Tofurky Sales Up for Thanksgiving

Tofurky sales are up 32% in 2020, representing its best Thanksgiving bump since 2017, according to Nielsen data. While the company is now 40 years old, it remains smaller than other players in the plant-based …

McCormick Gets Spicy with Cholula Acquisition

McCormick will buy hot sauce maker Cholula for $800 million, reported CNBC (Nov. 24). The company, which already owns the Frank’s RedHot and Old Bay hot sauce brands, reported an 8% sales increase its latest …

Holiday Shopping Expected to Rise During COVID-19

The National Retail Federation (NRF) expects holiday sales will rise in 2020 when compared to 2019 as consumers search for reasons to celebrate during the pandemic. The group forecast holiday sales in November and December …

Walmart Continues to Advance its Businesses During the Pandemic

Walmart has made several business moves recently that involve a delivery acquisition and a COVID-19 testing-related investment. Walmart acquired select assets of JoyRun in a bid to incorporate its peer-to-peer food and drink delivery service …

Starbucks has Most Advanced Digital Capabilities Among Limited Service Chains

With about 25% of restaurant locations expected to shut in the U.S., there has been huge growth in digital sales during the pandemic, according to the Limited Service Restaurant Digital Maturity Benchmark, 2020 report from …

COVID-19 is Increasing, but Hazard Pay for Retail Employees is Not

Despite rising coronavirus cases across the country, hazard pay for retail workers is not keeping pace. Industry observers say many retailers are not sharing enough of the profits they have earned during the pandemic with …

Breakfast Delivery is Ramping Up

The year 2020 has been like no other in recent memory.  The pandemic has left Americans with many new government-enacted laws which were instituted in order to keep people as safe as possible and they …

Interest in Delivery Companies Continues

Ahold Delhaize will acquire a majority stake in FreshDirect, with plans to accelerate its growth online and around New York, reported Winsight Grocery Business (Nov. 18). The acquisition will allow Ahold Delhaize to begin its …

The Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner is Down This Year

Although overall food prices are on the rise, the average cost of a Thanksgiving dinner is down 4%, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual cost survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving …

Key Lessons from the KIND Acquisition by Mars

Mars’ acquisition of the KIND brand is more than the latest or the largest strategic acquisition by a large food company. In this acquisition, the real “news” is the lessons its 16-year development contains for …

Mars to Acquire KIND North America

Mars Inc. has agreed to acquire KIND North America. The companies have partnered over the last three years to bring KIND into new geographies and categories. As a result, KIND has expanded into more than …

Cities, States Renew Lockdown Orders with COVID-19 on the Rise

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 Cuts into the Pharmacy Business

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 …

New Plant-Based Products Enter the Market

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 is Shedding Global Operations, Focusing on Digital

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 …

DoorDash Files for IPO, but Still Losing Money

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 …

Have the Coffee Wars Come Home?

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 …

Consumers Shift to Premium Brands While Grocers Reinstate Purchase Limits

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 …

More Opportunity for Delivery Amid New COVID Restrictions

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 …

Foodservice Pivots Towards Convenience

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 …

C-Stores Profit from Pandemic

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 …

Thanksgiving Celebration Considerations in the COVID-19 Era

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 …

Digitally Mature Grocers Have an Advantage with Shoppers

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’s Third Quarter Results Disappoint, while Foodservice Opportunities are Looking Up

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 …

Farmers Concerned  About the Future Under Biden Administration

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 …

Grocery Gains Could Evaporate Without Consumer Loyalty, But a Vaccine Looks Promising

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, How are Grocers Helping with Testing?

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 …

Have the Three Major Foodservice Distributors Turned the COVID-19 Corner?

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 …

Is the Pendulum Swinging for Cannabis?

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 Posts Highest Same-Store Sales Growth in 15 Years, Buoyed by Breakfast

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’s a Spice Boom Emerging, but Access to Packaging is a Concern

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, …

2020 Referendums Backed by Big Money Deliver Victory and Loss for Food Industry

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 and Ocado Make Opposing Moves with Robots

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 …

U.S. Trade with China Improving, Lifting U.S. Farmer Prospects

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 …

Food Companies Shifting From Investors to Owners of Startups

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 Butter Sales Thrive as Dairy Industry Falters

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 …