How Small Coffee Chains Can Compete

“We focus on listening to our customers as well as being the best version of ourselves. Being intentional every day with how you approach your customers is key.”

The Struggle is Real: Affording Groceries in America

Regardless of when costs come down, consumer behavior has been altered and shoppers will continue to look for the best savings in 2024.

Plant-Based Trends to Watch in 2024

What key topics will drive plant-based evolution in the year ahead? The Food Institute spoke with several industry analysts and thought leaders to outline major trends to watch in 2024 — and beyond.

Will Beef Prices Stay Elevated into 2024?

Looking ahead, Zimmerman noted that prices would likely increase in the new year, but the magnitude of that increase would likely be more subtle in 2024.

Prominent Doctor Fears Impact of TikTok Diet Trends

Americans are getting away from healthy habits like meal prepping and perusing produce aisles. Instead, many consumers opt for quicker, more convenient food that often include preservatives and copious amounts of sugar or oils.

Stories of the Year: Plant Enzymes Can Turn Sugar to Fiber

Harvard University’s Wyss Institute, in a study funded by the Kraft-Heinz Co., found sugar exposed to encapsulated plant enzymes in the gut can be turned into fiber.

So You Want to Start a CPG Company

“It’s not KETO, it’s not gluten-free, it’s not upcycled grain or something super narrow – it’s a business at the end of the day that needs to make money,” he said, “and if it’s good enough for Erewhon, it should be good enough for many people.”

Stories of the Year: Can Bud Light Survive Its Marketing Controversy?

Anheuser-Busch InBev is trying to win back customers as major retailers like Walmart and 7-Eleven are poised to reduce the amount of space.

Private Label Driving Alt-Dairy Innovation

The alt-dairy category experienced significant economic pressure in 2023, but private label performance was strong. Here are a few featured products from the November Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) show.

Stories of the Year: What Does AeroFarms’ Bankruptcy Signal for CEA’s Future?

Henry Gordon-Smith’s exploration of the bankruptcy at AeroFarms offered crisp context to the international state of controlled environment agriculture (CEA) before one of its most notable innovators declared bankruptcy.

Avocado Growing Destroying Mexican Forests

From avocado toast to tortilla chips and guacamole, Americans love avocados – and that love affair is destroying Mexico’s forests, draining water supplies from traditional crops and creating a new revenue stream for the drug …

AI Predicts 2024 FoodBev Trends

2023 was a big year for artificial intelligence in the food industry, and generative AI is slated to dominate the 2024 food and beverage marketing scene. “The emergence of generative AI offers a new reality …

Texas Roadhouse Shows Good Restaurant Operators Can Still Succeed — Even Now

Texas Roadhouse has built itself into one of the two best operators in casual dining, and one of the best operators in its entire industry.

How to Shelf Actualize in Grocery & Retail

“Grocers now have more technology at their disposal than ever before, and effectively leveraging this data to drive in-store performance has become increasingly difficult,” Boyle said.

Who’s Buying Alt-Meat? Unpacking Consumer Motivations

When it comes to consumers, the alt-meat category has more than its fair share of challenges — and supporters. Who’s buying meat alternatives today and why? Here’s the latest stats from Brightfield Group’s quarterly shopper survey.

Column: How to Retain Restaurant Workers in 2024

Scrolling through Indeed.com is an eye-opening experience. Every employer is trying to find workers because employees have a ton of options in 2023. I’ve worked with franchises for nearly 30 years, and labor has always …

Small But Powerful: Retailers Turning to Smaller Formats

When it comes to the food industry, Kohen said food and restaurant retailers can take advantage of smaller formats in neighborhoods and lifestyle centers, providing a dining experience to the shopping journey.

CES 2024 Preview: Expect Big Turnout, AI Exhibits Galore

Brian Comiskey, an exec with the Consumer Technology Association, recently sat down to chat with FI about the upcoming CES 2024 Show.

A Hallmark Movie, but Make it Shoppable: Walmart’s Add to Heart

Airing on three platforms (YouTube, Roku, and the pocket-laden TikTok) and also playing in stores, Add to Heart is nothing if not a bold step into the media-laden retail environment increasingly influenced by in-store retail media networks.

8 Innovation Lessons from the World’s Largest C-Store Brand, 7-Eleven

Marissa Jarratt, 7-Eleven chief marketing & sustainability officer, explains the company’s ascent amid a digital revolution.

Analysis: 3 Foodservice Delivery Trends in 2023, according to Third-Party Delivery

Even in the face of record inflation, consumers have remained resilient and have stuck with third-party delivery apps for the convenience of a delivered meal. But what exactly did they order in 2023?

The Future of Food: Health, Wellness, and the Trillion-Dollar Opportunity

The global health and wellness food market was $940 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at a 5% CAGR, hitting $1.47 trillion in 2027.

2024 Tech & Digital Trends in Restaurant & Retail, Part 3: The Loyalty-free Consumer

Monolithic allegiance has given way to the brands and companies that can provide the best, most convenient, and value-driven experiences, making every consumer a seven-headed hydra.

Understanding Gen X’s Unique Food Preferences

Food preferences are a complex interplay of taste, health, value, and convenience. While these factors are universally important, the way they manifest can vary across generations due to differences in life stage, culture, macro-economic conditions, …

Consumers’ Cookie Craze Picks Up the Pace

Nostalgia and fond memories have kept cookies popular and the treats remain a favorite because of their portability and versatility. 

Case Study: Rebellyous Foods & Engineering the Future

What does it take to design a novel system for alternative protein production? Christie Lagally, CEO of alt-chicken company Rebellyous Foods, spoke with FI about poor alt-meat infrastructure and what her company is doing about it.

Bird Flu Roars Back, Disrupting Turkey Farms

About 68 million birds have been killed since the outbreak began in the U.S. in February 2022. Cases are again beginning to tick up, with 2.8 million birds killed on Iowa farms in the past month and 1.3 million at an Ohio egg farm.

The Consumer ‘Feels’ Behind the High-flying Feastables Brand

Let’s take a look at the consumer perceptions driving disruptive brands, like Feastables chocolate from MrBeast. Manufacturers are feeling pressure on both price and experience: Food and beverage manufacturers are feeling pressure from both store …

Get Real! How to Achieve Authenticity & ‘Rizz’ in FoodBev

And that’s OK. In many ways, being authentic isn’t about the best product or service or value or lifestyle; it’s about being human, which is being vulnerable. Vulnerability is the heartbeat of authenticity, the subtle brand drumbeat that brand advocates and consumers can hear. Without a heartbeat – without being occasionally vulnerable – it will be hard to resonate and grow the brand in a way that feels organic, fresh, and authentic.

5 Retail Trends to Watch in the New Year

As the calendar turns toward a new year, many consumers continue to watch their budgets closely. And that factor is shaping retail strategies for 2024. “The average American family has eaten into the savings it …

Acclaimed Chef: Evolution of Mexican Food Has Only Just Begun

Mexican Chef Iliana de la Vega, a 2022 James Beard Award winner, grew up at a time when her native country’s food never was considered fine dining. And then her grandmother started sending care packages …

What’s Winning in Frozen Food?

After years of economic upheaval, frozen food remains a beacon of convenience, innovation, and at times, affordability. Which categories and brands are in high demand as the new year approaches?

2024 Tech & Digital Trends in Restaurant & Retail, Part 2: The Cold Chain

“Today’s warehouses often have the three D’s – they are dull, dusty, and dangerous…automation and simulation environments can support operators in performing their jobs more efficiently and in safer work environments.”

Liquid I.V. Exec: Better-For-You Beverage Market Growth Set to Accelerate

The boundless, expansive (and often expensive) world of beverages, both bottled and not, shows no signs of slowing down. It used to be easy to go to a grocery store, a C-store, or a retailer …

What Dishes are Winning at Plant-Based QSRs?

Plant-based restaurants are experiencing a shakeout as operators recalibrate their menus to address economic challenges. FI checked in with T.K. Pillan, CEO of Veggie Grill, to explore how the vegan QSR is streamlining its offerings to meet evolving consumer demands.

The Age of Retail Media Networks 2.0 is Already Here

The second wave of retail media networks is already upon grocers and retailers – and CPG makers could be among those to benefit the most.