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.
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.
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.
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.
As consumers encounter new food tech, they will evaluate those foods based on familiarity, risk, benefits and consequences, according to the Hartman Group.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
From automation to food waste, customer engagement to digital value creation, these six startups are making a name for themselves in the grocery industry.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
From inflation to COVID-19, various factors are shaping food shopping preferences and behaviors, presenting both challenges and opportunities for food retailers and foodservice operators alike.
Sign up for Restaurant SmartBrief today, free. SmartBrief and The National Restaurant Association are pleased to announce the winners of this year’s Innovation Awards for...
From improving food safety and offering sustainable material alternatives to helping retailers glean more customer data, food packaging innovations are revolutionizing the food and beverage retail industries.
The restaurant industry is facing increasing calls to make their establishments pet-friendly. But how does a restaurant grow more pet-friendly without alienating customers that want to dine with humans only?
As restaurants adjust to changing business conditions some operators are using robots and other automation technologies to reallocate some tasks and maximize efficiency.