Focus Archive > Page 89

Thanksgiving 2016: Who’s Doing What?

In a few days, the vast majority of Americans will sit down for a meal with their loved ones and give thanks for a nearly-completed year. However, how those Americans will celebrate varies greatly by …

Looking for Growth in Smaller Settings

Sometimes bigger isn’t better, as more companies are looking at smaller store formats to grow its business. Three grocery operators, Sendik’s Food Markets, WinCo and Raley’s, recently revealed plans to open smaller format stores, while …

America Voted for More Than a President Nov. 8

It’s November 9th, and America has elected a new president. Donald Trump will assume the office of the chief executive on Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, and it is certain things will be changing in the …

Changes Are Afoot at Whole Foods Markets

The darling of specialty food buyers and producers everywhere, Whole Foods Market seems to be making some shifts to better serve the customers and shareholders. From loyalty programs to CEO streamlining, the company is attempting …

Is the End of the Avocado Shortage In Sight?

For the better part of the year, avocados have been hard to come by. Despite high volumes and great prices for consumers in 2015, 2016 hasn’t been kind to the popular super-fruit. Weather and labor …

USDA Reports Record U.S. Meat Production in 2015

Meat lovers: USDA has good news for you. U.S. red meat and poultry producers had a banner year in 2015, according to USDA. During the year, the two industries combined for a record high of …

One Year Later, Chipotle is Still Looking to Rebound

It’s been quite a year for Chipotle Mexican Grill. As previously reported in the Food Institute Blog, Chipotle Mexican Grill has been on the offensive to woo back customers following disasterous foodborne-illness outbreaks in 2015. …

Robots in Restaurants: Are They Taking Human Jobs?

Technology is developing at an exponential rate, and it’s not isolated to Silicon Valley startups. Food companies across the globe are starting to grapple with the use of artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and robotics in …

Consumers Have Positive Emotions for Food Industry Companies

Emotion, commonly understood as the most significant driver of customer loyalty, can pay huge dividends for companies. And for the food industry; that’s a good thing. According to the 2016 Temkin Emotion Ratings, consumers are …

Americans Are Already Clamoring for Meat Snacks

Last week, I wrote about whether or not Americans were ready to eat more pork and meat. While USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) clearly believes that to be the case, there is one subset of …

Are Americans Ready to Eat More Meat and Pork?

For nearly a decade, red meat and pork consumption in the U.S. has been falling. According to USDA, U.S. beef production dropped 15% while pork consumption dropped 4% during the past ten years. And despite …

Just When Did E. Coli Start Showing Up in Flour?

When it comes to food-borne disease, E. coli, along with Listeria and Salmonella, is a fairly common culprit. Most often encountered in undercooked meats, the bacterium can cause a number of medical conditions, ranging from …

Starbucks Continues Its Push for Innovation with a… Car Wash?

Starbucks didn’t become one of the biggest foodservice operations in the U.S. by sitting on its laurels. The company is often-cited as an innovative one, with initiatives including new products, expansive employee benefits, unique stores …

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Are Millennials Still Always Eating Out?

When it comes to eating habits, conventional wisdom notes that Millennials as a group are more likely to eat out than to cook their own food. There are tons of reasons for this line of …

What’s In a Food Recall?

If you are an avid reader of Today in Food, you know that we cover a countless number of recalls. These recalls range from everything to misbranding to contamination with pathogens. From small mom-and-pop shops …

Walmart Buys Jet.com, Gets Set to Take on Amazon

It’s a battle of giants. One is the undisputed king of brick-and-mortar retail, and the other is the best that e-commerce has to offer. Walmart and Amazon have been competing for years to get a …

A Deeper Look Into C-Store Sweet Snack Events

The next time you are near the checkout of your convenience store, take a look at the brands and products presented. Better-for-you snacks may be making headway in the food industry in general, but it …

2016 Processing Tomato Marketing Year Comes to a Close

As the marketing year closes for tomato processors, growers and producers alike are taking stock of the previous year while looking forward to the next. California tomato processors harvested an estimated 889,000 tons for the …

Are Cage-Free Eggs Actually More Ethical?

More often than not, consumer demand dictates market conditions. Today’s consumers are more interested in eating cleaner, healthier foods, and that’s not just from a nutrition perspective. This focus on healthier foods translates outside the …

Can We Weather the Great Avocado Wilt of 2016?

On the way into work on July 1, I tuned into a local New York classic rock station. I was anticipating a great Independence Day weekend and wanted to channel that through some music, but …

McDonald’s Plans to Push All-Day Breakfast Even Further

Three words heard round the world: All-Day Breakfast. After years of clamoring for fans, McDonald’s finally introduced a limited breakfast menu available all day in October 2015, and fans rejoiced at the news. And now …

Americans Enjoy the Right to Enjoy Coffee

After enjoying a long weekend for Independence Day, I feel most Americans would agree there are a few inalienable rights. We are entitled to the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our …