U.S. Turkey Producer Diestel Family Ranch Joins Regenerative Ag Pioneers
Diestel Family Ranch has become the first U.S.-based turkey producer to receive Regenified agriculture certification.
Focus Archive
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Seed Oils are Under Fire: The Health Debate is Heating Up
Thanks in part to influencers like Brian “Liver King” Johnson, seed oils are considered detrimental to human health. Thus, food brands seem destined to further transition to coconut, olive, or avocado oils for their products.
Bayou Best Foods Aims to Jump Start Plant-Based Seafood Sector
While the U.S. alt-seafood market has been sluggish at best, Big Idea Ventures (BIV) has plans to change that. The agrifoodtech investor recently unveiled Bayou Best Foods, the newest entrant to the plant-based seafood sector.
Riding High: Data Shows LongHorn Steakhouse Ascending Among Casual-Dining Chains
LongHorn Steakhouse has become a prime candidate to unseat rivals like Texas Roadhouse as America’s preferred steakhouse.
June’s Record Bankruptcy Wave Signals Tough Times Ahead for Businesses
In June there were 75 major U.S. business bankruptcies. Some financial experts predict the pace could accelerate over the second half of the year.
Turning Negative Reviews into Opportunities: A Restaurant’s Guide to Online Feedback
In 2024, online reviews can have an immeasurable impact on restaurants. The difference in public perception between a 4.5-star Google review and a 4.0 rating, for example, can be costly.
Dates with Destiny: Dates Gaining Momentum as Healthy Sweetener
Move over avocados, pomegranates, and acai; dates are the latest superfruit gaining momentum. Known for their natural sweetness and rich nutritional profile, dates are becoming the hero snack and a better-for-you sugar replacement.
Chilling Out: Hot Sales for Cold Drinks
With summer solidly here, a recent trend in coffee may leave many caffeine junkies wondering what happened to a classic cup of joe.
$1.99 Sonic Boom Shakes Up Value Meal Wars
The so-called fast-food “value wars” are ramping up. First McDonald’s and Taco Bell tried to undercut each other; now Sonic’s $1.99 meal has taken things to another level.
The Rare Summer Superfruit: Haskap Berries
Haskap berries: More antioxidants and phytonutrients than blueberries; hardier than most other tabletop fruits.
‘Audience Optimizer’ Tool Designed to Revolutionize Retail Ads
Swiftly’s newest offering was designed to provide both retailers and brands the ability to engage with customers on a highly personalized level.
CEO Predicts Global ‘Food Wars’ as Supplies Wane
“Food wars” are simmering, as geopolitical tensions have inspired a rise of protectionism amid concerns about dwindling supplies, according to one of the largest global agricultural commodity traders, Olam Agri. The Singapore-based agri-business is part of the Olam Group, which supplies food worldwide.
Hurricane Beryl Wreaks Havoc from Houston to Jamaica, Impacting Power and Crops
Hurricane Beryl raked Mexico and the Caribbean before setting its sights on Texas, devastating crops and killing livestock in its rampage toward land. Damage should lessen as the storm heads north, however.
Grass-Fed Beef Challenging Meat Alternatives
Growing support for products like grass-fed beef is creating new challenges for the meat alternative market, which continues to struggle with adoption and repeat purchases among its primary consumer base – flexitarians.
Analysis: Why the FDA Banned Brominated Vegetable Oil in Beverages
The FDA issued a significant ruling for beverage manufacturers, saying brominated vegetable oil is no longer considered safe.
Aguas Frescas: A Cool Take on Hot Weather Drinks
A recent survey indicated 47% of consumers reported they regularly buy aguas frescas with meals. As a result, manufacturers are increasingly focusing on the fruit-based drinks.
First-person Account: How to Eat Like an Olympian
You don’t achieve major life goals without taking care of your body – whether you’re training for the Olympics, training to run your first 5K, or simply trying to lose 20 pounds.
5 Emerging Paris Food Trends Ahead of the 2024 Olympics
Paris will always be the grande dame of French cuisine, but bubbling beneath that surface are new and rediscovered ways of eating and drinking.
Investors Trust McCormick Again; Should They?
In the late 2010s, among major, mature manufacturers, spice maker McCormick was far and away the most expensive stock in the packaged food space.
Investors Fear Kroger Is Returning To The Old Normal
Kroger stock has performed well in 2024, rising 9% so far this year. But on a two-year basis, the stock has barely budged and shares have faded 15% from early April levels. The reaction to first-quarter earnings last week further highlights the uncertainty: Kroger stock jumped in early trading but finished the day down a little over 3%.
Uber, Lyft, Take Minimum Wage Debate to Next Level in Massachusetts
Agreement by Uber and Lyft in Massachusetts to pay a minimum wage of $32.50 an hour plus some benefits to drivers takes the whole minimum wage debate to a new level and raises questions about what it will mean to other sectors.
Mycelium-based Meat Intriguing Investors and Consumers
Alt-meat funding has all but dried up, but mycelium-based meats are still intriguing investors and consumers. From chicken and steak to deli meats, here’s what’s cooking in the world of mushroom roots.
American Consumers Embrace the Arepa
America is a melting pot filled with diverse backgrounds and, of course, countless unique dishes. If anything unites the nation in 2024, it’s a love of food. And, while food is important, the main objective …
Nutrition Matters When Taking GLP-1 Drugs for Weight Loss
Nutrition plays a crucial role when taking GLP-1 medication for weight loss, which has transformed medical approaches to managing obesity.
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Opinion: Here’s Why I Haven’t Given up on AI in Drive-Thrus
Restaurants can have a drive-up process even if they don’t have a traditional drive-thru setup.
The Plight of the Hourly Employee: Low Morale, Long Hours and AI Fears
A new study shows that hourly employees are demanding more recognition from their employers along with increasingly flexible schedules.
Buc-ee’s – Not Your Father’s Fuel Stop
Buc-ee’s has redefined the c-store by boasting the cleanest restrooms, a wide array of private-label goods, music, foodservice, and more.
Sugar Wars: High-Fructose Corn Syrup Under Siege
Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13) has introduced what would be a paradigm-shifting legislative package intended to improve the dietary health of Americans by banning high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and certain color additives in foods produced in the U.S.
Private Label Growth Pockets in Frozen Food
As consumers continue to stockpile frozen foods, retail operators are leveraging private labels to tap into that demand. Which frozen products are experiencing the most store brand sales growth? FI investigates.
3 Trends Spotted at the 2024 Summer Fancy Food Show
If you asked 100 attendees of the 2024 Summer Fancy Food Show what the hottest trend was, you’d likely get several different answers.
Pepsi Smart Can: Game-changer, or Marketing Gimmick?
PepsiCo has developed a so-called “smart can” that can deliver tailored, digital content. Experts are torn on whether or not the brand will get legitimate ROI on its investment.
Personalized Wellness on the Rise: 90% Seek Tailored Health Products
“The global wellness economy is booming across all sectors as people prioritize healthier choices,” noted David Knies, wellness and innovation expert at PA Consulting.
Missing the Mark – Private Label is Failing at Target
Everything is cyclical. There’s a pendulum at play for any brand investing heavily in the private-label game – as more house brands populate shelves with similar names and cheaper prices than their national brand counterparts, public perception of the parent company may swing along with the pendulum; in other words, some consumers may begin to question what they’re compromising when their carts are full of private-label goods instead of the national brands they may have been buying last week, last quarter, or last year. So swings the pendulum as a blade of commerce.
July Fourth Food Report: Grilling Burgers is 3x Cheaper than Dining Out
Grillers rejoice. Hosting a July Fourth cookout could cost less than it did in 2023 (if consumers prep more staples at home).
Dr. Praeger’s Targeting ‘Nutrition-Curious’ Consumers
Dr. Praeger’s is enjoying double-digit growth across several product categories, including veggie-forward burgers and those that mimic traditional meat. What’s the secret behind their success?
What’s the Big Dill? Suddenly, Pickles Are Everywhere
Pickle flavors proliferate in 2024, making their way into many of America’s popular snack items. Pickle power shows no signs of slowing.