The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. Microsoft vs. Apple. Star Wars or Star Trek? The list of classic rivalries goes on, but in the food sector, is there one as storied as …

Is there anything more polarizing thna genetically-modified crops? Proponents note that the GMO traits allow farm products to be perfected and grown even in the most adverse conditions, while those against the production technique cite …

It’s the week after Thanksgiving, and people across the nation are starting to think about the upcoming holidays. After enjoying a calorie-loaded feast Nov. 24, and anticipating more food opportunities as the end of the …

U.S. consumers enjoy bananas just as much as anyone, but I was surprised to see that Japan is also one of the biggest banana-devouring nations in the world. The country relies upon imports for over …

In a few days, the vast majority of Americans will sit down for a meal with their loved ones and give thanks for a nearly-completed year. However, how those Americans will celebrate varies greatly by …

Sometimes bigger isn’t better, as more companies are looking at smaller store formats to grow its business. Three grocery operators, Sendik’s Food Markets, WinCo and Raley’s, recently revealed plans to open smaller format stores, while …

Eat your vegetables. Who didn’t hear this phrase as a kid? I know I certainly did, and the chorus has been immortalized in television shows and advertising campaigns for years. And you know what? It …

As 2016 comes to an end, producers and retailers are looking at what the future will hold for the food industry. While analysts differ on many fronts, both Mintel and Innova Market Insights had plant-based …

We’ve kept a close eye on McDonald’s in the Food Institute Blog since CEO Steve Easterbrook took the helm. Under his leadership, the company has made a number of successful changes to the company, including …

It’s November 9th, and America has elected a new president. Donald Trump will assume the office of the chief executive on Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, and it is certain things will be changing in the …

The darling of specialty food buyers and producers everywhere, Whole Foods Market seems to be making some shifts to better serve the customers and shareholders. From loyalty programs to CEO streamlining, the company is attempting …

For the better part of the year, avocados have been hard to come by. Despite high volumes and great prices for consumers in 2015, 2016 hasn’t been kind to the popular super-fruit. Weather and labor …

Meat lovers: USDA has good news for you. U.S. red meat and poultry producers had a banner year in 2015, according to USDA. During the year, the two industries combined for a record high of …

It’s been quite a year for Chipotle Mexican Grill. As previously reported in the Food Institute Blog, Chipotle Mexican Grill has been on the offensive to woo back customers following disasterous foodborne-illness outbreaks in 2015. …

Amazon has long been a pioneer when it comes to new methods of shopping. From Amazon Prime to Amazon Dash, it constantly works to find new avenues to deliver products into its customers’ hands. However, …

Earlier this year, Dunkin’ Donuts launched cold brew coffee at its locations nationwide after a successful trial in the New England market. The program, which began in Los Angeles and New York City on June …

C-stores were once seen as a place to grab grub on the go, but recently, operators in the industry have begun to propel the traditional c-store format to something that is closer to a grocery …

Technology is developing at an exponential rate, and it’s not isolated to Silicon Valley startups. Food companies across the globe are starting to grapple with the use of artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and robotics in …

Ah, yes. Millennials: everything you thought you knew is wrong, and everything you thought was right is about to change. In some variation or another, this headline gets repeated throughout the year as writers try …

While not the largest food producer in the world, Brazil is no slouch either: most estimates note the country represents nearly 7% of the global food market. It is the world’s largest exporter of soy, …

On this, everyone can agree: last year’s avian flu outbreak was a disaster for producers and consumers. And I think everyone can also agree that it is a good thing the disease has not resurfaced …

Emotion, commonly understood as the most significant driver of customer loyalty, can pay huge dividends for companies. And for the food industry; that’s a good thing. According to the 2016 Temkin Emotion Ratings, consumers are …

What’s for dinner? This timeless question has haunted Americans for ages. For many American consumers, the answer involves traveling out of the house to enjoy a meal prepared by someone else in a business setting, …

Last week, I wrote about whether or not Americans were ready to eat more pork and meat. While USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) clearly believes that to be the case, there is one subset of …

For nearly a decade, red meat and pork consumption in the U.S. has been falling. According to USDA, U.S. beef production dropped 15% while pork consumption dropped 4% during the past ten years. And despite …

Imagine this scenario: you walk into your local grocery store and are presented with two options for your favorite style of cereal. One is packaged with a bunch of cartoon characters and images of the …

When it comes to food-borne disease, E. coli, along with Listeria and Salmonella, is a fairly common culprit. Most often encountered in undercooked meats, the bacterium can cause a number of medical conditions, ranging from …

Starbucks didn’t become one of the biggest foodservice operations in the U.S. by sitting on its laurels. The company is often-cited as an innovative one, with initiatives including new products, expansive employee benefits, unique stores …

When it comes to eating habits, conventional wisdom notes that Millennials as a group are more likely to eat out than to cook their own food. There are tons of reasons for this line of …

If you are an avid reader of Today in Food, you know that we cover a countless number of recalls. These recalls range from everything to misbranding to contamination with pathogens. From small mom-and-pop shops …

It’s a battle of giants. One is the undisputed king of brick-and-mortar retail, and the other is the best that e-commerce has to offer. Walmart and Amazon have been competing for years to get a …

The next time you are near the checkout of your convenience store, take a look at the brands and products presented. Better-for-you snacks may be making headway in the food industry in general, but it …

As the marketing year closes for tomato processors, growers and producers alike are taking stock of the previous year while looking forward to the next. California tomato processors harvested an estimated 889,000 tons for the …

Tonight, when you sit down to watch some TV and relax, count the food commercials you see. From food producers to restaurants to grocers, chances are, you’ll run into more than one, and for good …

Most maple syrup producers across North America are reporting a banner year in 2016. Increased production is both attributed to excellent weather and an increase in operations extracting and refining the product. But with increased …

More often than not, consumer demand dictates market conditions. Today’s consumers are more interested in eating cleaner, healthier foods, and that’s not just from a nutrition perspective. This focus on healthier foods translates outside the …