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
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.
Consumer Insights
Shifts in food shopping behaviors due to COVID-19
As we near the end of this tumultuous year, the novel coronavirus continues to upend lives, given the fluctuations and inconsistencies in case incidences, regulations, and official guidance.
Consumer Insights
How businesses are feeding the cravings of the comfort- and convenience-centric consumer
Conveniences and comfort food options were all available before COVID-19, but they’ve surged in use and popularity as the pandemic changed everything.
Sponsored
Bringing supermarkets into the smartphone era
In this interview, Acosta Senior Manager of Business Intelligence Christina Davis explains the findings of Acosta’s report “The Mobile-ization of Grocery Shopping,” including how retailers can make the shopping experience more mobile
Food
Top 10: Pizza at Panera, panic shopping at Walmart
The pandemic fueled business decisions at companies including Panera, Walmart, Coca-Cola and General Mills.
Food
SmartSummit: Foodservice industry experts on what it takes to succeed in these times
From increased drive-thrus and ghost kitchens to keeping an eye on new technologies and employee retention, the panel offered insights that centered on the need to be flexible in operations, and to meet not only consumers’ expectations, but also restauran
Food Retail
The state of sustainable seafood
We all know sustainable seafood is more than just a buzzword these days -- how are grocers, CPG producers and restaurants tackling the issue?
Food
Top 10: Whole Foods’ trend predictions, PPP and food retailer rankings
From drive-thrus and curbside pickup to food trends and Paycheck Protection Program loans, this week’s top news touched on multiple facets of the industry, a sign of how much is truly going on in these times.
Restaurant and Foodservice
Restaurants encourage employees, customers to vote and make plans to feed people at the polls
Election Day is quickly approaching, and restaurants are participating in initiatives to encourage people to cast their ballots and help provide food for voters waiting in long lines.
CPG
Candy makers create celebrations for a COVID-19 Halloween
Halloween in 2020 looks very different from past years, but candy makers have pivoted to help consumers celebrate at home.
Restaurant and Foodservice
California’s wine industry weathers a record wildfire season
California's wine industry faced a double whammy in 2020 as a record wildfire season hit amid the pandemic.
Sponsored
Demand for convenient, functional foods and beverages continues to grow
Consumer interest in functional foods and beverages has been steadily rising, and an increased focus on health and wellness amid the pandemic is giving the trend an extra boost.
Consumer Insights
What’s trending for the future of food?
Food and beverage manufacturers should focus on health-forward options to capitalize on the future of food trends.