Grocery shoppers continued purchasing fresh produce in 2022 as inflation pushed up prices but bought less of it on a volume basis, shifting to more affordable fresh fruit and vegetable options as well as frozen and canned items.
While economists predict inflation will ease slightly in the coming quarters, this year could easily become a “groundhog day version of 2022” if the weather takes a turn for the worse and triggers a domino effect that strains transportation, commodity...
Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle promise to push forward this week legislation to divert a looming national freight rail strike that threatens significant job and financial losses and which could snarl still fragile supply chains, including...
To keep pantries stocked and food on the table – especially during the upcoming holidays – more Americans are cutting back on spending in other areas and modifying how they buy groceries as well as the types and amount of products they place in their...
As the threat of COVID-19 ebbs so too has the intense emphasis consumers place on product health claims and the number of dietary patterns they follow, which many embraced during the peak of the pandemic as a tool for bolstering their immunity, reveals...
The “extreme obstacles” that food retailers have navigated the last few years will likely become “even more complex” in the coming year as unpredictable inflationary pressures, ongoing supply chain and labor challenges along with global unrest continue...
Notoriously thin operating margins in the food supply chain will likely keep manufacturers and retailers from incrementally lowering prices even as input costs begin to come down – preferring instead to wait until the economic landscape stabilizes and...
As consumer interest in ‘plant-based’ products has grown in recent years, so too have products proudly proclaiming their status as such – but what does the term actually mean, and how influential is it really?
As the enthusiasm for cooking that many discovered early in the pandemic wanes, retailers and CPG brands can protect against lost sales to restaurants and foodservice by offering more fresh prepared and minimal-prep options as well as inspiration that...
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,...
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...
While pantry stocking and increased consumer demand for food consumed at home pushed up same store sales 15.8% for most food retailers in 2020, margins remained tight as new pandemic-related expenses and higher credit/debit card, healthcare and new technology...
Creating a more inclusive and diverse workforce and advancing equity in the marketplace could give food and beverage companies a competitive edge for recruiting much-needed talent as labor shortages continue, according to new research from Deloitte and...
Recruiting and maintaining top talent in the food industry was difficult long before the coronavirus outbreak, but for many retailers and manufacturers labor challenges have intensified during the pandemic as the type of work, where it takes place and...
While supermarkets remain the go-to for most Americans stocking their pantries or picking up last minute items, the channel’s dominance eroded during the pandemic when the rapid adoption of online shopping pushed many consumers to try – and sometimes...
Despite a double-digit increase in retail sales during the pandemic, most grocery retailers continue to grapple with tight profit margins which could be squeezed further as restaurants and the foodservice industry reopen but many coronavirus-related expenses...
Sales and the amount of meat consumed at retail in the US increased double digits in 2020 over the prior year while household penetration held steady at 98.4%, despite an increase in flexitarians and a drop in meat-eaters, according to recently released...
After languishing for years, frozen food is emerging as a powerful growth driver for retailers and CPG brands in part because its long shelf life and convenience fit well with pandemic living, but also because companies like ConAgra have proactively reimagined...
The number of Americans buying groceries online nearly doubled in 2020 as they looked for ways to safely stock their pantries during the pandemic, and while some will return to in-store shopping when it is safe, “a strong contingent” say they will continue...
As Generation Z enters the workforce, they bring a keen competitive spirit and a desire to contribute significantly – making them desirable employees, but because they also are unafraid to job hop if they do not feel appreciated, employers need to rethink...
Faced with rising food prices and stagnant or reduced income during the pandemic, Americans are embracing a more DIY-approach to sourcing and cooking food to save money, and are less tolerant of waste that they believe could help feed the hungry, according...
A majority (81%) of consumers say transparency is ‘important’ or ‘extremely important’ to them when shopping online and in-store, according to a new report by The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and Chicago-based Label Insight.
Do essential businesses such as food manufacturers and retailers need some kind of liability shield to protect themselves from an anticipated wave of COVID-19-related personal injury litigation, or would this only encourage bad actors and deprive people...
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...
An ad-hoc partnership between FMI-Food Industry Association, the International Foodservice Distributors Association, United Produce Association and National Fisheries Institute aims to help overwhelmed grocery retailers keep shelves stocked, stores clean...
To better reflect the rapidly evolving grocery retail landscape – and the increasingly complex and interconnected supply chain – FMI is adopting a more inclusive position and rebranding with the new tagline ‘The Food Industry Association.’
A strong economy and technological advances often are good for business, but a recent study conducted by the Food Marketing Institute suggests that these factors also can have negative repercussions on food retailers’ bottom line and as an extension the...
Consumers visit at least four different retail banners to grocery shop in a typical month, an increase from last year, according to the Food Marketing Institute's US Grocery Shopper Trends report.
The bakery category, which falls between produce and frozen in terms of dollar sales, is a huge driver of in-store trips, bringing shoppers to the store at least once a week, yet there are some untapped opportunities for retailers to increase consumption...
How brick-and-mortar retailers merchandise and present their fresh produce selection plays an important role in driving sales, shares the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) in its 2019 Power of Produce report.
The frozen food category has been a core grocery purchase for nearly all consumers. However, the frozen food aisle can benefit from an image overhaul, leaving behind its reputation as back-up food stockpiled in the home freezer for weeks, to a quality...
