The Secrets to Winning Gen Z’s Dining Dollars: Trust, Value, and Social Media

Building trust is imperative when attempting to win over Gen Z consumers – and that notion was reinforced by a study released Monday morning.

Prognosis Positive: Dr Pepper Overtakes Pepsi as No. 2 Soda in America

Dr. Pepper: call it soda or call it pop, but either way, there’s a new no. 2 soda in America, and it isn’t Pepsi.

Top Trends to Spice Up Summer Grilling Sales

One in five consumers plan on grilling more this summer according to new shopper survey insights from Acosta Group.

The Age of Discontent: Gen Z is Frustrated At Work

Gen Z workers reported being less engaged with their jobs than all workers (81% versus 88%) and continue to drive the “quiet quitting” trend according to new research.

Tapping Out: 2024 is Mocktail Time for Gen Z

“Gen Z is tapped in, and they see the negative impact alcohol can have on their lives,” said Michelle Houston, founder of the To Be Honest Beverage Company.

Drinks Catering to Gen Z Steal the Show in Chicago

The event’s exhibitors focused on foods, drinks, and equipment designed to help foodservice operators create unique taste experiences. Beyond offering crave-worthy fusion dishes and fun iced beverages, exhibitors offered a wide array of vending machines on the show floor.

Cooking Up a Storm: Gen Alpha Kids Have Become Tiny Tastemakers

Don’t look now, but Gen Alpha’s influence in the food industry is rising due to its increasing interest in cooking.

To Many Americans, Eating Fast Food is Now a Luxury

According to a new survey from Lending Tree, a staggering 80% of consumers now consider fast food a luxury because it’s so expensive.

Gen Z’s ‘Little Treat Culture’ Especially Apparent in Coffee Category

Young adults are turning to drinks like cold brews and ube lattes as they seek self-care while partaking in “little treat culture.”

Brand Magnetism: The Driving Force Behind Gen Z’s Relationship with CPGs

A new report from Gen Z research and strategy firm dcdx noted the importance of brand magnetism for the CPG industry to attract young consumers.

FI Fast Break audio news: May 8, 2024

The latest Food Institute news podcast touches on Gen Z’s mounting credit card debt, Gen Alpha’s love of cooking, and more.

Don’t Call It ‘New Sprite’ – Coca-Cola Debuts Sprite Chill

In the wild world of beverages, any edge on the competition may be enough to resurrect an LTO from the past or push it into full-time production.

For Gen Z, Variety Packs Rule Retail

Some of the takeaways from the Circana report indicate that inflation has generally gone pretty easy on the beverage category, prompting marketing teams to “promote their relative price stability and find ways to demonstrate value, recognizing that ‘value’ doesn’t always mean lower price,” and that premium categories continue to outperform more value-based brand propositions. 

Gen Z Teens Reducing Spend, Supporting Smaller Brands

Among CPG energy drink brands, Celsius over-indexes with teens, with 17% citing it as their favorite energy drink brand (vs. ~12% market share) while Monster and Red Bull under-index. Among snack brands, Campbell’s Goldfish are still most preferred. Teens report highest intentions to eat more or the same amount of Mondelez’s Clif Bar and Hershey’s products.

Premium, Ethical, and On-Demand: The New Age of Snacking Unwrapped

For starters, the global demographic landscape is undergoing a noteworthy transformation, with “second lifers” – those embarking on new chapters post-retirement – emerging as a powerful group of consumers. By 2050, the over-60 demographic is expected to double. This shift is pushing the market towards balanced nutrition.

Fast-Food Chains’ ‘Wrap Battle’ Has Commenced

A wrap battle is booming in the QSR arena. By remixing preexisting ingredients with build-your-own appeal, major players are producing flavor-drenched “hunger hacks” and fresh affordable snacks that span dayparts.

Unlocking Gen Z Loyalty: Why Experiential Branding is the Future

According to brand strategy experts, Gen Z consumers currently seek experiences and cultural relevance from CPG companies.

Study Shows Consumers Craving Convenient, Traditional Meats

Try as plant-based brands might, traditional meats remain the largest generator of revenue in fresh departments, according to recent findings.

CosMc’s: Unraveling the Hype for the “Skip the Buzz” Generation

The arrival of McDonald’s new CosMc’s concept sent a wave of excitement rippling through the fast-food world.

Debunking the Myths Surrounding Gen Z Consumers

Many brands miss the mark when they attempt to connect with Gen Z – a cohort that’s now coming into economic power.

Study Examines the Attitudes, Inspirations of Gen Z Consumers

Just as baby boomers changed everything that came before them, Gen Z consumers, the oldest of whom are now 26, is poised to do the same, demanding everything from corporate accountability to guaranteed minimum income …

Athletic Brewing – The King of NA Beer?

It comes down to how to make craft beer flavor and aroma become credible as a basic refreshment on occasions currently dominated by soft drinks. This is the real NA beverage battle the brand faces.

2023: The Year of Private Label Sets the Stage for 2024

Millennials grew up with store brands and they see them for what they are – a brand. Without a doubt, there is a transformation taking place in the private brand mainstream tier where products are moving away from strict equivalency to national brands and becoming true national brand alternatives.

Report: Restaurant LTOs Forge Long-Term Brand Connections

Limited-time offers (LTOs) significantly impact consumer behavior within the foodservice industry. In fact, 91% percent of consumers are more inclined to visit establishments that provide new items, according to a recent report from Circana.

Understanding Gen Z’s ‘Menu Anxiety’

Gen Z reportedly suffers from “menu anxiety,” and some young people are scared to order their own food at restaurants, according to a study by Prezzo Italian Restaurant. The idea of paralyzing menu anxiety may …

Preparing for Launch: CosMc’s and the Next Wave of Beverage Chains

In terms of the beverage industry overall, this is a very smart play for McDonald’s and other brands will follow.

Latin Comfort Foods Winning Over Gen Z Americans

Mac-and-cheese, meatloaf, grilled cheese and tomato soup: quintessential comfort foods. But the U.S. palate is evolving trending toward spicier concoctions, especially those that hail from Latin America, explaining the rising popularity of such items as …

‘Gen Z’s Most Magnetic Brands’ Report Praises McDonald’s, Starbucks

McDonald’s has nearly as much brand magnetism with Gen Z as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson or Ariana Grande. And in 2023, the purple-hued force of attraction that connected the burger giant with young consumers was …

Collaboration and Transparency Showcased at IFMA Presidents Conference

Blumenthal said one of the major positive shifts he had seen since the pandemic was an increased focus on collaboration across the foodservice continuum.

Cash-Strapped Gen Z Faces Tough Holidays

In a telling report from Qualtrics, 28% of Gen Z and millennials say student loan repayments will make the holidays unaffordable this year.

FI Fast Break audio news: Oct. 18, 2023

The latest Food Institute news podcast touches on the push for $25 per hour among employees at a major U.S. restaurant chain.

Expert: TikTok Shop Offers Huge Opportunity for CPG Companies

In September, TikTok became more than a video sharing social media platform. The app known for dance fads, cooking demos, viral challenges and conversation duets is taking on e-commerce. TikTok Shop, which launched for all …

Ozempic’s Business Impact: Weight Loss Drug Could Make Snack-Makers Tighten Belts

Blockbuster diabetes drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, which have become the darlings of the weight-loss industry, could have an unintended side-effect: shrinking the bottom lines of major snack-making companies. Junk food has been widely blamed …

Just Egg CRO: College Students ‘Bullseye Target’ for Plant-Based

A recent confluence of headlines reporting a shift in sales and venture-backed capitalism indicate a change in consumer mindsets surrounding alt meat products and their pseudo-competitors – particularly seafood, fungi, and the versatile mushroom.

The Rise of Gen H: Hispanic Culture’s Influential Young Adults

On Day 2 of The Food Institute’s Latam Food Week, a new generation was coined: Generation H. “Think of it as Gen Z meets Hispanic culture,” said Hunter Thurman, president of Alpha-Diver, “a high-sensory, emotion-first …

Unpacking How and Why Gen Z Snacks

Everyone in the food industry wants to crack the code on Gen Z, but what are the reasons behind the generation’s food purchases?