As extensions and new inclusions have been made to many government-mandated social distancing policies, a majority of North American consumers indicate they expect the impact of COVID-19 will persist for up to six months, according to Nielsen.
The way consumers are shopping during the COVID-19 public health pandemic has changed drastically with significantly fewer trips being made to physical grocery stores and a rise in online shopping, according to a new survey of 2,012 US consumers conducted...
Kraft Heinz has closed, deep-cleaned, then rapidly re-opened, manufacturing facilities in Holland, Michigan, and Springfield, Missouri, after employees tested positive for COVID-19.
Like many CPG companies trying to maximize efficiency and streamline supply chains during this pandemic, Coca-Cola has been “ruthlessly prioritizing to deliver on core SKUs,” in recent weeks. But it’s also signaled plans to streamline the innovation pipeline...
Organic ice cream brand Three Twins has ceased operations after a 15-year rollercoaster ride, with founder Neal Gottlieb thanking staff and ice cream fans for their support but explaining that he had been unable to get to the scale “where we could have...
Kevin Kenny, COO at Decernis, a Foodchain ID company, has identified some key supply chain issues to watch going forward as coronavirus spreads across the globe.
At-home baking has exploded as a go-to quarantine activity among US households, causing a shift in consumer attitudes for overlooked pantry ingredients and heightened demand for highly-scrutinized ingredients such as 'refined' sugar.
“Coronavirus has us all rethinking how we will do research this year,” says Patricia Manos, VP marketing at consumer insights and product testing specialist Curion, who says there are multiple ways to glean insights from consumers remotely, from video...
While some food & beverage companies have hit the ‘pause’ button on innovation projects as priorities shift during this pandemic, others are finding creative ways to keep projects on track, which in some cases has involving transforming home kitchens...
Grocery shoppers’ concern about the health of other customers and store employees has eclipsed fears of running out of food as the death toll from the novel coronavirus continues to climb and high-demand items are restocked more quickly, according to...
Membership-only natural and organic online marketplace Thrive Market has seen a significant increase in demand during the coronavirus pandemic, with members buying more, and more often, putting pressure on the company’s supply chain.
As Americans adjust to home confinement, their confidence in the kitchen has soared with many saying they will carry on with their cooking habits even after the world returns to a new normal, according to a new study by food and beverage communications...
With retailers prioritizing pantry essentials in the early weeks of the coronavirus pandemic, some deliveries of short-shelf life fresh produce were turned away from distribution centers to make room for toilet paper, pasta sauce and frozen food, causing...
Kroger is adding its voice to the growing chorus of industry stakeholders asking elected officials to designate all grocery employees as ‘extended first responders’ and ‘emergency personnel’ to ensure they are protected and have access to healthcare during...
The rapid shutdown of Indian society to combat the coronavirus crisis has inconvenienced manufacturers of curcumin ingredients, but thus far has not put a critical dent in inventories, suppliers say.
The Specialty Food Association’s (SFA's) Summer Fancy Food Show, scheduled for June 28-30 at the Jacob Javits Center in New York (which has recently been turned into a makeshift hospital), is the latest major food show to be canceled due to the coronavirus...
Rather than hit pause during the ongoing pandemic like many other investors, global venture capital fund SOSV’s Food-X accelerator is moving full steam ahead by welcoming to its 11th cohort eight companies that are directly tackling challenges coronavirus...
Dairy groups are working to soften the blow the COVID-19 crisis has had on the industry with new strategies to move more milk and dairy products into the market.
While many Americans have only been sheltering at home for a relatively short period, they are already telling market researchers that some recent habits – scratch cooking, home baking, and increased supplement use – will likely become part of their routine...
Now the initial grocery shopping ‘surge’ has calmed down somewhat, what can CPG companies expect in the next three to four weeks as consumers navigate the ‘new normal’?
New data from SPINS shows that avocado oil has continued to gain traction with US consumers, with sales in natural and conventional channels combined growing 24% in the year to March 22, 2020 on top of 28% growth the previous year, while coconut oil sales...
Even as packaged food and beverage companies scramble to meet increased consumer demand while also compensating for setbacks during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, many are shifting already limited resources to employees, customers in need and the broader...
The generosity of the food and beverage industry is on full display as companies – some with limited resources – give what they can to those serving on the frontlines of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and to those in need, including many who unexpectedly...
Now that the 'surge' has calmed down, consumers are entering a new stage of shopping behavior – ‘home-confined buying’ – characterized by higher sales of non-essential food items such as cookies, chocolate, and ice cream, with overall spending...
As economic uncertainty climbs alongside the spread of coronavirus, most Americans are trying – but often failing – to maintain the status quo with regards to grocery purchases, according to new research from Datassential.
Simply Good Foods – parent company to Quest Nutrition and Atkins Nutritionals – entered FY2020 feeling confident about its performance of its core brands exceeding sales expectations through the first half of the year.
Days after the first reported coronavirus-related deaths of grocery store employees, Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass) asked FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for additional guidance on how retail food workers and customers can protect...
Onboarding new brands is not top of the priority list right now at most food retailers, many of which are more focused on rationalizing SKUs than adding new ones. Meanwhile, R&D under lockdown isn't easy. So is innovation on pause, or are companies...
Nestlé CEO Mark Schneider warns that the business must ‘get ready for the storm’ as supply chain challenges are expected to intensify amid the global coronavirus pandemic.
A coalition of dietary supplement industry trade associations have come out in support of FDA actions against fraudulent coronavirus treatment claims and have urged retailers to not stock products with such claims on their labels.
Artificial intelligence platforms could ease pressures on retailers and food manufacturers that desperately need help to meet increased demand for their products, but which are struggling to connect with those who have been laid-off or furloughed due...
The food industry has moved remarkably quickly to adjust to a sudden and spectacular shift in food consumption towards the home as America goes into lockdown. But there could be significant challenges ahead if more countries block food exports, while...
Over the past few weeks, big food manufacturers have leveraged the strength of their operations and logistics capabilities to combat the spread of COVID-19. Many are also supporting their employees with additional compensation, cash bonuses, waived health...
Concerned that not all customers are following the medical community’s repeated recommendations of social distancing, Walmart has put stricter measures in place across its stores.
While some shoppers have shared photos of empty meat cases next to fully-stocked shelves of plant-based meat on social media, the latest Nielsen data suggests that retail sales of meat alternatives increased significantly in March alongside their animal-based...
Despite surging sales of milk, cheese and butter as consumers pantry-stock and prepare more meals at home amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, dairy producers are struggling as prices at the farm gate have plummeted, major markets have evaporated and...
The FDA is providing temporary flexibility on packaging and labeling requirements for eggs sold at retail so firms can redirect product designed for institutions and restaurants towards retailers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
CEO of snacking company That's How We Roll, the parent company to national brands ParmCrisps and Thinsters cookie thins, feels cautiously optimistic about how the CPG industry will fare during and post COVID-19.
Americans are drinking more coffee than ever before – and not just because fears of coronavirus are keeping them up at night or because they suddenly need an energy boost as they navigate new demands that strain work-life balance.
Over half (52%) of convenience stores are reporting increased grocery sales as consumers seek out pantry items from more retail channels to address their coronavirus shopping needs, reports the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), which...
The US Food and Drug Administration has issued another warning letter on COVID-19 claims. This one was issued to a Nevada company marketing CBD products.
Chobani experienced significant sales uplifts in its core yogurt business in March as shoppers stocked up on dairy items (along with everything else), but the rising star in its portfolio is oatmilk, with new brand Chobani Oat overtaking Oatly and Silk,...
It's too early to say if Big Food’s recent resurgence will last longer than the lockdown, but some legacy brands could benefit from work they’ve put in recently to upgrade/reformulate their wares as new consumers discover them for the first time,...
Spice and flavor giant McCormick & Co. is tweaking its advertising to better support consumers who are new to or unfamiliar with cooking at home, but who have limited options now that many restaurants and foodservice options have shuttered to help...
Kroger started to see a “significant shift in customer behavior” during the last few days of February as shoppers started stocking up, with sales accelerating sharply in March, generating a 30% rise in identical (same store) retail supermarket sales without...
Looking at shopping behavior during previous recessions and natural disasters may provide some insight into how consumer purchasing habits could change during a global health pandemic, although there are several factors that make the coronavirus situation...
Stevia supplier PureCircle has delayed the publication of its results for the first half of 2020 “in view of the current difficult COVID-19 situation, which has caused some disruption to our working practices,” but belatedly published results for the...
Bolthouse Farms – a fresh food business specializing in packaged carrots and juices & smoothies – is gearing up for a sustained lift in demand as food consumption shifts to the home, potentially for months, beginning a “a huge sociological experiment,”...