To Inflate or Not to Inflate Your Pricing
The best time to measure the privilege of being an iconic brand is any period of rapidly spiking inflation. The Consumer Price Index has jumped 8.5% in the last year alone. And the country’s most …
Focus Archive
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What Are the Growth Prospects for Fermented Foods?
Though kimchi and sauerkraut may be top of mind when thinking about fermentation, the opportunities actually stretch far wider. In fact, the fermented food and drinks market is expected to grow by $533 million through 2026 at …
Key Takeaways from 2022 Food Waste Solutions Summit
MINNEAPOLIS – As he gazed out at the sizable gathering at the University of Minnesota on Wednesday, Pete Pearson didn’t mince words. Pearson, senior director of food waste at the World Wildlife Fund, asked the …
Influx of Teens Impacting Workforce
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 …
No Shortage of Shortages as Supply Chain Issues Persist
As supply chain problems persist, there’s no shortage of shortages these days. A baby formula shortage has become wide ranging, for example, with a current out-of-stock rate of 40%, up from 31% in early April. …
Analyst: Third-Party Delivery Not Seeking Profitability, at Least Yet
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 …
Innovative New Products Entering the Plant-Based Category
Omnichannel Fulfillment Changing the Face of Inventory Management
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 …
Vietnamese Restaurants See Opportunity at the Drive-Thru Window
Vietnamese restaurants see potential in the fast-food category. Many American cities, such as Philadelphia, Washington and San Jose, California, are experiencing a surge of new Vietnamese restaurants, reported The New York Times (April 26). And Vietnamese restaurateurs are hoping to …
Amid Inflation, Loyalty Programs as Popular as Ever
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 …
Key Takeaways from New Report on Veganism
Judging by online searches, veganism is not as hot as it used to be. The global popularity of vegan-related search terms appears to be slowing down, according to a recent analysis of Google AdWords data …
Study: Meal Kits Gaining Momentum with Gen Z, Millennials
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 …
Restaurants Grapple with Rising Chicken Prices
Chicken is not as cheap as it used to be. USDA reported prices for skinned boneless chicken breasts in the Northeast region were ranging between $3.30 and $3.35 per lb. on May 4. Food Institute …
Restaurants Roll the Dice on Gambling Partnerships
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 …
Fresh Berry Category Ripe for Summertime Success
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 …
Expert: Brands Must Consider Emotional Factors of Inflation
How will consumer behavior shift as prices climb amid inflation? Most c-suites – in food business, and beyond – are inadvertently approaching this question with a purely rational framing, evaluating the marketplace as if every …
As Inflation Rises, Consumers and Food Companies Pivot
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 …
U.S. Sushi Industry Poised for Change on Supply Concerns
In America, the sushi business is booming. Yet, industry leaders like Taka Tanaka know change is on the horizon, creating uncertainty. Though America has a growing appetite for sushi – the segment is expected to …
How to Write A+ Job Ads
Cashierless Tech Creating New Channel for Growth
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 …
Supply Chain Pain Continues to Snarl Global Shipping
While many thought global shipping bottlenecks would ease by mid-2022, a number of factors promise to extend supply chain pain into the near future. In 2021, supply chain bottlenecks were mostly a function of record …
Kroger’s Restaurant Supply Business Could Disrupt Foodservice Distribution
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 …
Are Consumers Ready for the Return of ‘Eatertainment’?
As the pandemic appears to subside, at least one major chain is banking on the return of experiential dining that includes entertainment options such as arcade games. Dave & Buster’s opened eyes in April when …
Inside America’s ‘First Plant-Based Fast-Casual Franchise’
WAYZATA, Minnesota – On a cold, wet April afternoon, two elements distinguish STALK & SPADE from neighboring restaurants in this well-to-do Twin Cities suburb: First, there’s a line stretching nearly out the door, as a …
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Yellow Pea Protein Market Growth Set to Continue on Rise of Alternative Meat
This article is written and sponsored by Transparency Market Research. Rising customer interest in alternative meats, the growing veganism trend, and increased demand from the nutritional supplements industry are projected to drive global yellow pea protein …
What Are the Top Online Grocery Pain Points?
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 …
Alt Seafood Poised to Make a Big Splash
Amid growing concerns about pollutants, overfishing and climate change, now is the perfect time for companies to invest in plant-based and other alt-seafood technologies, experts told The Food Institute. The Good Food Institute, an international …
Restaurant Expert Sees NYC Finding Its Way on Outdoor Dining
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 …
Bacon Battles Soaring Inflation with Innovation
As record high prices put a damper on bacon sales, retailers and producers are leveraging innovation to help drive consumer engagement. Per IRI data, dollar sales for bacon totaled $6.4 billion in the week ending …
Food Companies Creating Sophisticated Traceability Tech
A recent addition to the federal Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), poised to go into effect in 2023 to minimize the scope and duration of food recalls, requires such complex technology that food industry businesses …
Consumers Lapping Up Super Premium Waters
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 …
Crisp & Green CEO Sees ‘Amazing Runway’ for Salad Chain
WAYZATA, Minnesota – Crisp & Green isn’t the first fast-casual restaurant to focus on salads. Yet, founder Steele Smiley promises an unrivaled focus on freshness and healthiness. He feels competitors “have left this amazing runway …
Tips for Capitalizing on Plant-Based Products
Report: 40% of Consumers Buying Plant-Based Foods
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, …
How Restaurants Can Retain Price-Conscious Consumers
A recent survey of middle-income households shows 57% anticipate buying fewer takeout and dine-in meals, reported Restaurant Business (April 20). At the same time, restaurants are struggling to keep prices in check. With these factors in …
Analysis: What Exactly is the Carnivore Diet?
The carnivore diet – a meat-only meal plan – is gaining in popularity. Compared to other low-carb diets, such as paleo and keto, the carnivore diet eliminates all carbohydrates and plant foods completely. According to …