Death Sells: F&B Marketing with Masochistic Undertones on the Rise

The trend of brand names like Liquid Death or Death Wish Coffee points to a widespread shift toward shock value.

Jollibee: The Filipino Chicken Chain Winning Over America

Filipino chicken chain Jollibee continues to win over American customers and accelerate its growth. The chain’s leaders insist the keys to their success are rather simple.

Four Key Themes at the Inaugural Newtopia Now Event

Mushrooms and protein-packed pastas stole the show at Newtopia Now this week. The Food Institute was on-site in Denver to note the latest industry trends.

3 Fall Flavors Poised to Surpass Pumpkin Spice in Popularity

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.

Down Under Pressure: Outback Steakhouse Fighting to Win Back Diners

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.

A for Effort: Parents, Administrators Improving School Lunches

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.

5 Supply Chain Concerns to Watch in Late 2024

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.

Dinner and a Movie: Can In-Theater Dining Save Struggling Cinemas?

The first half of 2024 featured a cold start for the domestic movie industry. Now, theaters across America are as focused as ever on making a “premium push” regarding their food and beverage offerings.

Analysis: Why Has Adoption of AI Been So Slow in F&B?

While restaurant chains like McDonald’s have had notable swings and misses regarding AI, business leaders insist the technology offers invaluable uses to food companies, aiding personalized offers, sales forecasting, and more.

Turning Negative Reviews into Opportunities: A Restaurant’s Guide to Online Feedback

In 2024, online reviews can have an immeasurable impact on restaurants. The difference in public perception between a 4.5-star Google review and a 4.0 rating, for example, can be costly.

5 Emerging Paris Food Trends Ahead of the 2024 Olympics

Paris will always be the grande dame of French cuisine, but bubbling beneath that surface are new and rediscovered ways of eating and drinking. 

Organic Growth Continues, Even Amidst Inflation

The quarterly percentage of American adults who say they purchase organic food regularly (or, “every chance I get,”) is up two percentage points since the first quarter of 2021, reaching 12%.

A Roadmap for Entrepreneurs: Navigating Business Growth with Insights from “The State of Food, Beverage & Beauty”

Anchin, a premier accounting, tax, and advisory firm serving the Food & Beverage and Beauty, Health and Wellness industries, hosted its “State of Food, Beverage and Beauty” in November.

Consumer Pulse: Shining a Light on Gen X

Over the next two decades there will be a major transfer of wealth—collectively, around $84 trillion—from baby boomers to younger generations including their Gen X children.

The Consumer Curiosity Report Reveals Future Food Trends

The Consumer Curiosity Report was the first inaugural report developed by Curious Plot to not only learn how food-forward consumers think and behave, but to help establish, foster, and share new food trends from home to aisle, retail to restaurant.

The Grimace Effect – How Marketing & Memes Drive Sales

Audacious, sublime, organic – these are the hallmarks of profit for brands wise enough to be confident in their values and lucky enough to thread the needle between quality-controlled seriousness and edge-of-the-internet frivolity.

Regionality Sparks Sizzling Summer Food Trends

Summer travel in 2023 is more localized as attendance at recreational venues is up significantly across the country, from stadiums and amusement parks to local fairs and movie theaters. The elevated foot traffic is also boosting food sales and driving innovation in the space.

FI Exclusive: UPSIDE Foods COO Sees Meat’s Future as Cultivated

Amy Chen, CEO for UPSIDE Foods, feels the company’s process for cultivating meat could have not only a major impact on food production, but also on the environment.

Report: Plant-Based Stuck in Neutral While Bowls are Accelerating

A new report by Brandwatch shows the plant-based category is largely idling while QSRs serving bowls are gaining traction.

International Cuisine, Natural Ingredients Could Define 2023

A new report suggests healthful ingredients, indulgent dishes, and exotic international cuisine could dominate menus in the months ahead. Cozymeal’s 23 Food Trends for 2023 report made it clear that products catering to the health …

Future Foods, Flavors & Trends from the Fancy Food Show

This edition of The Weekender is a brief link round-up of some of the best of what we saw and experienced at the Winter Fancy Food Show.

On the Scene: Fancy Food Show, Day 3

Foods, flavors, trends, and more from Day 3 of the 2023 Winter Fancy Food Show in Las Vegas, Nev., by the Specialty Food Association.

On the Scene: Fancy Food Show, Day 2

Foods, flavors, trends, and more from Day 2 of the 2023 Winter Fancy Food Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, from the Specialty Food Association.

PHOTOS: Fancy Food Show, Day 2

Pics, coverage, flavors, foods, trends, and more from Day 2 of the 2023 Winter Fancy Food Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, put on by the Specialty Food Association.

PHOTOS: Fancy Food Show, Day 1

Pics, coverage, food, flavors, trends, and more from Day 1 of the 2023 Winter Fancy Food Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, put on by the Specialty Food Association.

On the Scene: Winter Fancy Food Show, Day 1

Trends, flavors, and more from the Specialty Food Association’s Winter Fancy Food Show 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Analysis: What Exactly is the Carnivore Diet?

The carnivore diet – a meat-only meal plan – is gaining in popularity. Compared to other low-carb diets, such as paleo and keto, the carnivore diet eliminates all carbohydrates and plant foods completely. According to …

TikTok is Becoming a Food Industry Influencer

Users sharing their food on social media is nothing new, but TikTok is taking the phenomenon to new heights. Earlier this week, the hashtag for “food” had garnered a whopping 268 billion views on the …

5 Takeaways From Natural Products Expo West 2022

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Natural Products Expo West 2022 was a welcome moment of normalcy for the food industry. The Anaheim Convention Center buzzed with an energy that hadn’t been felt since 2019 – when the …

Analysis: Putting the ‘Pegan’ Diet Craze Under the Microscope

In recent years, many diets have become popular for anticipated benefits and attractive trade-offs, as people try to balance proper nutrition with habits that align with their lifestyle values. In today’s market, methods of food …

From Kimchi to Bulgogi, Korean Cuisine Gaining Steam

Korean cuisine had its moment in 2021, and all indications suggest that popularity could last for the foreseeable future. According to new data from analytics company Spoonshot, interest in Korean cuisine spiked nearly 90% in …

3 Specialty Food Trends to Watch

Makers and merchants in the $170.4 billion specialty food industry have a history of introducing trends that stick. With that in mind, here are three categories to watch regarding specialty foods in 2022: VEGETABLE INSPIRED …

Trend to Watch in 2022: Caribbean Cuisine

It’s apparent at deli counters and restaurants all over: Caribbean cuisine is gaining traction with consumers. The National Restaurant Association recently identified Caribbean food as one of its top trends to watch in 2022. AF&Co/Carbonate …

Kroger’s Top Food Trend Predictions for 2022 Include Umami, Tequila, Plant-Based

The Kroger Co. released its 2022 Food Trends Report, which predicts emerging food trends, consumer behaviors, and popular items for the year ahead. The Food Institute took a deeper dive into some of the most …

Wagyu Beef Set to Grow on ‘Rising Palates and Fatter Wallets’

Wagyu beef, which first gained popularity in Japan due to its tenderness, is gaining traction globally. “Wagyu is one of the fastest-growing food trends,” Daniel Levine, director at Avant Guide Institute, told The Food Institute. …

IRI: Snacking at Home Trend Destined to Continue

Snacking behavior continues to evolve as more consumers return to work and resume activities outside the home. In the months ahead, companies should anticipate demand for on-the-go items —including snack bars and single-serve packaging — …