The ripple effects of tariffs are biting the food industry. From cost pressures to shifting consumer habits, even insulated players are feeling the squeeze in a market that’s quietly turning recessionary.
Inflation, cocoa chaos, and Ozempic-fueled appetite shifts have battered Hershey and Mondelez, but investors still believe in their near-term outlook. A merger may be the lifeline that turns things around.
Fast-casual giants Chipotle and Cava are losing investor confidence after steep post-earnings stock drops. Rising costs, flat traffic, and pricing fatigue signal deeper concerns about the fast-casual segment as a whole.
McDonald’s stock has fared well lately, though its value edge has fizzled. Consumers are hungry for more than just $5 deals. History suggests resilience, but can the golden arches glitter amid rising costs and shrinking sales?
Conagra’s stock plunge reveals deep investor doubts about the packaged food sector’s ability to navigate inflation, tariffs, and margin pressure. With volume and pricing power eroding, the industry may be facing a new, uncomfortable normal.
Facing record-high beef prices, restaurants are reworking menus and investing in vertical supply chains to stay afloat. Some are rebranding leaner protein choices as “wellness-driven,” while giants like Walmart cut out the middleman entirely.
Minimum wage hikes took effect starting today across the U.S., leaving restaurants and grocers bracing for ripple effects. Business leaders warn of closures, while advocates say fair pay is overdue in a shifting labor landscape.
Legacy chains like Chick-fil-A are seeing customer satisfaction scores hold even as growth slows, opening doors for challenger QSRs. Meanwhile, full-service dining has largely stumbled amid rising prices.
Despite economic uncertainty, consumers appear determined to celebrate this summer, adapting their spending by embracing private-label brands, and potlucks while seeking affordable luxuries like indulgent snacks. Shoppers seek indulgence with a focus on emotional value.
This fall, candy manufacturers are faced with a frightening reality: many shoppers are planning to ease back on Halloween-related purchases. A new Halloween Spending Trends report revealed 73% of Americans said their shopping for the …
Food inflation has been a major contributor to CP’s steady climb, and is negatively impacting consumers’ outlooks on inflation in the future.
With the U.S. inflation rate at an elevated 8.7% for July 2022, consumers, manufacturers and retailers alike must remain agile to adapt to ongoing economic pressures. “The past few years of COVID-19 have brought enormous …
The latest Food Institute news podcast touches on the latest in vertical farming.
The most recent FI Fast Break news podcast touches on the evolution of the food hall concept.
This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we update worsening drought conditions in the U.S. and Europe. The Food Institute Podcast · FI Fast Break News – July 20, 2022 The FI …
This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we examine food companies’ sustainability initiatives, growing economic pessimism, and more. The Food Institute Podcast · FI Fast Break News – July 13, 2022 The …
This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we examine the restaurant industry’s evolution, the growth of frozen breakfast foods, and more. The Food Institute Podcast · FI Fast Break News – July …
This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we examine inflation’s impact on small-business owners, and how much 4th of July cookouts could cost this year. The Food Institute Podcast · FI Fast …
This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we examine the prospects of a looming recession, rising gas prices, and more. The Food Institute Podcast · FI Fast Break News – June 22, …
This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we examine the growth of the specialty food market, and Coca-Cola’s unique new cocktail in a can. The Food Institute Podcast · FI Fast Break …
This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we examine inflation’s global impact, and Smucker’s costly recall. The Food Institute Podcast · FI Fast Break News – June 8, 2022 The FI Fast …
This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we examine how supermarkets are fighting inflation, the industry’s increased automation, and more. The Food Institute Podcast · FI Fast Break News – June 1, …
This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we examine Mexican cuisine’s popularity growth and Arby’s bold menu addition. The Food Institute Podcast · FI Fast Break News – May 25, 2022 The …
This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we examine the struggles of many ghost kitchens and update the baby formula shortage. The Food Institute Podcast · FI Fast Break News – May …
This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we examine just how long the Great Resignation might last. The Food Institute Podcast · FI Fast Break News – May 10, 2022 The FI …
This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we examine: weakening consumer confidence, a surge in America’s snacking, and more. The Food Institute Podcast · FI Fast Break News – May 4, 2022 …
This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we examine: the prospects of an economic recession, the Great Regret labor trend, and more. The Food Institute Podcast · FI Fast Break News – …
During the Great Recession, consumers spent less, traded down, and cut back on many CPG purchases. A recent report from the IRI Recession-Proof Your Business series explored these behaviors to glean strategies for success in …
This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we examine: the prospects of an economic recession, the Great Regret labor trend, and more. The Food Institute Podcast · FI Fast Break News – …
Call it a perfect storm: COVID led to labor shortages and supply chain issues and to fuel shortages, all of which contributed to inflation. Factor in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and unpredictable weather, and food …
This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we examine the expansion plans of both Beyond Meat and ADM. The Food Institute Podcast · FI Fast Break News – April 13, 2022 The …
This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we examine the keys to winning over inflation-weary shoppers and more. The Food Institute Podcast · FI Fast Break News – April 6, 2022 The …
Online grocery shopping is reshaping e-commerce and is expected to become the top category this year, Adobe Analytics recently reported. “E-commerce is being reshaped by grocery shopping, a category with minimal discounting compared to legacy …
Are consumers willing to shell out $20 for a cheeseburger, fries, and a milkshake at their favorite fast-casual restaurant? As inflation and gas prices soar, we’re likely to find out soon. In fact, consumers appear …
