What Will Americans Eat During the Super Bowl?

Super Bowl parties may look different this year, but food will still be a major part of them. Frito-Lay estimates a 21% increase in snacking vs. previous Super Bowls as more consumers plan to watch …

Restaurant Earnings Show Continued Recovery  

Foodservices’ latest quarters have seen mixed results as restaurants continue to cope with pandemic-related losses. In 2020, restaurant and foodservice industry sales fell by $240 billion, from an expected level of $899 billion, according to …

Consultants: Restaurants Must Adapt Quickly to Pandemic-Era Changes

Tim Hand and Bruce Reinstein, partners with food industry consulting firm Kinetic12, and Wade Hanson, principal with foodservice consulting firm Technomic, participated in a webinar yesterday hosted by The Food Institute and DMA titled “2021 …

Direct-to-Consumer Model Picks Up Speed

As consumers largely continue to stay home during the COVID-19 pandemic, several food brands have shifted to a direct-to-consumer (DTC) model. Bimbo Bakeries USA was one such brand who recently launched a DTC platform. And, …

Beyond Meat, PepsiCo Team up on Plant-Based Products

The plant-based protein trend continued to gather momentum this week, when Beyond Meat and PepsiCo announced a joint venture to sell snacks and drinks made from plant-based protein. A WIN-WIN FOR TWO MAJOR PLAYERS The …

Major Brands Sack Super Bowl Ads as Upstarts Kick Off for First Time

Some upstart brands that saw strong sales in 2020 will keep the momentum going by airing Super Bowl advertisements for the very first time. Other, more established brands are directing traditional ad budgets for the …

Will 2021 Be the Breakout Year for Meal Kits and Fresh Food?

The meal kit and fresh food segments have experienced tremendous growth over the course of the pandemic on a combination of limited dining-out options, families with little time to spare for preparing and cooking food, …

Restaurants Receive Boost from Stimulus, But Can it Last?

Restaurant chains are getting a sales bump from the latest round of stimulus money, but if patterns mimic the first round, the lift could be short-lived. STIMULUS IMPACT While the amounts given in the roughly …

How Healthy Are Plant-Based Diets as They Grow in Popularity?

A record 54% of Americans between the ages of 24-39 are incorporating more plant-based foods into their diets this year, according to a survey commissioned by Sprouts Farmers Market. WHY ARE CONSUMERS ALIGNING WITH THE …

Food Companies Incentivizing Workers to Get COVID-19 Vaccinations

Though not requiring workers to get COVID-19 vaccinations, some food retailers are incentivizing them to get the shots. Among the first to do so was Dollar General, which offered employees four hours of pay to …

Major C-Store Operators Look to Expand

During the COVID-19 pandemic, gas stations emerged as key, profitable parts of oil companies’ operations as more consumers turned to them for food and drink purchases that were a bit closer to home. While fuel …

How the Food Industry Is Tackling Food Waste in 2021

An estimated one-third of all the food produced in the world goes to waste, likely enough calories to feed every undernourished person on the planet. But wasted food isn’t just about food insecurity. It’s also …

Boston Restaurant Owner Gets Creative, Offers Location as Vaccination Site

With the coronavirus pandemic raging throughout much of the U.S., countless restaurant owners have faced indefinite closures. When dealt with that situation himself, Marc Epstein took matters into his own hands. Epstein, owner of The …

Rising Food Prices Represent Awakening Risk in 2021

New data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics note that food prices are up due to demand. The food index rose in December, as both food at home and the food away from …

Hot Dogs, Cigarettes and Soufflé: Couche-Tard Makes Play for Carrefour

Alimentation Couche-Tard, the Canadian owner of Circle K convenience stores, is exploring a takeover of French grocer Carrefour SA in a roughly $20 billion deal that would create a trans-Atlantic retail giant. The not-so-typical move comes on …

Booming Online Chipotle Sales Open the Door for New Growth Areas

Chipotle’s online business soared during 2020, making up more than half of sales. With that, the digital boom is likely leading the company to consider more drive thrus and introduce breakfast options. DRIVE THRUS COULD …

Demand for Cold Storage Continues Higher on Strength of Food and Pharmaceuticals

Main Points:  Total capacity of refrigerated warehouses worldwide was 719 million cubic meters in 2020, 16.7% higher than 2018. Among the factors driving growth are online grocery sales, subscription meal services, consumer preferences for fresh …

Jobs Report: Restaurants, Bars Among Hardest Hit in December

Employers across the U.S. decreased hiring in December, as COVID-19 cases were up and cities reimposed business restrictions. Throughout the month, job losses were largely concentrated among restaurants, bars, hotels, casinos, and other entertainment venues, …

New Study Casts Doubt on the Safety of Indoor Dining

Since the beginning of the pandemic, indoor dining has been a point of contention for restaurants. After being banned for some time — leaving restaurants to rely on outdoor seating – indoor dining was brought …

Surge in Online Sales Puts Pressure on Retailers, Shipping Services

Online sales for the 2020 holiday season started strong on Black Friday, coming in at a record-breaking $9 billion. That spending represents a 22% increase over a record $7.4 billion spent online in 2019. Traffic to physical …

What the Food Industry Needs to Know About COVID-19 Relief

After months of uncertainty, 2021 looks more promising than one might assume for the food industry. For starters, Congress’s recent COVID-19 relief bill should provide a measure of assistance to restaurants and beer manufacturers alike. …

Pandemic and Brexit Leading to U.K. Chaos Ahead of Christmas

A new variant of COVID-19 and increasing concerns about the country’s exit from the European Union are causing significant problems in the U.K. days before Christmas. NEW COVID-19 VARIANT PUTS LONDON IN LOCKDOWN London and …

Hope for Restaurants on the Horizon Under New Deals

There is no doubt that restaurants have been beaten down during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 110,000 restaurants have closed permanently or for a long period of time throughout  the U.S., while others face uncertainty as many …

Consumers are Likely to Align with Healthier Consumption Habits Next Year

While some people have strayed from regular diet and exercise routines over the course of the pandemic, others have capitalized on the new stay-at-home lifestyle by focusing on wellness. Against this backdrop, and ahead of …

Companies Show Thanks to Employees as Pandemic Continues

Food companies are showing their appreciation for employees in several ways as 2020 comes to a close. Chipotle has paid out over $40 million in bonuses and assistance pay to employees during COVID-19, reported QSR …

Food Industry Groups Want Priority Vaccinations for Workers

With limited quantities of the COVID-19 vaccine available, many groups a seeking priority for their employees—including the food industry. Administration of the vaccine began on Dec. 14 in the U.S. with early doses being set …

QuickChek Acquisition Caps String of C-Store Purchases

The QuickChek acquisition by Murphy USA in a $645 million deal, capping off a string of convenience store acquisitions during  the first half of December. QuickChek, which began its operations as a dairy delivery service …

Americans Plan to Spend Less During the Holidays

Almost 40% of Americans plan to spend less on gifts this holiday season, according to a CNBC economic survey. The average U.S. citizen plans to spend $886, down 10% from a year ago, as the …

Restaurants Focus on Employees as More Closures Loom

The coronavirus pandemic has caused 8,400 retailers and 110,000 restaurants to close across the U.S. this year, according to industry statistics, reported The Economic Times (Dec. 14). And even more closures could be on the …

Online Grocery Sales Top $8B in November

U.S. online grocery sales reached $8.1 billion during November, continuing a trend of more than $8 billion in monthly sales dating back to May, according to the Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery Shopping Survey. The survey …

Over 100,000 Restaurants Close During Pandemic, While Others Adapt

More than 110,000 restaurants have closed permanently or for a long period of time throughout  the U.S. as the industry is contending with the coronavirus pandemic, says the National Restaurant Association. The total, which represents …

Companies Look to Recoup Losses Following Poultry Price-Fixing Charges

Chick-fil-A filed a federal lawsuit accusing 16 poultry suppliers of inflating prices on billions of dollars of chicken that it bought, reported The New York Times (Nov. 6). The suit accuses the producers of violating …

Restaurants Combining with Retail Stores to Drum up Sales

As COVID-19 continues to dampen sales at restaurants, some are trying a new strategy by opening in retail stores, which have profited from the pandemic. Hy-Vee Inc. is preparing to open its 20th Wahlburgers at …

Grocery Stores Prepare to Distribute COVID-19 Vaccines

Neighborhood grocery stores will likely serve as major providers of COVID-19 vaccinations, reported The Wall Street Journal (Nov. 30). Supermarkets are working to secure storage materials for the vaccines, and other medical gear required for …

Will Consumers Be Attracted to Buy Restaurant Gift Cards this Holiday Season?

Weak gift card sales could be an obstacle to full recovery for restaurant chains, reported The Wall Street Journal (Dec. 1). As COVID-19 cases rise, more restrictions are being placed on restaurants and less people …

Retailers Bring Back Hazard Pay and Bonuses

Several companies have recently made announcements regarding bonuses and hazard pay, following reports of retailers not sharing enough of their pandemic profit with their employees. Here are a few: Amazon After ending its $2-an-hour pay …