It’s almost that time of year: parades will be held, fireworks will be set off and Americans from coast to coast will celebrate their national pride. Independence Day is less than a week away, and …

Timing is everything. I spent a few days out of the office in Delaware over the weekend, and of course, the biggest news we’ve seen in a while pops up: Amazon is purchasing Whole Foods …

At $13.7 billion, Amazon’s proposed acquisition of Whole Foods Market is largest deal ever for a grocer and equates to a 10 times EV/EBITDA multiple, notes a report from BMO Capital Markets. Top Supermarket Deals …

As we are approaching the mid-point of 2017, I think it is accurate to note that grocery retailers are in the midst of a sea change that will affect the way they conduct business going …

When it comes to food recalls, I am the Food Institute’s point man. On any given day, three to four food recalls will pop into my RSS feed, ranging from undeclared allergens to potential pathogens …

Avocado production is down, but prices are up and producers are reaping the benefits, even if some entrepreneurs decry the Millennial habit of eating avocado toast. Avocado growers in California, Mexico and Peru shipped about …

From new distribution centers to new delivery programs, Walmart is working diligently to improve its e-commerce offerings and its technology to retain market share. However, according to President and CEO Doug McMillon, the company won’t …

If you love olive oil, now might be the time to stock up. Production across the globe is dropping due to a number of issues, while global demand is ticking up. In a recent piece …

When I think of unique food combinations, I usually think of fast-food outlets. Taco Bell introduced the Doritos Taco. Burger King recently reintroduced its Cheetos Mac and Cheese Bites product. Sonic previously offered a Nerds …

If you are a regular reader of Today In Food, you’ll know that just about every day, a new food or beverage product hits store shelves. While we do our best to track all new …

After a few weeks of relatively cool weather and rain, it appears New Jersey will skip spring entirely to jump to summer: it’s 90 degrees today outside the Food Institute offices in Upper Saddle River, …

Demand for organic foods in on the rise, but are all the emerging organic products actually certified as such? This might not be the case, according to a report in The Washington Post. The report …

Bumble Bee Foods LLC agreed to plead guilty for its role in a conspiracy to fix the prices of shelf-stable tuna fish May 8, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). According to the …

Pinnacle Foods Inc. issued a press release May 8 noting that it would exit certain “low-margin and non-strategic” Aunt Jemima frozen breakfast products. The cuts would include items in both the foodservice and retail sectors. …

Argentine lemon growers can finally release a sigh of relief: USDA will not again extend the stay of an interim rule regarding the importation of such products into the U.S., allowing the rule to take …

Demographics of Consumer Food Spending, 2017 Edition For the past three years at the Food Institute, I’ve been tasked with compiling the data for our annual Demographics of Consumer Food Spending book. Using the most …

Spring has sprung, and across the country, produce farmers are gearing up for the 2017 season. North Carolina strawberry farmers are preparing for the second harvest, picking the crop at least two weeks early because …

Health proponents hail them, and sweetened beverage makers demonize them: so-called “soda” taxes are popping up across the country, and they are creating waves in the food industry. However, the question of whether or not …

The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) and the National Grocers Association (NGA) filed a petition with FDA to delay the effective date of a rule on food labeling. The petition, dated April 5, called …

It’s a few days until Easter Sunday, and it’s a pretty important time for grocers looking to sell a variety of items. From asparagus to strawberries, from ham to lamb, and from eggs to seasonal …

It is high… it is far… it is… off the wall for a double. Local Yankee fans have been blessed with the voice of John Sterling as the voice of radio broadcasts since 1989. Known …

April is upon us, and up here in the Northeast, we are all smiling as the late-season snow has melted away. My beloved Yankees are sitting at .500, and the long campaign that is the …

Sugary tax legislation is a tricky thing. While health advocates and legislators note it’s a win-win that both promotes public health and raises revenue from the government, industry operators argue such legislation puts an uneccessary …

For food producers, word of mouth was always an important way to spread news about a product. However, in a world that is becoming ever-more digital, social engagement is becoming more and more important. Engagement …

Brazilian police raided the premises of global meatpacking companies JBS SA and BRF SA March 17 as part of a corruption probe. Authorities allege bribery of health officials that could impact the country’s $12 billion …

Avian flu continues to spread in Europe and Asia, and it is now spreading within the U.S. border. Since our last update on March 6, the avian flu has spread to Giles County, TN, and …

There’s some more bad news for Chipotle Mexican Grill: the company plans to close all 15 of its ShopHouse restaurants, ending its attempt to expand into Asian fusion. The company previously explored other options for …

Regular readers of Today in Food will remember the avian influenza scare that hit the U.S. in 2015 and 2016. They’ll also probably remember that the virus is ravaging flocks in Asia and Europe in …

It’s easy to be spoiled when it comes to pizza here in the New York City metropolitan market. From small hole-in-the-wall pizzerias in Manhattan to suburban mom-and-pop shops to major national chains, we certainly don’t …

The fast-food landscape is always competitive. With so many chains competing within the market and emerging fast-casual chains taking a portion of market share, fast-food companies are being forced to innovate. Recently, Wendy’s has shown …

When it comes to regulatory legal battles, it is often the case that two opposing sides are pitted against each other. Washington state is contending with an interesting situation regarding proposed discharge permits for dairies …

Following and reporting on the news isn’t always the easiest job. Even the most trustworthy sources can make mistakes, and after a story is published, it sometimes takes a life of its own. Like we …

The last 24 hours have been fairly interesting for Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, as reports circulated that Restaurant Brands International Inc. was in talks with the company for a potential acquisition. And during that timeframe, it …

It should be no surprise to regular readers of the Food Institute Blog and our other publications that younger shoppers are eschewing traditional food products for natural and organic ones. It seems that every week, …

When the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company first unveiled its bankruptcy plans in 2015, we here at the Food Institute took particular notice. One of its Pathmark stores was just a stone’s throw away …

In 2017, I’m not sure anything is more important for retailers, and grocers, than an online presence. Whether a company is an online startup or an established brick-and-mortar retailer, consumers are increasingly expecting digital offerings …