As Geoff Freeman prepares to step down from his role as president and CEO of the Consumer Brands Association next month to pursue a new opportunity, he offers the CPG industry the same advice that he gave when he joined the trade group four years ago:...
Two years after launching at the height of the pandemic, Mavericks Cookies has established a strong foothold in the under-served better-for-you kids snacking category with new distribution at 1,250 Target stores and a streamlined portfolio focused exclusively...
Consumers have heightened interest in flavor twists and combinations (e.g. salty & sweet, tangy & spicy) and are less driven by brand recognition and familiarity when it comes to their snacking purchases, finds Frito-Lay North America in its recent...
As rising gas and food prices cause US consumers’ confidence and short-term outlook for the economy to plunge, some are shifting their spending habits and the blame from the pandemic to ongoing supply chain costs, constraints and related government policies,...
Chobani has crossed into the metaverse through the online gaming platform Roblox where it's targeting a new generation of consumers with its oatmilk portfolio helping to transition its identity from a yogurt brand to broader food company, says Chobani...
Kroger is seeing inflation heavily impact the way consumers are shopping at its stores, with many choosing more store brands and selecting fewer premium products (eg. switching from beef to pork), says CEO Rodney McMullen.
Mondelēz International has generated consistent growth across its portfolio of biscuits, chocolate, cakes, and pastries, and will keep its focus on these categories as the company navigates current economic volatility, says Mondelēz International CEO...
Nestlé USA-owned Sweet Earth Foods is expanding its plant-based entrée bowls line to meet growing consumer demand for flavor, convenience, and plant-based nutrition within the frozen foods aisle.
Total online grocery sales dropped on a monthly basis to $7.1bn in May 2022 (down from $8.1bn in April 2022), but are still slightly above (+1.7%) the same period last year, according to the latest Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery Shopping Survey, which...
Even as fear of contracting COVID-19 ebbs and consumers feel more comfortable visiting stores, the percentage who order groceries online regularly continues to climb as they seek convenience, and ways to manage their budgets as prices continue to rise,...
When co-founders Philip Teverow and Pierre Thiam first launched Yolélé Foods and its flagship product fonio, a West African ancient grain, the lack of consumer awareness was the brand's biggest challenge. Now roughly four years later, the brand is...
Consumers are taking a more mindful approach when it comes to chocolate consumption by balancing their cravings for indulgence with a growing interest in various better-for-you attributes whether it be health related or environmental, says global chocolate...
Oat bar company Bobo's is continuing its growth streak, predicting 45% growth for the full year 2022 vs. 2021 even as challenging supply chain conditions linger, says CEO TJ McIntyre.
While many retailers are raising prices on grocery items, German discount retailer Lidl is reducing the cost on over 100 items in all of its US-based stores for the summer months.
While its legacy may be in chocolate, The Hershey Company's portfolio of snacks has grown by leaps and bounds over the last several years, positioning the company as a growing snacking powerhouse, says Todd M. Scott, manager, corporate brand &...
The Real Good Food Company, which makes lower carb, higher protein, gluten- and grain-free versions of frozen comfort foods, has exceeded growth expectations and raised its guidance for the full year.
Food prices likely will remain stubbornly high as the cost of key ingredients, packaging materials, transportation and warehousing paid by producers continues to rise, albeit at a slightly slower pace – sparking optimism among some that high inflation...
Vita Coco now commands a 50% share of the coconut water category and has grown household penetration of its brand to 11%, a strong indicator that consumer demand for coconut water remains elevated with plenty more runway, said Vita Coco co-founder and...
While many consumers report struggling with product shortages and delays in online orders along with mounting concerns over inflation, demand for groceries “tends to be relatively inelastic,” according to Morning Consult, which has just surveyed 1,000...
As labor challenges continue to hold back Tyson Foods' ability to meet heightened demand, the firm is doubling down on efforts to become the ‘most sought-after place to work,’ while simultaneously investing in automation to relieve staffing needs.
Online grocery activity declined across the board last month in three main segments including pickup (in-store, curbside, lockers, etc.), delivery (first and thirst party providers such as Kroger, Instacart, Shipt), and ship-to-home (parcel carriers including...
Monster Energy reported a strong increase in net sales for Q1 2022 as it steadily works to stabilize its business against rising supply chain costs, but remains bullish on the market and consumer demand for its energy drinks portfolio.
Batting many of the same macro headwinds as the rest of the industry including continued inflation, supply chain disruptions, and ingredient and packaging shortages, Hain Celestial maintains a positive outlook on its North American business where consumer...
After taking a hit early in the pandemic, sales of impulse purchases are beginning to rebound – but they look different now than before the outbreak as brands and retailers redefine the category to better align with consumer needs and lifestyles reshaped...
Bracing for an “asynchronous” recovery in 2022 with “many new chapters and challenges,” The Coca-Cola Co. is prepared to quickly respond to local market conditions with a mix of price adjustments, package differentiation and “ever-sharper” promotional...
As Americans who have worked from home since the pandemic begin to return to their offices and become more comfortable socializing in the evenings, when and what they eat is shifting earlier and later – at the expense of more traditional meals – creating...
As the largest natural and organic packaged food company in the US*, General Mills has the scale and resources to drive positive change in the food system through its work in regenerative agriculture, sustainable ingredient sourcing, and nutrition access....
Despite skyrocketing inflation that reached a 40-plus year high of 8.5% for all goods year-over-year in March, and ongoing supply chain challenges that are driving up production costs and out-of-stocks, US consumers continue to spend what it takes to...
Direct-to-consumer online grocer Misfits Market has launched its own private label offering of 'Odds & Ends' pantry staples specifically designed to address certain supply chain inefficiencies around sourcing, food waste, and elevated pricing,...
With 33 years operating in the natural foods industry, national food broker PRESENCE has seen many trends come and go and others grow into long-term growth drivers for the industry.
Popchips has unveiled a new look and two new flavors - Fiery Buffalo and Fully Loaded – that it says will help the ‘popped, never fried’ brand showcase its strong taste and ‘crave-worthy’ credentials. It has also ditched some brand extensions to focus...
Fueled by ongoing supply chain constraints and skyrocketing energy costs due partly to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, inflation continues its upward march with the Consumer Price Index topping out at a staggering 8.5% for all items and 10% for food...
Walmart is offering truckers nearly twice the average salary and rolling out a commercial driver’s license and mentoring program in a bid to recruit and retain much needed drivers at a time when surging e-commerce sales are placing pressure on an already...
After experiencing unprecedented double-digit growth in 2020 fueled by pandemic shopping behaviors, private label brands grew by a more modest 1% for the full-year 2021, but have gathered steam again in the Q1 2022 registering 6.5% sales growth compared...
Snacking behaviors evolved in a few key ways over the past few years as consumers balanced familiarity with health and wellness and are now looking to expand and diversify their snacking routines, says Brigette Wolf, VP, global head of SnackFutures at...
Emerging indoor farming company Square Roots has opened a new modular farm in Springfield, Ohio, where the company will be able to reach local customers in Cincinnati, Columbus, and Dayton metropolitan areas with its fresh, locally-grown salad mixes and...
Recognizing trucking as a “lynchpin” in America’s supply chains that moves 72% of the US economy’s goods and that a lack of drivers has held back ability to meet surging consumer demand since the start of the pandemic and now contributes to rising inflation,...
The US labor market continues to grow at an unprecedented clip with a near full recovery from the devastating drop early in the pandemic and with more women and retirees returning to the workforce – but a slowdown may be on the horizon even as the consumer...
Ongoing strain from the pandemic and increasing financial pressure related to rising inflation are causing consumers to reprioritize their health and wellness goals, and by extension their food and beverage purchases, according to new research from the...
Adoption of grocery e-commerce and delivery continues to increase even as the pandemic has lapped its two-year mark and foot traffic at grocery stores has picked back up, noted 1010 data which tracked the growth of Instacart over the past two years (2019-2021).
With fresh leadership and a portfolio intended to address a consumer's every need state, Laird Superfood is on a strong path towards significant long-term growth and profitability, said the company's new president and CEO Jason Vieth at the...
After two years of lockdowns and uncertainty during the pandemic, consumers simultaneously are desperate to let loose and enjoy life and to reinstate a sense of self-control – creating a complicated marketing landscape that intelligence experts at Mintel...
CPG companies with more diverse leadership and which intentionally engage a consumer base that more accurately reflects the racial composition of the US population are attracting shoppers and growing faster than brands that over-index among white shoppers,...
The drop in US sales growth of natural and organic products following the 10% pantry-stocking surge early in the pandemic will linger well into 2023 – dropping to less than 4% before starting to climb again slowly to about 5% in 2024, according to analysis...
Despite the continued hype around meat alternatives and a growing flexitarian lifestyle trend, meat is still the protein of choice for most consumers, argues Jonna Parker, principal, fresh foods at IRI.
Ahold Delhaize, which owns several US retailers including Giant, Food Lion, and FreshDirect, reported that US regional sales were slightly down for the full year 2021 but that its grocery e-commerce sales picked up some of the slack.
Through a combination of rapid innovation, investing in growth platforms, ongoing “prudent” M&A and strategic paring down of labor and factories, Nestle is on track to deliver solid mid single-digit organic growth in 2022 and into the foreseeable...
A much-needed economic boost during the pandemic that helped reverse US agriculture’s multi-year downward financial slide likely will hold through at least 2022, although beneficial conditions likely won’t be “quite at the same level” as the past two...
What are consumers looking for when it comes to healthy and functional beverages? Is it sparkling water to kick a sugary soda habit or a daily wellness shot with ginger and turmeric for an immunity boost? Find out in the third and final session of FoodNavigator-USA's...
