The Restaurant of the Future

Dan Rowe, CEO of Fransmart, joined the Food Institute podcast to discuss the restaurant of the future and its many iterations. Rowe discusses the current restaurant landscape in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and …

COVID-19 Spurs Immunity-Boosting Food Products Market

We’ve come a long way from fighting off a cold with grandma’s chicken soup. From the healthier products touted by food and beverage companies to the renewed focus of consumers on better nutrition and wellness …

What Will Americans Eat During the Super Bowl?

Super Bowl parties may look different this year, but food will still be a major part of them. Frito-Lay estimates a 21% increase in snacking vs. previous Super Bowls as more consumers plan to watch …

Restaurant Earnings Show Continued Recovery  

Foodservices’ latest quarters have seen mixed results as restaurants continue to cope with pandemic-related losses. In 2020, restaurant and foodservice industry sales fell by $240 billion, from an expected level of $899 billion, according to …

Consultants: Restaurants Must Adapt Quickly to Pandemic-Era Changes

Tim Hand and Bruce Reinstein, partners with food industry consulting firm Kinetic12, and Wade Hanson, principal with foodservice consulting firm Technomic, participated in a webinar yesterday hosted by The Food Institute and DMA titled “2021 …

Direct-to-Consumer Model Picks Up Speed

As consumers largely continue to stay home during the COVID-19 pandemic, several food brands have shifted to a direct-to-consumer (DTC) model. Bimbo Bakeries USA was one such brand who recently launched a DTC platform. And, …

Plant-Based Popularity in 2021

Robyn Carter, founder and CEO of Jump Rope Innovation, returned to the Food Institute Podcast to discuss the popularity of plant-based products during Veganuary. Carter shares insights on why a customer would purchase a plant-based …

Major Brands Sack Super Bowl Ads as Upstarts Kick Off for First Time

Some upstart brands that saw strong sales in 2020 will keep the momentum going by airing Super Bowl advertisements for the very first time. Other, more established brands are directing traditional ad budgets for the …

Will 2021 Be the Breakout Year for Meal Kits and Fresh Food?

The meal kit and fresh food segments have experienced tremendous growth over the course of the pandemic on a combination of limited dining-out options, families with little time to spare for preparing and cooking food, …

Restaurants Receive Boost from Stimulus, But Can it Last?

Restaurant chains are getting a sales bump from the latest round of stimulus money, but if patterns mimic the first round, the lift could be short-lived. STIMULUS IMPACT While the amounts given in the roughly …

How Healthy Are Plant-Based Diets as They Grow in Popularity?

A record 54% of Americans between the ages of 24-39 are incorporating more plant-based foods into their diets this year, according to a survey commissioned by Sprouts Farmers Market. WHY ARE CONSUMERS ALIGNING WITH THE …

Economic Pulse with John Dunham (January 2021)

John Dunham returned to the Food Institute Podcast to take the economic pulse of the nation. Dunham takes a look at the current employment situation in the U.S. in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, …

Carbon Footprint Labeling for Food Manufacturers and the Foodservice Industry

Editor’s Note: This article was excerpted from the January 2021 edition of the Food Institute Report. To read more articles regarding food industry news, leadership, markets, commodities, and regulatory issues, consider a membership with the …

Food Companies Incentivizing Workers to Get COVID-19 Vaccinations

Though not requiring workers to get COVID-19 vaccinations, some food retailers are incentivizing them to get the shots. Among the first to do so was Dollar General, which offered employees four hours of pay to …

How the Food Industry Is Tackling Food Waste in 2021

An estimated one-third of all the food produced in the world goes to waste, likely enough calories to feed every undernourished person on the planet. But wasted food isn’t just about food insecurity. It’s also …

Boston Restaurant Owner Gets Creative, Offers Location as Vaccination Site

With the coronavirus pandemic raging throughout much of the U.S., countless restaurant owners have faced indefinite closures. When dealt with that situation himself, Marc Epstein took matters into his own hands. Epstein, owner of The …

Rising Food Prices Represent Awakening Risk in 2021

New data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics note that food prices are up due to demand. The food index rose in December, as both food at home and the food away from …

Booming Online Chipotle Sales Open the Door for New Growth Areas

Chipotle’s online business soared during 2020, making up more than half of sales. With that, the digital boom is likely leading the company to consider more drive thrus and introduce breakfast options. DRIVE THRUS COULD …

Jobs Report: Restaurants, Bars Among Hardest Hit in December

Employers across the U.S. decreased hiring in December, as COVID-19 cases were up and cities reimposed business restrictions. Throughout the month, job losses were largely concentrated among restaurants, bars, hotels, casinos, and other entertainment venues, …

Shake Shack Taps Ethnic Foods Growth with New Chicken Items

Shake Shack is starting 2021 by spicing up fast food’s chicken sandwich war. The chain is rolling out the Korean-style Fried Chick’n Sandwich and Korean-style Gochujang Chick’n Bites, reported CNN (Jan. 5). Though the new …

New Study Casts Doubt on the Safety of Indoor Dining

Since the beginning of the pandemic, indoor dining has been a point of contention for restaurants. After being banned for some time — leaving restaurants to rely on outdoor seating – indoor dining was brought …

With Little to Celebrate This Year, Catering Companies Are Facing a Crisis

The coronavirus pandemic, and its subsequent restrictions, sent a shockwave through the U.S. job market in 2020, causing a ripple effect felt through much of the labor force. In short order, many jobs shifted, creating …

2020 Will Also Be Remembered as the Year of Chicken and Pizza

If 2020 proved anything, it’s that Americans simply can’t get enough hot chicken and pizza and pandemic lockdowns only strengthen the country’s demand for the two delivery staples. With many consumers preferring to eat at …

ESG Debate Gaining Steam in Agriculture and Beyond

From Washington DC to farm fields throughout much of the country, the acronym ESG has become a rather hot-button issue of late. Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) is a movement that’s undeniably gathering steam, …

What the Food Industry Needs to Know About COVID-19 Relief

After months of uncertainty, 2021 looks more promising than one might assume for the food industry. For starters, Congress’s recent COVID-19 relief bill should provide a measure of assistance to restaurants and beer manufacturers alike. …

Pandemic and Brexit Leading to U.K. Chaos Ahead of Christmas

A new variant of COVID-19 and increasing concerns about the country’s exit from the European Union are causing significant problems in the U.K. days before Christmas. NEW COVID-19 VARIANT PUTS LONDON IN LOCKDOWN London and …

Hope for Restaurants on the Horizon Under New Deals

There is no doubt that restaurants have been beaten down during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 110,000 restaurants have closed permanently or for a long period of time throughout  the U.S., while others face uncertainty as many …

Consumers are Likely to Align with Healthier Consumption Habits Next Year

While some people have strayed from regular diet and exercise routines over the course of the pandemic, others have capitalized on the new stay-at-home lifestyle by focusing on wellness. Against this backdrop, and ahead of …

Companies Show Thanks to Employees as Pandemic Continues

Food companies are showing their appreciation for employees in several ways as 2020 comes to a close. Chipotle has paid out over $40 million in bonuses and assistance pay to employees during COVID-19, reported QSR …

Food Industry Groups Want Priority Vaccinations for Workers

With limited quantities of the COVID-19 vaccine available, many groups a seeking priority for their employees—including the food industry. Administration of the vaccine began on Dec. 14 in the U.S. with early doses being set …

New Delivery Driver Protections Lead to Increased Prices in California

Uber customers in California will see higher prices for rides and food deliveries to cover new driver protections, reported CNN (Dec. 14). The flat fees, ranging from $0.30 to $2, will take effect on Dec. …

Restaurants Focus on Employees as More Closures Loom

The coronavirus pandemic has caused 8,400 retailers and 110,000 restaurants to close across the U.S. this year, according to industry statistics, reported The Economic Times (Dec. 14). And even more closures could be on the …

Some Important Changes Coming to Starbucks

Starbucks has recently made several notable updates to its business, including boosting its outlook, announcing planet-forward initiatives, more diversity on its board, and better pay for employees. In its latest financial release, Starbucks reaffirmed its …

DoorDash Raises $3.4 Billion in IPO

DoorDash raised $3.4 billion in its IPO, making it the second highest IPO in 2020, according to Renaissance Capital. The IPO represents a year of massive growth for the food delivery company. In the first …

McDonald’s Franchisees to Raise Happy Meal Prices

Some McDonald’s franchisees said they would raise prices on Happy Meals after the company revoked a longstanding rebate to subsidize the cost of toys, reported The Wall Street Journal (Dec. 8). In January, the company …

Doing Something Meaningful about Food Insecurity

Doing something meaningful about food insecurity is something we can all do. In the spirit of the holiday season, the Food Institute Podcast welcomed Hugh Welsh, general counsel, secretary, and president of DSM North America, …