle throughout the coronavirus pandemic, so companies are upping their game, waving perks like signing bonuses at workers. Now, the latest trend entails major employers like McDonald’s offering …
The global chocolate confectionery market is anticipated to reach $154.5 billion (USD) by 2025. Its growth has been aided by the pandemic, during which consumers have often turned to comforting, indulgent foods, like milk chocolate …
Consumers who packed their pantries throughout the pandemic may be looking to replenish those supplies, according to new research by Inmar Intelligence. Of 1,000 U.S. adults surveyed, 69.4% said they were contemplating a significant restock …
As an unrelenting drought torments California’s farmers, many of them are now dealing with an additional concern: water theft. With water increasingly scarce in California in recent months, thieves have stolen several millions of gallons …
Cargill and Continental Grain Company announced early Monday that they’re set to acquire Sanderson Farms for around $4.5 billion. Sanderson Farms will combine with Wayne Farms, a subsidiary of Continental Grain, to form a new, …
Since acquiring Whole Foods for $13.7 billion in 2017, Amazon has been looking to further expand into the $900 billion U.S. grocery industry through its Amazon Fresh stores. And, with online grocery delivery growing about …
Despite interest in the plant-based space by investors, the category appeared to lose a bit of luster in the second quarter, as both Beyond Meat and Maple Leaf Foods noted sales of their plant-based offerings …
Vending machines are no longer just for snacks and drinks. Today’s “next-generation” vending machines can serve up fresh salads and hot pizza in a matter of minutes. With that, Technavio predicts that the intelligent vending …
In a major merger announced Thursday, Panera Bread joined forces with Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros. Bagels to form Panera Brands. The new group includes more than 4,000 fast-casual restaurants. The pact sent reverberations throughout …
Kroger and ghost kitchen start-up Kitchen United have teamed to provide shoppers with on-demand takeout and delivery food. Through the partnership, Kitchen United will feature up to six restaurant brands inside select Kroger locations. The …
One of the most successful limited time offerings (LTOs) over the past year has been McDonald’s “Famous Orders” celebrity collaborations. McDonald’s has been utilizing LTOs to attract consumers for years with items such as the …
Plant-based meat alternatives have a longer history than some might realize. And, they have proven to be effective in replacing meat products without compromising quality and nutritional value. Plant-based fish has been gaining traction as …
COVID-weary Americans thought the summer would bring freedom from face masks, but the Delta variant – more contagious than its predecessors – has put the kibosh on that, threatening the nascent recovery in the food …
Molson Coors is mixing up its long game by eliminating eleven economy beers and launching a new line of whiskey. The moves align with the company’s recent shift towards portfolio premiumization, which has been led …
PepsiCo has announced plans to sell Tropicana, Naked, and other juice brands across North America to private equity firm PAI Partners for about $3.3 billion. The soda giant is just the latest such company to …
Drought and an early fire season are threatening agriculture in the U.S. West and Plains, reducing hay yields, pushing feed costs higher, the Associated Press reported (July 26), and drying up water sources. Drought conditions …
With schools reopening and unemployment benefits scheduled to expire, employers have earmarked September as a hopeful turning point for the labor shortage. However, many economists and business owners warn that deeper issues will extend staffing challenges …
Back in 1979, Domino’s launched a rather ambitious initiative: the chain promised customers they’d get their pizza delivered to their doorstop in 30 minutes or less. It made for great marketing and was excitedly embraced …
With a slew of earnings being released over the past week, The Food Institute looked into which companies are thriving, as well as which companies are experiencing issues. EARNINGS ‘WINNERS’ McDonalds (MCD) Global comparable sales …
A rise in cases linked to the highly infectious Delta coronavirus variant could result in a new wave of disruptions for the U.S. food industry, particularly in the U.S. Southeast. Less than 35% of the …
Pandemic-related restrictions pushed many people away from restaurants, out of their kitchens, and towards their backyard grills, a small comfort in a most unsettling time. And, whether for a simple change of scenery, a desire …
With the rise of hard seltzer and other low-cal alcohol options, Americans seem to be drinking less beer, and U.S. producers are making less of it. Boston Beer Co. the maker of Samuel Adams beer, …
The restaurant industry continued to regain its financial footing in June, but the pandemic aftershocks have yet to subside. “The industry right now is extremely strong and is surging. For many operators, they have more business …
Maryland without crab cakes. An ahi tuna shortage in Hawaii. Clams missing from the menu in Massachusetts. Are we running out of fish? “Yes, there is a shortage of fish, in some part, because of …
Eighty-four percent of consumers globally order chicken from a restaurant at least once a month, according to new research by Technomic. The latest chicken product in high demand appears to be nuggets. POPEYES DEBUTS NUGGETS …
