The 10 Best Snacks for Brain Health

Post-pandemic consumers crave mental clarity, but trendy snacks often miss the mark. Experts urge F&B brands to spotlight whole foods, omega-3s, and gut-friendly nutrients to support brain health.

Lights, Camera, Snackin’: The Psychology of ‘Performative Snacking’

Millennials and Gen Z are snacking with style – treating pantry items as identity statements and status symbols. Brands that blend bold packaging with shared values are seizing this flavorful form of modern self-expression.

Imagining a BFY Future, Good Food Collective Battles Front-Of-Pack Labels

Nutrition labels are under fire, and the Good Food Collective is offering what it feels is a smarter, QR-powered alternative. The fast-growing coalition aims to rewrite food transparency and challenge outdated FDA standards.

Charting the Future: ALTA Foods Expands Automation to Strengthen Operations

This article is sponsored and written by Formic. ALTA Foods has been at the forefront of automation for a long time. The 18-year-old tortilla manufacturer has embraced automation as a way to boost throughput, reduce labor …

Amazon Grocery Business Goes All In

Amazon has ramped up its grocery game with faster delivery, Whole Foods synergy, and a “One Grocery” strategy aimed at efficiency and scale. Meanwhile, emerging players like Temu are stirring up fresh competition in global fulfillment.

For Domino’s, Pizza has Become a Problem

Once untouchable, Domino’s now finds itself battling market stagnation and an identity crisis in a delivery world reshaped by apps. Even winning in pizza no longer guarantees growth, according to FI’s resident stock expert.

Upsetting the Apple Cart: Honeycrisp Apple Prices Soar

Honeycrisp apple prices have surged 160% amid crop shortages, rising labor costs, and limited imports. Retailers are pivoting to Cosmic Crisp, frozen produce, and private labels as shoppers seek relief from premium fruit sticker shock.

Why Agentic AI Is the Food Industry’s Next Big Thing

Walmart is going all-in on agentic AI, launching super agents that act autonomously to streamline everything from customer service to supply chain ops. For food businesses, this tech could mean fewer errors and sharper margins.

The Plant-Based Playbook: Pro Athletes Invest in Vegan Brands

Multiple pro athletes have either invested in plant-based foodservice and food retail brands or launched their own brands in recent years, including John Salley, Tom Brady, Chris Paul, Ed McCaffrey, and Mike Tyson. Let’s take a look at a few of these business ventures – and the motivators behind them.

For McDonald’s, Investors Believe History Will Repeat

McDonald’s stock has fared well lately, though its value edge has fizzled. Consumers are hungry for more than just $5 deals. History suggests resilience, but can the golden arches glitter amid rising costs and shrinking sales?

3 Key Takeaways from IFT FIRST 2025

The recent IFT FIRST event spotlighted how food makers are shifting toward natural colors, sugar stealth, and GLP-1-driven formulation. Regulatory winds and wellness trends are rewriting the color, taste, and portion playbook.

Investors Have Lost Faith in Conagra and the Industry

Conagra’s stock plunge reveals deep investor doubts about the packaged food sector’s ability to navigate inflation, tariffs, and margin pressure. With volume and pricing power eroding, the industry may be facing a new, uncomfortable normal.

America’s Least Appreciated Protein: Why Squid Deserves a Bigger Seat at the Table

Squid – a domestic, nutrient-rich, and eco-friendly protein – is largely overlooked in America’s protein lineup. The Hermit brand of calamari jerky challenges food leaders to rethink underutilized ocean fare before reaching for lab-grown innovations. (Sponsored Content)

Online Grocery Booms 28% YoY, Headwinds Hamper Total Takeover

Online grocery sales jumped by an eye-opening 28% YoY in June. However, experts feel barriers like fees, low personalization, and loyalty gaps leave growth on the table.

3 Textures Gen Z Can’t Resist

For Gen Z, eating and drinking are multi-sensory experiences – and texture is just as important as taste. Here are three textures the demographic can’t seem to get enough of.

End to Mexico Tomato Pact Could Raise Prices, Cut Supplies

A 17% tariff on Mexican tomatoes may shake up a $3.1 billion import market, as domestic growers cheer and supply chain leaders brace for impact. The squeeze could spark opportunity – or send prices surging.

Michelob Ultra Rewrites Playbook in Era of Health-Conscious Drinking

Michelob Ultra is winning over wellness-minded drinkers by positioning beer as a lifestyle choice, not just a weekend indulgence. Its low-cal, fitness-friendly appeal offers a playbook for beer brands attempting to stay relevant.

Competitive Beverage Dynamics: Chinese Chains Vs. Starbucks

Chinese café disruptors Luckin and Cotti are muscling into the U.S. market with tech-driven formats and inventive drinks, challenging Starbucks’ experience-first playbook. Can hyper-local pricing and automation rewrite America’s morning routine?

Is Functional Chocolate as Healthy as Advertised?

Functional chocolate is on the rise, boasting add-ins like mushrooms and collagen. Experts weigh in on the science, the strategy, and whether it’s more hype than health.

Tariffs Trigger Operational Overhauls: F&B Leaders Forecast Unrest Into 2026

Amid deepening tariff fatigue, F&B leaders brace for prolonged disruption while rethinking sourcing and private-label strategy. With costs rising and margins thinning, industry players are innovating, deploying strategies like alternative sourcing. FI recently gleaned business tips from dozens of industry leaders regarding tariffs.

Gen Z Wants to Turn Everything into a Sauce, Including Soda

When asked which foods and drinks Gen Zers wanted to experience in sauce form, 10% of survey respondents referenced a soda – some by its brand name; others by its flavor profile. Here are their top flavor choices.

For Retail and Delivery, Advertising is Becoming Big Business

Retail media is booming, with CPGs pouring billions into data-driven platforms like Walmart Connect, Instacart, and DoorDash. The result: high-margin ad revenue is reshaping profit models and investor expectations across grocery and delivery.

Are Consumers in a ‘Spending Recession’ for Food Items?

RBC’s Nik Modi breaks down how inflation, debt, and economic pressures are shaping grocery shopping habits and consumer behavior in the food industry.

Amazon Prime Day 2025 Inspires Nearly 155K Orders

Amazon Prime Day 2025 smashed records with over $24 billion in sales, fueled by influencer-led campaigns and F&B category dominance. Grocery deals drove traffic, while Premier Protein Shakes emerged as the event’s MVP.

Halloween in July? Gen Z Drives ‘Summerween’ Movement

Gen Z and Millennials are fueling “Summerween,” sparking early seasonal candy sales and viral Halloween-themed celebrations. Brands tapping into this cultural moment are winning attention with creative campaigns and shareable experiences.

How AI is Disrupting Food Innovation – Here’s Why You Should be Paying Attention

AI is now the sous-chef behind food innovation, reshaping R&D from lab bench to market shelf. As illustrated by this week’s IFT FIRST event in Chicago, platforms like Tastewise are accelerating product timelines, predicting consumer trends, and leveling the playing field for brands big and small.

The Sauces Star at KFC’s Saucy

KFC’s Saucy spinoff flips fast food on its head, making sauce the star with various flavor combos and a vibe-forward experience. Gen Z diners, after all, are chasing chicken these days.

New US Listing Creates Clear Mission for JBS

JBS says its stock could quadruple if markets re-rate it closer to peers like Tyson and Hormel – but a history of scandals still weighs heavily. With ESG scrutiny fading, JBS bets low drama could mean high returns.

Protein: An Essential but Overhyped Macronutrient

While protein remains a top nutrition trend, health experts argue it’s often overhyped. Many Americans already get enough, and whole food sources may be healthier than processed protein products.

Your Brand’s Website: Your Hub for Engagement and Retail Discovery

Even in a retail-first world, a brand’s website serves as its frontline storyteller. Smart, intentional updates of a brand’s website – not perfection – keep customers engaged and connected across the digital shelf, according to the CEO of BARREL.

After Trying Everything Else, Kraft Heinz Eyes Breakup

Kraft Heinz is considering splitting into separate companies to unlock shareholder value following a series of unsuccessful strategies. While the move follows the successful Kellogg split, skeptics argue it may not fix the deeper issues of weak execution and an underperforming brand portfolio.

Mid-Year Update: The State of the Specialty Food Industry

At the recent Summer Fancy Food Show, industry leaders discussed the promising future for specialty food makers. Despite economic headwinds, consumers are expected to largely increase or maintain their consumption in many key categories.

Beef Prices Hit Record High, Restaurants Rethink Menus

Facing record-high beef prices, restaurants are reworking menus and investing in vertical supply chains to stay afloat. Some are rebranding leaner protein choices as “wellness-driven,” while giants like Walmart cut out the middleman entirely.

A US Foods-PFG Tie-Up is Surprising, Logical, and Far From Guaranteed

US Foods is eyeing a blockbuster merger with Performance Food Group, aiming to dominate the independent restaurant channel and outpace Sysco. But with steep costs and FTC hurdles, the deal’s anything but a sure thing.

Cracker Barrel Straddles the Fence Between the Past and Future

Cracker Barrel is attempting to modernize its brand with sleeker decor, streamlined retail, and booze on the menu. CEO Julie Felss Masino faces the challenge of evolution without eroding identity.

Peeling Back the Layers of the Banana Coffee Trend

Banana milk is swinging into the coffee scene, turning nostalgic flavor into a retail phenomenon. Fueled by K-pop, global influence, and social media buzz, it’s reshaping what “comfort coffee” means for consumers.