Study: Portion Control Top of Mind for Many Americans

The goal of Georgetown’s study was to learn whether America’s eating habits have changed lately. Clearly, Americans now want smaller portions.

FI Fast Break audio news: Nov. 9, 2022

The latest FI news podcast analyzes some interesting recent findings about the evolving American consumer.

FI Fast Break audio news: Sept. 14, 2022

The latest Food Institute news podcast touches on new findings about COVID-19’s affect on the U.S. labor force.

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.

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 …

Plant-Based Meat Growth Expected to Continue Despite Obstacles

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 …

Meal Kit Services Pivot as Pandemic Eases

Despite stronger sales earlier in the pandemic, the meal kit industry still has room to grow, with Statista projecting the U.S. market to reach more than $10 billion by 2024, compared to $6.9 billion in …

Plant-Based, Environment Top Issues in FI’s Emerging Food Leaders Survey

Plant-based products and environmental concerns are top-of-mind for the next generation of food industry leaders, according to The Food Institute’s 2022 Emerging Food Leaders Survey. But first, let’s rehash a little history. We started our …

Experts Weigh In on Prospects for At-Home Dining

As pandemic concerns ease and consumer mobility returns, how will the dine-at-home category evolve against the backdrop of surging inflation? Last quarter, City National Bank Managing Director Eric Viergutz and RBC Capital Markets Managing Director Nik Modi joined The …

Restaurant Expert Sees NYC Finding Its Way on Outdoor Dining

For New York City restaurants, one of the few positives to come out of the pandemic has been the realization that Big Apple residents enjoy eating outdoors. “It’s an awesome example of what the great …

Inflation Outweighs Pandemic Concerns, Consumer Survey Shows

Americans’ concerns are shifting from the pandemic to inflation, according to a new poll. The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that just 37% of Americans say the virus is one of the …

Food Banks Facing Uncommon Burden Ahead of Holidays

U.S. food banks are facing two major struggles at the moment: increased demand from consumers sidelined by the pandemic and surging food prices amid supply chain issues. Many people found themselves facing food insecurity during …

Defending Ultra-Processed Foods

In line with pandemic-inspired gains in snacking, Americans are eating more ultra-processed foods. Yet, the rise in consumption has been trending higher for years. Researchers at the NYU School of Global Public Health analyzed dietary …

Q&A: Kellogg Exec Notes How Pandemic Has Altered Snacking

Nigel Hughes had an uncomfortable thought at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic. The SVP of global research and development at The Kellogg Company feared his company might struggle in the snack space amid pandemic lockdowns, since …

Canned Tuna, Bolstered by Pandemic, Appears to Have ‘Staying Power’

Prior to the pandemic, canned tuna was fading as a staple of the American pantry, with younger generations seeking out fresher, less-processed food options. In fact, per capita consumption of canned tuna dropped 42% in …

GUEST COLUMN: 5 Predictions for the Wine World

What will the post-pandemic future hold for wine retailers? The global wine sector is large and highly fragmented, so it’ll take some time to fully measure and understand COVID’s impact on the segment. For wine …

Report: Vegan Chocolate Increasingly Popular

The global chocolate confectionery market is anticipated to reach $154.5 billion (USD) by 2025. Its growth has been aided by the pandemic, during which consumers have often turned to comforting, indulgent foods, like milk chocolate …

The Implications of Higher Inflation and COVID-19 Infection Rates for the Food Industry

Here are trending economic and food industry data points, as well as major economic and company earnings releases for the coming week: higher inflation and COVID-19 infection rates, public health policy changes, vaccine passport, the …

France Issues Vaccine ‘Passport’ Rules; Could U.S. be Next?

French restaurant owners and workers are worried: Are they about to turn into the virus police? Retailers don’t understand how they’ll keep people who haven’t had a COVID-19 vaccination out. France is in the forefront …

FI Agriculture Recap: Pandemic Relief for Livestock Producers

The USDA’s Farm Service Agency will begin accepting applications next Tuesday from livestock producers who suffered pandemic losses as a result of their inability to gain sufficient access to processing. Relief will come from the …

Chick-fil-A Ranked Top Fast-Food Restaurant Again; Subway and McDonald’s Stumble

Chick-fil-A was rated America’s top fast-food restaurant for a seventh straight year, according to the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), which provides customer satisfaction benchmarks for major companies in the foodservice sector. At the …

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), …

Food Industry Financials: Retail Sales, Darden Restaurants, and more

Here are trending economic and food industry data points, as well as major economic and company earnings releases for the coming week: retail sales, supply crunch, global forecast, earnings from Darden Restaurants (DRI), and more. …

Food Industry Financials: Inflation, KR, and more

Here are trending economic and food industry data points, as well as major economic and company earnings releases for the coming week: inflation analysis, food commodities outlook, The Kroger Co. (KR) earnings digest, and more. …

HelloFresh Outpacing Meal Kit Competition

Meal-kit supplier HelloFresh has enjoyed a notable uptick in popularity since the outset of the pandemic. And, even as COVID-19 vaccinations have increased and consumers have started to dine in restaurants more and increase their …

Food Industry Financials: Employment, SJM, and more

Here are trending economic and food industry data points, as well as major economic and company earnings releases for the coming week: employment, earnings from The J. M. Smucker Company (SJM) and more. Is America …

Analysts: Comfort Food Popularity Should Continue Post-Pandemic

Stress and uncertainty cause people to seek out comfort rather than challenge. And, with 2020 presenting so many challenges, it’s no wonder that the “comfort economy” is booming. Trends in sectors ranging from technology to …

Food Industry Financials: Inflation, CBRL, SAFM, and more

Here are trending economic and food industry data points, as well as major economic and company earnings releases for the coming week: food inflation, earnings from Cracker Barrel (CBRL), Sanderson Farms (SAFM), Costco (COST) and …

Start of Summer Travel Could Mean Long Waits at Restaurants, C-Stores

With over half of Americans now being vaccinated, travel is making a major comeback after more than a year of pandemic lockdowns. AAA forecasts that 37 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from …

Outlook Bright for Non-Alcoholic Beverage Market

The mindful drinking movement has been gaining traction for several years, with “sober curious” consumers opting for no- or low- alternatives to reduce their alcohol intake.   Throughout the pandemic, demand for non-alcoholic beers, wines, and spirits increased, with consumers drinking most frequently while relaxing at …

Restaurants’ Latest Challenge: A Cicada ‘Tsunami’

As if the lingering pandemic hasn’t caused enough headaches for restaurant operators, a new issue has emerged: Cicadas – lots and lots of cicadas. For the past 17 years, so-called Brood X cicadas have slowly …

Lessons Learned: Food Industry Leaders Already Prepping for Next Pandemic

Public health experts have warned that stopping COVID-19 – or at least mitigating its severity and rapid spread – will not mean the world is safe; rather, it’s just a matter of time before the …

Cinco de Mayo 2021 Highlights Thriving Avocado Market

Nothing says Cinco de Mayo like tacos and guacamole, and this year avocados appear to be plentiful – at least in the near term. Some 100 million Americans are expected to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, …

Foreseeable Future Appears Bright for Grocers

Online grocery usage has skyrocketed in recent years: 73% of consumers had purchased grocery items online within the last three months, compared to 17% in 2017, according to a survey by Power Reviews. Of course, …

Delivery Platforms Experiencing Upheaval

In many ways, the pandemic has been a boom time for third-party delivery platforms, which have benefited from consumers largely hunkering down at home and summoning dinners to their doorstep. But business is rapidly changing …

As Vaccinations Increase, Outlook Less Rosy for Grocers

While grocery store owners benefited from a rush of customers throughout much of the past year as the pandemic raged, owners now have growing concern that their bottom line will look far less rosy in …