Recent Economic Data Could Be a Good Sign for Hiring Managers

While there certainly are signs of improving labor market conditions in the food industry, pandemic-inspired trends are causing headaches for hiring managers. In fact, the pandemic changed the way a lot of people think about ...

Make No ‘Mis-Steak’: Steakhouse Visits on the Rise

After two years of COVID-related limitations on indoor dining, one segment of the restaurant industry is surpassing pre-pandemic traffic figures: steakhouses. That’s according to a recent report from location analytics firm Placer.ai, which reported growth …

The 5 Healthiest Yogurts Currently on Store Shelves

With so many yogurt brands and styles to choose from these days, it can be confusing to determine the best option in the dairy aisle. From Greek to Icelandic, full-fat to fat-free, and a plethora …

Report: Bacon, Refrigerated Snacks Big CPG Winners Since 2020

Consumer data analysis firm Catalina reports two years into the coronavirus pandemic, Americans are snapping up certain packaged foods at a rapid clip, and there’s little evidence the trend is slowing much. Bacon, refrigerated snacks …

Analysis: Is There Too Much Plant-Based Competition?

Seemingly any product you can think of has a plant-based alternative these days. When The Food Institute attended this years’ Natural Products Expo West, we found a plethora of plant-based brands with items like alt-chicken …

The Plant-Based Protein Movement and Market Outlook

Plant-based innovations are disrupting the food industry, as the category’s growing prevalence in environmental, social, and governmental (ESG) matters drives investor interest from farm to fork – and beyond. Research from Bloomberg Intelligence suggests the …

Kerry: Health, Wellness Primary Concerns for Modern Consumers

What’s the mindset of the average American consumer in 2022? Kerry, a global food company, examined that question last week in a webinar titled “How America Eats: Creating Data-Driven Success for Food Brands.” “We’ve been …

Report: Groceries Becoming an E-Commerce Force

Online grocery shopping is reshaping e-commerce and is expected to become the top category this year, Adobe Analytics recently reported. “E-commerce is being reshaped by grocery shopping, a category with minimal discounting compared to legacy …

Functional Beverage Market Percolating

In 2022, consumers have a growing thirst for functional beverages. The global functional beverage market size was estimated at nearly $120 billion (USD) in 2021 and, according to researchandmarket.com, is projected to grow at a …

Report: QR Code Usage on the Rise for Young Consumers

One of the lasting pandemic-related changes in consumer behavior could be the adoption of the QR code, according to a new FoodBytes report from Datassential. A year ago, just a quarter of consumers had encountered …

Crisp Executive Sees Supply Chain Problems into Next Year

Supply chain backups are easing – if ever so slightly – according to one industry executive. “As economies open back up, there are fewer restrictions on the movement of people and goods,” Barry Bradley, head …

Food Safety Testing Market: Concerns About Public Health Boosts Demand

This article is written and sponsored by Transparency Market Research. Industrial production of food is subject to handling errors, undercooking, and inappropriate storage conditions that could lead to contamination. Additionally, new pathogens, chemical hazards, and disease …

3 Key Takeaways from New York’s Recent Wine Industry Events

In a strong sign that the COVID pandemic is (finally) on its wane, two important wine events, Vinexpo and La Paulee, took place in New York City recently, after a nearly 2-year hiatus. Judging by …

TikTok is Becoming a Food Industry Influencer

Users sharing their food on social media is nothing new, but TikTok is taking the phenomenon to new heights. Earlier this week, the hashtag for “food” had garnered a whopping 268 billion views on the …

As Masks Come Off, Restaurant Industry Outlook Tempered by Labor Shortage

With masks coming off, restaurants are bracing for a surge in business, evidenced by increased job posting for servers, bartenders and a host of other rolls, reports PeopleReady, an on-demand labor company. Unfortunately, many of …

Can Indulgent Treats Improve Health and Wellness?

The pandemic era strengthened food and beverage trends like health, wellness and nostalgic indulgence. While contradictory at first glance, these behaviors are finding alignment as consumers redefine what constitutes “healthy” behavior. Health and wellness are …

Can Plant-Based Innovation Boost Store Brand Sales?

On the heels of a stagnant sales year for store brands, Amazon and Kroger are bulking up their private label portfolios with plant-based products. Is category innovation on the horizon? The Food Institute Podcast · …

Poll: Most Americans Have ‘Trust Gap’ Over Food-Source Information

According to a new poll, less than 25% of U.S. adults strongly trust information about where their food is grown and how it’s produced. The recent University of Minnesota survey of 1,022 Americans revealed that …

Does the Keto Diet Have Staying Power?

The keto diet is still making headlines after surging in popularity several years ago. Food sensitivity specialist YorkTest researched the most viewed diet-related hashtags on TikTok and found that Americans can’t get enough of the …

Is There an Inflation Tipping Point for Restaurant Spending?

Are consumers willing to shell out $20 for a cheeseburger, fries, and a milkshake at their favorite fast-casual restaurant? As inflation and gas prices soar, we’re likely to find out soon. In fact, consumers appear …

Why Functional Ingredients Have Consumers Hooked

It doesn’t look like the health and wellness trend is going anywhere – and functional food ingredients are sure to benefit from it. So much so, that the market is projected to reach $118.4 billion …

Nestlé Boosts Dairy Alternatives Investment with New Arizona Beverage Facility

As Americans grow ever more enamored with alternatives to milk, cream and other dairy-based items, Nestlé USA has decided to make a major investment in the sector with a $675 million beverage facility in Glendale, …

Analysis: Companies stand to lose millions in pulling out of Russia

Burger giant McDonald’s led the way among fast-food chains, suspending operations in Russia less than two weeks after the Kremlin began its invasion of Ukraine and the West began imposing sanctions on Moscow. The likes …

Agriculture: Deere Sparks Controversy; Bird Flu Spreads to North

Farmers and advocates have filed a 40-page complaint with the Federal Trade Commission demanding that the agency end Deere & Co.’s efforts to prevent farmers and independent dealers from repairing Deere’s equipment. The National Farmers …

Why Food Brands Should be Targeting Gamers

Gamers are proving to be an influential demographic in the food industry. In fact, research from Wunderman Thompson Commerce’s Future Shopper Report 2021 shows that globally, 84% of online shoppers are gamers. With this in …

How Americans are Combatting Meal Prep Fatigue

After two years of more cooking at home, it looks like Americans are getting tired of meal prep. A survey by OnePoll on behalf of Jennie-O found that six in 10 respondents admitted feeling “burnt …

5 Takeaways From Natural Products Expo West 2022

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Natural Products Expo West 2022 was a welcome moment of normalcy for the food industry. The Anaheim Convention Center buzzed with an energy that hadn’t been felt since 2019 – when the …

The Restaurant ‘Experience’ Returns

Editor’s note: This article is a free, one-time preview of The Food Institute’s new Premium articles, which will be available to members. To join FI, click here.  After nearly two years of intermittent pandemic-related lockdowns, consumers are seeking …

UPDATE: Global Food Supply Concerns Intensify Amid Ukraine Crisis

The conflict in Ukraine could cause food and feed prices to rise up to 20%, according to the United Nations food agency. The Food and Agriculture Organization said it was unclear whether Ukraine would be …

Is Plant-Based Meat at a Retail Crossroads?

Alternative meat sales continue to plateau at retail following strong performance in recent years. Has plant-based meat reached its peak, or is this just a lengthy chapter in the emerging category’s evolutionary process? According to …

Webinar Recap: Health Remains Top Reason for Consuming Probiotics

With consumers prioritizing health more than ever, food makers are turning to functional ingredients like probiotics to provide documented health benefits in food and beverages. In an exclusive Food Institute webinar, bioscience company Chr. Hansen …

Experts Offer Solutions for Surviving the Labor Shortage

As the labor shortage rages on, Andrew Lokenauth can’t help but think it’s time for many U.S. businesses to rethink their hiring strategies. After all, Lokenauth – a hiring manager who has held senior positions at institutions from Goldman …

The Toll of Rising Inflation and Gas Prices for Consumers

The one-two punch of soaring inflation and record-breaking gasoline prices is likely to have an increasingly painful impact on consumers. In fact, the Labor Department reported Thursday that the Consumer Price Index, or CPI — …

Baby Boomers Eager to Eat Healthy and Dine Out in 2022

Bracha Goetz is as active as ever at the age of 66, and she’d like to keep it that way. That’s why the Harvard-educated author – like many baby boomers – is eating as healthily …

Drive-Thrus Could Give Full-Service Chains New Opportunities for Growth

The drive-thru lane is no longer exclusive to fast-food chains. Applebee’s recently revealed it would be “aggressively” leaning into drive-thrus as it gets back to new unit growth, reported Forbes (March 3). The chain will …

Can Meat Industry Maintain Record-Setting Sales?

The recently released 2022 Power of Meat report indicated pandemic-induced inflation sent meat prices soaring, with sales hitting a record $81.8 billion in 2021, an increase of 0.3% from the previous year. Those record sales …