Audacious, sublime, organic – these are the hallmarks of profit for brands wise enough to be confident in their values and lucky enough to thread the needle between quality-controlled seriousness and edge-of-the-internet frivolity.
Though McDonald’s McCafé Bakery concept worked to an extent, it didn’t translate to more snack and coffee sales between mealtimes.
Gen Z and millennials may be coming into their own, but those aged 18-43 differ markedly from both Gen Xers and baby boomers when it comes to restaurant habits, and attitudes toward loyalty programs. A …
With price hikes easing and food company earnings strong, it appears resilient consumers aren’t going anywhere – yet.
The latest Food Institute news podcast touches on the uptick in alcohol purchases by consumers of late.
Welcome to the FI Newscast! Each week, we note the latest industry trends and consumer insights, with guest appearances by the foremost industry experts. This week’s guest was Jennifer Bartashus, Senior Analyst of Bloomberg Intelligence. …
Gen Alpha kids – comprised of children with birth years starting in 2013 – have already developed powerful brand affinities, according to the latest survey from Morning Consult. By 2025, Gen Alpha will number more …
As the pandemic wanes, the National Restaurant Federation says 61% of consumers expect to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, spending an average of about $44.
The biggest names in global fast food are adjusting to the new market realities by innovating with cutting-edge technology.
In a world of fast-changing consumer demands, the classic fast-food drive-thru window is evolving. From doubling lanes to fully digital menu boards, restaurants have made all kinds of improvements to the drive-thru service. With technology …
The grocery space has been upended over the past three years and leaders must face new challenges with patience, according to Placer.ai’s Retail Trends Forecast 2023 report.
Inflation is hitting Americans hard and is causing most to cut back everyday items. A recent survey from Attest proves that food and beverages are not immune to necessary cutbacks. Dr. Lin Carson, CEO of …
New flavor trends are emerging at the intersection of persistent food inflation and pent-up consumer demand leftover from COVID lockdowns.
Here are key stats on what, and where, Gen Z is eating these days, according to Piper Sandler’s Fall Taking Stock with Teens survey.
Six months into the Kim Kardashian Chief Taste Consultant experiment for Beyond Meat, the stock is trading lower than ever. In today’s truth- and value-centered market, do influencer endorsements help or hinder a product?
Much like remote working and zoom conferencing, long waits at the drive-thru line are a pandemic vestige that just won’t go away. And that’s causing line balk among consumers. As COVID-19 took hold in the …
Many investors believe that food and beverage stocks are safe places in which to hide when the stock market turns towards recession. That belief centers on a simple thesis: people still have to eat. The …
Companies like McDonald’s are allowing workers to access hourly pay on demand in the hopes of shoring up the ongoing labor shortage.
Beyond Meat shares made a slight recovery after falling on news McDonald’s may ditch its McPlant burger amid tepid results.
This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we examine food companies’ sustainability initiatives, growing economic pessimism, and more. The Food Institute Podcast · FI Fast Break News – July 13, 2022 The …
The plant-based meat category is experiencing some growing pains. Through the early weeks of the pandemic, alt-meat sales grew some 200% at retail outlets, and the hype around that helped the category secure more than …
This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we examine the struggles of many ghost kitchens and update the baby formula shortage. The Food Institute Podcast · FI Fast Break News – May …
Investors appear to have soured on Beyond Meat, sending its stock price from a $160.28 to as low as $35.74 in the last year, as competition in the alternative-meat sector has increased and the company’s …
Burger giant McDonald’s led the way among fast-food chains, suspending operations in Russia less than two weeks after the Kremlin began its invasion of Ukraine and the West began imposing sanctions on Moscow. The likes …
From robots to scheduling software, restaurants are implementing all types of new technology into their operations of late. With so many new developments this year, The Food Institute decided to take a closer look at …
Fast-food value deals are back, but they’re not quite the same as before. Over the past several weeks, brands such as McDonald’s have returned to value messaging for the first time in several years, noted …
Plant-based offerings continue to expand across restaurant menus, as major players like Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat broaden their partnerships with fast-food chains. McDonald’s recently announced plans for a major U.S. expansion of its plant-based …
Chicago residents in need of last-minute ingredients are in luck. Getir, the Turkish provider of ultrafast, 10-minute grocery delivery, started operations in the Windy City this week. The company, which was founded in Istanbul in …
On the heels of the fast-food industry’s chicken sandwich wars, has Arby’s fired the first shot in a new battle? The privately held chain recently launched its Country Style Pork Rib sandwich as a limited-time …
Quick service restaurants have always adopted new technologies. With the latest innovations, however, the industry is likely to move away from tactics like cashiers asking whether you want fries with your order to complex algorithms …
McDonald’s will test the McPlant burger in partnership with Beyond Meat in eight U.S. locations next month. Beginning November 3, customers in Irving, Texas; Carrollton, Texas; Cedar Falls, Iowa; Jennings, Louisiana; Lake Charles, Louisiana; El …
With the FDA granting full approval for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, and the highly contagious delta variant spreading around the nation, several businesses are mandating that all or some employees provide proof of vaccination. Recently, Cathay …
Food companies have had to get creative to attract workers during the ongoing labor shortage. An Oregon McDonald’s is now even looking to hire teen workers as young as 14, according to a report from …
This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we examine how consumers are stocking their pantries due to the Delta variant, the restaurant industry’s recovery, and more. The Food Institute Podcast · FI …
Hiring and retaining employees has been a battle throughout the coronavirus pandemic, so companies are upping their game, waving perks like signing bonuses at workers. Now, the latest trend entails major employers like McDonald’s offering …
