Across the nation, mayors of cities and governors of states are restricting hours for businesses in an effort to tamp down on a rising trend of COVID-19 infections. The legislation was not unwarranted. With the …
Amazon opened an online pharmacy Nov. 16, allowing customers to order medications and prescription refills for delivery, reported CNBC (Nov. 17). The retail giant has been building its pharmacy offering for several years now. In …
Nearly a quarter of the U.S. population are trying new plant-based meat alternatives, according to a study from Herbalife Nutrition. Since the pandemic, buying spree sales of plant-based foods are up 35% as more Americans …
Walmart has recently made business moves that indicate it’s shifting its focus from international markets to digital operations. International Divestures In 2018, Walmart sold an 80% stake in its Brazilian operations to a global profit …
DoorDashfiled for its IPO on Nov. 13, reported The Wall Street Journal (Nov. 13). The filing revealed the company’s rapid growth during the pandemic, as revenue for the September quarter more than tripled from the …
The COVID-19 pandemic has turned the world upside down, but that hasn’t stopped the global consumption of roughly 2.25 billion cups of coffee per day. What has certainly changed during this 2020 crisis is how …
Grocery shoppers are gravitating towards more premium products, according to data from IRI. Unlike the beginning of the pandemic, when consumers raced to stock up on household staples, shoppers are now turning toward specialty items …
Rising COVID-19 cases in several states have led to lockdown measures being reinstated, providing more opportunity for delivery and online shopping. In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced new restrictions, some of which target restaurants …
Several leading foodservice companies have revealed plans for more convenient store models that are designed with pickup and delivery in mind. Chipotle Chipotle is opening its first digital-only restaurant called the Chipotle Digital Kitchen. Located …
More than half of c-store operators said they expect their total 2020 sales to be at least somewhat higher than last year’s profits, according to CSP Daily News’ latest Outlook Survey. Thirty-nine percent anticipate their …
The CDC suggested Americans who are hosting Thanksgiving dinners have their meals outside to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. Hosts should limit the number of guests they invite, talk to guests before they …
The most “digitally mature” grocery retailers are capturing a considerably greater share of the growth of a growing shopping modality, according to the results of 2020 Grocery Digital Maturity Benchmark Study from Incisiv, reported Winsight …
Beyond Meat shares plummeted 22% in after-hours trading following the release of the company’s third quarter results, reported Yakima Herald Republic (Nov. 9). The company noted U.S. retail sales of Beyond Meat slowed in the …
Former Vice President Joe Biden became the U.S. President-elect on Nov. 7, leaving some farmers with concerns about the future. U.S. farmers are worried that Joe Biden’s election as president will result in stricter environmental …
Grocers’ COVID-19 gains with consumers could evaporate quickly in the year ahead, unless grocers refresh their approach to customer loyalty, according to a Bain & Co. report, reported CNBC (Nov. 9). The firm said that …
As COVID-19 cases rise across the U.S., grocery stores are doing their part to ramp up testing. The Kroger Co., Walmart, Albertsons, Safeway, and Hy-Vee are among the grocers offering different options for testing, with …
When it comes to foodservice distributors’ results, the U.S. looks to the big three, and Sysco Foods (SYY), Performance Food Group (PFGC) and US Foods (USFD) all reported quarterly earnings this past week. There is …
Aphria, a Canadian cannabis company, plans to acquire Atlanta’s Sweetwater Brewing Co., which is known for its “420” beer. The $300 million deal is the latest hook-up between the alcoholic beverage and pot industries, and …
Wendy’s posted its highest same-store sales growth performance in more than 15 years in its third quarter, reported Nation’s Restaurant News (Nov. 4). The chain was buoyed by breakfast sales, a daypart that’s been a …
There is a spice boom occuring as more consumers are cooking at home. But as demand steadily increases, spice companies say access to packaging is becoming a challenge, reported Seattle Times (Nov. 3). In July, …
In 2020 election referendums, voters approved two milestone initiatives that amount to a win and loss for food-industry companies in two states. California workers with app-based ride-hailing and delivery services will remain independent contractors after …
Walmart decided to stop using robots that move through the aisles checking inventory levels and prices after seeing the results from about 500 stores. In January, the retailer announced plans to expand use of the …
China accepted its first-ever commercial container of U.S. rice in history, creating cautious optimism with rice growers across the U.S., reported Western Farm Press (Nov. 3). The shipment was received as Chinese buyers await the …
Industry heavyweights are taking ownership of the startups they invested in. Nestle has gone from stakeholder to full ownership of Freshly, a company that delivers fresh, chef-cooked meals to customers on a weekly basis. The …
Land O’Lakes is selling record amounts of butter to consumers, with sales expected to reach 275 million to 300 million pounds in 2020, an increase of more than 20% from a normal year, reported Bloomberg …
Companies in various sectors of the food industry reported positive quarterly results. Foodservice Starbucks expects to recover and return to growth in 2021 after a fourth quarter where its same-store sales in the Americas declined …
Let’s face it—2020, by most accounts, has been a year the vast majority of us would like to forget. However, many are anticipating better days ahead as one can only hope there will be a …
Financial strains caused by the pandemic are the main source of worry concerning grocery prices, according to dunnhumby’s latest Consumer Pulse Survey. Forty-nine percent of respondents said their personal finances were poor—a 20% increase since …
The U.S. economy grew at a record pace in the third quarter, reported The Wall Street Journal (Oct. 29). It increased 7.4% over the prior quarter and at a 33.1% annual rate—recovering about two-thirds of …
YouTube kid influencers are marketing junk food from McDonald’s, Coke, and others to children, reported MarketWatch (Oct. 27). In a study published in the journal Pediatrics, researchers analyzed 418 YouTube videos from the five most-watched …
Commodities, such as cheese and lemons, are still facing issues caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Cheese The U.S. cheese industry is reeling after months the pandemic causing upheaval in prices and demand, reported The Wall …
DoorDash is investing in a restaurant for the first time, reported The Verge (Oct. 24). It will work alongside CA-based Burma Superstar for a brick-and-mortar store called Burma Bites. It will be designed for delivery and …
State and local officials around the world are reinstating lockdown orders as coronavirus cases rise. Newark, NJ, is reversing course on reopening as cases increase across the city, reported CBS News (Oct. 27). Many of …
Several major food companies have recently made headlines with sustainability-forward initiatives. Chipotle With the debut of Real Foodprint, Chipotle Mexican Grill becomes the first brand to provide detailed sustainability impact data about its ingredients for …
Dunkin’ Brands is in talks to sell itself to private equity-backed Inspire Brands, reported The New York Times (Oct. 25). The deal would take Dunkin’ Brands private at a price of $106.50 a share, according …
Nothing has been more impactful in 2020 than how the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the way people view their lifestyles. Consumers are becoming increasingly more cognizant of the importance of health and well-being for themselves …
