Soybeans and other commodities are seeing a jump in prices due to dry weather and strong export demand from China. Could this lead to higher prices for consumers? RISING COMMODITY PRICES Prices for corn, soybeans, …
Tom Vilsack, President Joe Biden’s nominee for U.S. agriculture secretary, pledged this week to increase USDA programs to combat climate change, expressing confidence that farmers will embrace the chance to make money by sequestering carbon within …
The meal kit and fresh food segments have experienced tremendous growth over the course of the pandemic on a combination of limited dining-out options, families with little time to spare for preparing and cooking food, …
Could pea protein be the next big plant-based alternative? One major food company appears to be banking on it. WORLD’S LARGEST PEA PROTEIN PLANT BEGINS OPERATIONS Roquette, a France-based food ingredient company, has begun operations …
More consumers are trying hemp-derived CBD products, inspiring supermarket chains like Fresh Thyme Farmers Market to increase CBD offerings, reported Forbes (Jan. 18). PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET Brightfield Group estimates the total U.S. CBD market …
Restaurant chains are getting a sales bump from the latest round of stimulus money, but if patterns mimic the first round, the lift could be short-lived. STIMULUS IMPACT While the amounts given in the roughly …
A record 54% of Americans between the ages of 24-39 are incorporating more plant-based foods into their diets this year, according to a survey commissioned by Sprouts Farmers Market. WHY ARE CONSUMERS ALIGNING WITH THE …
First came plant-based seafood. Now, cell-based seafood is riding a wave of momentum. Cell-based, or lab-grown, meat is produced by harvesting animal stem cells in nutrient-dense bioreactors. Startups like Mosa Meat, Aleph Farms, and BlueNalu …
Editor’s Note: This article was excerpted from the January 2021 edition of the Food Institute Report. To read more articles regarding food industry news, leadership, markets, commodities, and regulatory issues, consider a membership with the …
At least five other nations are moving toward gene editing hogs, which could put them miles ahead of the U.S. in producing disease-resistant and faster-growing hogs that cost less to grow, the National Pork Producers …
The citrus market is on the rise, as consumers look to get their vitamin C fix. New data show the citrus category across all varieties saw increased demand in 2020, with more than 20% increases …
Though not requiring workers to get COVID-19 vaccinations, some food retailers are incentivizing them to get the shots. Among the first to do so was Dollar General, which offered employees four hours of pay to …
During the COVID-19 pandemic, gas stations emerged as key, profitable parts of oil companies’ operations as more consumers turned to them for food and drink purchases that were a bit closer to home. While fuel …
Editor’s note: Leah Zitter is a longtime Food Tech/Agri Tech writer with a PhD in Research. Welcome to our Food Tech news roundup! Given that recent days have dished up slathers of technology news within …
An estimated one-third of all the food produced in the world goes to waste, likely enough calories to feed every undernourished person on the planet. But wasted food isn’t just about food insecurity. It’s also …
New stats suggest consumer eating habits are shifting away from the traditional three meals per day toward more frequent snacking. Over the past five years, Americans added 25 between-meal snacking occasions per capita, from 505 …
With the coronavirus pandemic raging throughout much of the U.S., countless restaurant owners have faced indefinite closures. When dealt with that situation himself, Marc Epstein took matters into his own hands. Epstein, owner of The …
New data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics note that food prices are up due to demand. The food index rose in December, as both food at home and the food away from …
Alimentation Couche-Tard, the Canadian owner of Circle K convenience stores, is exploring a takeover of French grocer Carrefour SA in a roughly $20 billion deal that would create a trans-Atlantic retail giant. The not-so-typical move comes on …
Multiple protein producers are agreeing to settle in various legal battles regarding price fixing and anticompetitive activity. TYSON, PILGRIM’S PRIDE Tyson Foods Inc. and Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. both struck agreements on Jan. 11 to help …
Celebrity-backed plant-based milk brand Oatly has seen success among vegans and non-vegans alike. Once only found in trendy cafes and niche grocery stores, the company’s oat milk can be found in mainstream foodservice outlets and …
Is your dog begging for dessert? Well, now you can treat them with Ben & Jerry’s latest offering: Doggie Desserts. The premiumization of pet food was a major trend during 2020. Spending on dog treats …
Chipotle’s online business soared during 2020, making up more than half of sales. With that, the digital boom is likely leading the company to consider more drive thrus and introduce breakfast options. DRIVE THRUS COULD …
The edible insect market, which surpassed $112 million in 2019, is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 26.5% from 2020 to 2027 to reach $4.63 billion by 2027, according to Research …
Main Points: Total capacity of refrigerated warehouses worldwide was 719 million cubic meters in 2020, 16.7% higher than 2018. Among the factors driving growth are online grocery sales, subscription meal services, consumer preferences for fresh …
Employers across the U.S. decreased hiring in December, as COVID-19 cases were up and cities reimposed business restrictions. Throughout the month, job losses were largely concentrated among restaurants, bars, hotels, casinos, and other entertainment venues, …
While plant-based beef held center stage in 2020, vegan-friendly seafood appears to be waiting in the wings for its big moment. Veganism is as popular as ever, according to Google data showing vegan-related searches were …
With the USDA expected to issue a report Jan. 12 reducing its domestic corn stock outlook, grain prices spiked with corn prices nearing $5 per bushel Jan. 5. The increasing prices could signal a boon …
Impossible Foods is cutting foodservice distributor prices for the second time in a year as part of its push to better compete with traditional ground beef. The maker of soy-based meat alternatives is dropping prices …
Shake Shack is starting 2021 by spicing up fast food’s chicken sandwich war. The chain is rolling out the Korean-style Fried Chick’n Sandwich and Korean-style Gochujang Chick’n Bites, reported CNN (Jan. 5). Though the new …
Consumers are looking for healthier snacks and CPG companies are taking notice. Mondelez International’s 2020 State of Snacking report found that consumers are highlighting the importance of snacks that enable them to lead healthier lifestyles. At the …
McCormick & Company, which manufactures spices, seasoning mixes, and more for a large swath of the food industry, has worked feverishly in recent months to strengthen and diversify its business through strategic acquisitions. In particular, …
Since the beginning of the pandemic, indoor dining has been a point of contention for restaurants. After being banned for some time — leaving restaurants to rely on outdoor seating – indoor dining was brought …
The U.S. government’s latest dietary guidelines keep current allowances for sugar and alcohol consumption unchanged. The decision by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services rejected recommendations by a scientific advisory committee …
The coronavirus pandemic, and its subsequent restrictions, sent a shockwave through the U.S. job market in 2020, causing a ripple effect felt through much of the labor force. In short order, many jobs shifted, creating …
In addition to uncovering surprises in ancestral lineage, biotech services are now using DNA tests to develop personalized nutrition plans to help individuals reach optimum health, based on their genetic makeup. And while popular genealogy firms …
