Analysis: Why Pumpkin Spice Szn has Started Earlier Than Ever

Pumpkin spice season is upon us earlier than ever in 2024. Data from SpotOn suggest the F&B industry’s also moving toward the most expansive pumpkin season yet.

Pour It Over: New Bev50 Report Cites Rise of Impulse Purchases

Alpha-Diver’s latest Bev50 Report examines what’s currently driving consumer beverage purchases, leveraging their extensive U.S. database.

Has Mexican Food Become America’s Cuisine?

Few can pass up a good taco, salsa, or burrito. That same extends to a cool margarita, a cinnamon churro, or a delicious gordita. Zooming out a bit, actor Mark Wahlberg recently announced the opening …

Mighty Casey’s Strikes a Major Deal

America’s third-largest C-store chain just got bigger, as Casey’s strikes a major deal includes 148 stores in Texas.

IFT FIRST 2024: Tackling Rising Commodity Costs with Innovation

Cost reduction was a central theme at the recent IFT FIRST industry event. Exhibitors offered a range of solutions to reduce costs in the short-term and future-proof supply chains in the long-term.

Are Collabs the Future of Marketing in F&B?

When brands collaborate, they tap into each other’s customer bases and brand equity. This synergy allows both businesses to reach a broader audience.

Plant-Based Sweets and Snacks Enjoying Significant Growth

Plant-based sweets and snacks grew nearly 20% in dollar sales from 2022 to 2023, according to the Plant-Based Food Association.

Navigating Choppy Waters: Retailers Import Early to Tackle Shipping Challenges

Ongoing port congestion has reached a “boiling point” according to one global shipping expert. Retailers are suffering stress brought on by swings in consumer demand, fear of both gluts and shortages, and spiraling freight costs.

3 Key Takeaways from IFT FIRST 2024

From brain health to indulgent proteins, several evolving food industry trends were on display recently at the IFT FIRST 2024 expo. FI’s resident market researcher was on the scene, documenting the most intriguing innovations.

Dinner and a Movie: Can In-Theater Dining Save Struggling Cinemas?

The first half of 2024 featured a cold start for the domestic movie industry. Now, theaters across America are as focused as ever on making a “premium push” regarding their food and beverage offerings.

Flavors of Yucatán Fuel District Taco’s Growth

District Taco is more of a mission than a restaurant chain, bringing Yucatán cuisine and flavors to the masses.

Lanternflies and Pongamia Trees Yielding Unexpected Harvests

Florida’s shift from citrus groves to pongamia plantations is a move towards sustainability and resilience, offering new economic opportunities with biofuel and plant-based proteins.

Breakfast Chain Perkins Looks to Flip Script With Bold Rebrand

Perkins, the 66-year-old breakfast restaurant chain, is evolving. Long a fixture near interstate exits, the chain aims to give customers new offerings that will inspire frequent pitstops.

Chick-fil-A Knocked Off Perch as Best Fast-Food Chain

A new list of consumers’ favorite fast-food chains has a surprise winner. Meanwhile, Chick-fil-A is taking rare criticism of late.

Game the System: Gamification in Grocery & Retail

Gamification refers to the idea of point scoring and applying competitive techniques to encourage consumer engagement.

Case Study: Elevating the Grocery Checkout Experience

Customer engagement company Birdzi has partnered with retail solutions provider ECRS for tech that allows grocery shoppers to redeem digital coupons in real-time.

The Beanless Coffee Revolution Has Begun

Taking the caffeine out of coffee has been a familiar and useful development in the chemistry of coffee. But what about coffee without beans?

Beyond Meat’s New Sun Sausage “Not Intended to Replicate Meat”

Beyond Meat has launched Beyond Sun Sausage, a “first-of-its-kind innovation” made with a blend of fruits, vegetables and legumes. The product is not intended to replicate beef, pork or poultry but rather be its own protein option.

Avian Influenza Continues to Spread Across America

HPAI is spreading across dairy farms and, at last report, was present in 143 herds, with 53 new herd infections over the past month.

Snacking Survey: Products and Innovations Today’s Consumers Crave

Today’s consumers are snacking around the clock, according to a shopper survey that notes which new innovations shoppers are craving.

Survey: Retail Employees Are Happy with Jobs

Who knew? Retail employees actually are happy with their jobs, according to recent a survey by an employee benefits company.

Analysis: Why Has Adoption of AI Been So Slow in F&B?

While restaurant chains like McDonald’s have had notable swings and misses regarding AI, business leaders insist the technology offers invaluable uses to food companies, aiding personalized offers, sales forecasting, and more.

FI Exclusive: An Interview with Acosta Group CEO Brian Wynne

Tuesday, July 16, 2024, marked a milestone for Acosta Group and CEO Brian Wynne. On that day, the sales and marketing agency announced it had completed its strategic acquisition of CROSSMARK, including its headquarter sales …

Consumer Demand Reshaping Baby Food Market

Today’s consumers are reshaping the baby food market as a growing number of parents prioritize nutrition and hold the industry accountable for the quality of their products. With that, what are consumers looking for? And how are companies delivering?

No Market? No Problem, for Innovative Beverage Brands

In the new-look world of beverages (alcoholic; non-alcoholic; functional; restorative; hybrid; etc.), the right product can ignite a sector.

Consumers Are Warming to the Idea of Smart Carts and Frictionless Shopping

About 77% of shoppers say they’re interested in trying new technology within a grocery store. And major retailers are finally warming to the idea of providing innovations like electronic shelf labels.

Prime Numbers: Amazon and Competitors Heat Up Summer Sales

Amazon’s Prime Day sales, which began Tuesday, were expected to rake in $14 billion, up 10.5% from last year, Adobe Analytics projected. Such statistics have inspired competitors to join the July sales fray.

U.S. Turkey Producer Diestel Family Ranch Joins Regenerative Ag Pioneers

Diestel Family Ranch has become the first U.S.-based turkey producer to receive Regenified agriculture certification.

Seed Oils are Under Fire: The Health Debate is Heating Up

Thanks in part to influencers like Brian “Liver King” Johnson, seed oils are considered detrimental to human health. Thus, food brands seem destined to further transition to coconut, olive, or avocado oils for their products.

Bayou Best Foods Aims to Jump Start Plant-Based Seafood Sector

While the U.S. alt-seafood market has been sluggish at best, Big Idea Ventures (BIV) has plans to change that. The agrifoodtech investor recently unveiled Bayou Best Foods, the newest entrant to the plant-based seafood sector.

Riding High: Data Shows LongHorn Steakhouse Ascending Among Casual-Dining Chains

LongHorn Steakhouse has become a prime candidate to unseat rivals like Texas Roadhouse as America’s preferred steakhouse.

June’s Record Bankruptcy Wave Signals Tough Times Ahead for Businesses

In June there were 75 major U.S. business bankruptcies. Some financial experts predict the pace could accelerate over the second half of the year.

Turning Negative Reviews into Opportunities: A Restaurant’s Guide to Online Feedback

In 2024, online reviews can have an immeasurable impact on restaurants. The difference in public perception between a 4.5-star Google review and a 4.0 rating, for example, can be costly.

Dates with Destiny: Dates Gaining Momentum as Healthy Sweetener

Move over avocados, pomegranates, and acai; dates are the latest superfruit gaining momentum. Known for their natural sweetness and rich nutritional profile, dates are becoming the hero snack and a better-for-you sugar replacement.

Chilling Out: Hot Sales for Cold Drinks

With summer solidly here, a recent trend in coffee may leave many caffeine junkies wondering what happened to a classic cup of joe.

$1.99 Sonic Boom Shakes Up Value Meal Wars

The so-called fast-food “value wars” are ramping up. First McDonald’s and Taco Bell tried to undercut each other; now Sonic’s $1.99 meal has taken things to another level.