CPG
What is driving candy and snack purchases?
Inflation and product innovation were some of the key topics at this year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo organized by the National Confectioners Association.
Food
Food
Plant-based steak, seaweed products and customizable drinks on display at restaurant show
Meatless takes on steak, foods made with seaweed and beverage options designed to appeal to both drinkers and non-drinkers were among the top trends on display at the National Restaurant Association Show.
Food
Combining automation and AI with the human touch
Restaurant operators and representatives from tech companies discussed the benefits of ordering kiosks and artificial intelligence-driven marketing assistants at the National Restaurant Association Show.
Sponsored
Pompeian blazes a trail for the olive oil industry with Sustainably Grown Certification
Pompeian is helping set the standard for sustainable olive tree farming and olive oil production by becoming the first Sustainably Grown Certified olive farm and olive oil offering in North America, and currently the only one in the world.
CPG
Exclusive: What NCA’s John Downs is most looking forward to at this year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo
NCA's John Downs reveals what he is most looking forward to at this year's Sweets & Snacks Expo
CPG
The reasons why CPG brands are returning to retail
Sweet Nothings shares the three core reasons behind the brand's decision to cease its frozen DTC operations.
Consumer Insights
Health and wellness: 4 trends for our times
A recent reset is driven by four trends that impact how consumers think about and act on their health and wellness.
Technology
How ultraviolet light is improving food production and safety
Scientists are increasingly using ultraviolet light to aid in food production and safety from farm to table.
Food
Fostering a sustainable future for wine and beverages – from the field to the glass
Supporting brands that prioritize sustainable farming practices, opting for beverages in more environmentally-friendly packaging and seeking out local producers doing their part are some of the ways bars and restaurants can build a more sustainable beverage program, according to experts from the Culinary Institute of America.
Food
The complicated business of foodservice coffee
As fewer consumers opt to go to a cafe or a drive-through for their daily cup of coffee, what can foodservice operators do to drive traffic?
CPG
Sleep health foods and drinks transform how we rest
Consumers are looking to address their sleep issues, and consumer packaged goods brands are introducing food and beverage products to meet the needs of those customers.
Technology
How plant-based meat is evolving for the future
The future for plant-based meat goes way beyond burgers, chicken nuggets and traditional retail channels.
Food
Food retailers infiltrate new categories with private-label products
Store brands. Own brands. Private labels. However food retailers refer to their own lines of product offerings, they are anything but generic, and, bolstered by a number of factors, they are enjoying their time in the spotlight and food retailers are taking advantage of the attention by innovating in more product categories than ever before.
Consumer Insights
Discerning consumers shape food culture trends in 2023
Discerning consumers expect companies to deliver products with great tastes and textures, nutrient density, clean labels, and ethical and sustainable ingredient sourcing and production practices.
CPG
Why consumers are reaching for the avocado oil
The health benefits, food waste reductions and high smoke point are among the reasons why avocado oil is a major trend in 2023.
Consumer Insights
Health and wellness space is a world of opportunities
How have consumers' attitudes and behaviors about health and wellness changed after 3 years of living in a pandemic?
Food
Off-premises dining will continue to help restaurants grow in 2023
The takeout and delivery sales that helped many restaurants weather pandemic shutdowns will continue to play an important role in post-pandemic recovery, according to the National Restaurant Association’s 2023 State of the Industry report.
CPG
How consumers are keeping their furry friends fed
Global sales of pet food grew to an estimated $120.9 billion last year and are on track to hit $177.1 billion by 2030, according...
Food
What’s the big deal with small-format retail?
Whether it’s to fill a niche in suburban towns, plug into urban markets or meet the needs of college communities, many retailers – from traditional “big-box” to grocers and more – are adjusting their store models by shifting to smaller-format stores that occupy a fraction of the square footage of their traditional store models.
Food
Beverage pros weigh in on the alcohol-free beverage trend
The growing appetite for alcohol-free beverages is creating challenges and opportunities for beverage directors, sommeliers and other hospitality professionals when it comes to making sure bars and restaurants offer something for everyone.
Technology
Food tech trends: Tensions along the path to trust
As consumers encounter new food tech, they will evaluate those foods based on familiarity, risk, benefits and consequences, according to the Hartman Group.
Sponsored
Q&A: How to pair vegetables with turkey for nutritious meals students will gobble up
Familiar flavors can entice students to try new foods and eat more vegetables, and turkey is an especially appealing and versatile option for school foodservice operators, chef and nutritionist Brenda Wattles says in this interview.
Consumer Insights
Legacy CPG brands infiltrate the alcohol category
Coca-Cola and PepsiCo initially identified their forays into alcohol as experimenting, but the two are committed to expanding their presence in the alcohol category.
Technology
Wading into the world of plant-based seafood
Plant-based seafood alternatives aim for realism to court chefs, consumers.
Technology
SmartSummit: Transformative technology trends and innovations in grocery retail
How grocery retailers are using new technology to glean shopper data, streamline operations and improve customer satisfaction.
Technology
Automation elevates on-demand foodservice options
Automation is paving the way for appetizing on-demand food options that are miles ahead of traditional vending machines.
Food
Q&A: Poly Cal expert, FMI execs talk responses to food inflation
Cal Poly's Ricky Volpe and FMI's Andy Harig and Heather Garlich meet with SmartBrief for an exclusive discussion on food inflation, consumer behavioral changes and grocery retailers’ adoption of new technology.
Food
How will the grocery industry weather 2023? Together
Throughout FMI’s Midwinter Executive Conference earlier this month, retailers and executives across the industry had the opportunity to attend educational sessions with one common theme running through them all: togetherness.
Sponsored
Great American Plant Company wants to help restaurants, retailers offer delicious, affordable plant-based proteins under their own brands
To help its retail and restaurant customers succeed, private-label brand Great American Plant Company brought on Chief Sales Officer Armetha Pihlstrom, who discusses how the company empowers its customers to make their brands household names in the plant-based category.
Technology
6 startups transforming the grocery technology industry
From automation to food waste, customer engagement to digital value creation, these six startups are making a name for themselves in the grocery industry.
Technology
What’s ahead in food technology?
The Hartman Group outlines how consumers feel about food technology and where the industry is headed.
CPG
Upcycled food helps brands, consumers combat waste
As food waste becomes a significant issue for consumers, the upcycled food market is set to grow by 15% over the next decade.
Consumer Insights
Seaweed wave: Health, sustainability spur algae’s popularity
Seaweed has been gaining popularity on menus and store shelves over the past few years, but this year could bring a tidal wave of new products and culinary applications as food companies look to cash in on algae’s health and sustainability benefits.
Consumer Insights
Datassential forecasts 2023 macro trends for the food industry
The market researcher unveils the tentpole themes that will impact the food industry in the coming year.
CPG
CPG brands take customer loyalty into their own hands
Loyalty programs are a key way for CPG manufacturers to connect with consumers and gain valuable insights.
Consumer Insights
5 food and beverage trends to watch for 2023
Five of the top food and beverage trends to watch for 2023 include a beverage category that will continue to gain popularity and the social media platform that experts think will most influence where and what consumers want to eat.
Consumer Insights
“Plant-based” has not peaked, but rather grown into a lifestyle
Will demand for plant-based food fall as fast as it grew? Far from it, according to Datassential.
Food
National Restaurant Association’s tech and innovation policy lead looks back at 2022, ahead to 2023
Brennan Duckett, director of technology and innovation policy at the National Restaurant Association, discusses the major legislative policies that affected the industry in 2022 and what policy issues restaurants should have on their radar for 2023.
Food
Q&A: CIA faculty discuss challenges, opportunities facing the culinary industry in 2023
Many of the issues that mattered most to chefs and other culinary professionals this past year will continue to shape the culinary industry in 2023, according to faculty members at the Culinary Institute of America.
Consumer Insights
What’s ahead in health and wellness in 2023?
It took a pandemic to upend life as we know it, prompting Americans to rethink their notions around health and wellness aspirations and behaviors.
CPG
Bubble tea has hit the sweet spot
Boba tea shops have become practically mainstream, and bubble tea products are now beginning to enter the CPG market, indicating consumers’ desire to replicate the experience at home.
Food
Restaurants craft proprietary plant-based proteins that go beyond off-the-shelf products
In the quest to offer more meatless options, some restaurants are producing proprietary plant-based proteins, which allows them to tweak recipes to suit customers’ palates and values, and can offer more control when it comes to costs and product availability.