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 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 …
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 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, …
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. …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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, 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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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. …
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 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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 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 …
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 …
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 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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 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 …
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 …
PepsiCo. Inc.’s PR tease for the Driftwell sleep aid beverage represents the company’s latest new brand creation since Bubly. Launching new trademarks has a very checkered history at public firms. Most of these launches quietly …
