Taco Bell Taps Consumers for Ad During NFL Super Bowl

Taco Bell is collaborating with its customer base to create a unique, community-driven ad campaign for its upcoming Super Bowl slot.

A Seat at the Table: Innovative, Allergen-Free Holiday Treats

F&B brands are embracing inclusivity this year, debuting an array of innovative, allergen-free holiday treats ranging from vegan advent calendars to dairy-free nog.

AI Beyond the Buzz: 3 Invaluable Food Industry Applications

Coca-Cola’s AI-generated holiday ads sparked backlash for prioritizing spectacle over substance, highlighting a key lesson for food industry players: AI must deliver real-world value to resonate.

Circana: E-commerce, Private Label to Shape F&B in 2025

Circana’s annual F&B industry report highlights growing consumer demand for value, with e-commerce and private label brands driving significant sales growth. However, economic uncertainty will challenge the industry to balance affordability with innovative offerings in 2025.

Value, Value, Value: Cash-Strapped Holiday Shoppers Get Creative

As consumers buckle under the weight of financial pressures, this holiday shopping season will look a bit different than its predecessors.

The Unstoppable Rise of Shrinkflation

Shrinkflation, the practice of reducing product sizes while maintaining prices, has become a common cost-management strategy for manufacturers amid rising costs. Experts predict the tactic is here to stay, for multiple reasons.

Spilling the Beans on America’s Latest Nutrition Obsession

Beans have gained popularity as a cost-effective, nutrient-dense option, supporting gut health and reducing risks of obesity, colon cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Some feel beans are poised to become a staple alternative to meat for many Americans.

3 Key Takeaways From the 2024 Private Label Trade Show

The 2024 PLMA Trade Show showcased private label’s ascent, with U.S. store brand sales projected to surpass $250 billion this year. Trends like globally inspired dips and coffeehouse-style beverages at home captured consumer interest.

Coffee Omakase, Flights Capture Consumer Interest

A recent Trend Tracker report from Yelp found that “coffee omakase” enjoyed a shocking 5,173% rise in searches between Sept. ’23-’24. What’s behind this surge in interest?

Cava’s Secret Sauce: The QSR Is So Hot Right Now

The latest financial data shows Cava is enjoying tremendous success, outpacing the fast-casual dining segment and sustaining jaw-dropping growth. Some of this success is likely thanks to its Gen Z engagement strategy.

Thanksgiving 2024: Surveys Suggest Consumers Will Feast Frugally

A new survey revealed that substituting store brands for name brands can save consumers $17 on a Thanksgiving dinner for 10. Still, many families weigh cost savings against the sentimental value of using specific ingredients tied to cherished holiday recipes.

Is Yogurt Losing its Luster? Campbell’s Sale of Noosa a Call for Brands to Evolve

While industry experts note that yogurt remains popular due to its ties to gut health trends, they emphasize the need for innovation in portable, health-focused products for brands to stay competitive amid shifting consumer preferences.

What’s Up with Airline Food? Shake Shack, Delta Partner on Burgers in the Sky

Delta’s latest partnership with Shake Shack has been met with excitement; however, is it enough to shake the airline’s negative in-flight meal image?

Fish Oil May Reduce Risk of Some Cancers – Without the Fishy Aftertaste

New research suggests higher levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids may reduce the risk of developing several cancers. While omega fatty acids provide health benefits, experts recommend focusing on whole food sources over supplements.

M&A on the Menu: Jersey Mike’s Lays Out $8B Recipe for Growth

Private equity firm Blackstone on Tuesday announced its $8 billion acquisition of Jersey Mike’s. One industry insider feels the blockbuster deal signals an optimistic outlook for M&A in the sector.

7-Eleven Pilots Food-Centric Design Amidst Headwinds

7-Eleven parent Seven & i Holdings Co. recently outlined plans to update its domestic footprint with improved food experiences. This could be a winning strategy for a business that has faced headwinds of late.

New Age of Nutrition: Nutritarian Diet May Slow Aging

A recent study found that women following the plant-based “Nutritarian diet” experienced slower biological aging and lower inflammation levels. The diet is designed to be rich in nutrients but low in salt and fat.

Salad Chains Shake Things Up, Adding Comfort Food to the Menu

Fast-casual salad chains like Sweetgreen are diversifying their menus with indulgent options like fries to attract more customers. Experts say the move signals one thing: salad chains have reached a crossroads.

Makers Eye Precision Fermentation, Alt Protein for Solutions

With the world’s population expected to reach nearly 10 billion by 2050, manufacturers are looking for unique solutions to satisfy the growing consumer base’s nutrient-dense needs. Can precision fermentation be the key?

The Domino’s Effect: Why One Pizza Chain is Outperforming

Domino’s Pizza has outperformed competitors through strategies focused on tech innovation and value-driven promotions. Domino’s success highlights its ability to stay on top of evolving consumer demands.

Runway to Restaurant: F&B Applications from a Fashion Phenom

Believe it or not, recent fashion industry success strategies, such as experiential retail, offer valuable insights for the F&B industry. Miu Miu’s personalized online presence and bold marketing, for example, offer F&B brands approaches they can use to stand out.

Hops Crossing: Functional Beer, Candy Brews to Trend in 2025

Beer trends in 2025 include accelerated interest in saccharine brews as well as better-for-you beverages, according to a recent report. The Food Institute takes a look at some of the forces motivating these shifts.

Nestlé Releases its 2025 Trends to Watch, Including Coffee Customization

Nestlé U.S. predicts that the top 2025 F&B trends will include “accessible experimentation,” wellness-focused functional foods, and extreme convenience. These trends reflect growing consumer desires for quick, healthy, and affordable food.

Quantum Leap: Is Quantum Farming the Future of Produce?

Dr. Tsipi Shoham, a cancer researcher turned CEO, believes “quantum farming” – an innovative, AI-driven agriculture method – could improve public health. She also feels she has found the answer to indoor farming’s short-comings.

Purée Play: Restaurants Boost Profits with Purées

Restaurants are leveraging fruit purées these days as an effective method to adapt to rising food costs. Fruit purées bring versatility to dishes while helping operators reduce food waste.

Behold, the Pharmacy of the Future

Brick-and-mortar pharmacies face increasing competition from online retail options, leaving their outlook murky. Industry experts feel pharmacies need to focus on being tech-driven – and fast.

Why Beyond Meat’s Revenue Bump May Not Mean a Full Comeback

With waning consumer demand and a cautious outlook for the year’s revenue, Beyond Meat faces challenges in regaining consumer trust and competing within the plant-based sector.

Innovation, Collaboration and Culture Coalesce at DMA’s Annual Conference

NEW ORLEANS – Embracing innovation, cultivating culture, and focusing on collaboration along the supply chain were key themes on display at the DMA Annual Conference. Hosted by Distribution Market Advantage (DMA), this year’s iteration of …

Dynamic Menu, Savvy Marketing Key to Taco Bell Success, Experts Say

Taco Bell has achieved 11 consecutive quarters of growth. The keys, experts note, include targeted digital marketing, limited-time offers, and innovative menu updates that resonate with young consumers and drive repeat visits.

America’s Coffee Wars Escalate as Small Towns Serve as Battleground

The U.S. has seen a surge in coffee shops in small towns. The growth is fueled largely by iced, sugary drinks popular among Gen Z and millennials, which are driving the industry toward more drive-thrus and social media-friendly options.

A Twinkle in Time: F&B Brands Serve Nostalgia by the Spoonful

F&B brands are tapping into nostalgia by reintroducing iconic products from the past, like Twinkles cereal from the 1960s. By offering these LTOs, brands appeal to consumers’ emotional connection to products, resonating across generations.

Peyton Manning and Nestlé Toll House Kick Off Cookie Nachos Collab

NFL hall-of-famer Peyton Manning has partnered with Nestlé Toll House to launch a Cookie Nachos Kit giveaway, combining chocolate chip cookie dough, various morsels, chip-shaped cookie cutters, and nacho-inspired toppings into a food trend worth watching.

DMA Honors Distributor Members at Awards Ceremony

DMA celebrated its customers and distributors last week, Big Easy style in New Orleans. The two-day industry event closed with an awards ceremony honoring multiple winners from DMA’s national network. What started with nine founding …

3 Key Takeaways from Gulfood Manufacturing 2024

The Food Institute attended this week’s Gulfood Manufacturing 2024 event in Dubai and noted that the gathering highlighted advancements in sustainable practices, alt-protein, and tech-enabled ingredients. It also illustrated the industry’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

What Killed Kmart? Key Retail Missteps Led to Demise

Kmart’s downfall, accelerated by poor management and failure to adapt to modern retail trends, ended with the recent closure of its last full-size U.S. store. Experts say there are lessons to be learned from Kmart’s demise.

Restaurant Operators Optimistic About Year Ahead

Independent restaurant operators are optimistic as they look ahead to 2025, with 63% reporting profit growth and a focus on cost management over consumer price hikes, according to a new survey. The industry anticipates further expansion, too.