While restaurants continue to feel the weight of the pandemic, retailers are still benefiting. Nearly one in six restaurants, representing 100,000 foodservice establishments, have closed permanently or long-term in the six months following the first shutdown orders …
Several beverage brands are launching new products that have a stronger focus on consumer health. PepsiCo is launching a new drink called Driftwell to aid sleep as consumers struggle with stress, reported CNBC (Sept. 14). …
Kroger forecasted growth of more than 13% for 2020 in its latest earnings report. Sales were up 8.2% to $30.5 billion in second quarter, with growth up 139% excluding fuel. Identical store sales increased 14.6%, …
The at-home coffee market is set to grow by 4.9% in 2020 to reach $15.6 billion, according to new research from Mintel. In comparison, the market experienced a total of 3.9% growth between 2015-2019. “With …
Robyn Carter, founder and CEO of Jump Rope Innovation (JRI), joined the Food Institute Podcast to discuss consumer perceptions and desires during the pandemic. With the back-to-school season in full swing, and Halloween, Thanksgiving, and …
Dining out raises the risk of contracting COVID-19 more than other activities, according to a report published by CDC. The new report comes at a time when more restaurants are reopening indoor dining. Relaxation of …
Several plant-based meat companies are making strides in international markets. Impossible Foods is rolling out Impossible Sausage Made From Plants in Hong Kong. Consumers in Hong Kong can now buy the sausage as a breakfast …
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Zoological Society of London named the food and agriculture industries major factors in climate change mitigation, reported Bloomberg (Sept. 9). Their study, which focuses on biodiversity loss, says expanded …
Influencers and celebrities have changed the way people consume content, and restaurants are taking note of this. “When you’re posting from your own operated social channels, you’re reaching a very small percentage of your followers …
More than half of shoppers plan to stock up on groceries if another coronavirus-related shutdown occurs, according to data from Acosta. “As COVID cases continue to rise, most shoppers believe we’re headed for another shutdown …
Once seen as a perk, meals at work are being pitched as a safety measure. Corporate catering companies were decimated by the initial pandemic shutdown, but with lockdowns easing and employees returning to the office, …
Shopify Inc. is seen as one of the biggest winners in the retail shakeout following the coronavirus pandemic, reported The Wall Street Journal (Sept. 8). Millions of small businesses were forced to adapt to online sales …
With popularity of frozen foods up during the pandemic, supply chains for frozen products are undergoing their own set of challenges. Eighty-six percent of consumers said they bought frozen food in March and April, with …
September is National Family Meals Month, and FMI is highlighting proven scientific benefits of sharing meals. “We have long known that family meals have a tremendously positive impact,” said David Fikes, executive director of the …
Private-label brands have been performing well during COVID-19. Entering 2020, the category grew more than 4% as national brands only grew at 1.5%, according to Nielsen. As the year carried on, the category continued to …
Restaurants in cities are particularly struggling with attracting diners during COVID, even with outdoor dining options available. Even New York City’s Michelin-starred restaurants are having trouble, reported The Wall Street Journal (Sept. 2). Daniel Boulud, …
Swedish alternative-dairy company Oatly is facing protests by climate and political activists over its decision to sell a stake to Blackstone, a private equity firm that is blamed for contributing to deforestation in the Amazon, …
Over half of Americans are eating fewer animal products since the pandemic, according to research for Eat Just, Inc. One reason for the shift is to be more sustainable. Over 60% of study participants indicated …
Friday and Saturday night takeout is emerging as a lasting trend during the pandemic, according to Technomic. Research found that off-premise meals on Friday and Saturday nights accounted for 24% of overall sales in the …
Retailers are developing new strategies in an effort to one up each other in the battle for delivery advantage. Walmart will launch Walmart+, a membership service that could help it better compete with Amazon Prime. …
As coronavirus cases around the U.S. continue to rise, manufacturing plants—particularly poultry processing—are experiencing more closures. On Aug. 31, the U.S. topped 6 million cases of coronavirus, reported CNN (Aug. 31). The food processing industry …
In an effort to expand its health sciences business, Nestlé SA agreed to buy the rest of the partially owned biopharmaceutical company Aimmune Therapeutics Inc. for $2.6 billion, reported The Wall Street Journal (Aug. 31). …
Main Points: Convenience stores must adopt practices to ensure employee and customer safety, such as contactless checkout The ability to shift focus to different day parts to achieve sales is essential Consumer loyalty is …
A growing amount of large food companies—particularly in manufacturing and foodservice—are continuing to restructure, making more job cuts in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Most recently, Coca-Cola laid off thousands of workers, offering voluntary deals …
Shoppers are increasingly turning to plant-based products. The specialty plant-based segment has grown more than 27% since 2017, reaching nearly $5 billion in total brick-and-mortar sales in 2019, according to the recent State of the Specialty …
Restaurants across the U.S. are resuming operations in accordance with guidelines to ensure health and safety and patrons and employees. However, states, cities, and counties have different requirements for operating during the pandemic. In New …
German discount grocers Aldi and Lidl have been capturing a larger share of the U.S. grocery market over the past several years. The stores have increased sales and attracted shoppers with simpler stores that offer …
Sales of chocolate and candy increased during the pandemic as consumers look for products to boost their mood and lighten perspectives, according to data from the National Confectioners Association (NCA). Overall sales of chocolate and …
Manufacturing companies are seeing increased sales during the pandemic, but some are issuing record levels of debt. Strength in the retail and deli businesses helped push sales up at Hormel Foods Corp. in its third …
KIND Healthy Snacks plans to switch to “bee-friendly” almond suppliers to encourage growth of the insect population, reported Fast Company (Aug. 25). KIND’s almond suppliers are working on two major changes: 1) stopping the use …
Food trucks are being saved by the suburbs during the pandemic after no longer able to depend on busy city centers, reported Omaha World-Herald (Aug. 21). The industry has found new customers who enjoy sampling new …
DoorDash plans to open an initial public offering in the fall, according to people familiar with the matter, reported Bloomberg (Aug. 22). The company had previously considered going public through a direct listing but decided …
Recent storms across the country have caused major disruptions to farmers—particularly in Texas and Iowa. Texas Cotton producers in the Rio Grande Valley took a devastating hit from Hurricane Hanna in late July, according to …
Alcohol e-commerce platform Drizly raised $50 million in a series C funding round, reported The Boston Globe (Aug. 20). The company, one of the largest alcohol e-commerce delivery platforms in North America, currently operates in 235 …
Restaurants looking to open ghost kitchens can now get help doing so from the foodservice distributor US Foods. The company is launching US Foods Ghost Kitchens, a program designed to guide restaurant operators when opening their …
As digital ordering grows in popularity, food companies are adapting with new formats. Taco Bell Yum Brands Inc. plans to launch a Taco Bell mobile restaurant in first quarter 2021 under the Taco Bell Go Mobile …
