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.
Food
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.
Consumer Insights
2021 is the year of familiar, healthy, daring flavors
As the coronavirus pandemic continues into 2021, consumers are looking for food and beverage options that meet varying experiences.
Food
Top 10: $25B relief package for restaurants, cereal-flavored ice cream, less shaving = more beard oil
Legislative news involving the foodservice industry and stories about how a change in shaving tendencies is affecting CPG product lines made this week's top 10.
Consumer Insights
Restaurants vs. retail: Breaking down consumers’ plant-based appetites
Plant-based products are continuing to grow in popularity, both at restaurants and food retail, and certain product categories have emerged as consumer favorites in each channel.
Food Retail
Is the world ready for meat made from animal cells?
Companies making meat from animal cells could be closer to bringing products to market, if regulators around the world approve.
Food
Grocery tech trends: The unstoppable rise of AI, voice, automation
If recent news from some of the country’s largest food retailers is any indication, the future is now when it comes to adopting fast-paced, game-changing technologies in the supermarket.
Sponsored
Turkey brings functional benefits and flavor to school meals
Turkey can be a powerful tool for school foodservice operators when it comes to creating meals that offer balanced nutrition and exciting tastes that appeal to students.
Food
Top 10: Unilever’s work week, Kroger’s smart cart, love at White Castle
This week saw news from Kroger, Unilever, Tyson and White Castle.
CPG
Foodservice brands move into the grocery aisle
Restaurants turn to CPG product sales as the coronavirus pandemic continues to restrict indoor dining.
Food
Top 10: More PPP for restaurants, a Save A Lot turnaround and ice cream for dogs
Restaurants were able to apply for loans this week under a second round of Paycheck Protection Program funding.
Restaurant and Foodservice
Increased demand for off-premises ushers in new era of restaurant design
Restaurants are responding to growing takeout sales with new store designs that put off-premises front and center with additional drive-thrus and features that turn takeout into an experience.
Food Retail
Is touchless checkout the next frontier for food retailers?
Food retailers large and small are turning to technology to streamline the checkout process.
Consumer Insights
Restaurants, food brands find a partner in Veganuary
Veganuary's growing popularity among consumers has spurred plant-based brands to participate in the 31-day vegan challenge.
Consumer Insights
COVID-19 and the New Modern Convenience
What does convenience look like when a global pandemic throws normal schedules and routines into disarray?
Consumer Insights
2021 will bring continuing focus on wellness, flexitarian diets, and ways to make dining out safe and memorable
Looking ahead to 2021, many of the food trends predicted by chefs, retail executives and other experts reflect the changing way consumers eat both at and away from home.
Food
Retailers, manufacturers make CBD moves
With interest in the category only growing, where do manufacturers and food retailers stand on CBD-infused products?
CPG
Q&A: Consumer Brands brings leaders together for CPG Speaks
SmartBrief spoke with Ellen Davis, executive vice president of industry engagement at the Consumer Brands Association, about the success of the group’s virtual leadership series CPG Speaks.
Consumer Insights
Datassential’s 10 food trends to know in 2021
Here are 10 trends to know – 3 macro trends and 7 flavor and ingredient trends – that you should consider as you think about your 2021 plans.
Sponsored
First-to-market sweet potato product from Idahoan Foods relieves cooking fatigue in 60 seconds
Idahoan Foods tapped into the heat-and-eat pouch trend to create a first-of-its-kind offering that delivers sweet potatoes in a convenient format with a clean label.
Consumer Insights
2020 year in review: The return of the great American grocery store
As COVID-19 radically altered any semblance of a “normal way of life,” America’s food stores stepped up to provide essential services and, in the process, became consumers’ trusted allies in their struggles to cope with the new realities of the pandemic.
Food Retail
Grocers innovate to make life easier for home cooks
With more consumers than ever cooking their meals at home, grocers are coming up with unique solutions to help them out.
Consumer Insights
5 alcoholic beverage trends to know in 2021
Many of the habits developed this year will continue into the year ahead, while new trends will pop up as consumers get back to normal.
Restaurant and Foodservice
Why quickserves had an edge in the year of off-premises dining
The pandemic put a focus on already growing quickserve drive-thru operations.
Sponsored
Q&A: Health and safety will continue to drive grocery retail trends in 2021
Social distancing, touchless technology and a focus on transparency will continue to drive the way we live our lives and the way we shop in the coming year, according to Acosta’s Colin Stewart.
Consumer Insights
How are consumer drinking habits affecting restaurants, grocers?
Consumers are undoubtedly drinking more alcohol amid the pandemic and it's creating a wave of changes for food retailers and restaurants.
Sponsored
Q&A: How nutrition professionals can take an evidence-based approach to debunking food myths
In this interview, nutrition and media communication consultant Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RDN, LD, discusses how nutrition professionals can help dispel myths “in a time of fake facts and harmful trends.”
Food
Top 10: Restaurant news, PepsiCo’s ergonomic bottle, perfect smoked turkey
SmartBrief's food and beverage readers were drawn to restaurant news this week, as well as culinary news focused on Thanksgiving.
Food
How agtech helps mitigate supply chain disruptions
To keep up with the surge in at-home food and beverage consumption, the agriculture industry has utilized tech tools to maintain robust, sustainable supply chains during COVID-19.
Consumer Insights
5 trends taking hold in the dairy industry
From alternative dairy products to new cheese and yogurt options, innovation in the dairy industry is booming.
Sponsored
Individually wrapped items are a shortcut to grab-and-go school meals
Individually packaged food and beverage items can serve as convenient building blocks for grab-and-go meals that meet USDA meal pattern requirements and reduce food waste.
Restaurant and Foodservice
Resilient restaurateurs press on with new eateries optimized for uncertain times
Despite mounting challenges and uncertainties caused by the pandemic, some restaurateurs are persevering and launching new eateries tailored to the times.