Instacart improves accuracy for e-grocery
Instacart’s software solution Carrot Tags helps retailers fulfill online orders with its electronic shelf labels (ESL) as the e-grocery market continues to grow.
Retail
Food-Tech In Focus
Vertical farm Oishii expands into Harris Teeter stores, plans to unveil Tokyo R&D hub
Oishii’s retail expansion into Harris Teeter locations across Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia this fall, along with the planned 2025 opening of its R&D center in Tokyo, Japan, highlights the company’s dynamic growth and its role in increasing...
Cheapflation: How this economic phenomenon is impacting F&B
Cheapflation is having a major impact on consumer and manufacturer behaviour. So what is it and how long will it last?
How are consumers shopping in stores?
For price- and value-oriented consumers, discount and gourmet stores provide some relief on their wallets.
Rising credit card swipe fees squeeze retailers, but will legislation to end ‘Visa-Mastercard duopoly’ pass before Republicans take control of Congress?
Rising credit card “swipe” fees are driving up prices and squeezing grocery and other retailers’ already slim margins, but “it does not have to be this way,” according to trade groups, companies and members of Congress who made an 11th hour push...
Fresh from the freezer: Dorot Gardens’ rebrand highlights fresh taste of frozen herbs
Dorot Gardens’ rebrand emphasizes the fresh taste of its flash-frozen, pre-portioned garlic and herbs, positioning the brand as a convenient and healthy option with a two-year shelf life — a differentiator for its retail partners.
Aldi’s US President on expansion plans: ‘We cannot rest on our laurels’
Aldi's US president, Dave Rinaldo, laid out the grocers' aggressive US expansion plan with an emphasis on "not playing games" with consumers when it comes to pricing and pack sizes and working with food and beverage manufacturers to speed innovation at...
Deli-licious: Prepared deli shows ‘consistent growth’ as inflation eases
Grocery’s foodservice segment addresses high consumer demand for value-added convenience even though retailers must shoulder more cost increases even as inflation eases.
Beef, prepared deli sales soar as consumers embrace convenience, quality
Despite 96% of shoppers expressing concern about an economic recession in the coming months, fresh foods remain a top priority, with many willing to pay a premium for high-quality options, according to a recent Circana webinar.
Silk Kids’ patented oat milk blend targets children's’ nutritional needs
Silk Kids’ oat milk blend is formulated with kids’ nutrition in mind featuring a proprietary vitamin and mineral blend that differentiates the brand within the booming plant-based milk category, according to Kallie Goodwin, SVP plant based beverages at...
New Product Development from Toblerone to Hotel Chocolat
Staying up to date with the newest confectionery products, trends and flavour combinations on the market is key to keeping on top of the fast-paced and competitive sweet sector.
Tyson’s turnaround: ‘We have a fundamentally different and better chicken business’
Tyson Foods’ chicken business is booming once again and investors are flocking back to the company, which has spent years reenvisioning its poultry business to focus more on fundamentals, value-added products and “operational improvements.”
Founders' Fundamentals Podcast
Karen Anderson on identifying, capitalizing on whitespace innovation
Delivering on whitespace innovation can propel a CPG food and beverage startup into mainstream success, and filling a gap in the market might be simpler than some startups think, explained Karen Anderson, CEO of Purple Peak Marketing, during a recent...
Gopuff integrates SNAP, expands private label & fresh food offerings
Gopuff’s Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program (SNAP) integration for its e-grocery platform will also include its recently introduced Basically Premium private label line, reaching millions of eligible households.
Yo Mama’s sauce leverages Amazon growth, secures Albertsons’ retail partnership
When going up against legacy players that dominate the shelf, new brands can justify shelf space by highlighting the unmet consumer demand they fill, as illustrated by low-sodium, high-flavor pasta sauce startup Yo Mama's.
Nestlé’s top six 2025 food and drink innovation trends revealed
Nestlé has revealed the top food and drink trends that will drive its research, development and innovation in 2025, with speed, personalisation and fusion taking centre stage.
USDA funds $6m to boost healthy food access in underserved communities
USDA, in partnership with the Reinvestment Fund, has allocated nearly $6 million to improve access to nutritious foods in underserved communities across the country, reinforcing the trend toward healthy diets and potentially reshaping how brands and...
Hummus for children? Little Sesame addresses lemon supply chain issues to dip into new segment
Little Sesame navigated supply-chain issues — including climate change-related sourcing challenges — to expand its core lineup of products with a child’s version of its hummus, as the brand uses recent government and venture funding to fuel growth in 2025.
Kellanova shareholders approve $35.9bn Mars merger amid shifting snack industry trends
The transformative takeover by Mars Inc. has been overwhelmingly approved, marking a pivotal moment in the snack industry. What does this mean for the future of snacking?
Millie's disrupts tea, broth category with convenient tea bag broth format
Millie’s tea bag broths, made with herbs, spices and dehydrated vegetables landed in 2,000 Walmart stores last month, marking a major milestone for the brand as it disrupts the tea and broth categories.
Future of grocery: Consumers demand shelf-stable & frozen innovation, digital apps, 84.51° reports
Young and old consumers are divided on their top desires for future product innovation — with the former wanting cleaner labels and the latter wanting more high protein foods and beverages — but both agree that digital tools are crucial to keeping...
Organic sales hit record as regenerative organic sees growth, investment
Industry leaders are emphasizing the integration of regenerative agriculture alongside established organic practices, as demand for sustainable food and beverage products continues to rise.
ELAVI’s Costco expansion highlights demand for better-for-you options, innovative packaging
Better-for-you snack brand ELAVI doubled its Costco rotation to 30 Southern California stores in less than a year while addressing cocoa shortage and packaging changes.
High chocolate prices are not scaring Halloween revelers this season
Consumers celebrating Halloween are still unwrapping their favorite chocolate candies despite price increases, while gummy candies, popcorn and other treats capitalize on demands from price-conscious consumers, according to several recent reports.
Mondelēz International joins Unilever and Danone with strong Q3
Confectionery and snacking giant Mondelēz International has driven revenues and profits above expectations, through higher volume sales as both Unilever and Danone also showed this month.
Chobani’s yogurt cups, drinks feature up to 30-grams of protein
Yogurt-maker Chobani's clean-label, high-protein and lactose-free yogurt is part of the company’s mission to make protein more accessible to everyday consumers.
Brand Alchemy
How F&B brands can boost their ROI with a diversified media strategy
Today’s marketing strategies need flexible adjustments and a blend of channels to keep pace with rapid shifts in media consumption, unlike the fixed annual media plans of yesteryear.
Dairy innovation and trends
Letter from the editor: Innovations, trends & startups reshaping the dairy category
The dairy case is no longer a limited selection of fat-free, low-fat or whole milk in generic white bottles or a bare-bones choice between just “orange” or “white” cheese – rather an explosion of innovation in recent years has dramatically multiplied...
11 startups disrupting dairy across categories from the farm to store shelf
Dairy’s nutrient density and decadent eating experience create a powerful canvas for startups innovating across categories to offer better-for-you moments of permissible indulgence while simultaneously supporting the health of consumers, the planet and...
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
What is the business proposition for 100% grass fed dairy?
Research and advocates for 100% grass-fed dairy suggest the practice is better for people, the planet and animals – but is it better for business?
Unmet need in plant-based dairy revealed with rise of low-FODMAP diet
The influx of plant-based milk in recent years could provide relief and stability for consumers suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, but there remains a significant unmet need for clean-label, allergen-free options, according to one registered...
What’s the scoop on frozen dessert trends? Sorbets surge, plant-based ice-creams slump, SPINS finds
Consumers are swapping frozen yogurts for sorbets as better-for-you brands push into the ice cream market, despite slowdowns in the plant-based ice cream and novelties segment, according to SPINS data.
Coca-Cola to deliver on full-year guidance with ‘all-weather strategy,’ despite Q3 volume slowdown
Coca-Cola beat Wall Street estimates for its third quarter despite volumes and revenue declines, as the beverage giant pursues an “all-weather strategy" and offsets challenges with innovation in Sprite, Fanta and Topo Chico, company CEO James Quincey...
Startup Spotlight
Fishwife reels in bold flavors, creative branding to revive canned fish category
Tinned fish brand Fishwife launched in response to the lack of innovation and bold branding in the multi-billion-dollar canned fish category, with a strategic focus on culinary-inspired flavors and artistically-driven packaging, CEO and Co-Founder, Becca...
Wisconsin Cheese is challenging what 'American cheese' means to Europeans
At SIAL Paris 2024, the State of Cheese showcased some of its finest products. But are Europeans ready to embrace US-made specialty cheese?
C-stores evolve into ‘convenience food plazas,’ channel is ripe for private-label innovation
Convenience stores (c-stores) are blurring “the line between food retail and food service,” as the channel becomes crucial for consumers seeking quick, convenient and diverse foods and beverages, JP Frossard, analyst of consumer foods at RaboResearch,...
Standard serving size levels the playing field, NAD finds in tortilla advertising case
Size matters – at least when it comes to crafting nutrient content and health claims for food based on servings, according to a recent BBB National Programs’ National Advertising Division decision for a challenge brought by Olé Mexican Foods against...
Food Traceability Rule compliance threatened by too much tech, over-eager retailers
Food industry players across the value chain are frustrated by lingering questions about how to implement sweeping food safety changes that go into effect in little over a year, including fears of some stakeholders “going berserk” with new technology or...
USDA, industry unite to deliver critical aid through emergency SNAP benefits for storm-hit communities
USDA’s emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) benefits are available for eligible households impacted by Tropical Storm Helene in parts of Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee, with industry associations collaborating to ensure...
Listeria outbreak impacts deli meat market, grab-and-go options, Circana finds
An outbreak of listeria is hitting the lunchmeat category — driving down dollars and volume sales — as consumers still rely on the deli department for quick meals and globally inspired flavors, as shared in a recent International Dairy Deli Bakery...
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
4 flavor, color trends for 2025 that focus on simplicity, comfort & rediscovery
After a year of “unapologetically” embracing luxury, indulgence and whimsy through vivid colors and unexpected flavor combinations, consumers will rediscover and recenter themselves in 2025 by choosing taste profiles and hues that more realistically...
Kabrita USA's goat milk infant formula expands in retail, backed by its own supply chain
Kabrita USA's vertically-integrated supply chain, managed by its parent company Ausnutria, helped the brand secure US regulatory recognition and retail expansion, Jacqueline Lipiec, general manager, Kabrita North America, told FoodNavigator-USA.
2024 US presidential election
How Trump's trade, tax policies could impact food industry
Donald Trump's election as the 47th US president signals a sea change in economic and trade policies from the Biden Administration, as the president-elect is expected to raise tariffs, which can kick start inflation again and complicate stressed supply...
Startup Spotlight
Tips to secure deals in writing: ‘A verbal commitment means almost nothing’
Long gone are the days when a deal was sealed with a handshake and verbal commitment, which is why the co-founder of veggie snack startup Theo’s advises entrepreneurs to be persistent – but not annoying – about securing commitments in writing before acting.
US private-label groceries to hit 25-30% market share in next 10 years, RaboResearch projects
The US private-label market is capitalizing on consumer trends on value, as food manufacturers push for quality and innovation to spur category growth in the next decade.
Seafood rides tides of inflation, deflation with some long-awaited signs of demand recovery
Shellfish sales underwent a sea change in September with lower prices, Labor Day celebrations and stock-ups ahead of back-to-back hurricanes in the Southeast and strikes at major points in early October helping to buoy volumes, according to data from...
SAUZ cracks mainstream pasta sauce category with new flavor, Target partnerships
Pasta sauce brand SAUZ increased its manufacturing to produce 250,000 jars as it lands in 1,825 Target locations in addition to debuting a new flavor.
REBBL bulks up protein offerings with 26-gram shake, featuring upcycled EverPro ingredient
Functional beverage brand REBBL is delivering on consumer demands for sustainability and enhanced macronutrient content with its new shakes that contain 26 grams of plant-based protein blend, including an upcycled barley.
Hershey leans into value, flavor with Kit Kat, Reese's, Jolly Ranchers
The multinational candy maker aligns with shoppers’ interest in value-oriented products reflected through its Reese’s and Kit Kat brands, while Jolly Ranchers' brand refresh features new textures and formats.
Apothékary debuts in 400+ Sprouts stores, focuses on tincture business
Wellness brand Apothékary’s retail partnership with Sprouts Farmers Markets highlights its product expansion of herbal powders for beverages to include tinctures that align with the retailers’ growing supplement department in the non-alcoholic space.