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Dangerous ‘Forever Chemicals’ Seeping into Food Supply

For years, farmers looking for less expensive fertilizer turned to treated sewage sludge. Now, however, there’s evidence the sludge may have contaminated as many as 20 million acres with so-called forever chemicals – per- and …

Simplicity Is Key to Trader Joe’s Success

As Amazon leans into technology and major grocers like Kroger and Albertsons keep increasing square footage and introducing more product lines, Trader Joe’s is a throwback to simpler times. And that just may be the …

Third-Party Delivery Apps Facing Uncertain Future

Third-party delivery firms are making headlines again. A growing number of investors, customers, and workers are fed up as the companies hemorrhage money and relentlessly chase growth— burning cash, customers, and vendors along the way …

Consumers Diving into Frozen Desserts

Consumers’ perpetual sweet tooth for frozen treats continues to drive category sales, despite equally persistent supply chain challenges. In particular, the frozen novelty segment has been a powerhouse over the past few years, with April …

Food-Centric App Mixo Set to Join Social-Media Fray

Social media platforms that cater specifically to food are limited. Mixo co-founder Shirley Romig would like to change that. “Food is fundamental to our everyday lives. People spend so much time on social media, and …

Analysis: How Severely Will Inflation Impact Small Restaurants?

Half of all small business owners and nearly three-quarters of restaurateurs fear inflation will drive them out of business this year, the Alignable Small Business Inflation Poll indicates. “It’s the mom-and-pop diners and the small, …

Food and Beverage Manufacturers Going Green with Spirulina

In 1974, the United Nations hailed the blue-green microalgae spirulina as possibly the “best food for the future.” Nearly half a century later, food and beverage manufacturers appear to be catching on. The spirulina market …

Food Industry Automation Gaining Momentum Amid Labor Shortage

Image courtesy of Miso Robotics Amid the pandemic-related labor shortage, investment in automation continues to gain momentum, particularly in the restaurant space. In fact, the food automation market is expected to grow at a CAGR …

Predicted Increase in Travel Could Benefit QSRs

U.S. gas prices breached $4 per gallon in every state in March, according to AAA, while JP Morgan predicts they could surpass $6 by the end of the summer. Regardless, after two years of COVID …

Numbers of Note: The Millennial Shopping Basket

On-the-go millennial parents favor products that balance convenience and consistency with splashes of innovation. “According to IRI, categories that rank high for millennials include fresh products, such as fresh fruit, meat, and muffins, as well ...

Blackouts in the Forecast for Summer

The food industry should be on high alert this summer amid warnings from the North American Electric Corp. that high temperatures, drought and the prospects of extreme weather could contribute to blackouts across the continent. …

3 Key Takeaways from the Sweets & Snacks Expo

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 4 Indulgence Mindsets Food Marketers Must Consider

In discussing wellbeing when it comes to food, Nik Modi, managing director at RBC Capital Markets, commented in a recent Food Institute Podcast that “treats” are not merely a vice to be approached with moderation, but rather …

How Albertsons Aims to Conquer Digital Grocery

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 …

Say ‘Hello’ to Adele’s Preferred ‘Sirtfood’ Diet

The Sirtfood Diet is regaining some prominence after Adele posted a salad recipe based on the diet, leading spectators to believe ‘sirtfoods’ may be responsible for the singer’s 100-pound weight loss. Blogger ‘The Modern Nonna’ …

A Closer Look at Alcoholic Beverage Trends

Steve Ramirez is a Vice President and Relationship Manager with City National Bank’s food and beverage group. Based in Los Angeles, he provides cash flow, asset-based lending, real estate and equipment financing expertise to family …

Q&A: Plant-Based Menu Innovations Gen Z Students Love

Colleges and universities are on the frontline of plant-based foodservice innovation as they cater to the Gen Z students who will help shape the future of menus. For additional insights, The Food Institute spoke with …

Health Experts Touting ‘Produce Prescription’ Programs

Dr. Joan Salge Blake believes she knows the prescription for what ails many Americans. “We’ve all heard ‘let food by thy medicine, and let medicine be thy food,’” Salge Blake, a nutrition professor at Boston …

Mexican Food Hotter than Ever

Even a lingering pandemic has done little to slow the momentum of Merkado, an independent restaurant serving Mexican comfort food in San Francisco. The establishment, which features a menu inspired by Yucatán and Jaliscan cuisine, …

Cultivated Meat Heating Up as Big Food Enters Market

When Dutch professor Mark Post unveiled the first cultivated meat burger in 2013 at a cost of $330,000, few could have imagined how the category would evolve. In fact, companies can now create a patty …

3 Keys for Marketing to Millennial Parents

Millennial parents have become massively impactful consumers. Several stats speak to the generation’s purchasing power. First, millennials in general are the largest adult cohort worldwide, with 23% of the global population – or 1.8 billion …

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NYC Grubhub Debacle Furthers Restaurant-Delivery App Tensions

Is the relationship between third-party delivery companies and restaurants starting to fray? A Grubhub promotion offering free lunch to all New York City customers on Tuesday turned into chaos for both restaurants and customers. The app was offering …

Analysis: What’s Driving Growth in Specialty Food

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 …

Trail Mix Market on Path to Significant Growth

Companies producing trail mix are on the path to higher revenue. In fact, the trail mix market size is set to grow by $11.2 billion by 2026, according to global market research firm Technavio, which …

Robotic Delivery, Including Ice Cream, Expanding

The classic ice cream truck is getting a makeover. Automated “store on wheels” platform Robomart has partnered with Unilever to deploy robotic vehicles for ice cream delivery this summer, reported Supermarket News (May 6). Consumers …

A Closer Look at Frozen Fruit

Import, Export Volumes Drop Both imports and exports of frozen fruits exhibited a drop in quantity during the Jan. 1-Feb. 28 period despite increasing value during the period, according to Food Institute analysis of Bureau ...

Keys to Combatting Inflation for Grocers

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 …

Analysis: How Papa Johns is Accelerating Growth

Pizza chain Papa Johns has mounted a charge during the pandemic, leading to plans to open as many as 1,800 new locations worldwide by 2025. “Our outlook for developing new stores and introducing more customers …

Recent Biden Initiatives Look to Support Farmers

President Joe Biden has increased the number of counties eligible for double cropping as part of a series of actions aimed at increasing U.S. production to offset tight global food supplies sparked by Russia’s invasion …

IRI: Global Snacking Trends to Watch

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 …