Dearth of Rural Drug Stores Creates Opportunity for Chains

Where have all the corner drug stores gone? Those of a certain age remember the traditional corner drug store – the place you went after school, nickels clutched in hand, to buy a piece of …

Survey: Gen Z Drawn to Cannabis Products  

A new survey signals that marijuana is competing with alcohol for Gen Z’s dollars. Technomic’s recent Adult Beverage Planning Program report shows that, in states where recreational cannabis is legal, nearly two-thirds (65%) of Gen …

Food Brands Cut TV Advertising as Supply Chain Crisis Persists

Consumers may be seeing less food and retail advertisements on their TV screens this holiday season. Department stores, such as Macy’s and Nordstrom, spent 8% less on TV commercials from July 30 to October 30 …

Industry Expert: Delivery Customers Now Expect Speed, Accuracy

By most accounts, post-pandemic life will involve lots of online shopping for consumers. Coronavirus lockdowns nudged most consumers in that direction, and innovation is pushing them further toward adoption of extensive online shopping for purchases …

Switching to Exponential Growth – A Case Study of Once Upon A Farm

In 2015 a pair of San Diego-based entrepreneurs – Cassandra Curtis and Ari Raz plotted the launch of a new, high-pressure processing (HPP) baby food brand in refrigerated pouches. The playful name was Once Upon …

Experts: Inflation, E-Commerce Require Companies to Rethink Strategies in 2022

During CPG Growth Strategies in an Inflationary 2022 – a recent webinar presented by IRI and RBC Capital Markets – experts noted what to expect in the months ahead regarding food prices, the labor pool, …

Food Industry Insiders Say Communication, Personal Connections Key for 2022

Despite rising inflation, supply chain bottlenecks, and labor challenges, the food industry should be looking forward to 2022. Additionally, collaboration, communication, and developing personal connections will be critical growth drivers. These were some of the …

Kroger Banking on Fulfillment Centers to Challenge Publix, Walmart

Kroger may be more than a century old, but the venerable grocery store chain is taking a page from more recent upstarts and betting on e-commerce to keep it ticking long into the 21st century. …

UPDATED: Sysco, US Foods’ Steep Prices Hikes a Harbinger of Things to Come?

(Updated Nov. 11, 2021 with Sysco Q3 numbers) Prices for supplies from foodservice distribution giants US Foods and Sysco rose 11.5% and 13.4% respectively during the third quarter but had little effect on soaring demand …

Bird Flu Sweeping Across Europe

Bird flu is spreading across Europe with Poland, the continent’s largest poultry producer, and Britain reporting the latest cases, following outbreaks in Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Russia. Poland reported several outbreaks of H5N1 …

Food Banks Facing Uncommon Burden Ahead of Holidays

U.S. food banks are facing two major struggles at the moment: increased demand from consumers sidelined by the pandemic and surging food prices amid supply chain issues. Many people found themselves facing food insecurity during …

Robotics Advancing Across Foodservice, Delivery, Agriculture

What seemed like something straight out of science fiction just a few years ago is quickly becoming a reality for the food industry. Robots are now doing everything from picking, preparing and delivering supplies. With …

Report: Upcycling Ingredients Gains Traction on ESG Benefits

The adoption of upcycling continues to spread across the food industry as companies large and small explore innovative ways to repurpose ingredients that would otherwise go to waste. While the process remains a niche concept …

Pandemic Forces Food Companies to Reevaluate Inventory Models

To stockpile or not to stockpile – that is the newest question businesses are grappling with amidst the deluge of pandemic-induced operational challenges. While fluctuating demand has left many companies holding — or in food …

Experts Debate Effectiveness of Artificial Sweeteners

Anyone who’s ever been on a diet remembers longing for a sweet dessert, wishing for the calorie content to disappear. That’s what makes artificial sweeteners so attractive – all the sweetness and none of the …

How Companies Can Leverage AI and IoT to Enhance Supply Chain Management

This article is sponsored and written by RSM US LLP. There are tremendous opportunities for growth in the food and beverage industry, especially for brands able to harness the power of technology to enhance supply …

Has Arby’s Started a Pork Sandwich War?

On the heels of the fast-food industry’s chicken sandwich wars, has Arby’s fired the first shot in a new battle? The privately held chain recently launched its Country Style Pork Rib sandwich as a limited-time …

Industry Insiders: Time to Rethink Compensation Packages in Hospitality Sector

Recently released October statistics from Indeed Hiring Lab indicated fewer people are looking for jobs in the hospitality-tourism sector – nearly 24% fewer than in February 2020 when the pandemic first took hold. Even with …

FI Webinar Recap: Retaining Talent Amid ‘The Great Resignation’

Many have lamented America’s current labor shortage. Kristine Gunn, conversely, has tried to maintain an air of positivity, focused on the opportunity that lies ahead. “This really is a time for organizations to reimagine – …

An Inside Look at UPSIDE Foods’ New Cultivated Meat Center

UPSIDE Foods (formerly Memphis Meats) is opening what it says is the most advanced cultivated meat production facility in the world. The Engineering, Production, and Innovation Center (EPIC) features a 53,000-square foot campus in Emeryville, California, …

Report: Holiday Shoppers Starting Early, Spending More this Season

Holiday spending is shaping up quite differently this year, following months of COVID-19 vaccines and gradual restaurant recovery. Not only are people shopping earlier this season — with stats from NPD Group showing that 51% …

Report Says Brands Must Deliver on Consumer Value Expectations

Vericast recently released a report to help CPG brands better understand consumer buying habits amid the pandemic. “As shoppers have settled into new buying habits, brand loyalty has taken a hit overall,” Aimee Englert, Vericast’s …

Thanksgiving 2021: Buy Early, Expect Higher Prices, Look for Substitutes

Following a year of supply chain issues and inflation, Thanksgiving dinner could look a little different—and more expensive—this year. Consumer Reports found that turkey prices could go up anywhere from 10 to 15% this holiday …

Gellert Global Group Acquires Assets Of Mitsui Foods, Inc.

Elizabeth, NJ, Nov. 2, 2021/FINewswire/– The Gellert Global Group has purchased specific assets of Mitsui Foods, Inc., a subsidiary of Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.), Inc. Since 1953, Mitsui Foods has been importing fine grocery and …

Growth of Western Diet in Asia Sparks Demand for American Cheese

U.S. exports of American cheese, including the processed staple coveted for melty grilled cheese sandwiches, are surging as buyers in Asia can’t get enough. Shipments increased by 71% from a year earlier to just over …

Meat-Tax Debate Percolates During COP26 Summit

The idea of a meat tax has been in the spotlight as of late to reduce consumption of beef due to its effects on climate change. The United Nations said that emissions from livestock account …

What’s Fueling the Alternative Seafood Investment Boom?

Alternatives to traditional seafood continue to diversify through plant-based, cultivated, and fermentation-derived production methods, and investors are casting their bets accordingly. According to a recent Good Food Institute (GFI) State of the Industry report, alternative …

Report: Cost of Breakfast Commodities Hits 10-Year High

The cost of ingredients for breakfast staples continues to rise as global food production, processing and transportation challenges collide with higher demand from the pandemic rebound. According to the Financial Times breakfast indicator, futures prices …

NPD Exec: Restaurant Operators Must Lean Into Off-Premises Opportunities

Prior to last year, David Portalatin noticed it all the time. In his hometown of Houston, restaurant customers sought “Instagrammable moments,” in which they snapped photos of tasty-looking food and friends with whom they were …

What’s Driving Beyond Meat’s Slide?

What’s going on at Beyond Meat? A week ago, the company’s stock price fell 12% after it warned that third-quarter revenue should come in at $106 million—far lower than its prior outlook and the nearly …

Subway Continues Brand Refresh with Unique New Bread

Subway is getting back to the diet business, becoming the first quick-serve restaurant to offer a 1-net-carb bread. The sandwich chain, which has nearly 40,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries operated by franchisees, always …

Amazon Fresh a Bright Spot for Company Amid Challenging Q3

Since the first Amazon Fresh opened in September 2020, Amazon has expanded the number of brick-and-mortar grocery store concepts to 19 stores nationwide — and foot traffic has been increasing. Physical store sales were a …

Is Frozen Food’s Hot Streak Starting to Cool?

Although the frozen food aisle showcased a 3% increase in dollar sales for the 52 weeks ending Oct. 17, a 0.5% drop in unit sales indicates demand in the red-hot frozen sector could be cooling, …

Analysis: Assessing Sweetgreen’s Unique Business Model, Ahead of IPO

Sweetgreen, the quick-serve salad chain out to take advantage of consumer interest in sustainability, this week became the latest restaurant chain to file for an initial public offering. And, experts say the move couldn’t come …

Projections Suggest Global Boom for Frozen Pizza Over Next Decade

Frozen food witnessed a surge in 2020, largely due to COVID-19 and subsequent lockdowns that led to storage of food at home. Frozen pizza, especially, fit in quite nicely to quarantine life, as the coronavirus …

Are Climate Conditions Affecting Coffee?

A new study suggests changing climate conditions might be affecting the taste, aroma, and overall quality of coffee. Trends found by researchers from Tufts and Montana State University indicated that farms at higher altitudes were …