At the 2025 National Restaurant Association Show, plant-based innovation moved beyond burgers and nuggets. Mushrooms, mycelium, and globally inspired bites took center stage, offering foodservice operators bold, flexitarian-friendly options.
The global clean-label ingredients market is expected to reach $212 billion by 2035, driven by increased consumer awareness of the health risks associated with artificial preservatives. The demand for minimally processed foods is prompting companies to prioritize ingredient transparency.
Amid erratic cocoa price fluctuations, some major companies continue to raise prices. Meanwhile, Blue Stripes is innovating by upcycling entire cacao pods to create more sustainable and valuable products.
Meati CEO Phil Graves feels optimistic about the brand’s future as it continues to expand across the U.S. and shrink its ingredients list. Meati has been increasingly incorporating functional ingredients like mycelium, a root-like structure of fungus, into products such as its Classic Cutlet.
Despite recent challenges, the plant-based sector is primed for growth in some respects, with opportunities to innovate through functional ingredients, whole-food formulations, and clean-label transparency.
Brown butter is emerging as a major 2025 flavor trend, according to an Edlong report. Known for its rich, nutty flavor, its versatility and affordability make it a favorite among chefs and young demographics.
The latest Food Institute Fast Break news podcast touches on consumers’ growing demand for not just value, but also luxury offerings.
Amazon recently debuted its latest brick-and-mortar format in Chicago: Amazon Grocery. Its strategy, however, may take business from Whole Foods or motivate shoppers to stay in its ecosystem.
Across the U.S., national retailers are expanding both in their communities and testing new markets. Trader Joe’s alone expects 22 additional locations to open by year’s end.
Aloha CEO Brad Charron is bullish on plant-based products. And it’s easy to see why, considering his better-for-you protein bar brand experienced 500% growth from 2020 to 2023.
CPG manufacturing platform Keychain has appointed Mitchell Madoff to Head of Retail Partnerships. The Foxtrot transplant and former Head of Whole Foods Private Label brings with him an extensive background in CPG and private label spanning over two decades.
United Natural Foods stock is down 86% over the last ten years—getting squeezed by its customers—shares are now at a four-year low.
The future of checkout technology, consumer perception and adoption, and operator success is a tricky set of balls to keep in the air all at once.
The latest FI Fast Break news podcast touches on Amazon’s newest plans for Whole Foods locations in urban areas.
Major retailers including Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, Walgreens, and CVS have all recently decided to close locations across major US cities, raising concerns about the future of retail in some of the most distinguished business …
Aldi was named America’s most popular grocery store overall, but it wasn’t the favorite among every demographic, according to a recent poll.
Retailers are looking to outside partnerships and personalized benefits as ways to boost the perceived value of their subscription offerings.
A new report from Placer.ai, titled Placer Spotlight: Whole Foods’ Journey Since the Amazon Deal, takes a closer look at Whole Foods foot traffic data over the past several years. Here are some key takeaways: …
Whole Foods Market’s Trends Council unveiled its seventh annual top 10 anticipated food trends for 2022. “Last year, we saw tremendous pandemic-related shifts in grocery buying habits as the world adjusted to spending more time …
Since acquiring Whole Foods for $13.7 billion in 2017, Amazon has been looking to further expand into the $900 billion U.S. grocery industry through its Amazon Fresh stores. And, with online grocery delivery growing about …
Amazon is launching a new system called Amazon One at a Whole Foods store in Seattle, with plans to expand to seven other stores in the area. The rather innovative technology allows shoppers to associate …
Millennials’ favorite food and beverage brands in 2021 highlight a taste for convenience, comfort, and quality with a focus on affordability. The popularity of private labels and non-traditional retailer formats are also on the rise. …
Amazon has been quietly expanding its grocery operations during the pandemic. EXPANSION IN THE U.S. AND ABROAD Amazon has opened 11 Amazon Fresh stores around the U.S., with plans for at least 28 more, as …
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 …
Amazon issued a warrant to purchase up to 5.4 million shares in SpartanNash, according to a filing with SEC, reported The Motley Fool (Oct. 9). The warrant has been issued specifically to Amazon.com NV Investment …
Although much of the grocery industry is prospering, trips to Whole Foods in September were down 25% from a year earlier, according to Placer.ai, reported Bloomberg (Oct. 7). Some of the decline is due to …
Food Institute Focus – Retailers Face Their Future
