Research Shows Americans Now Seek Snacks ‘Day and Night’
According to retail insights company 84.51°, 27% of shoppers said they’re snacking multiple times per day, up 15% from 2023. Cheese is America’s favorite snack in 2024.
Focus Archive
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Next-level Insight: Using AI to Fuel Food Business Strategies
belVita – The Next Billion-Dollar Food Brand?
One thing that food industry consultants learn quickly is that public holding companies focus most of their resources on their Power Brands – the $1 billion+ revenue-generating giants whose slightest change in profit or topline …
Why Hormel Foods Employs a Cultural Anthropologist
Dr. Rodriguez is thrilled to live in a time when underrepresented voices, cultures, and cuisines can easily take the world by viral storm. She’s quick to point out that for many cuisines, blanket terms like “Mexican” or “Asian” just don’t do it anymore – the people, and the food, deserve more.
The Evolution of Ecuadorian Cuisine
When the Spanish colonized a large swath of Central and South America, they introduced new forms of foods, like pigs and goats. At the time, the indigenous land was fertile with crops like beans, avocados, and papayas, but the Spanish felt deprived of nutrients that they were accustomed to. Thus, by the 17th century, the Spanish had imported countless herds of cows, pigs, sheep and goats to Ecuador.
Brand Magnetism: The Driving Force Behind Gen Z’s Relationship with CPGs
A new report from Gen Z research and strategy firm dcdx noted the importance of brand magnetism for the CPG industry to attract young consumers.
Momentum Building for Grass-Fed Beef
Per the 2024 Power of Meat report, 83% of consumers seek a “better-for-you” option when they purchase protein, such as grass-fed beef, and many brands are eager to accommodate.
KEY: The Startup with Zero Sugar and $4 Million in Funding
Could a zero-sugar energy drink be the future of the heavily saturated beverage market? Possibly. KEY, an energy drink start-up, recently emerged with $4 million in funding, according to an article by AFN. The start-up, …
What’s Playing? The Role of Music in Retail
“The power of audio in retail goes beyond just music,” Elsley said. “Incorporating carefully crafted messaging and advertisements into the auditory experience can further enhance customer engagement and drive sales.”
‘Heatflation’ Threatening Olive Oil Production
Olive oil is being threatened by climate change, high interest rates and inflation that has sent prices soaring. Searing heat in Spain, Greece and Italy has been especially problematic.
Don’t Call It ‘New Sprite’ – Coca-Cola Debuts Sprite Chill
In the wild world of beverages, any edge on the competition may be enough to resurrect an LTO from the past or push it into full-time production.
Frozen Plant-Based Meals Gaining Loyalty
Shoppers seeking convenience are in the market for readymade plant-based meals — and the frozen food aisle is a prime target for innovation.
The Future of Food Delivery: Are Uber, DoorDash, and Instacart Destined to Win the Delivery War?
For now, third-party delivery companies are operating full speed ahead. But how much are consumers willing to pay for convenience?
How Much Does Sustainability Influence Consumer Shopping Habits?
Consumers in the U.S. and Canada say that they are willing to pay more for products that practice eco-friendly sustainability and ethics in their development, packaging, and sale of products, particularly around animal cruelty and ocean pollution.
Opinion: Why Casual-Dining Restaurant Chains are in Crisis
Casual dining is about to implode. It has already started. Full-service restaurants that were popular in the 1980s and ‘90s – old brands – I think they’re going to be cut in half. TGI Friday’s …
The Summer of Swicy
Asian cuisines like Thai, Korean, and Chinese have long used swicy foods as an enticing way to attract new and long-time patrons, and many mainstream and fusion restaurants are combining classic American fare with these staple flavors from across the world.
HPAI in the Dairy Industry and Implications for Human Health
Recent updates from the FDA indicate that ongoing national testing of retail dairy products demonstrates the efficacy of the pasteurization process in inactivating the HPAI virus.
Kombucha: An Ancient Elixir Finds Modern Appeal
The origins of kombucha are shrouded in legend, and the drink’s murky beginnings remained in relative obscurity—at least to western palates—until its rediscovery in the 20th century in something of a cultural phenomenon.
Tequila is Sweet, Smoky, and Everywhere
For many, what began as a collegiate shot has now transformed into an at-home staple, a favorite party mixer, and a ready-to-drink refrigerated option. Tequila continues to capture consumers wherever and however they drink as …
Crumbl-ing Facade: Cookie Chain Experiencing the High Costs of Rapid Growth
Crumbl keeps making its new locations bigger, but is it a facade? The Utah-based bakery chain originally had small, humble retail footprints.
Alcohol-Related Liver Disease Increasing Sharply Among Women
“Was it the six-pack of wine called ‘Mommy’s Little Helper?’ Or ‘Mommy’s Time Out’ wine? Was it the funny phrase, ‘The most expensive part of having kids is all the wine you have to drink?’ The clothes and other goodies branded with, ‘Who is moderation?’ or ‘This is how you adult?’ Our society thinks it’s funny when women drink heavily,” Pengov said.
Is the Future of Retail Bionic?
As more work is being published (and more health-focused products manufactured) to improve health and happiness, we may be entering an era in which the average human life can not only be improved, but extended. Are store managers ready for what that means?
Report: Coffee Consumption Surging Globally
Total global coffee consumption is surging, as servings increased 5% year-over-year in 2023, signaling a promising opportunity for brands.
Could Daiya’s Latest Alt-Cheese Innovation Be a Game-Changer?
Daiya’s newest alt-cheese recipe utilizes proprietary fermentation technology to mimic the texture and meltability of traditional dairy cheese. Could it be a game-changer for the plant-based cheese category?
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McDonald’s Execs Promise to be Price Sensitive in Q2, as ‘All Income Cohorts Are Seeking Value’
McDonald’s Execs Promise to be Price Sensitive in Q2, as ‘All Income Cohorts Are Seeking Value’
The Vanishing Vanilla Supply
A recent cyclone ravaged some of Madagascar’s key vanilla-growing regions, threatening a vanilla shortage during the 2024 vanilla harvest.
The New Era of Nutrition: Balance in Every Bite
In assessing what we consume and how we feel, there’s a growing need to balance nutrition, indulgence, and sustenance.
United Natural Foods in Crisis: Can Distributor Recover from Stock Plunge?
United Natural Foods stock is down 86% over the last ten years—getting squeezed by its customers—shares are now at a four-year low.
Consumer Shift: Private-Label Snacks See Unprecedented Popularity
For the first time in the report’s history, the top six brands – all of them – are store brands, from retailers like Walmart, Amazon, and Target.
Sustainability in the Snack Aisle: Eco-friendly Food Gains Momentum
It’s apparent in grocery store checkout lines, in social media, and in marketing campaigns: consumers demand eco-friendly food.
Peeling Apart the Complex History (and Future) of the Banana
A regular feature in shopping carts from coast to coast, the humble banana has long been a reliable source of nutrition, convenience, and affordability. Yet beneath its cheerful exterior lies a complex tale of botanical intrigue, economic uncertainty, and environmental peril.
Supply Side East 2024 Recap: Adapting to Evolving Trends in the Supplement Market
Supply Side East 2024: consumers are health-conscious and looking for products to support their well-being.
The Supplement Market is Booming
From GLP-1 injectables to mushroom-based coffee alternatives, the booming supplement market is making nutrition easier to manipulate.
Mountain Mike’s Pizza Plans to Reach the Upper Crust
The newly minted CEO isn’t oblivious to Mountain Mike’s challenges in its crowded sector. For example, Metevier knows he needs to be sensitive to labor costs now that his California-based chain must deal with that state’s recent implementation of a $20 minimum wage (85% of the chains locations are based within the Golden State.)
For Gen Z, Variety Packs Rule Retail
Some of the takeaways from the Circana report indicate that inflation has generally gone pretty easy on the beverage category, prompting marketing teams to “promote their relative price stability and find ways to demonstrate value, recognizing that ‘value’ doesn’t always mean lower price,” and that premium categories continue to outperform more value-based brand propositions.
Hot, Hotter, Hottest: Summer Forecast Could Challenge U.S. Ag
Those lazy, hazy days of summer are expected to be hotter than ever this year, according to the Farmers’ Almanac, but then again, the publication has been right only slightly better than half the time …