CHICAGO – A sign at the Sweets & Snacks Expo on Tuesday spoke volumes about current trends in the food industry. The banner simply stated: “INTENSE indulgence … MINDFUL indulgence … HEALTHY indulgence.” Clearly, snacking …
The past few years have primed grocers to explore new opportunities that can better meet changing shopper habits. Albertsons is planning to draw on customers’ newfound comfort with ordering online, combined with their interest in …
The convenience store long has been a place where one could grab a quick slushy on the way home from school or a bag of chips on the road. But a funny thing has happened: …
Once a niche, hard-to-find category, specialty food is becoming a staple in consumers’ kitchens. KeHE Distributors President and CEO Brandon Barnholt recently joined The Food Institute Podcast to discuss specialty food trends, factors affecting the industry, and …
Inflation is causing shoppers to rethink their buying journeys, which has made price a more important factor than ever. That is affecting how shoppers both plan and execute their supermarket trips, and grocers must start …
The global plant-based alternatives market could swell to $166 billion in the next decade, according to an updated forecast by Bloomberg Intelligence. Bloomberg’s May 2022 projections incorporated 2021 results into the Plant-Based Foods Poised for …
A recent webinar from market research firm IRI unpacked various snacking opportunities around the globe that are enticing shoppers amid current economic challenges and new patterns of consumption. Here are a few key takeaways: The …
Everyone remembers that first job: the first whiff of responsibility outside school or home, the ability to put cash in one’s pocket that didn’t come from mom or dad, that incredible flush of independence. But …
Remaining Unprofitable The global market for third-party delivery companies swelled to $150 billion as of September 2021, tripling since 2017, according to research from McKinsey & Company. While restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic helped …
The rise of in-store fulfillment was rapid, and it created new challenges alongside new sales opportunities. Customers are demanding faster speeds and more convenience while grocers now need to juggle multiple fulfillment options while keeping …
Loyalty and subscription services helped companies retain current customers and attract new ones, even as the pandemic upended many business models. “Loyalty programs are popular right now for several reasons,” Jacob Borgeson, director of product …
New consumer research suggests that meal kits are gaining momentum – especially with young adults. According to research from Culinary Visions, an insights and trends forecasting practice, 49% of consumers ages 18-34 say meal kits …
In the same vein as national restaurant brands increasingly marketing to marijuana users as states continue to legalize the drug, the restaurant industry is aligning with sports betting to help boost revenue. And with good …
Berries were a powerhouse throughout the pandemic and the category continues to thrive as convenience and nutritional appeal keep consumers coming back for more. According to an April report by IRI, fresh berries are the …
It’s been four decades since consumers were slapped with a double whammy of rapidly rising food and gas prices. In the 1970s and early 1980s consumers coped by switching to generics, changing their diets, and …
Image courtesy of Whole Foods Market Cashierless stores are a promising technology that could redefine how shoppers interact with grocery stores, but the field is still in its relative infancy, with experimentation ongoing. While solutions …
Image courtesy of The Kroger Co. Kroger is trying its hand at foodservice distribution. The grocer recently launched a restaurant supply business that offers next-day delivery to businesses in the greater Dallas area. Kroger …
It’s been over two years since the start of the pandemic, a span in which many consumers began ordering groceries online for the first time. Though significant improvements have been made along the way, there …
For New York City restaurants, one of the few positives to come out of the pandemic has been the realization that Big Apple residents enjoy eating outdoors. “It’s an awesome example of what the great …
Beverage companies looking to recapture consumers who have rejected sweet sodas are turning to sparkling waters to up their bottom lines. Market research firm Euromonitor International reported flavored sparkling water is outpacing bottled still water …
Nearly half of consumers are buying plant-based products in 2022. A new report from Acosta found that 40 percent of consumers surveyed in March purchased plant-based protein and/or dairy alternatives within the last six months, …
The pandemic era has seen a significant rise in the sales of plant-based milks and cheeses, experts said, attributing the upward trend to consumers developing more healthful habits after having eaten indulgently at the beginning …
Image courtesy of Wingstop While 18 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. have legalized marijuana for recreational use, it remains illegal on the federal level. Yet, several national restaurant brands are incorporating marijuana into their marketing …
(Editor’s Note 6/15/2022: For updated coverage on the shell egg market, please read “Analysts: Expect Continued Demand for Eggs Despite High Prices“) Egg buyers may have found some relief in March as prices moderated, but …
For Earth Day, The Food Institute takes a closer look at recent industry efforts to meet the growing sustainability expectations of consumers. RETAILERS Sam’s Club recently revealed new sustainability efforts for its Member’s Mark private-label …
During the Great Recession, consumers spent less, traded down, and cut back on many CPG purchases. A recent report from the IRI Recession-Proof Your Business series explored these behaviors to glean strategies for success in …
When it comes to inventory management, few companies are automating the process for retailers like Simbe Robotics. The company’s “Tally” autonomous retail robot scans product inventory on shelves and connects data points to ensure products …
As a broader variety of plant-based protein alternatives enter the market, health-conscious flexitarians are turning a more critical eye towards ingredients and production methods. In 2021, consumer interest in clean label grew by 86% within …
This article is written and sponsored by HSBC. Learn how regenerative agriculture is leading us to a more sustainable future According to Feeding America, in 2019, food insecurity in the US had reached its lowest point since …
A new report from Placer.ai, titled Placer Spotlight: Whole Foods’ Journey Since the Amazon Deal, takes a closer look at Whole Foods foot traffic data over the past several years. Here are some key takeaways: …
In the seasonal candy playing field, Easter has been knocking it out of the park. Per IRI data, combined sales for chocolate and non-chocolate seasonal candy totaled $1.3 billion in the 7-week period ending April …
Call it a perfect storm: COVID led to labor shortages and supply chain issues and to fuel shortages, all of which contributed to inflation. Factor in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and unpredictable weather, and food …
We may not have George Jetson’s flying car quite yet, but we could soon be getting a significant amount of our deliveries by drone if Amazon and Chili’s have their way. Amazon has been talking …
As consumers continue to blur the line between snacks and meals, the plant-based category is playing an active role in the space between. Seventy-eight percent of global consumers say their definition of snacks has evolved …
As rampant inflation tightens its grip across the food industry, many consumers are cutting back on grocery staples and trading down to cheaper items. All the while, higher-ticket prepared food sales are soaring. Comparative unit …
With inflation raging, consumers are beginning to cut costs on everyday CPG food items. And as a result, brand loyalty is taking a hit. Private-label brands, after two pandemic years in which they lost market …
