Analysis: Beyond Meat Earnings Indicate Alt-Meat Category in Trouble

Beyond Meat reported third quarter earnings on Wednesday afternoon, and they were disastrous. Revenue declined 22.5% year-over-year … and that wasn’t even the worst news.

Optimism Abounds for Foodservice Despite Recent Challenges

Despite some uncertainty about future challenges, restaurant operators, suppliers, and distributors remain optimistic about the future of foodservice.

‘Contextual Commerce’ Reimagines Need-based Shopping

Grocers seeking the full potential of their digital platforms may want to investigate contextual commerce, wherein they present products to customers based on their wants and needs rather than the contents of traditional store aisles.

Survey: Despite Inflation, Americans Embracing Food Delivery

According to a new survey, on average, consumers spend $13 per order on so-called “hidden” delivery fees. Despite such fees, young adults seem willing to pay.

Case Study: How Seth Goldman Built Just Ice Tea in 3 Months

When the Coca-Cola Co. announced it was discontinuing Honest Tea, co-founder Seth Goldman jumped into action. In a recent episode of The Food Institute Podcast, Goldman discussed his decision to launch Just Ice Tea and …

Demand for Plant-Based Mayo Spreading

Demand for plant-based condiments is spreading in the U.S., and The Kraft Heinz Not Company is zeroing in on plant-based mayo. In late October, Kraft Heinz and NotCo unveiled their first collaborative offerings — plant-based cheese …

Sustainable Packaging Goals Must Be Aspirational and Achievable

As consumers are starting to demand more sustainable packaging solutions for foodservice products, operators, suppliers, and distributors must make sound business choices in their sustainability journeys.

Talking Turkey: Inflation Altering Thanksgiving Spending

The effects of the COVID pandemic, continuing labor shortages and higher transportation costs, as well as drought and outbreaks of avian influenza, will impact Thanksgiving spending, sending turkey prices up more than 70% compared with …

Kerry Unveils Flavor Trends to Watch for 2023

This article is written and sponsored by Kerry. Each year, Kerry evaluates trending flavors and tastes across five key categories: sweet, salty snack, savory, hot and dairy-based beverages, and cold and water-based beverages. Within each category, …

AR Offers Worlds of Possibilities in Food Industry

My augmented reality (AR) journey with a pear began easily enough. Scan to Experience the Vortex of Augmented Reality, reads the QR code on the homepage of usapears.org. I’ve always wanted to enter a vortex, …

Companies Rethinking Warehouse Experience Amid Labor Shortage

Oversized windows, offering ideal natural light. … Fitness centers. … Outdoor work areas. Don’t look now, but many of the newest factories in America feature items that sound like descriptions on Zillow.com. To retain employees, …

Supply Chain Success Depends Upon Collaboration

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – For supply chain success, all stakeholders from manufacturers to operators must collaborate openly and effectively. That was the general theme of the “Supply Chain Talent All Star Panel” at the DMA Nashville …

Survey Reveals Four Ways Americans are Cutting Food Costs

Inflation is hitting Americans hard and is causing most to cut back everyday items. A recent survey from Attest proves that food and beverages are not immune to necessary cutbacks. Dr. Lin Carson, CEO of …

Out-of-Stocks Cost Grocery Retailers Billions

Smart data and inventory management solutions can help account for lost revenue and even provide further sales opportunities.

Whole Foods Top Trends Highlight Brands on a Mission

What are Whole Foods top trends for food in 2023? Brands with a mission ranked highly in this year’s report.

Plant-Based QSRs Boosting Consumer Trial

A growing number of plant-based burger chains are cropping up across the country as more younger consumers flock to quick service restaurants

Modular, Climate-Controlled Farming Hits Ohio

Square Roots and Gordon Food Service partnered to open a climate-controlled farming facility inside a Springfield, Ohio, distribution center.

Will Instant Delivery Survive Post-Covid?

Inflation is on the rise, the economy is in a downturn, and consumers have returned to shopping in-person in pursuit of discounts—all of which spells trouble for instant-delivery companies.

Survey: Purpose-led Brands See Far Higher Revenue Growth than Incumbents

A new survey shows the value that having a clear sustainability mission can have for purpose-led brands in the CPG space.

COLUMN: Honest Tea and the Challenge of Scaling New Brands at Public Companies

Earlier this year, Coca-Cola (KO) chose to shut down most of the Honest branded beverage business it had acquired from Seth Goldman years earlier. Shutting down an acquisition is a rare decision in CPG firms. …

COLUMN: Operator Notes Foodservice Lessons Learned from COVID-19

When COVID-19 crashed into my booming New Jersey food truck business in 2020, the damage was significant: State lockdowns quickly led to catering event cancellations that resulted in massive revenue losses. Not only that, but …

‘Cookie Wars’ Rev Up Over Lawsuit in Utah

Cookie chain Crumbl is suing a pair of smaller competitors, alleging their packaging and presentation are too similar to its own.

Survey: Retailers Must Strategize to Maximize Potential Amid Inflation

If inflation continues to rise, 57% of retailers will continue to boost everyday prices, according to a new survey. Should this occur, retailers need to take care as they chart their path forward.

Robots Can Benefit Grocers If They Can Master the Process

Retailers including Walmart and Kroger have embraced in-store robots to help keep stores clean on a consistent schedule, and the automated tools offer benefits for any retailer to enhance its operations.

Experts’ Top 3 Flavor Trends to Watch in 2023

New flavor trends are emerging at the intersection of persistent food inflation and pent-up consumer demand leftover from COVID lockdowns.

LA Adopts Plant-Based Treaty to Fight Climate Change

With climate change threatening major changes that will affect food production, activists are promoting the Plant-Based Treaty.

Survey: Tracking Gen Z Food Preferences

Here are key stats on what, and where, Gen Z is eating these days, according to Piper Sandler’s Fall Taking Stock with Teens survey.

Next Successful Franchise Opportunity Could Be Ramen

Interest in ramen has grown over the past five years, with mentions of ramen entrees increasing more than 32% during the period, mostly at full-service restaurants.

Report: Loyalty Members Defying Inflation with Higher Spending

Loyalty spending reached the highest point on record across all restaurant and convenience store concepts in 2021. This traction reflects the value of loyalty programs as a source of revenue during inflationary periods. According to …

Restaurants Get Creative to Aid Consumers Reeling from Inflation

It’s been a year of shifting priorities as inflation firmly holds its grip on the US economy. For those in the food industry, it’s a battle over managing prices while facing limited supplies and labor. …

Gen Z Expert: Authenticity Key to Effective Influencer Endorsements

Six months into the Kim Kardashian Chief Taste Consultant experiment for Beyond Meat, the stock is trading lower than ever. In today’s truth- and value-centered market, do influencer endorsements help or hinder a product?

Florida Citrus Industry Faces Uphill Battle after Hurricane Ian

The impacts of Hurricane Ian are still being analyzed, but one thing is certain: the Florida citrus industry’s losses will be staggering. That’s according to The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, …

Column: Why Investors are Wary of Kroger-Albertsons Merger

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission will need to approve Kroger and Albertsons’ planned merger, and that agency has taken a skeptical view of corporate consolidation in recent years.

Food Prices Negatively Impacting Consumers’ Outlook on Inflation

Food inflation has been a major contributor to CP’s steady climb, and is negatively impacting consumers’ outlooks on inflation in the future.

Execs: Food Industry on Verge of Major Tech Transformation

The food industry is on the precipice of a tectonic shift, according to industry insiders. Technology is the driving force behind the projected change.

Millennials, Gen Z Key to Plant-Based Advancement

Despite industry-wide challenges, both dairy and meat plant-based alternatives are forecast to grow through 2024, driven almost entirely by Millennials and Gen Zers. According to a recent report by The NPD Group, these plant-based consumers …