George Floyd’s death sparked nationwide protests and ultimately served as a catalyst for anti- discrimination efforts. Many companies also responded by releasing statements against racism. And some took action, setting quantifiable goals to increase diversity …
Escalating food and grocery prices have many U.S. shoppers rethinking their loyalty to retailers and brands, according to a new survey by Inmar Intelligence. Although vaccines and looser business restrictions are making consumers eager to get …
Since the beginning of the year, foot traffic to U.S. food and beverage establishments is up 41 percent, according to Zenreach data. And with the weather getting nicer, vaccinations on the rise, and dining limitations slowly being lifted, restaurant traffic continues to soar. Restaurant …
For those looking to cut back on sugar, options used to be limited—and, often, not very tasty. In 2021, however, health-conscious consumers suddenly have a plethora of low-sugar items to choose from, whether it’s candy …
In the Fall and Winter of 2020, the market witnessed several high-profile CPG acquisitions by strategic multinational CPG players. I want to contrast two cases that live on extreme ends of the typical continuum of …
The mindful drinking movement has been gaining traction for several years, with “sober curious” consumers opting for no- or low- alternatives to reduce their alcohol intake. Throughout the pandemic, demand for non-alcoholic beers, wines, and spirits increased, with consumers drinking most frequently while relaxing at …
Big-box retailers have reported surprisingly strong first-quarter results as consumers – with more money from stimulus checks and rising optimism about a return to normal life – spent more in-store and online as COVID-19 cases fell and vaccination rates increased. And, while Walmart posted sector-leading earnings that surged past Wall Street estimates …
If you walk into any cafe or ice cream shop today, you’ll most likely see a few dairy alternative products: almond milk smoothies, soy milk shakes, and oat milk creamers just to name a few. …
CBD continues to be a bright light in the food and beverage industry. However, growth has leveled off from its stellar 2019 gains on a combination of the FDA’s reluctance to approve its usage and …
As 20 million U.S. workers lost their jobs last year and most businesses shut down because of the pandemic, many of the nation’s CEOs saw their compensation rise despite massive corporate losses. “Many of these …
U.S. retail stores and restaurants are weighing updated CDC guidelines that allow fully vaccinated people to remove their masks in both indoor and outdoor settings. According to the CDC, a person is fully vaccinated two …
Walmart recently posted strong quarterly sales growth and boosted its profit outlook, as comparable sales increased 6% for U.S. stores, excluding fuel, according to Bloomberg (May 18). The retailer attributed the strong performance to a …
All types of businesses, including those in the agriculture sector, were left breathing a sigh of relief last weekend, after a major backlog of barges was cleared on the Mississippi River. A traffic jam on …
Over the past year, convenience store business has been growing—particularly in the acquisition space. Convenience store in-store sales reached a record $255.6 Billion in 2020, according to NACS State of the Industry data. While total …
While Oatly may be making waves for its proposed $10 billion IPO, competition in the space continues to heat up as new competitors expand their product ranges. Meanwhile, the health benefits of these products continue …
Here are trending economic and food industry data points, as well as major economic and company earnings releases for the coming week: CPI, PPI, small business optimism, Tyson Foods, Inc. (TSN), Aramark (ARMK), Utz Brands, …
For those who remember the soaring inflation and double-digit interest rates of the late 1970s and early 1980s, President Joe Biden’s economic relief packages present a real fear about rising inflation. At the same time, …
Matt Thomas didn’t found his company, Brew Dr., thinking he would someday sell kombucha that’s infused with hemp derived CBD. In fact, in 2021, CBD-infused products still only make up roughly one-tenth of 1% of …
As if the lingering pandemic hasn’t caused enough headaches for restaurant operators, a new issue has emerged: Cicadas – lots and lots of cicadas. For the past 17 years, so-called Brood X cicadas have slowly …
In preparation for the summer and warmer weather, consumers are spending big on barbecue supplies. Consumers increased purchases of barbecue-related consumer packaged goods products in April, according to NCSolutions. Nearly all barbecue categories grew faster …
Recent delivery innovations by Amazon, Kroger, and Walmart are bringing groceries beyond consumers’ doorstep. Sales from grocery deliveries surged throughout 2020 and demand for the service remains high. In February 2021, online grocery deliveries and …
Amazon is launching a new system called Amazon One at a Whole Foods store in Seattle, with plans to expand to seven other stores in the area. The rather innovative technology allows shoppers to associate …
Eighty-five million Americans are impacted by food allergies and intolerances, according to Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE), an organization engaged in food allergy advocacy. These days, an increasingly common allergy relates to gluten. Celiac …
Better-for-you trends continue to shake up the dairy case with an expanding selection of plant-based alternatives in milk, yogurt and, more recently, ice cream. And then there’s pudding, a sleepy category with relatively untapped health …
Kerry Group recently released its 2021 Taste Trends report, highlighting food and beverage trends that are gaining traction in several regions worldwide. The annual report aims to highlight the key ingredients and tastes currently influencing …
The Health & Wellness movement has made great strides over the past few years. And, the trend only intensified during the pandemic, although indulgent eating was a contradictory development for many consumers. CPG companies are …
Public health experts have warned that stopping COVID-19 – or at least mitigating its severity and rapid spread – will not mean the world is safe; rather, it’s just a matter of time before the …
Here are trending economic and food industry data points, as well as major economic and company earnings releases for the coming week: PPP, Restaurant Revitalization Fund, lumber shortage and inflation, hiring recovery, inflation in Brazil, …
Cryptocurrency is more than just a financial news talking point. It has real-world applications that are now being implemented in the food industry. And while the sky-high stock prices of crypto companies like Bitcoin and …
With the launch of several new health-focused products, PepsiCo appears to be pivoting from just soda and capitalizing on the burgeoning functional beverage trend. The company has developed an innovation process that allows it to …
While migrant workers have long supported the agricultural economy, it’s no secret that some operators use illegal immigrants to harvest their crops. With that, lawmakers have been wrestling with immigration reform for years, with little …
Although plant-based products have been in the spotlight of late, U.S. beef and pork exports still established new records in March, according to new analysis. RENEWED HOPE FOR RED MEAT INDUSTRY U.S. beef and pork …
Birth rates fell for the sixth consecutive year to the lowest levels since 1979, according to the CDC. The number of births in the U.S. declined last year by 4% from 2019, double the average annual …
Nothing says Cinco de Mayo like tacos and guacamole, and this year avocados appear to be plentiful – at least in the near term. Some 100 million Americans are expected to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, …
Coming as no surprise, plant-based food is making headlines again. In addition to other news, one of the world’s most renowned restaurants is going entirely vegan. FINE DINING MAKES THE SHIFT Perhaps the biggest plant-based …
Would you eat lab-grown lobster? Cell-cultured seafood — protein produced directly from fish cells in nutrient-dense bioreactors — is getting ever closer to consumer’s plates. Investments in alt-seafood startups have seen an uptick over the …
