Update: Inflation Cutting into American Spending

Consumers are clearly eager to get out and spend after being cooped up at home for over a year, but as costs continue to rise, how much they’re willing to buy is limited. BOOSTED SPENDING …

Ghost Kitchen Expansion Could Create `New Reality’ for QSRs

Many fast-food chains, including Chick-fil-A, Wendy’s, and Burger King, continue to expand their ghost kitchen operations and lean further into the delivery space. But with dining restrictions easing and restaurant traffic on rise — why …

Drought Update: West Coast, Midwest Water Supplies Dwindle

Editor’s Note: This is an update to The Food Institute’s April article “Is the U.S. Facing a Megadrought?” Central Valley Farmers to Get No Allocation Farmers in California’s Central Valley Project will get none of …

Start of Summer Travel Could Mean Long Waits at Restaurants, C-Stores

With over half of Americans now being vaccinated, travel is making a major comeback after more than a year of pandemic lockdowns. AAA forecasts that 37 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from …

Vertical Farming Advances with Largest Deal on Record

Nearly $1.9 billion of global venture capital was invested in indoor farming in 2020, nearly tripling over 2019, according to PitchBook data. With those figures in mind, here is a look into some recent developments: …

Analyst: ‘Growth Trifecta’ Signals Strong Future for Organic Products

The organic food and beverage market hit a high note in 2020, with record-breaking sales climbing 12.4% to nearly $61.9 billion in the U.S, according to a recent survey by the Organic Trade Association (OTA). …

Restaurants Can Differentiate Themselves and Grow with Plant Based Foods

As U.S. consumers return to restaurants, operators should embrace plant-based foods to differentiate themselves and boost business in the new world of post-pandemic foodservice. A webinar sponsored by DMA (Distribution Market Advantage) and presented by …

‘Bullwhip Effect’ Felt Throughout Industry as Restaurants Ramp Back Up

The start of the return to normalcy has created problems for restaurants, bars and other venues with demand outstripping supplies and creating shortages of a variety of foods and other commodities. Couple that with difficulty …

Inside a $650M Ponzi Scheme Including Cattle

Two people are facing federal charges they bilked investors across the country in a $650 million Ponzi scheme involving bogus short-term cattle or marijuana investments. Reva Joyce Stachniw, 69, of Galesburg, Illinois, and Ron Throgmartin, …

Corporate Diversity Initiatives One Year After George Floyd

George Floyd’s death sparked nationwide protests and ultimately served as a catalyst for anti- discrimination efforts. Many companies also responded by releasing statements against racism. And some took action, setting quantifiable goals to increase diversity …

Survey: Rising Food Prices Have Consumers Changing Allegiances

Escalating food and grocery prices have many U.S. shoppers rethinking their loyalty to retailers and brands, according to a new survey by Inmar Intelligence. Although vaccines and looser business restrictions are making consumers eager to get …

Restaurant Traffic Up, But Industry Faces Headwinds 

Since the beginning of the year, foot traffic to U.S. food and beverage establishments is up 41 percent, according to Zenreach data. And with the weather getting nicer, vaccinations on the rise, and dining limitations slowly being lifted, restaurant traffic continues to soar. Restaurant …

Low-Sugar Products Market Hitting Higher Gear

For those looking to cut back on sugar, options used to be limited—and, often, not very tasty. In 2021, however, health-conscious consumers suddenly have a plethora of low-sugar items to choose from, whether it’s candy …

A Tale of Two Recent Acquisitions: Essentia vs. Lone River Beverage Co.

In the Fall and Winter of 2020, the market witnessed several high-profile CPG acquisitions by strategic multinational CPG players. I want to contrast two cases that live on extreme ends of the typical continuum of …

Outlook Bright for Non-Alcoholic Beverage Market

The mindful drinking movement has been gaining traction for several years, with “sober curious” consumers opting for no- or low- alternatives to reduce their alcohol intake.   Throughout the pandemic, demand for non-alcoholic beers, wines, and spirits increased, with consumers drinking most frequently while relaxing at …

As Retail Spending Rises, Target Growth Rates Best Walmart 

Big-box retailers have reported surprisingly strong first-quarter results as consumers – with more money from stimulus checks and rising optimism about a return to normal life – spent more in-store and online as COVID-19 cases fell and vaccination rates increased. And, while Walmart posted sector-leading earnings that surged past Wall Street estimates …

Plant-Based Dairy Market Gathering Significant Momentum

If you walk into any cafe or ice cream shop today, you’ll most likely see a few dairy alternative products: almond milk smoothies, soy milk shakes, and oat milk creamers just to name a few. …

State of CBD Industry in the Food & Beverage Sector

CBD continues to be a bright light in the food and beverage industry. However, growth has leveled off from its stellar 2019 gains on a combination of the FDA’s reluctance to approve its usage and …

Study: CEO Salaries Soared Even as Profits Fell During Pandemic

As 20 million U.S. workers lost their jobs last year and most businesses shut down because of the pandemic, many of the nation’s CEOs saw their compensation rise despite massive corporate losses. “Many of these …

The Masks Are Off: Retailers, Restaurants Grapple with Updated Mandates

U.S. retail stores and restaurants are weighing updated CDC guidelines that allow fully vaccinated people to remove their masks in both indoor and outdoor settings. According to the CDC, a person is fully vaccinated two …

‘Revenge Spending’ the Latest Trend Driving Earnings

Walmart recently posted strong quarterly sales growth and boosted its profit outlook, as comparable sales increased 6% for U.S. stores, excluding fuel, according to Bloomberg (May 18). The retailer attributed the strong performance to a …

Barge Jam Cleared, but Trucking Snags Persist Near Memphis

All types of businesses, including those in the agriculture sector, were left breathing a sigh of relief last weekend, after a major backlog of barges was cleared on the Mississippi River. A traffic jam on …

As Convenience Store Business Grows, So Does M&A

Over the past year, convenience store business has been growing—particularly in the acquisition space. Convenience store in-store sales reached a record $255.6 Billion in 2020, according to NACS State of the Industry data. While total …

Plenty of Room for Growth in Plant-Based Space

While Oatly may be making waves for its proposed $10 billion IPO, competition in the space continues to heat up as new competitors expand their product ranges. Meanwhile, the health benefits of these products continue …

Food Industry Financials: Inflation, TSN, ARMK, and more

Here are trending economic and food industry data points, as well as major economic and company earnings releases for the coming week: CPI, PPI, small business optimism, Tyson Foods, Inc. (TSN), Aramark (ARMK), Utz Brands, …

Could the U.S. See Runaway Inflation?

For those who remember the soaring inflation and double-digit interest rates of the late 1970s and early 1980s, President Joe Biden’s economic relief packages present a real fear about rising inflation. At the same time, …

Analysts: CBD-Infused Food, Beverage Market Poised for ‘Aggressive Expansion’

Matt Thomas didn’t found his company, Brew Dr., thinking he would someday sell kombucha that’s infused with hemp derived CBD. In fact, in 2021, CBD-infused products still only make up roughly one-tenth of 1% of …

Restaurants’ Latest Challenge: A Cicada ‘Tsunami’

As if the lingering pandemic hasn’t caused enough headaches for restaurant operators, a new issue has emerged: Cicadas – lots and lots of cicadas. For the past 17 years, so-called Brood X cicadas have slowly …

Consumers Are Gearing Up for BBQ Season and Prioritizing Health

In preparation for the summer and warmer weather, consumers are spending big on barbecue supplies. Consumers increased purchases of barbecue-related consumer packaged goods products in April, according to NCSolutions. Nearly all barbecue categories grew faster …

Latest Delivery Innovations Bring Groceries to Your Garage, Fridge

Recent delivery innovations by Amazon, Kroger, and Walmart are bringing groceries beyond consumers’ doorstep. Sales from grocery deliveries surged throughout 2020 and demand for the service remains high. In February 2021, online grocery deliveries and …

The Future is at Hand: Food Retailers Launch Biometric Technology

Amazon is launching a new system called Amazon One at a Whole Foods store in Seattle, with plans to expand to seven other stores in the area. The rather innovative technology allows shoppers to associate …

Restaurants Pushing to Accommodate Gluten-Sensitive Customers

Eighty-five million Americans are impacted by food allergies and intolerances, according to Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE), an organization engaged in food allergy advocacy. These days, an increasingly common allergy relates to gluten. Celiac …

Is the Pudding Market Primed for Disruption?

Better-for-you trends continue to shake up the dairy case with an expanding selection of plant-based alternatives in milk, yogurt and, more recently, ice cream. And then there’s pudding, a sleepy category with relatively untapped health …

Report: Oat Milk, Nashville Chicken, Kimchi Surging in Popularity

Kerry Group recently released its 2021 Taste Trends report, highlighting food and beverage trends that are gaining traction in several regions worldwide. The annual report aims to highlight the key ingredients and tastes currently influencing …

How the Health and Wellness Trend Is Impacting CPGs

The Health & Wellness movement has made great strides over the past few years. And, the trend only intensified during the pandemic, although indulgent eating was a contradictory development for many consumers. CPG companies are …

Lessons Learned: Food Industry Leaders Already Prepping for Next Pandemic

Public health experts have warned that stopping COVID-19 – or at least mitigating its severity and rapid spread – will not mean the world is safe; rather, it’s just a matter of time before the …