Chick-fil-A Knocked Off Perch as Best Fast-Food Chain

A new list of consumers’ favorite fast-food chains has a surprise winner. Meanwhile, Chick-fil-A is taking rare criticism of late.

Game the System: Gamification in Grocery & Retail

Gamification refers to the idea of point scoring and applying competitive techniques to encourage consumer engagement.

Case Study: Elevating the Grocery Checkout Experience

Customer engagement company Birdzi has partnered with retail solutions provider ECRS for tech that allows grocery shoppers to redeem digital coupons in real-time.

The Beanless Coffee Revolution Has Begun

Taking the caffeine out of coffee has been a familiar and useful development in the chemistry of coffee. But what about coffee without beans?

Avian Influenza Continues to Spread Across America

HPAI is spreading across dairy farms and, at last report, was present in 143 herds, with 53 new herd infections over the past month.

Snacking Survey: Products and Innovations Today’s Consumers Crave

Today’s consumers are snacking around the clock, according to a shopper survey that notes which new innovations shoppers are craving.

Analysis: Why Has Adoption of AI Been So Slow in F&B?

While restaurant chains like McDonald’s have had notable swings and misses regarding AI, business leaders insist the technology offers invaluable uses to food companies, aiding personalized offers, sales forecasting, and more.

Consumer Demand Reshaping Baby Food Market

Today’s consumers are reshaping the baby food market as a growing number of parents prioritize nutrition and hold the industry accountable for the quality of their products. With that, what are consumers looking for? And how are companies delivering?

Prime Numbers: Amazon and Competitors Heat Up Summer Sales

Amazon’s Prime Day sales, which began Tuesday, were expected to rake in $14 billion, up 10.5% from last year, Adobe Analytics projected. Such statistics have inspired competitors to join the July sales fray.

U.S. Turkey Producer Diestel Family Ranch Joins Regenerative Ag Pioneers

Diestel Family Ranch has become the first U.S.-based turkey producer to receive Regenified agriculture certification.

June’s Record Bankruptcy Wave Signals Tough Times Ahead for Businesses

In June there were 75 major U.S. business bankruptcies. Some financial experts predict the pace could accelerate over the second half of the year.

Turning Negative Reviews into Opportunities: A Restaurant’s Guide to Online Feedback

In 2024, online reviews can have an immeasurable impact on restaurants. The difference in public perception between a 4.5-star Google review and a 4.0 rating, for example, can be costly.

Dates with Destiny: Dates Gaining Momentum as Healthy Sweetener

Move over avocados, pomegranates, and acai; dates are the latest superfruit gaining momentum. Known for their natural sweetness and rich nutritional profile, dates are becoming the hero snack and a better-for-you sugar replacement.

$1.99 Sonic Boom Shakes Up Value Meal Wars

The so-called fast-food “value wars” are ramping up. First McDonald’s and Taco Bell tried to undercut each other; now Sonic’s $1.99 meal has taken things to another level.

The Rare Summer Superfruit: Haskap Berries

Haskap berries: More antioxidants and phytonutrients than blueberries; hardier than most other tabletop fruits.

CEO Predicts Global ‘Food Wars’ as Supplies Wane

“Food wars” are simmering, as geopolitical tensions have inspired a rise of protectionism amid concerns about dwindling supplies, according to one of the largest global agricultural commodity traders, Olam Agri. The Singapore-based agri-business is part of the Olam Group, which supplies food worldwide.

Analysis: Why the FDA Banned Brominated Vegetable Oil in Beverages

The FDA issued a significant ruling for beverage manufacturers, saying brominated vegetable oil is no longer considered safe.

Aguas Frescas: A Cool Take on Hot Weather Drinks

A recent survey indicated 47% of consumers reported they regularly buy aguas frescas with meals. As a result, manufacturers are increasingly focusing on the fruit-based drinks.

First-person Account: How to Eat Like an Olympian

You don’t achieve major life goals without taking care of your body – whether you’re training for the Olympics, training to run your first 5K, or simply trying to lose 20 pounds.

5 Emerging Paris Food Trends Ahead of the 2024 Olympics

Paris will always be the grande dame of French cuisine, but bubbling beneath that surface are new and rediscovered ways of eating and drinking. 

Investors Trust McCormick Again; Should They?

In the late 2010s, among major, mature manufacturers, spice maker McCormick was far and away the most expensive stock in the packaged food space.

Investors Fear Kroger Is Returning To The Old Normal

Kroger stock has performed well in 2024, rising 9% so far this year. But on a two-year basis, the stock has barely budged and shares have faded 15% from early April levels. The reaction to first-quarter earnings last week further highlights the uncertainty: Kroger stock jumped in early trading but finished the day down a little over 3%.

Uber, Lyft, Take Minimum Wage Debate to Next Level in Massachusetts

Agreement by Uber and Lyft in Massachusetts to pay a minimum wage of $32.50 an hour plus some benefits to drivers takes the whole minimum wage debate to a new level and raises questions about what it will mean to other sectors.

Opinion: Here’s Why I Haven’t Given up on AI in Drive-Thrus

Restaurants can have a drive-up process even if they don’t have a traditional drive-thru setup.

Buc-ee’s – Not Your Father’s Fuel Stop

Buc-ee’s has redefined the c-store by boasting the cleanest restrooms, a wide array of private-label goods, music, foodservice, and more.

Private Label Growth Pockets in Frozen Food

As consumers continue to stockpile frozen foods, retail operators are leveraging private labels to tap into that demand. Which frozen products are experiencing the most store brand sales growth? FI investigates.

3 Trends Spotted at the 2024 Summer Fancy Food Show

If you asked 100 attendees of the 2024 Summer Fancy Food Show what the hottest trend was, you’d likely get several different answers.

Pepsi Smart Can: Game-changer, or Marketing Gimmick?

PepsiCo has developed a so-called “smart can” that can deliver tailored, digital content. Experts are torn on whether or not the brand will get legitimate ROI on its investment.

Personalized Wellness on the Rise: 90% Seek Tailored Health Products

“The global wellness economy is booming across all sectors as people prioritize healthier choices,” noted David Knies, wellness and innovation expert at PA Consulting.

Missing the Mark – Private Label is Failing at Target

Everything is cyclical. There’s a pendulum at play for any brand investing heavily in the private-label game – as more house brands populate shelves with similar names and cheaper prices than their national brand counterparts, public perception of the parent company may swing along with the pendulum; in other words, some consumers may begin to question what they’re compromising when their carts are full of private-label goods instead of the national brands they may have been buying last week, last quarter, or last year. So swings the pendulum as a blade of commerce.

What’s the Big Dill? Suddenly, Pickles Are Everywhere

Pickle flavors proliferate in 2024, making their way into many of America’s popular snack items. Pickle power shows no signs of slowing.

The Secrets to Winning Gen Z’s Dining Dollars: Trust, Value, and Social Media

Building trust is imperative when attempting to win over Gen Z consumers – and that notion was reinforced by a study released Monday morning.

Asian Food & Grocery Proliferates

According to recent data from Technomic, Asian casual-dining chains experienced sales growth of more than 24% in 2023 – nearly six times the average for casual dining as a whole. 

AI-Driven CPG Platform Keychain Adds Former Whole Foods Exec to Key Role

CPG manufacturing platform Keychain has appointed Mitchell Madoff to Head of Retail Partnerships. The Foxtrot transplant and former Head of Whole Foods Private Label brings with him an extensive background in CPG and private label spanning over two decades.

Sustainably Sourced Chocolate: An Evergreen ESG Splurge?

Consumers frequently express a willingness to pay extra for products they perceive to be sustainable, but actual shopping behavior often tells a different story. What sets sustainably sourced chocolate apart from the rest?

Intermittent Fasting 101: How the Diet Trend is Reshaping Habits

Intermittent fasting is an approach to weight management that many people swear by these days. The simple act of reshaping how you eat – and strategizing when you eat — provides benefits that may improve one’s overall health. Here’s what you need to know.