PepsiCo. Inc.’s PR tease for the Driftwell sleep aid beverage represents the company’s latest new brand creation since Bubly. Launching new trademarks has a very checkered history at public firms. Most of these launches quietly …
Food companies have been in hot water recently over their product labels either misleading consumers or not providing enough product information. Frito-Lay Frito-Lay faces at least two lawsuits over the flavor of its chips. After …
Food retailers are partnering with technology companies to make their operations more efficient as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Giant Eagle now operates FlyBuy Pickup, a curbside and in-store pickup program. FlyBuy, using location technology from …
CME Group Inc. and Nasdaq Inc. are planning to launch a futures contract later this year that will allow farmers, speculators, and others to wager on the price of water, reported The Wall Street Journal …
Fast food may weather winter better than casual dining as the pandemic continues and flu-season arrives, reported MarketWatch (Sept. 21). Analysts are boosting their ratings and targets for fast food companies, in large part, due …
FDA proposed a new rule that lays the foundation for end-to-end traceability across the food industry. The proposed rule would create a first-of-its-kind standardized approach to traceability recordkeeping, paving the way for industry to adopt …
Several food companies are looking to set a good example for the industry by creating eco-friendly initiatives to become more sustainable—particularly when it comes to emissions. Walmart Big retailer Walmart is aiming for zero emissions …
Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestlé made public pledges to cut plastic while undermining sustainability reforms behind the scenes through lobbying groups and trade associations, a report from Changing Markets Foundation claims. It accused the world’s largest plastic polluters of hypocrisy, …
Despite shortages this spring, supermarkets are now selling meat for lower prices as supplies are rebounding and exports are declining, reported The Wall Street Journal (Sept. 20). Prices for ground beef and pork loins returned …
TikTok, a platform where some 50 million U.S. daily users share short-form videos, has been receiving attention in the media as the Chinese-owned company searches for a U.S. buyer. The app is not only a …
Cargill is supporting farmer-led efforts to adopt practices and systems foundational to regenerative agriculture practices across 10 million acres of North American farmland over the next 10 years. The initiative will focus on row crop …
Cohen & Steers invested approximately $100 million in Lineage Logistics, a temperature-controlled logistics solutions company. The firm made the investment on behalf of several mutual funds with the belief that the market is in the …
CPG companies have been expanding their plant-based offerings to compete with brands such as Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat. The Kellogg Co. partnered with Walt Disney Co. to launch Mickey-Mouse shaped Incogmeato chick’n nuggets, reported MarketWatch (Sept. …
The COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating a trend towards automation, according to a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. The report found that most job losses during the public health crisis would be temporary, …
Kraft Heinz plans to cut $2 billion in costs over five years, reported The Wall Street Journal (Sept. 15). The company will be making cuts more strategically than in the past, according to CEO Miguel …
While restaurants continue to feel the weight of the pandemic, retailers are still benefiting. Nearly one in six restaurants, representing 100,000 foodservice establishments, have closed permanently or long-term in the six months following the first shutdown orders …
Several beverage brands are launching new products that have a stronger focus on consumer health. PepsiCo is launching a new drink called Driftwell to aid sleep as consumers struggle with stress, reported CNBC (Sept. 14). …
Kroger forecasted growth of more than 13% for 2020 in its latest earnings report. Sales were up 8.2% to $30.5 billion in second quarter, with growth up 139% excluding fuel. Identical store sales increased 14.6%, …
The at-home coffee market is set to grow by 4.9% in 2020 to reach $15.6 billion, according to new research from Mintel. In comparison, the market experienced a total of 3.9% growth between 2015-2019. “With …
Robyn Carter, founder and CEO of Jump Rope Innovation (JRI), joined the Food Institute Podcast to discuss consumer perceptions and desires during the pandemic. With the back-to-school season in full swing, and Halloween, Thanksgiving, and …
Dining out raises the risk of contracting COVID-19 more than other activities, according to a report published by CDC. The new report comes at a time when more restaurants are reopening indoor dining. Relaxation of …
Several plant-based meat companies are making strides in international markets. Impossible Foods is rolling out Impossible Sausage Made From Plants in Hong Kong. Consumers in Hong Kong can now buy the sausage as a breakfast …
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Zoological Society of London named the food and agriculture industries major factors in climate change mitigation, reported Bloomberg (Sept. 9). Their study, which focuses on biodiversity loss, says expanded …
Influencers and celebrities have changed the way people consume content, and restaurants are taking note of this. “When you’re posting from your own operated social channels, you’re reaching a very small percentage of your followers …
More than half of shoppers plan to stock up on groceries if another coronavirus-related shutdown occurs, according to data from Acosta. “As COVID cases continue to rise, most shoppers believe we’re headed for another shutdown …
Once seen as a perk, meals at work are being pitched as a safety measure. Corporate catering companies were decimated by the initial pandemic shutdown, but with lockdowns easing and employees returning to the office, …
Shopify Inc. is seen as one of the biggest winners in the retail shakeout following the coronavirus pandemic, reported The Wall Street Journal (Sept. 8). Millions of small businesses were forced to adapt to online sales …
With popularity of frozen foods up during the pandemic, supply chains for frozen products are undergoing their own set of challenges. Eighty-six percent of consumers said they bought frozen food in March and April, with …
September is National Family Meals Month, and FMI is highlighting proven scientific benefits of sharing meals. “We have long known that family meals have a tremendously positive impact,” said David Fikes, executive director of the …
Private-label brands have been performing well during COVID-19. Entering 2020, the category grew more than 4% as national brands only grew at 1.5%, according to Nielsen. As the year carried on, the category continued to …
Restaurants in cities are particularly struggling with attracting diners during COVID, even with outdoor dining options available. Even New York City’s Michelin-starred restaurants are having trouble, reported The Wall Street Journal (Sept. 2). Daniel Boulud, …
Swedish alternative-dairy company Oatly is facing protests by climate and political activists over its decision to sell a stake to Blackstone, a private equity firm that is blamed for contributing to deforestation in the Amazon, …
Over half of Americans are eating fewer animal products since the pandemic, according to research for Eat Just, Inc. One reason for the shift is to be more sustainable. Over 60% of study participants indicated …
Friday and Saturday night takeout is emerging as a lasting trend during the pandemic, according to Technomic. Research found that off-premise meals on Friday and Saturday nights accounted for 24% of overall sales in the …
Retailers are developing new strategies in an effort to one up each other in the battle for delivery advantage. Walmart will launch Walmart+, a membership service that could help it better compete with Amazon Prime. …
As coronavirus cases around the U.S. continue to rise, manufacturing plants—particularly poultry processing—are experiencing more closures. On Aug. 31, the U.S. topped 6 million cases of coronavirus, reported CNN (Aug. 31). The food processing industry …
