Analysis: Why Dieting is on the Rise
Roughly 52 percent of respondents in The International Food Information Council’s (IFIC) Food & Health Survey 2022 said they followed a diet or eating pattern in the last year — up 13% from the year …
Focus Archive
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Has Chick-fil-A Unveiled the Drive-Thru of the Future?
Chick-fil-A is testing an express drive-thru lane to speed up mobile order pick-up. The company calls its Express Drive-Thru model a “game changer” that will streamline the experience for its nearly 50 million mobile app …
Recession Fears May Slow Great Resignation
More than four million Americans are quitting their jobs every month, but the so-called Great Resignation could slow soon amid fears of a recession. The latest Labor Department figures showed 4.3 million Americans quit their …
Why Agility Should Be Top-of-Mind for Both CPGs and Retailers
Amid rising demand for fresher food products, companies need to ensure their inventory is data-driven, with technology and procedures in place to adapt to a rapidly-changing market, according to Venky Ramesh, head of strategic business advisory …
Traceability Key to Avoiding Daily Harvest-Type Recalls
Meal kit service Daily Harvest’s recall of its French Lentils + Leek Crumbles product, which allegedly sickened more than 470 people, highlights the food industry’s need for high-tech improvements in the traceability chain, an industry …
Innovation Continues to Drive Beverage Category Growth
From bottled water and better-for-you bubblies to convenient coffees and cocktails, the beverage market is booming. Total sales for center store beverages reached $86 billion in the 52-week period ending June 12, per IRI, making …
Unpacking the World’s First Plant-Based ETF
In December 2021, the VegTech Plant-based Innovation & Climate Exchange-traded Fund (NYSE ticker: EATV) made history as the world’s first plant-based ETF. VegTech Invest CEO Elysabeth Alfano recently joined The Food Institute Podcast to discuss …
Rising Inflation Inspires C-Store Innovation
Add convenience stores to the growing list of businesses slammed by skyrocketing gasoline prices. Fifty-nine percent of convenience retailers say customer traffic has decreased in stores over the past three months, according to the Q3 2022 …
Packaging Manufacturers Continue to Make Progress on Sustainability
Containers and packaging clog municipal waste streams with the Environmental Protection Agency estimating the load at 82.2 million tons in 2018 – more than 28% of all waste produced. At the same time, the USDA …
Cold Beverages Red Hot at Coffee Fest 2022
CHICAGO – While coffee shops had previously been viewed as a “third place” to hang out and meet friends over a cup of hot java, shops are evolving to offer more cold beverages along with …
Supply Chain Pain Now Seen Stretching to mid-2023
Supply chain pain could extend well into next year, industry experts said recently, further straining the U.S. food industry and other businesses. That’s according to Camerican International President Josh Gellert, who told The Food Institute …
Consumer Survey: Delivery Apps Often Fail to Deliver
Nine out of 10 customers have had a food delivery order go wrong, according to a recent survey by Circuit, a route-planning app for delivery drivers. In fact, the survey of 1,066 American consumers who …
Ingredient Shortages Hampering New Food Product Development
Research and development divisions at food companies report shortages of ingredients like MSG, sweeteners and soluble fiber are handicapping product development. Additionally, predictions indicate the problem could last well into the next decade. The 2022 …
Industry Experts: Strong Incentives Can Aid Retail Hiring
Grocers looking to hire for the summer months will be operating in a competitive environment with a tight labor pool across the entire retail industry. A study by Snagajob found that there are 1.9 open …
Restaurateur Stephen Schrutt on What Makes Gen-Z Tick
Every generation brings change, but Generation Z has an important distinction: It’s the first generation to have grown up in the digital era and members have high standards for how to spend their time online. …
Inflation Pushing Up Costs for Independence Day Cookouts
The price for a typical Fourth of July cookout could be 11% to 17% higher than a year ago, depending on what’s in your basket. That’s according to recent reports from Wells Fargo and the …
Can Breeding Super Seeds Improve Plant-Based Foods?
Plant-based protein is popping up in more products than ever before, but challenges related to flavor and texture have left a bad taste in the mouths of many consumers. In response, some companies are utilizing …
Industry CEO: Baby Formula Shortage Illustrates ‘Broken System’
Abbott Laboratories, which stopped the production of Elecare powdered specialty baby formula after its southwest Michigan facility was flooded recently, said it had enough formula supply on hand to meet current needs. Heavy rains and …
TikTok Expert: Authenticity Key for Food Brands Marketing to Gen Z
With an endless supply of content and more than 50 million daily users, there is no shortage of ways for brands to market themselves on TikTok – particularly to Gen Z. In fact, half of …
Plant-Based Meat Growth Expected to Continue Despite Obstacles
The plant-based meat category is experiencing some growing pains. Through the early weeks of the pandemic, alt-meat sales grew some 200% at retail outlets, and the hype around that helped the category secure more than …
CPGs Refocusing on Faster-Growing Categories
The pandemic changed a lot of consumers’ attitudes towards foods and snacks, focusing more attention on healthier living and alternatives to traditional foodstuffs. As those trends accelerate, CPG companies are rethinking their structures and offerings …
Canned Cocktails Seen Growing on Convenience, Health Halo
Coca-Cola is teaming up with Jack Daniel’s distiller Brown-Forman to make a Jack-and-Coke cocktail in a can. The mashup is the latest development in the rapidly growing canned cocktail segment. In fact, the ready-to-drink cocktail …
‘Everything Shortage’ Intensifying, from Condiments to Corn
Add condiments and corn to the abundance of shortages from the international supply chain crises. Australia’s low on lettuce, the Philippines are short on sugar, and sunflower oil is scarce in Spain, Bloomberg reported. Inflation, …
Egg and Meat Prices Likely to Ease by End of Summer
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, which spread widely across the northern U.S. and pushed poultry and egg prices skyward, may be winding down, a USDA official said. Some 40 million birds have been culled, about 6% …
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Cold Brew Coffee Waking Up Summer Menus
The cold brew coffee trend is gaining serious momentum. Market research company Technavio recently released a report predicting the cold brew trend’s trajectory — 57% by 2025 — after 26% YoY growth in 2021. The …
Tips for Capitalizing on Plant-Based Products
Uber Exec: On-Demand Delivery Requires Grocers to Consider Holidays, Loyalty
Grocers have been speeding up delivery, and on-demand is becoming a vital part of every delivery program. Shoppers who have become used to groceries arriving on their doorstep now expect that option to be available …
Atalanta’s DeMaio on the Importance of Innovative, Cost-Effective Products
NEW YORK CITY – As Marissa DeMaio provided a tour of Atalanta Corp.’s event booth at last week’s Specialty Food Association Summer Fancy Food Show, she noted that smoked food products, like cheeses, are “on …
Gen Z Stakes Its Claim as The ‘Foodie’ Generation
Being a “foodie” is now a central component of the Gen Z identity, according to a recent study from Cassandra by Big Village. According to the report, Young & Hungry, Gen Z considers themselves the …
Summer Fancy Food Show Highlights What’s Next in Plant-Based
Plant-based was a unifying theme at the Specialty Food Association’s 2022 Summer Fancy Food show last week, with companies showcasing unique innovations across multiple food and beverage categories. With that, the plant-based specialty retail market …
As U.S. Food Allergies Rise, So Do Opportunities for Food Companies
Food allergies are taking a toll on the U.S. Approximately 32 million Americans have some type of food allergy, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. “In the years ahead, the need to …
Rising Gas Prices Prompt Changes in Shopping Habits
With gasoline prices topping $6 a gallon in some parts of the U.S., consumers have been rethinking their shopping habits, opting against multiple trips and turning to superstores and online solutions to cut down on …
Meal Kit Services Pivot as Pandemic Eases
Despite stronger sales earlier in the pandemic, the meal kit industry still has room to grow, with Statista projecting the U.S. market to reach more than $10 billion by 2024, compared to $6.9 billion in …
Menu Innovation Spurring Breakfast’s Revival at Restaurants
As professionals return to offices and on-site work post-pandemic-peak, restaurants are revitalizing breakfast service in a trend back toward innovative items with international influences. Chains are driving morning traffic back with discounts and deals, TODAY …
New Food Trend Alert: Caviar ‘Bumps’ Hit NYC Bars and Restaurants
Eating caviar is the latest status symbol for millennials and Gen Z. Caviar has become more affordable and accessible in recent years, with a small serving costing $20 at some New York City bars, reported The New …
Drive-Thru or Dining Rooms? QSRs, Casual Dining Going Different Routes
Hot dog stands and early hamburger joints had one thing in common besides the fries and colas: They were walk up counters where customers would place their orders and stroll off with food to be …