Analysis: Why Dieting is on the Rise

Roughly 52 percent of respondents in The International Food Information Council’s (IFIC) Food & Health Survey 2022 said they followed a diet or eating pattern in the last year — up 13% from the year …

Restaurateur Stephen Schrutt on What Makes Gen-Z Tick

Every generation brings change, but Generation Z has an important distinction: It’s the first generation to have grown up in the digital era and members have high standards for how to spend their time online. …

TikTok Expert: Authenticity Key for Food Brands Marketing to Gen Z

With an endless supply of content and more than 50 million daily users, there is no shortage of ways for brands to market themselves on TikTok – particularly to Gen Z. In fact, half of …

Gen Z Stakes Its Claim as The ‘Foodie’ Generation

Being a “foodie” is now a central component of the Gen Z identity, according to a recent study from Cassandra by Big Village. According to the report, Young & Hungry, Gen Z considers themselves the …

As U.S. Food Allergies Rise, So Do Opportunities for Food Companies

Food allergies are taking a toll on the U.S. Approximately 32 million Americans have some type of food allergy, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. “In the years ahead, the need to …

Alcohol Outlook: Gen Z Pregaming and Exploring New Flavors

City National Bank’ Steve Ramirez and RBC Capital Markets’ Nik Modi discuss the alcohol outlook for beer, wine, and spirits.

Automation, Marketing to Gen Z Key Themes at Restaurant Show

CHICAGO – Members of the restaurant industry gathered in Chicago for the National Restaurant Association Show between in late May to taste the latest in culinary trends. Major themes at the show included automation, marketing …

Food-Centric App Mixo Set to Join Social-Media Fray

Social media platforms that cater specifically to food are limited. Mixo co-founder Shirley Romig would like to change that. “Food is fundamental to our everyday lives. People spend so much time on social media, and …

A Closer Look at Alcoholic Beverage Trends

Steve Ramirez is a Vice President and Relationship Manager with City National Bank’s food and beverage group. Based in Los Angeles, he provides cash flow, asset-based lending, real estate and equipment financing expertise to family …

Q&A: Plant-Based Menu Innovations Gen Z Students Love

Colleges and universities are on the frontline of plant-based foodservice innovation as they cater to the Gen Z students who will help shape the future of menus. For additional insights, The Food Institute spoke with …

3 Keys for Marketing to Millennial Parents

Millennial parents have become massively impactful consumers. Several stats speak to the generation’s purchasing power. First, millennials in general are the largest adult cohort worldwide, with 23% of the global population – or 1.8 billion …

Study: Meal Kits Gaining Momentum with Gen Z, Millennials

New consumer research suggests that meal kits are gaining momentum – especially with young adults. According to research from Culinary Visions, an insights and trends forecasting practice, 49% of consumers ages 18-34 say meal kits …

Teen Spending Up, Interest in Plant-Based Down

Teens are spending more money (+9%) and food is a top priority, according to Piper Sandler’s Taking Stock with Teens Spring 2022 survey. With these themes in mind, below are key findings that food industry …

Report: QR Code Usage on the Rise for Young Consumers

One of the lasting pandemic-related changes in consumer behavior could be the adoption of the QR code, according to a new FoodBytes report from Datassential. A year ago, just a quarter of consumers had encountered …

Poll: Most Americans Have ‘Trust Gap’ Over Food-Source Information

According to a new poll, less than 25% of U.S. adults strongly trust information about where their food is grown and how it’s produced. The recent University of Minnesota survey of 1,022 Americans revealed that …

Why Are Private Label Products Not Thriving Amidst Inflation?

Shoppers have historically gravitated to store brands when economic times get tough. But despite record-high prices, private label food and beverage sales continue to dip below their national counterparts at retail. Overall, store brand dollar …

New Findings Show Gen Z Researches Brands Extensively

New Qualtrics research shows that Gen Z consumers are more digitally connected, more socially conscious and willing to do more research before making purchases than other generational cohorts. In a Food Institute article from late …

Restaurant Sales Expected to Exceed Pre-Pandemic Levels in 2022

Things are looking up in the world of foodservice. Restaurant industry sales are expected to hit $898 billion this year, up from $864 billion in 2019, according to the National Restaurant Association’s State of the …

How Much Are People Willing to Pay for Cereal? 

A new report sheds light on just how much consumers are willing to pay for their favorite cereals in the current inflationary environment. Veylinx, a consumer insights platform that uses behavioral research to predict purchasing …

Consumers Continue to Spend Despite Drop in Economic Optimism

Consumers are making purchases at a record clip, but economic sentiment continues to wane. Spending across Bank of America’s network of debit and credit cards has surged — mainly in entertainment, travel, and restaurants — …

Plant-based Milk Market Poised for Continued Growth

This article is written and sponsored by Transparency Market Research. Growing concerns about the overall health profile of traditional dairy products and rising consumer adoption of plant-based diets are generating considerable opportunities for companies in the …

FI Fast Break audio news: Nov. 17, 2021

This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we examine rising food prices, the so-called “shroom boom,” and more. The Food Institute Podcast · FI Fast Break News – Nov. 17, 2021 The …

Survey: Gen Z Drawn to Cannabis Products  

A new survey signals that marijuana is competing with alcohol for Gen Z’s dollars. Technomic’s recent Adult Beverage Planning Program report shows that, in states where recreational cannabis is legal, nearly two-thirds (65%) of Gen …

Author: Gen Z Consumers Seek Brands with Clear Purpose

Following in the footsteps of Millennials, Gen Z has taken a liking to chains such as Olive Garden and Starbucks, proving everything is cyclical, according to Piper Sandler’s latest Taking Stock with Teens survey. The Food …

Survey: Millennials Still Love Food Subscriptions, But Interest Waning Elsewhere

A new report suggests that the pandemic boom for U.S. subscription brands is wearing off. Attest, an SaaS consumer research platform, on Thursday released its latest direct-to-consumer research report, surveying 2,000 Americans. And the results …

Millennials, Gen Z Fueling Coffee Sales Boom

Coffee consumption is going strong throughout the U.S., with drinks away from home on the rise and younger consumers driving the popularity of specialty, refrigerated, and ready-to-drink brews. According to the National Coffee Data Trends …

Survey: Millennials, Gen Z Big Fans of Bubble Tea

The beverage industry has seen an increase in demand for premium beverages among younger consumers, and boba tea is a growing niche in that specialty segment. According to a recent CLSA survey of consumers, 94% …

Food Industry Financials: GenZ Unemployment, McCormick, and more

Here are trending economic and food industry data points, as well as major economic and company earnings releases for the coming week: Gen Z Unemployment, Robinhood and new generation of investors, earnings from McCormick (MKC), …

Gen Z Expert Shares 4 Tips for Mastering Marketing on TikTok

Jason Dorsey knows it’s not easy to keep up with all the evolving forms of social media. Nevertheless, the Gen Z expert feels it’s time to embrace marketing on TikTok, a social network which has …

Social Media Critical for Securing Consumers Under 40, Study Says

Despite the rapid growth of social media, many companies are just beginning to grasp the power of influencers, noted Kevin Brown, the chief marketing officer of Onbe, a payments partner for several brands. “To build …

Author: Misconceptions About Gen Z Consumers are Many

Youthful consumers that comprise “Generation Z” are becoming a powerful economic force. The group — comprised of preteens, teens, and young adults – is now 2.5 billion strong. Jason Dorsey, a keynote speaker and co-author …

Restaurants Back from the Brink with Soaring Sales

U.S. restaurant sales reached $67.3 billion in May, representing the third month in a row that sales reached an all-time high, according to Census Bureau statistics. The growth is set to accelerate, according to OpenTable …

U.S. Employers’ Next Challenge: Handling the ‘Great Resignation’ Wave

A strange thing happened as the U.S. started emerging from the pandemic: Rather than workers debating whether they wanted to go back to the office a few days a week or full-time, many just decided …

Survey Shows Plant-Based, ESG Topics Important to Emerging Gen Z Food Leaders

Like the Millennials before them, the buying habits of Generation Z (defined broadly as those born between the mid-to-late 1990s and the early 2010s) are coming into focus for food industry manufacturers, retailers, and marketers. …

Premium Private Labels Continue to Disrupt Grocery Market

The demand for private label grocery products remained strong throughout the pandemic, with higher-end premium lines driving sales for traditional grocers, clubs, and mass merchandisers. Now, Kroger plans to add 660 items to its private …

A Closer Look at Gen Z’s Eating and Shopping Habits

Food is Gen Z’s No. 1 wallet priority at 23%, according to Piper Sandler’s annual Taking Stock with Teens survey. The survey highlights discretionary spending trends and brand preferences from 7,000 teens across 47 U.S. …