Food
Top 10: School meals, vegan food at Target and Chipotle’s wage increases
School nutrition, new plant-based foods at Target and Chipotle's pay raises made news this week.
Food
Consumer Insights
Health & wellness in the US today: Cultural shifts and the COVID-19 pandemic
Several long-term shifts have been reshaping the American health and wellness landscape over the past two decades.
Sponsored
How milk nourishes people and planet
Yin Rani, CEO of MilkPEP, discusses some of the sustainability success stories in the US dairy industry and how farmers and processors are working to further reduce their carbon footprint.
Restaurant and Foodservice
Creating plant-forward menus that serve the planet, consumers and the bottom line
Finding ways to cater to customers’ plant-forward tastes and innovate with new dishes and practices that benefit the environment and boost the bottom line will be key to the next chapter of the plant-forward movement, a panel of chefs said.
Sponsored
From recalls to rebrands: The evolution of crisis and issues management
In this interview, Premiere Response co-founder and Executive Vice President of Customer Engagement Beth Ziff discusses how working with a customer relationship management firm can give brands an edge when dealing with recalls and other issues.
Food
Top 10: Clorox prices, Target’s new stores, chicken sandwiches
News about Clorox, Target and the world of crispy chicken sandwiches piqued SmartBrief readers' interest this week.
CPG
Is the future of produce all in the genes?
Gene-editing tool Crispr could be responsible for more of what's in consumers' crisper drawers.
Sponsored
Q&A: What brands need to adapt to today’s unpredictable and accelerating pace of change
In this interview, Acosta Chief Growth Officer John Carroll discusses the changes that the grocery retail industry has experienced over the past year, and what brands -- and Acosta -- are doing to keep pace with the changing landscape.
CPG
Why consumer data is key to growth for F&B companies
The ability to speedily gather, analyze and act on massive amounts of information is permanently changing the food and beverage landscape.
Sponsored
Q&A: Exploring the pandemic’s effect on the frozen food category
Acosta Senior Manager of Business Intelligence Christina Davis discusses what factors are driving growth in the frozen food category and what retailers and frozen food brands can do to maintain growth and attract new customers.
Food
Top 10: Free school meals, sustainability goals, Reese’s-themed makeup
Read this week's 10 most popular food-and-beverage stories on SmartBrief.
Sponsored
Q&A: Why the POS of the past doesn’t work for today’s ghost kitchens
In this interview, OrderB4 founder and CEO Randy Murphy discusses the virtual kitchen system's origins in restaurants and what makes it an ideal solution for brands, ghost kitchen operators and consumers.
Consumer Insights
Datassential: Subscription models shined in 2020, will see further growth
There were few bright spots for restaurants in 2020. The subscription model was one of them.
Food
Top 10: Amazon’s grocery plans, Taco Bell’s digital store model, Honest Co.’s IPO
Read this week's 10 most popular food-and-beverage stories on SmartBrief
Sponsored
Creating easy, adaptable school meals with mashed potatoes
Fresh-dried potatoes are a time-saving pantry staple that can work for breakfast or lunch, both in the cafeteria and for grab-and-go.
Consumer Insights
What’s next for dairy alternatives?
From plant-based to animal-free dairy, substitutes to traditional milk, ice cream and other dairy products have soared in popularity and are expected to continue to grow in the future.
Food Retail
Farmers’ markets played a bigger role in feeding America in the pandemic
Farmers' markets around the US became essential sources of fresh, local food during the pandemic.
Sponsored
Keep students engaged with meals and activities all school year long
Keep students engaged with what’s going on at school through meals and activities inspired by holidays and the seasons.
Sponsored
Q&A: How the pandemic will shape grocery shopping habits for years to come
Colin Stewart, executive vice president of business intelligence at Acosta, discusses which pandemic-era changes will be part of the “new normal” and what grocery retailers can do to meet shoppers’ evolving needs.
Consumer Insights
The power of personalization in food shopping: Two online retailers show the way
Consumer priorities in food and beverages have shifted toward finding items that signal increased personalization to health and wellness needs and goals.
CPG
Branding lessons from top food and beverage companies
How do the top food and beverage brands dominate the industry? They've invested in consistent branding.
Food
Top 10: Rethinking the buffet, Pepsi x Peeps, H-E-B’s new flagship store
SmartBrief’s food and beverage readers were interested in news about Golden Corral’s buffet, a Pepsi and Peeps collaboration and stories about food retail.
Consumer Insights
What role will robots play in the future of food delivery?
With demand for convenient and contactless food delivery options on the rise, autonomous delivery vehicles have the potential to be a game-changer for foodservice and food retail.
Food Retail
What’s on tap for beer sales in 2021?
Retail sales of beer grew in stores and online during the pandemic, with some trends expected to continue in 2021.
Restaurant and Foodservice
Burger trends: Balance between meat and not, daring and classic
From innovative sauces and high-end meats and cheeses to innovative replacements for the traditional bun, Datassential takes a look at the the biggest opportunities for growth in the ever-successful category.
Food
The food industry turns its focus to sesame
A rise in sesame allergies has caused a stir in the food industry in recent years. How are the government and the food industry responding?
Food
Top 10: New goldfish crackers and a Fresh Market IPO
Pepperidge Farm and Ferrero have created new snacks, The Fresh Market plans to go public and $1.9T COVID-19 relief plan helps restaurants.
Consumer Insights
The pandemic has dramatically altered the way Americans snack
The pandemic emerged to disrupt consumers’ food and beverage purchase and consumption routines and significantly alter the current nature of snacking in America.
Food
Top 10: Restaurant help on the way, new line to launch at Target, Ferrero celebrates Easter
Read the stories that resonated with most of SmartBrief's food-and-beverage readers this week.
CPG
CPG brands develop creative breakfast food during COVID-19
As more people enjoy eating breakfast at home during the pandemic, CPG companies have created new products to meet the varying needs of consumers.
Sponsored
Crave-worthy snacks and appetizers are a perfect companion to the season’s big games, on- or off-premises
Consumers are craving comfort and variety from restaurants, and Idahoan Tater Tumblers Appetizer Mix offers a simple starting point for a crispy fried dish that can be customized to suit any menu.
Sponsored
How Idahoan Foods pivoted its marketing strategy to drive consumer loyalty with new households over the past year
In this Q&A, Idahoan Foods’ Vice President of Retail Marketing and Business Development Ryan Ellis discusses how the company uses product sampling and culinary inspiration to stay connected with consumers.
Sponsored
Q&A: Pompeian’s marketing innovation director discusses eliminating confusion in the olive oil aisle through education and innovation
Pompeian has expanded its product lineup with new olive oil and vinegar varieties that aim to boost consumer confidence in the aisle and offer home cooks a product for every unique taste preference and cooking occasion.
CPG
Is the plant-based seafood industry swimming upstream?
New plant-based seafood products and brands are gaining momentum with a focus on sustainability.
Consumer Insights
Behind the growth in the dietary supplement, vitamin market
Vitamin and supplement sales have been on the rise since the pandemic started. Will the category momentum continue?
Food
SmartSummit: The plant-based movement is here to stay
Industry experts from White Castle, The Kroger Co. and Datassental discuss the plant-based trend and whether it’s here to stay.
Food
Top 10: CPG growth, McDonald’s packaging, frozen food
News from McDonald's, Trader Joe's and several CPG companies interested SmartBrief readers this week.
Consumer Insights
How the pandemic fed the growth of food subscription services
The pandemic-era surge in online shopping has also fueled growth of subscription services offering safe regular deliveries.
Restaurant and Foodservice
Community connections help independent restaurants stay afloat amid pandemic
Rather than set unrealistic goals of returning to business as usual, restaurateurs would be wise to focus on making off-premises sales a sustainable part of their business for the foreseeable future, a panel of independent restaurant operators said.
Consumer Insights
Consumers continue to focus on sustainability, waste reduction through COVID
Despite indulging more in restaurant takeout, delivery and home-shipped meal kits during the pandemic, consumers are more focused than ever on reducing waste and their impact on the environment.
Food
Top 10: Restaurant Rescue Plan, Bezos’ grocery plans, Quaker rebrands Aunt Jemima
The news that the Senate approved a budget amendment that would create a $25 billion restaurant rescue grant program won readers this week.