FoodNavigator-USA Podcast

As waves of COVID-19 and its variants ebb and flow they are creating an unpredictable tug-of-war between restaurants and grocery retailers that one industry insider predicts will continue to complicate inventory management long after the current supply chain challenges subside.

When it comes to building a new category, the founder of the better-for-you, late-night snacking company NightFood found after years of struggling to explain his value proposition to consumers that a new playbook was in order – one that focuses more on high-quality shopper engagement through channels with a more curated approach and less on high-traffic channels crowded with competitors.

Innovation within the nascent upcycled food and beverage industry is exploding as manufacturers and ingredient suppliers large and small are drawn to the promise of potentially higher profits, a viable path to ambitious sustainability goals and a consumer-friendly story about waste reduction in an era when food insecurity is soaring.

With each New Year comes new resolutions to be healthier and more mindful, which for a growing portion of the population includes cutting back or giving up alcohol – maybe just for one month during so-called Dry January, but increasingly for longer stretches or at different points throughout the year – creating a new marketing opportunity for savvy beverage manufacturers.

When most people hear ‘regenerative agriculture’ they either have no idea what it means or they think about it as a strategy to rebuild soil health or reverse the negative environmental impact of farming – but according to the international sustainability non-profit Forum for the Future, the benefits – and business opportunities – go far beyond the land.

More than 2 billion cups of coffee are consumed a day, fueling a retail market worth more $450 billion that supports 125 million people, including more than 12 million small holder farmers, most of whom are completely blind to the quality of their crops – a limitation that threatens their livelihoods and the future of the industry and which food-tech startup Demetria is changing.

For most Americans, coffee is an integral part of their daily ritual that is so ingrained that not even the chaos of the pandemic could break them of their habit, but according to the National Coffee Association, it did change how and where many reached for the beverage.

Despite the surge in hunger, sluggish supply chains and transportation woes that have drastically delayed food production, delivery and availability since the coronavirus outbreak more than 20 months ago, cross-disciplinary experts at the global design firm IDEO say the food system is not broken.

During the pandemic, ‘mindfulness’ became a lifeline for many Americans whose anxiety spiked as they balanced old and new obligations without the in-person support so many previously relied on to get through the day – for some this came in the form of meditation or journaling, and for many it spilled over into their diet.

Given the food system currently contributes a third of greenhouse gas emissions and is a driving cause of soil and species loss, adopting ‘sustainable’ practices is no longer enough to save the planet’s health or ensure sufficient nutritious food for future generations, which is why soup mix, spice-blend and meal kit maker Knorr is launching 50 regenerative agriculture projects around the world in...

Recognizing that what and how parents choose to feed their newborns and toddlers goes beyond just nutrition, Gerber undertook an ambitious investigation into the universal pressures that caregivers face with an eye towards better supporting them as they navigate the crucial first 1,000 days of their children’s lives.

The tide appears to be turning for direct-to-consumer subscription boxes, including for food and beverage, with consumer interest dropping dramatically in 2021 compared to last year when the pandemic pushed many people to try the services as a safe and convenient way to keep their pantries stocked and their families entertained.

A good mentor can tip the scale of success in favor of a startup, but finding someone who has the same values, time and no ulterior motives can feel like the best kept secret in the industry – especially to entrepreneurs new to the food & beverage space without established connections.

Not many companies would be satisfied with or even strive to produce a food or beverage that tastes ‘normal,’ but the founder of the better-for-you frozen dessert company Killer Creamery couldn’t be happier that the taste of brand’s new ice cream sandwich is indistinguishable from the category’s iconic standard.

A keen empathy for consumers, a deep commitment to innovation and an open-door approach to collaboration helped the founder of Nissin Foods not only capture the hearts of billions of people when he invented instant noodles, but also helped build and sustain two iconic brands that are just as relevant today as they were 50 years ago when they launched.

Retailers struggling with labor shortages are offering higher pay and better benefits to fill vacancies – but according to one industry player they also should embrace automation to ease the burden on and maximize the efficiency of existing staff to maintain employees and meet consumer needs with fewer resources.

Whether it is in-person, online or a hybrid of both, children across the country are returning to school – bringing relief to some caregivers and triggering anxiety in others, but either way almost everyone is headed to the store for classroom essentials, lunchbox staples and fast meal solutions.

The pandemic’s impact on frontline workers, including farmers and food manufacturers, paired with recent high profile social justice movements and spectacular displays of climate change over the past 18 months is spurring more consumers to look for and buy products ethically certified by independent third-parties, such as Fairtrade America.

While following a climatarian diet that prioritizes foods and beverages made in a way that protects and restores the planet’s health may still be niche, the trend is gaining traction quickly with some researchers and brands predicting environmental sustainability will be a top consumer priority alongside taste and nutrition within the decade.

For many women, eating and cooking at home every day during the pandemic has been a double-edged sword that offered them more time with family and control over their diet, but also added a burden that left many women feeling unsatisfied – opening the door for savvy CPG manufacturers and retailers to offer a helping hand.

Sourdough bread and stretchy pants may have been all the rage during the early days of the pandemic, but as vaccines become more prevalent and US consumers begin to reemerge from lockdowns, they increasing are turning to keto-bread and other low-carb options as they try to shed the quarantine-15.

Live-stream shopping is emerging as a new frontier for food and beverage brands as homebound consumers during the pandemic looked for safe ways to discover products and stock their pantries and brands seek novel ways to tell their stories and drive trial after in-store sampling was put on hold.

Ever since The Coca-Cola Co. offered the first coupon in 1887 for a free glass of Coke at “any dispenser of genuine Coca-Cola,” coupons have helped manufacturers drive sales, stores generated foot traffic and both build loyalty -- but pandemic-related shifts in where and how consumers shop and the economic fallout of lockdowns has changed how brands, stores and shoppers engage with coupons.

More than 450 exhibitors and 8,000 attendees traveled to the Sweets & Snacks Expo in Indianapolis last week for one of the first in-person food and beverage tradeshows since the coronavirus outbreak in early 2020 to showcase two years of product innovations and inspiration that had been delayed by the pandemic.

While the pandemic shined a light on the role of diet and nutrition in health and wellness, it also revealed that most consumers don’t have a firm – or even loose – idea of what constitutes healthy – underscoring a need for more research and better education on the topic.