Author: Megan Crouse

Moving Forward, Grocery Retailers Must Embrace Digital

Online grocery shopping has surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before COVID-19, online accounted for less than 10% of food sales, according to Ernst & Young LLP (EY). By June, 45% of food sales were online. …

Manufacturers Need to Adapt to COVID-19 Conditions

The COVID-19 pandemic will continue to affect the manufacturing capabilities of food companies through the end of 2020, but automation, social distancing, and pivoting towards healthier products could provide avenues for future growth. Meatpackers Face …

First Half of 2020 Brought Major Change to Grocery Retail

As the new year rolled around, no one could have predicted the drastic changes grocery retailers would face in the first half of 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic created major disruptions in consumer buying patterns, online …

Food Manufacturers Pivot in Face of Coronavirus

As consumers turned to stockpiling when stay-at-home orders were enacted at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, food manufacturers were forced to pivot to new operating models to ensure profitability. Avenues targeted included direct-to-consumer models, …

Where is the Edible Insect Segment Headed?

The COVID-19 pandemic posed numerous challenges to food sectors, especially meat product producers. As the health crisis continues to impact the supply of meat, it is also driving the demand for alternative protein substitutes like …

How Receptive are Consumers to Agricultural Biotech?

After decades of being sidelined by consumers concerned over whether they were safe, foods made with genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, may finally find a place on more meal plates along with other new agricultural …

Avoiding Pest Infestation in Dry Ingredients

With heightened attention surrounding the spread of diseases, now more than ever, it’s important to ensure safe production and distribution of food. As consumers turn to non-perishable products during the pandemic, dry ingredients are king, …

Food Distributors Place New Focus on Truck Fleet Utilization

Food distributors are unfortunately expected to feel significant losses from the COVID-19 pandemic and containment efforts. According to Mark Allen, CEO of the International Foodservice Distributors Association, or IFDA, the industry is expected to lose …

Restaurant Life After Lockdown

As lockdown requirements around the country loosen, foodservice establishments are adopting best practices for dine-in service in a post-COVID-19 world—thanks to the guidelines put forth by both government agencies and restaurant industry organizations. Federal Recommendations …

Startups See a Future in Cell-Based Meat

I recently asked 10 random consumers whether they would eat lab-grown meat. “I would,” one said. ¨Not for the taste nor for the nutritional value, but because I believe in this technology as the way …

Meal Kits’ Popularity and Catering to Restrictive Diets

While COVID-19 is playing havoc on many food businesses, one segment that experienced an uptick in business since the pandemic is the meal kit industry, with companies like Blue Apron and HelloFresh experiencing noted growth …

As COVID-19 Contagion Roils Food Industry, Adaption is Key

With continuous daily and even hourly news affecting our nation’s food supply chain, business and capital markets for food and ag-centric private equity groups, operating companies, and their investors should expect highly volatile results and …

Banning the Bag: Are Plastic Bag Bans Smart for Business?

To date, eight states-California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New York, Oregon, and Ver-mont-have banned the use of plastic bags. Though they may have prohibited plastic bags in the name of sustainability, some states like Maine …

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J.M. Smucker Co. Hindered By Low Coffee Volumes

J.M. Smucker Co.’s performance in its third quarter was hurt by lower volumes in its coffee division, which were down 9.2% in the 12 weeks ending Jan. 28, according to Morgan Stanley Research. The company …