How Acosta Helps Brands Meet Today’s Natural and Organic Shoppers’ Needs

SPONSORED CONTENT Natural and organic products have become mainstream as consumers increasingly prioritize health, transparency, and clean labels. So, how can brands capture attention, drive sales, and build lasting loyalty? At Expo West 2025, The ...

FI Spotlight: What Makes Clean Label Products Clean?

Organic, Non-GMO, Keto, Paleo - the list of phrases that are now on many food products goes on and on. Here's another one - clean-label certified. What does that mean? Why is it important? The ...

5 Standout Innovative Brands from Expo West

At Expo West, a handful of brands stood out for their innovation and compelling missions. From Pi00a’s inclusive pizza environment to Wild Orchard’s sustainable tea, these brands exemplify how unique stories and purposeful missions can leave a lasting impression.

3 Key Takeaways From Natural Products Expo West

This week, Natural Products Expo West 2025 showcased trends in the natural and organic sectors from nearly 3,200 exhibitors. The show especially highlighted the impact of GLP-1 drugs on snacking habits.

The Future of Food Retail

The food retail industry in 2025 is evolving rapidly, with shifting consumer preferences, rising competition, and new growth opportunities. From the rise of international grocers and natural products to the ongoing battle between discounters and ...

Fiber: The Unsung Hero of Athletic Performance, Overall Health

Most Americans fall short of recommended fiber intake levels. Nutrition expert and Olympic cyclist Dotsie Bausch notes there are numerous misconceptions around fiber and its benefits for gut health and disease prevention.

Is Organic Losing Its Luster? Inflation, Skepticism Reshape Market

Organic food once thrived on consumer perception of health benefits but is now struggling due to increased competition and consumer confusion about labeling. Experts say organic producers must adapt by emphasizing additional value.

Consumer Demand Reshaping Baby Food Market

Today’s consumers are reshaping the baby food market as a growing number of parents prioritize nutrition and hold the industry accountable for the quality of their products. With that, what are consumers looking for? And how are companies delivering?

Seed Oils are Under Fire: The Health Debate is Heating Up

Thanks in part to influencers like Brian “Liver King” Johnson, seed oils are considered detrimental to human health. Thus, food brands seem destined to further transition to coconut, olive, or avocado oils for their products.

A Fork in the Road to Sustainability: Nestlé’s New Plant-Based Fork

The innovation is a key part of its commitment to eliminate or reduce plastics in packaging while scaling reusable and refillable systems.

Certified Organic Products Break U.S. Sales Record in 2023

U.S. dollar sales for organic products approached $70 billion in 2023, marking a 3.4% increase YoY and setting a record for the sector.

FI Live Replay – Natural Products Expo West: 2024 Show Recap

Thousands of vendors, tens of thousands of attendees, products and brands galore - it can only be the annual Natural Products Expo West Show. Join The Food Institute as we break down trends and observations ...

Understanding Why Regenerative Agriculture is the Fastest-Growing Green Theme

“Brands that genuinely commit to regenerative agriculture can build strong connections with consumers who prioritize regeneration,” says Michael Ham of Wild Orchard Tea Company. “This can result in long-term brand loyalty and positive associations with environmental responsibility.”

Organic Growth Continues, Even Amidst Inflation

Though the cost of many grocery items – like beef and poultry – continues to increase, organic food sales continue to rise.

Organic Growth Continues, Even Amidst Inflation

The quarterly percentage of American adults who say they purchase organic food regularly (or, “every chance I get,”) is up two percentage points since the first quarter of 2021, reaching 12%.

FI Live Replay – Natural Products Expo East 2023 Recap: Key Themes and Takeaways

What were the key themes and takeaways at Natural Products Expo East in 2023? In the latest edition of FI Live, we brought a diverse panel of food and beverage industry experts to weigh in ...

FI Newscast (June 23, 2023) – Featuring Christina Dorr Drake, Willa’s Oat Milk

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 Christina Dorr Drake, CEO and Co-Founder of ...

FI Newscast (March 17, 2023) – Featuring Winston Song, PAI Partners

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 Winston Song, CEO of PAI Partners - ...

FI Live Replay – Natural Products Expo West 2023 Recap: Key Themes and Takeaways

What was new and hot at Natural Products Expo West in 2023? Watch the replay of The Food Institute's livestream to hear from industry experts such as Ying Yang of Rosenthal & Rosenthal and  Ryan Lewendon ...

Storms Ease California Drought, for the Moment

California officials fear the recent spate of storms that eased the area’s severe drought conditions may, actually, simply be a prelude to drier weather, the Los Angeles Times reported. David Rizzardo, hydrology section manager for …

Experts: Food Labeling on Verge of Big Changes

Worldwide organic food sales are now more than six times larger than they were in 1999, according to Statista. And food brands have taken note.

Study: Gen Z Flocking to Fast-Casual Restaurants

These days, members of Gen Z are flocking to quick-service restaurants. In the 12 months ending July 2022, Gen Z consumers made 5 billion total restaurant visits, and 4.3 billion of those visits were to …

Analysis: Mercaris Weighs in on Prospects for Organic Dairy Market

In 2021, organic dairy and eggs outperformed pre-pandemic levels by nearly 11%, which offers promise of potential growth for the category.

To Inflate or Not to Inflate Your Pricing

The best time to measure the privilege of being an iconic brand is any period of rapidly spiking inflation. The Consumer Price Index has jumped 8.5% in the last year alone. And the country’s most …

Textured Pea Protein Market Poised to Expand on Rise of Vegan Food Practices

This article is written and sponsored by Transparency Market Research. The rise of veganism is expected to fuel the global textured pea protein market over the coming years. In fact, the market is seen growing at …

Can Oatly, the Latest Plant-Based Company to Miss Its Targets, Rebound?

Oatly Group AB shares fell nearly 21% on Monday after the plant-based dairy company reported a third-quarter revenue miss and issued a revenue warning for the year. The company, which had a net loss of $41.2 …

Switching to Exponential Growth – A Case Study of Once Upon A Farm

In 2015 a pair of San Diego-based entrepreneurs – Cassandra Curtis and Ari Raz plotted the launch of a new, high-pressure processing (HPP) baby food brand in refrigerated pouches. The playful name was Once Upon …

FI Fast Break: May 27, 2021

This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we break down food shortages, a spike in organic food sales, and the recent uptick in automation. The Food Institute Podcast · FI Fast Break …

California School District Shifts to Serve 100% Organic Meals

Non-profit organization Conscious Kitchen recently shifted an entire California school district’s food supply chain to 100% organic. The West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) and Conscious Kitchen provided their first 100% USDA-certified organic weekly …

Organic Food Gains Popularity Amid Pandemic

Food Institute Focus – Organic Food Gains Popularity Amid Pandemic

CFS Argues ‘Organic’ Rule Not Grounded Enough

The Food Institute Focus – CFS Argues ‘Organic’ Rule Not Grounded Enough