Food Producers, WIC Officers Recalibrate Offerings as Food Insecurity Hobbles Consumer Spending

Across the US, inflation-weary consumers continue to push back on years of price hikes, cooking from home or simply buying less to save more.

FI Fast Break audio news: Feb. 21, 2024

The latest Food Institute Fast Break news podcast touches on the trend of “AI washing” by some major businesses.

Pizza Trends for 2024: Artisan, Crustless and Value Pies

Americans’ appetite for pizza has reached eye-opening proportions. Consider: A survey by Caulipower Pizza indicated 98% of Americans eat pizza. Meanwhile, a recent poll produced by talker.news revealed 74% of Americans would be satisfied eating …

WATCH: Frozen Food Category Making Moves

Since 2019, frozen food sales have increased 23%, and major players like Nestle and Unilever continue to seize upon the segment’s popularity.

OPINION: Chicago Reclaiming Title as ‘US Food Capital’

Chicago is reclaiming its role as a national leader in food production and access. But it needs more help from the city’s leadership, according to one industry insider.

Manufacturers Cut Costs with ‘Skimpflation’ – and Savvy Consumers Take Note

Some food brands have reformulated their products using cheaper ingredients – a tactic some refer to as “skimpflation.”

CPG Companies Eye Plant-Based Market with Different Goals

More major CPG companies are playing in plant-based, flagging the alt-protein category as a potential catalyst for growth. But industrywide, the depth of that value is not easily measured in broad strokes. “When you factor …

New, Traditional Companies Pushing Innovation in Plant-Based

Omnivores dabbling in plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy products are expected to propel these substitutes into a $162 billion global industry within the decade. With that much money at stake, major food companies, including …

Inflation Outweighs Pandemic Concerns, Consumer Survey Shows

Americans’ concerns are shifting from the pandemic to inflation, according to a new poll. The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that just 37% of Americans say the virus is one of the …

How High Can Prices Go? Inflation Spurs Price Hikes Among CPGs

With inflation on the rise, major CPG companies are projecting price increases. Here are a few of the top brands to announce such pending hikes: UNILEVER After already raising prices 1.6% in the second quarter, …

Conagra Latest CPG Brand to Increase Prices

With the Consumer Price Index rising 0.9% in June, food brands are raising prices to keep up with inflation. The latest major company to follow suit is Conagra. Conagra recently cut its fiscal 2022 outlook …

CPG Companies Bet on Longer-Term Remote Work and In-Home Dining

Among the changes forced by COVID-19, the typical consumer lunch hour has shifted to in-home dining. And consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies are betting that relocation is a trend that’s here to stay. In fact, …

CPG Brands Continue to Profit as Consumers Stay Home

Several CPG brands recently released quarterly earnings, displaying high demand for snacks and ingredients as consumers cook at home.   PepsiCo Quarterly sales for PepsiCo grew by more than 5%, fueled by higher sales of …

Shelf-Stable Food Still in Demand

Food Institute Focus – Shelf-Stable Food Still in Demand

Food Companies Change Branding Based on Racial Stereotypes

Food Institute Focus – Food Companies Change Branding Based on Racial Stereotypes