The 2025 Bar & Restaurant Expo featured celebrity chefs, expert mixologists, and food suppliers. Key themes included authenticity, “unreasonable hospitality,” and organically growing and cultivating a staff.
The plant-based food industry may have found a way through its stagnation. A recent report found consumers increased their plant-based purchases throughout 2024, a signal of a healthy year ahead. Nutpods CMO Patrick Coyle recommended brands in the sector strike the right balance between “value” and “values.”
Gen Z consumers demand authenticity from brands, viewing them as extensions of their personal identity. One restaurant consultant notes that, to capture Gen Z’s loyalty, businesses must align with their values and leverage micro-influencers for genuine connections.
A recent report from NCS Solutions shows that nearly 50% of Americans are trying to reduce their alcohol consumption in 2025, with Gen Z leading the movement. Bill Shufelt, CEO of Athletic Brewing Company, highlighted the rapid growth of the non-alcoholic sector, driven by health-conscious trends, at the recent UBS Global Consumer and Retail Conference.
Hungryroot, a survivor of the DTC meal-kit boom, pivoted from a narrow CPG business model to a distributor model with a limited assortment retail interface, leading to significant success. By focusing on a small list of ingredients, Hungryroot transformed into an online grocer that offers personalized meal planning.
What will lead to success for coffee chains in 2025? Efficiency, exclusive LTOs … and wrestling prime real estate away from pesky car washes, according to the CEO of Clutch Coffee.
As consumers wish for better spring weather, recent data shows that floral flavors are growing in popularity, particularly among Gen Z and younger consumers. FI spoke with an industry expert about these nascent trends and their deeper implications.
The plant-based food industry is at an inflection point: recent data suggests that interest in the lifestyle decreased somewhat in 2024 from the year before. Innovations in the space, however, have given the sector the tools to cater to consumer pain points.
So-called “Galentine’s Day” has evolved into a lucrative dining phenomenon as group reservations surge and Gen Z fuels a rise in double dates – which offers foodservice operators a prime opportunity to capitalize on this nontraditional celebration.
The future of alt-meat could very well be driven not by vegetarians but by adventurous flexitarians – omnivores eager to explore alternatives. Minimally processed plant-based options will be key, said Indy Kauer, leader of the Plant Futures Collective.
As traditional post-pandemic headwinds subside, retailers are ready to meet today’s savvy consumers to inspire growth. To succeed in today’s market, it’s prudent to understand how cautious optimism shapes buying habits.
The rapid adoption of weight-loss drugs is reshaping purchasing habits. Circana experts highlight opportunities for brands to align with GLP-1 users’ goals by offering tailored, portion-controlled products and leveraging personalized marketing strategies to capture this evolving market.
As restaurants compete in an increasingly “phygital” world, blending digital and physical experiences is key to meeting consumer expectations in 2025. Restaurant-tech company Tillster expects curbside pickup to ramp up, too.
Circana’s annual F&B industry report highlights growing consumer demand for value, with e-commerce and private label brands driving significant sales growth. However, economic uncertainty will challenge the industry to balance affordability with innovative offerings in 2025.
Piper Sandler’s “Taking Stock With Teens” survey reveals that Gen Z favors Chick-fil-A, Monster, and Goldfish, respectively. More than anything, brands that prioritize convenience and energy remain the top choices.
Halloween spending is expected to hit $11.6 billion this year, with nearly half of shoppers starting early to embrace the season. Confectionery sales are anticipated to grow by 3-5%.
With National Coffee Day (Sept. 29) nearly upon us, specialty coffee maintains a 13-year high. As a result, brands continue to flock to the category for opportunities.
The back-to-school shopping season has spread across multiple waves due to shifting consumer behavior. This trend may impact holiday shopping too, with retailers expecting slower sales growth.
The popularity of pumpkin spice has officially fallen like autumn leaves. According to a recent survey of 2,000 American adults by Talker Research, 58% of respondents reported that they now favor alternative fall flavors over pumpkin spice, and 45% reported fatigue with the once-beloved spice blend.
Outback Steakhouse has turned to value as its traffic dropped and it reduced locations. Industry experts are confident the 37-year-old chain can bounce back – provided it takes a few careful steps.
As a new school year approaches, a survey shows parents are prioritizing nutrients and taste far more than cost when shopping for their kids’ school lunch items.
There are several global supply chain concerns for the second half of 2024. F&B executives are particularly concerned about geopolitical tensions and severe weather.
Growing support for products like grass-fed beef is creating new challenges for the meat alternative market, which continues to struggle with adoption and repeat purchases among its primary consumer base – flexitarians.
Alt-meat funding has all but dried up, but mycelium-based meats are still intriguing investors and consumers. From chicken and steak to deli meats, here’s what’s cooking in the world of mushroom roots.
Dr. Praeger’s is enjoying double-digit growth across several product categories, including veggie-forward burgers and those that mimic traditional meat. What’s the secret behind their success?
Milk alternatives continue to hold the largest share of the plant-based category as innovations intrigue a broader group of consumers. But inflation remains a challenge and some varieties are facing more scrutiny from consumers.
U.S. consumers love fast food and those who follow a plant-forward diet are no exception. Which quick service restaurants (QSRs) are plant-based consumers seeking out this year?
Olympic cyclist Dotsie Bausch wants to set the record straight: Building strength with plant-based protein is a very accessible goal. Consuming plenty of vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and grains is sufficient — the key is eating enough to fuel the body.
Novel proteins including cultivated meat, mycelium, and dairy bioidenticals are advancing further into the market, and some state governments are pushing back. A new survey by McKinsey & Company explores how consumers perceive these ingredients—and their willingness to trial them.
Shoppers seeking convenience are in the market for readymade plant-based meals — and the frozen food aisle is a prime target for innovation.
As more distributors move to online ordering, organizing data is essential to providing operators with info like analytics. AI can help.
SIRL’s mission is to build the most scalable, robust, accurate, and feature-rich Real-Time Location System (RTLS), and to broadly take this technology to a multitude of markets.
Milk alternatives are a key growth driver for the plant-based industry. What keeps shoppers coming back for more?
As the plant-based industry grapples with plateauing sales at retail, company leaders from alt-meat to tofu are turning a critical eye toward in-store marketing to boost household penetration.
Despite easing inflation concerns, consumers are still preparing 85% of meals at home, which presents significant sales opportunities. In a recent webinar, Circana and FMI unpacked the three major mindsets driving today’s fresh grocery shoppers.
A new report by Brandwatch shows the plant-based category is largely idling while QSRs serving bowls are gaining traction.
