The Most Popular Candy and Snack Flavors Worldwide

While flavors like truffle mushroom and habanero chili have gained momentum the last few years, Kerry identified coffee, sweet heat, and jalapeno as emerging in recent months.

FI Spotlight: Navigating the Employer-Employee Relationship

Significant rises in both union election petitions and widespread strikes underscore a stark disconnect between employers and employees.

Adapting to Ashwagandha

The Indian herbal supplement Ashwagandha gaining ground in the West these days as a dietary supplement for a variety of uses.

Lead with Delicious: How Plant-Based Thrives

How will plant-based evolve in the year ahead? In this industry outlook, analysts weigh in on economic challenges, the financial landscape, and consumer adoption strategies for 2024.

Ag Disputes Rage Involving ESG Complaints, EU Protests

State agriculture officials are warning U.S. banks their emphasis on policies to reduce climate change threatens the U.S. food supply.

Grocery Prices, But Not Restaurant Meals, Predicted Lower in 2024

Beleaguered consumers received some good news last week with the USDA predicting reductions in grocery prices in 2024 and the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization announcing its food price index is at the lowest level …

The Food as Medicine Conundrum

Like many diets, indulgences, and vices, “everything in moderation” is a good rubric by which to evaluate one’s actions if implementing a food-as-medicine nutritional plan.

Google Reveals Most Popular Diet Foods

New research from Personal Trainer Pioneer has revealed the top ten diet foods in the U.S. based on their popularity in online searches.

Let’s Get Nuts: Macadamia Mania Has Arrived

The macadamia nut market is growing at a CAGR of 11.2%, and experts believe macadamias may soon move to the center of the premium nut mix category.

Study Examines the Attitudes, Inspirations of Gen Z Consumers

Just as baby boomers changed everything that came before them, Gen Z consumers, the oldest of whom are now 26, is poised to do the same, demanding everything from corporate accountability to guaranteed minimum income …

A Latin Restaurant’s Masterclass on Creating Word-of-Mouth

EAGAN, Minnesota – When the El Sazon Tacos & More takeout location opened in suburban Minneapolis, co-owner Karen De Leon half expected to see tumbleweeds roll through the rented facility. “When we first walked in, …

West African Cuisine Ascends on World Stage

West African food was the top trending cuisine of 2023. Now, dishes like jollof rice and suya beef kabobs are appearing on American menus.

Is Self-Checkout a Consumer Terminator? Retail, Robots, and More in 2024

There’s also an interesting feedback loop occurring in American consumerism – the tighter the budget becomes, and the more stressed people feel, the more demands they have regarding how they’d like to be accommodated while shopping.

Research Shows Baby Boomers are More Tech Savvy Than You Might Think

What makes Baby Boomers tick in 2024? For starters, research suggests today’s senior citizens are more tech savvy than many assume. But let’s backtrack. First, here’s an overview of the influential generation of consumers: Boomers …

Craft Soda Market Bubbling Over With Potential

The craft soda market is showing potential of late, as noted by the surge in the category’s sales at companies like Sprecher Brewing.

The Fungi: Mushroom Varieties Captivating Consumers

Things keep looking up for mushrooms. The versatile fungi continue to proliferate across meals-at-home, CPG, restaurant menus, and food tech.

Burgernomics: Fast Food Inflation and an $18 Big Mac Combo

The recent uproar over a McDonald’s in Darien, Connecticut, that charged a whopping $17.59 for a Big Mac combo meal is more than just local news; it’s a snapshot of the changing economic landscape.

Study: The AI Revolution Within F&B Industry Could Take a While

Note to restaurateurs looking to AI: If you’re going to use robots as servers, make sure the aisles between tables are wide enough to allow a robot and human to pass simultaneously. A few inches …

Food & Beverage Manufacturing M&A Quarterly Report: Q4 2023

This article is sponsored and written by CohnReznick. Almost 300 deals closed Q4 2023. The two largest were J.M. Smucker’s $5.6 billion acquisition of Hostess Brands and Redwood Holding’s $4 billion acquisition of Newly Weds Foods. ...

Athletic Brewing – The King of NA Beer?

It comes down to how to make craft beer flavor and aroma become credible as a basic refreshment on occasions currently dominated by soft drinks. This is the real NA beverage battle the brand faces.

Six Restaurant Strategies for Super Bowl Sunday

While venerable NFL coaches Andy Reid and Kyle Shanahan formulate their game plans leading up to Super Bowl Sunday, party planners the world over are doing the same. That’s especially true for restaurant operators, who …

What’s Old is New Again: Harvesting Ancient Grains in F&B

“Consumers can expect to see ancient grains used as an alternative base for many products, ranging from cereal, to bread, to pancake batter. Expect to see them regularly on the menu in restaurants, especially in dishes with other healthy items such as salmon, vegetables, or tofu.”

Column: Great Customer Service Starts with Engaged Employees

The key to offering ideal customer service boils down to this, according to FI columnist Dan Rowe: staff members must be compensated well enough to remain engaged.

Can Ghost Kitchens Be Resurrected?

Has the would-be darling of the pandemic-era – ghost kitchens – been resurrected by a partnership between Denny’s and Franklin Junction?

DTC is Done Authentically at Denver’s Tocabe

Late last year, Tocabe Harvest Meals were unveiled as direct-to-consumer, nutritious, ready-made dishes featuring ingredients sourced from Native American farmers and producers.

Chocolate Purchases Dip Despite Candy Viewed as Energy Boost

A new report from Mintel suggests one-third of Americans rationalize purchasing chocolate as an energy boost. Meanwhile, new research suggests a direct connection between dark chocolate and reducing factors that contribute to essential hypertension.

Seven Health and Wellness Trends for Foodservice in the New Year

With the New Year underway, which health and wellness trends are food consumers gravitating towards? Which should the food industry focus on?

The Dukan Diet: The Next Controversial Weight-Loss Craze?

The Dukan diet has earned high praise from celebrities, some of whom claim to have lost 10 pounds in a week on the plan. But some experts fear it isn’t entirely safe.

Exploring the Wild Foods and Foraging Market: An Emerging Consumer Trend

The wild foods and foraging market has been steadily gaining traction among consumers, fueled by the allure of locally sourced and unique ingredients. Not only does this trend tap into the essence of sustainable eating, …

Plant-Based Meat: What’s in Store for 2024?

Plant-based meat continues to recalibrate at retail. In this Q&A, Chris DuBois, EVP and Protein Practice Leader at Circana, spoke with FI to outline major category challenges and priorities in the months ahead.

The Plastic Diet: Uncovering Hidden Microplastics in the Food Supply

Despite their utility in enhancing the flexibility and durability of plastic, plasticizers have infiltrated most facets of food production.

Growing Consumer Anxiety Dictating Americans’ Spending

Increasing consumer anxiety plagues Americans as uncertainty about the future looms. From inflation to military conflict and weather disasters, consumers have a lot on their minds at the outset of 2024. Food Technology released its …

2023: The Year of Private Label Sets the Stage for 2024

Millennials grew up with store brands and they see them for what they are – a brand. Without a doubt, there is a transformation taking place in the private brand mainstream tier where products are moving away from strict equivalency to national brands and becoming true national brand alternatives.

Global Cuisines, LTOs to Feature Prominently for Foodservice in 2024

The foodservice industry has endured its fair share of turbulence since the pandemic, but where will things go for the industry in 2024? Lizzy Freier, Director, Menu Research & Insights at Technomic, joined The Food …

Analysis: What Argentina’s Raging Inflation Means for Latin America

Argentina is suffering its worst bout of inflation in more than three decades as citizens look to the nascent government of President Javier Milei to fix the problems created by decades of economic crisis. INDEC, …

How Will the Red Sea Attacks Affect the Food Industry?

Ongoing attacks on container ships in the Red Sea are causing global shipping carriers, importers, and exporters to reimagine trade routes and merchandising plans in early 2024. That said, how is this evolving dynamic impacting …