Halloween Havoc: Why Kit Kats Could Be Hard to Find This Fall

Hershey is in store for a Halloween nightmare of sorts, saying it won’t be able to meet consumer demand this October.

Analysis: After McPlant Struggles, What’s Next for Beyond Meat?

Beyond Meat shares made a slight recovery after falling on news McDonald’s may ditch its McPlant burger amid tepid results.

The Plunge in Plant-Based Stocks is All About Expectations

What the stock market is indicating in 2022 is that plant-based stocks aren’t likely to displace traditional offerings – only complement them.

Is Plant-Based Meat Ripe for Expansion?

While sales of plant-based meats have slowed, the category could be ripe for expansion as pricing moves closer to that of traditional meats.

Concerns About Discretionary Spending Jolt Coffee Chains

Consumer concerns about discretionary spending pushed Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks traffic lower in June, new data show.

Survey: Amid Inflation, Consumers Changing Deep-Seated Habits

Sixty-one percent of shoppers in a Vericast survey said that one of their biggest challenges this year is rising price.

Why the Regenerative Ag Movement is Seeing Deepened Roots

Many food companies are embracing regenerative ag to aid the environment – a movement that’s increasingly extending into aquaculture.

AI Predicts 3 Food Trends for 2023

Food and beverage intelligence company Spoonshot has released its AI-generated list of food trends for 2023.

CEO: Recipes are Key to Private Label Success

Private label is arguably more important than ever in the face of inflation, and digital recipes tend to get those products onto consumers’ plates.

Investment in Lab-Grown Meat Intensifying

Investments in plant-based meats have cooled off in the last year with many venture capitalists turning their attention to lab-grown meat.

Case Study: How Stuckey’s Revived its Company Brand

Stuckey’s CEO Stephanie Stuckey has learned a lot about social media over the last three years, like the importance of telling compelling and sometimes personal stories.

Key Plant-based Takeaways from IFT FIRST Conference

Plant-based was the primary theme among ingredient companies exhibiting at the IFT FIRST annual meeting

Why Allulose Could be the Next Big Thing in Sweeteners

The twin crop production enemies, drought and excessive heat, are putting unprecedented pressure on the global food supply via “heatflation.”

Analysis: How ‘Heatflation’ is Heating up Food Prices

The twin crop production enemies, drought and excessive heat, are putting unprecedented pressure on the global food supply via “heatflation.”

De-Platforming Your Brand for Exponential Growth

The Problem Top two investor questions for a consumer startup? 1) Do you have product-market fit yet? And 2) What is the platform? Building a platform brand right from the start is the strategy equivalent …

Upcycling Gains Traction as Key Sustainability Initiative

Ingredient upcycling for food products is gaining traction among consumers.

A Look at Award-Winning Innovation on Display at IFT FIRST

Looking to meet rising consumer demand for sustainability, food and beverage companies are focusing on making their packaging more recyclable.

Experts: Sustainable Packaging Can Pay Dividends for Food Companies

Looking to meet rising consumer demand for sustainability, food and beverage companies are focusing on making their packaging more recyclable.

New Plant-Based Egg Challengers Enter the Market

While plant-based egg products are hitting the market, it remains to be seen whether consumers will adopt these products en masse.

Wow Bao Chain Continues Expansion Via Vending Machines

Chicago-based Asian chain Wow Bao is exploring a new avenue as it continues its growth: vending machines. Wow Bao, which began as a fast-casual concept specializing in steamed buns and has since expanded as a …

Grocery Stores Diversify Pizza Offerings to Stay Competitive

As Americans aim to save on dining out amid inflation and restaurants battle labor and supply shortages, grocery stores strategize to please consumers’ pizza palates with frozen variety to deli and delivery convenience. Deli pizza …

‘Locavorism’ Trend Gaining Steam Despite Misconceptions

Eating local has developed a connotation for positive impact, from ethics to environment and even health, but how does the practice actually affect food systems, human systems and the planet? “There is not much evidence …

Report: Modern Consumers Snacking with a Purpose

Earlier in the pandemic, snacking complemented remote work and supplemented restaurant dining and continues to replace meals with added bonuses. This year, Grubhub’s infamous lunch promotion was prompted by 69% of New Yorkers surveyed saying …

Why Agility Should Be Top-of-Mind for Both CPGs and Retailers

Amid rising demand for fresher food products, companies need to ensure their inventory is data-driven, with technology and procedures in place to adapt to a rapidly-changing market, according to Venky Ramesh, head of strategic business advisory …

Traceability Key to Avoiding Daily Harvest-Type Recalls

Meal kit service Daily Harvest’s recall of its French Lentils + Leek Crumbles product, which allegedly sickened more than 470 people, highlights the food industry’s need for high-tech improvements in the traceability chain, an industry …

Innovation Continues to Drive Beverage Category Growth

From bottled water and better-for-you bubblies to convenient coffees and cocktails, the beverage market is booming. Total sales for center store beverages reached $86 billion in the 52-week period ending June 12, per IRI, making …

Packaging Manufacturers Continue to Make Progress on Sustainability

Containers and packaging clog municipal waste streams with the Environmental Protection Agency estimating the load at 82.2 million tons in 2018 – more than 28% of all waste produced. At the same time, the USDA …

Ingredient Shortages Hampering New Food Product Development

Research and development divisions at food companies report shortages of ingredients like MSG, sweeteners and soluble fiber are handicapping product development. Additionally, predictions indicate the problem could last well into the next decade. The 2022 …

Inflation Pushing Up Costs for Independence Day Cookouts

The price for a typical Fourth of July cookout could be 11% to 17% higher than a year ago, depending on what’s in your basket. That’s according to recent reports from Wells Fargo and the …

Can Breeding Super Seeds Improve Plant-Based Foods?

Plant-based protein is popping up in more products than ever before, but challenges related to flavor and texture have left a bad taste in the mouths of many consumers. In response, some companies are utilizing …

Industry CEO: Baby Formula Shortage Illustrates ‘Broken System’

Abbott Laboratories, which stopped the production of Elecare powdered specialty baby formula after its southwest Michigan facility was flooded recently, said it had enough formula supply on hand to meet current needs. Heavy rains and …

TikTok Expert: Authenticity Key for Food Brands Marketing to Gen Z

With an endless supply of content and more than 50 million daily users, there is no shortage of ways for brands to market themselves on TikTok – particularly to Gen Z. In fact, half of …

CPGs Refocusing on Faster-Growing Categories

The pandemic changed a lot of consumers’ attitudes towards foods and snacks, focusing more attention on healthier living and alternatives to traditional foodstuffs. As those trends accelerate, CPG companies are rethinking their structures and offerings …

‘Everything Shortage’ Intensifying, from Condiments to Corn

Add condiments and corn to the abundance of shortages from the international supply chain crises. Australia’s low on lettuce, the Philippines are short on sugar, and sunflower oil is scarce in Spain, Bloomberg reported. Inflation, …

Cold Brew Coffee Waking Up Summer Menus

The cold brew coffee trend is gaining serious momentum. Market research company Technavio recently released a report predicting the cold brew trend’s trajectory — 57% by 2025 — after 26% YoY growth in 2021. The …

Atalanta’s DeMaio on the Importance of Innovative, Cost-Effective Products

NEW YORK CITY – As Marissa DeMaio provided a tour of Atalanta Corp.’s event booth at last week’s Specialty Food Association Summer Fancy Food Show, she noted that smoked food products, like cheeses, are “on …