FI Fast Break audio news: Nov. 22, 2023

The latest Food Institute Fast Break news podcast touches on PepsiCo’s bold plans for its convenient foods items.

Thanksgiving 2023: Expect Expensive Meals

Food manufacturers have seen their profits fall in the past year, forcing them to pass along increases for raw materials, energy, transportation, and packaging.

FI Fast Break audio news: Sept. 20, 2023

The latest Food Institute news podcast touches on unfortunate news for a pair of alt-meat startups.

FI Fast Break audio news: Nov. 30, 2022

The latest Food Institute news podcast touches on trends to watch for 2023, including … pickle slushies?!

FI Fast Break audio news: Nov. 23, 2022

The latest FI news podcast touches on the rising demand for ingredients like chocolate within the ice cream industry.

Thanksgiving 2022: Cost to Dine Out Versus Eat In Shrinking

The common wisdom is that it’s cheaper to eat a home-cooked meal than to dine out or order in, but with dining-out prices increasing at a slower rate than grocery prices, that old adage may …

FI Fast Break audio news: Nov. 16, 2022

The latest FI news podcast updates the push toward automation throughout multiple elements of the food industry.

FI Fast Break audio news: Nov. 9, 2022

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

Thanksgiving Turkeys Could be More Expensive This Year

Avian flu and energy prices are pushing turkey prices to new heights, with breast meat going for more than $6.50 a pound.

FI Fast Break audio news: Dec. 1, 2021

This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we examine how restaurants are rethinking delivery, grocery chains’ big boost from Turkey Wednesday 2021, and more. The Food Institute Podcast · FI Fast Break …

Holiday Shopping Update: ‘Turkey Wednesday’ a Boon for Grocers 

Last-minute Thanksgiving shopping led to major gains for the nation’s top grocery stores this year. A new report by analytics firm Placer.ai shows the nation’s top grocery store chains saw a big jump in foot …

FI Fast Break audio news: Nov. 23, 2021

This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we examine the “Strikesgiving” trend, Thanksgiving shopping projections, and more. The Food Institute Podcast · FI Fast Break News – Nov. 23, 2021 The FI …

An Inside Look at UPSIDE Foods’ New Cultivated Meat Center

UPSIDE Foods (formerly Memphis Meats) is opening what it says is the most advanced cultivated meat production facility in the world. The Engineering, Production, and Innovation Center (EPIC) features a 53,000-square foot campus in Emeryville, California, …

Report: Holiday Shoppers Starting Early, Spending More this Season

Holiday spending is shaping up quite differently this year, following months of COVID-19 vaccines and gradual restaurant recovery. Not only are people shopping earlier this season — with stats from NPD Group showing that 51% …

Thanksgiving 2021: Buy Early, Expect Higher Prices, Look for Substitutes

Following a year of supply chain issues and inflation, Thanksgiving dinner could look a little different—and more expensive—this year. Consumer Reports found that turkey prices could go up anywhere from 10 to 15% this holiday …

Holiday Food Sales Seen Rising if Pandemic Constraints Kept in Check

As the holiday season approaches and retail projections begin rolling in, food sales look promising. That is, as long as the pandemic and its accompanying labor and supply constraints are kept in check. Overall, holiday …

Higher Food Prices, Lower Inventory Expected Through Holidays

According to industry experts, consumers can expect to see higher prices in the last quarter of this year in several grocery categories. Ingredient suppliers are seeing longer lead times because of issues like labor shortages …

POULTRY UPDATE: Thanksgiving Turkeys Could Be in Short Supply

The latest industry to be impacted by supply constraints is poultry. LABOR AND SUPPLY ISSUES THREATEN HOLIDAY TURKEY AVAILABILITY A broker for Shady Brook Farms, one of the nation’s largest turkey suppliers, said in a …

Tofurky Sales Up for Thanksgiving

Tofurky sales are up 32% in 2020, representing its best Thanksgiving bump since 2017, according to Nielsen data. While the company is now 40 years old, it remains smaller than other players in the plant-based …

Holiday Shopping Expected to Rise During COVID-19

The National Retail Federation (NRF) expects holiday sales will rise in 2020 when compared to 2019 as consumers search for reasons to celebrate during the pandemic. The group forecast holiday sales in November and December …

The Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner is Down This Year

Although overall food prices are on the rise, the average cost of a Thanksgiving dinner is down 4%, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual cost survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving …

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 …

Grocers Prepare for a Second COVID Wave During Holidays

Grocers and suppliers feel more prepared for a second surge of COVID-19, reported The Boston Globe (Oct. 19). Most grocers and wholesalers began stockpiling items that were popular during the first wave of shutdowns. Some …

Vegan Thanksgiving Turkeys on the Rise

Food Institute Focus – Vegan Thanksgiving Turkeys on the Rise