Following recent high-profile claims that the food supply chain is buckling under pressure from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Consumer Brands Association is teaming with more than 35 trade associations to address long- and short-term challenges...
Continued uncertainty over the regulatory status of hemp-derived CBD is a bigger roadblock for food and beverage brands than COVID-19 to market growth this year, say startups, but there are still opportunities to grow while they wait for the FDA to weigh...
As at-home food consumption remains at elevated levels, PepsiCo has launched two direct-to-consumer websites – PantryShop.com and Snacks.com – to meet the shift in demand where shoppers can order PepsiCo and Frito Lay products directly from the company.
Once relegated to the dusty back corners of kitchen cupboards or quickly swigged by only the most devote health-conscious consumers, apple cider vinegar has been thrust into the limelight by the coronavirus pandemic for its claimed immunity, beauty-enhancing...
Just as shelf-stable pantry items have experienced surging sales in recent months, frozen food sales have exploded since the onset of COVID-19 with new consumers entering the category, finds a recent survey commissioned by the American Frozen Food Institute.
The food industry faces rising pressure to tackle food insecurity in the wake of COVID-19. Rabobank shares six areas it expects to drive innovation in the ‘new normal’.
Global ingredient supplier Ingredion expects continued strong demand for ingredients that go into packaged foods through the first half of the year, partially offsetting volume declines the company is experiencing in foodservice, which represents between...
As Americans staying at home to slow the spread of the coronavirus flock to meal kits, both HelloFresh and Blue Apron saw sales lift near the end of their first quarters, but whether the companies can sustain the increase beyond the pandemic depends on...
Waiting for a response from cold calls to retail buyers about placing a product on store shelves can feel demoralizing to emerging brands, but Brad Charron, the CEO of the plant-based bar and beverage brand Aloha, advises entrepreneurs not to take it...
Online grocery sales and store pickup orders reached $5.3bn in April, a record 30-day high and 37% sales increase from March, according to the Brick Meets Click/Symphony RetailAI Online Grocery Survey conducted in late April.
As more meat plants temporarily close or operate at reduced capacity as coronavirus spreads, plant-based brands “have a window of opportunity to present themselves as more reliable alternatives,” says Lux Research. But no production facilities are immune...
Emerging and regional brands with inventory and turnkey solutions could more easily win space on store shelves despite delayed category resets and formal reviews as retailers continue to grapple coronavirus-related disruptions and low fill rates from...
From fewer containers and reduced shift work at harbors to delays in planned maintenance in factories, the coronavirus pandemic is impacting global supply chains in myriad ways. FoodNavigator-USA (FNU) caught up with Jon Peters (JP), president at Beneo,...
Hormel Foods-owned Rochelle Foods is reopening its 400,000-square-foot plant in Illinois – which produces microwaveable and precooked bacon for foodservice and retail, deli hams, and Hormel Compleats microwaveable meals – after two weeks of temporary...
By Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Navigating coronavirus’ uneven impact to chart a path forward for groceries
While some food and beverage brands have enjoyed tremendous growth following the coronavirus outbreak, others have been completely "pummeled" by government and consumer response to the virus – revealing a division that could provide a road map...
Kroger is purchasing 200,000 gallons of fluid milk from dairy farmers who have struggled to find new buyers to purchase their excess supply (much of which was originally destined for foodservice and schools before the pandemic hit). The milk will be redirected...
As tensions – and lawsuits – mount in the meat industry as plants balance the need to protect workers with pressure to maintain the nation’s food supplies, food trade associations have urged Congress to move to protect essential businesses from ‘unfounded’...
In the past two weeks, more than a dozen food and beverage companies – many of which are small and struggling to operate during the pandemic – have teamed with the KIND Foundation’s and Project N95’s recently launched Frontline Impact Project to donate...
Echoing recent comments from the CEOs of Coca-Cola and Mondelēz International, Kraft Heinz CEO Miguel Patricio told analysts Thursday that he is focusing on core SKUs to deliver supply chain efficiencies and delaying new product launches, although it’s...
Driven by strong demand for its snacks products in North America, Mondelēz International reported 2.6% growth in net revenue to $6.7bn for Q1 2020, offsetting sales downturns in other areas of the business including world travel retail and away-from-home...
As Americans spend more time at home and are paying acute attention to health and wellbeing, their demands are shifting towards products with specific functional benefits, options to recreate restaurant experiences at home, and an intensified desire for...
While many Americans are trying to maintain diet and fitness regimes during the current crisis, and sales of vitamins and other ‘self-care’ products are up, three big CPG category winners in recent weeks are frozen pizza, ice cream, and liquor, which...
COVID-19 patients with low vitamin K status tend to have worse outcomes, according to preliminary results of a study conducted by researchers in the Netherlands.
The convenience, practicality and comfort of offering food as tokens of recognition, appreciation and affection could help insulate the US food gifting market during the coronavirus pandemic, but it may not be enough to fully offset losses in 2020 from...
Canadian pork farmers are being pushed to the brink by the coronavirus pandemic and are in need of government support, the industry trade body has warned.
Vitamin D deficiency may play an important role in the severity of COVID-19 infections so supplementation should be strongly advised at this time, according to researchers who studied mortality rates across the globe.
The same day that Tyson Foods warned in full page newspaper ads that the coronavirus pandemic may disrupt the US food supply chain unless the government creates a “comprehensive, thoughtful” strategy for meatpacking facilities to remain open safely, the...
Plant protein suppliers such as Cosucra, Cargill and Roquette are working to keep factories open and customer orders fulfilled - but when it comes to shipping logistics, consumer demand and NPD, uncertainty is still the watchword.
While "banana bread is having a moment" during the lockdown, most consumers that didn't previously have great cooking skills are "not turning into gourmet chefs," and when it comes to dinnertime, they're looking for 'heat-and-eat'...
The US Department of Agriculture is making it easier for low-income participants in the Women, Infant and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program to fill their grocery carts despite lingering shortages of program-eligible food staples due to panicked...
US processor Smithfield Foods has published a detailed response to the recent allegations that it was not protecting its staff during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
As the pandemic unfolds, many investors are hitting pause on cash injections into early-stage brands. But for VC funds BFG Partners and BIGR Ventures, the crisis has made investment decisions more clear in terms of what separates an 'OK' brand...
As measures designed to flatten the curve of the coronavirus pandemic continue to flatten the economy simultaneously, many companies are making tough decisions to survive, including whether to pull-back on expansion plans, lay off employees, rationalize...
Unlike many emerging brands, which have had to ramp up - on in some cases create from scratch - e-commerce capabilities during this pandemic, Magic Spoon has been a direct-to-consumer business from the outset, and sales are going through the roof, say...
Strong food & beverage brands with world class management teams will continue to attract funding, but valuations are “falling by the minute,” and the days of throwing money at emerging brands and seeing what sticks are over, at least for now, says...
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.
While the federal government has taken several steps in recent weeks to help feed low-income children during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, a leading public health advocate argues more must be done to protect the one in 10 children facing food insecurity...
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...
The US United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) international union, which represents more than 250,000 meatpacking and food processing workers, has called on the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to better protect the workforce.
Verbiage contained in a revised stay at home order issued by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has led to the closure of some dietary supplement retailers in the state. It’s the second state after Nevada where such actions have been taken.
US processor Tyson Fresh Meats, the beef and pork subsidiary of Tyson Foods, has resumed limited operations at its pork plant in Columbus Junction, Iowa.
While it is still too early to predict the long-term economic impact of measures designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the Kroger Co. is bracing for the “high risk” that a recession is on the horizon by investing now in innovation and key partnerships,...
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...