Big Soda Departs from the Juice Market

PepsiCo has announced plans to sell Tropicana, Naked, and other juice brands across North America to private equity firm PAI Partners for about $3.3 billion. The soda giant is just the latest such company to …

Update: Drought Worsening in U.S. West, Plains

Drought and an early fire season are threatening agriculture in the U.S. West and Plains, reducing hay yields, pushing feed costs higher, the Associated Press reported (July 26), and drying up water sources. Drought conditions …

No Magic Bullet in Sight for U.S. Labor Shortage

With schools reopening and unemployment benefits scheduled to expire, employers have earmarked September as a hopeful turning point for the labor shortage. However, many economists and business owners warn that deeper issues will extend staffing challenges …

Is 10 Minutes the New Gold Standard for Food Delivery?

Back in 1979, Domino’s launched a rather ambitious initiative: the chain promised customers they’d get their pizza delivered to their doorstop in 30 minutes or less. It made for great marketing and was excitedly embraced …

Digesting This Week’s Earnings from McDonald’s and Other Food Companies

With a slew of earnings being released over the past week, The Food Institute looked into which companies are thriving, as well as which companies are experiencing issues. EARNINGS ‘WINNERS’ McDonalds (MCD) Global comparable sales …

Low Vaccination Rates in U.S. South Could Renew Supply Chain Woes

A rise in cases linked to the highly infectious Delta coronavirus variant could result in a new wave of disruptions for the U.S. food industry, particularly in the U.S. Southeast. Less than 35% of the …

Grill Makers Turn to Sizzling IPO Market as BBQ Trend Heats Up

Pandemic-related restrictions pushed many people away from restaurants, out of their kitchens, and towards their backyard grills, a small comfort in a most unsettling time. And, whether for a simple change of scenery, a desire …

What’s Brewing with U.S. Beer Makers? COVID-Related Shifts

With the rise of hard seltzer and other low-cal alcohol options, Americans seem to be drinking less beer, and U.S. producers are making less of it. Boston Beer Co. the maker of Samuel Adams beer, …

Restaurant Sales are Booming, But for How Long?

The restaurant industry continued to regain its financial footing in June, but the pandemic aftershocks have yet to subside. “The industry right now is extremely strong and is surging. For many operators, they have more business …

A Fine Kettle of Fish: Rising Seafood Prices Pushing Restaurants to Rethink Menus

Maryland without crab cakes. An ahi tuna shortage in Hawaii. Clams missing from the menu in Massachusetts. Are we running out of fish? “Yes, there is a shortage of fish, in some part, because of …

Update: Nuggets Taking Center Stage Amid Chicken Wars

Eighty-four percent of consumers globally order chicken from a restaurant at least once a month, according to new research by Technomic. The latest chicken product in high demand appears to be nuggets. POPEYES DEBUTS NUGGETS …

‘Double Whammy’ of Drought, Frosts in Brazil Propels Coffee Prices

Extreme weather and supply chain issues have impacted prices for the vast majority of commodities in 2021, ranging from lumber to corn. Until recently, coffee (and avocados) seemed to be surviving in an inflationary market …

Hard Seltzer Market Could Be Softening  

The hard seltzer market may be falling on hard times. While it may not seem that long ago that beverages like Truly Hard Seltzer were a highlight of many summer get-togethers, the popularity of the …

Industry Report: Natural Food Colors On The Rise

As consumers grow more conscious about their health, preference for organic and natural food will increase at a robust pace. On the flip side, focus on health and wellness has caused sales of synthetic food …

Two Forms of ID, Please: Vaccination Cards Required in San Fran. Bars

Starting Thursday, hundreds of San Francisco bars will require patrons to show proof of vaccination or a negative coronavirus test before they can drink inside. The decision was made by the San Francisco Bar Owner …

New D.C. Restaurant Reimagines Hospital Food

Celebrity chef Tom Colicchio, a longtime judge on Bravo reality TV show “Top Chef,” has debuted a new restaurant aimed at providing healthier hospital food options for workers and patients’ families. Root and Sprig debuted …

Frito-Lay Strike Shines Light on Factory Working Conditions

After nearly three weeks, the Frito-Lay worker strike has ended in Kansas. Employees in Topeka, Kansas have ratified a revised contract addressing what union leaders previously described as a diminished quality of life due to …

Why Salad Bars May Become a Thing of the Past

While grocery stores are experiencing an uptick in foot traffic this summer, most salad stations have stayed dark. Many grocers, including Hy-Vee’s, Wegmans, and Stop & Shop have no plans to reopen them anytime soon, …

The Implications of Higher Inflation and COVID-19 Infection Rates for the Food Industry

Here are trending economic and food industry data points, as well as major economic and company earnings releases for the coming week: higher inflation and COVID-19 infection rates, public health policy changes, vaccine passport, the …

Danone and Harmless Harvest – Reading Between the Lines

Danone’s recent majority stake in Harmless Harvest is a curious market event.  Not because they took a majority. Because coconut water is not growing anymore in the U.S. based on sources I’ve reviewed. The pandemic …

How High Can Prices Go? Inflation Spurs Price Hikes Among CPGs

With inflation on the rise, major CPG companies are projecting price increases. Here are a few of the top brands to announce such pending hikes: UNILEVER After already raising prices 1.6% in the second quarter, …

Experts Weigh in on Addressing Subway’s Challenges

Whether there’s something fishy or not about Subway’s tuna, the fast-food chain has a real public relations problem. Couple that with franchisees chafing at corporate rules and negative reviews of its new menu options, and …

Uber Eats Makes Significant Inroads with Food Retailers

Consumers in over 400 cities can now have their groceries delivered by Uber. The company’s Uber Eats division recently partnered with 1,200 Albertsons-owned stores, as well as 25 Costco locations across Texas—marking Uber’s first pilot …

Instacart Advertising Business Poised for Strong Growth Under New CEO

Instacart is developing a media retail network ahead of its highly anticipated public offering and is positioned to raise ad revenue by 30% — or $700 million — in 2022, reported The Wall Street Journal …

Report: Coconut Water Market on Verge of Uptick

Touted as “nature’s sports drink”, coconut water rose to popularity about 10 years ago and has now become a staple in grocery stores and households. Vita Coco, widely viewed as the leading coconut water brand, …

Online Grocers Already Deliver for Consumers. What About Investors?

Digital grocery delivery startups across the globe continue to attract sizable investments from venture capitalists. New companies have already raised over $10 billion in 2021, reported CNBC. (July 2) “Delivery grew more than 400% between …

EARNINGS UPDATE: Coca-Cola Reports Strong Second Quarter Results

Coca-Cola Co. released its second quarter earnings this week—and sales rebounded faster than expected. HIGHLIGHTS: Net Revenues grew 42% Organic Revenues (Non-GAAP) grew 37% Operating Income grew 52% Operating Margin was 29.8% versus 27.7% in …

Analysts: Restaurant Customers Seeking Plant-Based Innovation

There’s no denying plant-based food has had a big year. However, the pandemic’s full impact on plant-based momentum in restaurants remains unclear. While the gears of product development are starting to turn again, some major brands have …

Yeast Extract – A Game Changer in the Modern Food Industry

With millennials and Gen Z consumers now hyper-aware of their eating habits and food choices, yeast extract is gaining traction as a versatile ingredient used for savory flavor and quality food. The COVID-19 outbreak encouraged …

DTC Delivery, New Flavors Key to Alcohol Growth

The pandemic, revision of direct-to-consumer delivery laws, and development of new flavors helped lift U.S. distilled spirits consumption in 2020, but it was unclear whether the trend would hold. IWSR reported consumption was up 2% …

UPDATE: Major Ingredient Shortage Impacting Multiple QSRs

Taco Bell is the latest restaurant chain to be hit by significant ingredient shortages. “Sorry if we can’t feed your current crave,” reads an orange banner atop the fast-food chain’s website. “Due to national ingredient …

The Future of Catering? Panera Focusing on Remote Workers

Panera Bread is now catering to remote and hybrid employees as it moves to regain sales in the once high-ticket sector. The chain’s new program, Panera Connects, enables companies to host catered meetings regardless of …

FI Report Preview: Vertical Farming Concept Experiencing Immense Growth

Vertical farming is growing by leaps and bounds. In fact, the evolving form of agriculture has become a multibillion-dollar industry and is expected to reach $12.77 by 2026, growing at a compound annual growth rate …

Exclusive: Wells Fargo Economist Addresses State of U.S. Agriculture

Here are trending economic and food industry data points, as well as major economic and company earnings releases for the coming week: an interview with Wells Fargo agricultural economist Dr. Michael J. Swanson on a …

Analyzing China’s Import Activity and Its Efforts to Achieve Food Security

Among the factors behind soaring agricultural commodity prices this past year has been China’s food imports and its efforts to boost food security. And while pandemic-related supply constraints among exporters grabbed headlines, China has been …

France Issues Vaccine ‘Passport’ Rules; Could U.S. be Next?

French restaurant owners and workers are worried: Are they about to turn into the virus police? Retailers don’t understand how they’ll keep people who haven’t had a COVID-19 vaccination out. France is in the forefront …