Sponsored
Bringing fun to lunchtime — in the cafeteria and on the go
School lunch procedures may look a little different this year, but meals crafted with fun in mind can nourish students’ bodies and lift their spirits.
Food
Sponsored
Q&A: Training is essential to creating a positive food safety culture
Ecolab’s Mandy Sedlak discusses the Essential Public Health training program created in partnership with Lobster Ink, and how the program helps front-line staff put knowledge into action.
Food
Top 10: Restaurant closures, a new grocer, PepsiCo’s sleep-supporting beverage
SmartBrief's food and beverage readers focused on stories about PepsiCo, restaurant closures and new grocer Jet Foods.
Consumer Insights
The way forward: What consumers are cooking at home
Consumers’ craving for restaurant food provides an opportunity for innovation in the grocery channel -- whether through meal bundles on the perimeter or restaurant favorites and global flavors in the frozen aisle.
Consumer Insights
Behind the growth and shifting nature of the pet industry
Pet products have gone premium, and more Americans than ever are getting in on the trend.
Food
Top 10: Burger King’s Restaurant of Tomorrow, Jelly Belly branches out into chocolate
Restaurant chains including Burger King, Taco Bell and Shake Shack unveiled new formats for the pandemic era.
Consumer Insights
Understanding what today’s eco-conscious food consumers want
Restaurants, CPG manufacturers and food retailers are all investing in new, innovative ways to give eco-conscious consumers what they’re prioritizing in their food choices.
Consumer Insights
The future of food technology: Consumer values and a healthier food system
Despite their appreciation for all thing fresh and less processed, Americans have a long and historical relationship with packaged foods, food science and technology.
Food
Grocers, CPG producers take on a new era of safety concerns
Grocers and CPG producers are working overtime to ensure the safety of both consumers and employees.
Food
Top 10: M&M’s reminds us Halloween is still coming; will Whole Foods be cashierless in 2021?
Candy news hit the sweet spot in this week’s top 10, with Mars Wrigley, Mondelez and Behave, a new direct-to-consumer brand of better-for-you gummy candy making the list.
Restaurant and Foodservice
Restaurants invest in tech tools to increase safety during the pandemic and beyond
As restaurant operators continue to look for ways to serve customers safely amid the coronavirus pandemic, many are outfitting their eateries with high tech solutions to increase sanitation and facilitate contactless payment and other touchless tasks.
Food Retail
Creating an experience at food retail is rapidly evolving
In these uncertain times, what are grocers doing to create an experience both in-store and online that keeps customers coming back?
Restaurant and Foodservice
Guiding restaurant recovery: Consumer cravings and communication
Crave-able foods that you can't make at home and sanitation are the pandemic attributes that restaurants big and small will lean into as restaurants begin recovering from the impacts of the pandemic.
Food
Top 10: Lidl named top retailer, Fat Brands to buy Johnny Rockets, Baby Nut comes of age
Fatburger parent Fat Brands will buy Johnny Rockets for $25M
Restaurant and Foodservice
Resilience, innovation will help the restaurant industry rebuild
New technologies and the resilient spirit at the heart of the foodservice industry will help restaurants bounce back, The National Restaurant Association’s Tom Bené said during a virtual conference session.
Food
The state of sustainability during COVID-19 in the food industry
What are foodservice and CPG businesses doing to maintain environmental responsibility, even in the middle of a pandemic?
Food
Top 10: A candy redesign, Walmart’s omnichannel push, zucchini carpaccio
Top news this week from Walmart, Wegmans, Ferrero and more
Consumer Insights
The role of functional food and beverage in the era of COVID-19
To boost immunity and overall health and wellness within the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers are increasingly seeking out functional food and beverage products that they believe might aid in the body’s defenses.
Sponsored
Case ready meat packaging helps retailers increase assortment while reducing labor costs
Case ready meat offerings cut down on waste and labor for retailers and give shoppers an easy solution for tonight’s dinner or stocking the freezer.
CPG
Is the world getting close to its first taste of cultured meat?
Cultured meat startups won bigger investments in 2019 as they worked to make their products affordable and accessible.
Consumer Insights
What do today’s grocery shoppers want from seafood?
Opportunities abound for food retailers looking to ramp up seafood sales.
Food
Top 10: Mondelez makes growth plans, Trader Joe’s to rebrand ethnic lines
Mondelez plans to feed pandemic-era demand for comfort food, Trader Joe's will rebrand its ethnic food lines in response to demand.
Food
How comfort food brands can chart a course for post-pandemic growth
As consumers continue to cook at home more amid the pandemic, pantry staples, frozen meals and comfort foods have an opportunity to grow their relevance.
Food
Top 10: Restaurant-inspired chip flavors, addressing the nation’s change shortage
This week, readers were interested in Mondelez cutting 25% of its products and Americans loving fluffy Japanese milk bread.
Food
Meal kit industry shines during pandemic
Customers have been drawn to the convenience, reliability, variety and quality provided by meal kit services during stay-at-home order across the US.
Food
MFHA Town Hall: How the industry can address racism, drive change
Executives from Union Square Hospitality group, White Castle Restaurants and Michelle Foods signed on to discuss COVID-19, police violence and how leaders need to address the issue of structural racism as businesses reopen.
Consumer Insights
Series: How to deliver on what today’s adventurous food consumers want
With an eye toward discovery and new experiences, today’s consumers are becoming increasingly adventurous with what -- and how -- they eat and drink.
Restaurant and Foodservice
Restaurant reopenings require balance between reassuring diners, reinforcing rules
Diners in many cities where eateries are reopening indoor and outdoor dining areas have flouted rules about social distancing and face coverings, despite restaurants’ efforts to enforce them.
Food Retail
Private label plays a growing role in plant-based grocery trends
Kroger-owned King Soopers was recognized in a recent report for its range of private-label plant-based products.
Sponsored
Supplier communication boosts chef’s confidence about what’s on the menu
Communicating with suppliers provides insights into the supply chain that let Chicago chef Guy Meikle feel good about what he’s serving and pass along that confidence to customers.
Consumer Insights
Mandated to stay at home, cooking fatigue sets in
Lives and lifestyles have been dramatically altered as consumers face the realities of the moment by adapting meal planning, shopping and cooking behaviors.
Food Retail
Report: Last year played a pivotal role in growing plant-based food sales
The success of plant-based meat companies Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods spurred other companies to launch their own plant-based burgers in 2019.
Food Retail
How plant-based food makers have adjusted to the pandemic
Companies are talking about the steps they've taken to keep plant-based food production safe for employees.
Sponsored
Strawberries offer a wide variety of potential health benefits, studies show
From better brain function to decreased inflammation, strawberry consumption can have a positive impact on health in several ways, according to the findings of six recent studies.
Food
Why food brands should continue to work with influencers during the pandemic
For food brands and companies, now is not the time to cut blogger and influencer engagement. Instead, take this opportunity to leverage influencer relationships and feed content-hungry consumers what they are craving.
Food
Top 10: Product rebranding and a cashierless Walmart
Readers were interested in stories about a product rebrand from Quaker Oats and a cashierless Walmart store.
Consumer Insights
5 important food and beverage industry trends to watch
From the diversification of keto-friendly products to the rise of “gummification,” here are some key trends to monitor in the food and beverage space.
Restaurant and Foodservice
Driving restaurant traffic in a post-COVID world
As consumers start to eat out again, how do you drive them to your operation?
Consumer Insights
Industry rises to cater to home baking trend
How are CPG manufacturers, bakeries and other foodservice industry professionals keeping up with consumers’ interest in baking at home?
Food
Top 10: Favorite candy by state, sudden restaurant reopenings
The bulk of the Top 10 covered equal parts CPG news and food retail news, with non-pandemic-related news taking the top spot.
Food
Familiar formats can boost appeal of plant-forward meals
Using familiar ingredients, rather than processed meat alternatives, can help restaurants appeal to vegans, meat-eaters and everyone in between, researchers and chefs said during The Culinary Institute of America’s Global Plant-Forward Culinary Summit.
Restaurant and Foodservice
What’s next for third-party delivery services?
Food delivery services play a vital role during the pandemic but delivery fees are still an issue for restaurant operators.