Have the Coffee Wars Come Home?

The COVID-19 pandemic has turned the world upside down, but that hasn’t stopped the global consumption of roughly 2.25 billion cups of coffee per day. What has certainly changed during this 2020 crisis is how …

Thanksgiving Celebration Considerations in the COVID-19 Era

The CDC suggested Americans who are hosting Thanksgiving dinners have their meals outside to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. Hosts should limit the number of guests they invite, talk to guests before they …

Beyond Meat’s Third Quarter Results Disappoint, while Foodservice Opportunities are Looking Up

Beyond Meat shares plummeted 22% in after-hours trading following the release of the company’s third quarter results, reported Yakima Herald Republic (Nov. 9). The company noted U.S. retail sales of Beyond Meat slowed in the …

Farmers Concerned  About the Future Under Biden Administration

Former Vice President Joe Biden became the U.S. President-elect on Nov. 7, leaving some farmers with concerns about the future. U.S. farmers are worried that Joe Biden’s election as president will   result in stricter environmental …

There’s a Spice Boom Emerging, but Access to Packaging is a Concern

There is a spice boom occuring as more consumers are cooking at home. But as demand steadily increases, spice companies say access to packaging is becoming a challenge,  reported Seattle Times (Nov. 3). In July, …

Tracking Consumer Demand for Healthy Products

With rising consumer demand for healthy products in mind, the Food Institute Podcast invited Fran Guzman, lead of strategy and insights at the Kraft Heinz Co., to discuss recent developments in the healthy food space. …

U.S. Trade with China Improving, Lifting U.S. Farmer Prospects

China accepted its first-ever commercial container of U.S. rice in history, creating cautious optimism with rice growers across the U.S., reported Western Farm Press (Nov. 3). The shipment was received as Chinese buyers await the …

Positive Quarterly Earnings Results Reported for the Food Industry

Companies in various sectors of the food industry reported positive quarterly results. Foodservice Starbucks expects to recover and return to growth in 2021 after a fourth quarter where its same-store sales in the Americas declined …

CPG Manufacturers Respond to Financial Concerns of Consumers

Financial strains caused by the pandemic are the main source of worry concerning grocery prices, according to dunnhumby’s latest Consumer Pulse Survey. Forty-nine percent of respondents said their personal finances were poor—a 20% increase since …

QSRs Benefit From Economic Growth

The U.S. economy grew at a record pace in the third quarter, reported The Wall Street Journal (Oct. 29). It increased 7.4% over the prior quarter and at a 33.1% annual rate—recovering about two-thirds of …

Digital Marketing Promoting Unhealthy Food and Drinks to Children

YouTube kid influencers are marketing junk food from McDonald’s, Coke, and others to children, reported MarketWatch (Oct. 27). In a study published in the journal Pediatrics, researchers analyzed 418 YouTube videos from the five most-watched …

Commodities Navigating Through Coronavirus Losses

Commodities, such as cheese and lemons, are still facing issues caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Cheese The U.S. cheese industry is reeling after months the pandemic causing upheaval in prices and demand, reported The Wall …

Food Brands Focus on Sustainability

Several major food companies have recently made headlines with sustainability-forward initiatives. Chipotle With the debut of Real Foodprint, Chipotle Mexican Grill becomes the first brand to provide detailed sustainability impact data about its ingredients for …

Nutrition and Health Businesses Taking Center Stage

Nothing has been more impactful in 2020 than how the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the way people view their lifestyles. Consumers are becoming increasingly more cognizant of the importance of health and well-being for themselves …

Food Businesses’ Earnings Beat Expectations

Several major food companies recently reported earnings, beating analyst expectations. Chipotle Quarterly same-store sales growth was more than 8% at Chipotle Mexican Grill, with digital sales more than tripling, reported CNBC (Oct. 21). However, a shift to delivery …

Plant-Based Industry Looking to Sustain Growth

Impossible Foods will use the $700 million it raised in 2020 to double its research and development team to focus on plant-based milk, steak, bacon, and fish products, reported The Washington Post (Oct. 21). The …

Immunity-Boosting Products Attract Consumers

Six out of 10 global consumers are increasingly looking for food and beverage products that support their immune health, with one in three saying that concerns about immune health increased in 2020 over 2019, according …

Aluminum Can Shortage is Crushing Craft Brewers

Americans are currently drinking so many things out of aluminum cans that it’s causing a shortage. Ball Corp., the world’s largest manufacturer of metal beverage containers, even told investors this past week that the U.S. …

Nestlé & Coca-Cola Refresh Beverage Portfolios

An insider says Nestlé SA will sell some of its American water brands, which include Pure Life, Poland Spring, and Deer Park, reported Reuters (Oct. 15). The brands being sold, which also include Deer Park, …

Vertical Farming Investments Grow

Vertical farming company Plenty Unlimited Inc. attracted $140 million in a Series D financing round that included existing investor SoftBank Group Corp., as well as berry producer Driscoll’s, reported Bloomberg (Oct. 14). The new raise …

Chicken Wars with a Plant-Based Twist

Although plant-based beef is usually in the spotlight, meatless chicken is now taking center stage. Jack in the Box unveiled the Unchicken Sandwich, its first plant-based offering, reported Forbes (Oct. 15). It will be tested …

Plant-Based Companies Raise Capital

The plant-based trend isn’t going away anytime soon as more vegan-friendly companies are raising significant capital from investors. The LIVEKINDLY Collective, a global multi-brand plant-based food company, raised $135 million in capital in a round …

AI is Becoming a Tasty Proposition for Consumers / Businesses

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is turning the world upside down as technology is advancing in leaps and bounds during these turbulent times. And AI is ever present among many areas of the food industry. Firmenich, one …

World Food Programme Wins Nobel Peace Prize

The Nobel Committee awarded the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize, reported Bloomberg (Oct. 9). The organization is being honored “for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas …

Chicken-Industry Execs Indicted on Price-Fixing Charges

Six current and former chicken-industry executives were indicted on price-fixing charges, according to a release from the Department of Justice (DOJ). A federal grand jury in the U.S. District Court in Denver, CO, returned a …

California Wildfires Ruin Wine, Grapes

California wildfires mean Napa area wine producers are losing stored wine and warehouses, reported The New York Times (Oct. 5). Damage to vineyards has been less severe in the fires in the last weekend of …

Are Another Wave of Meat Plant Shutdowns Likely?

Another wave of coronavirus-driven closures of meatpacking facilities is unlikely, according to Andre Nogueira, CEO of JBS USA Holdings Inc., reported The Wall Street Journal (Oct. 5). Nogueira noted that worker testing and safety practices …

Innovative Products Lead in 2020

Innovation will drive business growth in the new normal, according to Nielsen. Nielsen recently released its 2020 U.S. BASES Top 25 Breakthough Innovations List which includes several food and beverage products. Trending themes among the …

Coca-Cola Reimagines Beverage Lines

Coca-Cola is discontinuing its Zico coconut water brands, reported The Wall Street Journal (Oct. 4). The decision to halt production of the drink by the end of the year “comes at a time when [the …

CPG Brands Continue to Profit as Consumers Stay Home

Several CPG brands recently released quarterly earnings, displaying high demand for snacks and ingredients as consumers cook at home.   PepsiCo Quarterly sales for PepsiCo grew by more than 5%, fueled by higher sales of …

Diversity-Related Executive Roles Increase in Food Industry

Following the murder of George Floyd on May 25 and months of Black Lives Matter protests, many businesses have gone beyond simple statements of support to actual promises to change the way they operate, reported …

UK Resumes Beef Exports to U.S. After 24 Years

The U.S. is allowing UK beef on market for the first time in over 20 years, reported BBC (Sept. 30). The initial ban was imposed in 1996 when British cattle were infected with Mad Cow …

New Sugar Limits Urged to Curb Obesity

A federal committee working on a revision of U.S. dietary guidelines recommends cutting sugar consumption, reported The Wall Street Journal (Sept. 28). The committee suggests Americans limit their consumption of added sugars to 6% of …

How CPG Companies are Strategizing to Thrive During Pandemic

Consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies, such as Mondelez and Nestlé, are finding new opportunities to stay competitive and succeed during the pandemic. Mondelez Mondelez International has been successful in direct-store delivery (DSD)—a logistics fulfillment system …

USDA Funds Research on COVID-19 in Supply Chain

USDA will run a $1 million research project on how COVID-19 may be transmitted through the beef supply chain, reported Reuters (Sept. 25). The two-year project, which begins in October, aims to reduce the risk …

Key Crops Impacted by Extreme Weather

Several crops are suffering from the effects of severe weather over the last month or so. Rice Arkansas’ rice harvest is off to a slow start because of weather not conductive to drying grain and …