Propelled by the pandemic, robotic innovations are still making food-industry headlines. A few of the latest developments include: 7-Eleven partnered with Nuro to pilot a commercial delivery service using autonomous vehicles in the Silicon Valley …
Menu innovations are a key part of Shake Shack’s strategy, as CEO Randy Garutti noted in the chain’s latest earnings call. Though it has become well-known for its ShackBurgers, crinkle-cut fries and milkshakes, the chain …
Third-party delivery services like Instacart, UberEats and DoorDash have taken the world of grocery, retail and restaurants by storm. So, what’s the next great innovation for these segments? It could be autonomous delivery, using vehicles …
The lingering effects of COVID-19, inflationary pressures, and a desire among consumers for new types of cuisines will impact the chain restaurant space for years to come. That’s according to The NPD Group’s Stephanie Epperson, …
Pizza sales skyrocketed during the pandemic. Major chains saw a combined 6% uptick to $27.5 billion in 2020, according to an industry report from Technomic. And while boom may have leveled off in recent months, …
New research on consumers who use food-delivery companies like UberEats, GrubHub and DoorDash indicates that today’s food-delivery customers tend to be young and wealthy. Virtual brand company Nextbite’s white paper revealed that 71% of survey …
Packaging shortages are fueling persistent fluctuations in food and beverage product availability ahead of the holidays, as many manufacturers source materials from overseas — and there’s no clear end in sight. “Supply chain disruptions continue …
This article is written and sponsored by Transparency Market Research. The global meat alternatives market is projected to expand at a growth rate of 10% through 2031. High demand for the products in the global meat …
The baby food market is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% and reach $53.9 billion in revenue by 2030, according to Research and Markets, amid rising concerns about infant nutrition and a surge of working …
If the recent spate of labor unrest and the massive wave of resignations are any indication, workers are mad as hell and not going to take it anymore, to quote “Network” anchorman Howard Beale. More …
New research shows reason for optimism in the fine-dining space. Merchant Centric, which monitors customer reviews, recently noted that, during the first half of 2021, fine dining had the strongest guest sentiment and star rating …
The convenience store channel grew 7.7% in the 13 weeks ending September 26, outperforming the broader market for the third consecutive quarter, according to a new report from data analytics firm IRI. Stronger growth in …
This article is written and sponsored by Transparency Market Research. E-commerce trends and consumers’ increasing desire for convenience have helped fuel growth in the frozen food industry. According to a report by the American Frozen Food …
Global food prices are at their highest in a decade, according to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). In November, the FAO’s food price index climbed for a fourth straight month, rising 1.6 …
A consumer shift toward healthier lifestyles and packaging innovations are boosting demand for packaged foods in the U.S. In fact, the U.S. packaged food market size is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.1% …
The Federal Reserve reported that supply chain disruptions and labor shortages plagued many parts of the country in November, leading to rising prices across most of the nation, reported The Associated Press (Dec. 1). With …
The Global Animal Partnership plans to toughen standards, effectively lowering the number of chicken breeds that meet its animal welfare guidelines, Bloomberg recently reported. The partnership, which has a five-step process for certifying animal welfare, …
The carbonated beverage category continues to evolve as low – or no-sugar attributes resonate with consumers and manufacturers pivot their traditional soft drink presentation accordingly. “The narrative is changing from ‘diet’ beverages to ‘no sugar,’” …
The labor shortage continues to take a toll on restaurants across the U.S., just as the holiday season gets underway. For example, a California Boston Market shut on Thanksgiving after staff did not show up, …
Last-minute Thanksgiving shopping led to major gains for the nation’s top grocery stores this year. A new report by analytics firm Placer.ai shows the nation’s top grocery store chains saw a big jump in foot …
A new study begs the question: are plant-based products like alt-meat any healthier than the real thing? A study published recently in the journal Nutrients found some three-quarters of plant-based products analyzed failed to meet …
Fungi fever is sweeping the food industry, and the increased supply of mushrooms in packaged food and drinks is only the first wave of the phenomenon. Both Whole Foods Market and Kroger named mushrooms as …
Energy drink-maker Monster Beverage Corp and Constellation Brands Inc., which brews Corona beer, are reportedly in talks for a possible merger. What would a Monster-Constellation mash-up mean? Jameson Sharp, investment group partner and analyst with …
This article is written and sponsored by Transparency Market Research. Rising cases of lactose intolerance, increasing health consciousness among consumers, and changing lifestyles appear likely to bolster growth in the global dairy alternatives market. Veganism, …
Amid surging inflation and a new coronavirus variant, here’s an update on what’s happening across the supply chain. LABOR TALKS AT WEST COAST PORTS West Coast port facility operators will open negotiations with the International …
Barbecue is red-hot worldwide, according to new research from Irish food company Kerry. “It’s clear that people and cultures intersect on the general topic of open-fire cooking,” said Soumya Nair, Kerry’s global director of consumer …
Acquisitions are quickly changing the face of the so-called “smart farming” landscape. The latest example of that evolution comes via Fieldin, the world’s largest smart farm operations management company, which recently acquired agricultural autonomous driving company …
Editor’s note: Part 3 of a three-part series analyzing the current state of the wine industry. With the strong increase in online wine sales in recent years has come an equally significant increase in the …
Editor’s note: Part 2 of a three-part series analyzing the current state of the wine industry. The effects of supply chain disruptions in the global food industry are well-known and easy to identify: low inventories, …
Retail alcohol sales are significantly higher than 2019 levels. According to a report recently published by Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, during the worst months of the COVID pandemic (March-September 2020), U.S. alcohol …
Online and physical restaurant visits during lunch rose 4% in the year ending September 2021 compared to a year ago when visits were down 11%, based on The NPD Group’s U.S. foodservice industry tracking. “Consumers are …
A recent global survey conducted by EY (Ernst & Young) illustrates consumers are re-evaluating big purchases these days. That said, consumers certainly aren’t shying away from spending on groceries. “Online grocery shopping is a clear …
Chip City launched just four years ago, under less-than-ideal circumstances. The cookie-and-coffee chain’s CEO, Peter Phillips, had a background in construction and was largely unfamiliar with the food industry. The company started with a mere …
Merger and acquisition activity in the food and beverage industry heated up in 2021, making up for lost time in the early days of the pandemic, but industry experts told The Food Institute the trend …
This article is written and sponsored by Transparency Market Research. Several players and vendors in the food and beverages industry have been focusing on the production and development of new, cannabis-infused products intended to aid …
As alt-meat technology continues to make innovative strides, recent investments by major industry players suggest the long-term potential of the cultivated, or lab-grown, meat sector. Last week, JBS announced plans to invest $100 million in …
